Chapter 152 - A Wise Ruler

In response to Ferda's question, Garnet answered,

"If we create an official position for the sake of the Shadow Division, which must never be known, that would be a contradiction. Only the Regent and the Administrator should know of our relationship."

"How do you intend to do that?"

"We will create an organization that can hold legitimate standing in this city."

"And what organization would that be?"

"Mejina Pallange is a noblewoman from the Southern Region who has been operating a trading company."

Mejina Pallange.

Ferda vaguely recalled hearing the name before, only to realize it had been Garnet Swallow's false identity on the very first page.

"That trading company currently has an interest in the Far East, and at the same time, it has witnessed many unreasonable situations."

"So?"

"So, as the representative of the merchants, we will formally protest in Hestia Village, and afterward—"

"We establish a guild."

"Exactly."

The story felt strangely familiar.

It was something he had already discussed once with Stephan.

"Stephan Pascal is already aiming for that."

Garnet let out a faint laugh.

"The chairman of the Pascal Trading Company is quite greedy. He's already secured the Labor Union, so if he also takes the Merchants' Guild, the guild's credibility will eventually decline. I doubt he'd want to become an unnecessary target."

Stephan had indeed been worried about that.

But human greed was such that, if something could be obtained, one naturally wanted to find a way to seize it.

Even knowing they were an intelligence organization, they still managed to catch him off guard like this.

Ferda found himself genuinely impressed.

"I must clearly state that this matter should proceed through the alliance of merchants I have gathered."

Just to be sure, Ferda checked the current identities of the core executives.

Out of the twelve, eight were local merchants.

Every one of them belonged to ordinary trading companies whose names he had barely heard before.

"It seems you people have little talent for business."

He deliberately mixed a hint of provocation into his words.

Hearing that, Garnet showed not the slightest sign of being offended and calmly replied,

"A merchant who misuses merchandise inevitably loses trust."

She was right.

If the Black Bandana truly decided to enter any market, monopolizing it would be effortless.

They were information brokers.

Their purpose was to focus on selling information.

That was why these documents repeatedly emphasized their credibility.

"How many people within the Black Bandana know about this?"

"Other than the top executives and the core executives, no one else knows. Everyone listed in the personnel records we handed over has already agreed."

"So it will appear as though the Black Bandana still exists."

"Yes. However, we will no longer be an organization that maintains neutrality."

It was truly unfortunate for the users of the Black Bandana throughout the Cerdes Continent.

But Ferda couldn't have cared less about that.

"If you're going to establish the guild yourselves, I won't stop you."

"We will do it through our own efforts, but there is one matter we need to settle with you beforehand, Regent."

"What matter?"

"The Dandolo Trading Company, now renamed the Hestia Trading Company."

"Go on."

"As I understand it, you and Mr. Vernel Marquis own fifty-one percent, Stephan Pascal, acting as your proxy, owns twenty percent, and the remaining twenty-nine percent was reserved for investors. Of that, Halim already possesses ten percent."

"Correct."

"We would like you to transfer the remaining nineteen percent of the shares to us."

Ferda instinctively frowned.

"You're acting like an organization on the verge of extinction."

"It may appear that way, but simply obtaining a certain stake in the Dandolo Trading Company would greatly enhance the credibility of the Merchants' Guild. That would make the ideal Shadow Division possible."

"Explain."

"Once the Far East Merchants' Guild is established, we will also gain the status of Citizen Representatives and rise to the rank of Quasi-Barons, will we not?"

"You would gain political influence."

"That influence is merely for appearances. What I truly need is obligation."

Obligation.

Most people desperately tried to avoid such things.

"If we become the Merchants' Guild, then as a guild we will have the duty to contribute to the prosperity of Hestia."

"Indeed."

"Accordingly, we will be able to inspect merchants to determine whether they possess harmful goods or are involved in smuggling."

"That follows."

"And if we determine that ordinary inspections are insufficient, we will also have legitimate grounds to conduct our own investigations and pursue suspects."

Hearing that, Ferda realized how remarkably appealing this arrangement truly was.

Those investigations and pursuits would not be limited to merchants alone.

They could also be applied to those attempting to incite rebellion.

As the Merchants' Guild of the Far East, they would naturally interact with other merchant guilds.

Through them, they could gather information, spread information, and guide events in whatever direction they desired.

Since their only point of contact with others would be commerce, they would merely be viewed as a regulatory body.

Enemies of the Far East might even approach them in hopes of winning them over.

If it was the Black Bandana—an organization unrivaled in the field of intelligence—they would undoubtedly be capable of arranging everything exactly as intended.

"Even so, nineteen percent is too much. I'd prefer to lower it to ten."

"We only need an effective controlling share of three percent. The remaining sixteen percent is merely investment capital and a means of maintaining appearances."

"Hmm..."

"We will never use it for personal gain. It will exist solely for Hestia Village and the Grand Duchess's Territory."

Stephan had once said that exchanging shares was an important matter.

Originally, that responsibility belonged to Stephan.

However, he was already overwhelmed just trying to finish his current workload, so the matter had been postponed.

If I leave it to the Merchants' Guild...

Given the intelligence they possessed, they might achieve better results than the overworked Stephan.

Besides, was this really just about doing business?

The greatest secret intelligence organization is voluntarily exposing its own fatal secret and asking to come under my command.

That was why Ferda was curious.

He finally asked the question he had postponed until the very end.

"You said you seek to destroy the Empire because it betrayed its founding ideals."

"That is correct."

"Someday, I may become the same."

His judgment could falter.

The regret buried within his heart might one day consume him again.

"When that day comes... will you betray me?"

Loyalty meant following one's lord regardless of the decisions they made.

If betrayal remained a possibility, then it could never truly be called loyalty.

Garnet answered,

"A ruler is one who stands above all people—a superhuman being."

As someone who gathered intelligence on the upper nobility, Garnet understood kings and nobles well.

"That is why they become intoxicated with the belief that they alone are justice, and they ignore the will of the people."

They could not tolerate having their opinions denied.

They could not forgive those who stood in their way.

The heads of loyal ministers who dared offer honest counsel rolled upon the ground, while the tongues of flattering traitors never had a moment to rest.

"And at first, I believed you were that sort of person as well, Regent."

Ferda seemed exactly the kind of man who could easily walk such a path.

He would kill without hesitation if necessary.

He possessed the resolve to abandon even those close to him.

From Garnet's perspective, such a ruler should never exist.

"But I was wrong."

Everything changed after that night.

The Evil Red Dragon, reduced to little more than a watchdog.

The reason for living in self-loathing and isolating oneself was because of loving humanity.

"You constantly doubt yourself, Regent."

Ferda loved those who loved humanity.

He learned a dance he had never danced before in his life.

He hosted a banquet he never wanted.

To make a single woman happy, he suppressed the nature Garnet had perceived within him and instead chose to walk the path of conviction.

"A person who doubts himself can never become a superhuman."

"But he can become a wise ruler."

A wise ruler.

He could picture countless people praising the name Valdrova.

Suppressing the smile that threatened to appear, he spoke to Garnet.

"I trust that will be the last pleasant thing you say today."

Garnet respectfully folded her hands and bowed.

"It is an honor to become the shadow of the Great Flame."

***

Ferda summoned every noble to the headquarters of the Far East Front Alliance.

"Has everyone managed well without any major incidents?"

"A petty thief did break into my empty estate while I was away, but other than that, everything was peaceful."

"The territory's people who had fallen into panic have all returned to their livelihoods."

"Oh, when a whole month had passed, you have no idea how anxious we were!"

The nobles trembled with indignation.

The expressions on their faces showed that they never wanted to relive those days when they huddled together, worrying about survival one day at a time.

Everyone had suffered through those anxious times.

Ferda had been no different.

"I believe every one of you now harbors resentment toward the Arken Empire because of this incident."

"Of course we do! Those damned bastards!"

"They treated the Far East like a place of exile, and even when we were on the verge of death, they tried to use us for political gain!"

Rather than discussing the fact that Ferda had refused to bow, their anger was directed squarely at Alexander Arken.

It was impossible to tell how much resentment they had accumulated over the years.

"That is why I have been called to testify at the post-mortem centered on Alexander Arken."

"You mean the postwar conference?"

"Given that we were under siege, it is only natural that we should attend, but..."

The nobles clearly disliked the idea.

Even if the gathering existed to judge Alexander Arken, they knew the others were all cut from the same cloth.

"Just as your reactions suggest, there is a very high possibility they will try to place the blame on us."

"Naturally, isn't there!?"

"They'll obviously try to protect that good-for-nothing Crown Prince!"

"I seek only the peace of the Far East, and I know all of you desire its prosperity as well."

Extending his hand toward them, Ferda declared,

"Therefore, I, Ferda Valdrova, Regent, ask for your wisdom here today."

The lords willingly rolled up their sleeves.

They discussed how the post-mortem would proceed.

How the blame might be shifted onto Ferda.

And how they should respond.

Together, they developed several scenarios and created numerous avenues through which Ferda could escape responsibility.

The meeting continued long into the night.

Yet despite the smooth progress of the discussion, Count Ulvera Consilus wore a troubled expression the entire time.

***

"I don't think this is a good idea."

After an entire day had passed, as dawn slowly broke and the lords departed in their carriages, Consilus approached Ferda, who was quietly watching the procession, and spoke.

"You mean putting all our heads together?"

"It is dangerous to assume that every one of them is our ally. Among them are those who love the Empire's walls more than the safety of the Far East. If they learn about our plans—"

"There will be informants."

Ferda cut him off.

"That is exactly what I'm counting on."

Ferda quietly interrupted him.

Consilus looked surprised, lowering his voice in response.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I was told to let this information leak."

Ferda emphasized every word.

"So that the traitor walks into the execution grounds of his own accord."

"I see..."

Consilus awkwardly blushed.

He suddenly felt foolish for believing that the young Regent was naively trusting everyone as an ally.

Watching him, Ferda remarked,

"The fact that you came to warn me suggests you're not a traitor."

"That... is quite a relief."

Consilus gave a wry smile.

"In that case, may I ask how you intend to conduct the public hearing?"

"At first, I intend to follow the scenario. I need to determine whether our scenario has been leaked."

"So you intend to expose the traitors that way?"

"I already know who the traitor is."

"If you already know..."

A sharp aura emerged from beneath the old man's lowered white eyebrows.

Unlike the fiery vigor of youth, the old man was calm and steady.

Which made him all the more frightening.

"If I may make one request... would you allow this old servant to execute the traitor himself?"

"You?"

Ferda had intended to deal with the matter personally.

After all, among the lords, Ferda already had the reputation of being far more ruthless when it came to killing.

"You may not know this, Regent... but simply being sent to the Far East is little different from exile."

No one understood that better than Consilus, who had spent the longest time there.

"When you live in a place without hope, before you know it, you become numb, and all you can think about is escaping."

The nobles grew fat.

The soldiers became lazy.

And the common people died, just as they always had.

"But then a lifeline descended upon us."

"It was not a rotten rope, but a sturdy one—one worthy of being called hope itself."

Count Ulvera Consilus gazed deeply at Ferda.

His eyes held sincere gratitude and profound respect.

"But if there are rats foolish enough to gnaw through that lifeline..."

Murderous intent filled Count Consilus's eyes.

When someone who has lived in despair finally finds hope, they become fiercer than anyone else.

"This old man will gladly become the madman who executes the traitors."

Hearing that answer, Ferda nodded.

"I'll entrust it to you, Count."

"Everything for the Grand Duchess's Territory."

Ferda could feel it clearly.

Before long, a bloody storm would sweep through, cutting away the festering rot.

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