Patrice, who had led a group of merchant ships, was meeting with an official from the Rustwar Integrated Government at the spaceport.
The two shook hands.
"Are you Mr. Patrice of the Newlands Chamber of Commerce? We have been waiting for you."
"Likewise."
The Integrated Government is a gathering of several democratic states.
It does not practice the aristocratic politics of the Empire.
It relies more on artificial intelligence than the Empire does, and while it has humanoid weapons in its military, it does not have knights.
From the perspective of the Integrated Government, the Empire's political system is outdated.
The official who had been waiting for Patrice's arrival was eager to meet him.
The official led Patrice to a room where transactions would take place.
There, not only officials from the Integrated Government but also politicians and military personnel were waiting.
"Quite an impressive group, I see."
When Patrice said this, the military personnel looked displeased.
Marie, who was accompanying Patrice as his bodyguard, stood diagonally behind him.
(Are officers of this rank coming to a business meeting? They must be quite desperate.)
As Patrice took his seat, Marie stood behind him.
The official who had led them took charge of the proceedings.
"Since we are in a hurry, let's get straight to the details of the transaction. And we hope to continue our business relationship in the future—"
"That cannot be guaranteed."
When Patrice refused to continue the business relationship, the officials from the Integrated Government became hostile.
He knew they were quite desperate, but they seemed to be in a tight spot.
"May I ask for the reason?"
"The goods you have were gathered by the Earl of Banfield. The Earl is unwilling to support a cause without a just reason."
One of the military personnel slammed his fist down.
"How dare you!"
"Please wait! —I apologize. It seems you haven't fully understood the situation yet."
The surrounding people restrained the angry military personnel.
The official explained the course of the recent internal conflict.
"Among the countries that are part of the Integrated Government, there has been a movement to establish a new interstellar nation independently."
This is not an unusual occurrence; the Empire also sometimes sees such movements.
They are usually suppressed quickly, but the situation with the Integrated Government is different.
"If a dictator declares independence, we will suppress them immediately. However, if independence is decided through democracy, we cannot easily intervene."
If the opponent is someone who can be forced to comply with military force, the Integrated Government will suppress them quickly.
But if a democratically elected leader declares independence, it becomes problematic.
Because it is the result of a democratic process.
Patrice listened with interest.
"The situation is different from the Empire's."
"Yes. And the countries advocating for independence have declared war on the Integrated Government."
Marie, listening from behind, felt the pieces falling into place.
(The Empire must have supported them. Or—someone from the Empire, perhaps?)
"The weapons they use are disguised, but we have confirmed they are from the Empire."
Looking at the projected image in the air, Marie quickly identified which shipyard had built the vessels.
(This is—Shipyard One? Shipyard Two is also involved. And it's a new model.)
The shipyard that had allied with the Berkeley family had built these vessels.
The Berkeley family had been destroyed, and their ships had ended up with the Integrated Government.
(If this is possible, it must involve someone in a high position within the Empire.)
Patrice watched the images with great interest.
"You are suggesting that the Empire is supporting this newly independent nation, which is why you are angry. However, it is not fair to blame me. I am a merchant. Moreover, my patron, the Earl of Banfield, is not supporting your enemies."
The official seemed to understand.
"Yes. However, the problem is that the sentiment for independence is growing in various regions. The Integrated Government's military cannot move recklessly and cannot gather forces as they wish because they are monitoring various areas."
But the enemy was using the latest weapons to suppress the surrounding areas by force.
Patrice asked,
"Who is supporting the enemy?"
The official, somewhat troubled, answered, "The most likely candidate is Prince Linus of the Empire. More precisely, we have information that his associates are involved."
Marie's eyes widened in surprise.
(This is what Lady Rosetta was worried about. This is getting interesting.)
Patrice let out a small sigh.
"Prince Linus, you say. Well, let's start with the transaction of the goods we brought."
◇
The Humphrey Chamber of Commerce's spaceship arrived at the Oxyse Union Kingdom.
As an interstellar nation, it is similar to the Empire, with a republic formed by a group of kingdoms.
Thomas had previously done business in the Union Kingdom and was meeting with one of the nobles through his connections.
The noble, smoking a pipe, revealed the internal affairs of the Union Kingdom to Thomas, of course, after Thomas paid a large sum of money.
"Prince Linus of the Empire is supporting multiple states within the Union Kingdom. There is a secret deal that if Prince Linus becomes emperor, he will cede the disputed territories to the Union Kingdom."
"A secret deal!?"
Thomas feigned surprise, but such a deal was not surprising.
After all, the Empire's territory is vast.
A little reduction would not affect Linus.
Moreover, the territories to be ceded were owned by the nobles and were not under Linus's direct control.
"The groups that made the secret deal within the Union Kingdom are gaining momentum. There are more internal conflicts, so they are gathering necessary supplies. Come do business with us. I'm sure you can offer a good price, right?"
The noble, naturally, expected a lower price, and Thomas, accepting it as a payment for the information, nodded.
"Do you know which countries are supporting Prince Linus?"
"You must understand that a country and its nobles are different. The country I serve is supporting Prince Linus, but I am not."
Thomas did not trust him.
"Prince Linus is actively involved, it seems."
"For the Union Kingdom, receiving support and gaining disputed territories is beneficial. If Prince Linus becomes emperor, the benefits will be significant."
He spoke as if it were someone else's affair.
However, the noble was also puzzled.
"However, until now, even with the Empire's interference, things haven't been this chaotic. The timing is also a factor, but this time, the conflicts seem to be prolonged."
Thanks to this, the noble's financial situation was tight, and Thomas was further exploited.
◇
Imperial University.
I, attending a lecture, glanced at Wallace, who looked increasingly haggard every day.
"Drinking until morning every night is bad for your health."
However, this world has excellent medicine.
There are even drugs that can cure hangovers instantly, so drinking every night like a waterfall is not a problem.
Moreover, our bodies are enhanced, so there is no issue.
Wallace's haggard appearance is due to mental stress.
"Leave me alone. I'll be killed soon anyway. Assassins will be sent, and I'll be treated as a natural death and disappear—haha, this is the fate of most of the imperial family."
His pessimism is annoying.
"I have bodyguards for you, so relax."
"The history of the imperial family is long and full of intrigue. Over the years, many specialized assassination groups have been formed. Liam is strong, but there are opponents he cannot defeat. You should be aware of that."
These assassination groups were born out of unpleasant reasons.
Hmm, I should invest more in my bodyguards.
While comforting the pessimistic Wallace, I received an urgent report.
Checking it immediately, it was from Thomas and Patrice, who were abroad.
Additionally, there was a report from Marie.
According to Thomas's report, there is a movement involving Linus within the Oxyse Union Kingdom.
He's a bad guy, isn't he?
More importantly, the Union Kingdom.
There is a noble who is selling information about allies, which I like!
I instructed Thomas to maintain contact with the noble who is selling information.
However, since Linus is the enemy, I added that he should support countries that are opposing those Linus is helping.
Patrice's report—there is a growing sentiment for independence in the Rustwar Integrated Government, and Linus seems to be supporting it.
His name keeps coming up everywhere.
While the Empire would like to support countries that are likely to become independent, personally, I consider Linus an enemy, so I will support the Integrated Government.
I am becoming a bit more aware of my role as a corrupt lord, acting selfishly without considering the Empire at all.
Reading Marie's report.
It contained trivial information.
"What is this? Who asked for an occult report?"
Marie's report stated that it is unlikely that the Empire's intervention is causing conflicts in neighboring countries.
There have been interventions in other countries before, and the Empire has also been interfered with.
This is a common occurrence.
However, this time, something seems off, and she suspects that something is happening behind the scenes.
Is she thinking of a conspiracy theory? Ridiculous.
This is a world where wars are constant.
It's probably just a matter of timing.
But—wait a moment.
I reached a possibility.
The timing of the movements in neighboring countries coincides with my struggle with the princes.
"Could it be!"
I almost shouted out loud and covered my mouth with my hand.
I couldn't help but smile.
The timing is too convenient for me—there must be someone behind this.
Yes, the guide!
"What's wrong, Liam?"
Wallace, looking tired, asked me, so I gave him a big smile.
"Rejoice, Wallace. It seems I'm going to win."
"Are you delirious?"
I slapped Wallace's head to make him understand my seriousness.
◇
"Cheers!"
It was a dimly lit, high-class bar.
Dressed-up women were serving Liam, pouring drinks.
Nearby, Wallace was drinking and crying.
"Damn it!"
He was drinking to excess.
"Wallace, since we're in a high-class place, try to enjoy it more."
"I can't enjoy it! I can't enjoy it at all!"
Wallace, fearing assassination, was using alcohol to distract himself.
He knew how advanced assassination techniques were, being born into the imperial family.
Now, let's recall.
Which group was active behind the scenes during the most extreme period of the Empire?
There was a time, two thousand years ago, when the imperial family's bloody conflicts lasted for a long time.
During this period, a group that was active behind the scenes—was betrayed by their employer, the emperor, and turned to stone.
A woman from the table where Liam and the others were making noise went to the toilet.
Alone in the toilet, the woman took out a needle from a small bag.
"What a fool. Does he think he can survive with just his sword skills? To kill a man, strength is not necessary."
As she was about to return to Liam, a large wall stood in front of her.
The black wall was smiling.
"I agree with that. However, that needle won't reach him."
A large man, wearing a mask and a robe, was smiling.