Kingdom Building Game: Starting Out With A Million Upgrade Points! - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Echoes Of An Empty Treasury
Arkanos and Arvel walked side by side through the grand halls of the imperial palace. The air was filled with the faint aroma of incense, and the soft click of their boots echoed off the polished marble floors.

Beautiful chandeliers hung overhead, their crystal facets catching the warm glow of torches lining the walls. Tapestries depicting battles and victories of past emperors lined the walls, their vibrant colors dulled by age but still commanding respect.

The hallway gradually sloped downward, giving way to simpler, sturdier architecture. The air grew cooler, and the faint rumble of activity from above faded into silence.

Two guards stood rigidly at the top of a wide stone staircase. Their polished breastplates gleamed under the torchlight, and their halberds stood at attention beside them. They straightened further as Arkanos approached.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” they said, bowing deeply.

Arkanos gave a small nod. Arvel, walking slightly behind, offered them a polite but distracted smile.

The guards stepped aside, and the emperor descended the stairs, his sharp gaze noting the smooth granite walls devoid of decoration, emphasizing functionality over beauty.

The stairway opened into a long, dimly lit corridor. More guards lined the path, each standing at attention with hands resting on the hilts of their swords. The air here was damp with the faint metallic tang of iron and stone.

“Your Majesty,” each guard greeted as they passed.

Arkanos acknowledged them with a small nod.

Finally, they approached the treasury doors. Two colossal slabs of reinforced steel stood before them, their surfaces etched with runes that glimmered faintly in the torchlight.

The runes were a blend of Dwarven craftsmanship and Elven enchantments, designed to ward off intruders and reinforce the door’s impenetrability.

A pair of elite guards stood on either side of the door, their armor far more ornate, with golden accents and sigils marking them as the best of the imperial defense. They saluted crisply as Arkanos and Arvel approached.

“Your Majesty, the treasury awaits,” one of them announced before stepping forward to manipulate a set of gears embedded into the wall.

A deep, resonating hum filled the corridor as the gears began to turn. The runes on the doors flared brighter for a moment, then dimmed as the doors groaned and creaked open. A rush of cooler air escaped, carrying the faint scent of aged parchment and iron.

Arkanos stepped inside, his boots tapping against the stone floor of the cavernous chamber.

Torches flared to life along the walls, illuminating rows of empty shelves and dusty pedestals that had once displayed the wealth of the empire. Now, they stood barren, except for a few scattered coins, a handful of gemstones, and a lone chest tucked into a corner.

The emperor’s sharp eyes took in the space, noticing the cobwebs that clung to the upper corners and the echoing hollowness that followed each of his steps.

He stopped in the center of the room and turned slowly, his expression impassive.

“It’s practically empty,” Arkanos said, his voice echoing through the chamber like a judge’s decree.

Arvel adjusted his monocle and cleared his throat as he opened a satchel slung over his shoulder. “Your Majesty, I’ve brought the documents detailing how most of the treasury’s gold was spent over the years.”

He retrieved a neatly bound stack of parchment and extended it toward Arkanos, who accepted it. Unfolding the top sheet, the emperor’s sharp eyes scanned the list, and as the words settled in his mind, his brow twitched.

There, recorded in painstaking detail, were some of the most baffling expenditures imaginable. Ornamental birdcages crafted from gold and encrusted with diamonds. An entire wing of the palace devoted to storing exotic plants from across the continents. A massive see-through glass house, where instead of glass, it was made of see-through diamonds.

Seeing all this, Arkanos’ mind reeled. ‘So apparently, he must have loved plants and birds…’

He continued to look at the list, also noticing Seraphine’s golden armor was included in the list, causing him to feel a bit uneasy.

‘Wait… Don’t tell me he had a thing for Seraphine? No wonder she wore golden armor, and I beloved it is also enchanted… while the others wore basic iron… I thought it was because she was the knight captain, but… I guess this explains why she has been the most loyal from day one. Arkanos must have treated her really well,’ Arkanos thought, then considered further.

‘But giving her golden enchanted armor feels a little much for simply favouring her. Did he have a thing for her? It seems like he did… I can’t help but wonder how it made Illena, Sephira, and Kaela feel… seeing their emperor fawn over his knight captain… Damn, I suddenly feel bad.’

Arkanos pinched the bridge of his nose, a slow exhale escaping him. The absurdity was overwhelming. “By the gods…” he muttered.

His eyes narrowed as he flipped through page after page, the sheer frivolity of his former self’s spending habits becoming all too clear.

Finally, he snapped the documents shut and handed them back to Arvel. “I get the gist of it,” he said dryly, his voice laced with both irritation and resignation.

Arvel took the papers carefully, his expression one of mild unease. “Your Majesty, if I may… how do you intend to replenish the treasury? Increasing taxes, perhaps? After all, the sudden boost in the agricultural capabilities of the farmers will now allow them to afford to pay more taxes. Or perhaps we take from the nobles? After all, a project of this scale will need a massive amount of funds. So, what do you plan to do…” He gestured vaguely, his words trailing off.

Arkanos allowed a faint smile to appear on his lips, the glimmer of confidence returning to his eyes. “Of course, Arvel… another divine miracle.”

Arvel’s monocle nearly slipped from his face as he adjusted it hastily, his mouth agape. “Asking the gods for money? Your Majesty, I’ve never heard of such a thing before!”

The emperor’s smile widened, and he clasped his hands behind his back, pacing leisurely. “You misunderstand, Arvel. I don’t intend to grovel for coin. I intend to perform a miracle with the divine power in my possession.”

As Arkanos said those words, a system window suddenly appeared beside him.

〘 ⋄ Several gods are very curious about what you mean ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ Some gods say it is impossible. Summoning is one thing, but what you are saying you want to do is the creation of wealth with divine power ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ Some gods are confident you will pull it off ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ Some gods say you won’t ⋄ 〙

〘 ⋄ The god of games is suggesting they place a bet on how this plays out ⋄ 〙