Darius snorted quietly. He grabbed the proposal out of Belmor's hands and began skimming through it. His eyes moved fast—one page, two pages, five pages. Then he stopped, sighed heavily, and rubbed his temples.
"'Belmor Bonus Fund'?" he read aloud, raising an eyebrow so high it was in danger of escaping his forehead."Grain Reserve Stabilization and Market Optimization Fee?" He flipped a page. "Emergency Handling Consultancy Premiums? Really?"
Belmor coughed and tugged at his collar."Purely administrative necessities, I assure you, to ensure utmost efficiency."
Karlos chuckled under his breath, and even Zalario cracked a barely visible smirk.
I tapped my throne's armrest and leaned forward a bit.
"So, Darius, what's your verdict?"
Darius closed the file slowly, like a man finishing a particularly bad novel.
"The plan itself is solid," he admitted, voice dripping with reluctance,
"but half of these administrative necessities seem like Belmor trying to wring the treasury like a wet towel."
I shrugged. "That's fine. Let him have his bonuses... if he meets the target goals within the deadlines we set. Otherwise, no pay, no bonus."
Belmor's greedy smile faltered for just a moment—sweet music to my ears—before he quickly covered it up with another deep bow.
"Of course, my lord! I live only to serve Solara!" he declared with as much sincerity as a cat guarding a plate of fish.
"Good," I said, waving a hand. "Then go. Get started."
Belmor scampered off like a rat with a piece of gold clutched in its mouth, leaving me, Karlos, Darius, and Zalario alone once again.
Darius looked at me, deadpan.
"Next time, my king... please, give me a warning before unleashing him on me."
I just grinned.
While I talked with Darius I sent one of the soilders to call General reinhart.
"So Darius did you made the funding plan I asked you to make related to Halden's request on border defences for proper supply more men and temporary decree to enforce martial law in unstable borders till order is restored.
Darius nodded, flicking through some papers on his clipboard while shooting me a sideways glance. His face was neutral, but I could tell he was mentally bracing for what came next.
"Yes, my king," he replied, not bothering to sugarcoat things. "The funding plan is prepared. It's focused on bolstering reinforcements and improving supply lines for Halden's border forces. Martial law, as requested, will be temporarily enacted for areas where instability is most prevalent. There's an immediate budget allocation for additional troops, logistics, and securing any critical choke points."
He paused, flipping another page. "However, I did allocate some of the funds with a note—temporary relief only. The plan doesn't hold up for the long term without substantial civilian aid or broader infrastructure support. If we don't stabilize the agricultural sector soon, or bring in outside resources... we risk overextending our forces and depleting our reserves."
I leaned back in my throne, tapping my fingers on the armrest as I considered his words. "What do you recommend, Darius?"
He didn't hesitate, his eyes already on the next page of his paperwork. "We need to funnel resources into both the agriculture recovery and a sustainable supply route for military logistics. Securing the northern pass, improving border checkpoints, and having contingencies in place for rapid reinforcements are key. But also—soon—agricultural relief. Garren needs all the help he can get. Otherwise, Halden's forces might have to stretch their manpower too thin."
I nodded in agreement. Darius was pragmatic, if nothing else. I'd give him that.
"Alright. I'll have a talk with Garren about prioritizing resources for the agriculture side of things," I said. "We can't afford to stretch the military thin if the civilians are going hungry."
At that moment, the doors to the throne room creaked open, and General Reinhart entered with his usual calm demeanor, dressed in his military gear and standing tall like the battle-hardened warrior he was.
"Your Majesty," he greeted, giving a nod to Darius and me. "You requested my presence?"
I gestured for him to come forward. "Yes, Reinhart. We need to talk about the current state of the borders, particularly in the north and south. I've reviewed the plans, and I want to ensure that we're ready for any future threats while also maintaining order internally."
Reinhart gave a serious nod. "Understood. I've got the border patrols in high alert, and reinforcements are being dispatched to the unstable areas. We've established temporary military garrisons in the worst-hit regions. However, martial law will be necessary to ensure order during the transition."
I tilted my head slightly, thinking over his words. "What's the current status with supply lines for those garrisons? We can't afford to let them be cut off."
"We've managed to establish a secure route through the east, but some areas are still dangerous due to raids," Reinhart replied, his brow furrowing slightly. "I'll need additional manpower to fully secure the southern and northern passages. However, with the recent agreement on troop funding, we should be able to handle it. We'll prioritize the most vulnerable areas first."
"Good," I said, leaning forward. "And let's make sure we have contingencies in place for food supply. Halden's forces need to be adequately fed, or the entire effort will fall apart."
Reinhart nodded again. "Of course, my king. I'll ensure that."
I looked at Darius. "Make sure the funding plan is sent to General Reinhart ASAP. We need to back up these words with action, and quickly."
Darius gave a sharp nod and scribbled something down on his clipboard.
I turned back to Reinhart. "Anything else I need to know about the borders? Any critical areas that are still lacking attention?"
Reinhart paused for a moment, thinking it through before answering. "We have some minor uprisings in the south, especially among the remnants of the Glora resistance. But nothing we can't handle—though, some of them are quite resourceful. We'll need to keep an eye on them."
"Keep me updated on that," I said. "I want no surprises."
"Oh and Reinhart what about the remaining Gloran soilders? are the screened yet and are they being used as you suggested in the meeting?" I inquired.
Reinhart straightened a little, clearly taking the question seriously. His expression remained stoic, as usual, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that suggested he'd been on top of the situation.
"Yes, my king," he replied, his voice steady. "The remaining Gloran soldiers have all been screened. We separated the loyalists from the rebels, as per your request. Those with a questionable history or clear ties to the rebellion were detained and placed under surveillance. For the rest, we've begun integrating them into our forces as auxiliary units. They're being used as additional manpower for border patrols, reconnaissance, and some logistical support. We can't afford to be overly generous with them, but they're serving as a decent force multiplier for now."
He paused, his gaze flicking briefly to Darius, then back to me. "They're still being monitored, and any sign of betrayal will be met with immediate retribution. But for the moment, they're useful."
I nodded, considering his words. "Good. Make sure that they're not given too much leeway. I don't trust any of them fully, especially after the things that went down between Glora and Bermud. Keep a tight leash on them, but don't overextend your resources with too much suspicion. We need them right now, but we can't afford to let our guard down."
Reinhart's face remained unchanged, but there was a hint of approval in his response. "Understood, my king. I'll make sure they're closely monitored and used effectively."
I turned to Darius then. "Make sure the reinforcements for these units are well-funded and supplied. If we're going to use these soldiers efficiently, we need to ensure they're properly equipped."
Darius nodded quickly, already scribbling notes. "I'll handle it, my king."
"Good," I said, finally sitting back in my chair, a slight sense of satisfaction settling in. "Now, let's move forward with the next steps. We have a lot to accomplish before things truly settle down."
Reinhart gave a respectful nod before turning to leave, no doubt heading back to his duties. Darius followed suit, and the weight of the ongoing efforts to stabilize Solara seemed just a little bit more manageable.
_______
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