Blood and Empire VIII

"Haaaa..."

After the brief meeting ended, I let out a long sigh and trudged away.

Of course, this was partly to show Kalupen that I was personally taking on the most exhausting and difficult tasks.

But it was also half-genuine.

The Princess...

Rallying my thoughts, I realized there was no need to worry.

The Grand Marshal was sticking close to her side, and there shouldn't be anyone trying to point a blade at her right now.

Worry... That was an emotion that had become far too foreign to me.

I headed to my assigned bedroom and threw myself onto the bed.

Letting out a dry chuckle, I stared blankly up at the ceiling.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I muttered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠softly to organize my thoughts, having already confirmed that the room wasn't bugged.

"The next step is to sow discord among the kingdoms..."

The Nine Kingdoms were originally nations that could never unite.

Their temperaments were too distinct, and their caution too deep, making any alliance structurally impossible.

However, the Empire was currently too tempting a prey. The Emperor was practically non-existent, and the interior was already rotting away.

At this rate, we're practically handing it to them on a silver platter.

Still, the Empire lived up to its name in terms of military might; it was a formidable foe that could only be defeated if all Nine Kingdoms joined forces.

But because they knew this was their only chance to bring down the giant, all of them were bloodthirsty.

Even though their personalities clashed, they were moving with a single goal and justification, making them difficult to split.

Simply put, it was easiest to think of it as a raid on the Empire.

"The best-case scenario is to make them believe there's a spy among them, forcing them to self-destruct."

A wall built on trust crumbles instantly once that trust is gone.

The Nine Kingdoms were merely a temporary alliance formed to crush the Empire. They weren't bound by blood, but by a fragile trust that neither side would betray the other.

And that trust was incredibly easy to shatter with a little suspicion.

After all, with the exception of Ibelit—the Queen of the Nine Kingdoms and their practical leader—they were almost all jackals.

"Ibelit will have to be dealt with later. So, hmm..."

I rested my chin in my hand and hummed thoughtfully.

Just then, hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, I glanced toward the door with a curious look.

Is someone coming at this hour?

Did Kalupen come because he's suspicious? No... he should be busy brainstorming excuses to send to the Imperial Palace right now.

Click.

The door swung open.

Lady Aran stood leaning against the doorframe, panting heavily.

Sweat was dripping down her body, and her face was flushed with exhaustion.

Already?

No matter how much of a complete idiot Aletz von Rein is, there's no way he leaked treasonous information this easily. Did she fail? Was she caught?

I buried my anxiety deep down.

"You returned quickly," I said.

I walked over to her, wearing a pleasant, gentle smile.

Aran let out a long, heavy sigh and shook out her hair.

Then, her cold, accusing eyes locked onto me.

...Was it a failure?

My eyes darkened.

If I killed Aran now, would it cut the tail cleanly?

If I claimed to Kalupen that Aran had acted entirely on her own initiative...

Even if it raised suspicions, a card like me was still too valuable to him—

It was then.

Aran suddenly tossed something at me.

"Whoa."

I caught it clumsily.

It was the Recording Artifact.

After checking the device in my hand with startled eyes, I looked up at Aran in sheer bewilderment.

She clicked her tongue and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I got it. That should be more than enough."

"...At this hour?"

"That bastard's mouth is incredibly loose. It's like he has no basic ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠human decency. Are we good now? Whew..."

Aran shuddered in disgust, her face pale as she shook her head.

She was likely recalling whatever had just transpired with Rein.

...Seriously?

If she had truly extracted it without raising any suspicion, Aran might be far more valuable than I thought.

Specifically, her value as a spy.

I pushed up the gear of the artifact with my thumb.

Whirrrr!

A sound like a conversation rewinding echoed from the device, followed by voices.

That was where it cut off.

I stared at the recorder, lost in thought.

Aran was glaring at me.

Yet, she seemed tense, swallowing dryly as she betrayed her anxiety.

Then, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.

"Ha... Haha..."

"Hawin?"

"Bwahahaha! I knew I could count on you, Aran! To think you'd reel in such a massive catch! This makes my job so much easier!"

I laughed like a madman.

There was no need to hold back.

Aran flinched as if startled by my outburst, staring at me with a mix of confusion and wariness.

Seeing her eyes, wide like a cornered wild animal, made me chuckle again.

"Haha, splendidly done, Lady Aran. I am thoroughly impressed."

I began outlining the next steps of the plan to her.

After all, I would likely need her help again.

We could use Karten, the man controlling the trade routes in the West, to sow chaos among the Nine Kingdoms.

"You lunatic," she muttered.

Aran frowned, looking at me with absolute disgust.

Ignoring her glare, I offered her a gentle smile and praised her once more.

"What is wrong with being a lunatic? It is how I survive. In any case, you did well. I look forward to our continued cooperation."

"...Fine," she muttered.

For some reason, Aran's face flushed slightly as she looked down.

I'll have to pay him a visit first thing tomorrow.

Karten.

Please die for the sake of the Empire.

"Who the hell do you think you are to lecture me?!"

Slap!

The head of Karten's secretary, Sierty, whipped to the side.

Clutching her stinging cheek, she thought blankly,

We're going to get caught soon...

Karten was a merchant noble of the West who controlled the trade routes between the West and the Center.

Since the trade routes to the Center were essentially his, he had amassed piles of illicit funds in his warehouses. And as if that weren't enough, he had aligned himself with the Nine Kingdoms.

If even one detail leaked, it would trigger a domino effect, and their heads—including Karten's—would roll.

Sierty stared at Karten with calm, stoic eyes.

The obese noble was huffing and puffing, glaring back at her with bloodshot eyes.

Because her cold eyes showed not a single flicker of emotion, his face contorted even further in rage.

"I gave you this position because you have a pretty face, so you should shut up and do as you're told! How dare you climb up and tell me to stop?!"

"The discrepancy between the actual goods delivered and the paperwork is too large. Even the Imperial Palace will eventually suspect—"

"Ha! Those bastards taking bribes won't dare utter a peep in front of me! Besides... if any trade issues arise, I have you and your sister to take the fall. Get the hell out if you don't want to die. What do you know anyway?!"

Karten roared.

If she stayed any longer, he would strike her again.

"I apologize," Sierty said.

She closed her eyes and bowed her head.

No matter how many times she warned this foolish noble that they were heading toward their deaths, it would fall on deaf ears.

Muttering that she should have behaved like this from the start, Karten ordered her to leave.

Sierty stepped out of the room.

Clasping her hands behind her back, she walked back to her office, deep in thought.

Should I leave now? No, since I'm already directly tied to Karten... death is inevitable either way.

Karten was a pig.

Not just because he was obese, but because he was a fool who never thought to invest his wealth, choosing instead to hoard it mindlessly.

He believed he wouldn't get caught, but embezzling that much money and expecting to get away with it...

It was the wishful thinking of a child.

Killing Karten... would be difficult. This merchant alliance is too important. If only I could take his place instead.

Sierty muttered to herself as she reached for the door to her office.

"...Hm?"

The doorknob was warm.

It meant someone was already inside.

Sensing something was wrong, she frowned, opened the door, and stepped inside.

A dry, disbelieving laugh escaped her lips.

"You seem remarkably comfortable for an intruder."

"Ah, Sierty, is it? I've been waiting for you. Not for very long, though."

An unfamiliar man sat casually in her office chair.

His relaxed posture, the smirk playing on his lips, and his neat suit all made it clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.

He was clearly someone of significance.

Sierty asked as calmly as possible,

"What is your business here? Our Siesta Merchant Alliance..."

"Sierty. I am Hawin, from the Imperial Palace. I believe you know exactly why I'm here?"

"...!"

Sierty's eyes widened.

She immediately slammed the door shut and glared at the man named Hawin.

He smirked and activated a device.

"Thanks to Rein's cheap mouth, we have beautifully recorded evidence that will send Karten's head flying."

Sierty's hand tightened around the hilt of the dagger hidden in her coat. With eyes filled with murderous intent, she asked,

"What do you want? Surely a dog of the Imperial Palace must want something."

"Why don't you put away that vicious piece of metal? I'm not particularly fond of seeing blood."

Hawin chuckled, leaning back deeply into the chair. In the dim light, his eyes glinted like a serpent's.

"Sierty. Don't you want to end this life of earning pennies while getting slapped by a stupid pig?"

"..."

"Choose. Do you want to be dragged down as a traitor alongside Karten and executed? Or..."

Hawin gestured with his chin toward the direction of the president's office.

"Would you like to become the owner of this alliance starting today?"

Sierty swallowed dryly. Soon, she opened her mouth.

"Do you think I'm a fucking joke?"

"Oh?"