No, no, no, no, no, no!　Hey, you can't do that ...... No, you can't!　No, you can't! No one would normally do such a ridiculous thing even if they could think of it!　If I did, I would be a real fool!　But that's why no one ...... has ever tried to do such a thing before!　But that's why no one has ever tried to do such a thing before: ......

　About Emperor Lemuria.

　--Sonya Lupus Gayseria--




　Blah, blah, blah.

　"Ludwig I completes conquest of Albion. ...... That's annoying. It's so annoying.

　Hercule sniffed disapprovingly.
　A few years after conquering the Bulgurons, Hercule was now twenty-nine years old.

　He had reached the age of twenty-nine years old.
　If you're a human, you'll start to feel a little older by now. ......
　However, Hercule's appearance has not changed since he was in his early twenties.
　It will probably remain the same for the next eighty years or so.

　That's what the elves are all about.

　Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.

　I would've brought the Albion nation into the siege against the Fullerling if I could've. It's too far.

　Albion is the collective name for the two islands across the strait from the continent, Greater Albion and Lesser Albion.
　The two islands have never been united under a single political power in history.

　Before the Lemurian Empire set foot on the island, there were only small city-states, or even small settlements scattered throughout, and the people who lived there had no concept of ethnicity, although they were aware that they were fellow citizens with a common ancestor, culture, and religion.

　It was only when the Lemurian Empire stepped in and the Lemurians built Londinium as their base of control in the southern part of Greater Albion that the natives of Albion began to think in terms of ethnicity, that is, to separate "us" from "the invaders. "us" and "the invaders.

　The Lemurian Empire controlled 70% of Albion, but it was not able to bring all of it under its control.
　No, they could have if they wanted to.
　But the Lemurian Empire didn't see the value in doing so.

　As the Lemurian Empire declined, Albion was the first to be abandoned.

　With the invaders gone, Albion was left in peace. ......
　There is no way.
　The loss of the Lemurian ruler led to a loss of order, and the loss of the Lemurian invader, the common enemy, led to a struggle for supremacy among the native peoples.

　If nothing were to happen and this conflict was left unresolved, ......
　If this conflict had been left unresolved, a unified nation might have been born in Albion.

　But soon after, the warbeasts landed in Albion.

　Lemurians, indigenous people, and warbeasts came together in Albion.
　And it has continued to this day.

　It is impossible for even Hercule to grasp the situation in Albion from this distant place in Nova Lemuria.

　But ......

　So, at least formally, all the powers of Albion have signed a feudal contract with King Ludwig I. He probably only controls a small part of the south, but it's still a big deal. So you're not just a war fool.

　Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.

　Hercule raises his opinion of King Ludwig I.
　Because of the ostentatious rumors of him being "the knight among knights" and "the Lion King", many people tend to see him as a typical warrior.

　The same is true for politicians, vassals of King Ludwig I, early Hercules, and even later historians.
　Because of Ludwig I's spectacular military achievements and his extremely military name, many people envision him as a warrior-like figure.

　But that is a false image.

　Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.

　Ludwig I is a politician rather than a soldier.
　He prefers indirect and political solutions to direct and violent ones.

　He wears the mask of chivalry, but in reality he is a conspirator. ......
　He specializes in low-key subterfuge.

　Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.

　"Well, it's obvious when you think about it. The kingdom of Fullerling is a feudal, decentralized state by any measure. It is not a centralized state with a complete bureaucracy like Lemuria, nor is it an eclectic state like Faerus. And yet, the fact that he can command so many lords and mobilize an army ...... cannot be explained by mere charisma.

　Tick, tick, tick, tick.

　The way Hercule mobilizes his army is simple.
　Just tell the bureaucrats and generals to gather their troops.
　In the Lemurian Empire, which is organized from top to bottom, that's all it takes to gather an army.

　Well, maintaining that organization requires a different kind of effort. ......
　In the Lemurian Empire, which is organized from the top to the bottom, it is easy to gather an army.

　But in the kingdom of Fulling, it will not be so.
　You can't force lords to send troops if they don't want to.
　That is what feudalism is all about.

　Therefore, it is necessary to make careful arrangements and to keep a close watch to prevent betrayal.
　King Ludwig I was very good at that.

　Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.

　He's a pain in the ass. Sasan VIII might be simpler and easier to deal with.

　Hercule let out a sigh.
　He puts the report on the table and looks down.

　Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.

　Hercule looked down at the slave who was licking his toes in a frenzied manner.

　Licking her right toe was a blue-haired woman with large breasts, wearing a collar, manacles, and shackles, and a pale skinned, transparent slave uniform.
　The one licking her left toe is a dark-haired woman also wearing shackles, but instead of a slave uniform, she is wearing a traditional Bulgarian costume - albeit one that has been tampered with and is very indecent.

　Both have the long ears of the elves sprouting from between their hair.

　Splish, splash, splash!
　Tsk, tsk, tsk.


　Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.

　The sound of foot licking echoes through the office.

　Hercule holds the leashes that extend from their collars and calls out to them.

　Luna is better than me.
　"No, I'm not happy.

　I'm not happy about it." The woman in the slave uniform who was praised by Hercule, the Queen of Hayastan and Lemuria, Lunalie Yulianos, replied with her usual poker face.
　However, her eyes were moist, and it was obvious that she was drunk from the torment given by Hercule.

　Alicia isn't bad at it, but she's not as good as ...... Luna.

　Next, Hercule looked down at the woman licking his left toe, Alicia Crom, the eldest daughter of the chieftain of the Crom clan, one of the most powerful clans in the Bulgaron Kingdom, a princess, and currently a candidate for the Lemurian Empire's side room.
　At the same time, I move my left toe.
　Then Alicia moans in pain.

　I'll do my best.

　She moans and licks her toes with great effort, which is very healthy.
　The task at hand for Alicia is how to gain Hercule's favor and ensure the safety of the Chrom clan for the next two hundred years.
　It's no wonder she's desperate.

　(It's interesting that they're both abused, but of different ...... types.

　Lunarie is more of a type that likes direct violence.
　She likes physical pain.

　Alicia, on the other hand, has a strong reaction to mental pain, shame and humiliation.
　Perhaps the fact that she was stripped naked in public during the audience greatly distorted Alicia's s*xuality.
　Well, maybe that's a blessing in disguise.

　"Good luck, you two. Your people's situation will change depending on your efforts.

　As Hercule said this, the speed of their tongues increased.

　Their expression of affection for Hercule was calculated, but ......
　Actually, Hercule doesn't mind this kind of relationship.

　There are two reasons.

　First, Hercule's perverse proclivity for taking hostages and forcing them to do his bidding (・・・・) is what he likes about the situation in the first place.
　The other is that ...... the root is distrustful of human beings, so it is more trustworthy if there is a reason for the affection.


　He did not receive the love he should have received from his mother.
　Therefore, deep down he craves for affection, but because of his distrust of people, he is afraid to establish an equal relationship with them.
　If you interpreted that, you would feel very sorry for Hercule.


　"Come on, Luna. Come here.

　After saying this, Hercule tugged lightly on the chain.
　Lunalie stopped licking her toes and hurriedly climbed into Hercule's lap.

　They shared a pecking kiss.

　"You've become quite a good listener, Luna.
　I don't ...... have a preference for the Kingdom of Khayastan.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

　You can sell your body and flirtation, but not your heart.
　"Okay, fine, fine. ...... By the way, what's your second favorite thing?
　"...... Father.
　And what's your third?

　Then Lunalie blushed for a moment, and then answered.

　"...... Heika.
　You are a good, honest girl.

　Hercule stroked Lunalie's hair messily.
　Her hair was pulled and Lunalie moaned in pain.
　Her eyes grew hotter.

　Hayastan's wheat and wine are selling like hotcakes these days.
　Yeah, they're cheap. ......

　Nova Lemuria, the capital of the Lemurian Empire, is a large city with a population of over 700,000, and is a major consumer of wheat and wine.
　The Kingdom of Hayastan is directly connected to Nova Lemuria through the Aether Sea, which makes it very suitable for exporting agricultural products and minimizes transportation costs.

　The Kingdom of Khayastan has a less extensive monetary economy than the Lemurian Empire.
　This means that the Kingdom of Hayastan can live on less money, which means that it can sell its products at lower prices.
　And while the distribution of wheat in the Lemurian Empire is dominated by the wheat market in Aletheia, the kingdom of Hayastan is much freer.

　As a result, Hayastan's wheat and wine are highly competitive, as they can be sold at somewhat lower prices.

　Thanks to this, our country is importing too much. Now what shall we do?
　"No, no, no, leave it like this: ......

　Lunalie clutched her body to Hercule's breastplate and looked up at him with moist eyes, begging for forgiveness.
　If the Lemurian Empire raises its tariffs, the economy of the Kingdom of Khayastan will be hit hard.
　If the Lemurian Empire raises its tariffs, the economy of Khayastan will take a severe hit. Lunalie flirts with Hercule, asking him not to put a damper on the current prosperity.

　"What do you like best, Luna?
　"Hayastan, the kingdom.
　What's your second favorite?
　"Oh, Father.
　Let me ask you again. What's your second favorite?
　"...................

　said Lunalie in a feverish voice.
　Hercule met Lunalie's lips with his own, like a parent feeding a baby bird.

　Don't worry, I won't do anything wrong. It's just that ...... the Taurican peninsula is about to be settled, and northern wheat is coming in earnest. Either we need to increase the weight of wine production, or we need to expand our arable land to increase wheat production and lower the price. Or at least not as much as before.

　Hey, hey, hey. ...... Oh, can I borrow some money?

　That depends on your attitude, I guess.

　When Hercule said that, Lunalie put her weight on Hercule more than ever.
　I'm not sure if you've seen this before.



　Please, let me serve you. Heykaa ......
　Yeah, this evening.

　The trade between the Lemurian Empire and the Kingdom of Khayastan is a unilateral excess of imports by the Lemurian Empire: ......
　The Lemurian Empire's trade with the Kingdom of Khayastan is a one-way flow of money to the Kingdom of Khayastan.
　However, Hercule is not too concerned about this.

　This is because if the inflow of gold continues, the price of goods in Hayastan will be almost the same level as in the Lemurian Empire. 　　
　If this happens, prices will rise, and imports will fall as competitiveness decreases.
　At the same time, the peasants of Hayastan, who have become wealthy farmers, are expected to purchase the handicrafts and commodities of the Lemurian Empire.

　Even now, some of the money is being returned to the Lemurian Empire in the form of interest on loans, and at worst it can be siphoned off in the form of taxes.

　It is not that serious a problem.

　In the first place, the wheat market in the Lemurian Empire is not so small that it can only be filled with wheat from the Kingdom of Hayastan and the Taurica Peninsula, and since Hercule is trying to shift the entire Empire from wheat to commodity crops, external pressure from imported wheat is a good thing.

　"Oh, uh, heh, Your Majesty.
　"Who gave you permission to stop licking?　b*tc*.
　"Mmm, mmm, mmm. ......

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
　Coughing bitterly, Alicia began to lick her fingers again.

　I'll let you guess what you wanted to say.　I want to start a new industry for my Chromium clan. You want to be superior to the other clans. ...... That's what you want, isn't it?
　"Hmmm... ...... hmmm...

　Alicia licked Hercule's toe and gave a small nod.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　He stroked Alicia as if stomping on her.

　To be honest, I still hold a grudge against you for dropping my arm. ......
　I hope you've forgiven her. You're too small.
　What did you say, Luna?
　I love you, Emperor.

　Lunalie hugged Hercule and tried to cover it up.
　She stroked her head and at the same time increased the strength of her right foot, which was stroking Alicia's head.

　Hercule looks down at the teary-eyed girl, who continues to lick her left foot with all her might, even while being stomped on by her right foot.

　I'm sure you're surprised at how successful the Tellitelle clan has been, aren't you?　It seems there are others who are doing better. And you guys keep failing. You and your father are hopelessly lacking in business acumen.

　The political and economic system of the Kingdom of Vulgaron might have been fine until now.
　But now that they could trade freely with the Lemurian Empire, losing the economic competition would mean a decline in the power of the entire clan.

　Alicia would not be rewarded if she was quickly impoverished and absorbed by another clan after having betrayed them in exchange for a humiliation that made her want to die.

　"Well, the Chromes are the most loyal dogs I've ever had. I'll give you a few pointers. I'll be heading to the Bulgurons at ...... later.

　Alicia's eyes lit up at Hercule's words.