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Chapter 30: Kariel’s Dangerous Plan

“I want to retire, Your Highness!”

While diligently developing the port, the revolutionaries finally began to move toward the east, one by one.

However, the reported numbers were utterly insufficient.

“I have many ideas in my head, but there are just too few talented individuals.”

Kariel frowned, grumbling.

His motto was to do things properly, yet the problem was that he had returned to this life.

Having experienced the technologies of the future and the higher political and administrative systems that bloomed amidst crises, he couldn’t help but feel greedy.

“If I proceed with this… it might lead to trouble.”

Kariel muttered seriously.

Just bringing in the revolutionaries was already a significant change from the Empire’s perspective.

The empire was in a crisis, and Kariel’s status had risen, making it more tolerable.

But to stir up more trouble?

He had no idea how much the nobles would retaliate.

“There’s a shortage of talent.”

There was a lack of administrators, but also troops.

Funds were gradually dwindling, as the Empire seemed to be struggling.

Kariel’s plans for rapid development were consistently delayed. Just as he was drowning in paperwork and sighing about his miserable situation, the Southern merchants began to move.

Fortunately, as the Southern Kingdoms felt the Empire’s response was lukewarm, they decided to pull their funds and support the Union of Small Nations even more.

“Southern Merchant Alliance. We have decided to cut ties with the associated merchants!”

Suddenly, rumors spread about a secret pact between the small nations and the Southern Kingdoms, and Imperial merchants began cutting off transactions.

Merchants were usually those who squeezed every last drop of honey until the very end unless the government prohibited it.

The Southern merchants of the Empire were so obsessed with money that they would even engage in crimes, yet surprisingly, they were now willing to bear losses and sever ties.

Moreover, they informed the Inspection Department of smuggling routes they knew and potential meeting locations between the small nations and the Southern Kingdoms, leading to further complications.

As if all of this wasn’t chaotic enough, another misfortune struck.

“Your Highness! Reports say that the First Sword of Talos and the royal knight order have retreated.”

Upon receiving an urgent report from Talion, Kariel nodded slightly.

Now that the Southern Merchant Alliance was on the move, it was pirate time.

It would have been nice if they had waited a bit longer, but this much was already enough. Talos couldn’t afford to worry about the Empire anymore.

Rotheon was no different.

“What about the Holy Nation?”

“They’re being monitored by the Count of the North. The Eastern Army will provide support.”

Kariel nodded approvingly at Talion’s report.

What he planned was steadily progressing.

What Kariel could do for the Empire was just this much. Now, all that was left was to bring this damn port back to its proper state.

“What about the revolutionaries?”

“It seems they will arrive within a week.”

“Why is it taking so long? Shouldn’t they be here quickly if they took a train?”

At Kariel’s question, Talion smiled wryly.

“They mainly operate around nobles, or they’re too impoverished… As you know, most revolutionaries are poor.”

“Hmmm…”

Nobles wouldn’t hire those with harmful ideologies.

But could they enter the merchant groups? It was unlikely since most were also funded by nobles.

Which meant everyone was stuck in a life of utter poverty.

“Anyway, they’re on their way, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Let’s just hold on a bit longer.”

With that said, Kariel sighed and buried himself back under the mountain of work.

As he rushed to get things done, night inevitably fell, and it was late.

“Ugh… this is killing me.”

“Take it easy. You’re pushing yourself too hard these days.”

“If I don’t handle this now, you know how much more delayed things will get.”

There were just too many documents that needed processing.

So even if Kariel didn’t want to overexert himself, he had no choice.

The problem lay with the bureaucrats below him.

Would anyone dare to leave early while their superior was working hard? Especially being the First Prince of the Empire?

Naturally, all the subordinates had to work late too.

“No one will complain if we proceed a bit slower.”

At Talion’s words, Kariel let out a small sigh.

He could afford to go a bit slower, just as Talion said.

But the issue was his personality – he preferred to finish all tasks before relaxing.

“Just let me finish this.”

That day too, Kariel chose to work late into the night.

Eventually, Talion, who had failed in trying to persuade him, stepped outside, shaking his head as the worn-out bureaucrats cast gloomy gazes downward.

“Hold on a little longer; people will be coming soon.”

“…Yes.”

The bureaucrats muttered, their voices trembling at Talion’s persuasion.

And just like that, they worked late that day, and the next, and the next, as the hellish schedule continued.

Finally, the long-awaited revolutionaries made their grand entrance into the city.

“Your Highness, I am Markus Weber,” he introduced himself on behalf of the assembled revolutionaries.

“Pleasure to meet you.”

A smile bloomed on Kariel’s face as he looked at Weber, who served as the representative of the gathered revolutionaries.

“Did everyone hear the rumors and come here?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“Good, then let’s not drag this on. Tell Talion your areas of expertise right away.”

At his immediate hiring statement, all eyes widened in surprise.

“Before that, there’s one thing I must inform you.”

Weber’s words made Kariel tilt his head in curiosity.

“What is it?”

“May I ask how many hours we work a day?”

“An average of 14 hours. Some even work longer than that.”

At Talion’s reply, Weber and the other revolutionaries’ expressions stiffened.

Having come with hope, they found this place was just as deceitful.

“Your Highness, as I came here, I saw the faces of laborers. They were all burdened by excessive labor.”

“That was their choice.”

“That might not apply to you, but to those below, it can feel like coercion.”

“Well… I might not be true for bureaucrats, but surely not for laborers.”

Kariel responded while glancing back, only to see an expression of confusion rise on Weber’s face.

The so-called high bureaucrats appeared even more haggard than the laborers.

Plus, upon further scrutiny, Kariel himself didn’t seem to be in a better state.

“You work more than them.”

“…Do you have more to say?”

“Also, the rumors you’ve heard are true; they’re all working voluntarily to earn compensation.”

Weber’s expression began to harden at Talion’s additional comments.

“It all comes down to a lack of manpower. Do you want to alleviate their suffering? Then come here and work with them. Gather more people.”

Kariel’s words weirded out Weber and the others.

It felt like something had gone awry.

But by the time they realized that, it was already too late. They were caught in a trap.

*

A few days later, the revolutionaries, who had experienced this hell, looked like they were about to die.

However, there was no escape.

They had been lured with promises of sweet rewards, then threatened with Kariel’s name, and later were forced to cough up massive amounts of money according to treaties if they tried to quit.

Finally, Markus Weber sought out Kariel personally.

“Your Highness.”

“If you’re thinking of quitting, you can’t.”

Kariel spoke firmly, and Weber bowed his head.

“…I have people to bring.”

“People to bring? If you had such people, you should have said so earlier.”

“Their status is the problem.”

“I don’t care even if they’re commoners.”

A significant number of bureaucrats were already commoners. Moreover, most who managed laborers were as well, so where was the problem?

“…They’re from criminal backgrounds.”

“…Are you suggesting that the ones you’re bringing are public slaves?”

“They are their descendants.”

These were people who, by law, lived lives akin to slaves due to their ancestors’ crimes.

Even if they weren’t officially slaves, they lived worse than slaves, hence the label.

Children of traitors or those who had committed equally heinous crimes.

Most of them had settled in villages in their regions, ultimately trapped there until death.

“I’m not asking you to bring them all; I just ask that some of them stay here.”

“…”

Weber wanted to save at least the young ones from there to render them a chance to dream of a future.

However, he couldn’t easily respond. No matter how much of a prince Kariel was, taking them recklessly would cause issues.

The sins committed in the past were too serious, and their punishments were carried down through generations. Sometimes, after decades or more, the Emperor could absolve them, but that was only possible during monumental victories.

Above all, another reason existed.

“Some of those villages were dens of Dark Mages.”

Like all black mages preying on the weakest, they targeted regions likely to be dissatisfied with the Empire, aiming to absorb them into their ranks.

Criminal dens, criminal organizations, and fallen nobles became primary targets for dark mages.

Naturally, it was the same for places where public slaves lived.

“…Just give me one chance. Many smart individuals are among them.”

“Like you?”

“Yes.”

Since he was once a high noble, it was likely the expertise and knowledge had been passed down through generations.

It was common that the thought of utilizing them had never crossed his mind in his previous life, as the rebel forces had already lured them away, and those who remained perished in the Human-Machine War and the Monster Wave.

But what if there were many useful individuals among them?

“Are you saying there are many who are as smart as you?”

“Yes, there are many who don’t fall even close to my comparison.”

Kariel was thrown into deep thought at Weber’s confident assertion.

After contemplating for a while, Kariel sighed and said, “Fine. Bring them over.”

“Are you sure?”

“That’s not for you to worry. If there are any others to bring, bring them all.”

At Kariel’s words, Weber’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“Let’s think about our survival first.”

With those words, Kariel felt the contempt of the nobles couldn’t be repressed any longer.

‘If I’m going to do this, at the very least, I’ll achieve more than what I accomplished in my previous life!’

With that resolution, Kariel began jotting down the plans he had cherished in his mind.

Things that had been difficult in a class-based society.

If it was only pertaining to this city, it might just be plausible.

‘I will make this city an independent entity.’

Kariel, with firm determination, started establishing his plans one by one.

‘If it’s just regarding this city, it might be possible.’

Thinking that, he diligently organized the plans.

With the revolutionaries brought in, he planned to fulfill one by one what he had set out to accomplish in his previous life.

*

The day after meeting Weber, Kariel began sending letters requesting to bring public slaves to the central region along with reports on how to utilize them.

Simultaneously, he dispatched plans for constructing a basic academy for commoners.

Not just teaching basic literacy or arithmetic, but a plan for training specialized talents.

Even for someone like Kariel, the backlash was inevitable.

Eventually, orders were given to him due to the aristocracy’s opposition.

“Is this how it ends up?”

Kariel spoke with a bitter expression as he donned his coat.

Talion looked at him worriedly.

“Your Highness.”

“I’m fine. I expected this.”

The Emperor ordered a direct return to the capital.

It was a summons to attend the Grand Council Meeting at the Imperial Palace.

Despite all his contributions and his status as the First Prince, the content of his ideas was too dangerous.

Kariel swiftly headed for the Imperial Palace.

*

Meanwhile, the Emperor, who had summoned Kariel for his risky plan, was currently meeting in secret with the Count of the Border and High Nobles in his palace.

“…Is this truly what you desire?”

The Counts lowered their heads.

The Emperor then turned his gaze toward the two dukes, leaders of the Aristocratic Faction.

Looking towards the dukes supporting the two princes, the two dukes also bowed their heads.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“That is correct.”

The Emperor weakly nodded in response to the two dukes.

“If that is your wish… then so be it.”

 

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