Chapter 76: Binding

After receiving the announcement, Chu Tian entered the grand hall of the imperial palace. Yet the first sight that greeted him was not Emperor Ludis III, but his long-lost sworn elder brother, Kanus.

Kanus was one of the five supreme legion commanders of the empire. His chief duty was to lead his hundred-thousand-strong Fire Dragon Legion, which held the Red Earth Canyon and guarded against incursions from the northern beastmen. Because Red Flame represented the empire’s ultimate military might and must remain stationed in the capital, Kanus could stay only in Pompeii City; the legion’s day-to-day affairs were entrusted to his deputy.

From the engagement ceremony to the promotion rite, Kanus had contrived every possible excuse to stay away. Both men understood the true reason: human-beast romance was a taboo across the continent. The bond between Kanus and Red Flame was something the dragon clan could never accept, and the common folk of the empire would likely reject it even more fiercely. Thus the matter had remained a closely guarded secret, invisible even to the empire’s intelligence bureau.

Now that Chu Tian knew the truth, Kanus naturally dared not meet his sworn brother.

Kanus was deep in conversation with Ludis III when Chu Tian arrived. He first bowed respectfully to the emperor, then turned to his brother with a warm smile. “Heh, big brother, it’s been ages!”

“Heh, long time no see,” Kanus replied, visibly ill at ease. This invincible commander who commanded vast armies suddenly seemed tongue-tied. “Vladino, the other day…”

“By the grace of the Life Goddess!” Chu Tian shot Kanus a meaningful glance, then continued, “Brother, come to my residence later. We can speak privately.”

Though the words were offered to Kanus, their true meaning was meant for Ludis III to hear. “Your Majesty, I possess a ninth-order magical beast and have raised many dark mages. My strength may threaten you, yet before you act, remember that Kanus—one of the empire’s five legion commanders—is my elder brother. The imperial magic minister owes me money, and every imperial priest still obeys me…”

“Kanus, withdraw for now.” Once the commander had left, Ludis III turned to Chu Tian with a laugh. “Haha, Vladino, why have you suddenly found time? I heard you’ve been terribly busy lately.” His gaze held deep meaning. “You’ve earned a fortune, built a factory—none of that would move me. But why recruit so many dark mages who can slay invisibly?”

“Haha,” Chu Tian glanced around to ensure no one was listening, then narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Your Majesty, today I come to propose a business.”

Do business? Ludis III stared in surprise. For years he had partnered with the Pampas family to smuggle arms and poisons, yet those dealings had always been clandestine. Chu Tian’s open offer to negotiate with a sovereign monarch was a first for him.

“Oh?” Ludis III picked up a short sword from the table and toyed with it. “What could possibly interest me?”

“Ordinary business, Your Majesty, would hold no allure.” Chu Tian lowered his head, speaking in a seductive tone. “How would you like to dominate the continent?”

“Speak on!” Ludis III leaned closer, eyes locked on Chu Tian. “What business can make an emperor conquer the world?” An emperor armed with both ambition and wisdom would be a fool to deny the temptation. Chu Tian’s words had struck straight at Ludis III’s weakness.

“Heh.” Chu Tian slowly drew a handful of small bottles and jars from his ring, arranging them neatly on the floor. “These right here.”

Seeing Ludis III’s confusion, Chu Tian lifted one vial and explained, “While researching ancient ritual arts, I stumbled upon alchemical formulas. I discovered that merging the two can produce potions that replicate the effects of ritual medicines.”

“Replace ritual arts?” The short sword in Ludis III’s hand flashed out with a metallic ring. “How effective?”

“Identical to the original ritual arts!” Chu Tian opened a bottle and removed a dark-yellow pill. “I call this the Seventh-Level Golden Wound Medicine. It instantly heals any injury below seventh level.”

One must guard against the heart, Chu Tian had not revealed his finest wares. The absolute best—those refined from Kuyata bull gall—could even restore ninth-level wounds in an instant. Yet Kuyata, though a ninth-order beast, possessed little innate strength; seventh-order specimens were rare, and eighth-order nonexistent. Thus potions made from ordinary bull gall could treat only wounds below seventh level.

Clang. The short sword slipped from Ludis III’s grasp and clattered to the marble floor. “How many of these potions do you have?”

“Few below seventh level, but plenty below fifth,” Chu Tian replied, as if calculating. “Grant me three months and I guarantee every one of the three hundred thousand Caesar heavy cavalry receives one.” The figure he quoted was deliberately modest. His hidden production base housed over a thousand beastmen slaves working around the clock; ten thousand potions per month was easily achievable. The sole bottleneck was bull-gall yield.

Chu Tian dared not disclose the full truth to Ludis III. Selling to the empire would yield little profit, and in the present climate the stronger his power, the greater the danger.

“Hahahaha…” Ludis III threw his head back in unrestrained laughter—the third time in his life he had lost control. What did three hundred thousand fifth-level healing potions represent? He understood perfectly. Picture endless iron cavalry thundering across the field. When the enemy, after great cost, halted the advance of those hooves, every imperial knight produced a golden salve. Wounds closed in an instant; bodies healed and the charge resumed…

Though fifth-level salves healed high-level wounds slowly, they were effective. As long as warriors avoided losing limbs, the empire would field no wounded soldiers. Without wounded troops, what use were non-consumable Caesar heavy cavalry? Only the arrival of ninth-order beasts or dragon armies on the battlefield could stop Ludis III’s march to continental domination.

“How many gold coins?” Ludis III asked, already envisioning vast wealth. He could simply command Chu Tian to hand over the potions, yet he could not ignore the risk: if Chu Tian nursed resentment and led the ninth-order Apache into rebellion? And between Chu Tian, Kanus, and the dragon clan lay an inexplicable bond. Who could guarantee Red Flame would remain neutral if Chu Tian turned traitor?

“Your Majesty, one million gold coins for this first batch will suffice.” Chu Tian named a price barely above cost.

“One million?” Ludis III blinked. Intelligence reports claimed Duke Vladino had spent far more simply acquiring land for his factory.

“By the grace of the Life Goddess!” Chu Tian lifted his chin proudly. “I swore before the Life Goddess to serve the empire and Your Majesty unto death. Now Your Majesty prepares a great avenging war. As a loyal subject I offer this humble contribution toward Your Majesty’s glorious cause!”

“Hmm. Vladino, the empire will remember your service.” Ludis III could not read Chu Tian’s mind. Though the duke possessed power that threatened the throne, he had committed no rebellion; instead he had served the empire faithfully and delivered endless surprises. Moreover, a priest’s oath to the Life Goddess could never be broken.

With the main matter settled, Chu Tian knew Ludis III still distrusted him. In politics, only shared interests could truly loosen an emperor’s guard. Therefore Chu Tian would bind their fates together. “Your Majesty, I can produce additional potions as well. After the war, I hope we may continue business…”

“What business?” Ludis III was exactly as Chu Tian expected—eager to intertwine their interests. Like him, the Pampas family had joined forces to smuggle drugs and arms: one motive profit, the other to secure an ally for his war chariot.

“Everyone knows the continent suffers constant wounds and illness, yet priests are scarce. Therefore…”

“Therefore your potions will sell like wildfire.” Ludis III finished the thought with a smile. “Add the Pampas family: you supply the goods, they sell them, I provide security and distribution.” He had no desire to share profits with the Pampas, yet since their founding the family had controlled most imperial commerce and never acted against the state. Ludis III needed a trustworthy partner.

“No objections,” Chu Tian replied, pleased. Unfamiliar with the market and already fretting over sales, he now had a reliable outlet. “I claim forty percent of the profits; the remainder split equally between Your Majesty and the Pampas family.” Forty-thirty-thirty mirrored the smuggling ratio for drugs and beasts; applying the same division to potion sales was fair. He had deliberately withheld the Kuyata-gall potions, which would fetch the highest price.

“Done!” Ludis III laughed in relief. With those words, the empire’s greatest interest alliance was formally born.

“By the way, Vladino,” Ludis III added casually once the deal was sealed and loyalty assured, “I have a task for you. Later, seek Kanus. I have already informed him of its details.”

“As you command, Your Majesty.” Chu Tian accepted the order with reluctance. He was busy profiting; he had no time for errands.

“Furthermore,” Ludis III’s smile turned sly, “Kanus has a surprise waiting for you.”