Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Having received Najenda’s invitation from Main, Fang Zheng frankly didn’t want to waste his time, but considering she had sent him three useful subordinates, out of courtesy, Fang Zheng agreed to meet her.

”If you’re here to persuade me to cooperate with the Revolutionary Army, forget it.”

This was the first thing Fang Zheng said when meeting Najenda.

Faced with Fang Zheng’s blunt response, Najenda’s expression stiffened for a moment. Then she chuckled, opened the bottle of wine at her side, poured a glass, and placed it in front of Fang Zheng.

”It seems you have quite a strong opinion about our Revolutionary Army?”

”The reason I agreed to meet you is because Night Raid and we maintain a fairly good relationship. But as for the Revolutionary Army... I’m sorry, you should be thankful that we are not fighting for the Empire. Otherwise, those who bargain away territory for fame and power in secret dealings with foreign nations, we would have dealt with them long ago.”

”That’s something we have no choice about...”

Najenda couldn’t help but defend herself.

”Our Revolutionary Army is inherently weak, and...”

However, before Najenda could finish, Fang Zheng coldly interrupted her.

”No choice, so you collude with foreign nations? Cede territory? Miss Najenda, I’ve heard you were once a General of the Empire, so why did you rebel against the Empire and join the Revolutionary Army?”

”...As you said, I was once Esdeath’s adjutant. But I witnessed the Empire’s bloody slaughter of ethnic minorities, and I couldn’t accept such cruelty, so I left the Empire and joined the Revolutionary Army.”

”But in the end, aren’t the things you do just the same?”

Fang Zheng chuckled, leaned back in his chair, while Najenda remained silent for a moment, reached out and picked up the wine glass.

”I understand what you mean. I’ve read Chelsea’s letter to me. Indeed, the Revolutionary Army’s senior management has some inappropriate actions... But, what else can we do?”

At this point, Najenda showed signs of fatigue for the first time.

”Our strength is weak, we simply cannot confront the Empire independently...”

”Then, what are you fighting for?”

Yet, Fang Zheng posed an unexpected question to Najenda.

”What are we fighting for... Of course it’s to overthrow the Empire’s tyrannical rule!”

”So what you’re saying is, if the Empire wasn’t tyrannical but rather just and clean, you wouldn’t be overthrowing it, right?”

Most of Fang Zheng’s face was hidden under his hood, but the corner of his mouth slightly curled up, revealing a mocking smile.

”And let the people live peacefully... Being able to live peacefully...”

”That’s what a ruler should achieve, right? No matter what type of ruler, as long as that’s achieved, they’re considered qualified. If not, they’re unqualified. This isn’t idealism, it’s responsibility.”

”Uh...”

”So you see, to me, there’s no difference between the Revolutionary Army and the Empire.”

Fang Zheng shrugged and picked up his glass.

”Ultimately, the Revolutionary Army just wants to seize the power to rule the country. As for things like the Empire being exploitative and people suffering, those are just banners and excuses of the Revolutionary Army. You have no idealism, no beliefs, just goals. You use any means to achieve them, to the extent of easily ceding land earned through the blood and lives of soldiers, isn’t that right?”

”...”

”Compromise because there’s no choice? That’s because there’s no actual belief or faith. Everything the Revolutionary Army is doing is not based on its own beliefs or faith, but merely to win public support, to please the people, yet all of this is just to climb to the top of power...”

”Then what do you suggest we do?!”

Najenda interrupted Fang Zheng’s speech angrily, punching the table. She originally didn’t want to show such anger, but Fang Zheng’s words poked directly and mercilessly at Najenda’s fantasy, pulling her back into grim reality.

”The Empire is in such a state now, it’s beyond saving. We must regain power to lead this country, isn’t that essential?”

”Really?”

Fang Zheng folded his arms, staring at Najenda.

”Then let me test your resolve. You’re saying that the Empire is corrupt beyond redemption, so the Revolutionary Army must gain power to set it back on track, correct?”

”Correct.”

Najenda calmed down and nodded, but at the same time, a profound unease stirred deep within her.

”Then, if someone could thoroughly reform the Empire, steering the country back onto the right path, would you abandon everything you’re doing now?”

”...What do you mean by that?”

Hearing this, Najenda grew increasingly uneasy. Fang Zheng revealed a cold smile, extending a finger.

”In fact, I already have a suitable candidate for the Empire’s ruler.”

”Who is it?”

”It’s someone you know... Esdeath.”

”Impossible!”

Upon hearing this name, Najenda couldn’t help but cry out.

”If Esdeath becomes the ruler of the Empire, then this country is truly doomed!”

”Really?”

”Of course! She’s ruthless, cruel, and violent...”

”But that’s only towards her enemies, right? She isn’t like that towards her subordinates, is she.”

”This......”

This time, Najenda was at a loss for words. While Esdeath was indeed cruel and cold-blooded to her enemies, she was certainly commendable towards her subordinates.

”If Esdeath were to become the Emperor, she would surely care for her people, and dealing with those foolish and incompetent bureaucrats and nobles would be no problem for her, right?”

”This......”

Hearing this, Najenda was rendered speechless as well. Indeed, just as Fang Zheng said, the Empire’s current situation was almost beyond repair, but if Esdeath took that position, there was indeed a chance to revive the Empire. Her ironblood coldness and character meant that Esdeath would never compromise with the nobility, and those incompetent and greedy people could easily be swept away by her.

”No, no, wait, Esdeath doesn’t have such ambitions! If she had this in mind, then the situation wouldn’t be like this now!”

Quickly, Najenda voiced her opinion. As she said, Esdeath had no interest in politics; she preferred slaughter and war. If Esdeath wanted to meddle in politics, the ancient maxim of this country states that military personnel should not interfere in politics, so it certainly wouldn’t succeed.

”True, Esdeath didn’t have this ambition before, and she wasn’t qualified either. But as long as the Emperor, ministers, and Grand General Budd die, then Esdeath would be the highest-ranking figure in this country. At that point, she could naturally become the Emperor, right?”

”That’s not a reason for her to become the Emperor.”

Najenda shook her head again, understanding Esdeath wouldn’t but push someone else to the throne and continue with her pursuits.

”Indeed, she had no reason before.”

”Do you mean she has a reason now?”

”Certainly.”

Fang Zheng chuckled.

”Do you know why Esdeath didn’t return to the Imperial City this time?”

”Why?”

Hearing this question, Najenda was also quite curious. In fact, she had always worried that Esdeath might choose to return due to the changing situation in the Imperial City. With Esdeath and Grand General Budd guarding the Imperial City, it would be even harder to deal with the Emperor. But what Najenda didn’t expect was that Esdeath didn’t return but only sent her adjutant to handle the matter.

This left Najenda baffled, though she didn’t have many sources of information; as Najenda mentioned, the Revolutionary Army had a thin presence within the Empire and couldn’t afford to organize an intelligence network in Lugnica.

”It’s simple, because she fell in love.”

”...... Huh?”

Hearing Fang Zheng’s answer, Najenda’s first reaction was that he was joking. That cold, ruthless, and violent woman, actually falling in love?

You’re kidding me!

”Wait a minute, that’s not right. With Esdeath’s personality, if she fancied a certain man, wouldn’t she directly abduct him?”

”That’s indeed her desire, provided she can defeat him.”

”You mean...... Esdeath can’t defeat that man?!”

Najenda felt like her jaw was about to drop, while Fang Zheng laughed cheerfully.

”Exactly, the man she fancies is Sword Saint Reinhard van Astraea from Lugnica. It’s not an exaggeration to call him one of the strongest in the world.”

It’s not the strongest because Lina Inverse is really overpowered, even if she loses, she can call on the Golden Demon King, which Reinhard certainly can’t defeat.

”By the way, Reinhard is the epitome of a knight, so you understand?”

”I see......”

Hearing this, Najenda almost understood Fang Zheng’s meaning. Simply put, Esdeath fell in love with a man who epitomizes knighthood, and such a man would certainly not succumb to Esdeath’s threats. Moreover, he certainly doesn’t like Esdeath’s cold and cruel side, plus he is stronger than her, meaning Esdeath can’t defeat him......

Ah, thinking of this, Najenda suddenly felt a bit like staying by Esdeath to see what changes that woman might have.

But wait, now’s not the time to gossip about Esdeath’s love life!

Upon careful thought, Esdeath’s stubborn temperament meant that she wouldn’t give up easily. Since she couldn’t defeat him, she would certainly choose another way to win him over. If the three major figures in the Imperial become deceased at this point, and Esdeath ascends as the Empress ruling over the Empire, wouldn’t she be able to directly talk about marriage with that man?

After all, at that time, Esdeath would not only be a general but represent the entire Northern Empire. Since Fang Zheng said he’s a knight, he certainly wouldn’t dismissively brush it off......

Wait, what will happen to the Revolutionary Army if this truly happens?!

Thinking of this, Najenda suddenly felt—her stomach started to ache.