Defying the Fate of Beheading

Chapter 664 350 Astronomical Numbers, Louis is About to Fall Ill_2

The battle at the Fallen Star Sea against the Pirate Islands was a confrontation where each participant had their own tactics, with a minimum skill level of LV14, along with protection and support from top-tier fighters, resulting in minimal losses.Even so, the only reason the casualties in that battle a few months ago were so low was because Louis enabled her to use the "Gate in the Painting" to transfer personnel.

In essence, it wouldn't take much; even with the lowest level of exemplar-grade, if he could muster a number of ten thousand, Louis could truly normalize demigod methods without the need to exhaust all techniques.

"Wait a second, does your Hall of Greed require any cost? This level of enhancement can't possibly be without some expense,"

Beatrice frowned and said, "If no cost is needed at all, then it wouldn't be a grave sin; it would rather be called a divine character."

Louis cleared his throat and said, "The cost required for engine capabilities is indeed significant, but as I've said, the cost is quite clear now, needing all sorts of rare gems and abundant materials to manufacture.

Simply put—expensive!"

Right now, Beatrice hadn't fully grasped the severity.

In the past, just wasting a few Gold Coins more than necessary could make Louis show a regretful expression.

Yet now talking about rare gems and abundant resources, Louis could still maintain a smiling demeanor.

This was not normal, truly not normal!

"Spend then, what is there to worry about? If it's really too pricey, let me see if I can shift some resources to support you; your strength is more important than anything."

"Hmm, no need." Louis briefly twisted his face before quickly suppressing it, "Building the Hall of Greed is not appropriate."

Beatrice paused for a moment, even she sensed something was off this time.

She cautiously asked, "Louis, why is your expression so stiff?"

"The expenses are too great; heart, painful to the point of facial numbness."

Beatrice: "...?!"

She remained silent for a while then said, "Can I regret it?"

"You must regret it, otherwise you'll certainly regret it in the future."

Louis's expression finally couldn't hold, showing a painful look: "Come closer, I'll tell you how much it costs."

Beatrice couldn't resist her curiosity ultimately, went over to hold him and listened to the manufacturing requirements.

In usual days, two young people in the throes of passion being so close would normally start feeling their heart racing.

Yet now, for this pair of engaged couple not even their heart rate accelerated, it was chilling to the core.

"Is this reasonable? Is this compliant? Isn't this illegal?" Beatrice said, amused and bewildered, "It might be alright to build this thing once, but building more, even we can't bear it."

Louis lamented: "It's not a matter of whether we can bear it, if it continues, forget the royal treasury, the entire empire's essence will be poured into it, don't even think about it until utterly beyond redemption."

At this moment, he finally understood why the nation was so quick to dissipate the vast imperial foundation.

The Hall of Greed worked magnificently, but the cost of building just one was extraordinarily high.

Just calculated in Gold Coins, to construct the basic scale of the Hall of Greed for the first time, the raw materials needed would approximately cost 140,000 Gold Coins to open 100 follower positions.

Hmm, roughly the purchasing power equates to 14 billion RMB, averaging 1.4 billion per follower position.

That is to say, even if demigods occupy all follower positions, Louis gathers the demigod level's extraordinary power from 5 individuals, will consume wealth worth 2.8 billion RMB.

The concept represented by this is suffocating.

Louis nearly waved his hand, not wanting to play anymore.

Did you think this was it?

The basic 100 positions were actually "sold cheap."

After the initial construction completes, the Hall of Greed would take shape.

From then, each expanded position's material value wouldn't be 1.4 billion anymore, but...

3 billion!

Yes, you aren't mistaken, 3 billion!

This requires sufficient material to guarantee the price.

If large-scale purchases lead to material scarcity, the market price becomes even higher, really no wonder Louis's smile was stiff.

But at the same time, a thought arose in his mind.

Seduced Nation, oh Seduced Nation, what did you encounter to become so war-driven that the Hall of Greed became compounded to a level the Empire couldn't withstand?

This inadvertently revealed an intelligence, one that would never be recorded in a journal.

That's the former Emperor indeed had issues, the Ense Empire's problems have become serious to the point the Seduced Nation exhausted the treasury couldn't cope.

It's certain Seduced Nation absolutely didn't just use the most basic 100 positions.

Given the turbulent state of Ense at the time, Seduced Nation opening an additional ten thousand was not impossible.

With a minimum infusion of 3 trillion, forcibly elevating the reserve of the Seduced Nation's Hall of Greed to the utmost, is quite likely.

—In the direst situations, safeguarding basic livelihood, utilizing 30 trillion, isn't implausible.

Only by reaching such extremes would lead to the public's bitter resentment against Seduced Nation.

A single person, even if trying every means to spend money, normally has a limit.

Even citizens and businessmen who understand capital flow, the envisioned expenditures have boundaries.

Before being taken to the guillotine, he thought Seduced Nation was just a casualty of political struggles, no matter how they squander, wouldn't cause nationwide complaints.

With renewed life, knowing more about the hidden intricacies, he believed it was an agreement between the Empire and the Church of Glory and Justice over there, with Seduced Nation's approval, intentionally relinquishing Ense's royal authority over Empire's control, for convenience in church handling the mess.

—After all, if the church didn't take over, perhaps everyone would die.

But now, having seen the Hall of Greed, he finally understood, why bother Grace with specialized promotions?

Under aggressive warfare, probably the entire Empire's economy collapsed, nothing needed to be done, just a "find the book hidden in the fish belly," then find a fox maiden and shout "XX rise, XX fall," someone could come forward waving the flag and shouting.

He previously had no concept of these things, but next month Beatrice would officially ascend the Emperor's throne, and they would formally become spouses, no longer in a betrothed relationship.

At this time, all secrets of the Empire are already open to them.

Louis finally comprehended the Empire's foundation.

There're still 31 demigod-level capable of active movements, in dying moments sealed themselves, as Empire's cards 14 demigods, legends under royal and subordinate power management 265, legends self-sealing as Empire's cards 712.

Totaling 1022.

Exemplar-grade lacks the ability to sustain long-term in self-seal, currently each legion's LV20 elite numbers 814, with 710 stationed at the Gate of the Abyss and major space passages.

Belonging to legion, exemplar mid-rank LV17-19 approximately 3100, exemplar mid-stage LV14-16 around 5700.

The top force belonging to Ense, totaling about 10600.

Under aggressive warfare, Seduced Nation contracted all these people as followers, he could manipulate energy close to 100 initial demigods should be no issue.

Louis squinted his eyes.

He suspected the Emperor also possessed similar effects' abilities.

Otherwise, simply relying on the demigod body, he found it difficult to imagine an emperor, who was still human, could harbor so much energy.

"How about completing the basic construction of the Hall of Greed?" Beatrice tentatively remarked, feeling her dear one was nearly suffering a heart attack.

Louis forced a smile and said, "Building is certainly necessary, if considering ways to control costs."

100 positions are definitely not enough.

However, upon expansion, the astronomical expenditure truly suffocates him.

Even though the Hall of Greed clearly can aid Louis in opening the Path of Godhood, money shouldn't be spent like this.

Just thinking, pondering, his eyes suddenly lit up:

"Beatrice, the situation might not be as severe as we imagine."

"Hmm?"

Louis added: "In my hometown, some industries frequently perform an operation called 'the wool comes off the pig, the dog pays the bill.'

Beatrice paused for a moment, her mind quickened, instantly grasping Louis's meaning: "Are you planning to transfer the risk?"