The Prince Wants to Retire

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The Crown Prince wishes to retire

13. A Joyful Time?

I didn’t realize it when I was busy pulling one over on the Crown Prince alongside the Emperor.

Nobles who didn’t know what would happen when the furious Crown Prince went on a rampage had thrown a party after a long time.

It was a celebration for appointing Kariel to the Chancellor’s seat temporarily, as they decided to fill the vacant bureaucratic positions one by one.

The problem was that Kariel, furious to the tips of his hair, had received this news.

With the situation already tense, it was only natural that Kariel would blow his top upon hearing such news.

“Your Highness, perhaps you should take a moment to rest…”

“It’s only natural that I suffer if I want to manipulate those below me. I need something in my head to control them properly.”

Saying this, Kariel started sorting through the materials Talion had gathered with the attendants, filling his mind with information.

They say that some people become cooler when their anger surpasses a limit, right?

Kariel was exactly that kind of person.

His rage actually turned into a cold determination to seek revenge against the nobles, opting to manipulate them even more than he himself had to suffer.

To achieve his goals, Kariel secluded himself for a while, piecing together crucial data.

And not long after, he began to move in earnest.

“So, you sent a messenger to the Iron Alliance and they pulled this nonsense?”

A letter that had come personally to Kariel.

It contained information about the official messenger who had approached the nobles of the Iron Alliance asking for introductions to smugglers.

They had been trying to use the customs issues to pull a fast one.

“T-that…”

“This jerk, even before becoming a messenger, had a bad reputation. Why did we send this guy out as an envoy?”

As Kariel asked with a frosty expression, beads of cold sweat began to stream down the Foreign Affairs Minister’s face.

“Now that we’ve wrecked the Emperor Faction, these idiots are doing pointless things.”

“Please, spare my life!”

“Do you really mean that?”

Kariel tossed the documents Talion had painstakingly gathered onto the floor in a show of defiance.

“The messenger sent to the Iron Alliance isn’t the only problem, you know?”

Glaring at the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a murderous look, Kariel spoke.

“The money given to gather information while idling around in neighboring countries is being used to buy drugs!”

“I-I apologize!”

“I sent you to help the merchants in distress from the empire, and you’re extorting them instead?”

Kariel glared at the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“Do you think we can deal with the Northwest issues with such lowlives?”

“I’m sorry! I’ll take immediate corrective action…”

“Enough, bring these guys to the Imperial Palace and send new envoys. They have to give a formal apology.”

“W-wouldn’t that lower the empire’s status…?”

At the Foreign Affairs Minister’s comment, Kariel burst into sarcastic laughter.

“Does the continent’s biggest sucker have a status that can fall any further?”

Kariel’s biting criticism made the Foreign Affairs Minister tremble with fear.

“Too harsh? Well then, they should’ve done well. Don’t pick this kind of loser with networking. If you prattle on about international status after screwing this up, how do you think I should react?”

“….”

The Foreign Affairs Minister couldn’t muster a retort and merely hung his head.

“If you can’t resolve this by the next Grand Council Meeting, the heads of these idiots will roll. I guarantee it.”

Kariel threatened with piercing eyes as he strode out of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Inspection Department would be handled by Podolski, and since the Ministry of Internal Affairs had its way, there wasn’t a big enough problem for Kariel to visit in person.

The other ministries wouldn’t be probed closely, given that Kariel wasn’t a specialist there, as long as no major corruption issues arose.

However, a problem erupted from an unexpected quarter.

“Are you kidding me? Did I not clearly state not to touch the military in the West? Do my words amuse you?”

As Kariel glared with fierce eyes, the Minister of Military, Howard, knelt and hurried to explain.

The Minister had overturned matters already decided at the Grand Council Meeting.

It seemed Kariel had anticipated this, as Howard immediately knelt as soon as Kariel arrived and began his defense.

“The military from the Northwest urgently requested support, so there was no other choice.”

“But the Central Army already went to support.”

“That’s… they hadn’t arrived yet, so I pulled some of the Central Army from the West to support and redirected troops heading to the Northwest to the West…”

Sweating profusely, Howard explained.

When the Emperor’s trap had caught him, Howard had been the most vocal, so Kariel pressed him more harshly than others.

“So you intend to lift the siege on Belphus?”

“T-that…”

“Can’t you see those bastards are already defying the Emperor’s orders? If they stage a rebellion with the Monster Wave approaching, the West will be annihilated!”

As Kariel slammed the chair, Howard shrunk back.

“Did those bastards request support?”

“…Yes.”

“Bring it here.”

At Kariel’s command, Howard quickly pulled the support request from the Northwest from a pile of documents stacked on the desk.

As Kariel slowly examined it, his expression hardened.

“These lunatics.”

“What?”

In response to Kariel’s curse, Howard looked back at him with a clueless expression.

“Isn’t there still time until the monsters break out of the woods?”

“That’s right.”

“And until the volcano erupts, there’s still more time?”

“Yes.”

Howard answered, lowering his head at Kariel’s inquiries.

“So what was the hurry to request support?”

Seeing the dubious look, Howard seemed like he was about to say something.

“Spit it out.”

Howard hesitated for a moment, sensing he might be killed if he didn’t speak, then cautiously replied.

“Some of the troops responsible for the Northwest have requested a transfer to the West.”

“Are you crazy?”

“That… they have their reasons.”

As Howard explained, he began to detail the situation.

Initially, when suspicion towards Belphus arose and a siege was formed in the West, one of the Northwest units had volunteered for support.

The military had accepted that.

The problem arose as various incidents occurred, sending the Central Army, particularly after the Emperor Faction had been largely ousted, leading to a breakdown in command that left things in limbo.

“That can’t be all, right?”

“Yes, some astute individuals moved to the Northwest before any official announcement was made regarding issues in that area.”

“Most would be the offspring of nobles, right?”

“…That’s correct.”

Howard nodded silently to Kariel’s remark.

If he spoke out now, it would cost him his own head, so he was sweating bullets as he awaited Kariel’s judgment.

“Why are these bastards acting like this?”

Kariel furrowed his brows, filled with irritation.

No matter how rotten the empire’s military was, it wouldn’t allow them to desert their region to save their necks.

It was evident they would be tried militarily later.

For them to act this way meant they were sure of something.

“That… It seems they believe they might not face severe punishment later. So, many seem to think it’s better to stay alive for now.”

“The very reason that the units that pledged loyalty have turned into rubbish?”

A unit that had risked itself to take part in the siege on Belphus now devolved into a group desperately trying to flee the Northwest.

All sorts of lowlifes had joined that unit, pushing the original members aside, transforming what was once a reputable unit into a junkyard.

“Why? Even factoring that in, I can’t understand.”

As Kariel tilted his head in confusion, Howard looked visibly flustered, unable to find his words.

“That is…”

“Speak.”

With a tone that suggested he wouldn’t ask for forgiveness, Kariel commanded, and finally, after several lip trembles, Howard managed to say.

“There are rumors among the nobles within the military that the punishments may be only superficial displays.”

“Superficial displays?”

Kariel tilted his head in confusion.

He had sent numerous nobles to the Inspection Department, and some had already vanished into thin air, while others were locked up as mine slaves in harsh territories; the idea of it being a display baffled him.

“Why?”

“Because key figures of the Emperor Faction are still alive. Moreover, among the captured nobles, some are still awaiting trial…”

“And?”

“If Your Highness the Crown Prince retires, they might be released later…”

Hearing the nobles’ hopes, Kariel couldn’t help but chuckle in disbelief.

“So they thought that if I retired, they wouldn’t face significant punishment?”

“At least they believed their lives would be spared.”

Kariel’s expression turned cold at Howard’s words.

It seemed they considered him a fool when he tried to deal with things through formal procedures to avoid any whispers afterwards.

“Interesting.”

Kariel smiled.

But to Howard, it felt like a devil grinning before wreaking havoc.

And his thoughts were brutally proven correct.

After commanding Howard to bring a resolution by the next Grand Council Meeting, Kariel headed to the Inspection Department.

“I guess some nobles still think of me as a patsy despite my efforts.”

“…I’m sorry.”

As Podolski bowed his head in apology, Kariel shook his head.

“No, it’s not your fault. It seems my attempt to handle this gentlemanly has become an issue.”

“I’ll pick up the pace.”

Kariel let out a slight laugh at Podolski’s comment.

“That’s enough. No matter how much the Inspection Department picks up speed…”

“Then…”

“Yes, at the next Grand Council Meeting, I plan to sweep away the captured Emperor Faction. Then swiftly move to the West.”

Podolski’s eyes widened in shock at Kariel’s declaration.

“Are you planning to go there yourself?”

“Yes. It seems that now that I’ve mentioned retirement, they think I’m an easy mark.”

While the Central faction still wore cautious expressions around him, it seemed the local factions didn’t feel the same.

They could easily pull off their operations without being detected, thinking they could wait it out until the Crown Prince retired.

So Kariel decided to step up to deal with them himself.

“It’s too dangerous.”

“I’ll be moving with the Grand Duke Family and the Central Army. Moreover, I’ll summon Duke Devir and the Third Prince as well.”

A large-scale army, including a Master, attacking?

That would be a welcome situation, indeed.

“Perhaps this is a good opportunity to quickly stabilize the political situation and focus solely on the West.”

“Please, take care of your health. There’s no need to rush…”

“I can rest once it’s all over. Once the Northwest and Belphus are settled, I’ll retire.”

At Kariel’s words, Podolski spoke with concern.

“Yes? However… dark mages are involved… and there are issues with the Holy Nation as well.”

“Those will be handled by my siblings. I’ve already received the Emperor’s promise. I’ll retire.”

As Kariel said this, he ordered Podolski to prepare the Inspection Department personnel heading to the West.

*

Not long after, the day Kariel had been eagerly awaiting—the Grand Council Meeting—approached.

– A joyful time for purging.

“Not really.”

At Surth’s comment, Kariel denied it.

– You seem to be smiling for someone who doesn’t find it fun, though?

At Surth’s remark, Kariel gave a deeper smile.

It was indeed enjoyable, like he had mentioned.

Even in his previous life, there were always nobles who saw him as a fool, unable to grasp what was happening.

Even just extending a hand a bit would make them devise all sorts of schemes.

It was always a delight to strike down those who thought such things.

“Alright then, shall we begin the long-awaited purge?”

Kariel announced as he mounted the wagon that would take him lightly to the Grand Council Meeting.