Olydes stared blankly at Lord Inkblade, who was seated at a desk not far away.
He genuinely could not understand why Caesar had sent one of her generals to the Senate to handle civil administration.
More importantly, why did this general seem even more familiar with the Senate than he was?
Caelus had only been here once or twice, hadn't he?
So why did he seem to know the layout of every department, where every record was stored, and how everything operated?
Even his handling of resource allocation and disputes within the city was remarkably experienced, as though he had been doing this kind of work for years.
Was this really a general who had spent most of his life on campaign?
Caelus calmly read through a report that had just been submitted.
Two merchants operating neighboring shops had gotten into an argument.
It had begun with a few heated words, then escalated into repeated disputes and eventually physical conflict, until the matter finally reached the Senate.
Caelus had recorded the stories of every person in Amphoreus more times than he could count.
He could recite their entire lives from memory.
He knew exactly why these two merchants had fallen out.
He knew their histories.
He even knew how their lives would develop in the future.
"Tell Kadokelpi that the goods missing from his shop a few days ago were secretly taken and sold by his son for spending money."
"It wasn't Marvin from the shop next door."
"Dolos may have a reputation for thieves and swindlers, but Marvin is simply a shrewd merchant. He isn't a thief."
"As for proof, Kadokelpi's son has been spending heavily over the past few days while socializing with a new group of friends."
"He wanted to show off and impress them with how well a local of Okhema could live, so he started throwing money around."
"Have Kadokelpi search his son's room."
"The value of the new things he'll find there won't match the allowance he normally gives him."
Olydes swallowed.
He watched Caelus dispose of the matter with complete calm, then asked uneasily,
"Lord Chaos... if I remember correctly, you've only been in Okhema for five days."
"But from the way you speak, it sounds as though you've lived here for years."
"I have my own sources of information."
Caelus looked at him.
"Olydes, I know you're little more than a peripheral figure within the Senate."
"I know you could have had a much brighter future in the Grove of Epiphany, but because you were desperately short of money, you took a position here as an accountant."
"And I also know you helped one of the senators..."
"Oh, my dear Lord Inkblade!"
Olydes immediately cut him off.
"We still have so much work to finish!"
"The logistics report hasn't even been fully submitted yet. I need to take care of that immediately."
"I still have duties to attend to, so please excuse me!"
Before Caelus could finish speaking, Olydes abruptly adopted the most professional expression imaginable, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and hurried away.
He had only walked over to make conversation.
And within moments, Caelus had started exposing his entire private history.
Anyone would panic.
...
A few days later, Caesar was dealing with several important matters in Okhema that required her personal attention when an attendant delivered a report.
It stated that Caelus possessed an abnormally detailed understanding of Okhema.
He could accurately name even obscure individuals and recount events from their pasts.
Several members of the Senate had therefore added their own conclusion to the report.
Lord Inkblade might already harbor ambitions against the throne.
"Hm?"
Caesar read through the scroll, her expression turning slightly strange.
"A gifted warrior and commander..."
"And now he's displaying extraordinary intelligence-gathering abilities as well as considerable administrative skill."
She knew exactly where this report had come from.
The people she had personally assigned to observe Caelus had not even submitted their own findings yet, and the Senate had already rushed to send this one.
Their intention could hardly have been more obvious.
Still, they were not entirely wrong.
A subordinate this capable could easily become a source of concern for any ruler.
Caesar remained silent for a moment.
Then she ordered someone to summon Caelus.
...
Caelus knocked on the door before entering Caesar's study.
He was carrying a stone tablet under one arm.
"Lord Inkblade."
Cerydra looked at him from behind her desk.
"What is it that you truly seek?"
"My goal..."
Caelus thought for a moment.
"When everything is over, when Amphoreus is finally at peace, I intend to leave with the woman I love."
"We'll begin a long journey together."
"An endless journey whose destination neither of us knows."
"That sounds surprisingly romantic."
Caesar regarded him with interest.
"But as your monarch, I wasn't aware one of my retainers had already found someone he loved."
"My love is always with me."
Caesar's expression softened.
There was even a trace of pity in her eyes.
Caelus immediately understood what someone as sharp as Cerydra had inferred from his wording.
"Don't misunderstand."
"She is still with me."
"She isn't dead."
"I see."
Caesar nodded.
"If the two of you ever hold a wedding, remember to inform me."
"I'll send my blessings."
Then she tossed the scroll in her hand toward him.
"Aren't you going to defend yourself?"
Caelus caught it, opened it, and skimmed through the contents.
"Does Caesar lack confidence in herself?"
Her lips curved slightly.
"Nicely said."
"But no. I have considerable confidence in myself."
"If you believe you can rule better than I can, you're welcome to try."
"Wearing a crown does not make someone inherently superior."
"Sitting on a throne does not make someone inherently more worthy."
"And a person called king today is not guaranteed to remain one forever."
"If a ruler is inadequate, being overthrown is only the natural result."
She leaned back slightly.
"Lord Inkblade."
"In your eyes, am I, the woman so many people call a tyrant, a capable ruler?"
"Compared with the nobles and kings who treat ordinary soldiers and civilians as expendable resources..."
"Yes, Caesar."
"You are far more fit to rule than they are."
"Then that's enough."
Cerydra's expression cooled.
"Lord Inkblade, clean out the Senate."
"I don't want any more unnecessary trouble."
"Okhema already has more than enough problems to solve, yet some people insist on spending their time provoking factional conflict and internal strife."
"If they refuse to do their jobs, they can surrender their positions to people who will."
Caelus nodded.
"Then how should crimes of this kind be handled under the law?"
"If you intend to conquer all of Amphoreus, you'll eventually have to reform and unify the laws of every city-state."
"There should be one legal code enforced across the entire realm."
"Now that we control Okhema, the most important city in Amphoreus, we should begin drafting that unified code."
"A very good suggestion."
Caesar immediately agreed.
"Then we'll establish its first provision now."
"Anyone who knowingly makes a false accusation will receive the same punishment that would have been imposed upon the accused."
"And what is the punishment for treason?"
Caelus considered it.
"Execution of the offender and their entire household?"
"Too wasteful."
Caesar answered without hesitation.
"The principal conspirator will be executed and their body publicly dismembered."
"Their household will be reduced to slavery."
"As for the accomplices, cut out their tongues."
"Then assign them to the front line in the next war."
"They can lead the first charge."
"Understood."
Caelus accepted the order and immediately took soldiers to arrest everyone involved.
There was not even an investigation.
The conspirators had no time to react before they were taken into custody.
Caelus already knew exactly who was guilty.
He knew where the evidence was hidden.
He knew what each of them had done.
In truth, he understood those people far better than they understood themselves.
(To be continued.)
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◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)