Chapter 152

A Wise Ruler

In response to Ferda’s question, Garnet said,

“Creating an official position for a shadow organization that must never become known would be a contradiction. Only you and the Administrator should know of our relationship.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“We will establish an organization that can operate openly in this city under a legitimate pretext.”

“And what organization would that be?”

“Mejina Phalange is a southern noblewoman who operates a trading company.”

Mejina Phalange.

Ferda wondered where he had heard the name before, then remembered that it was the false identity listed for Garnet Swallow on the very first page.

“That trading company is currently interested in the Far East, and it has also witnessed injustices in many places.”

“So?”

“Therefore, as a representative of the merchants, she will formally lodge a complaint with Hestia Village. After that—”

“She will establish an association.”

“Precisely.”

The scenario felt intensely familiar.

Ferda had already discussed something similar with Stephan once before.

“Stephan Pascal is already pursuing that idea.”

Garnet let out a short laugh.

“The chairman of the Pascal Company is quite ambitious. He has already taken control of the labor union. If he also tries to seize the merchants’ guild, the credibility of both organizations will eventually suffer. Surely he does not wish to make himself such an easy target?”

Stephan had been concerned about that very issue.

Even so, human greed naturally compelled people to seek a way to claim anything within their reach.

Although Ferda already knew they were an intelligence organization, he could not help admiring the way Garnet had struck directly at that blind spot.

“I must state clearly that this matter should proceed through an alliance of the merchants I have gathered.”

Just in case, Ferda checked the current identities of the organization’s key executives.

Eight of the twelve were regional merchants.

They all belonged to ordinary trading companies whose names Ferda had barely heard before.

“It seems none of you possess much talent for commerce.”

He deliberately mixed a slight provocation into his words.

Garnet showed no sign of being offended and answered calmly,

“A merchant who uses his merchandise however he pleases will inevitably lose the trust of his customers.”

She was right.

Had the Black Bandana seriously entered any particular industry, monopolizing that field would likely have been easy.

But they were information brokers.

Their purpose was to focus on selling information.

That was why their credibility was emphasized repeatedly throughout the records.

“How many people within the Black Bandana know about this?”

“Other than the highest-ranking and core executives, no one is aware of it. Everyone listed in the personal records I gave you has already agreed.”

“Then outwardly, the Black Bandana will appear to continue operating as before.”

“Yes. But it will no longer be a neutral organization.”

That would be unfortunate for those across the Cerdes Continent who relied on the Black Bandana.

Ferda, however, could not have cared less.

“If you intend to establish the association through your own efforts, I will not stop you.”

“We will establish it ourselves, but there is one matter that requires your prior approval.”

“What agreement do you require?”

“The Dandolo Company—the organization now known as the Hestia Company.”

“Yes.”

“As I understand it, you and Marquis Burnell hold fifty-one percent of its shares. Stephan Pascal, its acting manager, holds twenty percent, while the remaining twenty-nine percent was reserved for investors. Ten percent of that has already been allocated to Halim.”

“That is correct.”

“We would like you to transfer the remaining nineteen percent to us in its entirety.”

Ferda frowned reflexively.

“That is a rather typical demand for an organization supposedly approaching its end.”

“It may appear that way. However, merely possessing a significant stake in the former Dandolo Company would greatly increase the merchants’ association’s credibility. That would allow us to create an ideal shadow organization.”

“Explain.”

“Once the Far Eastern Merchants’ Association is established, we will gain the status of citizen representatives and rise to the rank of quasi-nobility, will we not?”

“You would gain a political voice.”

“That is merely useful for maintaining appearances. What I require is the obligation that comes with the position.”

“Obligation?”

Most people were desperate to avoid such things.

“If we become a merchants’ association, we will have a duty to contribute to the prosperity of Hestia.”

“That is true.”

“Accordingly, we will gain the authority to inspect merchants and determine whether they are carrying harmful goods or engaging in smuggling.”

“You would.”

“And if we judge that a simple inspection is insufficient, we will also have legitimate grounds to conduct our own investigations and pursue those involved.”

Hearing that, Ferda realized how attractive the arrangement truly was.

Those investigations and pursuits would not have to be limited to ordinary merchants.

They could also be applied to those attempting to incite rebellion.

As the Far East’s merchants’ association, they would naturally interact with other merchant associations.

Through those connections, they could collect information, spread information of their own, and guide events in the direction they desired.

Since their only visible point of contact would be commerce, outsiders would regard them as merely a regulatory institution.

Enemies of the Far East might even approach them directly in an attempt to buy their cooperation.

And if the organization handling all of this was the Black Bandana—whose skill in intelligence work was virtually unmatched—then they would likely be able to shape everything according to plan.

“Even so, nineteen percent is too much. I would prefer to reduce it to ten percent.”

“Three percent would be enough for us to exercise practical control. The remaining sixteen percent would serve only as invested capital and as a visible symbol of our standing.”

“Hmm…”

“We will not use it for personal gain. It will be devoted entirely to Hestia Village and the Princeps Territory.”

According to Stephan, the transfer and exchange of shares was an important matter.

Normally, handling such transactions would have been Stephan’s responsibility.

However, he was already struggling to complete his current workload, so the issue had been postponed.

If I entrust it to the merchants’ association…

With the information at their disposal, they might produce more effective results than the overworked Stephan could.

Besides, was this truly nothing more than a business proposal?

The greatest secret intelligence organization is voluntarily exposing its most fatal secrets and asking to enter beneath me.

That was why Ferda remained curious.

He finally asked the question he had deliberately postponed until the end.

“You said you intend to destroy the Empire because it has betrayed the ideals upon which it was founded.”

“That is correct.”

“One day, I may become the same.”

His judgment might grow clouded.

The regret buried in his heart might someday rise again and consume him.

“When that day comes, will you betray me?”

Loyalty meant following one’s lord regardless of what decision he made.

If betrayal remained a possibility, then could it truly be called loyalty?

Garnet answered,

“A ruler is one who reigns above the masses—a superhuman being.”

Because Garnet gathered information on those in the highest echelons of society, she knew well how kings and nobles tended to behave.

“That is why they often fall into the arrogance of believing themselves to be justice itself and disregard the will of the people.”

They could not tolerate having their opinions denied, nor could they forgive anyone who stood in their way.

The heads of loyal retainers who offered honest counsel rolled across the floor, while the tongues of flatterers never had a chance to dry.

“And I once believed that you were such a man as well, Regent.”

Ferda had seemed like someone who could easily fall down that path.

He would not hesitate to kill when necessary, and he possessed the resolve to discard even his own people.

From Garnet’s perspective, such a ruler was someone who should never be allowed to exist.

“But I was wrong.”

Her judgment had changed after that night.

The evil Red Dragon treated as nothing more than a guard dog.

The reason Valdrova lived in self-loathing and isolated herself from others was because she loved humanity.

“You constantly doubt yourself, Regent.”

Ferda loved the woman who loved humanity.

He had learned to dance despite never having danced in his life, and he had hosted a banquet he did not want.

For the sake of making one woman happy, he restrained the nature Garnet had discerned within him and continued forward according to his convictions.

“One who doubts himself can never become a superhuman being.”

“But he can become a wise ruler.”

A wise ruler.

Ferda pictured the masses crying out Valdrova’s name in praise.

Suppressing the smile that threatened to form, he said to Garnet,

“Consider that the last pleasant thing you will ever say to me.”

Garnet folded her hands politely and bowed.

“It is an honor to become the shadow cast by the great flame.”

***

Ferda gathered every noble of the Far East at the Eastern Front Alliance headquarters.

“Did all of you pass the time without any serious incidents?”

“A few petty thieves took advantage of our absence and broke in, but overall, nothing significant occurred.”

“The people who had fallen into panic have all returned to their livelihoods as well.”

“Good grief, you cannot imagine how anxious we were once an entire month had passed!”

The nobles shuddered indignantly.

Their faces made it clear that they never wanted to remember those days when they had huddled together and worried from one day to the next.

They had all been deeply troubled, and Ferda had been no different.

“I trust that this incident has left all of you with considerable resentment toward the Arken Empire.”

“Of course it has! Those damned bastards!”

“They treated the Far East like a place of exile, and even when we were on the verge of death, they tried to exploit us politically!”

Rather than praising Ferda for refusing to bow his head, they directed their anger toward Alexander Arken.

It was impossible to tell just how much resentment they had accumulated over the years.

“That is why I have been summoned to testify at the postmortem centered on Alexander Arken.”

“You mean the postwar hearing?”

“Given that we were the ones surrounded, it is only right that we attend, but…”

The nobles reacted with evident displeasure.

Even if the hearing was supposedly intended to judge Alexander Arken, they knew that everyone involved belonged to the same rotten circle.

“Judging from your reactions, there is a strong possibility that they will attempt to shift the blame onto us.”

“Isn’t that obvious!?”

“They will clearly try to protect that mad Crown Prince!”

“I wish for the peace and prosperity of the Far East, and I know that all of you desire its development as well.”

Ferda extended a hand toward them.

“Therefore, I, Regent Ferda Valdrova, ask for your wisdom here and now.”

The lords willingly rolled up their sleeves.

They discussed how the postmortem might proceed, how responsibility might be redirected toward Ferda, and how he should respond.

Together, they developed several possible scenarios and created routes through which Ferda could escape each trap.

The meeting continued well into the night without pause.

Yet throughout the otherwise smooth discussion, Count Consilus wore a troubled expression.

“This is not a good idea.”

An entire day had passed, and dawn was beginning to break as the nobles’ carriages departed.

Count Consilus approached Ferda, who was watching the procession, and went out of his way to voice his concern.

“You mean gathering everyone to exchange ideas?”

“It is unwise to assume that all of them are your allies. Some among them love the Empire’s walls more than the safety of the Far East. If you reveal this situation to them—”

“There will be informants.”

Ferda cut him off.

“That is precisely what I am aiming for.”

Ferda lowered his voice.

Consilus looked surprised and instinctively did the same.

“What do you mean, you are aiming for it?”

“I was advised to let this information leak.”

Ferda placed emphasis on his next words.

“So that the traitor will walk into the execution ground on his own.”

“I see…”

Consilus flushed awkwardly.

He felt foolish for assuming that the young regent was naïve enough to believe everyone present was an ally.

Ferda looked at him and said,

“Considering that you came here to warn me, at least you do not appear to be one of the defectors.”

“That is… quite a relief.”

Consilus gave an uncomfortable laugh.

“Then may I ask how you intend to proceed at the hearing?”

“At first, I will speak according to the scenarios we discussed. I need to determine whether the scenario ‘we’ devised has been leaked.”

“You intend to expose the traitor that way?”

“I already know who the traitor is.”

A sharp gleam appeared beneath Consilus’s lowered white eyebrows.

Unlike the fiery vigor of the young, the old man’s presence flowed in quiet stillness.

That made it all the more chilling.

“I dare make a request. Would you permit this humble servant to carry out the traitor’s execution?”

“You?”

Ferda had intended to handle it personally.

Among the lords, he already had a reputation for killing people without hesitation.

“You may not know this, Regent, but being sent to the Far East has always been little different from exile.”

Consilus knew this better than anyone, having lived there longer than most.

“When people remain in a place without hope, they eventually grow listless and begin thinking only of escape.”

The nobles grew fat.

The soldiers became idle.

And the common people died as they always had.

“Then a vine descended into such a place. Not a rotten vine, but a strong one—one worthy of being called hope.”

Count Consilus gazed deeply at Ferda.

His eyes held sincere gratitude and respect.

“But if there are rats who do not know their place and seek to gnaw away at that vine…”

Venom entered Count Consilus’s eyes.

Those who had lived in despair became more ruthless than anyone once they finally found hope.

“This old man will gladly become the executioner who punishes betrayal.”

Hearing that answer, Ferda nodded.

“I leave it to you, Count.”

“Everything is for the Princeps Territory.”

Ferda could feel it clearly.

Before long, a bloody wind would blow, cutting away the rotting flesh.