Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1587 - 548: The Long-Awaited Dragon Knight

"Does Crown Rein mean that we should forge gods?"

The revelation left numerous high-ranking officials and Imperial Guardians stunned, prompting hushed discussions among them.

Though he didn't catch every word, Rein could tell that the murmurs brimmed with doubt.

Truth be told, forging gods would require at least one person to first reach demigod rank before they could harness the faith of ordinary folks.

Right now, the Empire boasts not a single powerhouse at demigod level. Speaking of god-creation is like chasing mirages or grasping at reflections—pure fantasy.

"No, my point is that our greatest shortfall is confidence!" Rein declared with gravity.

In his previous existence, a proverb held that confidence often outweighed gold in value; that wisdom rang true here and now.

Having endured the second battle for the Imperial City and witnessed Emperor Carlos II's fall, Rein had noticed the fear and unease etched on commoners' faces along the way, while even the once-fierce Griffin Knights gazed with evident despair.

Plenty of the Empire's elite nobles had already surrendered their hope.

Without swift direction and support, that faith would crumble across the land, breeding disorder and paving the way for cultish surges.

"Confidence?"

"This..."

Rein’s statement sparked deep reflection among the Imperial Guardians and officials, with even the 'Red Queen' Menia at the head position displaying a contemplative look.

After all, when confronting godly threats, a good many nobles had indeed forfeited their belief.

Suddenly, an off-key remark cut through:

"Haha, Crown Rein speaks true on confidence, yet it sidesteps the real dilemmas at hand."

"In my view, tackling the rising cult slaughters, reversing the farmland blight, boosting the Empire's faltering taxes, and so on—that's what would restore everyone's assurance."

The voice belonged to the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Despite Rein's dazzling prowess in the recent clash, the Dragan Empire's power structures ran deep and tangled; he hadn't yet earned the clout to command undivided attention.

Still, the Minister evidently shrank from Rein and avoided outright hostility, choosing instead to stir subtle discord by highlighting obstacles.

"As you all know, I've long stood with the Imperial Swordsmen. On curbing the cults' growing boldness, I have an idea."

"Truthfully, across the Empire's provinces and vital zones, the main bulwark against cults remains mid-tier forces like Swordsmen and the Military's elite units."

"We ought to bolster this segment rapidly, perhaps by deploying Mechanical Magic Statues. I tested something similar on the Shirendil Plateau, yielding impressive outcomes..."

Next, Rein succinctly outlined how wizards from the Isodre and Bixiu Mechanization Schools had wielded gadgets such as Mechanical Land Birds, swift dragons, and Scythe Claw Dragons to decimate swarms of mutated spiders.

"This approach would sharply cut losses among mid-level fighters when purging cult followers, thus heightening the Empire's grip on its domains."

"Solid order, paired with targeted messaging, rebuilds public morale; cults wither without soil, and the Evil Gods' resurgence grinds to a halt."

Rein’s proposal instantly captivated the Imperial Guardians, and several top Empire commanders, Marshal Alfred included, started jotting down details.

Realizing Rein offered concrete fixes—focused on security, yet practical—the Minister of Internal Affairs faltered, mumbling before falling silent.

Offering ideas was fair game, but needless obstruction would only backfire.

"Crown Rein's idea strikes me as superb. Post-meeting, I urge the Military Department, Swordsmen, and related branches to draft a strategy and roll it out at once," Menia stated with a smile, her tone firm.

She had fretted earlier over Rein's ease in such gatherings.

Yet his handling proved remarkably adept.

Then, as if struck by a thought, Menia glanced at Grand Astromancer Dalain nearby and inquired:

"Crown Dalain, leading the Empire’s Star Mage’s Platform, post-battle, how soon might the Evil Gods muster strength for demigod avatars to descend?"

"Well... neither I nor the astrologers can pinpoint it precisely."

"That said, though the deities burned much power in this Imperial City fray, my estimate places their recovery—at longest a year, at shortest six months—to the level of sending demigod avatars."

"Provided we act on Crown Rein’s plan and rein in the cults effectively."

"Six months to a year?"

"The soonest just half a year?"

"That quick?"

Expressions shifted among the Empire's leaders, who knew the surging energy tides hastened divine comebacks.

Still, none anticipated the timeline shrinking from ages or decades to mere months.

Viewed this way, the Imperial City's triumph bought only a fleeting breather.

This...

"My lords, time presses against us, hence His Majesty's bold rush toward demigod realm."