The Prince Wants to Retire

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Chapter 6: Which Line to Grab?

The Crown Prince, who had obliterated the Emperor Faction, decided this time to turn his focus toward the Aristocratic and Neutral Factions.

The problem was that this shift coincided with the Crown Prince’s meeting with the Emperor.

The Emperor’s approval of hitting both the Neutral and Aristocratic Factions was pivotal.

Knowing that the current Emperor valued political balance, it was only a matter of time before the fallout reached both factions.

But the speed of this change was alarming.

“Here comes the Inspection Department moving once again.”

“The Chief of Inspections says, ‘It’s not over yet.’ Just how far will this go?”

The moment the Emperor’s orders rang out, the Inspection Department was the first to spring into action.

Utilizing the evidence they had gathered, they began a rapid onslaught, teaming up with the Security Brigade.

“This time it’s the Aristocrats?”

“And the Neutral Faction’s also getting hit!”

“The Crown Prince strikes at both the Aristocrats and the Neutral Faction.”

“Empire Citizens cheer for the Crown Prince’s crackdown on corruption!”

“The Crown Prince dances with his sword, and the commoners cheer! But the Nobles wail?”

Empire Citizens were reading newspapers scattered across the Square, published early that morning.

As the Aristocrats and Neutral Factions collided chaotically, the High Nobles began to step in. If left unchecked, they too could find themselves in danger.

However, their options were quite limited.

With the Crown Prince holding the moral high ground and acting on the Emperor’s orders, they couldn’t just rashly intervene.

Many nobles in the capital sent petitions, but they were rejected, and attempts to curry favor with the Emperor Faction through messages brought no response.

‘We suffered too, so you should suffer as well, right?’

With this mentality from the Emperor Faction, they really had no choice but to endure the beating.

They tried to hide and erase traces of corruption, aiming to weather the storm, but the Inspection Department was far too swift.

One might even question if this was the same Inspection Department that had turned a blind eye while pocketing bribes.

“The petition has been rejected.”

“Phew, then we have no choice but to take the hits at least until the High Nobles’ conference.”

An older noble sighed as he spoke after a younger noble expressed their frustrations.

Being rejected meant they planned to weather all the strikes before considering their next move.

At least until the High Nobles collectively protested, the palace with the moral high ground couldn’t be stopped.

Nobles from the Aristocratic Faction, upon their petitions being turned down, began gathering to discuss their grim faces.

Of course, even if they gathered to discuss, it wouldn’t lead to any answers.

‘If we want to resolve this, the High Nobles have to gather!’

Every noble thought the same.

And the Neutral Faction echoed this sentiment as well.

“It seems they want to keep things balanced.”

“It does seem so. But will the Counts at the Borders gather for something like this…?”

The Neutral Nobles sighed deeply and shook their heads.

Unlike the Aristocratic Faction, where dukes would gather for matters concerning interests, the Neutral Faction did not do so.

The core of the Neutral Faction, which aimed to support the Empire, comprised Counts of the Borders and elements of the Inspection Department.

The issue was that the Inspection Department was acting on the orders of the Crown Prince, while the Counts of the Borders were busy keeping an eye on foreign nations.

Having even captured spies from foreign lands, the Counts were likely quite pleased.

“This is maddening.”

One of the nobles from the Neutral Faction exclaimed, running his hands through his hair.

However, as both the Aristocratic and Neutral Factions wore frustrated expressions, the Emperor Faction was grinning widely.

Though until now they had merely endured strikes, only the worthless ones had fallen, allowing the valuable to survive while they watched the strength of the Aristocratic and Neutral Factions dwindle.

“Haha, this is troublesome. The Emperor’s will is quite firm.”

“But…”

“Let’s wait a bit longer. We’ve managed to settle matters within the palace, and His Majesty will likely calm down and extend mercy.”

The lower nobles, feeling stifled, gathered to air their grievances with the Chancellor.

These were all individuals who aimed to profit from the capital by colluding with criminal organizations.

“So you all are here.”

The Chief of the Inspection Department visited the Chancellor, casting a glance at the gathered lower nobles.

The group, consisting mainly of Barons or Viscounts, looked as if they had seen a ghost.

“His Highness is seeking you.”

As the Chief of Inspections said this and gestured, Security Brigade members began to pull the nobles outside one by one.

The Chancellor frowned at the sight.

“How rude.”

“His Majesty has commanded to capture you all, even using extreme measures if needed.”

“Ahem! No matter how it is…”

“His Majesty ordered that the balance be restored as quickly as possible. My apologies.”

Once the Chief of Inspections invoked the Emperor, the Chancellor’s mouth was left agape like a fish.

With a bow, the Chief left, leading the captured nobles outside.

As every member of the Inspection Department exited, the Chancellor slumped into his chair, gripping his head.

“Thank goodness the Emperor made a promise; otherwise…”

His head throbbed at the thoughts of the Crown Prince rampaging like a madman.

Though it was all in the name of balance, every time the Inspection and Security Departments moved, it sent shivers down his spine.

There had to be a point where they would definitively halt this.

Although he was the head of the Emperor Faction, he too was a noble.

Allowing the royal family to assault the nobility too aggressively would not look good.

“At what point should I mediate…”

Mussolini sighed, deep in thought.

The still-young Crown Prince hadn’t displayed a consistent course of action, making it hard to gauge his next steps.

It was unclear what he could throw into the fray to restrain the Crown Prince, or how to approach the mediation.

Given that the Crown Prince didn’t show him any favoritism as part of the Emperor Faction, it only added to his sense of helplessness.

However, he hadn’t squandered his experience entirely. He could still devise ways to submit a mediation proposal when the time was right.

The problem was that Kariel was reading Mussolini’s thoughts.

“Talion.”

“Yes?”

“I think it’s time to throw more fuel on the fire.”

At Kariel’s words, Talion smiled and nodded, then withdrew.

As the Crown Prince hit the Aristocratic and Neutral Factions from all angles, criticisms of the Emperor Faction began leaking in subtly.

“The Emperor Faction shouts for a crackdown on corruption…”

As numerous scandals from the Neutral and Aristocratic Factions poured out, the Emperor Faction loudly proclaimed their stance from the palace.

Their intentions to align their strengths during this wave became clear.

And this was the moment Kariel had been eagerly anticipating.

The next day, as Talion threw in the fuel, the capital of the Empire blazed with chaos.

“Shock! A ×× noble engaged in trade with foreign nations! Selling Empire children into slavery?”

“A hidden gold mine not reported to the state. The ×××× noble shared profits with foreign nations!”

“A minor noble from the Neutral Faction sold military secrets located at the Border to foreign nations?”

Small newspaper offices, hard to even locate, flooded the Square with shocking reports, leaving Empire Citizens aghast.

It went from being mere doubts to concrete evidence of nobles crossing the line.

No matter how powerful the nobles seemed, there were lines not to be crossed. And those revelations crossed that line with gusto.

“Chancellor, can we see this as a declaration of war against our Aristocratic Faction?”

“…Duke, we are not involved.”

With an icy expression, Duke Welch looked at the Chancellor, who had arrived at dawn.

Then, Duke Welch slammed his fist on the table, releasing an aura so filled with magic that it was hard to believe he was just a mage.

Bang!

“Chancellor, could this mean the Neutral Faction attacked us?”

Duke Welch glared at the Chancellor with fiery eyes.

Just then, another high-ranking noble came to visit the Chancellor.

“…Marquis Morgan.”

The merchant-born noble who had strictly maintained neutrality while selling goods to all factions in the Empire approached with an infuriated expression.

“If you’ve taken the money, shouldn’t you keep your mouth shut?”

Marquis Morgan’s insulting remark drew a flash of anger from the Chancellor, but he couldn’t muster a reply.

What could he say with multiple mouths worth of grievances to express?

How much had he received to cover up the massive corruption of the Aristocratic and Neutral Factions?

And then they came at him so brazenly?

Of course, the Chancellor was bound to feel furious.

“Whatever happens, I will cover this up.”

Swallowing his humiliation, the Chancellor bowed his head and responded, causing Duke Welch and Marquis Morgan to grimace.

His frustrated expression alone felt shameful, yet his full bow showed sincere contrition.

‘The Chancellor wasn’t involved in this.’

‘Tch! Should we back off for now?’

After a brief struggle, the Dukes and the Marquis quietly rose from their seats.

“I’ll trust you.”

“Please handle this swiftly. You must do what is owed.”

The Chancellor nodded vigorously at the words of Duke Devir and Marquis Morgan, assuring them he would resolve the issue.

*

Not long after, news of the gathering of the three faction leaders spread to Kariel’s ears within the palace.

“You think this will soon be over?”

“Indeed.”

Talion, reporting on the meeting of the leaders of each faction, nodded in response to Kariel.

Kariel smiled.

“Dreams can be so vivid, can’t they?”

Thinking that the meeting of the three heads of factions would lead to an end to this hellish time made the nobles hopeful.

Yet Kariel did not intend to let it end there.

“Now, shall we escalate things a little more?”

“Your Highness, it’s dangerous to escalate things too quickly.”

At Talion’s warning, Kariel chuckled.

“This is the end. No need to go further.”

Once things ignite in flames, they would fight like dogs on their own.

All he had to do was watch and enjoy as the nobles clashed.

Kariel envisioned the nobles squabbling like mad.

“Oh! How delightful.”

Imagining those who had tormented him in his previous life pulling their hair over this situation filled him with immense joy.

But the more he reveled, the more he felt the urge to escape the palace sooner.

Right now, no one knew he was the culprit, and without forces of his own, he felt at ease.

But once his power grew and the truth emerged, the tables could very well turn on him.

“I should strike a balance between hit and run.”

As Kariel muttered to himself, he began to devise specific plans to throw away the Crown Prince’s position.

He believed that once this matter was resolved, he could soon free himself from the burdensome title of Crown Prince. That thought brought a smile to his face.

*

As Kariel took delight watching the nobles turn against each other, chaos erupted among the nobles.

“A noble from ○○ entered into a hidden deal with the Southern Alliance regarding drugs. Was there even smuggling into the palace? Estimated to be at least Count rank or above.”

What they had thought was concluded with the leaders’ agreement had turned into a significant revelation.

An incident involving nobles of Count rank or higher.

Although the Inspection Department hadn’t officially begun their investigation yet, the concrete details were plastered on the Square bulletin board at such a critical time.

“Did they find something?”

At the Chief of Inspections’ inquiry, a subordinate bowed his head with a grave expression.

“Yes.”

“The uproar is underway.”

Podolski mused, dismissing his subordinate and lighting a cigarette.

“How brutally charming…”

Podolski chuckled, thinking of the individual who spearheaded this entire affair.

As the Chancellor, having received one final chance, put forth all his efforts to cover things up, this revelation only served as a signal for war.

And just as he predicted, the Aristocratic Faction began striking back at the Emperor Faction.

As the tide of a massive power struggle began, some keen lower nobles started to take note.

“Should we switch to the Neutral Faction?”

“Better to dodge trouble than to get caught up in this. At least the Neutral Faction is safe…”

As the lower nobles considered this, the Inspection Department sprang into action.

“Nobles that sold military secrets! Evidence suggests there might be others involved. We will conduct a thorough investigation.”

Upon seeing the Inspection Department’s announcement, most lower nobles were thrown into chaos.

“Which line should we take now?”