Kill the Emperor

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 142 : Leap

It did not take very long for an agreement to be signed between Veradora and Esper.

The situation both sides faced, the difference in the power they possessed, and even the one-sided justification.

Because every factor that could serve as a basis for deriving a result was so obvious, a tug-of-war of pushing and pulling could not be established in the first place.

However, just because it did not take a long time did not mean that the depth of the wound the losing side had to endure was shallow.

No, rather, because the process was short, the truly one-sided result approached the loser even more violently.

It raised its curtain with the Supreme General of Veradora, Garamo, and the Grand Duke of Zodiac, Hein Reichart, passing through the capital gates of Esper side by side on horseback, and it concluded with the King of Esper, with bandages wrapped around his side, kneeling before the Supreme General of Veradora.

Although Veradora was a country with a higher national prestige, the news that the king of a nation knelt before a general of an enemy nation was bound to be shocking.

Through this fact, everyone clearly knew that Veradora had crossed the border with the determination to thoroughly crush Esper's pride from the start.

Simeon had made up her mind to recover their own wounded self-esteem by trampling on Esper's pride.

The wound Esper suffered was not limited to pride alone.

While Veradora dealt a profound blow to the nation's pride, a practical blow struck Esper from another direction.

It was unknown for what reason the Supreme General of Veradora so strongly claimed the interests of Zodiac.

However, Garamo demanded the transfer of economic interests to Zodiac with an attitude as serious as recovering their own pride, and,

"I...... I understand. As the General has requested, I will transfer the Mahatdur territory that Kunde had been granted and all rights to the Wind Tail Merchant Guild to Zodiac."

In the end, McPhein had no choice but to accept the requirements with a tearful face.

The incredible thing happened where Zodiac, which was nothing more than a small country on the periphery, absorbed one of the five great merchant guilds of the continent and was ceded a vast territory located within the Esper Kingdom.

Even until the Grand Duke of Zodiac and his personal knight order passed through the gates of Esper along with Garamo, people did not think much of Hein's existence.

But the moment the details of the enormous gains Zodiac took were known.

The entire continent could not help but pay attention to him in surprise.

The Mahatdur territory alone was large enough to be easily one-fourth of the existing entire territory of Zodiac.

But since they had even laid hands on one of the five great merchant guilds of the continent on top of that fertile land.

With this negotiation, the national power of Zodiac had achieved literally a giant leap forward.

Until before this negotiation, Zodiac was nothing more than a mediocre small country lumped together with the neighboring countries Nefam and Volmada.

But with this one leap, Zodiac could now occupy the position of a proper middle-power nation.

The amazing things did not end with this.

-I, Queen Simeon of Veradora, expresses my respect for the dedicated attitude and sincerity shown by our 'eternal friend' Grand Duke Hein Reichart of Zodiac, and I hope that the friendship with our blood ally Zodiac will continue forever.

The moment a statement of friendship with Zodiac was announced in the name of Queen Simeon of Veradora.

People's surprise was bound to grow even further.

To draw such an unconventional declaration from the haughty Queen of Veradora, who usually did not care to interact with foreign nations at all?

The continent's interest and reaction toward Hein soared literally explosively.

"That man named Hein, since they said he took down a king and swallowed a country, I just thought he was a mediocre ambitious man from the periphery, but it seems he is not one to be looked at lightly?"

"True. I heard that he also showed an outstanding appearance at the Empire's Sacred Festival?"

"Although there is a king in Zodiac, they say it has reached a state where national affairs do not function without passing through the hands of the Grand Duke. All actual power is in the hands of the Grand Duke."

"Since he achieved such results when it has not even been a year since he seized power, it is a natural thing."

In places where the famous figures of each nation gathered, the name Hein Reichart appeared without exception.

Simultaneously, the political circles of the continent were busy sending looks of excitement and wariness at the appearance of a new rising star.

And this typhoon of rumors that started in the southeastern part of the continent soon grew in size and flowed into the most grand and secretive place on the continent.

***

"Isabella, you heard the news too, right? This fellow is quite something?"

"Yes. It seems so."

"The Esper fellows got hit hard after trying to play petty tricks. Hehehe, now this fellow Hein Reichart can at least walk around with his shoulders squared, at least within the northeastern part of the continent."

Themia was lying down long in his seat as usual, examining a report.

Unlike his usual appearance soaked in boredom, his pupils were sparkling and emitting light today.

"But, while the skill with which this fellow played his tricks is cute, I do not like this point."

"What is it that you do not like again? O. p. p. a."

"This fellow, he acted so haughty in front of me, but he was wagging his tail to the barbarian fellows of Veradora, right? This is a bit annoying."

"......Oppa, in exactly which part of that report was it recorded that Grand Duke Reichart wagged his tail to the Queen of Veradora?"

"Do I have to see it written to know? I can tell at a glance."

Themia spoke while stretching with a languid expression after crumpling the report.

"I do not intend to find fault with the fact that a subject of a weak country with a size of a rat's tail is wagging their tail itself. But if he is a smart fellow, he should choose the target to wag his tail well......"

"So, are you saying that you are uncomfortable because Grand Duke Reichart did not flatter you as much as you wanted, is that what you are saying?"

"Why? Can I not do that?"

"No. What would there be that you cannot do? Yes, yes. If you can be happy with that, then just live like that for the rest of your life. Please."

"Well, fine. I shall let it slide this once."

It was unknown what he was letting slide, but Themia nodded while grinning.

"By the way, Isabella, I heard you have been poking around here and there lately?"

"......How did you know that again?"

Isabella put down the teacup she was drinking from and glared at Themia.

This brother of hers was still quick-witted only in useless things despite idling around all day.

"My sister, I have told you several times. Since this Oppa will take care of all the difficult and headache-inducing things, you just need to do only comfortable and good things."

Themia's gaze looking at Isabella had become thin before they knew it.

Isabella knew well that his current statement contained sincere feelings.

"Don't make me laugh. Take care of my feet."

However, only a blunt response, far from the warm sincerity contained in the previous statement, returned from Isabella.

"Hey, what is that way of speaking to your brother who is like the heavens?"

"Yes, yes. I understand well, so stop that nonsense and come over here and have some cookies, will you? Yes? M. y. b. r. o. t. h. e. r. l. i. k. e. t. h. e. h. e. a. v. e. n. s."

If it were any other person, it was a rude expression and tone that would have made ten necks insufficient, but Themia showed a snickering smile and then accepted the nut cookie Isabella handed him.

Crunch.

And looking at the 1st Prince of the Empire chewing the cookie while getting crumbs on the hem of his shirt, Isabella let out a sigh.

"I should just stop talking, really."

***

Around the time the rumors about Hein were traveling here and there across the continent with wings.

The protagonist of the rumors, I, Hein Reichart, was warming up in the Grand Duke's residence in Abysin while facing a welcome guest.

"Shall we start by revealing your forehead first, us?"

Looking at me as I repeatedly pulled and straightened my index finger, Mikhail showed a sheepish smile.

"A, ahaha, Your Excellency, you clearly said five finger flicks back then."

"I did. But since I am considering the fact that you came to pay up voluntarily, I am willing to reduce it to about three. Since I am a merciful employer."

Looking at me as I threw a nonsensical joke, Mikhail could not help but be surprised anew.

He could not believe that the very elegant-looking young man in front of him and the Grand Duke who tore the prosperous Wind Tail to pieces were the same person.

"If you are going to show mercy, how about reducing the remaining three as well?"

"Why should I do that?"

"Because if you do so, I will work for Your Excellency while risking my life."

"Hmm, that is the statement I like most among the words I have heard recently. Then for now, you should see this first."

Did I expect that Mikhail would come?

I pulled out a massive pile of documents and held them out.

"I have summarized the documents that were kept in the Wind Tail secret safe and the data regarding the merchant guild I have been running. Take it and review it."

"......Did you say review?"

"Yes. No matter how smart you are, should you not first grasp what you are holding in your hand to be able to do business?"

"Your Excellency, the point I am trying to make is not that, but......"

Whether he did not expect me to show such a reaction, Mikhail asked a question in a cautious tone.

"Your Excellency, I will ask you point-blank. So, what should I do from now on?"

What should I do?

It was a question that seemed simple but contained a truly vast amount of implication.

Mikhail thought that the work he had to do was to assist me or the high-ranking officials of Zodiac.

Because he thought that even if I trusted him, there would be almost no autonomy for him, who had only just entered under the Grand Duke.

Therefore, Mikhail's question actually contained the following meanings.

To what extent is the authority allocated to me, and what are the things I must not presumptuously look into?

Whose assistant will I be in charge of?

But then.......

"You should do that on your own. How can you ask me that?"

"......Yes?"

At my unexpected answer, Mikhail ended up making a blank expression in spite of himself.

Instead of an additional answer, I raised my finger and pointed to the side of the pile of documents.

There was one crystal seal emitting a brilliant light there.

"......Y-Your Excellency! This is......!"

"It is a seal that delegates all my authority regarding merchant guild operations to you. I made one in advance knowing you would come."

'All authority'.

Mikhail received a shock as if his head was turning white.

"Do you not like the shape? Then you can make your own separately and stamp one more next to it."

"Your Excellency! Right now the stamp is not what is important...... Uh, so, are you saying that you are entrusting me with full power regarding the merchant guild operations?"

"Then who else is here besides you and me?"

Truly.

This time as well, an incredibly significant statement leaked from my mouth with an expression as if it were not significant at all.

"Because no matter how much I think about it, you seem to be far more capable than I am when it comes to making money. Then is it not right that you take responsibility for this work?"

"Ha. Hahaha......"

Of course, operating a merchant guild with a scale like Wind Tail was Mikhail's long-standing dream.

And to be honest, he was priding himself on having sufficient ability.

But separately from the trust in his own ability, the 'luck' that came so suddenly.

This had enough power to make Mikhail's heartbeat race like crazy.

"Your Excellency, exactly how do you trust me to entrust such a big task so suddenly?"

Using his racing heartbeat as an excuse, Mikhail asked a question he would not dare to ask normally.

"I am not trusting you. I am trusting the dream you harbor. Your dream is not simply to make a profit by selling a few items, but you want to change this world through the act of buying and selling things, right? I intend to make a bet on that."

Not a single bit of hesitation could be found in my answer.

That fact made Mikhail tremble even more.

"From now on, you just need to work your hardest to achieve that dream. Because it seems the distance between where your dream points to and where I intend to go is not that far. As long as you work hard, I will take all the responsibility that follows."

If his heart were even slightly weaker, Mikhail would have burst into tears at this moment.

"......."

He barely managed to refrain from bursting into tears by clenching his fists tightly.

But Mikhail was already in a state of being moved more than enough.

"Your Excellency...... The grace of trusting this lacking person, I will surely, tenfold, twentyfold, repay you."

The moment the future of the young man with the best business talent on the continent was decided.

And looking at Mikhail with an expression of being moved, I said while subtly resting my chin on my hand.

"Yes, from now on, you will have to work your heart out under me for at least thirty years. You had better do a good job on your own."