Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master-Chapter 135

135. Building Soft Power as a Max-Level All-Master (1)

Arad’s declaration that content from Arad Entertainment would be auctioned had left everyone in the room swallowing dryly and cautiously gauging each other’s reactions.

“Can we also participate in this auction?”

At that moment, Petro from the Arad Post hesitantly spoke up.

“You should focus on managing Mech Knight Pluto for now. Speaking of which, have you changed your mind about only serializing Pluto briefly in the Arad Post?”

“Huh? Oh, yes! My judgment was short-sighted.”

“Not short-sighted, just mistaken. Normally, comics like Mech Knight Pluto don’t belong in a newspaper at all.”

“...Excuse me?”

“Pluto has shaken your principles and convictions, hasn’t it? Remember this: the purpose of a newspaper is to provide people with news about the world and convey the truths they need to know.”

“!!”

Arad’s words were not just directed at Petro but also applied to the other newspaper heads present in the room.

“At most, novels, satirical comics, or short cartoons are what’s suitable for a newspaper. Right now, Pluto is in the paper only because there aren’t many other promotional avenues.”

“So then?!”

“Keep serializing Mech Knight Pluto in the Arad Post for now. But after that, stick to short cartoons, satire, or serialized novels.”

While some might have found these instructions deflating, Petro appeared enlightened, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

“Oh! The same goes for the comics and novels I’ll auction to you all. I’ll start with grand, large-scale works since this is the first time, but going forward, I expect you to follow the same principles as the Arad Post.”

“Then how will works like Mech Knight Pluto be introduced in the future?”

“Through magazines and single volumes. If you have the ambition, you might want to start preparing for that now. All of you are seasoned in printing, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.”

When technology advances rapidly, politics, culture, and public awareness often lag behind.

Regularly setting clear standards like this was necessary.

After finishing the discussion, the group enjoyed a light meal before heading off to their respective tasks.

Two Weeks Later

Several newspapers across Renslet began simultaneously serializing comics and novels co-produced by Arad Entertainment and the mysterious author Meteor. ȓΆ₦𝐎฿ÊṠ

“It’s a hit! A massive hit, sir!”

“The sales of Renslet’s Breeze have already surpassed last week’s figures by fivefold!”

The results were, predictably, spectacular. Once again, the content sent Renslet citizens into a dopamine-fueled high.

“It was worth emptying the slush fund to secure the rights to the comic King of Games! What a great decision!”

“Don’t celebrate just yet. Search all of Renslet for talented writers and artists. We can’t keep relying on Arad Entertainment and Meteor forever.”

Some newspapers, unsatisfied even after the auction, began recruiting their own writers and artists to produce similar novels and comics.

Arad, far from stopping them, actively encouraged this development.

The wave of cultural content that began in autumn didn’t just persist into winter—it accelerated.

Every day, new prototypes of culture were being introduced, and those directly exposed to this phenomenon found themselves repeatedly exclaiming “Decarchia!” in amazement.

“Aaah... The next episode! I need the next episode!!”

Violet was one of the few Imperials living in the High Tower and the only Imperial woman there.

On her rare day off, she lounged in a comfortable home—a fairly upscale house provided by Arad Capital for its employees under permanent lease.

“This is unbelievable... Who is Meteor, really?!”

With her disheveled hair, Violet lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Though her eyes were on the ceiling, her mind was filled with the lingering excitement from the serialized novel she had just finished reading in the newspaper.

For someone like Violet, whose life had revolved around work and home, the cultural wave sweeping through the North was her only source of joy.

“Ugh... How am I supposed to wait two whole days for the next installment?”

With a long sigh, Violet clutched her copy of Northern Wind tightly.

“Maybe I should reread it from the start?”

Her gaze shifted to a shelf in the corner of her room. There, newspapers from various publishers were neatly stacked, specifically the pages featuring serialized comics or novels.

Originally, newspapers were disposed of once read, often repurposed as toilet paper. But anything related to Arina—or now, comics and novels—was an exception.

Scrapbooking favorite comics and novels had become a trend among Northerners.

“I’ll binge-read later. For now, I need to head out.”

Violet opened her copy of Northern Wind. Below the serialized novel she had just been immersed in was a large advertisement:

“Volume 1 of The Duke’s Youngest Daughter now available!”

“If I don’t go now, I’ll miss it!”

Her gaze shifted from the newspaper pile to her small, precious personal library on the right.

It was filled with single-volume collections of hit serialized works, starting with Knight Rom and Witch Julia from Morning of Arcadia, The Troubled Knight Charles (Hamlet), The Revenge of Viscount Contetto (The Count of Monte Cristo), and more.

These novels, all of which had swept through the North, were promptly released as single volumes once enough material had been serialized.

These volumes were must-haves for fans, featuring full-color illustrations not found in the newspaper editions.

“Whew...”

Outside her window, the biting winter wind of the North howled fiercely, signaling the arrival of the harsh season.

While her home remained warm thanks to magical heating devices, the chill outside was unimaginable for someone like Violet, who had grown up in the Empire’s temperate south.

“Now I understand why Bishop Company employees rarely wander outside when they visit the High Tower.”

She thought about how the Northerners’ frosty glares toward Imperials were intimidating, but it was the Northern cold that truly deterred outsiders.

Violet herself had essentially been sold to her job, working for the Renslet Bank via the Entir Company. If not for the magical heating devices, she would have fled south long ago.

“Entir Bishop... That man is truly remarkable. To think he braved this cold and negotiated in the High Tower. They even say there were monsters back then...”

Having personally experienced the Northern cold, Violet finally understood why Imperial merchants avoided coming to this land in the past and even now.

“Alright... Let’s go!”

Eventually, Violet got out of bed, took a quick shower under warm water flowing from her Bluetooth showerhead, and prepared to head out.

Even the harsh Northern cold, unbearable for most Imperials, couldn’t deter her, as the novel she had been reading was simply too captivating.

‘Meteor... Who exactly is this person?’

Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.

Every one of Meteor’s works had been a masterpiece, but the latest novel serialized in Northern Wind, The Duke’s Youngest Daughter, was on an entirely different level.

The story centered around a duke notorious for generations of madness, his sons who treated murder as casually as eating, and the terrified servants and subjects who lived under their tyranny.

Amid this blood-soaked lineage, the female protagonist was a reincarnator with memories of her past life.

Armed with knowledge of the future, she successfully tamed the duke and her deranged brothers.

Watching the cold-blooded duke and his mad sons act strangely docile and obedient in front of her was endlessly entertaining.

“If I miss out on this volume, I’ll have to wait another month!”

This wasn’t an idle worry; the novel had an enormous following, and its fans were utterly obsessed.

Among Renslet’s women, The Duke’s Youngest Daughter was so well-known that not being familiar with it could lead to suspicions of being an Imperial spy.

Now, after enough chapters had been serialized, the first volume of the novel was being released as a standalone book today.

If Violet didn’t get in line now, she’d have to wait for the next print run to buy it.

“Whew...”

Taking a deep breath, Violet stepped outside.

Whooooosh—

The biting winds of the North greeted her warmly, as relentless as ever, even after several years of living there.

Imperials and Northerners shared similar appearances but differed in subtle ways—nuances in their demeanor, accents, and overall aura.

To someone from another kingdom, they might look indistinguishable, but to those born and raised in the Empire or the North, the differences were immediately apparent.

Both groups traced their roots back to the Golden Age of old, but the Northerners, having inherited traces of Druidic blood, carried a faint air of otherness.

Although it was her day off, Violet wore the uniform that identified her as an employee of Arad Group.

This included a thick fur coat emblazoned with the company’s golden carriage logo, fur boots, leather gloves lined with fleece, and a fur hat.

Even inside her uniform pocket, she carried a portable heating stone.

In stark contrast, the people of the High Tower, dressed in activewear made of lightweight fabric, strolled through the streets, seemingly unbothered by the cold.

Compared to their attire, Violet’s heavy winter outfit stood out all the more.

Tap, tap, tap.

Wrapped tightly in her fur coat, Violet briskly walked through the streets of the High Tower.

While part of her haste was due to the cold, the primary reason was the wary gazes Northerners still cast at Imperials.

Even on her day off, she deliberately wore her company uniform to mitigate their distrust.

“Phew, at least I got it.”

In her arms was a single book, freshly purchased from the bookstore.

Though each person was limited to buying one copy, Violet was relieved to have secured it.

She regretted not being able to buy more, but having even one copy was better than nothing.

‘It’s amazing how many Northerners were out there.’

While waiting in line at the bookstore, she marveled at how resilient they were to the cold.

Of course, it was impolite to call them “Northerners” to their faces these days. Even if she thought of them that way internally, she made sure to address them as “Renslets” when speaking.

‘I see it all the time, but it still amazes me. Don’t they feel cold?’

Despite the freezing temperatures, most people wore only light outerwear made of Rian fabric, moving energetically through the streets.

Only children wore heavy fur clothing like Violet’s.

For an adult Northerner to dress in fur-lined winter gear with magical heating tools, the weather would have to reach the peak of midwinter’s bitter frost.

‘If only it weren’t so cold, this place would be perfect.’

As she walked, Violet took in the sights of the bustling High Tower streets.

Every day, new Northern-style buildings were being constructed, each one tall, sturdy, and distinct in design.

The Northerners, clad in fine outerwear made of Rian fabric, had clean skin, bright smiles, and healthy teeth. Their large physiques and confident demeanors gave each of them a noble-like air.

Their faces were free of worry, and their lips constantly held subtle smiles.

‘And the scent... It’s wonderful.’

The streets were immaculately clean, with daily sweeping and no refuse dumped thanks to the Bluetooth series devices.

Even the unpleasant odors common to most cities were entirely absent. Instead, there was a faintly pleasant fragrance.

‘Come to think of it, Her Highness’s birthday is soon.’

The High Tower, already a sight to behold, had become even more dazzling in preparation for the Grand Duke’s birthday celebration.

Buildings were adorned with sparkling low-grade magic stones and sculptures decorating their walls and columns.

Cypress and pine trees lining the streets were festooned with similar ornaments.

♪ Silent Snowfields~ Holy Night~ ♫

Musicians from the High Tower, who had honed their skills for this festival, filled the streets with melodies. Residents sang hymns crafted by the Church, elevating the festive atmosphere.

‘It’s cold, but it’s so joyful and vibrant!’

Violet, who had spent most of her life in the temperate Empire and its capital, couldn’t help but admire the prosperity, cleanliness, and serene beauty of the High Tower.

This unique atmosphere and culture, she believed, easily surpassed that of Bardenheim, the capital of the United Kingdom and one of the most advanced cities on the continent.