Chapter 48: Plans of an Emperor

"Your Majesty, here is what you requested." A servant hands Emperor Leon a sheet of stationery as he picks up the official seal, stamping the paper he has just finished writing.

"Perfect. I want this delivered to the Theocracy..." He hands the letter to his trusted servant, leaning back in his chair and gazing outside at the empire he is "building" with his ideologies and methods.

’A great threat... Stelaria is a saint with excellent powers of foresight, but many of her predictions fail, because things change and everything depends heavily on her interpretation of what she sees... but that girl...’ The emperor picks up a paper from the desk.

He didn’t take what Nio said seriously, but he didn’t completely ignore it either. According to the most powerful mage in the country, the world really has changed — not just the animals, the magic across the entire planet reacted to something massive.

’Something altered all the magic in the world... she was right about the animals’ behavior, and now I have confirmation that it has even affected magic... does something dangerous really exist? Something that would require all of humanity to unite?...’ He thinks rationally.

Great threats have existed before, threats that forced the Theocracy, the Empire, and the Ortyr Kingdom to band together, but nothing so colossal that it fits Nio’s words.

’She is still a saint. Tsk... just when things were stabilizing... no, I need to think carefully... maybe there’s an opportunity here, isn’t there?’ He twirls a small metallic cylinder between his fingers before slamming it hard against the desk.

’I need to prepare myself to seize any opportunity. Maybe this truly is a chance? If a threat requiring such unity really exists, I can let the Theocracy and the Ortyr Kingdom wear themselves down and only genuinely help at the very end.’

’That way, when everything is over, both will be weakened and I can take them for myself. If I get rid of the Theocracy and the Ortyr Kingdom, the plan for continental imperial expansion won’t be something out of reach.’

’Perhaps it’s time to use my strongest pieces, the ones I’ve kept hidden for this. I have the privilege of information... yes... that’s it!!’ He rises from his chair with a malicious grin on his face.

’The new ruins in the Theocracy! They are an opportunity, and a very big one, aren’t they? Who says information needs to be real to be useful? If I spread lies about riches never before seen in that place, the Ortyr Kingdom will try to get involved. Those greedy rats, without a shadow of a doubt, will want to send people there.’

’If they invade something within the Theocracy’s territory, they’ll end up having problems with them. Meanwhile, I just need to be diplomatic with the Theocracy, reducing the Ortyr Kingdom’s power...’

’But it can’t be obvious that it’s a lie... adventurers. I must have adventurers spread the news. If they spread such lies, everyone will believe it, even if it’s just rumors.’ Leon leaves his office, resolved to speak with the empire’s most powerful mage to help him disseminate these falsehoods.

’Wait... I need to tread carefully... if I spread this lie, my own adventurers will want to go... something... I need to offer something of such value that they’ll want to stay here and miss that opportunity...’ The emperor stops walking, thinking it over carefully, trying to find a good solution. He spends nearly a minute pondering something.

’I’ve got it!! I have the perfect thing that will not only help but also solves something I’ve been wanting to do for a while now.’

’An attack on smaller kingdoms. I can pay adventurers above the first 3 Ranks to go into battle alongside my troops. Between helping the emperor with a chance for excellent payment and contact with the nobility, and exploring suspicious ruins, my adventurers will prefer to aid my objectives.’ He thinks strategically.

After all, Leon is the emperor and lives up to his position. With the little he has, he tries to weave together an entire chain of plans that support his future and current goals.

’Humanoid dragons, beast-men... elves. There are several small kingdoms I can attack, one I know I can win against easily even with a low number of soldiers, one that adventurers wouldn’t be hesitant to go to... I’ll think about that carefully later... I need to analyze each small kingdom and choose the best one to invade.’

’Just as I will also need to establish countermeasures so the Ortyr Kingdom doesn’t think it can attack me simply because I’m attacking another kingdom...’

’I also need to think about the reward. Gold, artifacts, and slave girls seem good, but those at the top might want more, and they will want more... scrolls... yes, I am willing to spend scrolls on this. The return justifies the cost.’ He resumes walking, thinking about Nio.

"...I never imagined such an irritating conversation could yield an opportunity like this... Thank you, Nio. Your information that something big is coming helped."

"It was exactly what I needed to finally advance my plans. I should have realized sooner that what I was missing was information to tip the scales." He smiles, animated by all of this, though slightly reluctant in thanking Nio. He recognizes the merit in what he formulated thanks to the conversation they had and the time he had to verify the truth of what she said.

’If I tip the scales a little more, I might manage to make the Theocracy become a true ally to my cause... perhaps... generate an attack? If I can make the Ortyr Kingdom attack the Theocracy, its neutrality will end and the Ortyr Kingdom won’t have time to attack the Empire while the Empire attacks another small kingdom.’ Everything interconnects smoothly in his plans, a mix of plans he already had with current ideas.

’The Theocracy has always stayed out of direct war, just selling resources and making money. But if it is attacked, it will be forced to choose one of the sides... but how... I still need to think... for now, I need to put what I already have into practice.’ The emperor always speaks his plans as if he were conversing with himself.

A personal way of adjusting what he knows and what is in his mind by putting it into words. His gratitude toward Nio is genuine, precisely because he had nothing that could help shift the balance. Lies without a plan or true parts are worthless.

But what Nio said hits a truth that will support his lies, so he is truly happy to have had that small conversation with Nio, despite the irritation at what she said.

’Just a little more. When everything aligns, the entire continent will be in the hands of the Empire!! And then? The world!! Everything will be under the unified banner of my empire. I will change this world forever and mark history as the greatest emperor who ever lived, and any ancestor or successor I ever had or will have will be mere footnotes in history.’