Chapter 111: For the Emperor (2) The Kanilan Independent State. Inside a VIP consultation room at the bank, Kronen Schatzinsel.
Ren, the first commander of Acarius, looked at her thick salary envelope and gave a wry smile.
"Heh..."
Acarius was now under the management of Kronen Schatzinsel, but in return, they had scrubbed away all the messes Ren had left in her wake. Her salary was now even higher than it had been when she was the owner.
It was all thanks to the significantly higher quality of the commissions they received.
The difficulty of the missions wasn't much different from before, but the new CEO's negotiation skills were simply on another level.
If I work my tail off like this for five years, I might actually be able to recover all my losses.
Ren focused solely on the field as the commander, while the new CEO handled the overall management of mercenary contracts on her behalf.
The other members of the unit were quite pleased with the arrangement as well.
"Have you confirmed the amount?"
"Yes."
Ren tucked the envelope into her inner pocket.
"However..."
She carefully pulled an object from her coat.
"...This."
It was a jewelry box about the size of her palm.
It was a spoil of war—essentially stolen goods. It was an unwritten rule in the mercenary world: if it came down to life or death in combat, you always took the belongings of the person you killed.
She wondered if a bank would actually accept such a thing, but...
"Yes. Confirmed."
To her surprise, they accepted it without even asking about its origin. It was one of the privileges of being a VIP.
Furthermore, since all transactions at Kronen Schatzinsel were conducted through anonymous accounts, there was no better place to dispose of spoils.
"The appraisal results will be notified to you at a later date."
"Understood. I'll be going then."
Ren stepped out of the VIP room.
"...There are a lot of Imperials here."
She muttered to herself as she scanned the lobby.
Perhaps because word had spread, the place was crawling with Imperial nobles and even men who looked like they belonged to the Imperial Guard. They all looked incredibly tense as they waited to open accounts and receive their VIP plaques.
Ren watched them for a moment before leaving the bank.
"Kanilan has changed a lot."
The Kanilan that used to be a city that never slept had now settled into a calm rhythm. Real assets had filled the void where the bubble had burst, and the economy seemed to be rebuilding itself on a solid foundation from the ground up.
In Ren's opinion, it was still a much better place to live than the Empire.
"That guy must have made a fortune."
Even so, she couldn't help but sigh whenever she thought of Maximilian.
"I'm jealous, so jealous... Hm?"
Just then, some luggage was being moved out from the back of the bank. Boxes, tightly wrapped as if for delivery, were being carried out. Through a gap in the packaging, she caught a glimpse of an ornate frame.
"Is that art?"
While some people were starving to death for lack of bread, others were wasting their wealth buying and selling art like that.
The world was truly a strange place.
*
The weather was gradually growing warmer. Greenery was blooming across the mountains and fields.
Before I knew it, a new summer had arrived, and the creative sparks from the Lorenzo Academy—into which I had invested unlimited funds—were beginning to ignite.
By mid-month, a state-of-the-art household air conditioner that circulated cold air using mana stones had been developed, and agricultural machinery powered by low-purity mana stones roamed the fields of Hermes.
Most importantly, mana stone detection technology had advanced exponentially, leading to the discovery of new mana ore veins I hadn't even known existed.
This meant the numbers in my bank account were swelling without pause.
Whirrrrr—
Inside the Sentinel Knights' office, I felt the cool breeze blowing from the latest air conditioner as I asked the administrative officers, "How is it?"
"It's great!"
"It's incredibly comfortable."
Everyone looked happy. The number of administrative officers had grown to about fifteen.
Knock, knock.
Right on time, a visitor arrived. It was Chiron.
"Max, I'm glad you're— Whoa!"
He was wiping away sweat when he jumped back, startled by the cool air in my office.
"What is this?!"
Forgetting his dignity, he basked in the rushing cold wind.
"Wait, an air conditioner?"
"Yes."
"How did you get this in here? You shouldn't have been able to drill through the walls."
Air conditioners had already been invented, but they couldn't be used in the Knights' headquarters. This was because the magic protecting the building conflicted with the magi-engineering structure of conventional air conditioners.
I pointed toward the window.
"It's a window-unit air conditioner. Developed by the Lorenzo Academy."
"..."
A remarkable invention from the Lorenzo Academy that utilized a single window pane as the entire unit.
Chiron turned to look at me as if he were a primitive man who had just discovered fire.
"T-T-That—"
"I'll introduce you to the supplier."
"...Thank you. Ah, anyway, Max. It's a good thing I caught you."
Chiron returned to his original purpose. He gestured toward me while flipping through a mission file.
"Let's go."
"Yes. Come in."
I guided him into my private office. He handed me the file first.
It contained a peculiar schedule.
[ Perimeter Security Schedule ]
13:00 ~ 15:00 : Constant vigilance at the District 33 Food Street
15:30 ~ 17:00 : Perimeter security around the Arte Museum
18:00 ~ 20:00 : Close-proximity protection for the VIP seats at the Royal Opera House
It seemed like child's play for a mission assigned to a Knight, but the text written below it was chilling.
[ Special Authority: Granted summary judgment and the power over life and death upon discovery of suspicious individuals. ]
"This isn't an ordinary escort mission."
"Correct. It seems a key figure from the Imperial family is going out for a stroll," Chiron said, rubbing his chin. I had a feeling I knew who that 'figure' was, but I didn't say it out loud.
"...Is it that 'tomboy princess' trope you see in novels?"
There was a sharp edge to Chiron's words.
"It could mean we're supposed to coax her gently and get her back inside."
"No."
I shook my head.
"On the contrary, I think they're going to start putting her forward from now on."
"Putting her forward?"
"Yes. It's just my guess, but..."
The Emperor knew his own weakness well. His appearance was not Aranian at all. That was his greatest complex.
If the Emperor had looked like me, he would have been out flaunting himself all day long.
Regardless, while he remained holed up deep within the Imperial Palace, diplomacy was essential with war on the horizon. To reassure and deceive neighboring countries, the Empire needed a 'beautiful face.'
"Hmm... Well, we've been assigned this mission. We can't refuse."
"Yes. I understand."
"But tell me."
Chiron frowned, looking uncharacteristically curious.
"What on earth is Julian doing and where?"
"...He is likely attending to his own business."
I was looking forward to it as well.
Before long, Operation 'Dream Road' would begin.
*
Chirp, chirp— Chirp, chirp—
It was afternoon in District 33, the heart of the Empire, where the sunlight beat down from directly overhead.
I was watching over a special protection target.
— Target in sight.
She was walking through the food street of District 33, which was lined with food stalls. She was dressed modestly like a commoner, wearing a beret that hid her blonde hair.
"..."
More than her, the expressions of the lower-class citizens here caught my eye. It might have been my imagination, but they looked quite bright.
I suspected it was because of the taxes.
In the Empire, the income tax for the lower class used to exceed 30%, but through the recent tax law amendments, it had been significantly lowered.
— This is Sector B03. No anomalies detected.
Reports from the intelligence agents continued.
I also moved within a close radius, keeping a close eye on her. Imperial guards followed closely behind her, but she bought grilled skewers from a stall and ate them. She even drank fruit juice. The guards behind her looked incredibly anxious.
— Max. Did you manage the stalls?
Chiron's voice echoed in my ear.
"I completed a full inspection three hours before the target's arrival. It is safe."
— ...Confirmed. By the way, what's your impression? Rumor has it she's someone who loves art, especially painting. She seems pure and bright. They say she likes dogs, just like you.
Chiron seemed to have acquired quite a bit of information already, but I didn't respond.
"The next schedule is starting soon."
I checked my watch.
"I'll move to the museum first. I'll leave the rest to you."
— Right. Understood.
I turned and ran toward the Arte Museum.
My two legs were much faster than most cars.
*
The Arte Museum.
I arrived at the next surveillance location. I thought it would be empty, but surprisingly, there were quite a few visitors.
"...The composition of this piece is very unique."
"The colors are intense."
"It's truly Imperial... as expected of the birthplace of Impressionism."
The languages I heard were foreign, though I could understand them perfectly. Progen. It seemed tourists from Progen, a powerful nation in the west, were sharing their impressions of the artwork.
"There are many high-quality artworks here."
"Ah~ that's the thing. It's a shame for me."
"What do you mean?"
"This museum was almost certainly going to go bankrupt... I wonder where they managed to get the funds."
The Empire was maintaining a conciliatory gesture toward the western nations externally.
In truth, many western nations despised the East just as much as the Empire did. Their reasoning was that the East consisted of 'inferior humans' with different linguistic and ethnic roots.
Nationalism wasn't exclusive to the Empire. It was just that the Empire was so large and committed such blatant atrocities that they were the only ones who stood out.
"I actually came on this trip to the Empire to acquire these paintings."
"Ah, is that so?"
"It's a real shame..."
Suddenly, they approached the painting I was looking at.
"What's the title of this one? I can't translate it."
"Hmm... I'm not sure."
"Wait, you're a professor and you don't know that?"
"It's not in the Imperial language; it's Ancient Aran."
"Ancient Aran?"
Ahem. The urge to show off was irresistible.
I said casually, "It's 'The Coronation'."
They jumped in surprise and turned to look at me.
"I'm talking about the title of the work."
I pointed at the painting and added an explanation.
"It's a piece depicting the coronation ceremony of an Imperial Emperor. The red carpet symbolizes loyalty, and the golden crown symbolizes glory. However, if you look closer, the shadow cast beneath the crown is deep. It was the intention of the master, Astal, to express the weight and solitude of power."
They listened to my words blankly. No, they seemed surprised by the language itself.
I went ahead and pointed to another painting hanging next to it.
"That one is 'The Boat Pullers'. You can see the vivid texture of the muscles pulling the boat onto the shore amidst the rough waves. It's a work depicting the founding myth of the Empire."
"...Thank you. But your Progen is very fluent."
A middle-aged gentleman asked in admiration.
"It's a basic requirement for an Imperial noble," I replied calmly. He looked at my face with interest and then smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Jean Pierre, a professor at the National University of Progen. If you don't mind, may I ask your name?"
Jean Pierre.
It was a name I knew. He was a fairly famous professor in academia, and I had read the books he had authored.
"Ah~ Professor Jean Pierre."
I smiled.
"I've read them. Your papers and books."
His eyes widened.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes."
I reached out my hand to him. Jean Pierre took it reflexively.
"It's a pleasure."
Gripping his hand firmly, I revealed my name.
"I am Maximilian Ebenholtz."
In that instant—the air froze.
Jean Pierre's expression hardened. The breathing of the people around him stopped for a moment.
"Professor Jean Pierre. You've done quite a lot of analysis on the Genen Suppression Incident. You even published a related paper in the newspaper recently."
"..."
Was the title 'The Most Violent Oppression'?
This was the representation the continent currently held of me. An imperialist who drove tanks to crush a city. They feared me, and they were terrified of me.
But there was no reason to be sad.
Because I was 'truly' becoming such a person.
"Ah..."
Jean Pierre couldn't find his words. He just stared at me, still tense.
I said softly, "There's no need to be so frozen. Anyone can analyze an issue."
Only then did Jean Pierre take a deep breath and compose himself.
"...I see. You were Sir Maximilian."
He spoke with dignity.
"If you don't mind, there is one thing I would like to ask. As a scholar who explores history and politics, it is a curiosity I simply cannot suppress."
I nodded willingly.
"I would like to hear from you... the reason why you suppressed Genen so aggressively."
A scholar's curiosity is so useless.
It's because they don't know. Because they can't understand. The even more horrific future that would have unfolded in Genen if it hadn't been for me.
"You know how it is. A fire must be trampled before it grows larger. Before a wildfire sweeps through, you must burn the fields to erase the place where the flames would linger."
Therefore, what I have to say to them is always the same.
"It was all solely for the Empire."
"...I see."
Jean Pierre took out a notebook, jotted down a few lines, and bowed.
"Thank you."
"Yes, Professor. Let's meet again if another occasion arises."
At my words, Pierre gave a bitter smile. He didn't even answer.
Did he mean he never wanted to meet me again?
"Well then, excuse us."
Pierre hurried away with his companions. The words they whispered were all about terror, my appearance, and fear.
Click.
Just then, footsteps approached suddenly from my blind spot.
I turned toward them. My heart wavered slightly, but I didn't show it.
Before I knew it, 'she' was standing right beside me.
"...For the Emperor."
She extended a finger and pointed at a painting. It was a portrait depicting an Emperor of the ancient Empire.
"The name of this canvas."
She looked back at me and whispered.
"It's not 'For the Empire'."
As if correcting me.
"It's 'For the Emperor'."
I maintained a calm expression and nodded. She simply twisted her lips into a smirk without a word and moved to another gallery.
"..."
She certainly carried an aura.
The heir to the Emperor loves art. She enjoys beauty and is curious about the lives of commoners.
But loving art doesn't mean one is innocent.
Loving commoners doesn't mean one is pure.
No one can look into the deepest depths of a human being based solely on their outward words and actions.
Before my regression, Princess Justine ended her own life in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace alongside the Emperor.
The world's worst war criminal and an accomplice to genocide.
She was etched into history as the eternal symbol of the Empire's downfall.
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