I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

Chapter 132:

I thought I had grown accustomed to having all eyes on me, but I did feel a bit nervous being stared at by all these men called Dukes.

There was also a sense of heightened tension, as I had to bring up a story that would make those gazes, half curiosity and half caution, burn with hostility.

But what could I do.

It was something they brought upon themselves.

I took a light, deep breath and smiled brightly.

"Valheit, the Count of a nameless fief, offers my belated greetings to His Majesty the Emperor and the esteemed Dukes."

As I tilted my head askew, a few of the Dukes openly frowned.

Of course, they couldn't utter a single word out loud.

"Attendance is permitted, Count."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Blaiher quickly intervened before the Dukes could voice their complaints.

Having received the Emperor's permission, there was no chance of being kicked out of the meeting room.

"Would you like me to summarize the contents of the meeting so far."

"No, I can pretty much guess what was said anyway, so there's no need to waste time."

I answered the First Duke's question while deliberately twirling my staff in a distracting manner.

Johann Geller's piercing gaze followed me until I sat down.

"Then I will continue my statement. Considering the Empire's situation, if the Dukes once again combine their strength...."

Johann, who had been speaking politely, glared at me with dagger-like eyes.

It seemed I was hard to ignore, holding my hand up high with my staff included.

"How about we give the Count the floor first. He'll probably stay like that until he says what he wants to say anyway."

"An excellent idea, Your Majesty."

Johann replied with a slight sneer.

His attitude seemed to be, 'let's just hear what he has to say rather than be continuously interrupted.'

I shot up from the lowest seat and scanned the room.

Unlike the relaxed Blaiher, the Dukes looked tense, wondering what on earth that guy was going to say.

Even the pro-Emperor Joseph sent a reluctant gaze.

"I am deeply moved that you would pass the precious speaking time to a loafer like myself. I will get straight to the point so as not to take up too much of your time."

Although I started by saying I'd be quick, I paused for a moment for dramatic effect.

Just before their anticipation turned to annoyance, I shouted in a loud voice.

"The assertion to restore the rights of the Dukes is bullshit."

"What?"

It was an irritable reaction, but it was also the exact reaction I had been waiting for.

That person was probably... the Fifth Duke.

A riffraff Duke who wasn't even named in the original novel.

"Is it hard for you to understand?"

"N-no, please continue."

"No, no. I have a duty to speak so that every Duke can understand."

The Fifth Duke let out a dry cough, glanced at Johann in the head seat, met his cold, reprimanding gaze, and then bowed his head low.

Regardless, I quickly spat out the words I had prepared.

"The very claim to restore the rights of the Dukes is a contradiction, like a demon who works diligently. Furthermore, its basis is weaker than a mangy stray dog, as untrustworthy as a Vestol merchant who claims to be doing business at a loss, and...."

"Let's get to the point."

Unfortunately, I had to stop there as Johann cut in.

It was a shame, as I could have gone on for another page just by changing the target of the words Valheit used to diss Blaiher in the original work.

"In short, it means that no matter how much you whine, you are not worthy of getting back the rights you once had."

"We are only asking for the return of what was voluntarily relinquished to prepare for future chaos."

"I recall them not as voluntarily given, but as rights you cried and threw tantrums about losing, and were ultimately stripped of disgracefully."

"I understand, as memory can be different for each person."

Johann calmly deflected the provocation.

If he had gotten angry and taken the bait, I was planning to use that as an excuse to break up the Dukes' Council meeting.

Well, I didn't have high hopes.

There were no hot-headed fools like Timmy, and the other Dukes were seasoned veterans of politics.

It was time to move on to the next plan.

"Isn't it also strange to ask for the Dukes' rights to be returned to prepare for chaos? Is there a matter so great that it requires the power of the seven great Dukes?"

"It seems you are not well aware of the recent incidents in the Imperial Capital and on the Empire's borders."

"You mean how Timmy was almost blown up at the theater? Wasn't that just a ruckus caused by the idiot brothers?"

"There was also the matter of the Assembly of Well-being's chairman being assassinated, and smugglers running rampant. The Count may not be aware, but there are also regions where an unknown plague is spreading, or where bandits have daringly raided private homes."

Some of the things he said pricked my conscience, but I decided to ignore them.

"Isn't it a bit much to call such minor disturbances 'chaos'."

"Worrying news continues to come from the borders of the Black Continent as well, Count. It's a situation that is beyond the Imperial Army's ability to handle alone."

"Ah, are you speaking of the western territories? I have certainly heard there are many problems."

As I grinned, Johann's brow furrowed slightly.

He seemed to have realized he'd touched on the wrong subject, but it was already too late.

"I will briefly mention a bit of history here before moving on. As most of the people here probably haven't experienced history in real-time."

"...I am pleased to hear from a living witness of history, but please keep it brief."

"You are all aware that the Empire grew by conquering the small western kingdoms. At that time, the Emperors did not forget their loyal subjects and distributed a large portion of the lands they obtained to your ancestors."

As friction with Vestol intensified along the eastern coast, the management and development of the newly acquired western lands were entrusted to the Dukes.

This meant that many places in the western territories, which had a short history of being part of the Empire, were the lands of the Dukes.

"In order to repay His Majesty's grace, did you and your ancestors diligently cultivate that land?"

"......"

"Of course, the Geller family did so with all their heart and soul. But the rest?"

As I chuckled and looked around at the Dukes, I saw various reactions.

There were some who were stoic like Joseph Chartra, but the majority either avoided my gaze or had angry faces.

"You should manage what you already have properly. That's what I'd like to say."

"With the current system, it is difficult to manage such vast lands."

"That is...."

As the Second Duke, unable to hold back, refuted, Johann immediately moved to restrain him.

But the words already spoken could not be taken back.

"Oh, was that so? Was the reason the land bestowed over a hundred years ago is still a wasteland because the Dukes lacked rights?"

"Isn't that a natural result when we can't move freely in a situation without proper support?"

"I recall that the Second Duke's father received investors, claiming he would develop that land, and then embezzled the investment funds...."

The corner of the Second Duke's mouth twisted, but he didn't offer a rebuttal.

It was because Johann had warned him not to open his mouth any further.

"Was the Second Duke exceptionally terrible at management? That's not it either. Isn't that right, Fifth Duke?"

"What are you talking about? I am making a proper profit. Even in a situation where all sorts of shackles, no, restrictions are in place."

The Fifth Duke's chubby cheeks trembled as he retorted.

Well, he received the most profitable land, so of course he'd be making a profit.

"I never said you weren't making money. I said you're bad at managing it."

"Even for a Count, I cannot tolerate such baseless slander against my family!"

"You sold land to various nobles and even gave it the name of an autonomous district."

"There's no rule against selling land, is there? Don't think you can pick a fight with that!"

"Do you know of the Dix Autonomous District?"

The Fifth Duke's eyes went wide for a moment, then he let out a dry cough and averted his gaze.

"I do."

"Then are you aware that the Northern Federation sent a letter of protest stating that the slave trade is rampant in the Dix Autonomous District."

"Is that true? The slave trade should be forbidden throughout the Empire."

"That, well, it was a baseless protest. You know what kind of people the Federation bastards are."

As Joseph joined in and threw a question, the Fifth Duke shrank even more.

I could have pushed him further, but I decided to give him a way out.

"Don't you all admit that the Fourth Duke's land, which was left to the Imperial Army, is running the most smoothly?"

"That's because the Imperial Army and Chartra are close."

"How about the Fifth Duke takes this opportunity to get friendly with them too?"

The Fifth Duke, who had offered a timid counter-argument, clamped his mouth shut.

He seemed to have realized that going any further would be disadvantageous.

"The words were harsh, but I understand the Count's concerns well enough. It is sad, but it is a fact that the Dukes are not properly managing the lands they received."

Johann stepped forward to organize the situation. Follow current novels on NoveI~Fire.net

He was probably trying to stop the flustered Dukes from giving me more leverage.

"However, this is also a result of the Dukes being surrounded by too many restrictions. As they must constantly consult with the military or the bureaucracy. It seems the Count and I are in agreement on reducing such unnecessary processes."

"Perhaps. But it seems my thoughts and solutions are different."

Now was the time to get to the main point.

Though probably almost no one would like it.

"The inefficiency you just mentioned is a problem that arises from the clash between you Dukes and the central organization. The First Duke seems to want to solve this problem by empowering the Dukes, but there is also the opposite method."

Several Dukes shot up to protest, but had to sit back down as the First Duke raised his hand to stop them.

"Strengthen the center. Is that what you're saying."

"The ownership would still be yours, but wouldn't it be better for His Majesty to decide how to run it? Since they are lands that His Majesty obtained and distributed anyway."

"I have no doubt that His Majesty has such ability, but I am doubtful if the bureaucrats can follow."

"Do you Dukes have that ability?"

Now that Johann had finally stepped forward, it was time to lay down the cards I had prepared.

"The one who is running a huge group like the Three Blades is unable to solve the problems of his own fief, isn't he."

"What do you mean?"

"As I understand it, demons have recently been troubling your fief. And I hear that Federation criminals are also running rampant."

"It is under control. If the Imperial Navy helps, it can be taken care of more easily."

Though Johann expressed a subtle complaint, he couldn't deny it.

He wasn't the type of man to get through a situation with lies.

"If even the strongest and greatest First Duke is experiencing difficulties, how much more so for the other Dukes?"

"You seem to know about my fief in great detail. I am impressed by your information network, Count."

"I merely conducted a little investigation."

My suspicion that I was somehow behind this must have now turned into conviction.

I smiled lightly and met Johann's subtle anger.

"May I have a word."

Giuseppe, who had been watching the party quietly as if observing, raised his hand.

Johann, perhaps unable to think of a reason to stop him, nodded.

"I believe there is merit in both of your words. As the situations the Dukes are in are different, the responses must also be different. I believe we must examine the situations of the Dukes before making a decision."

The Dukes began to whisper.

An investigation?

Who?

How?

Is it advantageous or disadvantageous?

The gazes of the Dukes, who were busily racking their brains, all fell on the Emperor who had risen from his seat.

Blaiher, with a slightly troubled expression, pondered a bit more while standing before declaring.

"I believe that would be for the best."

Johann looked at the Emperor, seemingly a bit shocked.

I also reacted with surprise out of courtesy.

Even though it was all pre-arranged.

"Uh... we will discuss the investigation methods further, Your Majesty."

"Please do."

Blaiher smiled brightly as he looked at the Fifth Duke, who was sweating bullets.

It was the moment the Dukes' united front crumbled.

Because not everyone in the world lives with a clear conscience.

***

As Blaiher declared the meeting over, the Dukes quickly exited the conference hall.

Johann Geller brushed past me with a complicated expression and muttered.

"It would have been better for everyone if we had reached a conclusion today."

"Indeed. Still, isn't this a pretty good outcome?"

"We shall see."

With a slight twist of his lips, Johann left the conference hall.

He must have realized that a diplomatic solution had become difficult.

But he wasn't the type to give up.

He would likely come at me, even if it meant borrowing external power.

'Let's see how the Duke reacts.'