Chapter 576: 576: Punishment
What Ethan feared had finally become true, and the war between two nations had turned into a full-fledged world war, and the scale of it was far beyond anything normal.
At this point, only the Elves and Dwarves were left out of the conflict, but no one knew how long that would last, and it felt like they could join the war at any moment.
This was fucking nuts.Ethan clenched his jaw as his thoughts ran wild.
What a crazy bastard.
After understanding how those higher figures worked, he had come to realize one thing clearly.
Those bloody sons of bitches felt uneasy when the world was peaceful, and only when there was chaos and madness did things feel normal to them.
The situation outside had already gone completely out of control, and the war kept spreading with every passing day, but Ethan forced himself not to think about that too much because he knew he had no control over it.
What truly worried him was Blanks.
His land.
His people.
His family.
And more than anything, the Emperor’s judgment.
He had already faked his injuries to step away from the battlefield, but what if they forced him to fight again?
That thought stayed in his mind constantly, and it made him uneasy, and even when he tried to stay calm, a faint tension remained in his chest.
Thankfully, he did not have to wait long.
A few days later, an Imperial Envoy arrived at the Blanks estate, and his presence immediately drew attention as guards lined up and the atmosphere turned formal.
Ethan personally stepped forward to welcome him, and his expression remained calm while he maintained proper etiquette.
The Envoy did not waste time, and after a brief exchange, he took out a sealed document and handed it over.
"The decree from His Majesty," he said.
Ethan took the envelope carefully, and the seal felt heavy in his hand, and for a brief moment, his fingers paused before he broke it open.
He unfolded the document slowly and began to read.
The words were clear.
[Marquise Ethan Blanks’ severe dereliction of duty has resulted in heavy losses of troops and has caused significant damage to the Empire’s military strength. His failure to maintain proper command and his inability to hold position have been noted and recorded.]
Ethan’s grip tightened slightly, and his eyes continued moving.
[However, his actions in the battlefield, including the slaying of an enemy Divine Lord and his efforts to resist overwhelming forces, have been acknowledged. In light of this contribution, the previous sentence of title reduction is hereby withdrawn.]
For a brief moment, his expression eased slightly.But only for a moment.
The next lines hit him hard again.
[In exchange, Marquise Ethan Blanks is ordered to pay a fine of 20 billion gold coins in installments as compensation for losses, and he is required to send his awakened children to enlist in the army to serve the Empire.]
The moment he read that last line, his mind blanked for a second, and it felt like a bolt of lightning had struck him directly.
His body went still.
"This..." Ethan paused, and his voice almost caught in his throat as he slowly lifted his head and looked at the Imperial Envoy.
The Envoy stood calmly with a faint smile on his face.
"Is there a problem, Marquise?" he asked.
Ethan swallowed his words.
Inside, his thoughts were in chaos.This was ridiculous. This was outright bullshit.They spared his title, but they forced a massive fine on him, and on top of that, they demanded his children be sent to the battlefield.
It was clearly a calculated move.
They did not destroy him completely, but they made sure he paid heavily.
Ethan clenched his jaw for a brief moment, but he quickly suppressed it, and his expression returned to calm as if nothing had happened.
He lowered the document slightly and gave a respectful nod.
"Many, many thanks to the Emperor for showing mercy," he said.
His voice was steady, but there was a faint strain hidden within it.
"I will remember this kindness and gratitude in my heart," he added with a pained smile.
The Envoy’s smile widened slightly.
"His Majesty would be happy to hear that," he replied.
He observed Ethan for a moment and then nodded lightly.
"Thankfully, you understand His Majesty’s concern and did not act out of line," he added.
Ethan gave another small nod.
"I understand," he said.
But inside, there was nothing but cold anger building quietly.
The moment the Envoy left, the entire Blanks estate seemed to explode with emotion.
"Fucking son of a bitch!"
"How dare you!"
A loud roar shook the hall, and it came from none other than Sophia, and her body trembled violently as a crackling aura spread around her, and the pressure was so intense that even Ethan felt his scalp go numb.
Her teeth were clenched tightly, and her eyes burned with fury as she grabbed a nearby pillar.
CRACK!
The pillar burst apart under her grip, and pieces of stone scattered across the floor while dust filled the air.
Her breathing grew heavy, and her shoulders rose and fell as her anger continued to surge.
"This bastard..." she muttered, and her voice shook with rage.
The others were no better.
The entire room was filled with tension.
Rina stepped forward slowly, but her calm expression had also broken, and her face carried a deep, painful seriousness.
"The fine is one thing," she said, and her voice remained steady but heavy.
"But he dared to ask our children to go to war," she added.
Her fingers clenched tightly by her side, and even she, who was always composed, had clearly lost her usual calm.
Lia stood frozen, and her face had turned pale as she tried to process it.
"What!They want the children," she asked softly.
Diana lowered her head slightly, and her brows were tightly drawn together while anger and fear mixed in her expression.
