[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system":3,"chapter-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-77":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Exiled Duke's Lottery system",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1366785,1809,"Chapter 77 - 71: A Future He Couldn’t Understand","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-77",77,"\u003Cp>(This Chapter cassian is the one from house valcriox)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian Valcriox disliked uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Politics could be predicted. Nobles could be manipulated. Armies could be measured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the reports arriving from the north no longer made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that bothered him more than he cared to admit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The upper study of House Valcriox remained quiet beneath dim candlelight while stacks of northern reports covered nearly half the large wooden desk before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Steam engines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mass steel production.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rifles capable of impossible range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cannons destroying beast tides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every new report sounded more absurd than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian reread one document again slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merchant Statement\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The northern fortress now operates machines powered by boiling water.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What does that even mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in the room answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because nobody understood it either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An intelligence officer standing nearby carefully cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Our agents attempted observing the machinery directly, Lord Kassian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They were unable to approach the inner industrial district.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian’s eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unable?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The workers noticed outsiders almost immediately. Security throughout Elarion has increased significantly since winter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course it had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien was cautious by nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this level of secrecy only worsened the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian stood afterward before walking toward the massive window overlooking the Valcriox estate gardens below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The capital remained peaceful tonight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warm lantern lights. Music from distant noble gatherings. Servants moving quietly through marble courtyards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile far north beyond the mountains\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien was apparently building a civilization no one in the south fully understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not merely the weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not merely the factories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian could not determine:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>what Lucien intended,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>how advanced Elarion truly was,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>or where all this rapid growth would end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for a noble house like Valcriox—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something unknown was dangerous by default.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another report was handed to him quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian accepted it absentmindedly before reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then frowned immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Northern Military Activity\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rifle formations observed training daily.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"New firing methods recorded.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Smoke during firing significantly reduced.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Several witnesses report hearing continuous industrial activity throughout the night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian rubbed his forehead slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reduced smoke?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the flintlock prototypes House Valcriox currently produced filled entire firing fields with powder smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Lucien somehow improved beyond that already?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing about the north made sense anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Seraphine entered the study shortly afterward carrying additional correspondence beneath one arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re still reading northern reports?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian laughed softly without humor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They multiply faster than I finish them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped beside the desk before glancing across the scattered documents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...That bad?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian handed her one report silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphine read it carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Steam-driven production lines?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I do not even know what that means anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That answer surprised her slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian rarely admitted confusion openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which only emphasized how serious the situation had become.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He returned to his chair afterward while staring toward the northern section of the kingdom map hanging nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When Lucien was exiled north, what did everyone expect?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphine answered easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A struggling territory. Slow recovery at best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes and I thought the same too\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian’s gaze remained fixed on the map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instead he industrialized a frozen wasteland in barely over a year,so much preparation,agreements,promises to get this position while he develops a barren territory like nothing happened\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room quieted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because spoken aloud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded even more absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heir of House Valcriox leaned back slowly afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At first I thought the reports exaggerated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That would have been comforting.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian tapped several documents lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But every merchant says the same thing now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Factories. Steel. Machines. Military drills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not rumors anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patterns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And patterns worried him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because House Valcriox specialized in recognizing threats before others noticed them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian still couldn’t tell whether Lucien himself was becoming a threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or simply building something beyond everyone’s understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knock interrupted the study quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Enter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another intelligence courier stepped inside before kneeling respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My lord. Additional trade reports from the northern routes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian accepted them immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then froze while reading the first page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Witness Testimony\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The roads near Elarion are now reinforced with stone\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Workers operate through the night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The northern people speak of Lord Lucien with complete loyalty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another line followed beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No lord should be able to change territory this quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian stared at that sentence silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then slowly exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was precisely the issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could no longer measure Lucien normally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Military strength could be estimated. Political influence could be calculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But technological growth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Industrialization?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The north was evolving too fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Kassian hated not understanding the direction things were moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphine watched him carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re worried.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"About Lucien coming back for revenge?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian remained silent briefly before answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"About what happens if nobody understands what he’s building until it’s too late.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That line settled heavily across the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because deep down—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone here felt the same unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not fear exactly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like watching history shift while standing too far away to stop it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian suddenly stood afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The movement surprised even Seraphine slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you planning?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked toward the fireplace slowly while thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the reports continue like this, eventually the family council will interfere blindly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That would be dangerous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>House Valcriox elders already distrusted Elarion’s rapid rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some believed Lucien should be recalled immediately. Others wanted tighter oversight. A few simply wanted the north divided again before it became too powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none of them truly understood the situation either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that worried kassian the most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because people made terrible decisions when dealing with things they didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally he spoke quietly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need someone to see Elarion directly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seraphine frowned slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A new investigator?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone competent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone who can determine what exactly Lucien is doing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And if they cannot?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian looked toward the northern territories on the map again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then answered honestly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Then we bring Lucien back south before this grows even further beyond our control.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell silent afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because the idea sounded impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because everyone already suspected one truth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucien probably would not return willingly anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far beyond the southern capital, Elarion’s factories continued burning through the night while steam engines roared beneath the frozen northern skies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And sitting inside the quiet Valcriox study—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kassian realized something unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in years—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He genuinely could not see where the future was heading anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>",1064,"2026-06-05T21:32:57.730Z",1,"novelbin.me","3c3a670a58e05b7a88de7cdad39623debaaae3a08a02d238370a5bc17f0f7169","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-78","the-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-chapter-76",144,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-exiled-duke-s-lottery-system-cover.jpg"]