Semi-Coercive Imperialist

Tra⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠nslator: KJ

I took custody of Julius. The Sentinel had a witness protection protocol in place, and Julius was accordingly confined to a safe house for the time being.

“……Why?”

Julius asked me why I had spared his life.

If I had to put it into words, there were several reasons.

First, because it was more advantageous for strengthening the Knight Order’s power. Also, because there was still much to extract from Julius.

“Because you will be referred to a Knight’s Trial.”

I wrapped all of that into a single sentence.

“A royal, facing a Knight’s Trial…….”

Julius seemed to feel a deep sense of shame at the mere fact of standing trial. If he still couldn’t let go of his pride even after falling this far, then he truly deserved to die.

“You will have the opportunity to mount a defense. And above all.”

I pointed beyond the closed door of the room.

“The children will survive.”

Were the two children, barely past ten years old, truly innocent? Would they grow into monsters like Reutern or Julius someday, or would they simply live ordinary lives?

I had no way of knowing.

“Ha…….”

Julius let out a sigh. I produced a premium cigar and handed it to him.

Since time immemorial, royals and nobles have never been able to resist such things.

Julius accepted the cigar with a grateful expression and clamped it between his teeth.

“Take a look.”

I slid the indictment summary across to Julius.

“This is what will happen once you are expelled from the House of Nobles.”

Stripping him of his royal status. Confiscation of the illicit assets and criminal proceeds he had accumulated in the Imperial Palace until now. Referral to a Knight’s Trial…….

Julius scanned the document with dead eyes, then smirked.

“……How amusing.”

“It is not amusing in the slightest. Embezzling Gigantes military weapons and smuggling them to hostile forces constitutes clear treason.”

“Maximilian Ebenholtz.”

“It’s Sir Maximilian.”

“Maximilian Ebenholtz!”

Julius erupted in fury. He slammed both hands down on the table with a bang.

“You’re being deceived. Thoroughly!”

“…….”

I regarded Julius with a deliberately puzzled expression. His gaunt cheeks trembled faintly.

“You think I’m the one who carried out the terror attack, don’t you?”

There was no need to respond here. Julius would think whatever he pleased and spew whatever he wanted, so all I had to do was sit back and watch, as if taking in a play or a musical.

“I’ll tell you at least. Because if you don’t know the truth, you too will be reduced to a mere pawn.”

Julius leaned his face in close. Glaring at me with bloodshot eyes, conjuring the image of someone other than me, he whispered like a snake.

“That tiny little bastard is using you.”

It was a very interesting theory.

“Using me…… How intriguing.”

“……Hahahaha!”

As though he had already grasped the whole truth, as though my disbelief frustrated him, Julius laughed merrily and leaned back into his chair.

“How utterly foolish. Even you, heir to a great house, being deceived and jerked around by some wretch like that. A goddamn wolf pup waltzed into the Imperial Palace and all hell broke loose.”

The way he muttered while staring into the void, he already seemed half out of his mind.

“……Well, I fell for that moron’s act too, so I suppose I can’t talk. Kahahahaha.”

Julius burst into a bitter, mocking cackle.

I observed his reactions, then asked calmly.

“Is that the prevailing view inside the Im⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠perial Palace?”

“Yes! I’m telling you, you’re being deceived! You’re being used too, just like me! Wake up!”

If that was the case, it was not entirely a bad thing.

When every gaze and every ounce of attention was focused on Reutern, I could build the strength to cut their throats from that blind spot.

“……Understood.”

I swallowed my smile and picked up the fountain pen.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

On the document referring Julius to a Knight’s Trial, I scrawled my signature.

* * *

Meanwhile, Reutern II had been discharged from the hospital.

“……They say the scars won’t fade. God, that’s annoying.”

Apparently, the scar on his leg would probably never fully disappear.

‘This is fucking annoying.’

“Actually, wait. Now that I look at it, maybe it’s not so bad.”

It almost looked like some kind of glorious wound. Soldiers all seemed to have at least one scar like that.

Bern watched him closely for a while, then spoke with care.

“……Julius has been dealt with, for certain.”

“Yeah? I heard he didn’t actually die, though.”

Reutern discussed Julius’s fate. His tone was casual as always, yet its edge was razor-sharp.

A fa⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠int chill crept up the back of Bern’s neck.

“He has been handed over to the Sentinel Knight Order. The moment his expulsion from the House of Nobles is decided, referral to the Knight’s Court will be all but certain, and accordingly, he is unlikely to escape execution.”

“Right. Max’ll handle it, I’m sure.”

Murder by Proxy. Was Reutern II intent on using even Maximilian?

Had this been his plan all along?

“…….”

Bern silently surveyed the hospital room.

By being admitted here, Reutern II had even managed to dodge that night’s Shadow War entirely. He hadn’t been hurt in the slightest, and officially, he hadn’t gotten a single drop of blood on his own hands.

“Bern! What are you standing around for? Let’s go!”

Reutern II, who had already moved ahead, called back to Bern.

“……Yes.”

The way he strolled along humming was no different from before, but they had all witnessed Reutern II’s claws by now.

And so he would never again be regarded the way he once was.

…….

Grossman received the most closely guarded news from the Imperial Palace.

“Is it because his father doesn’t have long to live? So the boy’s finally showing his true colors.”

The political feud between Reutern and Julius. The bloodbath of that night, blood washed away with blood, would one day be recorded in history books as nothing more than a few lines of unofficial anecdote.

But from that point on, the balance of power in the Imperial Palace was completely upended.

“Yes. It would appear so.”

Even within the Imperial Palace, royals were naturally few. Those who, like Julius and Reutern, actively built their own factions and flaunted their influence could be counted on one hand.

Among them, Julius, who had been one of the major pillars, had fallen.

Clearly, by Reutern II’s ‘operation’.

“I never dreamed that boy was so cunning and meticulous.”

Grossman’s confidant was equally astounded. They had all dismissed Reutern II as nothing but a loose-lipped fool until now.

“He hands Maximilian the achievement of taking down Julius, while Reutern himself consolidates the scattered royal power within the Palace…… An interesting alliance indeed.”

From Grossman’s perspective, the exit of a heavyweight like Julius was a painful blow.

Nobles draining each other’s power served to strengthen the Emperor’s absolute authority, but from the standpoint of a retainer who served as the Emperor’s hands and feet, this concentration of power could not be left unchecked.

“That boy was hiding quite the cunning agenda.”

Grossman muttered, gripping his cigar between his fingers.

“However, it’s not yet beyond our ability to control.”

Grossman nodded at his confidant’s words.

“Sooner or later. In the end, they’re all heads that need to be cut off.”

The Imperial Guard. Their ultimate objective was total control of the Imperial Palace. That is, to cut away every last one of those worthless wretches who called themselves royalty and strutted about drunk on past glories, then install the Guard in their vacant seats.

To stand at the Emperor’s side, at the very pinnacle of the Empire.

“We’ll devote even greater care to operational preparations. Place Reutern II at the very top of the Kill List.”

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Reutern II had originally been a target to be ignored, but after this incident, he was now a target to be watched.

No, he had been elevated to an extremely dangerous element.

…….

Winter. The House of Nobles Ethics Committee convened.

Sonnet Kandel attended there as an official recorder and clerk.

─We will now proceed with the vote to expel Julius von Arensburg from the House of Nobles.

In that assembly where the entire House of Nobles had been summoned, Sonnet turned her gaze, searching for someone.

Reutern I. Reutern II. Ezell Runsellot. Jun Kandel. Kentz Bertem. Shane Bertem. Guard Commander Goebel. Chief of Staff Grossman.

Countless other centers of power were seated in the gallery as well, but he was not there.

─The vote shall be conducted by secret ballot…….

There was only one Ebenholtz in this place.

Sebestian Ebenholtz.

He sat alone in a distant seat, yet his presence was the most imposing of all.

─Voting will now commence.

The moment voting began, each person rose from their seat one by one. Escorted by palace guards, they moved to the voting booth.

Sonnet recorded everything they muttered, every sigh.

[Reutern I clears his throat as he walks. He asks the palace guard escorting him, “Have you eaten?” The guard replies, “Not yet.”]

Then, at the very top of the balcony.

Princess Justine appeared, clad in her robes. She seemed to have come to observe the proceedings, and Sonnet recorded the scene.

[Thirty-four minutes have elapsed since voting began, and Princess Justine appears on the balcony to observe the voting scene.]

Sonnet’s gaze quietly followed her.

[Princess Justine approaches Commander-in-Chief Sebestian.]

The Princess was sometimes careless.

The proof was that she did not cover her mouth when she spoke.

[Princess Justine asks Commander-in-Chief Sebestian, “Has your son not come here?” Sebestian replies, “That is correct.”]

Sometimes, Sonnet Kandel herself was careless too.

Her eyes met the Princess’s.

Justine stared straight at her and moved her lips like this.

‘Do not record this.’

Sonnet nodded, then put down her pen.

“…….”

She pretended to survey the faces of the House of Nobles, then seized the moment when Justine’s gaze turned away and hurriedly scribbled in shorthand.

[Princess Justine moved only her lips to issue the command “Do not record this” to the recorder.]

Sonnet had a duty, as the recorder of this moment, to record everything.

* * *

As expected, Julius’s expulsion from the House of Nobles was concluded. The result was near-unanimous approval.

I watched their chaos from a distance.

I had something far more important than politics to attend to.

The Empire needed capable officers. Talents like Kai Han, who could serve within the golem that was the regular army, properly execute wars, and lead the Empire’s blade.

I expanded the Maximilian Program, a scholarship initiative, to military academies across the entire Empire. I also combed through my pre-regression knowledge to identify officer candidates.

“Luten, Keisen, Joachim. Keep a close eye on these three.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll track them consistently.”

Genen Branch Office. Schatz answered in her capacity as the branch’s director.

“How are the Yakens doing?”

“They’re rallying steadily around Yukia. Most of them still harbor deep distrust toward the Empire, but Yukia and her uncle Entikkan’s influence are proving effective.”

Yukia’s uncle, Entikkan. He supplied me with Yakens.

“Supply” might be a somewhat crude way to put it, but the process was that he took in displaced Yakens, transferred them to the Genen Branch Office where Schatz would train them, and Yukia would form them into teams.

“Never stop the Yaken sponsorship.”

“Yes, sir.”

I rose from my seat and surveyed the stark interior, enclosed on all sides by concrete.

“By the way, isn’t this office a bit grim? Spruce it up. To your taste.”

Schatz is a woman with aesthetic sensibility. She always wears neat suits, yet adds variations through neckties, bracelets, necklaces, gloves, and shoes.

If she had no interest at all, she would not bother with such things.

I tended to encourage hobbies.

“……Yes, sir.”

I wanted her to stay unburdened. Even as she tortured countless people, even as she killed, I wanted her to maintain a life of her own. I wanted her to hold fast to our absolute righteousness.

All killing is merely a means in service of the greater cause.

“Let’s go.”

I stepped outside the office.

Through the heavy walls, faint screams seeped in.

Aaaaagh…….

Interrogations were in full swing at the Genen Branch Office. The work of uprooting the seeds of revolution and extracting dangerous intelligence.

The ‘Interrogation Manual’ once written by torture specialists was rigorously enforced by the investigators here, and the Genen Branch Office, tempered through field experience, was now the elite among the elite.

This Genen Branch Office had become the cradle of my intelligence operations, and before long, it would extend its reach across the entire Empire and beyond its borders.

Creeeak.

The branch’s iron door swung open. Clear sunlight streamed in.

“……Genen has developed quite a bit since I was last here.”

Outside. The cityscape of Genen visible in the distance was dazzlingly radiant.

After Genen’s Spring, the autonomous territory had received massive infusions of Imperial capital and technology, achieving unprecedented growth. It was the product of the Genenese people’s innate diligence combined with Imperial order.

“Our primary intelligence source is reports from local residents.”

I gave a small laugh at Schatz’s words.

If someone suspicious appeared, or if subversive ideologies were discovered, ordinary citizens reported it first. Proof that the current system is to their satisfaction. A very desirable phenomenon.

“That’s good to hear.”

I climbed into the back seat of the waiting car. Schatz took the passenger seat, and the vehicle paused briefly at the main road.

Thunk.

The rear door opened and a man climbed in beside me.

“Good to see you.”

I looked at his face. Genen’s Chief Secretary, whose long hair gave him the air of an artist.

“Secretary Elias.”

“Yes. It’s been a while, Sir Knight.”

Elias is gradually changing. Because Genen, cradled in the Empire’s embrace, is thriving, and he is proving it himself at the center of that transformation.

There are still some Genenese who spit at the Empire, but the majority, faced with prosperity they can feel in their very bones, dismiss them as deluded fools.

But Elias will need to put in even greater effort going forward.

He had to become someone greater.

“Take these.”

I handed him ten reservation vouchers stamped with an elegant gold-foil seal.

“Thank you, but what are these?”

“Reservation vouchers for Lilac Vita.”

The restaurant Lilac Vita had recently reduced its number of tables. Under the pretext of providing the finest hospitality, it was a move to amplify exclusivity.

“Use them when entertaining key high-ranking officials or nobles from the capital.”

Lilac Vita’s prestige these days is extraordinary. Countless nobles ha⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠ve never been able to go even once, while those who have visited even a single time are desperate to return.

A holy ground of premium luxury dining.

The pinnacle of noble society. The apex of the social pyramid.

A new tier of power I had come to possess without even realizing it.

“They won’t be able to resist.”

Perhaps with these reservation passes alone, Elias Walter might even make it into the “Top 10 Most Noteworthy Figures in Noble Society.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Elias tucked the vouchers deep into his breast pocket.

“Remember thi⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠s. Only when you become closely connected to the Empire’s heart can Genen receive the treatment it deserves.”

Genen was no longer to remain a subject, but had to be reborn as Aran’s true friend.

“I will keep that in mind.”

I turned my gaze to the window and added.

“If you need separate funds for bribes, have them delivered through the Genen Branch Office.”

“…….”

At the word ‘bribery’, Elias’s eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly. I smiled faintly and murmured.

“Swallow the disgust, Elias Walter. On this continent, there are so many things that can only be achieved by enduring.”

Even I am enduring, so you can endure it too.

“……Yes.”

Elias faced me and gave a heavy nod.

“I’m starting to get used to it now.”

The smile settling at the corners of his mouth was satisfying.

Thus, while the Imperial Palace’s factions fractured and splintered, I was assembling a power all my own.