The Dark Cloud Over the Yosrahim Empire
The opening ceremony venue was more crowded than ever. Spectators outside the barriers waved colorful handkerchiefs toward the magic steam locomotive departing for Rammis for the first time, while magical fireworks exploded noisily in the sky.
As the festive mood reached its peak, bells rang out, and the train set off in sync.
I sat in the premium car with Padilla, gazing at the scenery outside. The view from the window shifted rapidly, soon giving way to endless barren desert. It was nothing special, just the usual wasteland, but the delegation representatives aboard with us kept exclaiming in awe.
"To think the day has come for our Kara to see this—it's unbelievable."
Udin Prime Minister, seated across from us, seemed deeply moved, his eyes glistening slightly. From a mere vassal of a city-state, he'd lived to witness the founding of a kingdom and its rise to a powerhouse feared by continental nations. No wonder he was emotional.
Razal Grand General chimed in eagerly.
"It's all thanks to Her Majesty the Queen and her consort working together in love, isn't it?"
"Of course."
"Then isn't it about time we saw the fruits of that love? I mean the wedding."
This bastard was stirring up trouble. I had no idea how to rip that mouth off to feel better.
But I kept my expression perfectly neutral and nodded along. Padilla was watching from beside me. Denying it here would mean enduring her wrath for a while.
"Probably. It's already too late anyway. Right, Padilla?"
Padilla blushed and nodded.
"Yes."
"So let's do it soon, then. The monster issue on Jores Island is still lingering, but Najir and Bayan are handling it well—no big problems there."
"Yes. Najir and Bayan are excellent generals."
"So, when would be good?"
"Well..."
Before Padilla could answer, I jumped in.
"Let's not drag it past this year. Summer's too hot soon, so how about this fall when it cools down? Sound good?"
"Yes. As you wish."
Perfect. I'd bought time until fall. With 3-4 months left, plenty of excuses to make.
"Great. We'll set it for then. Udin Prime Minister, start preparations now so there are no hitches."
"Yes, understood."
I grinned broadly while grinding my teeth at Razal. That's why you can't keep tactless guys around—they'll cause trouble eventually if left alone.
That's when Lupert Grand Duke approached us.
"My, everyone looks so cheerful. Must be some good news."
I shot him a curt glare. I'd been dodging him by trailing Padilla and making small talk I never usually bothered with, but the moment I slipped, here he was. Guess I couldn't avoid him after all.
"What do you want?"
"I saw Kara's advanced kingdom and came to hear Baekmyeon's insights."
"Insights, my ass..."
Lupert Grand Duke excused himself to Udin and Razal, then sat before us.
"How can you be so humble? Aren't you the one who built modern Kara?"
I smirked. This guy was peddling sensitive topics like snake oil.
"Does that mean the queen next to me was just twiddling her thumbs all this time?"
Lupert Grand Duke glanced at Padilla and waved his hands.
"Not at all—I meant to emphasize your great contributions, but I overstepped."
"I only helped and advised. The one who developed this country is clearly Kara's queen. Keep saying that crap, and it'll look like Lupert Grand Duke's house is sowing discord against our Kara Kingdom. Watch it next time."
"Yes."
Padilla quickly intervened.
"Enough scolding. Lupert Grand Duke is a high noble of the Yosrahim Empire. Overdoing it could be a diplomatic discourtesy."
"Fine. If the queen says so."
It was the perfect chance to shoo him away, but I backed off a step. Showing I controlled Padilla in public would be bad.
Padilla was Kara's queen. If her dignity crumbled because of me, the kingdom would suffer.
Lupert Grand Duke stood briefly to thank Padilla.
"Thank you for understanding."
I eyed him indifferently.
"So, what do you want?"
"My granddaughter told me you're an exceptional strategist, not just in military but national development. So I risked rudeness to hear the roots of national growth from you."
First, stabilize society with solid military and public security. Then develop industry and technology for wealth, and add broad social connections.
The rest follows naturally.
"Hm. Protect the people's lives, increase their wealth, promote exchanges—and society develops on its own."
"Yeah, you get it. The first is key. In areas managing lives, never let irrational morals, ideologies, or doctrines interfere. It's the nation's absolute value."
Lupert Grand Duke chuckled heartily.
"Haha, quite right. Everyone values their life most, so it should be the nation's foundation."
"Sure. But any idiot leader who doesn't know that? Not worth mentioning."
"Yet it happens. When a nation declines, all sorts emerge."
"True. When moralism spreads, those diseased leaders pop up."
Lupert Grand Duke rested his chin thoughtfully.
"But industry and tech boosting wealth... Unexpected in this agrarian era."
"Not agriculture—productivity is key. That needs tech. Boosting farm output creates surplus labor, absorbed by industry. Humans' desires are endless, so don't just feed them—give good clothes, homes, raise happiness quality. That needs industry."
He nodded, seeming to grasp it.
"I see. And why connections?"
"Goods must flow. Cheap production means nothing if distribution jacks up prices. Cheap transport like this railway is essential. Low prices let people buy and sell freely."
"Ah... So that's the railway's purpose."
"Yeah. Kara will skyrocket ahead of others now. Goods will zip nationwide cheaply. Like blood vessels connecting the body."
Lupert Grand Duke's face lit with genuine admiration, no mask.
"Indeed. As rumored, Baekmyeon is a genius. What a pity you're in Kara—if in Yosrahim, you'd be the empire's great blessing."
I scratched my nose awkwardly.
In my past life eating empire rice, I was seen as a parasitic worm rotting the country. This praise felt off.
"Nah, I'd probably be treated like a weird bug."
"Likely."
I stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
He checked surroundings carefully before speaking.
"The current Yosrahim Emperor wouldn't use talent like you. He'd purge you early as a threat. In that sense, Kara's queen is the finest ruler, holding onto a genius like you."
I narrowed my eyes. Here came the main point.
"So?"
"Sadly, the current emperor is utterly incompetent. Ignores talent, discards it for power lust. How such a narrow-minded man rules the empire—regrettable countless times."
Blatantly bashing the emperor. If it reached my uncle's ears, heads would roll. Balls of steel.
If he's this bold, one of two: reckless fool or rebellion-ready. Lupert wasn't foolish—likely the latter. He'd won the succession war, putting my uncle on the throne.
'Look at that. Already prepped for civil war?'
He'd "recovered" recently, but plotting started bedridden. His "long illness" was faked. Plenty of time to plan.
Plus, Yosrahim mobilized troops lately. Lupert house armed and trained 90,000—ready to war anytime.
But readiness ≠ victory. 90,000 couldn't topple the empire.
He'd need rebel allies, but uncle purged his old faction. No civil war now.
Unless... as Karlun said, Valkyries Nemisona and Itheria backed him.
Even Kara: under 150,000 troops total, but knowledge from me and Sabondia let us beat imperial armies.
"That was dangerous talk."
"Loyalty to the empire—why fear risk?"
I frowned.
"You're rubbing me wrong. I hate hypocrites spouting false ideals. You're not like that, right?"
"Pardon?"
"You want to reclaim ancestors' lost kingdom? Lupert Kingdom. Independence—good stuff."
His face changed. From resolute to sly smile.
"As expected of Baekmyeon. Can't hide from you. Yes, this old body craves independence."
"Too soon, no? Even faked, you just rose from bed."
"Haha, you knew that too?"
"Guessed. Too long for a deathbed. Timing ironic."
He nodded.
"Sloppy of me. But the emperor didn't notice. That greedy fool lacks sense."
"Enough gossip. What do you want?"
"An alliance."
"Why ally with rebels?"
"Mutual benefit."
"Benefit?"
To my question, he replied calmly.
"Kara's booming—stunning Yosrahim. But rapid growth brings crisis."
I smirked knowingly.
"Heh. 'Tall poppy gets cut'?"
"Exactly. Yosrahim won't let Kara grow unchecked. You'd threaten their hegemony."
I scoffed.
"Think we'd lose? Sorry, our military outclasses the empire."
"War between us is inevitable. No hegemon ever cedes power peacefully."
Undeniable. Hegemons don't yield, even weak—wars mark shifts.
Unless insane. No one drops sweet hegemony easily.
"War, yeah."
"But allied, Kara grabs world hegemony with minimal blood. Yosrahim fights internal and external foes."
"Sure. And?"
He looked puzzled at my retort.
"I've explained—we must ally."
True—if no apocalypse. World ends in decades. Even without Chronos's device, gods come.
"No."
"Why?"
"Got a sister who hates your backers. Calls 'em bad luck. Piss her off, she's terrifying—emotional type. Can't ally."
He glared.
"State affairs swayed by one woman's feelings?"
"Not ordinary sister. Your backers aren't either."
He trembled.
"Her?"
"Yeah. Opposition to your Valkyries. No deal."
He stood.
"Can't be helped. But please don't interfere. No reason for heaven's chosen to fight."
"Chosen my ass. They just latched on."
"Anyway. Sorry for intruding."
He turned and left.
I gave his back a meaningful look.
Civil war brewing in Yosrahim. Hoped small-scale, but unlikely. Even with few troops, Chronos backing makes it formidable.
Looked like I'd have to get involved somehow.