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“I would like to question the fundamental cause of all these problems.”

Jenice threw a dramatic opening line.

“Why did such a disaster occur? It was because the South wanted an independent and powerful force. Why did the South want such power? Because when the South was attacked, the central army did not fulfill their role properly. If that wasn’t the case, why would the Southern Alliance have been formed, and why would the South have pushed for independence, crying out for attention? The responsibility for this issue lies with all of us together.”

Everyone listened with curious expressions, eager to hear what Jenice was about to say. She opened her watch and glanced at the time.

There wasn’t much time left until Jeongjae would enter. She had to finish this aggressive speech very quickly and accurately. This was the biggest gamble of her life among the risky moves she had taken thus far.

“And at the heart of this problem is the fatal issue that a unified power and the powers of the bygone era exist together in the South. You know what I mean. The advanced and unified power comes from our Harker family, based on economy and management. My father, Count Arthur Harker, united the Southern economic system with his sharpest mind and outstanding skills, nurturing the strength to protect ourselves. Our family’s power comes from intellect and capability.”

This time, Jenice pointed at Jeffrey, who was shaking his head with a look of despair.

“And where does the strength of the other powerful force of the South, the Jeffrey family, come from? Outstanding management abilities? Well, I respect that. Managing and cultivating the innate productivity is, in some ways, the best ability. But everyone, you cannot deny that the Jeffrey family’s strength comes almost entirely from their vast directly governed territory. No matter how unique a duke he is in the region, her estate is unusually large. The agreement made centuries ago when the Empire was unified still binds us.”

“That agreement is still valid,” Jeffrey said in a weary voice. Jenice shook her head.

“Is it? Sally Jeffrey, your family holds territory worth twenty times that of the second-largest estate in the South. This is a result of the audrich royal family compromising with your ancestors to unite the continent when there was an urgent need for it. In a sense, it was a hasty decision that burdened future generations. And now, that generation has come. The South cannot move forward without resolving this issue. We cannot tolerate a situation where half of the Empire’s productivity comes from the Jeffrey family.”

Jenice scanned her surroundings with a look that sought agreement. The reactions of the council members were mixed with perplexity and confusion. It was evident that Jenice was about to impose what could be seen as a political death sentence on Jeffrey. The Harker family was clearly emerging as a rising dragon.

But was it wise to ride on the back of this dragon? What if she got on incorrectly and ended up on a roller coaster that wouldn’t allow her to get off?

As each person pondered their calculations, Jenice continued her speech without giving the nobles much time to think.

“Meanwhile, the South faced another problem while waging this Second Theater War. While the Duke Jeffrey family took a passive stance in the confrontation with the vampires, my father actively gathered the Southern Army to fight against the powerful army of the vampire lord. In the process, many lords who held high-ranking positions died, and several territories became devastated and unable to sustain themselves. This issue is currently progressing at a very rapid pace.”

Many local nobles empathized with her words as Jenice accurately depicted the suffering the South was experiencing.

“There is a way to solve these two problems at once. Ladies and gentlemen, will you listen?”

The Great Sage spread his arms and nodded slightly. Walter, who had been pondering, realized what declaration Jenice was about to make and gasped, surprised ahead of the other nobles.

Walter shook his head and muttered, “She’s gone mad. That girl has completely lost her mind.”

“This Harker viscount will generously embrace the small territories near the Harker Ducal Territory. Support has already been initiated in the name of the Harker family, but as long as there are barriers in trade relations with other territories, there will inevitably be discrimination or conflicts with the local citizens. We must eliminate that! I, Jenice Harker, propose the complete integration of fifteen territories near the Harker Ducal Territory that are either irrecoverably damaged or have lost their lords as directly governed territories of the Harker Ducal Territory!”

“What?!”

“Wait, what does that even mean?”

“Isn’t she saying she’ll establish her own kingdom in the South?”

Immediate fierce backlash ensued, mainly from the factions of Jeffrey or those in competition with Harker, such as the Koesernis Baron faction. However, the reaction from Jeffrey’s faction was feeble. Sally Jeffrey herself had already been reduced to a clipped eagle, so there was no room for them to raise their voices.

The Koesernis faction, which had been wary of the Harker family’s rapid growth, completely fell quiet when Douglas Koesernis himself began applauding this declaration.

“Truly a remarkable declaration, Viscount Harker! To embrace all those lands and bring them back will require an enormous amount of resources. Such a decision is something that even I, Douglas Koesernis, would dare not make. However, if you truly believe it will help the South, I would like to express my strong support.”

Koesernis exaggeratedly expressed his support for Jenice. Jenice smiled and bowed her head to Koesernis.

With this, the Southern lords found themselves at a loss as to which side they should stand on. Jeffrey was currently entrusting his fate to Jenice, who was on the brink of being convicted, while Koesernis seemed to have clearly decided on a political alliance with Jenice Harker.

In the future, it would be these two who would lead the Southern Alliance. And leading the Alliance meant holding the military power of the South in one hand. Defying them was virtually a declaration of, “I no longer wish to be a local lord.”

“Um, but… if that happens, there will be nobles who will have their existing territories taken away.”

One local lord cautiously raised his hand to ask a question. Jenice snapped her fingers as if she had heard a very good question.

“That’s why a major reform is now necessary in the South. We will divide the Duke Jeffrey Ducal Territory. The fertile western coastal area is the historical base of the Jeffrey family, so they should manage it as is. However, the eastern territory of the Jeffrey Kingdom was occupied relatively later and is not as productive compared to the west. They have been governing an excessively vast territory. Now is the time to relieve the heavy burden resting on the duke’s shoulders.”

“Are you suggesting that we forcefully transfer some lords before their appointment by dividing the Duchy?”

“If there are those who resist, I will reconsider! Well, it’s understandable that a baron may not want to leave his cherished small barony. But this Jenice Harker believes so. Why would anyone refuse when I am offering to take away a devastated estate that cannot be restored by its own power and give them the east of the Duke Jeffrey Ducal Territory, which is thriving and populated? Isn’t that so?”

Even if they disliked it, they could not voice it. In the vicinity of the Harker Ducal Territory, the name Harker was akin to local thugs and was considered no different from the emperor. If one were to rashly oppose a decision made by the Harker family, they might suffer some repercussions in their lives as nobles.

Which minor lord would have the courage to refuse the commands of the Great Sage who had just torn apart the powerful noble Sally Jeffrey in a flash?

Jenice recognized that she had climbed to the position of an absolute predator and wielded that status violently and boldly. Sally Jeffrey merely twitched her eyebrows in response to the declaration of dividing her territory. She seemed to have anticipated such a punishment.

“Now, everyone. Please do not misunderstand. This is a reform that had to be done eventually. From the beginning, the Jeffrey family held such vast territory that it hindered the order of the Empire. That was not healthy for the entirety of the Empire. It just so happens that the Duke Sally Jeffrey committed a grave sin today, and we finally have the opportunity to properly implement this reform that we were supposed to carry out someday.”

Jenice purposefully did not mention that through this ‘reform,’ her own Ducal Territory would transform into a grand estate boasting a size almost equal to that of the restructured Jeffrey Ducal Territory. Ultimately, what did it matter what the important issue was? When I possess it, it is generosity that looks after the surrounding poor territories, while the other’s land is merely an excessively monumental estate that causes imbalances in the Empire’s order.

“Is that it? Are you planning to wrap things up by taking away the eastern part of my territory?”

Jeffrey, who did not even want to debate further with Jenice, asked. Jenice lightly nodded.

“This is a reform for the Empire, Duke Jeffrey. A true reform for the Empire.”

Jenice immediately moved to bring this matter to a vote. Walter observed Jenice’s form with a penetrating gaze while remaining silent.

“Alright, everyone. This matter cannot be prolonged. This issue is closely related to the Empire’s Congress members gathered here, so attempts to delay the meeting with meaningless questions will not be tolerated. Like I mentioned before, unnecessary delays in the meeting have escalated to a point where someone is seriously considering violent measures, haven’t they?”

With this, Jenice blocked even the attempts of the royalist factions among the council members to postpone the vote through questioning. ‘This reform is a matter closely related to the Southern council members, and it must be resolved before they can return to their territories. However, they can no longer stay in the central place since Jeffrey is running out of time. Therefore, we must resolve the matter immediately through a vote.’

Jenice was in a hurry. She was worried that Rose Caprice would reverse the atmosphere of the assembly by heading south from the front lines upon hearing this news. Thus, she was trying to increase her chances of success even with somewhat underhanded methods.

“Then, I would like those who agree to the Southern reform plan to stand and express their support in this space. Those who do not agree may remain seated.”

An astonishingly shameless call for a public vote. The council members became flustered in the rapidly progressing atmosphere, shuffling in their seats.

Should we agree? Or not? Koesernis proudly stood in a manner reminiscent of incitement, and several members followed him. Yet many nobles still found themselves unable to make their decisions. Some members were whispering among themselves and were about to raise their hands to request more time when—

Jenice glanced at her watch. An hour and a half had passed.

“Lord Jeongjae of the Harriet Barony, the Grand Mage, the gift from another world, Lord Park Jeongjae enters!”

At the guard’s loud announcement, the council members instinctively stood up in unison. Only one person, Walter Hellhound, remained seated. Walter stayed silent, refusing to rise even at Jeongjae’s entrance.

Jeongjae simply entered the assembly at the time agreed upon according to Jenice’s words. As the Grand Mage looked around with a flustered expression in the chilly atmosphere, Jenice exaggeratedly feigned shock and waved her hands.

“Oh, there was a minor incident. I can’t believe this happened during a vote. Hmm, it seems the Baron has arrived a bit late. So that’s why everyone stood up. Well, of course, I won’t count this as part of the vote. But since some have already stood, they might get confused… Ah, I see. Now, those who are opposed to my opinion can take a seat.”

With this little trick, Jenice changed the essence of the vote.

In the ambiguous struggle, the statements of ‘those for it, please stand’ and ‘those against it, feel free to sit’ could be perceived very differently. The members, seeing Jenice’s sharp gaze, understood that the act of ‘sitting down’ implied active opposition to Jenice.

It was likely to be read as a message that they were opposing her, who was trying to place herself on the throne of the South, that ambitious individual who had already secured her position as the number one in the South in alliance with Koesernis as the Grand Mage of the Magic Tower.

Those nobles who hesitated to stand earlier now hesitated to even decide whether to sit down. With everyone already standing, they thought it would be beneficial for their status to agree to Jenice’s reform proposal without much resistance and maintained their stance.

Those glancing at the surrounding nobles also joined the ranks. A few principled nobles did remain seated, but that was all. The tide had turned. Jenice Harker had won.

“I believe I’ve given you enough time,” Jenice said.

“Looks like not many are sitting. Good. Then, I hereby declare that my reform proposal has officially passed with the Empire Assembly’s approval. This concludes the meeting. Thank you all, esteemed members.”

Jeongjae suddenly found himself in a ridiculous situation of having to exit immediately upon entering, but he noticed Walter, who was clicking his tongue in the designated member’s seat, and realized that something unsettling had occurred.

“A king has been born in the South.”

Walter murmured. Jeongjae looked at Jenice, who turned around confidently towards him.

“Jenice.”

“Yes, professor.”

“What… exactly did you do today?”

“I acquired a weapon. A weapon to finally realize my intentions.”

“Mm.”

Jeongjae frowned slightly.

“I appreciate that you’re growing your power. But I hope you don’t go too far.”

“Professor, we’ve already come too far.”

Jeongjae did not respond. He might have been right in Jenice’s words. However, that didn’t justify going further out of control.

 

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