The Prince Wants to Retire

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Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

4. Smash the Emperor Faction! (2)

Not long after the attendants of the Crown Prince’s Palace visited the Inspection Department, there was an official announcement that spies from the Imperial Palace had been caught.

As a result, the cooling capital began to heat up once more.

“Spies infiltrated into the Crown Prince’s Palace. Is the Imperial Palace really safe?”

“Imperial Palace. Can we really continue like this?”

As concerns about the safety of the Imperial Palace poured in, knights started to question the incompetence of bureaucrats and the squabbling nobility.

Meanwhile, the Inspection Department made another announcement.

It was revealed that the identities of the spies were attendants responsible for transporting food supplies.

The fortunate aspect was that they were believed to be from foreign nations, not agents operating within the Empire.

Then, public opinion flared up.

They weren’t even part of the factions within the Empire; foreign agents were caught infiltrating the Crown Prince’s Palace.

Had it been a quieter time, it might have been overlooked, but the timing was critical, with attendants and inner court attendants breaching conduct, making the presence of foreign spies in the Crown Prince’s Palace a serious issue.

“Those madmen, timing is everything!”

Mussolini, the Chancellor, shouted angrily.

Even he, the head of the Emperor Faction, was feeling the pressure, as the audacious foreign existences had deployed spies.

Bernat Mussolini was enraged and trembling at being disregarded, as the ember he had barely managed to contain flared back up, putting the Neutral Faction in a difficult position as well.

“Damn these idiots! If only they’d not get caught!”

Podolski, the head of the Neutral Faction, gritted his teeth while pounding the desk.

Bang!

Podolski, one of the heads of the Neutral Faction, may not have been pure as the driven snow, but had managed matters well enough to prevent things from spiraling out of control.

However, a situation that could develop into a colossal incident had arisen during his tenure.

The fact that there were spies within the Imperial Palace was no secret; those in the know had understood that there was an unspoken rule to keep the number of spies infiltrating below a certain level as they kept to their own lanes.

In fact, there was even their own regulation that stated when a major incident rears its head, they must refrain from spying for a time and stay quiet.

The issue was that, ordinarily, one could cover up a matter like this and diplomatically address the offending foreign nation when they sent spies, but that the Crown Prince had ‘personally’ caught those spies was a complete turn of events.

“In the name of Crown Prince Kariel Friedrich von Blazer,

I command that you completely uncover who is backing the spies I have ‘personally’ apprehended.

This is an order to carry out the Emperor’s Orders in my name, the Crown Prince.

I trust that Podolski, the Chief of the Inspection Department, will manage this well, as he has led the department competently thus far.”

Upon seeing the letter penned by the Crown Prince himself, Chief Podolski scrunched his brow.

The Crown Prince’s direct intimidation was a headache for Podolski.

This was no trivial matter that could be managed at his level.

While the Crown Prince was not a pressing issue, the fact that this involved the Emperor’s Orders was crucial.

Under normal conditions, the Emperor Faction would have tried to manipulate the Emperor into concealing the matter, but with the Crown Prince wielding the Emperor’s Orders and personally leading the investigation, there was no chance of sweeping this under the rug.

“This is maddening!”

With a sigh, Podolski delicately folded the threatening letter from the Crown Prince and placed it in the first drawer.

“Ugh, what’s the limit on how many I need to catch?”

There was no way a mere chief could wrap up a case where the Crown Prince was directly involved in an investigation.

All he could do at this moment was hope that the Crown Prince would handle it moderately.

However, contrary to such hopes, Kariel had no intention of proceeding lightly.

“Hmm, have we reached a level of stability yet?”

“Indeed, Your Highness.”

In response to Kariel’s inquiry, Toto beamed proudly.

At this, a deep smile spread across Kariel’s face.

“Looks like we can move now.”

As Kariel said this, he looked at Toto.

“You don’t need to come for a while.”

“Pardon?”

“Since you won’t be able to exercise, don’t come to the palace for a while and take care of business.”

“I can’t afford to rest! Exercise is something that must be done every day…”

Toto began to panic at Kariel’s words, but soon fell silent and bowed his head.

He was well aware of what Kariel was intending.

Realizing from Kariel’s calm demeanor that he was planning something significant, he sighed and added, “But you still should exercise regularly, Your Highness. If you can’t find time, at least do some stretching.”

“…I got it.”

Reluctantly responding to Toto’s concerned words, Kariel ordered an attendant nearby to summon Talion.

“Did you call for me?”

“I’m heading out after freshening up, so prepare yourself.”

Kariel stated, then washed off his sweat before hopping onto the wagon.

“Destination: the Inspection Department.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Talion replied boisterously, driving the wagon.

A few knights stationed at the Crown Prince’s Palace rode alongside him.

As the splendid wagon passed through the Imperial Palace and entered the Inspection Department in the capital, crowds began to murmur.

“It’s the Crown Prince!”

At Talion’s call, the gathered crowd hastily cleared the way and bowed their heads.

Only then did Talion open the wagon door and assist Kariel out.

“Y—Your Highness!”

The head of the Inspection Department in the capital hurriedly ran up from an upper floor, a cold sweat streaming down his face as he stood before Kariel.

“I apologize for coming without prior notice.”

“N-no, it’s fine. Please, allow me to escort you inside.”

Though the chief inwardly cursed why he was being approached instead of the Chancellor, he could only sweat profusely on the outside.

It wasn’t just the chief; everyone was perplexed by the Crown Prince’s visit, hoping not to make eye contact.

In truth, it was rare to find an individual in the Inspection Department who had never accepted a bribe. Hoping that the higher-ups were intact while the lower levels were rotten was an absurd expectation.

Had it been only that, a few upright individuals might have remained, but with pressure coming from every faction—aristocratic, neutral, and emperor alike—there was little they could do.

Thus, one by one, they succumbed to despair and started accepting bribes or joining factions.

Of course, some maintained their integrity, but in such cases, they often found themselves shoved into obscure positions in the provinces.

In the end, no entirely clean individuals existed within the Inspection Department.

Entering the somewhat elegantly decorated office of the Inspection Department, Kariel arrogantly took a seat on the sofa.

“Sorry to intrude at such a busy time.”

“N-no, it’s really fine.”

The chief of the Inspection Department, sweating profusely, replied.

“Since you’re busy, let’s keep it brief. From today, I will personally oversee the investigations related to the Imperial Palace. I assume you are aware that this is the Emperor’s Order?”

“Y-yes… I am aware.”

“In that case, things should go smoothly. Guide me to where the spies I have captured are located and to the teams I’ve assembled.”

At Kariel’s words, the chief gulped nervously and hastily rose to guide him.

Before long, they entered a conference room overflowing with heaps of documents.

“It’s a mess.”

“My apologies.”

“It’s alright. To be honest, if it had been too neatly presented, I would have suspected corruption.”

Kariel said this while staring intently at the chief.

The chief squirmed as if caught and lowered his head.

“Hmm, still, it’s important to maintain a semblance of humanity. It’s getting a bit excessive.”

Kariel said, calling for Talion.

“Request funding from the Ministry of Finance. I’ll cover any shortfalls from my palace.”

“I will ensure we do not ask for too little.”

Talion replied, with Kariel nodding slightly in approval.

“I have a stake in this team too, so they must at least look presentable.”

Kariel glanced at the shabby-looking members of the Inspection Department.

“I’ll firmly support funding so that your investigations are not lacking. Also, bonuses will be provided for results. If you need more personnel, just ask.”

At his words, the despairing members of the Inspection Department began to regain their spirits.

“Since this was directly commanded by the Emperor, I will not settle for a lackluster effort. Identify all spies within the Imperial Palace and anyone involved in corruption and bring me the information. If someone gets in your way, just let me know. I will personally drag them in.”

The members of the Inspection Department stared at Kariel in astonishment.

“I’ll say it again, I will not let it end poorly. So trust me.”

After saying this, Kariel glanced at the chief of the Inspection Department, who stood idly by in the back.

“What are you doing?”

“…Yes?”

“Go out and get to work. From now on, I’ll be overseeing matters here.”

At Kariel’s words, the chief of the Inspection Department hastily bowed and stepped outside, while the Inspection Department members who had been watching from a distance quickly retreated a step or two.

Talion then instructed the attendants to lock the door.

Simultaneously, Kariel cast a cold gaze at the members of the Inspection Department.

As the atmosphere shifted in an instant, the members looked baffled and lowered their heads.

“Among those present here, there may be individuals involved in corruption and those linked to factions.”

Most members of the Inspection Department flinched at Kariel’s words.

“I won’t ask what wrongs you’ve committed in the past. Just cooperate well for this undertaking.”

As Kariel settled into a squeaky chair, he asked, “So, what are the obstacles?”

After a moment’s silence, one of the members cautiously raised his hand and said, “Please let me speak.”

“Go ahead.”

“There’s a lack of cooperation from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.”

At his words, some members of the Inspection Department grimaced.

‘Those who grimaced must be from the Emperor Faction, whereas those smiling are likely from the Aristocratic Faction? How amusing.’

Seeing the bribe-takers division right in front of him brought a smile to Kariel’s face.

“Is that so? You dare to defy the Emperor’s Orders in such a manner? Is there anything else?”

“There is also a lack of cooperation from the Ministry of Finance!”

“Is that so? Fine. I will solve this matter ‘directly.’”

With that, Kariel stood up from his seat.

“If there are any more obstacles, speak up immediately next time I come. I’ll fix it on the spot.”

“Understood!”

The members in the Aristocratic Faction among the Inspection Department responded loudly.

Seeing them, Kariel smiled softly and took the documents handed over by the Inspection Department members before heading out immediately, accompanied by Talion.

He then spoke to one of the departing Inspection Department members, “Go ahead and inform the Ministry of Internal Affairs that someone from the Inspection Department will be visiting. Don’t mention that I’m coming.”

“Yes!”

The Inspection Department member bowed and hurried off.

*

“A person from the Inspection Department is here again.”

“Good grief! What a nuisance! Tell them I’ll get to it later!”

With the shout of an Internal Affairs bureaucrat, the door swung open violently.

Bang!

“Which brat is—… Y-Your Highness!”

“Which brat?”

Kariel tilted his head in question, causing the high-ranking bureaucrat of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to immediately prostrate himself.

But it was already too late.

“Is it you who keeps refusing to give documents to the Inspection Department?”

“W-well, that is…”

“Seems like you’re not grasping the situation; this investigation was commanded by the Emperor himself.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs bureaucrat turned pale, trembling uncontrollably at the mention of the Emperor.

“How dare you disobey the Emperor’s Orders?!”

“N-no! I wouldn’t dare…!”

Despite the bureaucrat’s frantic denials, it was already too late.

“Arrest this brat! We need to see if he’s a spy.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Your Highness! Please listen to my words! I—!”

As the bureaucrat was dragged away, the expressions of his subordinate officials hardened.

Seeing their superior being pulled away like a dog, they began to tremble, too terrified to even make eye contact with Kariel.

Kariel, observing them with a chilling smile, declared, “Bring me all the information you requested. You have ten minutes.”

At Kariel’s command, the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Internal Affairs scrambled into action.

Witnessing this, Kariel instructed his following attendants to gather everything.

However, it seemed that the requested materials were more extensive than anticipated, requiring a cart to be brought in.

“Contact the Inspection Department.”

Observing the massive pile of documents, Kariel directed the Inspection Department members as he promptly moved on to his next destination.