Chapter 153 - The Insider

The Empire's imperial leadership was moving busily.

A strategy team composed solely of dozens of legal advisors and strategists was organizing the materials to be used at the public hearing.

Meanwhile, Alexander—the one truly under pressure—watched them with a relaxed expression.

From the experts' perspective, that was actually preferable.

If Alexander stepped in, he would only end up hindering the strategy team.

The only things he could do were to observe the situation as closely as possible...and use his current position to gather as many capable people as he could.

Still, it wasn't as though he had been sitting idly by.

He had achieved one notable result.

"Are these details confirmed?"

As Alexander read through the copied proposal, he called out to the person connected through the communication crystal.

"Baron Giyot?"

Baron Giyot.

He was a noble who ruled over a territory in the Far East.

-"Y-Yes, they are!"

"Relax a little. It's not as if I'm going to eat you alive. W-Why are you so nervous?"

-"M-My apologies! Anyway, the document I sent you is the summary of the brainstorming session regarding what strategy the Regent plans to adopt during this hearing."

"The Regent?"

-"Ah, the Regent. Regent Ferda..."

Alexander was unusually sensitive, while Baron Giyot sounded utterly intimidated.

After hesitating for a while, the nervous breathing from the other side of the communication crystal finally gave way to words.

-"Um... Your Imperial Highness..."

"What is it?"

-"If everything goes well... will you keep your promise?"

"What a ridiculous question... Are you doubting me?"

-"N-No! How could I possibly? I-I spoke out of turn..."

Alexander let out a sigh, looking thoroughly exasperated.

"Don't worry. I'll guarantee your safety. And I'll prepare an official position for you within the Inner Wall as well."

-"Y-Your repeated reassurance leaves me deeply grateful! Thank you very much!"

"So, since you've chosen to become a traitor, make sure you spy thoroughly."

-"Understood! Please remember that this Giyot has always remained loyal to the Empire!"

With that, the communication through the crystal came to an end.

An official position could always be created.

And if it couldn't?

Then he would simply discard him.

After all, a man who had already become a traitor held no value to Alexander, regardless of whether he kept his promises.

To him, people were nothing more than consumable tools of the Empire, objects that could be thrown away the moment they had outlived their usefulness.

Being a noble made no difference.

Still, Old Man Golt has already promised to help me...

It was almost certain that the situation would not turn against Alexander.

Besides, didn't he also have the very "helper" that everyone wished they could obtain?

The thought alone filled him with satisfaction, prompting him to express his gratitude once more.

"I never imagined you would lend me your wisdom. I am truly overwhelmed."

The middle-aged man seated before him answered with quiet dignity.

"Not at all. The pillars of the Empire are those blessed with Golden Blood. How could I possibly refuse to assist, Your Majesty?"

" 'Your Majesty'? I'm still only the Crown Prince."

"You will one day ascend the throne and rule this Empire. What difference does it make if I address you that way now?"

"Haha! Have you already seen the future in which I become king?"

"Indeed, I have."

Hearing those words filled Alexander with confidence for no particular reason.

He was the sort who enjoyed being flattered.

But when this man praised him, it carried an entirely different weight.

After all...

"Thank you for cooperating with me, Sage of Water."

The man before him was none other than Hellus Fovidas, renowned throughout the world as the Sage of Water.

"The honor is mine, Your Highness. Being able to assist you is a privilege."

The Crown Prince's office filled with smiles overflowing with confidence in victory.

***

-"...That concludes the Crown Prince's current strategy."

"I see."

Receiving the copied documents, Ferda replied briefly.

He quietly read through them when an uneasy voice interrupted him.

-"Um... Do I really have to keep staying here?"

Hellus asked cautiously.

Ferda looked at him as though he found the question absurd.

"Can you not accomplish everything you need to while you're there?"

-"O-Of course I can... but it's honestly becoming overwhelming."

No matter how highly regarded Hellus was as a Sage, deep down he had once been nothing more than a poor mage.

The extravagance of the imperial family was on an entirely different level.

What Hellus had always considered luxurious was, by the imperial family's standards, merely enough to make them remark,

"How modest. Just what you'd expect from a Sage."

The realization that he had been nothing more than a frog in a well came as a tremendous shock.

"Enjoy it while you can. Even ordinary nobles rarely get to experience the pleasures reserved for the imperial family."

-"I appreciate that, but... I do have one request."

"Let's hear it."

-"Well... I was hoping you could let me use Wisdom a little more often..."

It was exactly the request Ferda had expected.

He answered without hesitation.

"If you're truly a Sage, three questions per day should be more than enough."

-"Three is far too few. People ask me about everything imaginable. How am I supposed to answer them all...?"

"Isn't it foolish to think you have to answer every single question?"

-"I... I'm not even sure which questions are actually important..."

"Then use that."

-"H-How?"

"Answer questions that don't seem particularly important from time to time. Make them appear important. That's one of the reasons I sent you there."

Though it appeared he had infiltrated the imperial palace to solve problems...his true purpose was simply to sow confusion.

Olivia had immediately understood that objective, which was why she had sent him to Alexander.

-"I'll make use of that in my own way... but could you at least increase the number of questions a little...?"

Hellus pleaded once more.

Ferda let out an audible sigh.

I knew he'd be difficult to make proper use of...

He was even more frustrating than expected.

Still, since he was considered one of the greatest Sages on the continent, Ferda decided to adjust the arrangement to better match his abilities.

"Very well. I'll allow you up to five questions per day. That's two more than before, so think more carefully about what truly matters before using them."

-"T-Thank you very much!"

"Continue helping Alexander, report everything that happens on a regular basis, and always prioritize the Princess's orders. Understood?"

-"Y-Yes! Of course!"

There was no doubt that Hellus would remain loyal.

When he had looked at Olivia, he had worn the unmistakable expression of someone completely enchanted by the Demon of Lust and Illusion.

"Come to think of it, how is the Princess doing?"

Curious about Olivia's recent activities, Ferda asked.

-"She's been visiting the Alte Religion quite frequently lately. From what I've heard, she's preparing to begin training to become a Saintess..."

After reaching the Fourth Circle, she had begun seriously learning the magic practiced by priests.

Since she had achieved the difficult Fourth Enlightenment in matters of faith, the Alte Religion naturally welcomed her enthusiastically.

Whether they intended to make her a nun...or use her as a connection to strengthen ties with the imperial family.

The Red Circle... said to be formed through profound faith...

Even now, Ferda couldn't fully understand it.

He still remembered Olivia suddenly attaining enlightenment and activating her Circle inside that tiny room of a cheap inn.

Why had Olivia awakened at that exact moment?

Religious enlightenment had always been something mysterious.

Some awakened two entire Circle stages at once after an arduous meditation beneath a Bodhi tree.

Others attained enlightenment simply by feeling inspired while watching a flowing river.

Even Olivia herself might never know exactly what she had seen or felt.

Enlightenment was something beyond words, and once a Circle formed, the memory naturally became vague.

Regardless... the foundation for her to become a Saintess has now been laid.

She still had to reach the Fifth Circle.

But since she had already overcome the greatest hurdle—the Fourth Circle—Ferda believed Olivia was more than capable of achieving it.

He turned his attention to the materials Hellus had prepared.

"..."

It was a complete mess.

The contents were scattered everywhere without any organization.

Ferda briefly wondered whether he should get angry.

But it was obvious that, in Hellus's own way, he had concluded it was better to hand over the raw information than to organize it himself.

"Mori."

At his call, Mori turned her head.

The expressionless girl silently waited for instructions.

"Organize all of this."

She nodded.

Without wasting a moment, Mori rapidly skimmed through the documents, extracting only the key points.

Watching the process, Garnet looked at Ferda in amazement.

"Is this girl truly the source of the Sage of Water's knowledge?"

"She is."

"This exceeds my imagination."

"Mori's abilities?"

"That as well, but because of Hellus, I had greatly underestimated the source of that knowledge. It wasn't lacking at all—he simply had no idea how to make proper use of it."

Ferda nodded in agreement.

Garnet leaned closer toward Mori.

She wanted to watch the sentences Mori was writing.

"Director of the Shadow Division."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry, but please refrain from approaching Miss Mori so casually."

Isabella shot her a sharp glare.

Her eyes contained an emotion that she rarely ever displayed.

"My apologies, Administrator."

Feeling a chill run down her spine, Garnet obediently stepped back.

There was certainly a reasonable justification.

She's an invaluable asset to the Far East. We should be careful for now.

But to someone who knew Ferda well, it looked slightly different.

Does she consider even Garnet a rival?

Mori certainly was a valuable asset.

But Isabella's reasoning was entirely personal.

Only Garnet remained unaware of that fact.

Meanwhile, Mori had already finished organizing everything and presented the completed summary.

The chaotic mass of text had become an easy-to-read report. 1

Ferda skimmed through the summary and extracted the information he needed.

"It appears Grand Duke Valdemar Golt is acting as Alexander's supporter."

"If Grand Duke Golt has truly agreed to support him... then the game is practically already decided."

Valdemar Golt.

The moment his name was mentioned, Garnet's expression darkened.

That alone showed what a difficult opponent he was.

Ferda also knew exactly what kind of man he was.

The Emperor's closest confidant...

Whether he was truly loyal to the Emperor was uncertain.

But there was no doubt that the two maintained a mutually beneficial relationship.

His popularity was immense, his reputation unmatched.

The people even called him the Hero of the Masses.

"There are five Supreme Commissioners in the Crisis Response Headquarters. Grand Duke Golt already has the support of two of the other commissioners."

The list of Supreme Commissioners was as follows.

The Hero of the Masses, Grand Duke Valdemar Golt.

The Conqueror of the Black Plague, Marquess Akard Dvelung.

The Veteran Hero, Count Oldin Rooster.

The Reckless Grand Mage, Erdes Roton.

Joseph Faust, Leader of the Alte Religion.

Originally, someone else had been chosen for Erdes's seat.

However, that man had been beheaded after ignoring Alexander's deployment order.

The vacant position was therefore awarded to Erdes, who had made the greatest contribution during the recent assault.

Ordinarily, she would have considered attending such a meeting too troublesome.

But after learning that the matter involved Ferda, she had appeared without fail.

"So the key will be figuring out how to win Valdemar over."

"Precisely."

Ferda recalled the last time he had seen Grand Duke Golt.

The man had been an old gentleman covered in age spots, yet his back had always remained perfectly straight.

Ferda had always wondered about the source of his popularity.

Those loved by the common people were usually hated by the nobility, while those favored by the nobility were often despised by the commoners.

Yet somehow, he enjoyed the affection of both.

"Grand Duke Golt should be an old man well past his prime. How is he still going so strong?"

"It's because of the greenhouse."

"The greenhouse?"

"There is a dome-shaped greenhouse within Grand Duke Golt's territory."

Ferda had no memory of it.

Apparently, it had been such a trivial matter from his perspective that he had never paid it any attention.

"What kind of greenhouse is it?"

"It's a place that can maintain the warmth of spring even during the coldest winter, and the coolness of autumn even in the height of summer."

Ferda realized why he hadn't remembered it.

It simply wasn't all that remarkable.

After all, the castle he currently occupied already had that kind of magic built into it by default.

"A Fourth Circle Mage should be perfectly capable of performing that kind of feat."

"You're absolutely right."

If that were all the greenhouse could do, Garnet wouldn't have bothered bringing it up.

"But the story changes if it can also regulate the Mana concentration inside."

"It can even control Mana concentration?"

Now that certainly caught Ferda's interest.

"To what extent can it regulate it?"

"I'm not sure how high it can raise the concentration, but at the very least, it can create an area completely devoid of Mana."

Magic capable of controlling the climate could be cast repeatedly, provided one could bear the consequences afterward.

But using magic to create a region entirely without Mana was a different matter altogether.

It was akin to magically removing every bit of air from an area.

A small space would be one thing.

But applying it to an entire dome of that size was impossible for an ordinary mage.

"If it can create a Mana-free zone... then cultivating rare medicinal ingredients shouldn't be impossible."

"Exactly."

Some rare ingredients possessing miraculous properties required extremely harsh growing conditions.

Among the most difficult requirements was Mana concentration.

Maintaining such an environment was practically impossible unless one was willing to sacrifice countless people.

"Do you know what kind of spellcraft it uses?"

"We've tried uncovering the secret several times by sending our agents inside... but each time, we almost ended up being traced instead."

A place so secure that even the intelligence organization couldn't uncover its secrets...

That piqued Ferda's curiosity.

Grand Duke Golt didn't even come from a family of mages.

How had he obtained such technology?

Most likely he stole it from some mage or scholar.

But that alone wasn't enough.

If someone who wasn't a mage could simply steal it and make it their own, then other mages should have been able to imitate it with ease.

That meant Valdemar understood the crucial principles behind the spellcraft—something that couldn't be acquired through theft alone.

It also meant he possessed extraordinary talent as a mage.

If he uses that as his weapon to gather the nobles under his banner... then Vernel could become his target as well.

Just as Alexander had, Valdemar could also set his sights on Vernel.

During the presentation in Halim, they had already built tremendous anticipation.

Since then, the results pouring out had been so extraordinary that they far exceeded everyone's expectations.

There are four projects currently underway in the Grand Duchess's territory.

The improvement of the Magitech Rifle by the engineers of the Grand Duchess's territory.

The water purification project carried out in cooperation with Blue Eye, aimed at opening new waterways.

The Mana-powered automobile project being developed jointly by Escolleia and the trading company.

And the efficiency upgrade of Mana Stones—the foundational work required to make all three projects successful—was still ongoing.

At present, it had already achieved a groundbreaking 30% increase in total efficiency.

With every project gaining momentum, having them stolen or even delayed would be disastrous.

"The Empire will use this incident as an excuse to demand Magitech Engineering technology, won't they?"

"They will."

It was the very technology that would have been taken if they had surrendered to Alexander.

Even after this crisis ended, there remained the possibility that it could still be seized.

The thought alone was infuriating.

They're truly relentless.

"If only there were an easier way to handle all of this..."

Ferda murmured quietly.

Nothing in this world ever came easily.

Yet the wish itself was proof that he was only human.

"There actually is an easier way."

This time, Garnet did not let those words pass unnoticed and immediately responded.

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