Chapter 89
The Crown Prince Wishes to Retire
31. The Returning Crown Prince!
Kariel, who had returned to Salem, was terrifyingly focused on work.
The busy time seemed like a joke as he relentlessly pushed forward with his plans.
What was strange was that whenever he felt overwhelmed with work, another person would be added to the team.
And just when things began to feel manageable, new tasks were assigned, and the hell wouldn’t end.
A few people tried to protest, but it was useless.
Work didn’t lessen; only more tasks piled up.
“Your Highness!”
“Did they protest again? Offer them additional compensation.”
“They said they feel like they might actually die.”
“If they finish all their work by noon, they can enjoy three hours of sauna time for a break.”
The sauna set up for dying bureaucrats.
Constructed using magical tools, it had been tremendously effective in revitalizing those weary bureaucrats.
Remembering how a bath and sauna had relieved fatigue back on Earth, he decided to create it, and it had proven to be a great help.
Finally, perhaps seeking this answer, Talion bowed his head and turned away.
Seeing his reaction, Kariel confirmed the unexpected effectiveness with a strange smile, muttering to himself.
“I should try making one when I get to the Central government.”
Even those who protested tirelessly would come back to work after three hours of sauna time.
“If there were coffee, it would be perfect…”
He had tried to look for it in his previous life but couldn’t find it in the end.
While he sought something similar and sipped it, nothing could compare to coffee, leaving him with regret.
‘Should I expand trade to the Southern Islands in this life to seek it out?’
Thinking this, he refocused on work once more.
In the meantime, the time for Kariel to leave Salem was rapidly approaching.
The port still wasn’t completely ready.
However, it appeared that the time spent wasn’t wasted as it was shaping up quite nicely.
“Having given up my own birthday to work, it should at least be at this level.”
As a prince, it would be customary to hold a decent banquet, but Kariel’s birthday ended up being nothing more than applause from the bureaucrats.
Work had overflowed.
Who would complain when the First Prince sacrificed his own birthday for work?
Despite occasional dissatisfaction due to the heavy workload, complaints dwindled when the one at the top led by example.
“Your Highness.”
At the voice calling him, Kariel paused his work and looked up at Markus.
“I have assigned all the descendants of the traitorous families. Here’s the report.”
“Not bad?”
Kariel’s evaluation wasn’t poor.
The fact that they had received some internal training seemed to be true.
But it was still insufficient.
“…Is it not enough yet?”
The techniques possessed by the extinguished families.
They were still not showing them.
“Yes.”
“Are you sure they exist? Many of these have been gone for decades.”
Kariel asked with a scrutinizing gaze, and Markus nodded with determination.
“Absolutely.”
“Then these people don’t realize what an opportunity this is.”
The only chance to escape the identity of a criminal. Yet they were wasting that opportunity to protect insignificant techniques.
“We have no time. I must go up soon.”
“I will persuade them.”
“You better do. Otherwise, I might have no choice but to abandon them too.”
Markus bowed his head at Kariel’s firm words.
He too felt deeply aware of what kind of opportunity this was. It was a precious chance that the First Prince had fought for at the Central government.
“How about the Revolutionary Forces?”
“They’re…”
“Feeling complacent.”
Most of the Revolutionary Forces were working hard as Kariel intended.
But not all factions felt the same way.
Some of them were protesting against Kariel, who kept them confined to the city.
There were those who claimed he would discard them again once the city was completed.
“I don’t intend to carry everyone along. Those who miss this opportunity will be left behind until the end.”
“…Yes.”
Markus had already been promised that they would be brought to the Central government for reforms later.
That’s why he was anxious.
From the side, Kariel was keeping his promises, doing his best to meet Markus’s and the Revolutionary Forces’ desires.
While labor hours were not strictly adhered to, it was understandable given the current situation.
Thus, it became increasingly maddening.
In this way, Markus became the loyal dog of Kariel, who was now confronting forces opposed to him.
“Protesting is fine. But tell them not to cross the line.”
“…Yes.”
“Lastly, those who do not work do not deserve to remain here. Even if they protest, they should continue working.”
“I will convey that.”
The time to truly return to the Central government was drawing near.
According to the news received from the Shadows the previous day, it was said that the situation had become urgent.
Thus, there was no longer time to waste here.
Issuing a final ultimatum to the revolutionaries and the criminals, Kariel began wrapping up the plans for the development of the bureaucrats and the regions including Salem that were in conflict.
The plans that initially seemed daunting gradually came together as he kept modifying them, eventually reaching completion.
By the evening of the next day, the bureaucrats who finalized the last plan cheered in unison.
“It’s done.”
Thanks to the hard work that extended late into the night every day, they managed to complete Salem’s development plan promptly.
“Thank you for your hard work. Everyone should take a restful day tomorrow. Tell the laborers they can rest as well.”
“Wow!”
“I’ll inform Talion, so don’t worry about food and drinks. Just think of tomorrow as a festival and enjoy yourselves.”
Having said that, Kariel quietly slipped away, blinking his tired eyes and gazing up at the night sky.
“Will I have to discard it after all?”
It was regretful. But in a desperate situation, there was no room for dragging things out.
Just as he made up his mind to let go, he heard—
“Your Highness.”
“Huh?”
“There are those who seek an audience with you.”
People coming to see Kariel.
Following Talion, he found the descendants of the condemned families standing there.
“We greet Your Highness. I am Baker.”
“We greet Your Highness. I am Curios.”
“We greet Your Highness. I am Turing.”
Those who weren’t even allowed to have names.
These people who had to live their lives with the names of sinners bowed their heads in greeting.
“…Famous ones have come to visit.”
He recognized them from his previous life when he was Emperor.
Turing, who tried to bloom the flower of engineering in an empire dominated by magic but was branded a traitor for subversive thoughts.
Curios, the leader of the alchemists who was accused of dabbling in sorcery and became a dark mage.
Baker, who made cannons and muskets but was exterminated for colluding with rebels.
These were the ones who had come seeking Kariel.
“I was about to discard all of you just now.”
At Kariel’s words, the three men trembled and lowered their heads.
“But since you’ve come, I will listen. Tell me why I should make use of you.”
Though a bit late, he considered letting that slide, taking into account the courage it took to come.
They initially hesitated, but realizing this was their last chance, they began to speak of what they possessed one by one.
Weapons, overshadowed by magic cannons and magical tools, could expand their use through gunpowder, while alchemy could be revitalized through chemistry, and engineering was something Kariel was determined to restore properly.
Although he expected that after such a long time they would have vanished, the legacy was still alive.
They had made some progress, albeit small.
They managed to create tools that would help civilians, experimenting in mines and rugged terrains instead of mere weapons.
“Interesting.”
Kariel smiled as he looked at the talented individuals before him.
“Prove what you possess here. Then I shall remove the shackles you bear. This is a promise that I, Kariel Friedrich von Blazer, make upon my honor.”
Saying that, he had Talion bring a contract for signing.
Since verbal promises could be unreliable, they drafted an official contract.
“Go and inform what occurred today. Getting an opportunity is for you as well. I won’t immediately make use of others even if they can prove themselves.”
In other words, it meant that those present were the last options chosen by Kariel.
No matter how urgent the need for talented individuals became, the possibility of immediate utilization had diminished.
However, an opportunity was given.
As he made use of them while gradually showcasing opportunities, those who would willingly offer their techniques would appear.
Then, he could decide whether to use them or not at that time.
“Is there anything left to do here?”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“The real hard work will be waiting at the Central government.”
With Torion’s nearby words, Kariel smiled wryly.
Hearing the announcement of the rest day, the cheers erupted around him as Kariel smiled.
“Rest… how enviable.”
Gazing quietly at those joyfully looking forward to rest, Kariel headed to his room to sleep.
*
The next day, an early-rising Kariel called for the high bureaucrats.
The bureaucrats, who had worked through the night thinking today was a break, stood before Kariel with haggard eyes.
“From today onward, I’m heading to the Central government.”
At Kariel’s announcement, the bureaucrats, who had been blankly staring, widened their eyes.
“You mean this abruptly?”
“Indeed. The situation at the Central is dire, and there’s no time to take it easy.”
Saying that, Kariel chuckled ruefully as he looked at Markus.
“I’ll be leaving this place in your temporary charge.”
“Y-Your Highness!”
“No objections allowed. I’ll occasionally receive reports from here, so do not slack off and work hard.”
Saying that, he shot a quick glance at Talion and then departed.
Kariel soon headed towards where the airship was prepared, bringing along all the Imperial Palace Knights and attendants unlike when he had first gone to the Central alone.
The airship lifted off from the temporary station set up for him at the Eastern Command.
“Salem…”
The port of the East that he never had in his previous life.
Thinking that this small city would contribute greatly to the empire filled him with awe.
Though still in the preparatory stages, the railway and improved roads leading to Salem would further advance the empire.
Yet, to protect this city, there was much that needed preparation.
“I can’t let the city I’ve nurtured fall into the hands of some useless fool.”
Hearing Kariel’s murmur, Talion smiled lightly.
Since Kariel was the type to keep his word, this city would undoubtedly be safe.
*
Having left behind his love-hate creation, Salem, Kariel arrived at the Central government to be greeted by the Imperial Palace Knights.
Unlike before, they stood in formation on both sides bowing to Kariel.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
The Imperial Palace Knights escorted Kariel as he mounted the platform.
In a gesture commemorating his formal return to the Central, the members of the Central Knight Order were dispatched to escort him on either side.
Entering the Imperial Palace with a grand return, Kariel headed straight to the Grand Council Meeting.
It was as if they had been waiting; inside the Grand Council Meeting chamber stood his siblings, holding the emblem symbolizing the Crown Prince and the staff that granted temporary imperial authority.
“First Prince Kariel Friedrich von Blazer, step forward.”
“Yes!”
Kneeling before the two princes who appeared on behalf of the Emperor.
To him, Winston conveyed the Emperor’s decree.
“First Prince shall be restored to the Crown Prince. This is my solemn command, and refusal is not permitted.”
“I accept Your Majesty’s command.”
As Kariel received the golden emblem symbolizing the Crown Prince, the Chancellor spoke once more.
“Due to the Emperor’s serious illness, authority is delegated to the Crown Prince. All lords and nobles are to regard the Crown Prince’s commands as the Emperor’s own.”
With that, Seriel handed over the Emperor’s staff.
Holding the staff, Kariel stared at it with a peculiar expression for a long time.
Ultimately, he had received back the staff he had sought to avoid.
A strange feeling arose, but he quickly brushed it aside.
It wasn’t the time to dwell on feelings.
“As my first decree as Crown Prince, I order that Derek, who has masqueraded as the Emperor’s bloodline, be branded a traitor. Anyone who follows him shall be a traitor, and those factions that supported him shall become the empire’s arch-enemy.”
As Kariel declared with a chill expression, everyone in the Grand Council Meeting fell to their knees and shouted uniformly.
“We obey your command!”
