Huh, huh, huh. ...... can't do it anymore either.

　Cecilia put her hands on her knees and exhaled wildly.
　Sweat drips from her beautiful silver hair, runs down her cheeks and chin, and soaks the ground.

　A beautiful woman is beautiful even when she's covered in sweat, Hercule thought.

　No, no, you've only run five laps. You have to run another five laps.
　No, I need to rest. ......
　You're too soft for that, aren't you?

　Cecilia gulped down the water she had received from Near.
　Nia told her to refrain from drinking too much because it would make her stomach hurt later.

　"Hmm, this water is sweet.
　"It's the water His Majesty designed for exercise. Right?　
　Yeah. It's lemon water with sugar and salt. Not bad, huh?

　When we sweat, we lose not only water but also electrolytes such as salt.
　It is a well-known story.

　It's dangerous if you don't make them rehydrate properly, because weak people like Cecilia will claim to be fine and suddenly collapse.

　"Did you finish your break?　Come on, five more laps.
　"Oh, my God, Hercule, please help me!
　Five rounds isn't that much. Come on.

　Hercule waved Cecilia off as Near dragged her along.
　In addition, Nia's lesson is not as easy as just running.

　According to Nia, there are push-ups, sit-ups, back-ups and squats waiting for you after this.
　She also plans to teach some self-defense techniques.
　She's also going to teach her some self-defense techniques.

　He's a bit of an S word to everyone but me.

　Hercule thought of his s*xual activity with Nia.
　It was not bad at all to see how he was willing to do anything for Hercule, but ......
　The current Nia, who is torturing Cecilia, looks more radiant.

　(Let's have a catfight.)

　No doubt Cecilia will lose.
　Cecilia will lose, and Nia will take advantage of her.

　Hercule couldn't help but smile as he pictured Nia torturing Cecilia and Cecilia being tortured.






　After observing Cecilia's training, they went to the audience hall.
　A few moments after Hercule sat on the throne, the guest of the day entered the audience hall.

　Hearing the report from that person, Hercule nodded in satisfaction.

　"Good, you have done well. Giuliano Branca.
　"Thank you for the compliment.

　Juliano Branca, the president of the brotherhood, bowed to Hercule.

　In fact, the president of the brotherhood had a secret mission from Hercule.
　It was to propagate Messianism in the East, to establish a base and to ......
　The mission was to preach messianism in the east, establish a base, and then secretly steal the silk manufacturing method and the chanoki tree from the eastern countries.

　The silk was not easy to steal, as it was an important strategic material for the eastern countries.
　However, thanks to the efforts of Giuliano and his monks, they succeeded in stealing the silk production method, silkworms, and mulberry.

　Now we can produce silk and tea in our country.

　Of course, the know-how of the countries in the East was far superior to ours, and we would be able to produce only inferior products at first.
　However, it is still a big step for us to be able to produce and export these products at home.

　If you were my vassals, I would have given you a huge reward, and if you were not a mendicant order, I would have donated money and land to you. ......
　It is enough for me to say that. ...... If possible, we would appreciate your further support.
　Yeah, I know.

　You can't give money or land, but you can give money indirectly. ......
　For example, it is possible to waive fees for some public facilities, to rent a permanent base of operations, or to lend a boat or horse.

　For the brotherhood, missionary work is a God-given task.

　For the brotherhoods, missionary work is a God-given mission. It's a win-win situation, as Hercule can keep the cost of missionary work low and the brotherhoods can concentrate on missionary work without any inconvenience.

　"By the way, Your Majesty, rumor has it that you and High Priestess Medium are on very good terms.
　"Is it a problem that the Emperor of Lemuria and the High Priestess Medium are on good terms?

　When Hercule said this, the head of the brotherhood frowned.

　No, we are happy for you. It is in God's will that the sacred and the profane work together to further the development of the Messianic world. However, I would like to ask you to keep ...... in moderation.

　Apparently, the head of the brotherhood was not too happy about Hercule and Cecilia having a corrupt relationship.
　So, for the sake of Cecilia, Hercule will tell her a lie.

　You seem to have misunderstood something, but Cecilia and I do not have a sleazy relationship. We are, of course, very close.
　"...... Are you sure?
　Then you should check with Cecilia.

　Cecilia would definitely say.
　"Do you have any proof? And...

　"Do you have proof or not?　Why are you asking me that if you don't?　Are you accusing me of something?　That's disgusting. That's defamation. How would you feel if someone suddenly told you that you are homos*xual, but there is no proof?　Wouldn't you feel bad?　I'm sure you'd say, "At least come up with a proof or two before you say it.



　The key is to never say, "I'm a virgin.

　"But you know what? ......
　"Actually, I haven't gotten a unicorn. The unicorn is very fond of Cecilia. I'm sure you'll see Cecilia riding the unicorn soon. She's in the middle of training to ride.
　"A unicorn?　The holy beast?
　Yes. I got it from the Nuba Kingdom. You'll believe it when you see it. Or do you not believe in unicorns?

　If the most powerful virgin creature in the world, the unicorn, says, "Hmm, that's a virgin," then it's definitely a virgin.
　At least, the general public will certainly believe it, so there is no problem.







　After parting with Giuliano, Hercule called Antonio.

　"Antonio, the report on the sheep ...... says that you were successful.
　"Yes, Your Majesty. We have succeeded in perfecting the breed. We're preparing to increase the number.

　Hearing the report directly from Antonio, Hercule nodded in satisfaction.

　There is no significant difference in the technology of processing fiber into cloth or clothing.
　If the technology can be transferred, it is more efficient to develop the industries that can be transferred.

　At least, it is more efficient than trying to start an industry that you have never tried before.

　How are prices in the Empire?
　Prices have begun to rise steadily in the provinces. But in the capital, the gap between the rich and the poor seems to be widening.
　Hmm, that's troublesome.

　Since there are no particularly bad harvests or natural disasters, we can basically conclude that rising prices mean that the economy is improving.
　However, excessive price increases are not a good trend.

　This is because the gap between the rich and the poor will inevitably widen.

　The widening gap between the rich and the poor will lead to a deterioration of public safety and ultimately to an economic recession.

　We should introduce a wealth tax.
　"...... Wealth tax?
　It's a voluntary tax paid by the rich above a certain income level. If the names of those who pay the highest taxes are made public and honored, some people will pay it.

　It's only a volunteer thing, because we don't want the rich to decide they can steal your money with fines and get away with it. ......
　We need to collect as much money from the top as possible and pass it on to the bottom.

　Taxes have a role to play in the redistribution of wealth.

　There is an urgent need to expand social welfare. Well, we'll have to discuss that with Cecilia. ......

　The joint effort with the Church is going well, for the time being.

　Orphanages and shelters co-funded by the Imperial Government and the Church have been built not only in Nova Lemuria, but all over the Lemurian Empire, and a theological college has also been established.

　Cecilia did not spare any effort to help Hercule, as she had declared.
　Of course, Cecilia was promoting the Messianic missionary work in Taurica, Bulgalon, Nuba, Barbary, Kurotongue, and the East, which was definitely in the interest of Hercule.

　The relationship between the two parties is very good.

　"Your Majesty, what shall we do about the Republic of Adleria?
　"Oh, leave that clever little ...... behind. It's no longer a threat. We'll destroy it when the time comes.

　The Republic of Adluria was a small city-state with a powerful navy.
　In the past, Lemuria, Chellda, and Adluria had divided the seas in three.

　However, Cerda lost its naval power and civil war broke out, and Lemuria regained the islands in the sea. ......
　In addition, the Republic of Adleria began to lose its power when it established a trading company and entered into an aggressive trading business.

　The trading companies established by the Lemurian Empire were open to non-Lemurians.
　As a result, the merchants who had been based in the Republic of Adluria thought that there was no need to be concerned with the Republic of Adluria, and were moving their headquarters to Nova Lemuria.

　In the first place, there was a difference in national strength between the large empire of Lemuria and the small city-state of the Republic of Adluria.
　Lemuria had an overwhelming advantage in shipbuilding power.

　But won't it be troublesome if we join forces with the Fulling Kingdom and Edelna Kingdom?
　Do you have something of interest to tell me?
　Yes, ...... merchants from the Republic of Adleria have been known to frequent the courts of both countries. Also the Kingdoms of Cerda and Tretum.
　"Hmm. ......

　The Kingdom of Chelda is in the midst of a civil war, and the Kingdom of Tretum is a friend of the Lemurian Empire, so it is not a threat.
　But the kingdoms of Fulling and Edelna are a bit more troublesome.

　You're right, ...... it's time to start dealing with the west.

　Hercule muttered to himself with a hint of annoyance.

　I'm not sure what to do.
　I'm not sure what to make of it.

　But in order to do that, we have to cut down on patronage.

　Hindsight.
　That is, to take care of the Kingdom of Cerda, whose civil war is winding down.

　Now that we've done the prep work, let's move on to the cooking and eating.

　Hercule smiled.