King
Chapter 802 - 802 59 Mobilization Order_3

802: Chapter 59, Mobilization Order_3 802: Chapter 59, Mobilization Order_3 Right from the start, Hudson wanted to burst into rage, but then he suppressed it immediately.

The Earth Bear was a Magical Beast too, although it wasn’t from the same clan as the other beasts below, it still belonged to the larger family of Magical Beasts.

Now, during the war between Magical Beasts and humans, for Belsden to take no sides was giving him enough face.

To ask someone to betray their own Species would be too much.

Apart from the Low-level Magic Beasts who lacked intelligence, other Magical Beasts that had contracts with humans wouldn’t participate in such a war.

“No problem, during the war you’ll just need to protect my safety, the fighting can be left to Maxim,”

said Hudson, waving his hand unconcernedly.

Missing one bear as a heavy hitter was no issue, he still had a Dragon.

Besides, this war wasn’t his alone.

He had allies to share the burden.

Perhaps seeing Belsden successfully sidestep the issue, Maxim also spoke up, saying, “Hudson, I also…”

“Mister Maxim, are you a Magical Beast too?

Aren’t you going to uphold the dignity of the Giant Dragon Clan?”

Hudson exclaimed, feigning surprise.

Whether Giant Dragons counted as Magical Beasts or not was a matter without a unified consensus on the Continent of Aslante.

Some considered them part of the Magical Beast family, while others categorized them separately.

However, the proud Giant Dragons never acknowledged themselves as lowly Magical Beasts.

Whoever dared to call them Magical Beasts to their faces would immediately face their wrath!

“Of course this Dragon isn’t a Magical Beast!”

“Hudson, that’s not what I meant to discuss.

I am willing to fight, but we need to settle on the fee first.

Give me gold coins as many as my size, and I’ll block those three High-order Demon Beasts below for you!”

As he spoke, drool was practically rolling out.

His greedy expression made Hudson confirm yet again that his mount was indeed a pure-blooded Giant Dragon.

No wonder the other three Dragon Knights weren’t very active.

He guessed that they were probably all frightened by their own Dragons’ outrageous demands.

Maxim was actually reasonable, constrained by the additional clauses in their contract.

At least he didn’t charge him for everyday activities, unlike other Dragons who might.

“Get lost!”

With one word, Hudson conveyed his mood.

Asking for gold coins equal to his own size, what Maxim demanded wasn’t just outrageous—it was plain robbery.

How much the actual amount was, Hudson didn’t bother to calculate.

He knew he couldn’t afford it, and he wouldn’t accept such extortion.

“Hudson, don’t be angry.

The price can be negotiated.

Based on our relationship, I can let you owe me first.

Besides, it’s not necessarily you who has to pay.

With a little maneuvering, someone else will pay, and how about I give you a hundred gold coins out of it?”

Maxim’s greedy words drained Hudson of his temper.

Reason told him that getting angry with this blockhead would only backfire on him.

“Dream on, Maxim.

You think I could be bought for a mere hundred gold coins?”

After finishing, Hudson wished he could slap himself.

He really had been muddled by anger, speaking without thinking.

“Cut the crap.

If you want gold coins then go and catch prisoners for me.

I’ll only accept living Magical Beasts.

First Order Magical Beast, 100 Gold Coins, Second-order magic beast, 200 Gold Coins, Third Order Magical Beast, 500 Gold Coins, Fourth Order, Two Thousand Gold Coins, Fifth Order, 4,000 Gold Coins, Sixth Order, 8,000 Gold Coins, Seventh-order, 30,000 Gold Coins, Eighth Order, 100,000 Gold Coins, and Ninth-order magical beast, 500,000 Gold Coins.

For a female in her breeding period, the price is doubled on top of the base price.”

This bounty wouldn’t match the market price of Magical Beasts.

But, since they would be wild Magical Beasts, they would be hard to tame.

If they were tamed Magical Beasts, adding a zero to the prices above would have everyone clamoring to pay.

“Magical Beasts are forever, one will always be passed down.”

Unlike wild Magical Beasts who would leave if their master died even with a contract, tamed Magical Beasts could become family heirlooms.

This was the reason why Magical Beast Juveniles were so popular.

Only juveniles could be tamed; once a High-order Demon Beast matured, they lost any chance of being tamed.

The Major Nobles had many Magical Beasts, but they rarely had High-order ones, mainly because these intelligent species were difficult to raise.

Even those raised from juveniles would hold grudges.

Dare to feed them a Maturity Potion and retribution would surely come in the future.

Under normal breeding rhythms and the lengthy growth cycles, not only do the costs become astronomical, but the key lies in ensuring one’s power doesn’t decline for centuries.

If the magical beasts were not fully raised before the family’s own decline, then all the previous investments would have been for naught.

Even though these costs are not unbearable for the major nobles—after all, the expenses of raising a few more magical beasts are still within their means—the most frustrating part is that these magical beasts are often raised in vain during their long growth cycles.

It is all too common for a beast that has been reared for hundreds of years to remain stuck at the middle levels, around the fifth or sixth order.

For example, Governor Piers’s Flaming Lion; it, too, was a high-order demon beast, but it reached maturity prematurely when it grew to the fifth order.

No matter what was tried, in the end, it was stuck at the sixth order, unable to overcome the barrier to the seventh order, let alone continue growing.

Spending hundreds of years to train a middle-level magic beast is undoubtedly a loss-making transaction.

However high the chance of failure may be, there are also successful cases, and these are what drive people to continually invest in the endeavor.

At this moment, what Hudson was enticing Maxim with was mainly the low-level magic beasts.

These creatures from less intelligent species have relatively low contracting difficulty.

Especially the females among them—whether they can be contracted or not isn’t important.

Captured and bred with Maxim, it wouldn’t be long before another litter of juveniles was born.

“No way, what kind of dragon do you take me for?

How could I do the work of a slave trader?

I need extra pay!”

Hearing Maxim’s words, Hudson almost fell off the dragon’s back.

Moments ago, principles were being discussed, but in the blink of an eye, it had turned into a pure pursuit of money.

Gold coins hold no substantive meaning for giant dragons; it is truly baffling where their obsession with wealth comes from.

…

Back at the camp, Hudson briefly explained the situation to Governor Piers, and the atmosphere inside the room immediately grew tense.

“Earl Hudson, are you certain the beast tide is heading towards us?” asked Governor Piers with concern.

If a beast tide were to erupt, the progress of constructing the Blood Moon Defense Line would definitely be affected.

Even the already completed foundational work might be destroyed.

Even if they survive the beast tide, it would be a lose-lose situation for the magical beasts and the Southeastern Province Nobles, with only the Black Forest Kingdom standing to gain.

“Judging by the current direction of the beast horde, the tide is indeed headed our way.

Perhaps our construction of the defense line provoked them; or perhaps there is an excess of magical beasts in the Black Forest Mountain Range, and the resources in the mountains can’t sustain so many, prompting the high-order demon beasts to control their numbers through the beast tide.

It’s also possible that a mercenary group has caused a disaster and provoked the high-order magic beasts in the mountains, who now seek revenge through such means.

…

There are many possibilities, but these are not important right now.

The key question is how we should respond to this beast tide,” said Hudson calmly.

The size of the beast horde is certainly formidable, but this is Blood Moon County, far from the Mountain Domain, so the disaster won’t fall upon us immediately.

With so many nobles along the way, the hordes will likely be depleted after being intercepted at every turn.

“The border between the Southeastern Province and the Black Forest Mountain Range is too long; the beasts can choose any point to break through, making it difficult to stop them.

If there are high-order demon beasts commanding, setting traps and ambushing them is unlikely to be successful.

The nobles of Blood Moon County are in for disaster, and several neighboring counties will likely not be able to avoid it either.

Earl Hudson, issue a military mobilization order!

If we want to quell the beast tide in a short time, we must use the entire province’s military power,” said Governor Piers.

Hudson was slightly taken aback by Governor Piers’s words.

As the Provincial Military Officer, his role had been purely ceremonial from the outset, and he had not expected to be tasked with giving orders.

Soon enough, he understood what was happening.

It seemed like Governor Piers was ceding the initiative, but in reality, it was a hot potato.

No matter the defense, some noble’s lands would inevitably suffer.

Whoever commands the battle would have to bear the resentment of those unlucky ones.

The Southeastern Province didn’t have a standing army; Hudson may appear to have acquired military authority, but in reality, he only had the power to temporarily direct the Noble’s Private Armies.

No matter the machinations, the Noble’s Private Armies are still just private armies.

The orders of the Lord carry far more weight than those of a Provincial Military Officer like him.