78
I Killed the Demon King. It Was a Mistake.
Chapter 78
Caesar shook the film canister and said,
"Sir Hudson. Do you think this film only contains that one photo?"
"...What else is filmed?"
"Repeating myself, it seems like you're constantly pretending not to hear."
Caesar took a sip of tea and spoke.
"You've shown your hand, so Sir Hudson should also show his hand. If you threaten me like this, this film will go elsewhere."
"It's a commission from His Majesty the Emperor. Shouldn't you approach it diligently?"
"Here, take this photo."
Caesar handed over the photo again.
"But don't think about using it without my consent. The moment this photo appears in the newspaper, a new photo will appear in national daily newspapers."
Hudson stared at Caesar silently.
-I must make a new judgment about Caesar.
-Caesar is not someone loyal to the imperial nation, but someone who thoroughly utilizes everything for personal interests.
-From the beginning, he was not someone I could handle.
"To speak frankly, I was only told to obtain evidence from Sir Caesar, not to negotiate."
Caesar used psychometry.
-Since Caesar's current political perspective has not been properly grasped, it is dangerous to hastily entrust him with power.
-But I realize now. Caesar is a talent needed by His Majesty the Emperor. However, his loyalty to the imperial nation is like a piece of paper, and he's more like a wolf that will tear things down to the bone.
-So he sent me away without giving me any convincing card, to see how loyal Caesar is to the imperial nation.
Caesar honestly admired Hudson.
His brain was working more flexibly than expected.
He didn't fall for Caesar's provocation and perfectly understood his mission.
Hudson's sole mission was just one.
To understand what kind of person Caesar is and return.
Only then could those above determine what they could give Caesar.
"However, I have understood Sir Caesar's opinion, so an answer will come very quickly."
-The Prime Minister is already here.
-The Prime Minister will discuss with Caesar.
-I'll step back now.
'What? The Prime Minister is coming?'
The current Prime Minister is a person who wields tremendous influence within the Valent Saga.
In addition to handling all taxes collected in the imperial nation, his true worth emerges immediately after the military conflict.
While he acts as the Emperor's brain and close aide, he immediately betrays the Emperor and dedicates himself to the Redfield family as soon as the military conflict occurs.
His betrayal brings the Eileen Imperial Family's credibility to rock bottom and plays a significant role in inducing other border lords supporting the Eileen Imperial Family to betray.
Hudson picked up the photo and stood up.
"Then I'll be going..."
At that moment, the door opened.
"There's no need to wait long for an answer."
An old man opened the door himself and stepped into Caesar's study with delicate steps.
His neat suit, top hat, and cane made him look modest and tidy at first glance.
However, a golden eagle badge symbolizing the imperial nation's prime minister was pinned to his chest.
His eyes were sharp yet benevolent.
His taut thighs and waist revealed he was a knight.
Finally, the hair and skin growing on his eyes and nose were sensitively sharp, as if born to observe and judge everything.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Hilos Goldmile."
Caesar politely bowed and greeted him.
"It's an honor to meet Prime Minister Hilos Goldmile. I'm Caesar Silvatil, currently serving as a special security officer of Homigraph."
Caesar lowered his head and grimaced.
'Damn, why is a boss-level monster suddenly popping out in the newbie zone.'
Caesar was not yet prepared to face this monster.
Hilos did not come alone but arrived with the Dawn Knights.
The Dawn Knights began forming a perimeter around Caesar and Hilos.
Hudson also stood next to Hylos and placed his hand on his sword.
'Intimidation from the start?'
An ordinary person would panic with 11 knights filling the room, unable to speak coherently.
Hilos probably deliberately brought the Dawn Knights to create this effect.
Hilos naturally sat in the seat at the end of the table and said,
"I'd like some black tea."
"I'll prepare it right away."
Harrison cleverly sent Knox to clear the previous tea and began setting up a new one.
During this time, Hilos put a cigar in his mouth.
"Do you smoke?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then you smoke too."
Caesar used psychometry.
-Let's see if he's skilled in etiquette first.
He seems to be scrutinizing every gesture and step.
If he discovers even one mistake, he'll crush Caesar with the power of authority.
Caesar read Hilos's thoughts and calmly put the cigar in his mouth according to etiquette.
-When holding a cigar, one must use the thumb and forefinger like tweezers and show the entire palm.
-When striking a match, do so from outside to inside.
-Light the fire in three breaths.
Has he ever smoked a cigar so uncomfortably?
Caesar perfectly performed the cigar ritual according to etiquette and looked at Hilos.
"You move like a well-wound mechanical doll, following a precisely scripted etiquette."
"It's my first time receiving a great person's presence, so I feel awkward. I apologize."
"Etiquette is like clothing. The neater and more natural it is, the more elegance it shows. Try harder."
"I will do my best."
Look at him making a fuss over nothing.
Perhaps he just wanted to say something abruptly.
Because the easiest way to show one's superiority is to teach someone.
My head is already starting to hurt.
-Your tone isn't bad.
-Now I understand a bit why Gregory found him difficult.
-He reveals no gaps, like a smooth glass.
-Did you practice?
Knox has finished setting up the tea.
Hilos looked at Knox sideways and said,
-The servant Caesar commands isn't bad.
-Rather, his etiquette is a step above.
-Did he deliberately hire and learn this?
-That means he's not entirely without ambition for power.
Knox bowed politely, then closed the door and left.
"I've heard some things about you through Gregory. Though Gregory is stingy with praise, he actually speaks very highly of you."
Was the prime minister acquainted with Gregory?
I didn't know Gregory was such a big shot.
"Thank you."
"What did he say? Something like calling you a scoundrel who threatens the elderly to extort what you want?"
"..."
Is that a compliment?
And I know he didn't say that.
"That's not the kind of quality a knight should have. It's the kind of quality a politician, strategist, or a thief would have."
Hilos took a sip of his cigar and spoke,
"Hand over the film."
Fuck, so you're calling me a son of a thief?
This is definitely nerve-wracking.
The dawn knights around me are basically using sword energy, and the emperor's brother is right in front of me.
If this isn't a thief, what is?
Now that things have come to this, there's only one answer.
"Here it is."
Caesar handed over the film willingly. Hilos looked at Caesar with an interesting expression.
"Your attitude seems a bit different from when you were with Hudson."
Looks like he overheard this through an artifact.
Indeed, Caesar didn't notice until so many knights arrived at the door.
It seems he even used an artifact that erases presence...
That means he wanted to know more about Caesar.
"Hudson is just a knight, while Hilos is a queen, isn't he? The distance where hands and feet can reach is entirely different."
"It sounds like I'm threatening you."
"I thought you would have many ways to help me. We're on the same white side of the chessboard, aren't we?"
"Then what do you think the black side is?"
"That's for His Majesty the Emperor to decide. I'm just a mere piece."
Caesar poured tea for Hilos according to etiquette. Hilos keenly observed Caesar's eyes and gestures.
-Boldness to give up even the queen for victory.
-Not losing a single expression despite losing a key piece.
-This means such a film is not important.
-He knows he won't be used and discarded.
-Is this arrogance or confidence?
-He's originally a wandering knight serving no lord.
-This is when his value is at its highest.
-Intelligent, quick in judgment, and bold. This guy is not a simple knight but someone who will live as a king.
-Just like Gregory said, he's not a disposable item.
Hilos took a sip of tea.
"The tea tastes quite good."
"I'm glad it suits your taste."
"I hear you've contributed significantly to this tea's flavor. Did you cut the throats of those rogue elements playing with tea leaves?"
"Tea is closely related to the life of the citizens. Most of Homigraph's citizens supplement their water intake with tea instead of plain water. I couldn't just stand by in a situation where the mafia was controlling citizens' lives."
"Interesting phrase. Tea is the life of citizens. That statement isn't entirely wrong. There are few clean water regions in the Valent continent."
Hilos took another sip of tea.
"So, I suppose many citizens are grateful to you."
"They won't be thanking me for the tea, but for cleaning up the mafia. Most citizens, except for some intellectuals, don't know that water is dangerous."
"Yes. That's the problem. Citizens don't know the importance of paving roads for carriages. They just think the horse pulling the heavy carriage is amazing. They always think what's right in front of them is incredibly important."
So, in other words, the empire is the 'road' and Caesar is the 'horse'.
Meaning, what Caesar did was just running hard on a well-paved road, so it's nothing special.
The meaning is like shit, but the words keep circling, making it even more frustrating.
Why can't he just clearly say what he wants and leave?
I'm about to get really angry now.
"If there were no horses, wouldn't there be no need to pave the road?"
"Hmm?"
"After all, roads exist for horses and people. The road laid on the ground exists to be stepped on, and horses and people exist to run on it. Just like the hero Yan."
Hilos's expression became strange.
"Hero Yan?"
"The heroic tale never mentions how many knights, wizards, and soldiers bled for the hero to behead the demon king. I wonder if the generals even properly counted the casualties."
"In reality, to directly confront the demon king, soldiers and knights were literally sacrificed.
The hero's party safely traveled the road made of blood and ultimately achieved their goal.
"It's fortunate that they beheaded the demon king. If the beheading operation had failed, the number of dead soldiers would have been published in the newspapers instead."
"However, in the end, it's the hero and their companions who receive medals and promotions, not the soldiers who bled or their families. I'm not trying to diminish the hero's achievements, but the thousands of soldiers sacrificed for the demon king's beheading operation are not even receiving proper compensation."
Hilos sucked and exhaled his cigar.
"So, are you saying the empire is incompetent for not paying these soldiers?"
"That's not it. What's needed is something to redirect their dissatisfaction."
Caesar took out and unfolded a photo from his pocket.
"Like these photos."
Photos of Baron Brahe and imprisoned tribe members were scattered on the table. Caesar also laid out torture devices he deliberately created to deform arms for a freak show.
The prime minister bent down to examine them closely.
"Does Your Excellency know about Freak shows?"
"I've heard of it."
"It's a type of show where people born with deformities are brought to perform in a circus. I don't see it as entirely bad. Even mutants born deformed need to make a living somehow. However, the greed of those hosting and watching the Freak show has violated human ethics."
Caesar pointed to the house next to where Gloria lives.
"Recently, while approaching the border to complete an imperial commission, I coincidentally encountered smugglers taking young children for a Freak show."
"Young children? Why?"
"Real mutants or disabled people aren't as numerous as you might think. So they decided to create them."
"Create them? Surely not..."
"Children grow faster than adults. By breaking bones or deforming them and then applying potions or growing them, they can be made to look like mutants."
Caesar pointed to the devices.
"These are the transformation devices. Children would have been crushed and broken, enduring pain if they went to my neighbor's house. My apprentice and I recently rescued them."
Hilos burned his cigar to hide his expression.
"So what does this have to do with the tribe incident?"
-...Is this really happening?
Though his tone seemed cool, Hilos's mind was clearly stirring.
"How do these people appear to Your Excellency?"
"They're people who could be hanged immediately... Oh."
Hilos immediately understood what Caesar was about to say.
"Yes, exactly. They could be identified as the masterminds behind the Eileen River tribe attack, and they're incredibly heinous criminals."
"Are Freak shows also happening within the empire?"
"This isn't just happening in the Dior Kingdom. From my personal investigation, this is just a sample."
Caesar pulled out an envelope and showed Hilos the Freak show flyers. While they didn't show the tribe, they were filled with promotional text about holding a Freak show.
Hilos was impressed.
Everything fit perfectly.
Why were tribe members on the imperial ship?
The greedy Freak show circus troupe bribed corrupt officials to purchase tribe members.
Could the Freak show circus troupe be defined as villains?
That too would be without complications.
It doesn't align with doctrine or human ethics, and their method of crime is incredibly cruel.
The moment this fact spreads in the newspapers, people will surely be enraged, and when they publish photos of hanging their necks, they'll praise the empire for executing justice.
"...The scenario isn't bad."
"Furthermore, establishing an orphanage for the children who suffered in the Freak show circus troupe would be good."
A shudder ran through Hilos' body.
The ending is perfect.
It begins with justice execution and ends with goodwill.
All of this makes sense and is legally unproblematic.
Hilos suppressed his immediate urge to give an okay sign.
A politician doesn't immediately accept a good proposal.
He could just manage his expression and give a gesture that it's not bad.
But one thing is certain: Caesar is not someone who will remain a simple knight.
Though he currently lacks someone to give him wings, if wings were attached, he could become an excellent politician who could determine the life and death of millions with just one statement.
"What is it that you ultimately want from this?"
Therefore, Hilos decided he would grant almost anything Caesar wanted.
Gaining this man's favor isn't bad.
Money is money.
Power is power.
If he wants nobility status, he was even considering pressuring the Silvatil Baron family to promote him to baron.
Caesar must be nurtured and used by Hilos.
Caesar put down his teacup and said,
"What I want isn't very big."
Caesar raised Baron Brahe's photo and said,
"Please give me the authority to crush these bastards' heads."