Semi-Coercive Imperialist

The Opera House terror incident was wrapped up with unprecedented speed. Media coverage was restricted, and the details of the incident were minimized. This was due to the intense pressure from the Imperial Family.

They ensured that the ve⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠ry fact of Princess Justine’s involvement in the incident would not be made public.

“As for the weapons case, tracking it is difficult. If it’s the western region, it’s likely to have passed through Atelik, and if it’s the east, then through Volska.”

Today, I was still investigating the remnants of Gigantes.

But tracking them was virtually impossible. The goods were disguised as ordinary cargo, loaded into containers, and when they passed through customs, bribed officials turned a blind eye. The moment they crossed the border, the paperwork was destroyed.

The transaction payments were equally untraceable, flowing through physical assets or accounts under borrowed names, so……

Bang!

At that moment, the door swung open roughly.

One of the usually composed staff members entered, his face pale as a ghost.

“Sir! The field agent who went to trace the circumstances was murdered!”

I stopped writing with my pen.

The other staff members in the office also held their breath.

“…….”

There was a moment of silence. The staff remained still as well.

It was a routine occurrence. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just one of the many agents I had scattered across the field, dead.

“……For now, do not make this public.”

The opponent probably didn’t know he was one of my people.

If they had known, they would have tried to negotiate, or handled it more discreetly.

“Does he have any family?”

“Yes. A younger sibling and parents.”

“Then today, we’ll draft a new policy regarding personnel who die during operations.”

Any of them could die at any time, but loyalty is determined by how I treat those who devoted themselves to me and how I handle their deaths.

I need people who are mine alone, and they must be willing to die for me without hesitation.

“One million dollars. A lifetime pension for the surviving family. Full coverage of tuition and medical expenses for any children or siblings. If the bereaved wish, priority hiring at any company under my control.”

At the very least, until the world ends, those who dedicate themselves to me, and their families, will eat and live well for the rest of their lives.

“Go to the bereaved family and deliver it.”

Everyone nodded with heavy expressions.

“……And, sir. There’s one more telegram.”

The staff member shifted the atmosphere and handed over another document.

“The remodeling of the Arte Museum has been completed. Also, Viktor Haim has finished a new musical script.”

Where art had been broken, new art took its place.

The Royal Opera House was destroyed even more severely than before my regression, but in its place, a newer, more modern facility would rise.

Knock knock.

Just then, the office door carefully opened.

I looked toward it.

“Ah, my apologies. I know every moment of your time is precious, but…….”

The noble who owned the Royal Opera House and its director. The two of them stood there with tense expressions.

The noble, looking anxious, wiped his forehead with a handkerchief as he looked at me.

“Um, Sir Knight…… we received word that you might be interested in purchasing the Royal Opera House, so we came in such haste……”

The building had been half-destroyed by the terror attack. The repair costs were astronomical, and its reputation had plummeted. To them, the Opera House had become an unmanageable burden.

Not to me.

It was partly a bribe to gain favor with the Imperial Princess, but also a calculated decision.

From the moment I anticipated the terror attack, I was already planning to acquire it.

“Yes. I am interested.”

I presented the documents I had prepared in advance.

“Here is the contract.”

The Royal Opera House’s location was excellent and spacious. Securing real estate of that caliber in the center of the Empire was no easy feat.

If I strip out the old interior and inject my capital, Lorenzo’s technology, Dieter’s financial management, and Viktor Haim’s content…

It will transform into a profitable business.

“What do you think? As a formality, I’ll leave you with a 2% stake.”

“Oh……”

The count’s eyes were fixed on the contract’s amount. I didn’t bother to lowball it. I had matched the valuation to roughly what it was worth before the attack.

“Splendid, absolutely splendid. L-let’s sign right away, Sir Knight.”

Only those without money scheme like hyenas to exploit weaknesses. A wealthy man has no need to make enemies over a purchase.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

And just like that, I gained another noble as an ally.

***

The Arte Museum. Having completed its remodeling, it seemed the place had already become a new landmark of the Empire.

“…….”

Justine watched the scene from a car parked some distance away. Despite it being close to closing time, the entrance was packed with people. Since the moment it had reopened, the crowd had shown no signs of dwindling.

“There are too many people.”

She muttered with a frown between her brows. No answer came back. Yannick was dozing off in the driver’s seat.

“……Yeah. Sleep all you want.”

He must have been quite exhausted from being chewed out over this incident.

Tick. Tick.

Time passed, the sun fully set, and as the last visitors left and the museum prepared to close—

The princess stepped out of the car with Yannick.

“You’ve arrived.”

Director Verdi greeted her at the front gate. She nodded silently and entered.

An empty museum.

The interior, with all its lights off, was cloaked in pitch darkness.

“I can’t see a thing.”

Justine muttered curtly.

“Should I come in the morning next time?”

“……No.”

D⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠irector Verdi smiled.

“You’ll be able to see.”

Snap.

He snapped his fingers.

Whoooosh──.

A sound came from the ceiling. Or more precisely, it was the sound of countless mana stones hanging from the ceiling all activating at once.

As if the sun was rising, or sunlight breaking through the clouds. A gentle, natural light softly settled across the entire space.

“…….”

Justine’s eyes widened slightly.

A perfect natural light, utterly without artifice, warm and soft, never distorting the true essence of color. As gentle as if someone had transplanted the sun itself onto the museum ceiling.

“It’s the lighting system.”

Director Verdi explained.

“The museum in the morning, the museum at noon, and the museum at sunset each wear a different face. Because the angle of natural light and its color temperature make the artworks appear differently.”

He pointed to a painting hanging on the wall.

“But at night, one cannot fully appreciate that beauty. So we introduced this system. An artificial sun that mimics the sun’s arc using Mana Stones.”

Indeed.

To Justine’s mind, Verdi’s explanation didn’t quite add up.

At night, when that beauty could not be fully appreciated, the museum was closed. Which meant this kind of lighting was completely pointless.

Therefore, this was a gesture made for the sake of a single visitor, one who could only come at night.

“……I see.”

Justine looked at the canvas bathed in light.

“A waste of money.”

She said it as if chiding him, but her eyes could not leave the paintings.

Director Verdi let out a quiet chuckle.

“Yes. It does seem that way.”

Justine doesn’t trust people. In fact, she despises the very nature of humans.

What she learned growing up in the cesspool that is the Imperial Palace is—‘There’s no one you can trust’.

She now knew that behind every kindness, there was always a price to pay, and behind every smile, a blade lay hidden.

Maximilian would be no exception. All of this might be nothing more than part of his political calculation, flattery designed to win her favor.

And yet.

She walked slowly through the corridor drenched in light. Forcing its way through a night full of darkness, the light had managed to pour in and shine brightly.

At least in this moment, t⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠he calculated kindness didn’t feel so bad.

***

A secluded back alley in the Volska district. A shabby inn room without even a proper sign.

Hannah spread out the items she had recovered from the bodies of the arms dealers.

“…….”

Forged passports, fake IDs, stacks of cash, the dealers’ devices, a few catalogs and contracts for weapons that were likely meant to be handed to her.

That was all.

“Sigh.”

Hannah let out a sigh and pulled her hat down over her head.

It was all confusing, but she couldn’t afford to stay cooped up in this room. She needed to assess the situation.

She came down to the lobby on the first floor. The old innkeeper at the counter was adjusting the radio frequency.

Chzzzt— Chzzzzk—

A static-filled broadcast came through.

[ ……The suspect in the murder case that occurred in the downtown shopping district…… believed to be a woman from the Empire…… We are looking for witnesses. ]

That was the rough translation from Volskan. She had studied the language from the moment the assignment was decided, so she could pick up words here and there.

Hannah picked up the receiver of a payphone in the corner of the hallway and dialed.

Ring, ring.

─Hello?

A familiar voice. It was Leon.

“Knight Leon. It’s Hannah.”

─Hannah. Thank goodness. I was worried because I couldn’t reach you. How’s the situation?

“Well…… I have plenty of ammunition, so I can hold out, but have you heard the news?”

With about five million dollars in operational funds, she was confident she could survive in any country.

─I know. That’s why I’m calling. An order has been issued for you to return to the homeland.

“What about my people?”

─They’ve all been safely returned to the Empire. Don’t worry.

Leon’s tone was calm.

─You should join us right away, too. You still have that fake passport, right? Head to the port. I’ll be waiting there.

Hannah was about to let out a sigh of relief, then stopped short.

There had been a leak.

Clearly, the time and place of her meeting with those guys had been leaked to a “force of unknown identity”.

How?

……There’s a mole inside.

Which means even this communication might not be secure. It’s not that she doesn’t trust Leon. It’s that the mana wave of the call itself might be under surveillance.

Instead of heading to the port, she said something else.

“……Sir, then please stop by the office before you leave.”

─Hm? Why?

“I left in such a rush, I think I left something important in my desk drawer. Could you check for me?”

─…….

Leon was silent for a moment. He seemed to have understood her intent.

─Got it.

Click.

The call disconnected. She set down the public phone. Returning to her room, she went through the evidence again.

“…….”

Hannah’s gaze slid to the catalog brought by the weapon dealers. Probably a list of products meant for her.

Rustle, rustle.

As she flipped through the catalog, she suddenly froze.

Photos of rifles and explosives printed on cheap paper. The design looked strangely familiar.

She ran her fingers across the page, studying it closely.

“……What was it.”

She hadn’t seen them in person, but through a textbook. Rough but solid craftsmanship. A level of finish that couldn’t be replicated by homemade production.

A jolt of electricity surged through Hannah’s mind.

“──Gigantes.”

Whoosh.

Just then, she sensed movement from outside. Hannah’s brow twitched. She quietly closed her eyes. In that state, she extended her senses.

Step. Step.

The footsteps were being concealed, but the faint clinking of steel seeped through.

Step. Step.

Hannah stepped far away from the door.

A door is not a wall. Therefore…

BRRRRATATAT───!

Rifle bullets rained down, tearing through the door. Hannah held her breath, dagger in hand.

Fssssst.

She sensed them approaching, slipping through the debris.

As soon as all of them entered the room, Hannah moved in a flash and slit every one of their throats.

…….

A dark night. At the border of Volska. In a corner of the dockyard where the humid sea breeze blew, Leon received a communication from his family.

“……Is that so?”

He replied dryly.

─Yes. From now on, the direct agency will take over your operation. It’s a better fit for the mission, and a knight like you should be doing more important work anyway.

His father’s voice came through the device.

Leon remained silent for a moment, then asked indifferently,

“What about the rookie?”

─Leave her. Since when did you start caring about a commoner like that?

“Well, that’s true…”

Leon hesitated, lips moving.

“Hm.”

The Ascars were a prestigious family of the Empire, but the other side seemed to be someone above even them. Someone who could make this kind of demand of his father…….

“Sounds like orders came down from above.”

The Imperial Palace, or perhaps an even greater noble house.

─…….

His father fell silent, seemingly displeased, but did not deny it.

─You’ll understand one day.

Click. The call disconnected. Leon let out a bitter smile.

‘So the rumors about the palace tapping the Knight Order were true.’

The rumors had been fact. The wiretapping was real, and this operation had been leaked from the start.

The s⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠ource behind the weapons wasn’t from far away. On the contrary, it was from within the Empire.

“…….”

Leon gazed out at the night view of the city where Hannah was hiding.

A tough seed who had clawed her way up from the Empire’s backwaters with nothing but her bare hands to earn ten thousand dollars. If it was her, she could certainly make it out alive.

“Yes, well. Understood.”

Leon turned around. Standing there were men in ash-gray coats. Two agents from the Imperial Royal Family’s direct agency. One of them pocketed the terminal and scratched the back of his neck.

“Actually, Sir Leon, we’re more inclined to suspect that Hannah person.”

“……Hannah?”

“Yes. She received a massive sum of five million dollars from Knight Maximilian, and a murder just happened to occur during a transaction only she knew about.”

The agent continued.

“Five million dollars from Knight Maximilian, and a strange murder case.”

Leon gave a slight smile. It was a habit of his.

When a situation was murky enough to twist his expression, putting on a smile got him halfway through it.

“If that knight managed to obtain five million dollars and their weapons, isn’t it enough to start a small revolution?”

“Knight Hannah is a commoner. She doesn’t have that kind of nerve or resources.”

In response to Leon’s rebuttal, the agent instead dug into that very point.

“Oh, come on. Precisely because she’s a commoner, it’s all the more likely. In this day and age, a commoner with absolutely no backing becomes a knight of the Sentinel? Something was off from the start, wasn’t it?”

Leon replied calmly.

“Are you a noble?”

At that moment, the agent’s lips twitched.

“Haha…….”

The agent forced a smile as he answered.

“N⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠o, I’m not. But we still show proper respect to the nobles. Especially to someone like you, Sir Leon.”

Leon read their disgusting ambitions. He masked a sigh with a smile in his eyes.

The Imperial Guard and the direct agency. The two groups were slowly merging. Commoners gathering together to covet the privileges of nobility, swinging around power and trying to pass themselves off as aristocrats.

There was no longer any value in continuing the conversation.

“I understand, for now.”

Leon shrugged his shoulders.