Chapter 592 - : Fallen Dragon 3 (1/2)

Once the meeting with Vladimir was done, Reichard immediately headed back to Libiya Kingdom at a terrifying speed.

It was because he had to refer to the requests and deals made with the Volga Republic and talk with the members in his kingdom.

But while he was heading back, an unexpected situation occurred.

That too was something which shouldn’t have happened.

“Your Majesty, the soldiers in Samora city caused a riot.”

“What, riot? And the reason for it?”

At the report given by the military commander—Duke Butler, Reichard frowned.

Being in war with the Baroque Empire, Reichard had paid a lot of attention to the military affairs as well as the other nation’s military.

He constantly supplied the needed munitions so that the morale of his soldiers and knights wouldn’t fall, and the salaries for the military personnel was a lot more than the Baroque Empire.

Even then a riot had occurred?

“Did someone embezzle the funds sent to the military?”

“That isn’t it. It is that they just seem to hate the idea of going back into the battlefield.”

The damage caused by the riot wasn’t so huge.

Rather than looting the civilians, the soldiers only marched in the streets and focused on their anti-war protests.

However, the officer who tried to stop the riot was killed and a few other casualties had incurred due to a fight between the troops who had come to suppress them.

“UH! Those cowards! Make sure all the people who are involved in the riot are taught a lesson!”

“It would be nice to do that. But, we won’t really be able to punish even a single one of them.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

When Reichard asked not understanding, Duke Butler began to explain the background of those who participated in the riot.

“The soldiers who were in the riot are conscripts. Originally, most of them were workers who had jobs in the markets or worked in the mines, but since the founding of the nation, they all lost their jobs.”

It was because of Reichard that they had turned unemployed.

Reichard had proceeded with the construction of the national projects, clearing the wastelands and developing mines by using the low-level monsters such as goblins and kobolds.

Monsters seemed a lot more efficient than humans, simply because all the monsters needed only the food and no other expenses.

This saved the national budget a lot and reduced the taxes to gain support from the people, but the position of the lower-income people who lost their jobs overnight was different.

“Did we conscript them as soldiers to solve the unemployment problem?”

“Yes, but there are many who are dissatisfied and upset with it.”

Enlisting the unemployed increased the number of soldiers available in the Kingdom, and the unemployed were given jobs and salaries.

It was a good theory, however, the reality seemed different.

If it wasn’t for the current situation, Reichard’s intentions would’ve been applauded.

But currently, they were at war.

Moreover, the opponent was the Baroque Empire.

It was said that the Baroque was going through civil war and border battles at the same time, yet, it was still the strongest nation with military power.

There was no way the conscripted soldiers wouldn’t be afraid.

Even though they didn’t want to fight, they were forced to fight, which turned them anxious and dissatisfied with the position they were in.

“Why does the King keep dragging the war?”

“If the need for soldiers is that great, can’t he just increase the number of monsters?

“I want to go back to my hometown! Even if it means selling meat, I’ll at least be able to live without worrying about it when I die!”

The dissatisfaction in the soldiers piled up, and eventually, it led to the situation of a riot happening.

“This isn’t something which can just be overlooked. It was said that similar signs are happening in the other units in charge of the conscript training.”

“Uhm…”

If Butler’s words were true, they couldn’t be punished.

If the hearts of the trembling soldiers weren’t put at ease, the same situation would keep coming back.

Well, if Emperor Rudolf knew about the situation and decided to put his finger in it, the situation would turn out of control.

‘The number of monsters I can control has a limit. And I am already at my limit.’

Even if Reichard had inherited the Dragon’s blood, it wasn’t like he could control the infinite monster.