Emergency Arrest
Emergency Arrest
A week later, in a basement.
"Your Highness! Prince Arno!"
At the sound of someone descending the stairs, Arno turned his head.
Just as he set down the torture tool in his hand, a servant entered through the doorway.
The servant who stepped into the basement stopped involuntarily.
Because Arno was picking up a towel and wiping the blood from his hands.
The servant hesitated at the sight, which hardly seemed like that of a noble imperial prince, and Arno turned his head.
Arno raised a hand and pushed back the hair that had fallen forward, then spoke.
"If you have something to say, say it quickly. Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Ah. My apologies."
The servant hastily apologized and gave a slight bow of the head.
"Your Highness. They say the National Crisis Unification Law has passed the committee review."
"The National Crisis Unification Law? Already?"
The National Crisis Unification Law was a bill proposed a few days ago by the ruling Central Nationalist Party.
Its stated purpose was that to overcome the current national crisis, each political party must unite and conduct politics for the people and the nation. But looking inside, it was closer to creating a single party to empower the Emperor.
'Daniel Steiner must have bought off the Central Nationalist Party. Even Selvia...'
Did the article he planted using the independent newspaper Belbelbel displease them that much?
'I thought Daniel Steiner would make a move...'
But I never imagined he would reveal his true colors so aggressively.
"...When is it scheduled for the plenary session?"
"It is tomorrow."
Hearing that it was tomorrow, Arno let out a low groan.
"Seeing it go straight to the plenary session as soon as it passes committee review, they must be trying to ram the bill through quickly before any dissent arises. That bitch Selvia has finally gone mad."
The servant, who had been watching Arno grinding his teeth, carefully read the room before opening his mouth.
"Your Highness. Though my political knowledge is meager, won't the bill be difficult to pass? The Liberal Society Party and the Labor Union Party will not stand by idly, so they will surely cast opposing votes."
"Do you think Selvia doesn't know that? She must have already prepared countermeasures. Because that woman only moves when she is certain she can win."
At Arno's words, the servant broke out in a cold sweat.
"Then shouldn't we also flee? If the National Crisis Unification Law passes, not only His Majesty the Emperor, but also Daniel Steiner will target Prince Arno."
That was not wrong.
They would never leave a prince with no one to turn to on his own.
Selvia might, but Daniel Steiner would never leave Arno unchecked.
Arno knew that as well, but he showed no signs of agitation.
"Flee? Where to? You don't actually think there's a place in this Empire where we can live avoiding Daniel Steiner's eyes."
"There is also the method of seeking asylum."
"Shut your mouth! Rather than live so miserably, I would choose death! Besides..."
Arno slowly rolled his eyes.
Where his gaze fell, there was an old man tied to a chair, coughing up blood from his mouth.
"Don't we have one card that can reverse the entire situation?"
The servant, reading the room, bowed his head deeply and left the basement.
Once he confirmed the servant had left, Arno picked up a sharp dagger and approached the old man.
"I'm not sure whether to call you a doctor or a scientist. But one thing is certain: you committed a taboo in the past with the help of my father."
The old man's eyes trembled faintly.
"The crime of committing a taboo warrants the death penalty, but I intend to grant mercy with a benevolent heart. I will spare your life, so speak. Tell me where the evidence of your taboo is."
"Your Highness..."
"I trust you won't keep your mouth shut now after telling me the whole story of the incident. You said you regretted committing the taboo? Then I shall give you a chance to make it right now. Hurry up and speak."
The old man bit his lip tightly between labored breaths.
"Why are you so obsessed with a throne that is nothing but a hollow shell? Even if evidence exists, it is already located somewhere Your Highness cannot reach. Moreover, even if you miraculously succeed in obtaining the evidence, can you handle the aftermath?"
Arno and the old man's eyes met.
"Because of Your Highness's greed, the Empire will fall into extreme chaos. A civil war will break out, and a bloody tragedy of mutual slaughter will unfold. How can Your Highness walk a path stained with blood?"
Arno's grip tightened on the handle of the dagger.
"So what? Are you telling me to remain silent now? Didn't you tell me?! That the bitch currently sitting on that throne...!"
Arno raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the Imperial Palace.
"Is a monster pretending to be my little sister! So why are you telling me I have to accept that!? If you have a mouth, speak!"
An empty laugh escaped the old man's mouth.
"Your Highness. Have you never thought it strange? Why the late Emperor committed a taboo and yet refused to pass the throne to Prince Arno, even ignoring the nobles who argued for legitimacy?"
"That is..."
"Because he judged that Your Highness would lead this Empire to ruin! And seeing that you still haven't come to your senses, I feel I truly did the right thing!"
As the old man spat and raged, a vein bulged on Arno's forehead.
Arno's eyes flew wide open, and he brought the dagger to the man's eye.
"That thought..."
As he slowly pressed down with force, the tip of the dagger dug into the skin, and blood began to well up.
Watching the man's breathing grow rough, Arno flashed a grim smile.
"Let's see how long that lasts."
*
Meanwhile, at a villa on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
"The National Crisis Unification Law! Does this even make sense!?"
Among the numerous lawmakers gathered at the villa, Sereveil, the leader of the Labor Union Party, raised his voice.
Receiving the attention of nearly a hundred lawmakers, Sereveil scowled.
Gathered here were not only Labor Union Party members but also many lawmakers from the Liberal Society Party.
They had all assembled out of fury over the newly proposed bill.
"It talks about uniting our strength to resolve the national crisis, but how is that any different from essentially seizing control of parliament with a single party!? Frankly, I am deeply concerned for the sanity of His Majesty the Emperor, who endorsed the National Crisis Unification Law!"
The lawmakers stirred.
They were all equally outraged by the National Crisis Unification Law, but bringing up His Majesty the Emperor left them inwardly flustered.
Sereveil, surveying them, shouted resolutely.
"If my words are wrong, then go ahead and refute me! The parliamentary system was established by the late Emperor! So what is it, if not an act of immorality, to try to outright deny the system created by the late Emperor?"
The murmuring among the lawmakers subsided.
Noticing that they agreed with him to some extent, Sereveil quietly continued.
"Right now, His Majesty the Emperor cannot shake off Daniel Steiner's demonic influence and is therefore unable to conduct proper politics! For the sake of the nation, must we not rise up with loyal hearts!? So let us stop this inter-party fighting and join hands at tomorrow's plenary session..."
As Sereveil continued his lengthy speech, the sound of urgent footsteps came from the hallway.
Wondering what was going on, they looked toward the entrance, and the door burst open as a servant rushed in.
"Leader! You must evacuate! Right now, soldiers and police...!"
Before they could even properly understand the servant's words, the sound of military boots filled the hallway.
Only then did they realize something was terribly wrong, but it was already too late.
Because police and soldiers rushed in through the open door.
As armed soldiers began to surround them, the lawmakers panicked and huddled together in one spot.
While Sereveil also looked around in confusion, one of the policemen stepped forward.
Judging by the rank insignia, he was a Senior Superintendent.
"Leader Sereveil. I am placing you under emergency arrest on charges of conspiracy to commit insurrection under the National Secrets Protection Act and the Criminal Code. Therefore, I ask for your cooperation."
At the Senior Superintendent's threat, several lawmakers expressed their anger.
"Are you trying to frame us as criminals? Did the Central Nationalist Party put you up to this!?"
"You lunatics! It is you who are committing crimes!"
"We are lawmakers representing the people! Do you not know we have immunity from arrest!?"
The Senior Superintendent let out a sigh and openly frowned.
"The Security Bureau possesses extrajudicial authority, so if there is clear evidence that you are attempting to harm national security, we can arrest even lawmakers. You, of all people, should know this better than anyone."
Clear evidence? As the flustered lawmakers exchanged glances, Sereveil stepped forward.
"Send word to the Security Bureau Chief right now. I don't know exactly what evidence you've supposedly gathered, but I am saying such tyranny will not be tolerated!"
The Senior Superintendent remained silent.
Just as that struck everyone as odd, the sound of dress shoes came quietly from the hallway.
Tokak─
Amid the collective silence, the footsteps grew louder.
After a tense pause, an officer entered through the open door.
It was Daniel Steiner, wearing several medals on his uniform.
Fear instantly struck Sereveil, but thinking he must not be cowed by the momentum, he opened his mouth.
"Daniel Steiner...! Not only leading soldiers here but even mobilizing Security Bureau police? Have you lost your mind!? I will contact the Security Bureau Chief immediately and inform him of your abuse of authority, so be prepared for that!"
Sereveil made a threatening outburst, but Daniel's expression was nonchalant.
"That would be amusing. Go ahead and try contacting him."
"What do you mean..."
Sereveil stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth.
He had a strangely ominous feeling.
Daniel, who had been staring patiently at Sereveil, asked again.
"What are you doing? Why aren't you making the call?"
At that cold voice, Sereveil could not help but realize.
'The Security Bureau...'
Had already been in Daniel Steiner's grasp for a long time.