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Chapter 30: Kariel’s Dangerous Plan (2)

“I want to retire, Your Highness.”

After receiving the Emperor’s permission, the Counts of the Border and the High Nobles started to secretly move for something.

They were cautious because if the Local Nobles or Lower Nobles found out, they would surely rebel.

However, Kariel, unaware of this fact, was deep in thought aboard the Airship.

‘It would be a pity if it fails, right?’

After all, they couldn’t kill him for this.

At worst, he might just get exiled to a rural territory.

That would honestly be fine.

But it was somewhat bothersome to know that he could develop further yet was being left to his own devices.

Plus, there was anxiety about what the Dark Mage might do on the East Continent.

If they were to lure Roman into a continental war over there, the Empire would once again be in crisis.

To prepare for that even a little, more talented individuals were needed.

At the same time, there was a need to develop more.

The foundation that allowed Kariel’s Empire to endure in his previous life.

Among that was the overwhelming power of the Grand Master, but that alone couldn’t secure victory in the continuous battles.

The greatest contributions came from the geniuses who appeared in times of crisis.

Thanks to the weapons that incorporated the advanced techniques they developed, they played their part.

“It’s a shame to see something so rotten like this.”

The Airship was rushing forward, consuming an enormous amount of mana stones due to lack of technology, making it not widespread.

However, despite the massive resource consumption, it was being used on a limited basis, moving at speeds far faster than trains.

Like trains, it was restricted to one route going north, south, east, and west.

The only reason for its lack of advancement was one thing.

“The greed of the Mages.”

Although they knew they could achieve greater advancements by collaborating with the Technicians, the Mages were unwilling to provide technology.

Furthermore, they only produced a minuscule amount to use it as a weapon.

Now, the Mages who created this had either died or aged, leading to a severe interruption in the transmission of technology.

‘In short, it’s a mess.’

Seeing the slowly advancing Empire, restricted by the greed of the Nobles and privileged classes, Kariel pondered while looking out the window.

He contemplated how to persuade the greedy Nobles and how to appease the Emperor’s wrath.

Even while Kariel was lost in such deep thoughts, the Airship flew rapidly toward the capital.

 

“I shall see Your Highness.”

At the destination, the Imperial Palace Knights had gathered to escort Kariel, who had descended from the Airship.

“If anyone sees me, they’ll think I’m a Criminal.”

“My apologies.”

Seeing the bowed heads of the Imperial Palace Knights, Kariel forced a smile.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Surrounded by the Imperial Palace Knights, Kariel climbed into the wagon heading to the Imperial Palace, clicking his tongue.

It was an obvious setup to pressure him.

The fact that Talion and the Shadows weren’t allowed to accompany him showed their intent to bind Kariel’s hands and pressure him.

This meant the Nobles found the plan incredibly difficult to accept.

“Are we heading straight to the Grand Council Meeting?”

“It seems so.”

When Kariel opened the window of the wagon to ask, the Palace Knight bowed his head and replied.

“Ha… They don’t even intend to give me a minimal amount of preparation time?”

Inside the wagon heading directly to the Grand Council, Kariel slowly went over the preparations Talion had made.

Before long, the wagon arrived in front of the Grand Council Meeting.

“Your Highness, we have arrived.”

“Wait. Let me take five minutes before going out.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

The Palace Knight bowed his head with a grim expression.

Even the mighty Kariel was regarded as tense at this moment.

However, Kariel’s expression inside the wagon was calm.

The reason he asked for time was to counter the pressing Nobles with the information prepared by Talion.

“Alright.”

Kariel stopped the Knight who was trying to assist him and stepped out of the wagon.

The surprised looks of the Imperial Palace Knights indicated they felt something unusual.

‘When did this happen…’

They already knew that Kariel’s body had rapidly recovered after shaking off pain.

But Kariel, having stepped away from the capital and returned, emanated not just recovery—he radiated the aura of a martial artist.

Kariel, who had grown at a speed even the Palace Knights found astonishing, was headed toward the Grand Council Meeting, subconsciously revealing the anger he had suppressed in his heart.

Normally, it would be improper to exude such an aura freely like this.

But being the First Prince allowed everything.

Especially since he was revered as ‘the Hero of the Empire’, everyone, including the Knights, turned a blind eye when he opened the doors to the Grand Council.

What awaited Kariel, who arrived at the Grand Council on the Emperor’s orders, were his two younger brothers sitting on the divided throne.

In front of them stood the Nobles who cast him the gaze of a criminal with discontent.

Yet, Kariel didn’t shrink back in the least. Instead, he looked at the Nobles with a cold expression.

“What’s this, another prank?”

Kariel’s question drew sour faces from his younger brothers.

It was clear the forced smiles didn’t sit well with them.

“I have come by the Emperor’s command… Are you daring to humiliate me by exploiting the Emperor, my Lord?”

As he glared at the Nobles with a furious expression, a couple of them flinched.

“What you sent me was indeed the Emperor’s order. However, given the Emperor’s current health, we had no choice but to proceed this way, please understand.”

Winston, the newly appointed Chancellor, politely bowed his head and spoke.

Kariel had intended to show a furious expression to take command, but he was blocked by Chancellor Winston.

“The agenda of this Grand Council is about you, so you must stand while the meeting is in progress. I hope you understand.”

‘Looks like the easy ride is over.’

Kariel clicked his tongue inwardly, still speaking without losing his composure.

“Fine, let’s proceed.”

“Yes.”

At Kariel’s command, the Nobles showed expressions of bewilderment.

The setup was intentionally crafted to make him look like a criminal led in chains by the Imperial Palace Knights, forcing him to explain under his two younger brothers in the Grand Council.

Despite that, Kariel commanded as though he were the Emperor himself.

Without the Emperor, no one could order him around.

He bore a resolute expression, making several Nobles swallow their words.

“First, it concerns the individuals you summoned, Your Highness. Currently, the factions summoned by the First Prince are regarded as very dangerous to our Empire by the Nobles. Inspector General? Could you explain this?”

“…The ideologies of the so-called Revolutionary faction are highly disrespectful and could undermine the Empire’s structure. Thus, the Inspection Department is watching these individuals closely.”

Podolski answered with an expression of resignation, despite being one of Kariel’s followers. It seemed he couldn’t speak loosely regarding this matter, being honest.

“Minister of Internal Affairs, what would happen if these so-called Revolutionaries were to succeed?”

“…The current bureaucratic system may collapse.”

“Minister of Foreign Affairs, how would this affect foreign nations?”

“…At least, the Southern Kingdoms will strongly resist. They would absolutely not accept this, so there’s a possibility they would prepare for war.”

For the Southern Kingdoms, who had a stronger social hierarchy than the Empire, the disrespectful ideology of the Revolutionaries was unacceptable. Thus, they indicated they might go to war to preserve their system.

“Your Highness, this is the stance of the Nobles. Can you clarify your position on this?”

“Clarification, huh…”

Kariel smiled slightly at the seasoned Chancellor’s words.

Then he looked at the two Dukes.

Even the Counts of the Border, who were usually so busy, had gathered, yet they were silent as well.

In the silence from key individuals, a rather insignificant figure was presiding over the Grand Council meeting as the Chancellor. Even the two younger brothers kept their mouths shut.

‘Something is amiss.’

Kariel, realizing that something he didn’t know was going on, narrowed his eyes at the Chancellor.

Those keeping silent indicated a desire to maintain neutrality.

This meant he just needed to deal with the Chancellor, who had become the spokesperson for the Nobles.

‘This just got easier.’

After pondering in silence for a moment, Kariel concluded that even the famed First Prince had not spoken on this matter—smiles appeared on the lips of the Nobles.

But that was only for a moment before Kariel spoke.

“First of all, I find the word ‘clarification’ quite bothersome. If someone were to hear it, they might mistake me for a criminal.”

Kariel said this while glaring at Winston.

“I have steadily reported everything from the city to the center, and even sought your permission before summoning the Revolutionaries. Didn’t everyone agree? Yet now you’re trying to pin a crime on me…?”

“…I apologize for the poor choice of words.”

Winston rapidly apologized.

He had quickly staved off the situation from taking a turn for the worse.

“Tsk! Since we are short on time, let’s answer quickly. For all matters, I reported them to the center. What remains is the problem concerning my plan, yet I don’t understand what’s wrong with that.”

With Kariel’s words, the Nobles began to murmur.

“Didn’t you all often say about how Nobles and commoners are inherently different in gifted abilities? That the geniuses occasionally appearing among commoners are mere anomalies.”

With Kariel’s words, the faces of the Nobles stiffened.

“So, what’s the problem? Moreover, you have overwhelming advantages in environment compared to commoners.”

“However….”

Kariel raised a hand to silence an attempting rebuttal from a Noble and spoke coldly.

“Lastly, it’s not about applying this to the entire Empire, just to one city. Are you so afraid to even take on that? What are you scared of?”

As Kariel spoke, he radiated confidence.

“If you’re going to shiver in fear over a mere incident happening in one city, then how about becoming commoners instead? I can’t bear to see such trash seated in the ‘noble’ position while the Empire is in crisis.”

While intentionally lifting the Nobles, Kariel began to lay out one piece of information after another.

The defeat in a small-scale battle in the border region due to the incompetence of the Nobles, how a single Corrupt Noble allowed spies from the Southern Kingdoms to infiltrate the border regions, how the incapable Nobles led to the Union of Small Nations seizing parts of the Empire’s territory, all of that.

“They held excessive authority despite being incompetent. We almost lost back our hard-won land.”

“That’s…”

“Moreover, the war in the conflict region isn’t over yet.”

Once more raising his hand to intervene, Kariel spoke with an expression full of fury.

“We need to quickly develop the city and create a true fortress that we can call our land. However, the talents I requested are all swept up to the center and they haven’t sent me a single person.”

As Kariel’s cold gaze swept around, the officials broke into a cold sweat and averted their eyes.

They had nothing to say, no matter how many mouths they had.

“When I asked for those idle Nobles sitting at home to be sent, they all ignored my words. So, what was I supposed to do? Tell me, Chancellor. What option could I have chosen in that situation?”

“I can understand the Revolutionaries. But it is your plan that is the problem.”

“There isn’t nearly enough manpower to develop the city properly. So, is there another option? Please tell me. I hear the center is suffering from a lack of talented people as well…”

At Kariel’s words, several nobles flinched.

“However, a crisis can happen in an instant. Conversely, if your plan proceeds, the very structure of the Empire could collapse. If the system of Nobility falls, next in line is the Emperor’s authority.”

The Chancellor invoked the Emperor’s authority, prompting Kariel to let out a chuckle.

“Are you saying the Emperor’s authority would collapse just because a few commoners are recruited? You are belittling the Emperor’s authority.”

“I am simply trying to leave no room for turmoil.”

A tense atmosphere hung in the Grand Council between the Chancellor and the First Prince.

Ultimately, realizing that they wouldn’t reach a conclusion in a short time, the two younger brothers called off the Grand Council meeting.

With a grim expression, Kariel was the first to step out of the Grand Council.

Approaching him was an attendant from the Emperor’s Palace.

“His Majesty is looking for you.”

“…Let’s go.”

The real battle was just beginning.

It was time to find out what the High Nobles and Counts of the Border were hiding.

 

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