The young man named Selas standing at the foot of the steps smiled slightly:

"Your esteemed Majesty! Since I represent the Bank Group, I naturally come with the sincerity that belongs to the Bank Group.

We all know very well what the Hilus Kingdom currently lacks the most. Real gold and silver are much more useful than a crown that only looks good but cannot be used!"

Philip II did not pay much attention to his casual remark about the "looks good but cannot be used" crown, but instead asked with interest:

"Oh? Real gold and silver? Does the envoy also agree to our request?"

"No, no, no, you've misunderstood my meaning, business is business.

The Bank Group indeed does not have the ability to reclaim lost items from a demigod, but it can bring you more wealth, and the amount of this wealth is sure to satisfy you, please look!"

With that, he pulled out a document from his leather bag and handed it to a servant, indicating it should be presented to the King.

Hearing the word "wealth," Philip II was instantly interested, forgiving the other's small impudence for contradicting him.

Taking the document, which had been verified by the "servant" and found to be problem-free, he opened it with a hint of anticipation:

"A mineral reserve survey report? An island in the New Continent, discovered by Potosi.

Rich in silver reserves... estimated reserves of twenty-five thousand... tons?!!!"

Bang—

Philip II abruptly stood up, and because of his excitement, he accidentally knocked over another vase beside the throne, but he couldn't spare any concern for it as he eagerly inquired:

"Where is Silver Island?"

The current eminent ruler of the continent could hardly contain his excitement.

What does twenty-five thousand tons mean? Equivalent to fifty-five million, one hundred thousand pounds, even if all were cast into 32-pound cannonballs, nearly two million cannons could be fired!

If used to purchase artillery and cannonballs, what would it do to elevate the kingdom's armament? Even a child could figure that out!

The significance might not be much weaker than gaining a demigod's assistance.

Upon seeing this number, Philip II had already thrown aside another purpose of summoning his vassals for this meeting, the topic of "dealing with the changing situation in the Black Sea after Hipponeo's recovery."

He signaled to "Thorny Fire," the only Guardian Knight sitting among the kingdom's four, who nodded and transformed into a red whirlwind, sealing off the entire meeting palace completely.

'Ha! The greedy King of Hilus indeed took the bait.'

A gleam of a successful scheme flashed in the young envoy's eyes.

The chain of islands named after its discoverer, the Potosi Island Chain, is truly a "Silver Islands," born from volcanic eruptions, yet the island is currently not within the control of Hilus or any civilized nation.

Instead, it lies in a gap between multiple powers, a final refuge for a group of New Continent Aboriginals.

After the Bank Group's expedition found the island, considering various factors, they hesitated to excavate. Even if they did, it's uncertain if this juicy piece would fall into the Bank Group's hands.

If long-term occupation and sustainable mining cannot be guaranteed, it's just like a splash of water in the water.

However, it seems that the badly hurt Bank Group can use a silver mine intelligence, which for them is just a mirage, to gain enough in a benefit exchange to weather this crisis.

By the way... they can also teach Hilus, one of the indirect culprits behind this disastrous event for the Bank Group, a lesson!

With Hilus's domineering nature, it's bound to have intense conflicts with other colonial properties. The key is, even if they know this is the consequence, can they afford to give it up?

How has the Netherlands without a Peak Tier 4 Powerhouse or the right to have one stood for three hundred years?

It seems that too many have forgotten the bloody methods employed by the Bank Group when they rose to power!

....

Phaletis Kingdom, "New Inn Port."

After more than twenty days of maritime journey and directly facing "War of the Gods," Aiven and the crew of the "Storm Horn," weary in mind and body, returned to New Inn Port.

"Is this year's autumn voyage to the New Continent not over yet?"

Upon disembarking, Aiven was surprised to find that there were more heavily loaded, fully laden ocean-going merchant ships in "New Inn Port."

"Be careful! If these cashmere carpets get sea water on them, I'll have your skins!"

"Hurry and urge again, why haven't the dispatched goods arrived yet?"

"..."

The port was somewhat noisy.

Leading the crew ashore, only wishing to complete his report and return to rest early, Aiven didn't realize the significance behind this scene and quickly put it out of his mind.

Currently, Aiven is not interested in things unrelated to himself.

"Holy Baptismal Water?"

Unexpectedly, while making his report to the Crown Prince and the Military Department later, he received an unexpected joy.

Before departing, Bishop Benedict of the "New Inn Cathedral" had promised Aiven a reward for inventing the "Siren's Song," which finally arrived when Aiven went to carry out his mission in Tyrone Kingdom.

However, he felt it was a reward with a certain taste.

"What? You don't want it?"

Sitting behind her desk, Liweina toyed with a bottle that appeared entirely clear but shimmered with a slight silver glow, teasing Aiven who stood before her.

In legend, the Holy Baptism Pool located in the Goddess Realm is a place where the souls of devout believers going to the Divine Kingdom renew their flesh and are reborn; another says it is... the bathing place of the Goddess.

But whatever the real situation is.

Such "Holy Baptismal Water" can only be acquired in very small amounts through rituals conducted during the annual Christmas Mass at the "Iron Cross Throne," a site of the goddess's miracles.

Without making uncontested contributions to the Church and the Goddess, it's absolutely impossible to receive such a gift.

The effect is also direct:

After use by an Official Knight, it can harmlessly expand potential and establish the most perfect foundation. Moreover, depending on the original physical condition, it ensures reaching the Tier 2 Official Knight Peak within a month to a year.

Of course, the effect is limited to the body; the parts about the human mind and spirit are sections that even a True God cannot fully manipulate, as they truly belong to mortals themselves.

Perhaps to a truly aspiring Orthodox Knight eager to awaken Combat Qi, they might prefer to take a year or two longer to become a Peak Knight rather than take such a shortcut, such as Her Highness Liweina.

Because although there are no side effects, it lacks the dual tempering of body and mind that happens with every bit of progress through strenuous training, offering no help for honing willpower to awaken [Combat Qi].

However, this small flaw doesn't really matter to someone like Aiven, who clearly wants to blaze his own trail.

Moreover, given his current level as a Senior Official Knight, consuming this potion might allow him to leap to become a Peak Knight in less than two months!

Easily obtaining the power that others may spend ten, twenty years or their whole lives seeking!

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