Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 132

132.

From the morning, I called Soris and started talking about money.

“Are the funds sufficient?”

Since Soris was in charge of the Crown Prince’s palace administration, I intended to hold the banquet within the budget he allowed.

‘It’s the first banquet. It’s better to open it grandly, even if it’s a bit excessive.’

I revealed my thoughts to Soris.

“Since it’s the first one, I’d like to hold it quite grandly, enough for all the central nobles to participate.”

“The budget is sufficient. The palace’s budget has greatly increased through the Western Expedition.”

“Good.”

I gave a satisfied smile. Since I called Soris anyway, I also asked about Hamilton.

“How is Hamilton doing?”

I was worried that the role he was assigned might be limited to administration, which might make him feel disappointed.

Soris smiled as if he knew my concerns.

“He’s a really good talent. He has already won over the guild members.”

“Is he okay?”

I asked subtly to confirm Soris’s feelings, and Soris nodded.

“The guild members’ abilities were too outstanding for me to lead. Now that I’m fully in charge of administration, this job suits me much better.”

Soris is a precious connection to me. When I was struggling with spirit magic, he gave me a lot of advice, and thanks to him, I easily reached my current level.

Soris was the one who laid the foundation, so it was no exaggeration to say he was my teacher.

“Thank you for everything. Replenish people under you as well. There will be many talented people from the academy.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

I divided the organization into four main parts: the Knights Order, the Administration Department, the Military Department, and the Intelligence Department.

The heads of each were all determined.

Now that continuous talent recruitment and corresponding budget are secured, it will run smoothly for the time being.

Soris bowed and left.

I called the servant outside.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Call Hamilton and Ken.”

After speaking to the servant, I leaned back in my chair.

‘Expedition to the Pyreon Kingdom…….’

I was unexpectedly assigned a big mission.

“Your Highness, it’s Ken and Hamilton.”

“Ah, come in.”

I called the two while pressing my temples with my fingers.

“Did you call for us?”

“Did you have breakfast?”

“Yes.”

I turned my gaze to Hamilton.

“How is palace life?”

“I adapted quickly. All the organization members are highly capable and loyal, so it’s not difficult.”

“I heard that you finished taking over the organization. That’s great. It wouldn’t have been easy to win over your subordinates’ hearts in such a short period.”

Hamilton replied briefly.

“I am imparting the secret techniques.”

I was momentarily speechless. Hamilton was sharing his treasures with the subordinates he had just met as if it was nothing.

‘I need to learn from this.’

A vassal’s excellence pleased the monarch. I also strengthened my resolve to do my best for them.

“If you need anything, feel free to speak up at any time.”

I finished with that and brought up the main topic.

“I’d like you to organize a list of nobles to invite to the banquet.”

“Yes.”

At Ken’s reply, I also said to Hamilton.

“Hamilton, please organize information on the central major nobles.”

“Yes.”

Hamilton could have a lot of work.

“If you don’t have enough people, replenish them at any time. Of course, you have to be careful. Considering the characteristics of the Intelligence Department, trust is more important than any other organization.”

“I will pick them as carefully as possible. There are no major problems with the operation right now, but more people will be needed over time.”

I said, “Ah,” as if I had just remembered something.

“Also, find out more about the Bikan Merchant Guild.”

I came up without properly finishing the work in the West. For the time being, I was going to take care of the work in the West from the Imperial Palace.

“I will write a report and submit it soon.”

“Go out and work first.”

After Hamilton left, I said to Ken.

“It would be good to invite all the nobles in the capital.”

Ken also agreed with my words.

“Yes.”

Ted held the most banquets. In this Crown Prince’s palace, numerous nobles gather once a month to attend the banquets.

The number and faces of the nobles attending the banquet proved the influence Ted had.

‘To be exact, it’s Beregon.’

Not only Ted, but also the still young princes and princesses sometimes held banquets in their names.

‘I had no connection with social life at all.’

I smacked my lips with the thought of whether I should learn to dance.

“Invite the princes and princesses as well.”

At Ken’s suggestion, I widened my eyes.

“My siblings too?”

“Yes. This banquet will be held grandly, and it’s time for the other princes and princesses to feel Your Highness’s changed status once again.”

Ken continued.

“It is a banquet to celebrate the victory, but it is also a send-off banquet for the commander of the Eastern Expedition. Your Highness, emphasize that you are moving far ahead as the Crown Prince, not just one step.”

I was a little worried.

“Wouldn’t it instill too much wariness?”

“The princes and princesses are not Your Highness’s opponents. Their maternal relatives, the in-laws called prestigious families, are Your Highness’s opponents.”

“Well, Ted and Chen are now quite far from me.”

When I first came to the Calpheon Empire, the two were much stronger than me.

Now the situation has completely reversed.

They also had excellent talents, but my rate of development was unimaginable to anyone.

“Banquets are places to build power with prestige. Power cannot be made up only of those with strong loyalty. Power is formed by encompassing even those who opportunistically side with you for their own benefit.”

Ken’s advice was always helpful and pointed out the parts I didn’t know.

He is an excellent military officer.

“Not everyone can have the same loyalty as Gale. Please keep that fact in mind and gather your forces.”

“I will keep it in mind.”

Ken bowed.

“Don’t neglect the management of the West either.”

“Yes. As soon as the investigation into the Bikan Merchant Guild is over, I will move immediately. The investigation into the guilds that Marquis Mike has screened is also underway, so it won’t take long.”

“Good. Let’s hold the banquet with plenty of time. His Majesty has never set a deadline for the Eastern Expedition.”

* * *

The fact that Hamilton had taken control of the organization at once could be seen just by looking at the reports coming up.

-Attempt to absorb the Shadow Walk Guild.

I smiled at the report title.

‘He knows what’s needed. He even found a way to get it quickly.’

An intelligence organization is not created in a day or two.

In that situation, I wanted Hamilton’s immediate performance.

If he absorbed an organization with existing intelligence networks and high-quality information, he could complete the intelligence organization in a short period.

I read the report in detail.

‘The information accumulated by the assassin guild is of the highest quality anywhere.’

It was easier to judge if you thought of the assassin guild as having high-quality information, the thief guild as having a large amount of information, and the merchant alliance as being somewhere in between.

Hamilton was planning to completely eliminate the Shadow Guild, to which Soris belonged, and absorb all the information and intelligence networks accumulated there.

‘I can approve this right away.’

I looked at all the other reports one by one without skimming through them.

It took quite a long time.

I thought I wouldn’t have much to do since I had a well-organized organization, but there was so much work that it was good to see it as just the beginning.

‘I don’t even have time to train.’

Around lunchtime, I stretched and loosened my body.

“Your Highness, Prince Ted requests an audience.”

Ted?

I hurriedly said to the servant.

“Tell him to come to the dining room. Let’s have lunch together for the first time in a while.”

Ted’s visit was completely unexpected, but there was no reason not to meet him.

I wanted to see his face for the first time in a while.

Ted, my biggest competitor and younger brother right below me, was like a big mountain until recently.

A perfect personality as handsome as his face, and the background that his mother was the eldest daughter of Duke Beregon!

He was a Crown Prince candidate who lacked nothing.

When I was incompetent and had a timid personality, many nobles visited Ted’s palace.

Every time Ted held a banquet, so many nobles came that it was appropriate to say that Ted’s palace was overflowing.

Nobles came up from the capital and provinces to attend Ted’s banquet, whether they were invited or not.

Not only the nobles but also the general public praised Ted’s personality.

A prince who inherited his father’s talent and had a much warmer and more generous personality!

I got up and headed to the dining room where Ted was waiting.

The servants and maids greeted me every time I passed by. Most of them were faces I had never seen before.

As the Shadow Walk Guild members found their original mission, they newly selected all the servants and maids.

Before going to the West, I suffered from the threat of poisoning and assassins, but my skills had already greatly improved.

And Gale too.

Assassination in a place where there is a Sword Master is no different from saying you will die.

My changed position also played a big role in reducing the threat of assassination.

It is not a big deal for an incompetent Crown Prince to die. It may have been something they secretly wished for.

On the other hand, the political burden is too great for those who instigate the assassination of an outstanding Crown Prince.

“Your Highness!”

When I arrived at the dining room, Ted bowed to me.

“Let’s be comfortable since we’re in private. It’s been a while.”

I kindly offered Ted a seat like a really good brother.

“Before lunch, right?”

“Yes, Brother.”

Ted quickly put on a friendly impression. As expected, it seemed to be Ted’s nature to change masks whenever necessary.

‘If I were to compare it to the time I lived in, he’s still a kid who should be in school…… Isn’t he a scary guy?’

I didn’t show it.

With a soft smile, I filled Ted’s glass.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, Brother. Every time I hear news of you from the palace, I am even happier.”

“Yes, thank you. How have you been?”

“I have been training.”

“What brings you here?”

I asked as if passing by.

Ted also emptied his glass and answered calmly.

“I want to go to the Pyreon Kingdom with you, Brother.”

I didn’t answer.

Ted filled my glass and continued.

“Now it seems like it’s time for me to go to the front lines like you, Brother, and fulfill my duties as a member of the Imperial Family. I will never hold you back, so please accept me.”

“Hold you back…….”

I trailed off.

The profit and loss statement when taking Ted with me was spinning around in my head.

‘I don’t know if this proposal is Ted’s plan or Duke Beregon’s plan.’

No matter how young Ted was, he couldn’t be taken lightly.

Whoever’s plan it was, it was definitely an unexpected proposal.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Yes, Brother. Please consider it positively. Duke Beregon will also provide as much support as possible.”

I exclaimed, “Oh.”

It seemed the two had already finished talking.

“If it’s the support of the Aetran family, it’s reassuring. Then can I ask you for a favor?”

“Tell me anything. I will always listen to your story, Brother.”

If you only listened to the words, he was a loyalist, and if you only looked at the expression, he was a good brother who respected his brother.

Since I couldn’t know the inner self hidden behind the mask, I didn’t believe Ted’s words as they were.

I also hid my inner thoughts and suggested.

“Duke Beregon is going with us too, right? There are three Sword Masters in the enemy country, so we should have at least two. I’m also new to war, so the Duke’s experience will be of great help.”

Ted was silent for a moment.

Keep your friends close.

Keep your enemies closer.

I didn’t remember where I heard it, but I felt it was an appropriate time to apply it now.

‘Anyone can die on the battlefield. Not only the Crown Prince but even a meritorious subject.’

I smiled.

“Shall I speak to Duke Beregon directly?”

“No, Brother. There’s no need for you to bother. I will meet the Duke.”

I put down the fork and got up.

“Okay, thank you. Brother.”

I touched Ted’s shoulder.

I could feel his body trembling. Masks could only be used on the face. The humiliation felt in the trembling could not be hidden.