Canilan Independent State. VIP Consultation Room of the bank「Kronen Schatzinsel」. Ren, the first Commander of Akarius, wore a bitter smile as she checked her thick salary envelope. “Haha……” Akarius was now under the management of「Kronen Schatzinsel」, but in return, all the messes Ren had made were neatly taken care of, and her salary had increased compared to when she was the owner. It was thanks to the much-improved quality of client contracts. The difficulty of the requests was not much different from before, but purely, the new CEO’s negotiation skills were exceptional. ‘If I grind hard for just five more years like this, I think I can recover all my losses.’ Ren now focused solely on the field as the Commander, while the new CEO oversaw all mercenary contracts on her behalf. All the team members were satisfied with the arrangement. “Have you checked?” “Yes.” Ren tucked the salary envelope into her inner pocket. “By the way.” She carefully took something out from inside her clothing. “……This.” A palm-sized jewel box. It was akin to loot or spoils of war. An unwritten rule of the mercenary world: if life and death are at stake in battle, you always take the belongings of the one you kill. She wasn’t sure if a bank would accept something like this... “Yes. Confirmed.” Her tension was for nothing. They accepted it without even asking about its origin. One of the privileges of being a VIP. Moreover, all transactions at「Kronen Schatzinsel」were conducted through anonymous accounts, making it the perfect place for handling spoils. “The appraisal result will be notified later.” “Yes. Then, I’ll be off.” Ren exited the VIP room. “……There are a lot of Imperial people.” She muttered while glancing around the lobby. PWord must have spread. Imperial nobles, even people who looked like members of the Imperial Guard, were swarming the place. They all had tense expressions, there to open accounts and receive VIP badges. Ren observed them with curiosity as she exited the bank. “Canilan’s changed a lot too.” Canilan, which had once been a city that never slept, had now settled into calm. Real assets had filled the space where the bubble had burst, and the economy seemed to be rebuilding itself solidly from the ground up. In Ren's opinion, it was still a far better place to live than the Empire. “That guy must’ve made a fuck-ton of money.” Even so, she couldn't help but sigh whenever she thought of Maximilian. "I'm jealous, so jealous... Hm?" At that moment, some goods were being carried out from inside the bank. Boxes tightly wrapped, seemingly being delivered somewhere. Through the gaps in the packaging, she could faintly see ornate frames. “Artworks, huh.” While some have no bread to eat and starve to death, others waste wealth buying and selling such art. The world was truly a strange place. *** The weather was gradually getting hotter. The mountains and rivers were coming alive with blooming vegetation. Before I realized it, a new summer had arrived, and the creative forces of Lorenzo Academy, where I had invested unlimited funds, began to explode with creativity little by little. A state-of-the-art household air conditioner that circulated cold air using medium-grade mana stones had been developed, and agricultural machinery powered by low-grade mana stones now roamed the fields of Hermes Province. Above all, the mana stone detection technology had developed dramatically, and new veins I hadn’t even known about were being discovered one after another. Which meant the numbers in my account were ballooning non-stop. Srrrrrrk── The Sentinel Knight Order's office. Basking in the cool breeze blowing from the state-of-the-art air conditioner, I asked the administrative staff. “How is it?” “It’s great!” “Extremely comfortable.” Everyone looked delighted. The number of administrative staff had quietly grown to about fifteen before I knew it. Knock knock─. Right then, a visitor arrived. Chiron walked in. “Max, just in ti- huh?!” He was wiping his sweat and flinched in surprise at the cool air in my office. “What the-!” He completely forgot his composure and relished the rush of cold wind. “Wait, is this an air conditioner?” “Yes.” “How’d you get one in here? You couldn’t have drilled through the wall.” Air conditioners were already invented, but they couldn’t be used in the Knight Order. The building’s magic and the existing magi-tech structure of typical air conditioners conflicted with each other. I pointed to the window. “It’s a window-type air conditioner. Developed at Lorenzo Academy.” “…….” An amazing invention from Lorenzo Academy that used an entire window pane as the air conditioning unit. Chiron turned to look at me like a caveman discovering fire. "C-c-could you—" "I'll introduce you to the company." “......Thanks. Ah, right, Max. Perfect timing.” Chiron returned to his original purpose. He fluttered an assignment file and signaled at me with his eyes. “Let’s go.” “Yes. This way.” I led him into the inner office. He handed me the file first. A peculiar schedule was written inside. [ Perimeter Security Schedule ] 13:00 ~ 15:00 : Routine patrol in Central District 33’s food alley 15:30 ~ 17:00 : Perimeter patrol near the Arte Museum 18:00 ~ 20:00 : Close protection at Royal Opera House VIP seating It looked like child’s play for something assigned to a knight, but the note written below was chilling. [ Special Authority: Immediate execution and full discretion over life and death upon encountering suspicious individuals ] “This isn’t ordinary security duty.” “Right. Seems a key figure of the Imperial Family wants to take a stroll.” Chiron said, rubbing his chin. I thought I knew who that ‘figure’ was, but I didn’t say it out loud. “......Sounds like one of those mischievous characters from a novel.” There was weight in Chiron’s words. “Might be a polite way of saying we’re supposed to coax her back inside.” “No.” I shook my head. “Rather, I think they’re about to start putting her forward now.” “Put her forward?” “Yes. It’s just my guess.” The Emperor is well aware of his own weakness─his appearance, which is not at all Aran-like. That’s his greatest complex. If he had a face like mine, he’d be flaunting it all day. Anyway, he holes up deep in the imperial palace, but with war approaching, diplomacy is essential. To reassure and also deceive neighboring countries, The Empire needs its ‘beautiful face’. “Hmm…… Well, we’ve been assigned the mission. No way around it.” “Ye⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠s. Understood.” “But you know,” Chiron furrowed his brow with an unusually curious expression. “What on earth is Julian up to these days?” “......Probably working on his own task.” I was looking forward to it too. Before long, Operation ‘Path of Dreams’ would begin. ....... Beeeeep── Beeeeep── In the center of the Empire, under the glaring midday sun of District 33─ I was watching a special protection target. ─Target is now in visual range. She was walking through the food alley of District 33, where street stalls were lined up. Dressed modestly like a commoner, with a beret pulled down to hide her blonde hair. “.......” More than her, it was the expressions of the commoners around that caught my eye. Maybe I was imagining it, but their faces looked fairly bright. I think it’s because of the taxes. The Empire used to impose income taxes over 30% on the lower class, but with the recent tax reform, it had dropped significantly. ─This is Sector B03. No unusual signs detected. Reports from the intelligence operatives continued. I, too, moved within a short radius, keeping watch on her. The Imperial escort trailed closely behind her, but she casually bought and ate skewers from a stall. She drank fruit juice too. Her guards behind her looked restless. —Max. Did you check the stalls? “We completed a full inspection starting three hours before the target's arrival. It’s safe.” ─......Confirmed. By the way, what’s your impression? I heard rumors she’s into the arts, especially painting. She seems pure and cheerful. I heard she likes dogs too, like you. Chiron seemed to have gathered quite a bit of information already, but I didn’t respond. “The next schedule is approaching.” I looked at my watch. "I'll head to the museum first. I'll leave the rest to you." ─All right. Got it. I turned and sprinted toward the Arte Museum. My own two legs were faster than most vehicles anyway. ....... Arte Museum. I arrived at the next surveillance point. I had expected it to be empty, but surprisingly, there were quite a few visitors. "...This piece has a very unique composition." “The color palette is intense.” “Quite imperial indeed…… As expected from the birthplace of Impressionism." The languages being spoken around me were unfamiliar. Of course, I could understand them. Prozenian. It seemed that tourists from Prozen, a powerful nation in the West, were admiring the artworks and sharing their thoughts. "There are many high-quality artworks here." “Ah~ this is really... disappointing for me.” “What do you mean?” “This museum was basically on the verge of bankruptcy, and yet... somehow they managed to secure funding.” On the surface, the Empire appeared to be extending friendly gestures toward the Western nations. In truth, however, many Western countries despised the East just as much as the Empire did. They believed the people of the East were fundamentally different and "inferior humans" due to differences in language and ethnic roots. Nationalism was not exclusive to the Empire. It was just that the Empire was so large, and its wrongdoings so blatant, that it stood out. “The original purpose of this trip to the Empire was act⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠ually to acquire these paintings.” “Ah~ is tha⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠t so?” “Such a shame it didn’t work out...” Suddenly, they approached the painting I was looking at. “What’s the title of this one? I can’t read it.” "Hmm... I don't know either." “What? And you call yourself a professor?” “It’s not in Imperial language. It’s in Ancient Aran.” “Ancient Aran?” Ahem. It's hard to resist the urge to show off when you know something. I spoke casually. “‘The Coronation.’” They flinched and turned to look at me in surprise. "The title of the work, I mean." I pointed at the painting and added an explanation. “It depicts the coronation scene of the Emperor of the Empire. The red carpet symbolizes loyalty, and the golden crown represents glory. But if you look closer, you’ll see a deep shadow cast beneath the crown. It reflects the weight and solitude of power, an intentional detail by the master artist, Astar.” They listened blankly to my words. Or perhaps they were surprised by the language itself. While I was at it, I pointed to another painting hanging beside it. “That one is ‘The Barge Haulers’. The texture of the muscles as they haul a boat ashore through rough waves is vividly portrayed. It’s a depiction of the Empire’s founding myth.” “......Thank you. But your Prozenian is very fluent.” A middle-aged gentleman asked in admiration. “For an Imperial noble, it’s considered basic education.” I answered matter-of-factly. He studied my face with interested eyes, then smiled. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Jean Pierre, currently a professor at the National University of Prozen. If it’s not too rude, may I ask your name?” Jean Pierre. It was a name I knew. He was a fairly famous professor even in academia, and I had also read the books he wrote. “Ah~ Professor Jean Pierre.” I smiled. “I’ve read your papers and books.” His eyes widened. “Oh. Is that so?” “Yes.” I extended my hand. Jean Pierre, caught off guard, shook it. “Nice to meet you.” As I firmly gripped his hand, I revealed my name. “Maximilian Ebenholtz.” In that moment── the air froze. Jean Pierre’s expression stiffened. The breaths of those around us halted for a moment. “Professor Jean Pierre. I saw you published several analyses about the Genen Incident. You even had a recent paper published on it in the newspaper.” “.......” The title was 'The Most Violent Oppression', if I recall. This is the image the continent holds of me. An imperialist who drove tanks and trampled a city. They fear me and are terrified of me. But there’s no need to grieve over that. Because I truly intend to become that very person. “Ah......” Jean Pierre couldn't continue speaking. He just stood there, still tense, staring at me. I spoke gently. “There’s no need to be so frozen. Anyone can offer analysis on an issue.” Only then did Jean Pierre take a deep breath and compose himself. “......I see. So you are Sir Maximilian.” He opened his mouth with calm determination. “If it’s not too rude, there's one thing I'd like to ask? As a scholar who studies history and politics, it's a curiosity I simply cannot contain." I gladly nodded. “I’d like to hear from you personally... why you felt it necessary to suppress Genen with such force.” The curiosity of a scholar is, sometimes, so utterly useless. Because they don't know. Because they can't understand. The even more horrific future that would have unfolded in Genen, had it not been for me. “You know it as well. A wildfire must be trampled out before it grows. Before the flames rage across the fields, you must burn the field yourself and erase any place where the fire could settle.” Therefore, what I have to say to them is always the same. "It was all for the Empire, and only for the Empire." “......I see.” Jean Pierre took out a notebook, scribbled down a few lines, and gave a slight bow. “Thank you.” “Yes, Professor. Let’s meet again, should duty bring us together.” At my words, Pierre gave a bitter smile. He didn’t respond. Perhaps it meant he never wanted to see me again. “W⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠ell then, I'll be going.” Pierre a⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠nd his companions hurried away. The murmurs spilling from their lips were all about fear, appearance, and terror. ──Tap. At that moment, a sound of footsteps suddenly approached from my blind spot. I turned toward it. My heart wavered slightly, but I didn't let it show. At some point, ‘she’ had come to stand beside me. “......For the Emperor.” She extended a finger and pointed at a painting. A portrait depicting an ancient emperor. "That's the name of this canvas." She looked at me again and murmured. "Not 'for the Empire'." As if correcting me. "'For the Emperor.'" I kept my expression calm and nodded, and she twisted her lips wordlessly into a faint smile before walking off to another exhibition hall. “.......” Indeed, she had an aura about her. The Emperor's heir loved art. She enjoys beauty and holds a curiosity about the lives of common people. But just because one loves art does not mean they are innocent. Just because one claims to care for the people does not mean they are pure. No one, no matter their outward words or actions, can see into the very depths of a person's soul. Before my regression, Princess Justine ended her own life together with the Emperor, deep within the Imperial Palace. The worst war criminal in history. A co-conspirator in genocide. She was etched into history as the eternal symbol of the Empire's downfall. ***** TL Note: Since the author took a break yesterday, there will only be 4 chapters next week instead of the usual 5.