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Chapter 152
A Wise Ruler
Garnet answered Ferda's question like this.
"Creating a position for a shadow organization that must not be known is a contradictory statement. Only the Regent-nim and the Administrator should know of our relationship."
"What do you plan to do?"
"I will create an organization that can hold a legitimate justification in this city."
"What is it?"
W е b̄ǹ.ǒṽе l̃ Ë nŭ m̃а̂
"Mezina Fallenji was a person who operated a merchant company as a southern noblewoman."
Mezina Fallenji.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
I wondered where I'd heard it, but it was Garnet Swallow's disguise identity on the very first page.
"That merchant company is currently interested in the Far East, and at the same time, they're witnessing unreasonable situations in various places."
"So?"
"So as representatives of merchants, they'll formally protest to Hestia Village, and after that—."
Ẇ е_b́ n̂ o ṽ е̄l Ê n ũ m̆а̃
"They'll establish a union."
"That's correct."
It gave me a strong sense of déjà vu, I thought.
It was something I'd already discussed with Stefan once before.
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"Stefan Pascal is already targeting that part, though."
Garnet let out a hollow laugh.
E n um̃a .і̊ d̊
"The Pascal Company president is quite greedy. Already holding the labor union and now targeting the merchant guild too? The union's credibility will drop in the future. He wouldn't want to become useless prey, would he?"
Stefan had been concerned about that point as well.
But human greed being what it is, if it can be taken, one will find a way to take it.
Even knowing they're an intelligence organization, getting blindsided like that makes me admire them anew.
"I'm telling you clearly that this matter must proceed as a union of the merchants I've gathered."
Just in case, Ferda checked the current identities of the key executives.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
8 out of 12 were local merchants.
All were common merchant companies whose names I hadn't properly heard of.
"They don't seem to have much talent for commerce."
He mixed in a slightly provocative intent.
At those words, Garnet replied calmly without the slightest sign of being ruffled.
"A merchant who uses goods arbitrarily is bound to lose trust."
Ë n̊ u m̈ ȧ.і̊ď
She was right.
If the Black Bandana set their mind to it and jumped into any field, monopolizing that field wouldn't have been a problem.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
They're information brokers, meaning they focus on selling information.
That's why their reliability was emphasized repeatedly in these documents.
"How many in the Black Bandana know about this matter?"
"Excluding the highest executives and key executives, no one knows about this matter. For now, everyone written in the personal information you were given has agreed."
W̊è.bn о̀ṽе̄l̄ Ёñumа̃
"Then it'll look like the Black Bandana is being maintained."
"Yes. But it'll become a group with no more neutrality."
It would be truly sorry for the Black Bandana users on the Serdes Continent, but Ferda didn't give a damn about that.
"If you guys form a union on your own, I won't stop you."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"We'll do it on our own, but there's a part we need to agree on with the Regent-nim in advance here."
"What kind of agreement?"
Е̊ń ũ m̊ ȧ
"The Dandolo Company, which has now changed to the Hestia Trading Company."
"Right."
"I understand that the Regent-nim and Burnell Marquis-ssi hold 51%, 20% is held by the acting manager Stefan Pascal, and the remaining 29% was set aside for investors. Of that, 10% is already in Halim."
"Right."
"We'd like you to transfer all of the remaining 19% stake to us."
Ferda frowned reflexively.
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"A dying organization doing what a dying organization does."
"It may look that way, but just acquiring a certain stake in the Dandolo Company alone can significantly secure the merchant union's credibility. Then an ideal shadow organization becomes possible."
"Tell me."
"If the Far East Merchant Union is formed, we'll also gain the qualification of Citizen Representative and rise to quasi-nobility, won't we?"
"There's political voice."
"That's just used for keeping up appearances. What I need is duty."
W̆еb̊ ňӧ v е̇ l Еn û ṁа
Duty.
Most people are desperate to avoid it, though.
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"If we become a merchant union, we'll have the duty to contribute to Hestia's prosperity as a union."
"That's right."
"Therefore, it becomes possible to conduct inspections and searches to check if merchants are carrying harmful goods or smuggling."
"I suppose so."
Ĕ ǹūm̂ á_
"If it's judged that simple inspections won't solve it, we'll also gain justification to investigate and track on our own."
Hearing that, Ferda knew it was definitely an attractive form.
That investigation and tracking applies not just to merchants but to those inciting civil war as well.
If it becomes the Far East Merchant Union, they'll interact with other merchant unions, and through them they can hear or leak information, and guide things in the desired direction.
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Since their only point of contact is commerce, they'll be judged as a checks-and-balances institution, and the Far East's enemies might approach to win them over.
The Black Bandana, unmatched in the intelligence field, would be able to arrange everything as intended.
Е̊ń u m̈ а́. і̄ d
"Still, 19% is too much. I'd like you to lower it to 10%."
"3% is enough for the actual stake we can control. The remaining 16% is just capital contribution and a means for show."
"Hmm......"
"We won't use it for personal gain, but solely for this Hestia Village and the Grand Duchy."
Stefan said stake exchange is an important part.
Originally that was Stefan's job, but in the current situation where finishing all work is burdensome, he'd put it on hold for now.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
'If I entrust this to the merchant union.......'
Based on the information they have, they might achieve more effective results than busy Stefan.
Besides, does this mean just doing business right now?
'The largest secret intelligence organization is voluntarily revealing a fatal secret and trying to come under me.'
That's why Ferda was curious.
He throws the question he'd saved until last at them.
W е b̊nȯv ѐľ Ёn_ǔm̆а̊
"You said it's because the Empire went against its founding ideology, so you're trying to break it."
"That's correct."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Someday I could become like that too."
Judgment may blur, and the day may come when this regret settled in my heart devours me again.
"If that time comes, will you betray me?"
Loyalty is following whatever decision is made.
Е̄n̆ǔ m̆ a. іd
So if there's a possibility of betrayal, it cannot be loyalty.
Garnet answered like this.
"A monarch is one who reigns over all people, a superhuman."
Because Garnet collects information on high-ranking officials, she knew the patterns of kings and nobles.
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"That's why they fall into self-righteousness believing they are justice, and ignore public sentiment."
They can't tolerate their opinions being denied, and can't forgive those who block their path.
Ē n ū m̂.а
The heads of loyal subjects who remonstrate roll on the floor, and the tongues of treacherous subjects never have time to dry.
"I also thought the Regent-nim was that kind of human."
Ferda looked like a human who could easily fall into that path.
He had the will to not hesitate to kill someone if necessary, and to discard even his own people.
From Garnet's perspective, such a monarch was a person who shouldn't exist.
"However, I was wrong."
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Her judgment changed starting from that night.
The evil dragon, Red Dragon, treated like a house guard dog.
The reason she lived in self-loathing and isolated herself was because she loved a human.
"The Regent-nim constantly doubted himself."
Ferda loves the one who loves that human.
He learned a dance he'd never danced in his life, and held a banquet he didn't want.
Е̃ ǹū mа̀.ĭ d̀_
To make one woman happy, he suppressed the nature she'd grasped and advanced with conviction.
"One who doubts oneself cannot become a superhuman."
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"However, you can become a wise monarch."
Wise monarch.
A picture was drawn of all people crying out Valdrova's name and praising her.
Hiding a laugh that was about to come out, he said to Garnet.
Е̂_n uḿа
"Don't think that's the last nice thing you'll hear."
Garnet politely clasped her hands and bowed her head.
"It's an honor to become the Great Fire's Shadow."
* * *
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Ferda gathered all the nobles at the Far East Front Union Hall.
"Did you spend it well without any special matters?"
W е b_ñо̂ v̂ е́ l Е̃ ňû m_а̄
"Taking advantage of the empty house situation, a petty thief did break in, but overall it was safe."
"The territory people who had fallen into panic have all returned to their livelihoods."
"Ugh, really, when it became a month, you wouldn't know how much we worried!"
Nobles shuddering with indignation.
They had faces that looked like they never wanted to recall that time when they had to huddle together and worry day by day.
Just as everyone had worried, Ferda was the same.
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"I believe you all hold antipathy toward the Arken Empire over this incident."
"Of course! Those damn bastards!"
"They used the Far East like a place of exile, and even at the brink of death tried to use it politically!"
They showed more anger toward Alexander Arken than at Ferda not bowing his head.
You could tell how much had piled up.
"So we've risen to a position where we must testify at this post-mortem centered on Alexander Arken."
Е ṅûm а̃ ..і d
"You mean the post-war conference?"
"Of course, since we're in a besieged situation, we must attend, but......."
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The nobles' reactions were displeased.
Even if it's a place to judge Alexander Arken, they know it's all the same - birds of a feather.
"Just like your reactions, there's a very high possibility they'll pin this on us."
"Naturally, wouldn't they!?"
Е̃.n u m̌a .і d
"It's obvious they'll move to cover for that rogue Crown Prince!"
"I wish for this Far East's peace, and I know you also wish for development."
Ferda extended his hand toward them and spoke.
"So I, Ferda Valdrova Regent, demand your wisdom here."
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The lords willingly rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward.
They discussed how the post-mortem would proceed, how they'd pin it on Ferda, and how to deal with it.
Еṅ ŭ_m a.і̂ d
Creating several scenarios like that, they made holes for Ferda to escape through.
The meeting continued without stopping even as the night deepened.
Even as the meeting flowed smoothly, Count Consilirus's expression wasn't good the whole time.
* * *
"It's not a good idea."
Skipping a whole day, the lords' carriages dispersing as dawn broke.
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Consilirus approached Ferda's side as he watched the procession and deliberately came to say that.
"You mean putting heads together?"
"Thinking they're all allies isn't good. Among them are those who love the Empire's Wall more than the Far East's safety. If you inform them of this situation—."
"An informant will appear."
Ferda cut off his words.
"That's what I'm aiming for."
W̌е̄ b n o.v̊ е l̇ Е n ūḿа
Ferda spoke with force in his words.
"So the traitor walks into the execution ground on their own feet."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
"Indeed......."
Consilirus looked surprised but lowered his voice along with him.
"You mean you're aiming for it?"
"He said to let information leak like this."
Е n u m а̌
"You plan to flush out traitors like that?"
"I already know who the traitor is."
"If you already know......."
A sharp energy was felt within his lowered white eyebrows.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Unlike the burning vigor of young people, the old man flows quietly.
That's why it's even more chilling.
W е̊ b̂ṅ o v̀ ѐl E̊ nu.ṁа̌
"I dare request, may this humble one handle the traitor's disposal?"
"You?"
Ferda had planned to handle it with his own hands.
After all, among the lords, Ferda's image was more ruthless when it came to killing people.
"The Regent-nim may not know, but...... coming to this Far East is no different from exile."
Consilirus, who had been here longer than anyone, knew well.
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"Staying in a place without hope, you become listless before you know it, and start thinking of escape first."
Nobles grew fat, soldiers grew lazy, and territory people died as always.
"A lifeline came down to such a place. Not a rotten lifeline, but a very sturdy one, one worthy of being called hope."
Count Consilirus's eyes looked at Ferda deeply.
They were eyes of sincere gratitude and respect.
"However, if there are rat bastards who don't know their place and try to gnaw at the lifeline......."
Ё n̄ u̇ m̂ à.id̊
Poison entered Count Consilirus's eyes.
When one who lived in despair gains hope, they become more relentless than anyone.
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"This old man will willingly become a rogue who executes betrayal."
Hearing that answer, Ferda nodded.
"I'll ask it of you, Count."
"All for the Grand Duchy."
Еṅû m̈ӓ
Ferda could clearly feel it.
Before long, a blood wind will blow cutting out the festering affected area.
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