The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Episode 5
Back to the past (5)
“Come in.”
The King’s office felt much more comfortable and familiar than my own room.
Maybe that’s why I felt more alive than ever before.
My father was standing at his desk, thinking about something.
“I heard you called, Father.”
“Have a seat.”
I sat down at the top seat naturally, but then got up again in surprise.
Then he sat down in the seat opposite the head of the table with an embarrassed face.
I knew that such a trivial action would be misunderstood, but I couldn’t help but say it without thinking.
Fortunately, my father didn’t seem to care much.
“Have you decided on an aide?”
“Not yet. However, I have nominated a person who is more outstanding than anyone else as a candidate for the position of aide.”
“Yeah. You probably figured it out yourself. Good job.”
As my father sat down, the chair creaked and made a noise.
The force coming from the rugged body was no joke.
As I was envious of that sight, I heard my father’s voice.
“I want to hear your thoughts. That’s why I called you here.”
“Is this the information department story I told you about last time?”
“Yes.”
The slightly raised eyebrows were a reflection of my father’s dissatisfaction.
“Information that is attributed to an individual is something that should not exist in the past or in the future.”
“How can the prince’s property be limited to his personal interests? Everything is for the glory of the kingdom.”
“That is a perfectly valid argument. But it seems the ministers do not think so.”
The pretext of serving the kingdom was sufficient.
Wasn’t it after Esteban had faced the great threat of poisoning the king?
So, even if their opposition is strong, it will not be in vain.
However, if there are nobles who oppose, then that is… … .
“Ultimately, the reason they oppose him is because they are afraid that he will end up following the same path as Count Asus.”
“… … .”
“He who is without sin will consent to this.”
I got up from my seat and poured hot water into the kettle that was on the desk.
The fragrant scent of tea spread throughout the office.
“Would you like a drink?”
“Ahem! Okay.”
He wasn’t a person who liked cars that much to begin with.
I slowly returned to my seat and leisurely savored the scent.
A moment of silence passed, and then a low, growling voice came out of my father’s mouth.
“That’s true. If there really was nothing to be concerned about, they wouldn’t have opposed the establishment of the intelligence agency.”
“Then wouldn’t it be okay to just proceed with the normal procedure?”
“Unfortunately, that is not possible. Excessive dogmatism will only aggravate the chaos in the country.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
I lightly tapped the handle of the sofa.
“It means let’s compromise.”
“compromise?”
“Whatever the reason, isn’t what they want, in the end, a minimum level of safety net?”
The nouns by which the two men referred to the nobles had changed to ‘guys’, but it seemed that Father did not realize this.
I said with a small smile.
“Let me say thank you.”
“……what?”
When my father heard this, his body froze.
Are you saying that we should thank the Information Ministry and the Knights Templar?
Since it was not something that would come out of the subject’s mouth, it seemed to take quite some time to understand the meaning.
“Does that gratitude mean that it is dispatched by the decision of the nobles?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Indeed. If that were the case, they wouldn’t be against the establishment of an intelligence agency either… … .”
But my father’s eyes seemed a little worried.
“Allen Esteban. What on earth are you thinking?”
At my father’s words, I shrugged my shoulders and spoke confidently.
“Do as you wish. Would a lion be afraid of a little mouse hiding in his pride?”
“Is that really okay?”
“Yes. You can’t stop a wild beast by just releasing a few rats.”
That’s what they’re worried about.
That is, I am digging up sins by poking around with my eyes and sword.
So, as soon as their crimes are discovered, they will be thought to be properly punished, just as Count Asus did.
I would say it’s half right.
In fact, the intelligence agency was established to hold those bastards accountable for their crimes.
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But what they don’t know is that I am a regressor from the future.
The purpose of intelligence agencies is not to discover their crimes.
By deliberately revealing the shell of the information agency, they are trying to find more covert ‘evidence’ of the crimes they have been committing.
Although the words were similar, they were clearly different.
‘If you can stop it, try to stop it.’
While those guys are relying on their position as auditors and acting complacently, I will move in extreme secrecy and collect evidence.
The moment I thought that, I heard my father’s small voice in the silence.
“… … You’ve really changed a lot. What made you like that?”
Betrayal and intrigue. Power struggles and dubious loyalties.
As a father, this incident must have made you feel a lot of things.
So, I could only answer with a calm smile.
“Only my own will can change me.”
“… … I see.”
Unfortunately, the old lion’s impressions ended here.
“Good. Let’s proceed with establishing an information department based on that opinion.”
“Then I guess this story is over.”
“Yes. But there are various procedural and budgetary issues, so it would be impossible to establish it right away.”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of doing anything right away either.”
Creating an information agency is something that will happen after George’s education is finished and he has adapted to the return.
It didn’t matter what happened now.
‘but.’
The point was that it didn’t matter anyway, at least not to the remnants of Asus who opposed the establishment of the intelligence agency.
Rather, if you take the opportunity of taking a step back from this negotiation and start expressing your opposition to every move I make, it would be very annoying.
“Isn’t that really difficult?”
“hmm?”
“There are people who dare to hide behind public opinion and try to control the country.”
“One, in the current situation… … .”
“I know it’s hard to catch them all. I just hope we can catch one as an example.”
I said softly, sweeping my hair up.
“I have a good idea.”
Perhaps… … I think my expression as I said that was a smile.
I don’t even realize that I’m speaking in a low voice without realizing it.
* * *
A heavy atmosphere hung over the mansion of the Earl of Onoreo.
It wasn’t because of the fog that was so thick that even the moonlight couldn’t reach.
“shit!”
Clang!
The expression on the face of Count Onoreo, who threw down the bottle of wine, was dark and distorted with anger.
This is because everything, such as the way the world viewed them and their status in aristocratic society, was incomparable to the past.
This meeting was no different.
“You were hiding like a retard and plotting a conspiracy… … .”
The glory of the past was gone, and now even meeting people had to be done cautiously.
Because if you were not careful, you could lose everything you have worked so hard to build up and fall.
… … Yes. Just like the Asus Counts who represented them did.
Count Onoreo muttered, biting his fingernails.
“The evidence… … The evidence has already been disposed of. We are also tracking down the merchants involved in the corruption… … .”
The remnants of corruption that went along with Count Asus.
If something like that were to be discovered in a time like now, it would never be taken lightly.
Knowing that fact, they have been doing everything they can to conceal the information.
But what on earth does this uneasiness mean?
What on earth am I missing?
His clenched fist turned white and blood began to seep out.
At the same time, the Count’s eyes lit up.
“… … We can’t just collapse like this. Until ‘then,’ we have no choice but to lie flat on our stomach and endure.”
The day the information ministry was established.
Only then will you be able to be free from the charges and return to your previous life.
The announcement of the agreement to establish the Ministry of Information was made five days ago, directly from the mouth of the King.
– The necessity of establishing an information department is acknowledged, but any further discussion will be prohibited.
-However, as a minimum safety measure, I will dispatch an auditor from the nobles and create a system to prevent them from abusing their power.
To summarize, I’ll take a step back, so you guys should stop too… … That’s about it.
Naturally, there was an uproar among the nobles.
-Oh, then! Shouldn’t this have been done a long time ago?
-To put it bluntly, His Highness the Crown Prince may wield his power in the wrong way… … .
-If you just minimize the side effects, you won’t have to worry about anything.
-It was an opposition to follow His Majesty’s will.
This was the reaction of the nobles who were skeptical about the establishment.
On the other hand, there were many voices reacting negatively to this agreement.
-1His Highness the Prince is making a mistake. It was something he should not have done… … .
-This time, we should have rooted out those bastards who were eating away at Esteban.
-Whew. I’ve heard a lot about you through rumors, but you’re so weak.
Public opinion was almost split in half.
There were also opinions that stronger restrictions should be imposed, and that the king should be the subject of the intelligence agency.
A time of transformation where so many opinions collide and crumble.
Probably no one knows that they are the ones who led all this public opinion.
“Kuuuuu… … I didn’t know that a strategy to obstruct the establishment of an intelligence agency would work this well.”
Are you saying that no matter how much you fly and crawl, your stupid bloodline won’t change?
Although they say that they have cut off the sprout called Asus, the Federation Empire’s clutches have already invaded, and the number of Se-jak who disappeared in the meantime is countless.
In such a situation, the compromise on establishing an intelligence agency could be said to be a truly foolish act.
“When that time comes, I will definitely punish the prince and the king who caused this humiliation… … .”
I’ll kill you.
It was at that time that I was drawing out my hopes for the future.
“You’re telling an interesting story.”
“……uh?”
A familiar voice comes from behind.
Aside from wondering why such a voice could be heard, the vivid sense of fear that was eating away at my heart felt strangely natural.
“no way…….”
Did I hear that wrong?
If I didn’t hear wrong, that was definitely the voice of a messenger.
It was immediately after that that a wedge was driven into his heart.
“I wish you would include me too.”
Moonlight filtered through the fog and illuminated the balcony.
Sitting on the balcony railing was the first prince, wearing a black robe.
It was literally a split second.
“Prince! Where on earth am I… …!”
“Hoo.”
Viscount Honoreo’s scream of horror echoed throughout the mansion.
The prince smiled and spoke to the owner of the noise.
“How dare you say something like that to royalty?”
“Oh, oh my god! Is there anyone here? Guards!”
“Guards?”
Oh, I guess I forgot to explain.
“All personnel in the mansion have already been subdued. The merchant who reported you for your involvement in the rebellion has appeared.”
“… … What is that?”
“To be exact, we succeeded in finding it first. In the end, it seems that he wanted to reveal all the information and receive leniency rather than be killed by you.”
1 The prince’s red eyes reflected the moonlight, creating a strange atmosphere.
I had long since given up on the thought of how things had turned out this way.
Right now, all that was on my mind was the need to get this wicked beast out of the way, no matter what.
“I, I don’t know this story! Who the hell treats me like a criminal? I will report you to His Majesty the King for trespassing on the nobleman’s mansion!”
You just have to be strong.
If you act like nothing is beneath you, he won’t be able to ignore you.
And it was Viscount Honoreo who thought that he could take advantage of this opportunity to negotiate with the king.
but…….
“Try it.”
“yes?”
“Just give it a try.”
The Count was speechless at such bold words.
Soon, my body began to tremble uncontrollably.
“I think you still misunderstand, but I have already been given full authority over the Asus situation by my father.”
“That can’t be… … .”
“Do you really think that’s impossible? That you haven’t done anything about it until now?”
“……no way.”
The imperial edict from the prince’s arms shook leisurely.
The Count’s eyes were tightly shut.
‘How on earth did things get like this… … .’
The only time he moved was five days ago. It was a private meeting due to the King’s summons.
Before that, there was no conversation at all because it was the first prince’s period of self-reflection.
Of course, there was no sign of any suspicious activity after that… … .
‘Surely not then!?’
The Count shuddered, trying to shake off the thoughts that had arisen in his mind.
That doesn’t make sense.
It was a situation that was not even considered possible in the first place.
The story that he had been given full authority in a private meeting five days ago meant that he had tracked down the merchant in just five days.
And that too, by specifying that he had committed a crime.
‘Damn… … What should I do?’
Since I was monitoring the movements of the King and the First Prince and disrupting the establishment of the information department, I judged that everything was going as I wanted.
And that was the downfall.
He was slowly, unnoticed, strangling me, just waiting for his chance.
If things continued like this, it really was the end.
The first prince who mercilessly cut down Asus.
It was obvious that it would be his turn next.
It couldn’t just collapse like this.
‘Since it has come to this… … .’
The eyes of the Count, who had decided on something, wavered pitifully.
“Your Majesty, I have been wronged! I have never participated in a rebellion!”
“hmm?”
“I know all the information. If you would just turn a blind eye just this once, I will prove my innocence and reveal the whole story of this incident!”
“Hoo.”
As if he was a little interested, the first prince came down from the railing and looked at the Count.
“So, you have nothing to do with this situation?”
“I was just fooled by Count Asus!”
“Oh. You’re going to share evidence of the civil war there too?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Hmm.”
The Viscount’s expression brightened at the sight of the First Prince nodding his head with interest.
‘Okay, that’s it!’
The only information he has is what the merchant revealed.
Since we have been working so hard to erase any traces of corruption, the evidence is probably insufficient.
So, they must have wanted to induce this situation to gather information.
He himself was merely lowering himself to plan the aftermath.
Even at the expense of sacrificing his colleagues.
But even that mere hope was soon trampled.
“Why me?”
“……yes?”
“You’re going to die here anyway?”
Dying?
Why on earth?
The first prince spoke to the count, who blinked as if he did not understand the situation.
“Count Onoreo. He committed suicide after his corruption and plots for rebellion with Asus were discovered.”
“What the heck… … .”
“After that. Thanks to the First Prince’s base, the information gathering operation was successful, and all the ringleaders were captured, thus ending Asus’s civil war plot.”
… … As if explaining something that happened a long time ago.
The count’s face turned pale as he pondered the situation.
“no way…….”
“What a shame. It will be recorded in history books as such.”
Below the imperial edict in the prince’s hand, a familiar form of correspondence was visible.
5 days. Long before that, there was evidence of corruption that he must have burned with his own hands.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“ha ha ha…….”
It took more than five days for their information to be exposed.
Even earlier than that, they had already known everything without even realizing it.
The prince standing right over there.
Before he knew it, he was the one crawling on the floor in an ugly state.
“Ugh, ugh… … Please, just give me one more chance! I can’t die like this!”
“Is life more important than useless pretense?”
“If you just let me live, I will put everything down and go far away!”
“Tsk.”
The first prince coldly slapped away the viscount’s hand, which was holding onto the hem of his clothes with difficulty.
“I still remember the cold feel of the glass you handed me.”
“What is that… … .”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t know. It wasn’t a good memory for me either.”
“Your Majesty… …! Aaaah!”
The moonlight that had been shining was obscured, and the smiling face of the first prince was covered in darkness.
The Count could clearly see the last words he uttered.
“You are the second. Viscount Onoreo.”
Phew-
“Ugh… … Ugh… … !”
The interior of the secret room suddenly became quiet.
After all that happened, the only person left in the room was Prince wiping the bloody sword.
“It’s over.”
This way, no one will bother him for a while.
The mouth of the first prince, who had been smiling with satisfaction, opened.
“This is how you gather information.”
Then, a man who appeared to be an attendant appeared from the darkness.
“… … Even if you hadn’t deliberately faked it as suicide, weren’t you destined to be executed?”
“If by any chance he leaks information about his accomplices, it’ll be a problem.”
“Are you concerned about the confusion that might arise in dealing with nobles who are in public office?”
The prince slightly shook his head in response to the attendant’s question.
“No. Justice requires two enemies.”
“… … .”
“The superficial reason for the establishment of the intelligence agency was because of the nefarious forces that had dug deep into the heart of state affairs. But what if we kicked them out all at once?”
The first prince’s muttering as he left the room echoed through the room.
“The leash is already fastened. Let’s just use them like this.”
George, standing behind him, simply nodded his head in puzzlement.
