Episode 609
I didn’t expect that.
I’m betting everything and being honest. I really didn’t expect that.
Of course I thought about it.
I wonder if the murders of inspectors that occur in Cheonha Castle are the result of a desire to make the Eastern Continent independent.
The reason I had this thought was because I had no clue.
It’s a contradiction, but why kill the inspector, and why go to the trouble of extending your reach all the way to the Western Continent to spread bribes?
Since I had no idea what the end result of all this would be, I just imagined the most unrealistic and implausible outcomes, and one of them was independence.
The reason I think independence is impossible is because, knowing what my father’s personality is like, he would never allow it.
As everyone knows, he is a very stubborn person.
The Milos Empire was a single empire formed by the union of the Eastern and Western Continents. That is how it was born.
But out of the blue independence? That means giving away a piece of land.
Although the Milos Empire had let go of the Eastern Continent, strictly speaking, it was still a land within the empire.
Should I say that this is different and similar to something else?
‘The Eastern Continent of the Milos Empire’ and ‘a new nation separated from the Milos Empire’ are clearly different things.
The birth of a new nation means the weakening of the power of the Milos Empire, and that is the birth of a new phase.
If independence were granted, it was obvious what would happen in the independent land.
Just the ones that come to mind right away are the merchants who were dispatched in large numbers from the Western Continent to gain profit, the various groups and nobles who wanted to establish branches and increase their power, and the countless warriors who wanted to fight for land within the Eastern Continent.
An era of great chaos is dawning, and it will cause enormous loss of life.
To put it simply, it is meaningless.
“You too, no, since this kind of place has been created, you can speak comfortably. Do you also think that the status quo is right?”
“yes.”
To me who answered firmly, Ryu Jin answered just as firmly.
“That’s what you say because you’re the crown prince. Have you ever thought about it from the perspective of the people of the Eastern Continent even once?”
“It would be better for them to be under the complete control of the Milos Empire.”
Psik, Ryu Jin bursts into laughter.
“I guess that’s what you want to believe.”
“… … .”
“Didn’t the Emperor say something like that? Grow up.”
My eyebrows furrowed. What the hell is this?
“What do you mean by that?”
“What does that mean? If you’re asking because you really don’t know, then I’m disappointed.”
“… … .”
“I don’t care whether you seek recognition from the Emperor or a woman. But as the Crown Prince, is that really all you need to have in mind?”
I just kept my mouth shut.
Advertisements
“You act as if recognition is your ultimate goal in life. Does the Crown Prince only have people around him? Then what’s the point?”
It was right to keep my mouth shut. I came to my senses. It felt like I realized something I had forgotten.
“As someone who has lived longer than you, I would like to give you one piece of advice: Don’t look too far ahead. Your father did not establish the nation of Milos lightly.”
“… … .”
“Of course you don’t know. At least in the current world, the two people who spent the longest time with the Emperor are your mother and you. But know this. How much you know about what happened in the past is meaningless to the people of this continent. You only heard and read, but we experienced it firsthand.”
It’s true. I didn’t experience those times. I just learned about them through writing and stories.
“You are certainly talented. You are also a great man. If I were the emperor, I would search the entire world for any gift I could and bring it to you. However, no matter what happens, I will never give you the country.”
There is a moment of silence. Not just me, but Ryu Jin, Sahonje next to him, and Yeongwol and Yongseongun behind me.
Everyone was silent.
I took another sip of the drink on the table without saying a word.
I completely understood what he was trying to say. There were some things I could refute, and some things I could accept without question.
In general,
“It was a very reasonable story. It made sense.”
Ryu Jin’s eyebrows twitch slightly at these words.
It was obvious.
This is a place where we explore what kind of people we are. Ryujin doesn’t know much about me. He must have tried to find out on this occasion, and the answer I gave just now was enough to help Ryujin judge me.
“I was wondering if I had offended the Crown Prince, so I appreciate you telling me so.”
To summarize, the Eastern Continent’s Cheonhaseong was preparing for independence from the Milos Empire, but I don’t know how.
But Ryu Jin was doing his job with ‘confidence’ and now I am listening to the story in front of Ryu Jin.
see.
Ryu Jin is certain that I am the crown prince. I didn’t even bother to deny it.
But why is he talking like this so shamelessly? And in front of me, at that.
I asked with a serious expression.
“Now let’s get to the point. What is the reason?”
“reason?”
“Preparing for independence means waiting for the ‘right time’, so why are you telling me that? I don’t think you thought that I, the crown prince, would support independence.”
Ryu Jin answered, leaning back against the backrest and crossing his arms.
“It was uncertain.”
“is it so?”
“Yeah, I was uncertain. Honestly, even as we’re talking now, I’m not sure. But I had to do it anyway.”
“Why?”
“I need your help, and you need mine too.”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
Now it seemed like the conversation was finally going in the right direction.
“It seems like you’re not on good terms with the Central Inspector General’s Office, so I’ll give you some information while I’m at it. Carl Sagan of the Central Inspector General’s Office is very displeased with you.”
“Are you talking about Marquis Carl Sagan?”
Advertisements
“I guess you haven’t heard. Carl Sagan was recently made Duke. As you might have guessed, Carl Sagan, he’s a real oddball.”
“… … .”
“You’re a different breed, but since you’ve become a duke, you can’t doubt your abilities. He’s judged you. A ‘rebel’.”
Wow, my eyebrows furrow.
“I don’t know if you know that I’m the crown prince or not, but whether you know or not, I have nothing to say. You’ve done things too.”
“If you are unhappy with the fact that we arrested a criminal, isn’t that their problem rather than mine?”
“That’s your opinion.”
“… … .”
“Let me be honest. The reason you approached Namgung Cheol-yeong after killing Beck was because you were certain that there was a connection between the series of events taking place on the Eastern Continent and that there was definitely a ‘bigger reason’ at the end of it all. Isn’t that right?”
“you’re right.”
“Are you the only one who thought of that?”
“… … .”
“Carl Sagan, he’s just like you. He thought there must be some secret in the Eastern Continent. He was also investigating Beck. You got in the way, killed Beck, and at the same time, you messed with Cheonhaseong, so you must have been a huge irritant to him.”
My eyebrows furrow.
“I’m telling you this just in case, but there are only four people in the entire continent, including me, who know that I’m preparing for independence. There were originally five, but you killed one, so there are now four. No matter how much Carl Sagan flies and crawls, he can’t uncover a secret that only a select few know.”
Ryu Jin smiles brightly.
“As you know, Raymond Beck is a man of few words. He was a man of conviction, as the Emperor had seen. He actively agreed that the Eastern Continent needed a true king, not a formal inspector of the Milos Empire or something like that. Was it really just for his own good?”
“… … .”
“He felt that the Emperor’s methods were wrong. He didn’t think that the Emperor’s judgment had become clouded due to his age or anything like that. Even if he were old, he would be in his fifties before the regression, and in his late thirties in his current life. It’s obvious.”
What is obvious?
“The Emperor is using the great stage of the Eastern Continent as a ‘testing ground’. I have no intention of saying anything. And just as I am not here, the Emperor is not here either. All of this is happening on the Eastern Continent. Now, let’s talk. What is your ultimate goal?”
I understand. What purpose Ryu Jin has.
Only after I understood all that did I burst out laughing.
“You want me to share the continent with you? Is that it?”
Ryu Jin also smiles.
“I understand that you understand quickly, I would like to hear your answer, what do you think of my proposal?”
“It’s not bad, but I’m curious about how we can help each other specifically.”
This was the real point.
“It’s simple. I don’t know much about you, but I have a rough idea of what you’re trying to do.”
“What is that?”
“Cultivating power.”
“… … .”
“That must be the reason why you accepted the Hoecheon Church as your subordinate. You have many enemies. Even Carl Sagan of the Central Inspectorate is hostile to you. If you are not the crown prince, it would be right for you to act alone like Dokgo Dai. But that is not the case.”
“… … .”
“As the crown prince, what do you need to become the next emperor of the Milos Empire? There is only one thing. Power. If it was possible for an individual to create and lead a nation, why would the powerful create power? You need power, and that power will be a great force in keeping the Central Inspection Office in check, and it will also be a great threat to those who oppose you. Just like the ‘Do-Gwan’ that the current emperor had under his command when he founded the Milos Empire.”
Advertisements
Ryu Jin leaned his head forward.
“You create your own ‘conduit’. I promise that the world, including me, will never interfere. Of course, I will not only not interfere, but I will also help you. If you need anything, just tell me. I will support you right away. In return, here’s what I want.”
“What do you want?”
“Keep ‘silent’ about everything that happens in the canal.”
“Is that the answer?”
“Not all, but there will be many requests for cooperation and such related to smuggling, so as an inspector, a ‘reasonable conclusion’ is needed.”
“A reasonable conclusion?”
“It’s obvious. Not guilty, not guilty, things like that.”
I couldn’t help but ask.
“Is money that important?”
Ryu Jin and Sahonje remained silent in response to my question.
Yes, this question was important.
The money earned from the canal is certainly beyond imagination.
Bribe the upper echelons in charge of smuggling, and also bribe the officials in the Western Continent.
And so on.
Is it really all because of money?
Money is certainly important. But the money earned through smuggling is much more than that. I know that there is enough money in the world to cover up all the cases of smuggling, even if they were investigated from all sides.
That’s why I didn’t understand.
Honestly, there isn’t that much to do as an inspector.
There are already people who have bought into the Western Continent, and the merchants in charge of smuggling are all on Cheonhaseong’s side.
In that situation, you can’t help but tell me about your grand goals? Is it just for ‘money’? That’s ridiculous.
Ryu Jin said with a faint smile.
“Of course. Is there anything more important than money? If you start leading people, you will realize that without money, nothing is possible.”
I stared blankly at Ryujin. Ryujin also looked at me quietly.
It’s simpler.
Is Ryu Jin’s proposal like rat poison to me right now or not?
If it’s rat poison, should you eat it or not?
Judging from the flow of the conversation, Ryu Jin knows for sure that I did not intend to completely destroy the Hoecheon Sect, but rather to bring it under my control.
What if Carl Sagan of the Central Inspector General finds out about this and tries to pressure me?
I can somehow get out of here. I just need to wipe out everyone left in the Hoecheon Church and kill as many people as possible who are directly involved in this matter.
Even if there are people who know, in the current case, it would be Ryu Jin in front of us. Even if Ryu Jin knows, if there is no evidence, it is all useless.
But there will be so much blood on your hands in the process. It makes no sense to be scared and give up before you even try something properly.
That’s stupid.
Ryu Jin slowly reached out his hand to me.
Ryu Jin’s suggestion is rat poison.
Advertisements
Rat poison that must be taken.
From Ryu Jin’s perspective, my existence would be like rat poison.
The hand that Ryu Jin is extending now is a challenge.
It’s rat poison where you take rat poison together and see who gets chewed up first.
There is no reason to hesitate.
He just grabbed Ryu Jin’s hand.
He said with a smile.
“All that happens in the canal from now on will be resolved according to the will of the Lord.”
Ryu Jin also laughed.
“Your secret will be kept, and you will gain power on the Eastern Continent that is comparable to, or perhaps even greater than, the Tianha Castle. Let’s do our best from now on.”
