Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 204

204.

After yesterday’s sparring match, the nobles’ attitude changed noticeably.

“Your Highness, shall we return all the gifts?”

Soris was bustling around.

The gifts filling the reception room were, ridiculously, all sent by the noble faction.

They were gifts to celebrate the birth of the greatest spiritist in history.

The noble faction no longer doubted that I would be the next emperor.

A skilled person who could push the Emperor himself!

That meant that, excluding my father, I was the strongest on the continent.

The Calpheon Empire was built on my father’s martial prowess.

In other words, martial prowess was a very large part of the requirements to become emperor.

The nobles knew this better than anyone and sent gifts to foster a friendly relationship.

Just because they sent gifts didn’t mean they would immediately become my subordinates or defect to the Crown Prince faction.

This gift was, literally, groundwork for a friendly relationship in the future.

They would still insist on the vested interests of the nobles, and I would try to protect the influence of the Imperial Family and my forces, so we were bound to clash.

‘Even Duke Beregon and Duke Austin sent gifts.’

Since even the two leaders of the noble faction had sent gifts, it seemed that the matter of succession could now be excluded from the plan.

“No. There’s no need to return them. Just send appropriate thank-you letters.”

“Yes.”

“Convert any of the gifts that can be converted into cash and add them to the reconstruction project in the capital’s slums.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Soris answered with a bright face.

“Anything else?”

“His Majesty has ordered you to have breakfast in the Great Hall.”

“Is that so? I’ll go.”

* * *

It wasn’t the Great Hall, but my father’s office that I was summoned to.

My father dismissed the aides inside and spoke with me alone.

After the sparring match, my father expressed his true feelings to me for the first time.

It was very unfamiliar.

I learned what kind of person my father was after having dinner with him at the Empress’s Palace, but I didn’t know he would tell me such honest stories.

Perhaps that’s why. I felt more comfortable dealing with my father than before.

Protecting the Crown Prince position was completely over, and all that remained was to protect the Empire.

My father’s reason for protecting the Empire was for revenge, but I was slightly different from my father.

My mother’s revenge was also revenge, but I wanted to protect and prosper the Calpheon Empire.

The Calpheon Empire was my new homeland, and the Crown Prince was my new identity.

Unlike my days in modern society, my goal in life as Arun Cal Leod was always one thing.

To keep the Crown Prince position.

Now that I had succeeded in keeping my position, it was time to set the next goal, and I decided to protect the Calpheon Empire.

The Calpheon Empire was surrounded by enemies.

I made that clear to my father.

As I explained what happened in the West, my father’s expression grew increasingly distorted.

“The Purifying Fire Order… a religion. This has become troublesome.”

My father’s reaction was unexpected.

“Didn’t you know about the Purifying Fire Order?”

“I knew about them. But I thought their calling each other priests was a kind of deception. I didn’t think they were really a religion that worshiped a god.”

“Is it difficult to deal with a religion that really worships a god?”

My father nodded at my question.

“It’s difficult. There are many religions on the continent, but religions are respected as religions in themselves. Many people have religions.”

My father continued.

“If the power of the state begins to interfere with religion, there will be many nobles who oppose it. They even brought fairies in as priests, so wouldn’t there be noble priests?”

“It doesn’t seem like it’s time to touch the fairy named Ren yet. Internal control is needed first.”

My father agreed with me.

“You should leave for your direct territory.”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to take care of things in the Imperial Palace.”

My father spread a map on his office desk.

It was a map of the Empire.

“To the northeast is the Kingdom Union, to the west are the fairies, and to the south is the Southern Alliance. The Empire is surrounded by enemies.”

“Are the fairies enemies too?”

“It’s common sense to define the leader as a priest of the Purifying Fire Order as an enemy.”

“If you define even the fairies as enemies, the Empire will be completely isolated.”

“Originally, we were isolated. Many kingdoms are rejecting our newborn empire. Or they are afraid.”

My father circled my direct territory.

“The former capital of the Pieron Kingdom, which was newly incorporated into the Empire. Now it’s Grenian, right?”

“Yes.”

“This place is very important. The Kingdom Union will not give up the granary. And by now, they probably know that Grenian is your direct territory.”

“They probably do.”

“Go stabilize your direct territory and grow it into a complete border city.”

My father urged.

“You don’t have to worry about the Imperial Palace. Now there will be no one aiming for your position… and the nobles who dreamed of the Crown Prince position will be looking for other ways to maintain their influence.”

I felt dazed when my father directly said that I didn’t have to worry about the Crown Prince position.

I had expected it to some extent after the sparring match, and we had talked about it, but it was the first time I had heard it directly.

“The crazy bastards who are trying to summon the Demon King are Iriel’s enemies. They are powerful enough to even bring in fairies. This means that it may be difficult to wipe them out with the current power of the Empire alone.”

My father continued calmly.

“The power of the Imperial Family has been sustained only by my martial prowess. Now, not only my martial prowess but also your martial prowess has been added.”

My father patted me on the shoulder.

“You have not only martial prowess but also some political power. And now it’s time to lay the foundation.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll take care of the fairies. And the Southern Alliance. Use the pretext of checking the Kingdom Union to greatly increase your power in Grenian.”

My father added one last thing.

“It doesn’t matter if you put the entire Pieron Kingdom under your influence.”

* * *

I summoned my subordinates in the evening.

I also invited Duke James.

I also called Marquis Mike, who was adapting well to the Imperial Palace.

The Crown Prince’s Palace dining room was full of people.

The atmosphere was very good.

Duke James seemed very happy that his son-in-law had become as strong as his father.

“It’s hard to believe even when I see Your Highness growing so quickly.”

I filled Duke James’s wine glass and replied.

“It’s thanks to the help of many people.”

“Your Highness’s position was solidified after the coming-of-age ceremony and the wedding, but yesterday’s sparring match was a place to show a powerful force that no one could challenge.”

Marquis Mike also agreed.

“I felt it when you fought the orcs in the West, but Your Highness’s strength is truly amazing.”

I smiled faintly.

“I don’t know what to do with the compliments.”

For a while, Duke James and Marquis Mike continued to praise me.

After the meal was over to some extent, I started the main story.

“His Majesty has ordered me to go to my direct territory.”

Everyone’s attention was focused.

“It seems that he expects me to build a larger force under the pretext of checking the Kingdom Union.”

Duke James replied with a strange expression.

“Did His Majesty directly mention a larger force?”

“Yes.”

Duke James said cautiously.

“It’s not good for power to be divided, but His Majesty is directly dividing his power with Your Highness.”

I shuddered. Duke James’s words reminded me of something I had forgotten.

Power is not even shared with children.

But soon I remembered what my father had said.

“My father was looking for a companion.”

Ken stepped forward at my words.

“It seems that he has judged that it is difficult to deal with the Purifying Fire Order alone?”

As expected, it was Ken.

I summarized the situation so far for Marquis Mike, who did not know the details.

Marquis Mike’s expression changed from moment to moment.

Hamilton said.

“There is a knight named Karen, isn’t there?”

Duke James reacted first.

“Are you talking about the knight from the Kingdom Union that His Majesty had an eye on?”

“Yes.”

Hamilton nodded and continued.

“Karen, who was staying as a guest of the Jane family, was recently appointed as Jane’s successor.”

The future was completely twisted.

‘Karen is Jane’s successor?’

Jane certainly doesn’t have a successor, but it’s not like she doesn’t have blood relatives to the point where she would choose an outsider as her successor.

The nobles of this era really value bloodlines.

Jane also seemed to know that Karen’s talent was enormous and wanted to completely tie her to her forces.

“There are two people presumed to be priests of the Purifying Fire Order in the Jane family’s territory. And they had frequent meetings with Karen.”

Ken said at Hamilton’s words.

“The knight named Karen may have already fallen into the hands of the Purifying Fire Order.”

Marquis Mike asked.

“Isn’t that too hasty of a judgment?”

Ken shook his head.

“They have exerted influence in each country. Daret even became a marquis in the Pieron Kingdom, and the apex of the fairies is a priest.”

Ken analyzed the power of the Purifying Fire Order in detail.

“The number of priests may not be large, but their influence is by no means inferior to that of the Empire. The fact that there are two priests in the Jane family’s territory right now means that they can move Jane.”

Was that something that could be so amplified? I asked immediately.

“They may just be staying there. Jane may not be interested in the priests of the Purifying Fire Order.”

“Of course, that could be the case, but so far they are not influencing just anyone. They will probably be able to move Jane in some way.”

The conclusion to that was one.

“That means they can influence the royal family of the Kingdom Union. Jane is also the son-in-law of the current king of the Kingdom Union.”

With Gordon’s death, the number of Sword Masters in the Kingdom Union was reduced to two.

Jane’s influence was greater among them.

‘With Karen joining them.’

I opened my mouth.

“Hurry up and prepare to go to the direct territory, Lilian.”

Lilian and I made eye contact.

“Prepare for the ruins investigation.”

Lilian nodded.

I turned my gaze to Ken.

“Ken, Vikan.”

Vikan was startled when I called his name.

It seemed that Vikan was still awkward in this kind of place.

But I thought of Vikan as one of my people.

His influence within the Crown Prince faction is by no means small.

I added, thinking that he should have some confidence.

“Vikan has a lot to do in the direct territory. First, let’s stock up on food.”

“Are you talking about military rations?”

As expected, he understood right away.

Since I was prepared for war with the Kingdom Union, stockpiling military rations was very important.

“That’s right.”

“I’ll prepare it.”

I talked about this and that with my subordinates until late at night.

My father subtly revealed that he wanted me to manage not only the direct territory but also the entire Pieron Kingdom.

‘It’s not just about increasing the power of the successor. He wants me to grow into someone almost equal to him and help him as a colleague.’

I have no intention of betraying my father’s expectations.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the time when Arun was discussing the direct territory with his subordinates in the dining room, Ron also called his subordinates.

“The Purifying Fire Order is slowly trying to come out into the open.”

Ron’s voice was more murderous than ever.

“There’s not much time left.”

“The Crown Prince…”

Ron replied briefly to one of the shadows.

“Continue to raise Arun, so that he can exert influence comparable to mine. While he is building a base centered on the direct territory, you manage the lords in the West. That side is the mainstream of the Crown Prince faction.”

Ron added.

“Retirement is not far off. My unexpected son is growing up so fast that he seems to be telling me to finish work quickly and rest.”