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Chapter 30: Kariel’s Dangerous Plan (4)

“The Crown Prince wants to retire.”

The Grand Council Meeting had commenced again.

Kariel stood in the center like a convict, glaring silently at Chancellor Winston.

As soon as the meeting began, Winston pressed forward with his eloquence.

Kariel finally understood why he had no recollection of such a man.

The spectral shadow of a past that had to retreat due to Mussolini’s pressure.

The wraith, who had been managing a small territory, was now dragged back to the center.

In his previous life, it would still be Mussolini’s era, so he would not have appeared, and afterward, he would have either perished from old age or been slain by a monster.

‘So even a wraith cannot be underestimated for their experience?’

Winston refuted Kariel’s words thoroughly from the standpoint of the nobles and based on the Empire’s system.

There were no sudden, unexpected strikes like those from Mussolini.

However, his thick defenses of experience and age were hard for even Kariel to penetrate.

Despite being pressured as the First Prince, Winston showed no sign of retreat, and a smile crept onto Kariel’s lips.

‘He knows very well that he cannot back down here.’

Usually, in such situations, one would permit a little leeway while striking a balance, but Winston was adamant about granting none at all.

“So, you want to chase away all the talented individuals who are currently working? If that’s the case, I should resign too.”

Kariel shrugged his shoulders as if he had nothing to lose.

The balance maintained by having the First Prince present.

To adjust it, one of the princes had to leave. Otherwise, one of the nobles must go and work hard on the port reconstruction, but no one would want to take a position that would only bring them ridicule.

Moreover, they also needed to keep Talos in check, not to mention handle the small nations lurking in conflict zones.

“…Your Highness.”

“If you wanted to use me, you should have at least been prepared. If you just ordered me to develop the port without any support, isn’t that a bit unfair?”

Winston’s expression remained unchanged, even in response to Kariel’s words.

His stubbornness about not retreating was clear on his face, and Kariel clicked his tongue in frustration.

“I’ll only allow it for Salem. That’s as far as I’m willing to yield.”

“Ha… I can be somewhat accommodating on other matters. However, the traitors are a different story. We can’t know what impure thoughts they harbor toward the Empire. And, as you well know, some of them have already been implicated with Dark Mages, correct?”

“Then we should monitor them thoroughly.”

Kariel said while looking at Winston.

“Can we let this continue indefinitely? If we leave them to suffer for the sins of our predecessors, they will merely become criminals. If we give them a chance to atone for their sins, wouldn’t they naturally be rehabilitated?”

“That’s merely an idealism.”

“Well… We can find out if that holds true in Salem, can’t we?”

Kariel remarked as he surveyed the nobles.

The persuasion was complete.

Once the Chancellor was involved, achieving perfect persuasion was difficult. At this point, all he could do was create a minimal justification and push forward.

“Ha… I’ve just come from seeing His Majesty.”

He laid down the strongest trump card, the Emperor.

The nobles began to murmur. Winston frowned and said, “Do you intend to ignore the nobles while proceeding?”

“No.”

As the nobles’ eyes sharpened, Kariel decisively shook his head.

“If that were my intention, I wouldn’t have gone through this persuasion in the first place.”

At his words, the nobles who were familiar with Kariel’s style nodded gravely.

Even the nobles who had experienced Kariel’s presence in the center nodded in agreement.

“Give them a chance. An opportunity to prove their abilities and integrate into the Empire’s system.”

“Ha… The local nobles will protest.”

“I promise I won’t strip the local lords of their power, no matter what achievements they accomplish.”

The assurance of maintaining the authority of the lords holding territorial power began to sway a few of the nobles.

At that moment, Kariel delivered a decisive blow.

“I know many among the nobles have sired illegitimate children. Send them too. If they have abilities, I will gladly make use of them.”

Finally, Winston seemed to have no choice but to lower his head and retreat, signaling that he had originally been inclined to compromise at this precise level.

‘What a seasoned gentleman he is.’

Stubborn and uncompromising, but he knew exactly when to step back.

Compared to Mussolini, he might have been slightly inferior, but he wasn’t bad.

He seemed capable of maintaining at least a minimal balance.

As the Chancellor retreated, other nobles also seemed to accept their circumstances and inclined their heads.

In the end, Kariel, having secured the agreement of all the nobles, exited the Grand Council with a commitment to once again respect their rights.

“Are you planning to leave immediately?”

In response to Duke Welch’s inquiry, Kariel nodded.

With the Emperor’s death imminent, time was of the essence.

He had to devise a plan to develop the port and then swiftly move to the Imperial Palace.

“Please deliver this to my younger brothers.”

“What is this?”

“It’s the direction the Empire will head towards.”

With those words, Kariel departed to prepare for his journey to the Eastern port.

As he observed Kariel’s back, Duke Welch hurriedly accompanied him to meet with the two princes and Count Devir.

*

At the same time, inside Princess Miriel’s palace, the two princes had gathered.

“Did he leave right away?”

“…Yes.”

In response to the Second Prince’s question, Duke Welch replied while bowing his head, then quickly consoled the somewhat downcast Second Prince by handing him a letter entrusted by Kariel.

“This is…”

“…Is this even possible?”

The Third Prince tilted his head in confusion as he read the letter together.

Both dukes also tilted their heads as if they shared the same sentiment.

Kariel’s plan was exceedingly risky.

It posed a danger both internally within the Empire and throughout the West Continent.

However, if successful, the Empire would find stability, while foreign nations would bear the burden of internal unrest.

“One thing is certain: the intention to stabilize the Empire as quickly as possible is evident.”

At Count Devir’s words, the three men seated at the table sighed.

It was a plan imbued with a strong will to renounce the throne at the earliest opportunity.

“…When he returns, it will be a bloody storm once more.”

“Ugh…”

The bitter smiles from the two princes reflected the recognition of the impending hardships that would follow upon Kariel’s return.

Yet, strangely, both princes appeared somewhat relieved, capturing the dukes’ attention with a curious spark.

*

As the princes and dukes sighed over the tasks left behind by Kariel at the palace, Kariel was busy making moves for his next plan.

“He’s coming back earlier than anticipated.”

The Emperor was passing away too quickly compared to his previous life.

Because of this, all of Kariel’s plans had been thrown into disarray.

Only now did he understand why the Emperor had not seemed willing to either capture or release him.

Even while bedridden and helpless, the presence of the Emperor was sufficient to maintain balance.

If such an emperor suddenly died, the Empire would fragment.

To prevent that from happening, he had been postponing his complete retirement.

‘It must be the Attendant’s scheme.’

The not-fully-conscious Emperor may not have been able to block Kariel each time.

The Attendant had been sketching the bigger picture while the Emperor issued orders whenever he was lucid.

“This drives me insane.”

Kariel scratched his head in frustration as he boarded the airship.

He wished he had known in advance, but quickly shook his head.

If he had, even the fleeting happiness he had enjoyed would have been shattered.

‘One day, I will return.’

Resolutely deciding to return to those happy days, Kariel headed towards Salem.

Upon arriving, he immediately summoned all the bureaucrats.

“I need to accelerate the plan.”

“Your Highness! Even now…”

Kariel shook his head, signaling that he would not tolerate objections.

The bureaucrats, realizing that something had gone wrong, quietly bowed their heads.

“How far along is the current plan?”

“Two years.”

“Extend it to four years. And I intend to bring forward the original plan little by little.”

“Even now, the workforce is working without a day’s rest.”

“Then we should supplement the workforce. I’ve received approval from the central authority, so they’ll be arriving shortly.”

The bureaucrats’ faces turned pale at Kariel’s words.

While the arrival of new workers was welcome, it was their job to categorize and place them appropriately.

It meant that their workload was only going to increase.

“I’ll supplement the bureaucrats as well, so stop looking like you’re about to die and get out there. Oh, and you stay behind.”

Marx Weber remained alone in the office at Kariel’s directive.

“I’ve figured out a solution. At least within this city, I’ll grant some freedom.”

“Ah…”

“But! They must prove themselves.”

Marx gulped at Kariel’s firm voice.

“If they fail to demonstrate their capabilities, their freedom will be revoked.”

“That’s…”

“It may sound cruel, but there’s no other choice. This is the best I can do.”

At Kariel’s words, Marx bowed as if it sufficed.

“Thank you.”

“I will stay here for two months. We must finish everything within that time frame—whether gathering hidden revolutionaries or swiftly assembling criminals, prove something within two months.”

“…Understood.”

Observing the determined bow from Marx, Kariel nodded lightly and gestured for him to leave.

Just then, Talion entered.

“Your Highness.”

“Things have gotten urgent.”

Kariel explained the events that had transpired in the center.

“Ultimately… it has come to this.”

“Ugh… It’s a frustrating situation, but what can you do?”

The Empire must not be fragmented.

This could severely impact Kariel’s laid-back life.

If the Empire fell, even a peaceful existence wouldn’t save him from those who sought his life.

Therefore, the Empire needed to remain steadfast.

“I’m just trying to live quietly, but I’m being constantly disturbed.”

He intended to retire and live simply, yet the world kept intervening with his plans.

First, it was the Dark Mages, now it was foreign nations.

Thus, he thought he should just sweep them all away.

“I plan to crush the small nations this time, and ensure that the South and Holy Nation can’t bother us anymore.”

As Kariel firmed his resolve, Talion spoke solemnly.

“…We’ve received intelligence of unsettling movements in Iron.”

“Already?”

“Yes.”

At Talion’s words, Kariel pondered for a moment and began jotting something down.

“Before we deal with the South, we need to take care of them first.”

Kariel’s plans now included additional targets.

“Talion.”

“Yes.”

“When you ascend, you will become the Head of the Intelligence Department.”

Talion flinched at Kariel’s words.

“By the way, I plan to integrate the royal shadows operated directly under the imperial household into the Intelligence Department.”

“That’s dangerous.”

“Running them separately like this is utterly inefficient. So brace yourself. Once you head to the center, you’ll be busier than ever.”

Talion’s face grew pale at Kariel’s declaration.

‘M-More busy than this!’

Talion silently screamed within, unable to voice his thoughts.

Yet, he couldn’t complain.

After all, Kariel would certainly be working just as much.

“I’ll be leaving this place within two months. Until the Emperor passes, I plan to tidy up the small nations.”

“…That’s tight timing.”

“We must succeed. The subsequent plans won’t be any easier either.”

“Yes.”

Kariel’s words prompted Talion to bow his head with a resolute expression.

On the desk lay Kariel’s notebook.

The plans written there showed that tidying up the small nations was merely a trivial task in the grand scheme of things.

 

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