Da Vinci found herself deep in thought, feeling perplexed. "There's definitely something off about that place. It doesn't feel like a singularity, but there are certainly anomalies in that period of history that need thorough investigation."
She spoke to herself as she pondered over the issue. Just then, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Turning around, she saw a blonde girl dressed in a red outfit, carrying a large sword, walking towards her.
"Hey, Da Vinci, did the Master and the others really go back to Britain in the 5th century AD?" the girl asked.
"Yes, they did," Da Vinci replied with a smile. "Why don't you go there and give Fujimaru and the others a hand?"
"Alright," the girl agreed nonchalantly. "It would be interesting to see some familiar faces over there. But are you sure I shouldn't meet the King?"
"You might not get the chance to see the King," Da Vinci said, still smiling.
"What do you mean? What happened to her?" the girl asked, suddenly looking concerned.
"Nothing serious, it's just that Camelot's current ruler isn't who you think it is—it's your mother," Da Vinci explained.
"What?" Mordred's face twisted with surprise and disbelief. "My mother is ruling Camelot? Does she even have the qualifications for that?"
Mordred knew her mother well, and the thought of her ruling was baffling.
"Well, from what I've seen so far, she's actually doing quite well," Da Vinci continued. "Oh, and Camelot has another ruler too."
"Who?"
"King Lott," Da Vinci answered casually.
"Him?" Mordred clenched her hand tightly. "I have to see this Camelot with my own eyes."
"Very well, you can join them to assist Fujimaru," Da Vinci said, her smile like that of a scheming merchant.
Meanwhile, back in Camelot, Morgan was finally feeling well enough to resume her duties. However, Lott was insistent that she should complete her full month of postpartum rest. During this period, Morgan was almost driven mad with boredom.
"I need to get back to work!" she muttered to herself.
Lott, however, was firm. He insisted she take a full rest, knowing how stubborn Morgan could be. Finally, when the month was over and Lott gave her the go-ahead, Morgan rushed to her study, eager to dive back into her work.
She immediately immersed herself in a pile of documents, her enthusiasm palpable. Watching her, Lott couldn't help but think, If every worker in the future had this much energy, capitalists would never have to worry about productivity again.
But then he reminded himself, No, Morgan is the boss here, and she's working for herself. She's a truly dedicated feudal lord.
"Alright, we need to reduce tariffs and taxes between cities," Morgan said, making notes. "And the farmers who lost their crops because of the war need compensation. We also need to resume our trade agreements with France…"
She paused, looking at Lott curiously. "Wait, didn't we trick the French last time? Why would they still want to do business with us?"
Lott shrugged. "Because it's profitable. If capital has a 50% profit, it'll take risks. If it's 100%, it'll defy laws. At 300%, it'll sell out its own hangman's rope."
Morgan chuckled. "One day, they'll end up hanging themselves with that same rope."
"As long as they keep paying taxes, I'm happy," Lott replied with a grin.
Morgan set aside the trade documents and picked up a map. "We need to think about our next move strategically," she said seriously. "We must unify all of Britain and eventually move on to France and even the Roman Empire. Lucius Tiberius, the Sword Emperor of Rome, is currently consolidating lands that have splintered from the empire. If we don't secure our position soon, it'll be difficult to challenge him in Gaul."
Morgan understood their situation clearly. Camelot's military strength was formidable, but the Roman Empire's army was well-trained, better equipped, and had professional soldiers. If they didn't act swiftly, they could be overwhelmed by Rome's superior resources.
"We should start with Scotland," Morgan declared, pointing to the northern part of the map. "It's closer, and controlling it would secure our northern flank before any conflict with Rome."
They had already laid some groundwork, such as forging alliances with Guinevere's father and strengthening ties with Scáthach, which would facilitate their campaign in Scotland.
"Let's prepare the army and begin the offensive," she concluded.
"Agreed," Lott nodded.
Lott now understood why King Arthur's campaigns never seemed to stop in historical records. It wasn't just ambition; it was a necessity. The food production in Britain barely supported a standing army, and the only way to sustain their forces was through continual conquest and plunder.
The grain they had procured from France was nearly exhausted. If they didn't secure more resources from Scotland and Ireland soon, they would be forced to levy heavier taxes on their own people, which would lead to unrest.
Even if I don't want to, I still need to be aggressive, Lott thought grimly. He knew that for the sake of Camelot's future, he couldn't afford to hesitate.