A Wise Ruler

Garnet answered Ferda’s question.

“Creating a position for a shadow corps that must remain unknown is a contradiction. Only the Regent and the Administrator should know about our relationship.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“We will create an organization that can claim a legitimate pretext in this city.”

“What would that be?”

“Medgina Fallangi was a southern noblewoman who operated a merchant company.”

Medgina Fallangi.

He had wondered where he had heard that name, but it was Garnet Swallow’s assumed identity listed on the very first page.

“That merchant company is currently interested in the Far East, while also witnessing injustices in various places.”

“And then?”

“So, as the merchants’ representative, we will formally protest to Hestia Village, and afterward—”

“Establish a guild.”

“That is correct.”

It felt like a story with a striking sense of déjà vu.

He had already discussed this once with Stephan.

“But Stephan Pascal is already pursuing that.”

Garnet gave a hollow laugh.

“President Pascal is quite greedy. He already has a labor union in his grasp, and if he also goes after the merchants’ guild, the guild’s credibility will decline in the long run. He surely wouldn’t want to become easy prey, would he?”

Stephan had been concerned about that as well.

But when human greed sees something it can take, it naturally seeks a way to take it.

Even knowing they were an intelligence organization, Ferda could not help admiring them anew when they caught him off guard like that.

“I’m telling you plainly that this matter must be pursued as an alliance of the merchants I have gathered.”

Just in case, Ferda checked the current identities of the core executives.

Eight of the twelve were local merchants.

All of them belonged to ordinary merchant companies whose names he had never properly heard.

“It seems you don’t have much aptitude for commerce.”

He mixed in a hint of provocation.

Garnet answered calmly, without showing the slightest sign of being offended.

“A merchant who uses his goods arbitrarily is bound to lose trust.”

It was true.

If Black Bandana had deliberately entered any given field, monopolizing it would not have been difficult.

They were information brokers, which meant they focused on selling information.

That was why these documents repeatedly emphasized their reliability.

“How many people in Black Bandana know about this?”

“No one besides the highest-ranking and core executives knows about it. Everyone listed in the personal details I handed over has agreed.”

“Then it will appear that you are maintaining Black Bandana.”

“Yes. But we will become an organization with no neutrality left.”

It might be a truly regrettable thing for Black Bandana’s users across the Serdes continent, but Ferda did not care in the slightest.

“If you form the guild yourselves, I won’t stop you.”

“We will do it on our own, but there is one matter we must agree on with you in advance, Regent.”

“What agreement?”

“Dandolo Company, the one that has now been renamed Hestia Company.”

“Yes.”

“As I understand it, you and Mr. Burnell Marquis hold 51 percent, Stephan Pascal, the proxy representative, holds 20 percent, and the remaining 29 percent was set aside for investors. Ten percent of that is already in Halim.”

“Yes.”

“We would like you to transfer all 19 percent of the remaining shares to us.”

Ferda reflexively knitted his brows.

“That’s something a dying organization would do.”

“It may look that way, but simply acquiring a certain stake in Dandolo Company would greatly boost the credibility of the merchants’ guild. That would make an ideal shadow corps possible.”

“Go on.”

“Once the Far East Merchants’ Guild is established, we will also qualify as citizen representatives and rise to the status of quasi-nobles, will we not?”

“You would have a political voice.”

“That is only useful for appearances. What I need is a duty.”

A duty.

Most people were frantic to avoid it.

“If we become a merchants’ guild, we will have a duty as a guild to contribute to Hestia’s prosperity.”

“That’s right.”

“Accordingly, we will have grounds to inspect and search merchants to ensure they are not carrying harmful goods or smuggling.”

“I see.”

“If we determine that a simple inspection will not resolve the matter, we will also have grounds to investigate and pursue it ourselves.”

Hearing that, Ferda realized it was indeed an attractive arrangement.

Those investigations and pursuits would apply not only to merchants, but also to those attempting to incite rebellion.

If they became the Far East’s merchants’ guild, they would interact with other merchants’ guilds, through which they could receive or leak information and guide matters in the desired direction.

Since their only point of contact would be commerce, they would be regarded as a watchdog organization, and the Far East’s enemies might approach them to win them over.

If it was Black Bandana, whose information network was beyond comparison, they could align everything with their intentions.

“Even so, 19 percent is too much. I’d like you to lower it to 10 percent.”

“Three percent is enough for the actual stake we can control. The remaining 16 percent is for capital investment and appearances.”

“Hmm……”

“We will use it solely for Hestia Village and the Grand Duchy, never for personal gain.”

Stephan had said that exchanging shares was an important matter.

It was normally Stephan’s job to handle that, but with even finishing all his current work proving difficult, he had put it off for the time being.

‘If I leave this to the merchants’ guild…….’

Based on the information they possessed, they might achieve more effective results than busy Stephan.

Besides, was this really just a proposal to do business?

‘The greatest secret intelligence organization is revealing its own fatal secrets and trying to place itself under my command.’

That was why Ferda was curious.

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

“You said you wanted to destroy the Empire because it opposed its founding ideal.”

“That is correct.”

“Someday, I may become like that as well.”

His judgment could grow clouded, and the day might come when this regret rooted in his heart devoured him once again.

“If that time comes, will you betray me?”

Loyalty meant following someone regardless of the decision they made.

Therefore, if there was any possibility of betrayal, it could not be loyalty.

Garnet answered.

“A ruler is one who reigns above all people—a transcendent being.”

As someone who gathered information on the powerful, Garnet knew the behavior of kings and nobles.

“That is why they often disregard the will of the people, intoxicated by the belief that only they are righteous.”

They could not tolerate having their opinions rejected and could not forgive anyone who blocked their path.

The heads of loyal ministers who offered remonstrance rolled across the floor, while sycophants’ tongues never stopped wagging.

“And I also thought you were such a person, Regent.”

Ferda seemed like the kind of man who could easily fall down that path.

He did not hesitate to kill if necessary, and possessed the will to cast aside even his own people.

From Garnet’s perspective, such a ruler was someone who must never exist.

“However, I was wrong.”

Her judgment had changed from that night onward.

The evil Red Dragon, treated like a dog guarding the house.

The reason she lived in self-loathing and isolated herself was that she loved humanity.

“You constantly doubt yourself, Regent.”

Ferda loved those who loved humanity.

He had learned dances he had never performed in his life and held banquets he did not want.

To make one woman happy, he had suppressed the nature she had discerned in him and moved forward according to his convictions.

“One who doubts himself cannot become a transcendent being.”

“But you can become a wise ruler.”

A wise ruler.

He envisioned everyone calling out and praising the name of Valdrova.

Hiding the smile that threatened to surface, he said to Garnet,

“I think that will be the last pleasant thing you say.”

Garnet respectfully folded her hands and bowed her head.

“It is an honor to become the shadow of the great fire.”

* * *

Ferda gathered every noble at the Far East Front Alliance Hall.

“Have things gone smoothly without any unusual incidents?”

“There were a few petty thieves who took advantage of the empty houses, but overall, everything went smoothly.”

“The fief residents who panicked have all returned to their livelihoods as well.”

“Whew, you have no idea how worried we were when a whole month had nearly passed!”

The nobles shuddered in indignation.

Their faces suggested they never wanted to recall the days when they had huddled together, worrying about each day.

Just as everyone had been anxious, Ferda had been as well.

“I believe all of you harbor resentment toward the Arken Empire over this incident.”

“Of course! Those damn bastards!”

“They used the Far East like a penal colony and tried to exploit us politically even when we were facing death!”

Rather than being angry that Ferda had not bowed his head, they showed their anger toward Alexander Arken.

It was impossible to know how much had built up over time.

“That is why I have been summoned to testify at the postmortem centered on Alexander Arken.”

“You mean the postwar conference?”

“Of course, since we were under siege, it is only right that we attend, but……”

The nobles reacted without enthusiasm.

Even if it was a hearing to judge Alexander Arken, they knew those involved were all cut from the same cloth.

“Given your reactions, there is a very high chance they will try to pin this matter on us.”

“Of course they will!?”

“They’re obviously going to cover for that reckless Crown Prince!”

“I desire the peace and prosperity of the Far East, and I know that you do as well.”

Ferda said this as he extended a hand toward them.

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

The lords willingly rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward.

They discussed how the postmortem would proceed, how they might shift the blame onto Ferda, and how they should respond.

As they created several scenarios, they also made openings through which Ferda could escape.

The meeting continued deep into the night without stopping.

While the meeting proceeded smoothly, Count Consilius wore a grim expression throughout.

* * *

“It is a bad idea.”

After a full day had passed, the lords’ carriages departed as dawn broke.

Consilius approached Ferda, who was watching the procession, specifically to say that.

“You mean putting our heads together?”

“It is unwise to assume they are all allies. Some of them love the Empire’s walls more than the safety of the Far East. If you let them know about this situation—”

“There will be an informant.”

Ferda cut him off.

“That is what I am aiming for.”

Ferda said quietly.

Consilius looked surprised, but lowered his voice as well.

“What do you mean, you’re aiming for it?”

“They told me to let the information leak like this.”

Ferda said, emphasizing each word.

“So that the traitor walks into the execution ground of his own accord.”

“Indeed……”

Count Consilius blushed, looking sheepish.

He felt like a fool for having believed that the young Regent, ignorant of the world, thought everyone was an ally.

Ferda watched him and said,

“Judging by the fact that you came here to discuss it, you don’t seem to be a defector, at least.”

“That…… is a great relief.”

Consilius gave a wry smile.

“Then may I ask how you intend to proceed at the public hearing?”

“At first, I plan to talk as though it were the scenario. We need to determine whether or not the scenario ‘we’ came up with has been leaked.”

“Are you planning to expose a string of traitors that way?”

“I already know who the traitor is.”

“If you already know……”

A sharp glint shone beneath his lowered white brows.

Unlike the blazing vigor of young men, the old man’s energy flowed quietly.

That was what made him all the more chilling.

“I humbly request permission to execute the traitor myself.”

“You?”

Ferda had intended to deal with it himself.

After all, among the lords, Ferda had the image of being more unhesitating when it came to killing people.

“You may not know this, Regent, but merely coming to the Far East is little different from being exiled.”

Consilius knew this well, having been here longer than anyone.

“When you live in a hopeless place, you eventually become listless and begin thinking only of how to escape.”

The nobles grew fat, the soldiers grew lazy, and the fief residents continued to die as they always had.

“A lifeline was lowered into such a place. Not a rotten rope, but a very sturdy one—one worthy of being called hope.”

Count Consilius gazed deeply at Ferda.

His eyes were filled with sincere gratitude and respect.

“But if there are rats that do not know their place and try to gnaw through that lifeline……”

A poisonous glint entered Count Consilius’s eyes.

When someone who has lived in despair comes to harbor hope, they become more ruthless than anyone.

“This old man will gladly become the executioner who puts the traitor to death.”

Hearing that answer, Ferda nodded.

“I entrust it to you, Count.”

“Everything for the Grand Duchy.”

Ferda could feel it clearly.

Before long, a bloody wind would blow as they cut away the rotting flesh.