Chapter 197
Duke Watts's brow remained furrowed.
He was weighing the situation and the aftermath since I became the director of the Intelligence Bureau. He was also estimating the flow of power.
Once the Intelligence Bureau is established directly under the Emperor, all the nation's information will be funneled there. Since the army also has an intelligence unit, Duke Watts was well aware.
"Is this in preparation for when you leave the Imperial Palace?"
"Yes. The Emperor must no longer be swayed by the Secret Council. Even if it's only the director of the Intelligence Bureau, having one person as the Emperor's hand is enough. And also—"
I looked at Duke Watts as I continued.
"Please take on the role of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army, Your Grace."
Duke Watts's brow furrowed even deeper.
"What about the Capital Defense Forces?"
"You can entrust that to your second son, Brai."
Duke Watts stroked his beard.
It seemed my plan was coming into view.
"Your chief aide, Code, will become Chief of Staff of the Imperial Army. Your elder son, vice Commander Tri, will be the Commander of the Central Army. The Deputy-Commander of the Northern Army will be Lingo. And for the newly established Imperial Knights Order, mango can serve as Deputy-Commander."
"Mango as Deputy-Commander?"
Mango was currently Deputy-Commander of the Imperial Palace Guard.
The people I mentioned were those five officers.
"The Imperial Knights Order will remain an independent unit as before, but it will fall directly under the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army. The existing Special Forces under the Supreme Commander will be disbanded."
"Then I will be both the Supreme Commander and the Commander of the Imperial Knights Order?"
"Correct."
Duke Watts scratched his chin again.
It was an unprecedented move.
"It's right for the leader of the Empire's strongest force to be the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army. Your Grace is well-suited for such a position."
"And it's also right for the military to control all armed forces."
"That's right."
Although the Imperial Knights belonged to the Imperial Army in name, they actually took orders from the Secret Council more than from the Supreme Commander. This restructuring would empower both the military and Duke Watts.
"You'll control politics; I'll control the military."
"You see straight through it."
"There will be considerable resistance."
"If they resist, they will collapse."
Duke Watts looked into my eyes.
In his gaze, I saw the implication that I might become more than the Grand Duke had been. After all, no one knows what the future holds.
"The Grand Duke's faction will revive. They're just in hiding for now. The Syren family hasn't been completely destroyed either. Art Syren and Commander Sez are alive and well."
Duke Watts nodded.
I wasn't the only one seizing power. Duke Watts would seize a military force more powerful than the Imperial family's authority.
Throughout history, whoever controls the military holds true power. I just handed that power to Duke Watts. After all, I can't control the military as well—some allies are necessary.
Just because I seize power doesn't mean I'll become a tyrant harming the innocent. I won't be a villain to those who are blameless. As long as I can fend off Syren's invasion, that's enough.
To do so, I needed to revive the collapsing Empire at least a bit, and maintain some control over the military. Even so, if the Empire were to fall, it would only mean the enemy was stronger.
/ / /
Another half month passed.
The very first thing I did was appoint Duke Watts as Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army—with the Crown Prince's authority.
There was no major factional resistance. Most of the Grand Duke's faction had died or been exiled during the civil war. It was the natural course, and there was no one more qualified than Duke Watts.
However, there was quite a bit of resistance to the five officers being elevated to the military's top ranks. There were many generals with more years of service than the five officers.
And so, the five officers who had just earned their stars gathered after quite a while. They had come to receive their appointment letters from the Crown Prince and then sought me out. Unlike before, they all addressed me with respect.
"You've all made great progress."
"You look quite ordinary, commander. Weren't you training for two years? What happened?"
"What's the point in asking? He's just grown stronger."
At Mango's remark, everyone laughed.
Code spoke up.
"It feels like the Grand Duke's faction fell too easily. Maybe it's because the Grand Duke died and their focal point disappeared, but it also seems like the Syren family didn't make any preparations at all."
"Maybe we overestimated them?"
"No, the Grand Duke accumulated enormous wealth over the past twenty years. All the assets of the destroyed families went to the Syren family. Yet, they were weaker than we thought."
Everyone agreed.
I just quietly listened.
Then Oren spoke.
"It's true the Grand Duke's faction has fallen. Many families were wiped out or fled. Even among the remaining Syren family members in hiding, there can't be many."
"Still, it feels off."
The Grand Duke was prepared.
But his preparations weren't about contesting us for imperial power. His faction was essentially dispensable.
"You've heard about the Intelligence Bureau, right?"
"Yes. You're recruiting people?"
"Could you refer me to some good candidates? Ability doesn't matter—just quick-witted and agile people."
Oren asked,
"Are you planning to train assassins?"
"I just need some field agents. For intelligence management, scholars or merchants will do."
"Of course. We'll help as much as we can."
The candidates I requested were general agents for the Intelligence Bureau. Only they would be made public, while those in the Secret Intelligence Division would remain hidden. Our Intelligence Division and berserkers were those agents.
Under the imperial name and with imperial funds, I planned to set up secret bases and safe houses. Only the Secret Intelligence Division would be aware of all these.
In reality, the fall of the Empire was only a matter of time.
It was a decision based on the judgment that the Empire's meager finances could not change its fundamental structure.
Opponents would insist I ruined the Empire anyway. Rather than bear such accusations while trying to save a hopeless Empire, it was better to redirect the funds.
/ / /
I looked out at the square from the window of the Intelligence Bureau building.
The Emperor's enthronement ceremony was being held in the square. It was the official event to announce the ascension to the public.
Three months had passed.
The chaos in both the Imperial Palace and the capital had settled into a period of stability. Quite a lot had happened in that time.
The Imperial Knights Order had been newly established, completed recruiting new knights, and officially launched. There were 300 members. A large number of knights from fallen families were accepted.
The Prosecution Bureau was created as well, with Oren and about 80 of his knights taking charge of every incident and accident in the capital. They were particularly focusing on investigating tax evasion.
The Intelligence Bureau was founded without an official announcement, setting up its headquarters by converting the Guard building in the center of the Imperial Palace. There were already over 100 ordinary agents.
"Are you not attending the banquet?"
"I should."
I looked out over the square with Donnie.
"You still haven't found Art Syren?"
"It seems he's not in the capital. Commander Sez is likely to join forces with Madam Mien, so I'm investigating the north. Have you checked for the stone of the gods?"
"I haven't seen it at all."
"That's strange."
From time to time, I summoned the bronze knights and searched for the stone of the gods that the Grand Duke possessed, but I couldn't find a trace. The jewels embedded in the chests of the bronze knights had also lost their light.
It meant that the stone of the gods was no longer in this world.
It vanished along with the Grand Duke's death.
Or perhaps it was sealed away.
"We're still investigating, but recently there have been bizarre murders."
"What kind of cases?"
"Beheaded corpses have been found. The victims are civilians, but the methods are all the same."
"Isn't that an execution style?"
"Yes. So the Prosecution Bureau suspects it's an act by an agitator group and is investigating. There have been other suspicious incidents as well, not just the beheaded corpses."
"Even when there were no agitator groups?"
"I don't know if they're related to the recent cases, but the number of disappearances has greatly increased recently."
Could it be that those who supported me were executed?
There's no reason to kill civilians.
It felt like there was something else at play.
"Are there still many agitators?"
"Yes. Even after arresting more than a dozen, now they're holding secret gatherings. Madam Mien is behind it."
"She's met with the heads of several families, correct?"
"They're neutral families."
It seemed Madam Mien was about to make a move.
Up to now, there hadn't been any power struggles. I'd cut off any chance for that from the start.
Madam Mien and her faction must have thought up all sorts of schemes. The current agitation spreading in the capital was one of them—they were trying to brand me as a devil-worshipper.
"Is there support for Madam Mien?"
"Yes. Not just among neutral families, but also among families who only pretended to be on our side during the recent rebellion, the atmosphere is the same."
It's not because of postwar rewards.
In truth, the suppression of the rebellion was handled almost entirely by Oren's Imperial Knights and the Capital Defense Forces. There were no other achievements to speak of.
"These families are the ones who produced Imperial Knights, right?"
"Over 700 members of the Imperial Knights Order were wiped out. Most of those were from their bloodlines."
Neutrality has two meanings.
Either they never intended to join the dominant side, or they missed their chance by hesitating and trying not to take a loss.
Donnie continued,
"The major merchants in the capital are also sympathetic. They've always associated with Madam Mien, but now everyone claims to fear her."
Which means they know she has an assassination team. Even the commander of the Northern Army fell into her hands; there must be some hidden power she has.
Among the families in the capital, there were few who had clearly taken our side: those of Duke Watts and the five officers, as well as the families of the Capital Defense Forces and Central Army officers.
The rest avoided taking sides during the events, acting cautiously. The families that produced Imperial Knights were even more so—afraid to take a side in case they backed the wrong winner.
Under such circumstances, the Imperial Knights Order was annihilated. Countless families lost sons and relatives. Their shared grudge led them to unite.
Since Madam Mien is not a noble herself, she would remain in the background. Thus, it was obvious who was at the center of their group. It was clear their families had sought him out.
"He's come, hasn't he?"
"Yes, he has. In fact, he requested a meeting."
"What has he been doing all this time?"
"Right before the incident, he resigned from the position of Deputy-Commander of the Imperial Knights Order and went into hiding. He came along with Madam Mien."
"Let's go to the ballroom."
I left the office.
With the event finished, countless dignitaries were headed for the grand banquet hall. I walked with them.
My right hand glowed again. Was some Syren-related presence wandering around the palace? Or was there some evil being among the guests?
The grand banquet hall was packed.
Numerous nobles and major merchants attended. Count Mals, merchant leader Barako, and Count Parde were all present.
I greeted each of them in turn. Just like last time, the factions were clearly divided. Most of them were on the other side—a 7 to 3 ratio.
"Have you resumed your business?"
"I have. But the mood in the capital is more restless than ever."
"Is it the same in Tris?"
"Maybe they're hiding and stirring up agitation. There are many protesters now. There are even rumors that a devil has bewitched the Emperor. Even the nobility is unsettled."
At that moment, madam Mien approached.
Several family heads accompanied her, almost as if to guard her.
"Sorry for the late introduction. I'm Mien."
"This is Merchant leader Barako. And over here..."
Our group and Madam Mien's exchanged greetings. In the past, madame Mien gave me an eerie feeling. Now I sensed a peculiar discomfort, as if something had changed.
"Is Your Majesty adjusting well?"
"Surprisingly well."
"I'm glad to hear it."
One family head stepped forward.
He was the de facto leader of their faction.
Viscount Born, the richest man in the capital.
"This might be out of place for a first meeting, but you must manage your Intelligence Bureau agents carefully."
"Is there some particular problem?"
Viscount Born gave a hollow laugh.
"I find it troublesome for you to ask that, since you're the one who gave the order. Did you think we wouldn't notice that the Intelligence Bureau is secretly investigating our merchant guild?"
"They're not Intelligence Bureau agents—they're Prosecution Bureau investigators. They're investigating because they found evidence of tax evasion. Why would we get involved in that?"
Viscount Born raised the corner of his mouth.
What I said was true. The Prosecution Bureau was investigating based on a tip, but he thinks I ordered it.
He thinks I operate like the Secret Council or the Imperial Knights Order always did. There's no need to explain further; he won't believe me anyway.
"Do you think we'll just sit back and take it? It's only a matter of time before your true nature is revealed."
"Born, watch your words."
"Count Parde, have you heard rumors that he worships the devil?"
"What did you say?!"
Count Parde barked in anger.
As a result, the entire banquet hall fell silent.
Madam Mien spoke.
"Do you think everyone will believe you just because you manipulate divinity? You should know that the citizens support us, not some Intelligence Bureau director who may be worshipping devils."
With that, madam Mien laughed and departed.
Our party was left speechless.
All I could do was laugh.
"His Imperial Majesty is entering!"
Bam ba da da—
Trumpets rang out, and the guards began entering the banquet hall. Then Emperor Roman entered, walking forward.
Madam Mien bowed her waist as she looked at me.
The others with her followed.
And then I saw a man.
Duto Syren.
He had been Deputy-Commander of the Imperial Knights Order and secretly aided Madam Mien. He had revealed the existence of a false emperor.
He was the eldest son of the Syren family.
What could he be thinking now?
Why does he wish to meet me?