Chapter 290
Chapter 290
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 290
Chapter Title: Root Out and Burn the Assassins (3)
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Reichburg's central district, the top-grade room of Whisper of the Butterfly.
"Peter Jaeger, the great leader of the Reich Empire's Imperial Majesty the Emperor..."
His Imperial Majesty held up his palm to stop me.
"No need for such stiff greetings in a tavern. How about a drink, anyway? This is Louise Malkini, thirty-year vintage."
"I'd love nothing more than to share a drink with Your Majesty, but reporting on those radical bastards who tried to assassinate me takes priority right now. Please invite me next time."
Drinking with a superior is usually an enormous ordeal—something nightmarish just to imagine—but drinking with His Majesty? That's fun as hell.
He doesn't force those stressful, rage-inducing company dinners you see on the news from my old world.
Sure, he offers drinks a few times, but if you're pushing your limit or clearly hate it, he switches you to milk or juice without a fuss.
His Majesty was a notorious playboy back in his Crown Prince days, but he's never once dragged me to a second round when I've said no.
No "back in my day" rants from some divine incarnation, no drunken tantrums, and hardly any work talk.
Even when business does come up, it's never scolding subordinates—always praising promotions or standout achievements.
And when he encourages someone for a job well done, he slips them a generous wad of gold on the way out, away from prying eyes.
With dinners like that, you can grin and bear it thinking you're scoring free top-shelf booze.
"Once this is wrapped up, I'll buy you that drink. I had my steward send the schedule a few days ago—clear your calendar for that day."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
With that, His Majesty waved off the women attending him nearby.
"You've already got a rough plan in mind for handling them, I assume. Hand over the list of criminals and their charges."
"Right here."
His Majesty's face twisted into something downright ferocious as he took the thick dossier—fiercer than I could describe.
That rage was obviously aimed at the scum listed inside, but it hit me hard enough to flinch for a second—deep and heavy.
"I'd pull out their guts and hang them even then. How can these Empire nobles, blinded by greed for positions, jealousy, and power, incite rebellion and try to murder an active general? Thinking that tax money from the Empire's citizens is funding these bastards makes my blood boil! What do you think, General Jaeger?"
I agreed with His Majesty completely.
Born as Empire nobles, they live without worrying about their next meal like serfs, basking in every luxury, heading noble houses with concubines to satisfy every male desire.
Yet here they are, like some lord with 99 sacks of rice selling out the country for that one extra sack.
Who'd look kindly on that? Common sense says if you're enjoying privileges, you don't directly harm the Empire that enables them.
"They're scum born as Empire nobles who hog every benefit, then turn their blades on the Empire itself. No mitigating factors—these are irredeemable trash. But before you get too angry, please take a look at this."
"What is it?"
I handed over another document and explained.
"A list of the lands and assets owned by these traitors. The Empire's been short on funds after a decade of wars—couldn't this cover some of that?"
As an Imperial Army general saying this, I'd normally be overstepping into politics and central administration.
But right now, with my authority over the Inspection Department plus full proxy powers for treason investigations, sentencing, and even summary executions if needed, it's somewhat allowed.
Maybe that's why His Majesty didn't blame me...
But hearing me out seemed to remind him of his own black history—the "Aggressive Expansion Policy" he'd backed—and his mouth twitched just a bit.
That made sense. I'd once advised him in audience that the policy was garbage, and the next day, the Ministers of Finance and Military Affairs showed up with stacks of documents for a marathon from dawn till dusk.
Minister Keitel laid out the diplomatic, political, and military situations point by point, politely warning over seven hours: "If we start more wars now, the Empire falls. No joke—Your Majesty will go down in history as the tyrant who doomed us. That what you want?"
And the Finance Minister made him pore through dozens of reports from local officials on budgets and plummeting civilian living standards.
Faced with their ironclad arguments, His Majesty dropped all rebuttals and changed his stance. So hearing "budget supplement" must've triggered those memories.
"Even just the lands of these implicated nobles—combine the counties, baronies, and viscounties, and you're looking at over three digits. Long-term, it'll boost Imperial revenues and centralize control."
"True enough."
"Plus, they shelled out 50,000 gold upfront to some thief guild just for my assassination. Trace that money flow with an 'inspection,' and you'll uncover a ton of corrupt officials. Punish them by their crimes, and with one firm swing of the axe this time, Your Majesty's imperial authority will be rock-solid. Cleaning house for the Empire's future—not like Grand Duke Warsaw."
I didn't say more, but a huge grin was already spreading across His Majesty's face.
In that process, countless corrupt generals and bureaucrats would get shredded, their spots filled by lower nobles or maybe commoners like me.
These newcomers, lacking factions, would naturally stay loyal to the Emperor who elevated them from nothing.
"Just thinking about it gets my heart racing. But isn't this list a bit harsh? Clan extermination for deeply involved houses like Count Manstein's, fine—but merciless iron fists for noble families who just discussed politics with active officers...?"
Extermination—put plainly, wiping out every member of a house...
In the Reich Empire, without Eastern-style implicating families to the third degree, it means stripping noble titles and turning the lot into slaves or serfs.
And for those with lighter crimes facing mere title forfeiture or partial land seizure, I'd advised His Majesty to uproot the houses entirely.
To the hesitating Emperor, I said firmly.
"Your Majesty, if it were just inciting rebellion, we wouldn't need to be this thorough. But they discussed politics with active officers and stirred treason—exaggerating a bit, that's as good as trying to destroy your Empire. What if I hadn't prepared properly and their plot succeeded?"
"... Lieutenant General Manstein would've taken your spot as general, stuffed his cronies into key staff and posts, and waged war. Maybe a win or two, but the Empire would've collapsed eventually."
"War is politics by other means, and a tool of politics. For the Empire's progress, the Reich Empire must keep showing it wants peace going forward."
"...You're right."
"For those not directly involved, I propose this: If both their birth family and current house joined the treason, strip their noble status and enslave them. If only one did, spare the title as a buffer. For men not directly or indirectly involved, offer honorable discharge with pensions and some land, under strict Inspection Department watch."
"Appropriate. The nobles won't dare meddle at that level. Non-participants have no direct guilt anyway, so it's fair. Kids get no pensions, but clean kin from birth or marital houses will handle protection."
Coldly speaking, it's worlds better than enslavement—but their treatment will be unimaginably harsh.
Family or not, no starving them outright, but what can a traitor's kin do?
Rot away in a corner, boozing—that's it. Still, it's the bare minimum humanity I can manage now.
His Majesty and I kept hashing it out, and as I finished reporting and prepared to leave...
"Handling them this harshly could land you some political backlash. The Imperial Assembly's been itching to chew you up."
I flashed a bright smile in reply.
"I trust Your Majesty. I'll draw my sword and cut down the enemy blocking your path and the filth dragging old traditions into politics. You just reap the glory and praise."
Even if I'm punished, it'd be minor—abuse of authority for pushing excessive sentences on His Majesty.
No demotion, dishonorable discharge, or expulsion.
Just relinquishing some power, maybe a few years in a dead-end post...
No wars for five years anyway, so perfect time to play with Friedrich and work on giving my wives a kid each.
A few days later, before any punishment hit, I pondered how to use my general's authority and duties.
"How can I stop wars on this damned Euro continent... Only then can the Empire develop."