“Catch that rat bastard──!” Late at night, in a back alley of Genen. Two agents wearing ash-gray jackets were sprinting through the narrow path. They fired pistols as they chased a man. Bang─! A bullet grazed his shoulder. The man fell forward, and just as the agents were about to rush up to him— Another group appeared and blocked their path. “What the fuck! Who the hell are you guys?!” “......We are investigators from Genen.” Zendo, an investigator affiliated with the Genen Central Police Bureau. The brows of the Imperial Secret Police Bureau agents furrowed. “What a bunch of shitty bastards. Get lost. We’re carrying out official duties!” “This is Genen. It’s also under the jurisdiction of our Genen Police Bureau.” “Hey─ you anteater-looking bastard. Don’t you know who I am? Do I really have to tell you who I am for you to get it?!” He can tell just by looking at their damn faces. Imperial Secret Police Bureau agents. Ever since the Gigantes terror incident, they were bastards injected with excessive ideology and authority. “If you don’t want to die—” The moment the agent aimed his pistol at Zendo, the Genen investigators simultaneously drew their weapons. Among them were even the latest submachine guns. The agents flinched and stepped back. Zendo spoke again. “This place is under the jurisdiction of the Genen Police Bureau.” The agent glared at him and let out a hollow laugh. “Hey. You. Say your name.” “.......” “I said state your rank and name, you bastards!” “If you state your name as well, I’ll state mine too.” The agent snorted. A murderous intent settled at the corner of his twisted mouth. “The Genen vermin have grown bold. See you later. Watch your back at night, yeah?” Men filled with unknowable madness and arrogance. Tch! Spitting on the ground, they left the alley. Zendo watched their retreating figures, then turned his gaze away. “......You there.” He looked at the man pretending to be collapsed in the corner of the alley. “Get up. Don’t you know what curfew is?” After the Gigantes terror incident, a nighttime curfew had been imposed on all autonomous regions of the Empire. The man whose shoulder had been grazed by the bullet crawled out, trembling. He was clutching something precious in his arms. “......I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.” “Are you Revolutionary forces member? Or the Independence faction?” Zendo approached while gripping his baton. The man’s face turned pale. “N-no! Absolutely not! It’s just...... my child is sick. The fever suddenly rose so badly.......” The man slightly opened his arms. In his chest were cradled a few red berries, used as fever reducers. “I’m sorry. My child is in so much, so much pain. I just couldn’t stay still.......” “.......” Zendo was suddenly reminded of the past. His father had been killed by the Independence faction. It was a dog's death, caught up in violence done in the name of a greater cause. This man before his eyes was also some child's father, and had nearly died a dog's death because of bastards running wild under the excuse of a greater cause. "If your child is sick, you should give them medicine." Zendo put his baton away again. “Lexi. Give him some medicine, and take him home.” “Yes.” His subordinate helped the man up. The man’s expression brightened. Even as he left, he repeatedly bowed his head toward Zendo. "Th-thank you! Investigator sir!" “.......” Zendo silently let out a sigh. Then, feeling the same lingering anger, he clenched his teeth again. “All of this...... it’s because of those damn Revolutionary forces assholes.” They will never know how many people their so-called greater cause kills, and how much suffering it generates. Because they are nothing but morons blinded by ideals who have abandoned reality. *** Before next year arrived, I began my full-scale 'operations'. First of all, I established the 「Imperial Soldiers Foundation」. It is a nonprofit organization that arranges jobs for retired soldiers with nowhere to go after discharge, and provides medical expenses and living costs to wounded veterans. It was a move to draw in the hearts of the regular army. Next, I carried out expropriation. Should I even call it expropriation? In truth, it’s preemptive acquisition, getting ahead of the Imperial Guard bastards and securing assets first, a tactic of 'take it before it’s taken'. Indeed, the Imperial Guard’s greed toward non-Aran asset holders within the Empire is becoming more blatant by the day. After Canilan collapsed, it will become far more severe. Additionally, starting next year, a new law will be promulgated. A bill that imposes punitive transfer taxes when non-Imperial Arans buy or sell real estate, companies, stocks, etc. within the Empire, and prohibits currency exchange. The pus-like Imperial Guard bastards of the Empire naturally received that news first and put immigrant tycoons on their list of prey. The fortunate thing is that they are very poor compared to me. Those bastards were probably planning to wait until after the law takes effect, when asset prices crash or forced sale orders come down, and then buy everything up at dirt-cheap prices. That is why it’s the tactic of “take it first”. [Aurum Logistics] A logistics transportation company connecting the eastern and western parts of the Empire. I sought out the representative of that place, which owns dozens of large warehouses and countless trucks across the Empire. “But, Sir Knight. This is.......” He broke out in a cold sweat as he took my proposal. “These are unacceptable terms. You’re telling me to hand over the company I’ve built with my entire life, for just this price?” It was understandable. Compared to the appraised value, it was set relatively low. “Well, think it over carefully.” But he was not an Imperial Aran. Nor was he a citizen of an autonomous region subordinated to the Empire. The racial pyramid of the Empire is clear. Arans sit at the apex, directly below them are Westerners and autonomous region citizens, and at the bottom are minority races including Merin, Easterners, and subspecies. “You are not an Aran.” The representative was a Merin. A race that the Imperial Guard would attack first because of their good business acumen. In their eyes, the most drool-worthy meat. “The Imperial Guard already has their eye on you. Recently, haven’t you seen suspicious people loitering around your factories?” The representative’s pupils wavered. He seemed to have some idea. I smiled. “Before long, new Imperial laws will be promulgated. When that happens, it won’t be a question of protecting your company, but whether you’ll even be able to leave the Empire alive.” His mouth clamped shut. Looking at him, I asked. “How many family members do you have?” “......Twenty-three.” A slightly bewildering number. Wife, children, parents, siblings, and apparently many others. “You have far too many weaknesses.” Gulp. He swallowed. I lightly placed my finger on the contract. “It’s a reasonable price. Your family will be able to live comfortably for decades.” “.......” Even so, for this man who bit his lip and agonized. “20 years.” I held up two fingers. “This contract includes a buyback clause. Twenty years. If, after 20 years, you and your family survive and are able to return to the Empire.” If this world does not perish. If all of us can survive. “I will gladly return the business to you.” I meant it sincerely. The other party clearly did not look convinced, but my expropriation is ultimately safekeeping. Before long, the raging torrent called history will sweep over all of us. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢 In that process, it’s fine if I am demonized. Rather, that is sufficiently a good thing. Because being robbed by a demon would be far better for you than being devoured by beasts. “......Understood.” I quietly watched him as he signed the contract with trembling hands. The sorrowful face of a man who thinks he is letting go of his entire life. I handed him one more document. “This is a gift.” A document stamped with the Ebenholtz seal on the finest parchment finished with Mana Stone. On it, I had written a sentence in my own handwriting. 「I hereby acknowledge that this person is a businessman who has contributed to the prosperity of the Empire, and will hold appropriate parties accountable should any unjust infringement upon his person occur.」 At the very bottom, I did not forget the signature of Maximilian Albrecht von Ebenholtz. "In the future, you will consider today's decision fortunate." “......Yes.” He rose from his seat, unable to even bring himself to say thank you. “Mr. Jumaine.” I called his name, and he turned back toward me. “Let’s meet again in 20 years.” This is also my wish. May you and I, and everyone whose property was taken by me, be able to meet again on that day and face one another. Please, let it be so. “.......” He nodded with effort and left. I remained quietly seated in the now-empty CEO office of the company. Knock knock. With the sound of knocking, Dieter came in. “You’re finished.” “Yeah.” There were still many companies left to absorb. Railways, logistics, transportation, textiles, communications, storage, and on top of that, food. Dieter selects the prime targets, and I plunder them at prices that are as reasonable as possible. After that, the companies are innovated and strengthened with technologies developed at the Lorenzo Academy. A very satisfying virtuous cycle. “As always, I’ll leave the management to you.” “Yes. Please leave it to me.” Clap clap. Dieter applauded. At that, a group of employees came rushing in. "These are employees I directly handpicked through public recruitment." They all gave off an atmosphere similar to Dieter’s. Dry, meticulous, and with impressions that they looked strong with numbers. They even felt a bit like clones, which made me flinch slightly. “...They look like they’ll work hard. Everyone, I’ll be counting on you.” I received their greetings, stepped outside, and got into the car. In the back seat, the Aran Shepherd, Leo, sat upright, and in the passenger seat was my secretary Yukia, wearing sunglasses. “We’ll depart now.” I stroked Leo's soft fur while picking up the vibrating terminal. It was a call from Schatz. ─Sir Knight. An incident has occurred in Genen. My expression hardened coldly as I listened to her words. * * * Is it that what is meant to happen will inevitably happen? In the end, the spark of that incident occurred in Genen at a completely unexpected moment. It was the kind of thing that could not be stopped even if I unleashed investigators to scour all of Genen like combing lice, and laid down wiretapping and surveillance densely everywhere. An act closer to an accident than to a plan. For example, something like a high-ranking official of the Genen Governor-General's Office shooting and killing a Genen university student who got into an argument on the street. However, it was instantly concluded as simple self-defense, a dispute, and he received no punishment at all. That became the fuse. The incident spread through Genen as if fire had been lit. The autonomous region citizens held protests, and during the suppression process, three more innocent Genen university students were additionally killed. Too much happened in an instant, and naturally all of Genen was in an uproar. Genen, which was a republic in the past, still hasn't broken that habit of 'protesting'. ─Sir Knight. Communications on the terminal will likely be cut off soon. Schatz’s report continued. ─Mana barriers are being installed across all of Genen. It seems they intend to block all information from leaving. “......Of course they would.” For a moment, quite a lot of anger surged up. I was disgusted by the moronic official's idiotic actions and the Ezenheim who must have exploited that gap. However── I recalled Freya's words. Be diligent in conduct and in mindset. Always, like a clear mirror. Getting angry doesn't change anything. It is nothing more than the foolishness of revealing my own impatience. I steadied my breathing and sank back into my seat. “.......” The Genen people, played by Ezenheim, gathered in plazas to hold assemblies, and the university students carried out protests and street marches. It was extremely dangerous. If left alone, thousands, or in a severe case, tens of thousands might die. Genen's spring. I must sever the connecting link that will end with that day when blood will rain down. “Schatz.” I wrote a business trip plan to submit to the knight order. However, the destination was not Genen. The place I would head to was the Imperial Army Headquarters. It was time to make use of the line I had cultivated with the military up to now. ─Yes. Sir Knight. What the Ezenheim bastards want is an outburst from the Imperial Army. Or they will hope that Ezenheim within the Imperial Army fires shots and the situation escalates further. If that happens, the Emperor will order the 'suppression' of the unrest. He will try to send in the army and trample it mercilessly. “Wait for me.” Before that happens, I will go. I will willingly become his head, and decide with my own hands the method of suppression. “I’ll get there before it’s too late.”