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Chapter 39: The Wind of Change Blowing from the Empire to Iron? (2)

“The Crown Prince wants to retire!”

The assumption that the Empire would completely dominate the West Continent posed an opportunity for it to meddle in the East Continent.

‘I can’t just watch Roman gobble up the East Continent.’

With that thought racing inside him, Kariel found himself deep in contemplation.

While it became easier for the principality to intervene in the East Continent under the Empire’s shadow, there remained limits.

Thus, he needed to cultivate closer ties with the pirates.

“Is it time to make a move?”

Given that the Southern Kingdoms were openly hostile to the Empire, there was nothing holding him back.

“Attendant Hall.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Contact the Intelligence Department and send a message to the Pirate King.”

“Yes.”

It was finally time to fulfill the promise he made during his days in the East.

He planned to keep his word of creating a land for the pirates while simultaneously restraining the Southern Kingdoms.

“I hope things go as planned…”

With excitement bubbling within him, Kariel began sketching out his grand scheme to harass the Southern Kingdoms.

Since he was at it, he thought to rely on more than just the Aisa Archipelago and engage in multi-faceted trades.

Criminal organizations weren’t just limited to pirates.

From bandit groups and highway robbers to smuggler merchants, the range of criminals was extensive.

As the Empire dealt with the small nations, the criminals that had taken root there primarily hid near the borders of the Empire and the Southern Kingdoms.

“There’s no rule that says we can only use those criminals.”

Just as the Southern Kingdoms supported criminals using the Union of Small Nations during the Empire’s turmoil, Kariel planned to support criminals to trouble the Southern Kingdoms.

*

While Kariel sought ways to exploit criminal organizations to harass the Southern Kingdoms, they were also looking for ways to trouble the Empire.

The first plan was to blockade the port of Salem.

Just rendering the Empire’s eastern port useless would deal a significant blow.

Although the army was strong, the navy was relatively weak.

To build up naval strength in the East, they needed to summon the Count of the West, which wouldn’t be easy.

“If we blockade Aysarman, how do you think the Empire will respond?”

“For the time being, they’d struggle to respond. However, we must prepare. The Empire could do to Talos what they did in Iron.”

“Hmmm…”

In response to King Talos’s question, Marquis Altan cautiously voiced his opinion.

Their main forces had mostly entered the principality due to Roman’s invasion, making an offensive on Talos difficult.

Aside from Marquis Cletta, the first sword of Talos, Altan was renowned for being a formidable strategist.

It was said that if the Southern Count was in the Empire, then Altan was in Talos, highlighting his military acumen.

When he issued a warning, King Talos grumbled under his breath.

Nearby, Marquis Wilsingham also spoke up cautiously.

“The issue is that even if we blockade, it would be hard to inflict significant damage on the Empire.”

Salem was still unfinished.

Consequently, most of the massive merchant guilds relied heavily on land routes.

From the Empire’s perspective, this wouldn’t be considered a significant blow at all.

Still, Talos’s consideration of a blockade was due to Salem’s symbolic value.

“Nevertheless, we need to put a stop to their progress at least once.”

“That’s true.”

Marquis Wilsingham nodded in agreement with the King’s statement.

From Talos’s viewpoint, which sought to solidify the class system, Salem was like a thorn in their side.

Therefore, it was necessary to halt its development, at least for a time.

Even with Salem’s growth, cities near the borders were becoming restless. As revolutionary forces were starting to be summoned to the capital from the Empire, chaos was spreading more and more.

This wasn’t just a Talos issue either. Rotheon was facing the same problems, leading them to take the risk of waging war against the Empire.

“As long as we don’t have to worry about the Empire’s invasion right now, the problem is the pirates… Is there no way to stop them?”

“For now, that’s difficult. To completely eliminate them, more than 70% of Talos’s navy would need to be deployed, which would make blockading impossible.”

“What if we give up the blockade and focus solely on the Aisa Archipelago?”

When King Talos asked after some thought, Altan shook his head again.

“That would still be tough.”

“And why is that?”

“The Southern pirates have also started to move.”

At Altan’s words, King Talos’s face hardened.

The Southern pirates weren’t restricted to just the Aisa Archipelago.

Looking at the West Continent as a whole, there were the Western pirates targeting new sea routes, Central pirates from the Aisa Archipelago focusing on trade routes in the East Continent, and Southern pirates eyeing trade with the large islands in the South.

While trade with the East Continent was vital for both Talos and Rotheon, trade with the Southern islands was also crucial.

That’s because they could deliver valuable drugs and luxury items, yielding immense profits when brought to the East Continent.

“If the Southern pirates get help from the Rotheon navy…”

“The Western pirates have reportedly invaded Rotheon’s territory.”

King Talos looked shocked at Altan’s words.

“What? Those wrecks from the Empire have the energy to do that…?”

“We haven’t investigated that far yet. However… in Rotheon, there’s a possibility that the Empire is providing support.”

“That doesn’t make sense. The Western pirates are allied with the traitors. Would the proud Empire support them?”

It’s not just any crime — it’s treason! Kariel had executed a royal family member without hesitation not long ago.

Could he really provide support to the Western pirates?

“There’s a slim chance if it’s the Emperor.”

“Hmmm…”

Talos remained silent at Marquis Wilsingham’s words, unable to retort.

“If the Empire is trying to bind us with pirates, then we should do the same.”

“I will utilize the criminal organizations we established then.”

Talos nodded slightly at Altan’s suggestion.

Thus, just like in the Union of Small Nations, they aimed to trouble the Empire again using criminal organizations.

However, it wouldn’t take long for them to realize that their decision was a step too late.

A few days later, reports came flooding in about brigands attacking near the borders.

“Your Highness! Brigands have gathered near the border and are launching attacks!”

“Your Highness! Bandits are rampaging in the northern regions. The lords there are urgently requesting reinforcements!”

“Your Highness! Drugs are flooding in due to the smugglers!”

In the face of successive reports, King Talos urgently called for Marquis Altan.

Bang!

“What the hell is going on?!”

Furious, King Talos slammed his fist onto the throne as he rose from his seat.

Marquis Altan bowed his head and reported.

“It seems the Empire made the first move.”

“What? How… what has the Intelligence Department been doing?!”

“Since Rotheon couldn’t even grasp it, it seems that the Shadows have been on the move. It appears the Empire is determined to act.”

Upon hearing Altan’s words, King Talos held his head in dismay.

“We must stabilize the northern regions as quickly as possible. If this damage accumulates, we may have to call our main forces back.”

“What? How…?”

“The border is in chaos. If this situation continues, the Empire will not stand by. If it’s the keen-eyed Southern Count, there’s a possibility they might invade.”

“Ha…”

King Talos sighed, pressing his throbbing head with his thumb.

“Call the nobles. We need to organize an expeditionary force.”

“Yes.”

*

While Talos struggled with criminal organizations while looking for ways to blockade Salem and trouble the Empire, Rotheon was being plagued in a different manner.

“Those guys again!”

“…I apologize.”

Marquis Delonde, known as Rotheon’s next Master, bowed his head.

He was bowing because a large number of special forces from the Empire’s Intelligence Department had infiltrated Rotheon, causing chaos.

With the arrival of the Shadows, the quality of the Empire’s special forces had greatly improved.

Furthermore, the information that was previously sent separately had been integrated, leading to a streamlined command structure and swift operations. As a result, they were troubling Rotheon’s intelligence, which was the best other than the Empire.

“The military has reported that the credibility of the information coming from Iron is being questioned! What’s going on?!”

“The Empire’s Intelligence Department is solely targeting us. Consequently, the information network in the western region has collapsed significantly.”

“Ha… Wasn’t Rotheon supposed to boast the strongest intelligence network in the continent?!”

Marquis Delonde, receiving the ruler’s scolding, hung his head in shame.

Indeed, he had thought so himself.

He had believed that they had an intelligence network superior to that of the Empire’s Intelligence Department, the Shadows, and the Crows of the Northern Army.

However, as the Shadows and the Intelligence Department merged, the tables had turned.

“…It seems that it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to contain the Empire’s Intelligence Department with only Rotheon’s strength.”

When the cold, rationally-minded Delonde said so, the King of Rotheon sighed.

For decades, they had possessed the most powerful intelligence network on the West Continent.

Seeing the Empire now surpassing them within just a few years was terrifying.

The King of Rotheon bit his lips, feeling the true power of the unified Empire.

“That’s why we had caused division…”

The reason they had spent a fortune to win over the Empire’s nobles was precisely this.

Even when there were complaints about wasting money in Rotheon, they had consistently bribed the Empire’s nobles.

But then one outstanding royal had tidied up everything and unified the Empire’s power.

With that, they were threatening the Southern Kingdoms, which had taken decades to build.

“…If it’s this bad now, I shudder to think what could happen if the Empire develops further.”

Hearing his King express fear, Delonde bit his lip, as he could do nothing else.

All he could do was to continue to try and block the Empire’s Intelligence Department…

*

Taking a hit to Talos and Rotheon, Kariel began to focus his power on Iron.

With Rotheon’s Intelligence Department crippled and Talos’s military power restrained by criminal organizations, he saw an opening to dump substantial funds and special forces into Iron.

“Support the revolutionary forces within Iron. I don’t care how much the funding costs.”

The Minister of Internal Affairs turned pale at Kariel’s orders.

“There’s a budget shortfall.”

As the Internal Affairs Minister spoke as if he were near death, Kariel even permitted the use of the royal budget.

“Cut off all funds going to the collateral royal family.”

“What? H-How…?”

“Reduce my private funds captured in my palace to half. The same goes for my younger siblings. That way, they won’t have any complaints.”

“Is that really appropriate?”

“Does it matter?”

Kariel turned his gaze to Podolski next to him.

“You know what to say, right?”

“I will recover the funds that the Noble Assembly has been misappropriating.”

The funds allocated to nobles working in the central departments and the Noble Assembly for maintaining their dignity.

Since it was support for nobles working in the center, it could not be easily touched, but circumstances had changed.

At a time when even the Emperor was tightening his belt, who cared about the nobles’ dignity?

“It’s the most crucial time now. Tough it out. If we play our cards right, we might just take Iron.”

At Kariel’s words, both Podolski and the Minister of Internal Affairs gulped nervously.

“If you understand, get moving.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

 

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