Chapter 1133: Chapter 1070: Reckoning!
With the arrival of the oligarchs’ private armies and the citizens’ militia, the rebels at the Municipal Square quickly collapsed and surrendered under the two-pronged attack.
As for Shabo, he was caught trying to escape when he was reported at the city gate.
The remaining oligarch family, the Rontinger family, remained holed up in the fortress inside the city and the manor outside.
The city councilors, dressed in their pajamas, rushed to the scene, and after learning the ins and outs of the situation, couldn’t help but click their tongues.
They thought it was vagrants entering the city to plunder, and that the City Hall overreacted, but it turned out to be Shabo’s trick.
After all, Shabo was considered a figurehead of the "Holy Alliance faction" in Longbow Castle; no one expected him to defect.
Every time they thought of this, the few oligarchs who had rushed over broke out in a cold sweat.
If the Holy Alliance people had arrived just a bit later, Baron Stoll would have been rescued.
At that time, they would probably have no choice but to plead with the Rontinger family and then quickly transfer their assets to flee.
Why did the eight oligarch families, after rashly expelling the bishop, still seek the Holy Alliance as their backer, knowing they’d suppress the guild?
Because the Holy Alliance was their optimal solution, due to its superior environment, numerous opportunities, and ease of asset transfer.
During the years of war, how many citizen families from urban areas relocated to Falan and the Holy Alliance?
Truly, the quick urbanization of the Holy Alliance’s counties relied heavily on the flow of the civilian class.
The Holy Alliance and Falan, serving Leia together, have nearly drained Leia’s urban class dry.
As for whether this move was considered treason, the merchants and citizens felt not at all guilty.
The idea is that where people flow, that’s where civilization goes.
In this matter, their belief is steadfast—seeking "prosperity" is no crime!
Of course, for the citizens, pursuing prosperity is the best strategy.
They’ve already hit rock bottom; any direction is upward.
These lofty oligarchs, however, are different; unless they’re out of all options, they won’t easily relocate.
Their assets are too large, many are intangible, and if they can’t quickly find a buyer, they’d have to cut their losses.
They cut, and others cut, and as cutting went on, market cash flow surged, making things look even more prosperous than before.
But according to the Holy Alliance’s financial experts, this false prosperity won’t last long.
Because the most crucial "grass"—people, are already gone.
At best, it’s a temporary revival; once the tide recedes, the nobility of Leia will feel the impact.
How risky, how risky it was; thinking of the traitor Rontinger family, the other seven oligarchs gritted their teeth in hatred.
But before dealing with that, the most important thing is to meet the envoy from the Holy Alliance.
No matter their past attitudes, the current stance of the seven oligarchs is unified—"Devout! Loyal!"
Fifty knights broke through five hundred men, held the Knight Hall, and even recaptured several strongholds.
Although they haven’t met yet, this group from the Holy Alliance has already made a deep impression on them.
Jeanne’s fifty knights’ assault on the rebels looks the same as before, but it’s fundamentally different.
Previously, when the Holy Alliance fought against Prince Kongdai and King Jiji, they often relied on tactics.
But ten years later, after nurturing and training, although ordinary soldiers can’t be guaranteed, the officers generally have mastered two or three breathing techniques.
This time, they’re largely relying on numbers.
It seems like fifty Holy Alliance cavalry broke through the enemy lines, but if the fifty were armed Extraordinary Knights breaking through five hundred, it’s very reasonable.
However, when the oligarchs arrived with gifts, they found that the top officer of the military group had already fallen asleep from fatigue due to the battle.
They naturally didn’t disturb them, left the gifts, and returned to start restoring the city’s order.
......
By noon, the scorching sunlight hit Jeanne’s forehead, waking her from sleep.
She stretched, sat up, and went to the mirror to comb her frizzy hair.
Jeanne looked around and couldn’t help but envy Jia Li’s smooth, non-frizzy platinum blonde hair.
Even though they’re both witches, why is her hair always frizzy?
After getting dressed and putting on her prayer helmet, Jeanne picked up the pocket watch from the bedside table and opened it to check the time.
It was already noon.
She looked at the picture of Horn on the other side of the pocket watch and smiled softly and with a hint of blame, then closed the pocket watch.
Descending the spiral staircase from the second floor, the municipal hall on the first floor was already cleaned up.
The arrows on the walls and floor were pulled out and bundled, the bloodstains on the carpet and stairs were cleaned, and the furniture blocking the doors and windows was returned to its place.
The citizens, who had voluntarily brought their buckets and mops for cleaning, looked curiously and respectfully at Jeanne as she descended.
Joan Gallar.
This is clearly someone of noble birth, likely from the core area of the Holy Alliance, Joan of Arc Castle in Langsande County.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have such a name.
Seeing Jeanne come down, Bradak approached with a strange expression: "The city councilors are all waiting in the hall, Your Highness... Could Your Excellency now proceed to the council chamber?"
"Let’s go." Jeanne didn’t waste words and directly followed him to the council chamber next door.
Pushing open the large chamber doors, the city councilors and representatives sitting on either side of the long table immediately stood to greet her.
Jeanne gestured for them to sit down, and though she instinctively moved to sit beside the main seat, she was reminded to sit at the head.
Looking at this exceptionally beautiful woman, several representatives and councilors felt their hearts race slightly.
But remembering her background and origins, this rush quickly calmed down.
"I represent the Holy Alliance to greet everyone..." Jeanne casually said a few pleasantries and then introduced herself to the twelve councilors.
She wouldn’t claim to be Jeanne D’Arc but instead called herself Joan Gallar.
Proclaiming the saintess herself was here would undoubtedly attract attention and expose the Holy Alliance’s involvement.
Though exposure is inevitable sooner or later, it’s definitely not the right time now.
After the introductions, Jeanne swiftly returned to the main topic.
"I am here at Longbow Castle to support the fight against the unfair treatment from the Leia Kingdom.
Please do not worry; think we’re using you as a front to deplete the Leia Kingdom’s strength.
Because we’re not just bringing words but also real weapons, Holy Favor Seeds, and more..."
The aid from the Holy Alliance to the Five Cities League on Dawn Island is indeed substantial, like buying bones for a thousand gold pieces.
Moreover, even if the Five Cities League can’t win, as long as they hold out for seven or eight years, with Horn establishing the core of the New Five Counties and Shattered Stone Plain, he will naturally deploy troops.
Industrialization is a monster; without expansion and new consumer groups, where will the production capacity go?
With the promise and performance of the Holy Alliance, despite lingering doubts, the councilors were at least less suspicious than before.
After expressing her position, Jeanne proactively inquired about the current situation in Longbow Castle.
"Lady Joan, although order in the city has been restored, there are still a few places..."
"Which ones?"
Two city councilors with marital ties to the Rontinger family exchanged glances and handed over a letter.
"A letter from the Rontinger family?"
"Yes."
Jeanne didn’t even glance at it before tearing the letter to pieces.
No matter what was written, the Rontinger family’s act of sending a letter already indicated one attitude—can we reconcile?
Isn’t that a joke? Jeanne sneered and said, "If betrayal has no cost, then loyalty is meaningless!"
Ten years of training, Jeanne was no longer that rustic village girl.
Although her governance skills aren’t as sophisticated as Horn or Madlan, governing a city or army is more than enough for her.
Hearing Jeanne’s words, the other seven oligarchs understood that this was a reckoning.
"What does the Rontinger family do?" Socette next to her pulled out paper and pen to ask.
The councilors exchanged looks and suddenly began incriminating each other, and through their sayings, the Rontinger family’s situation became clearer bit by bit.
The Rontinger family is primarily in trade, buying silk and luxury goods at low prices in Windmill Land and selling them at high prices in Norn and Thorn Garden.
Additionally, holding considerable amounts of silver, they also built a silver mint through bribery for currency exchange and lending.
The Rontinger family had also inherited the position of Finance Officer for generations, responsible for Longbow Castle’s financial income.
Among the eight oligarchs there was no ranking, but it was generally agreed that the Rontinger family was among the top three.
"Since they’re a foreign trade family and won’t affect prices, there’s nothing much to say." Jeanne tapped her knuckles on the table to signal for quiet, "Next, we will fully take over the Rontinger family’s assets, to be used as military funds against the Leia Army."
