Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 36

7. Conflict and Confrontation

1

Baron Jonathan, a young noble considered a rising star within the Emperor’s faction, held a key position in the Imperial Ministry of Internal Affairs.

His exceptional work ethic and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor led many to predict he would become the Minister of Internal Affairs within a decade.

Emperor Rudolf also held him in high esteem, often summoning him to offer praise.

“Haa… Is it really this late already?”

Noticing the darkness outside, Jonathan set aside his documents and stood up from his desk.

His wife had been increasingly nagging him about working late.

Leaving the Ministry of Internal Affairs building, he hurried back to his mansion, heading to the second-floor bedroom, hoping to appease his upset wife.

“My dear, I’m ho….”

Thwack!

Baron Jonathan, opening the bedroom door, was shocked. A blade had suddenly pierced his chest from behind.

Barely turning his head, he glared at his attacker with resentful eyes.

“Hehehe, blame yourself for being part of the Emperor’s faction.”

With that cold sneer, the sword was pulled out of Jonathan’s heart.

The assassin vanished without a trace.

“H, honey….”

The Baroness, witnessing her husband’s brutal murder, was in disbelief.

Her face paled as she trembled, approaching her fallen husband.

It had to be a lie.

It had to be a prank, a surprise since she had been nagging him lately.

She wanted to believe it, but her husband’s body was growing cold, and the blood from his heart was soaking the floor.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

Finally realizing the reality, the Baroness let out a piercing scream.

“Tch! Pathetic fools. They can’t even reach a conclusion after discussing countermeasures all day. I don’t know what they’re doing. They should be raising an army right now!”

Baron Dugal, a renowned noble from the western part of the Empire, was a sturdy man of forty with top-tier Expert-level swordsmanship skills, making him one of the most skilled swordsmen in the west.

Upon hearing the tragic news of Marquis Cabanel, he rushed to the capital and held meetings with the noble faction lords all night.

However, the noble faction was indecisive and unable to make any significant decisions.

They couldn’t pressure the Emperor’s faction due to a lack of evidence, nor could they simply ignore the situation.

So, besides deciding to convene an emergency meeting with all the remaining noble faction members who hadn’t yet arrived in the capital, no other decisions were made.

“Tsk, tsk, what a frustrating bunch.”

With a personality as hasty as his martial prowess, he almost quit the noble faction.

But now, neither the Emperor’s faction nor the small neutral faction would welcome him. He was stuck with the noble faction until the end, whether it led to ruin or success.

‘There’s no end to discussions with these indecisive people. It would be better to consult with Duke Butler.’

As Baron Dugal thought this, the carriage entered a secluded alley on the outskirts.

“Huh? Where are we going?”

Puzzled by the carriage entering an unfamiliar alley instead of heading home, Dugal tried to call the coachman.

But before he could, the carriage stopped, and the coachman spoke.

“Please get out.”

Stepping out, Dugal swallowed a groan as he looked at the coachman.

“You’re not the coachman!”

His face was that of the coachman who always drove his carriage, but the aura he exuded was distinctly different.

“Hehehe, you’re slower than I thought to realize it.”

The coachman’s face seemed to twitch, transforming into the face of an unfamiliar young man.

“Did the Emperor’s faction send you as an assassin?”

At Dugal’s question, as he reached for his sword, the young man smiled faintly and nodded.

“Let’s just say that.”

From his answer, Dugal realized the young man wasn’t an assassin sent by the Emperor’s faction.

‘Then who the hell?’

In the Imperial Capital, assassinating a noble would result in the execution of three generations of the perpetrator’s family. Could another faction besides the Emperor’s faction commit such a heinous act?

Dugal was about to ask the other party’s identity but stopped himself.

They likely wouldn’t answer honestly, and talking wasn’t his style.

‘It would be better to cut off an arm or a leg first and then interrogate him.’

An assassin is just an assassin, no matter how strong they are.

He might be dangerous if he hid and launched a surprise attack, but in a head-on fight, he was confident he wouldn’t lose.

Moreover, two Expert-level escort knights were in the carriage.

The escort knights had already drawn their swords, ready to step forward first.

“I’ll make you regret showing yourself before me.”

“Will you really?”

“Ugh!”

The escort knights, about to charge, suddenly clutched their chests and staggered.

Dark red blood streamed from their noses and mouths.

Baron Dugal, startled and stepping back, suddenly staggered from a severe pain in his heart.

“P, poison… How did you…?”

“I sprayed it before you got into the carriage. You were poisoned while breathing on the way here.”

“You cowardly bastard!”

Enraged, Baron Dugal gritted his teeth and drew his sword.

However, the moment he infused his sword with aura [a magical energy], the pain intensified, and his body betrayed him, collapsing.

“I will never forgive you, even in death.”

Dugal, cursing the young man, fell to the ground, spitting blood as he died.

Seeing this, the young man gave a cold smile.

“I made it in a hurry, but it’s more effective than I thought.”

The poison that killed Baron Dugal was made from the blood of the monster Harpy, commonly used by assassins.

This poison spread faster with intense activity like using aura, so it was mainly used when assassinating knights.

Usually, it was applied to daggers or mixed into food or drinks, but the young man dispersed it in the air.

“That’s another one taken care of.”

Muttering to himself, the young man dropped something next to Baron Dugal as if by mistake and disappeared into the darkness.

2

The tension in the Imperial Capital, already high due to Marquis Cabanel’s death, was shaken by another wave of turmoil.

Overnight, several nobles from both the Emperor’s faction and the noble faction had been killed.

Naturally, both sides were in an uproar.

They set out to find the culprit, and unlike the case of Marquis Cabanel, they found small clues left behind.

These clues were mostly trivial and suspicious items, such as epaulets used by the Imperial Army or handkerchiefs sold near the noble faction’s mansions.

However, both sides, already suspicious of each other, were too busy blaming and antagonizing each other rather than determining the clues’ credibility.

“This is the Emperor’s faction’s attempt to kill us.”

“That’s right. Although there’s no evidence, Marquis Cabanel’s death was clearly their doing as well.”

A manor on the outskirts of Nemesis.

Many key figures of the noble faction had gathered there.

They vehemently denounced the Emperor’s faction’s assassinations and demanded countermeasures.

“Duke Butler, please say something.”

At the head of the conference room sat a large, white-haired old man with sharp eyes. It was Duke Butler, the representative of the noble faction’s military power.

A great noble with vast territories in the west, he had rushed to the capital upon hearing of Marquis Cabanel’s death.

Having remained silent, he finally spoke at the urging of the other nobles.

“Is it really the Emperor’s faction’s doing?”

“Yes, all the clues point to the Emperor’s faction.”

At the words of a young noble, Duke Cardiff thought it was quite a coincidence.

The Emperor he knew would never do something so clumsy as leaving behind evidence.

However, no matter how meticulous Emperor Rudolf was, it was impossible to assume all the other nobles of the Emperor’s faction were the same.

Among the Emperor’s faction, many were just freeloaders, except for their loyalty.

It was possible that such freeloaders, in their overzealous loyalty to save the Emperor, had committed clumsy acts.

Whatever the reason, if that assumption was correct, the responsibility would ultimately fall on their leader, the Emperor.

“Marquis Myers, what are your thoughts?”

At Duke Butler’s question, Marquis Myers, sitting opposite him, spoke.

“I also find it suspicious, but we can’t just stand by. Shouldn’t we at least prepare some safety measures?”

Marquis Myers, who had arrived in the capital before Duke Butler, argued that the noble faction’s power should be united.

If they remained scattered, they would be defeated one by one.

“So, are you perhaps talking about a rebellion?”

The nobles’ faces turned serious at the word “rebellion.”

That was how heavy the meaning of that word was.

“It’s not a rebellion. It’s just showing our united strength to the Emperor and demanding that the mastermind behind this incident be punished. And we’re also asking for some of the Emperor’s authority to be transferred to the Imperial Council.”

In other words, it was a show of force.

In fact, the noble faction didn’t think they could easily win a head-on fight with the Emperor’s faction.

The objective assessment was that the Emperor’s military power and the remaining military strength of the Emperor’s faction were still superior to the noble faction.

If they were optimistic, it was that half of the six Sword Masters currently in the Empire belonged to the noble faction, since Count Kyle had been killed in the last battle.

In particular, Duke Butler, said to be the strongest after Emperor Rudolf, was also highly trusted by the knights of the Central Army.

Therefore, they thought the Emperor’s faction wouldn’t ignore their demands.

“Hmm, is that the only way?”

“Yes, we’re already on the back of a flying dragon [a metaphor for being in a dangerous situation], and retreating now is the same as admitting defeat.”

Many nobles in the noble faction were from royal or noble families of kingdoms occupied by the Baroque Empire in the past, like Marquis Myers.

Therefore, they had weak loyalty to the Imperial Family.

The reason they had silently followed for the past few hundred years was simply because they lacked power.

“I agree with Marquis Myers’s idea.”

“That’s right. If not now, when will we show our strength?”

Nobles expressing their agreement appeared from all sides.

In the end, according to the majority opinion, the noble faction decided to gather their territorial armies in both Duke Butler’s and Marquis Myers’s territories to pressure the Imperial Family.

Clang!

“How the hell did this happen? Killing other nobles of the noble faction besides Marquis Cabanel!”

In the Emperor’s office.

Emperor Rudolf was furiously yelling at Count Voltaire.

This was because something had happened that he had not ordered.

However, Count Voltaire was just as frustrated.

“I also don’t know what’s going on. I summoned the Master of Hydra [likely a leader of an assassin group] and questioned him, but he insisted it wasn’t their doing.”

“Then whose doing is it? And are you sure the nobles on our side were really killed by those noble faction bastards?”

Among the nobles of the Emperor’s faction who had died were knights and mages, as well as administrative officials he cherished.

They were talents who would have worked tirelessly for the Imperial Family, but they had died in an instant.

“That hasn’t been clearly determined yet… We are mobilizing the entire intelligence department to investigate, so the truth will be revealed soon.”

Clues pointing to the noble faction were found near the bodies of the Emperor’s faction nobles.

However, the evidence was too obvious, making it hard to know whether to believe it or not.

Therefore, the entire Imperial Intelligence Department was mobilized to investigate.

“Damn it, nothing is going right!”

Rudolf, frustrated, pounded his chest.

Count Voltaire could only look at the Emperor with a remorseful expression, unable to say anything.

3

‘Hehehe, yes, tear each other apart!’

Luke, who had orchestrated all of this, burst into laughter as the atmosphere in the Imperial Capital became ominous.

If even a small conflict broke out between the Emperor’s faction and the noble faction, it would quickly escalate into a civil war.

Even if the Emperor won, he would suffer a lot of damage.

If that happened, he might get a golden opportunity to get rid of one of his two mortal enemies.

‘I originally thought I would need to build up my strength for another ten years, but unexpectedly, the time might be greatly shortened.’

It was then that Luke was thinking this. There was a knock, and a group of people entered.

“Lord Luke!”

Among the people, a slender, silver-haired beauty ran to him and hugged him.

Anna, who had guided the people in, looked shocked at the sight.

“Reina?! No, how are you here?”

Luke’s face was filled with joy and surprise at her sudden appearance.

Before coming to the Imperial Capital, he had sent replies to the letters he had received, but he never imagined that Princess Reina would come to the Imperial Capital to see him.

“You said you were going to the Imperial Capital for the reward issue. I couldn’t wait any longer, so….”

Perhaps because she had acted on her emotions without realizing it, Reina blushed slightly and stepped back.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Hahaha, as you can see, I’m fine. So, how have you been? Were you hurt anywhere?”

“I was so worried about you, my lord; my heart was in turmoil the whole time.”

“Oh, stop exaggerating…”

The two were so engrossed in catching up, oblivious to the people around them. The time they had spent apart had only deepened their longing and affection for each other.

However, to those unaware of their feelings, it was nothing more than a cringeworthy display.

“Ahem, my lord. It seems we’re invisible to you?”

“Ah, you all came too.”

Hans and several other retainers wore disappointed expressions. Their lord, whom they had raised and cared for like a child, was now showing a rather ungrateful side.

Regardless, Luke was blunt.

“If you had reports, you could have sent them by letter. Why did you all think of coming here?”

“We heard Princess Reina was coming, so we tagged along to see you, my lord.”

The news of the lord’s safe return and achievements in the war against the Volga Republic had reached them.

However, the retainers were just as worried about Luke as Princess Reina was. Fearing he might be injured, several of them had volunteered to escort the princess as representatives.

“Let’s all sit down first. And Princess, please sit here.”

Luke, having seated Reina next to him, turned to Anna and said,

“Anna, please bring some refreshments.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Anna replied with a noticeably deflated voice, her shoulders slumped as she left the room.

However, Luke, who was focused on Reina, did not notice her dejected state.

Once everyone was seated, they began to exchange news about what had happened in the meantime.

The retainers, having confirmed Luke’s well-being, finally looked relieved.

Soon, reports about the territory began. Although it had been nearly two months since the last report, not much had changed.

The territory was being well-managed by the retainers, and the city of Lamer was thriving more than before the territory war, thanks to Reina and the Merchant Guild’s leadership.

Furthermore, the Katarina Magic Tower, under Mute’s guidance, was steadily growing, attracting free mages and training children with magical talent from the territory.

“And, as per your orders, my lord, we have consistently recruited soldiers, resulting in seven thousand soldiers, five hundred knights, and a total of eighty Gigants [large, powerful war machines].”

Luke was pleased with the military strength, which was a world apart from when he had first opened his eyes.

“You’ve all done well. However, we are still far from achieving our goals, so please continue to strive.”

“Understood.”

The retainers bowed their heads in unison at Luke’s request.

“Oh, right, Hans. I heard you created an intelligence organization?”

Luke asked, as if suddenly remembering.

“I was just about to tell you, my lord. Come in.”

Hans clapped his hands, and the door opened, revealing a middle-aged man with a stern expression.

The man approached Luke, knelt, and bowed his head.

“My name is Hudson.”

“Hudson…”

As Luke quietly observed Hudson, Hans explained his background.

“He was once a high-ranking member of the Imperial Capital’s information guild. He was betrayed by his subordinates and nearly killed, but I saved him. I thought he would be perfect for this job, so I appointed him as the head of ‘Argos’.”

“Argos? Is that the name of the territory’s intelligence department?”

“It’s named after the monster with countless eyes, to signify that we will know every situation on the continent. If you have another name in mind, we can change it.”

“No, it’s fine. Keep it.”

Luke turned his gaze back to Hudson, scrutinizing him closely.

An intelligence organization cannot function with just anyone. It requires specialized knowledge and connections.

In that regard, someone who had worked as a high-ranking member of the Imperial Capital’s information guild was suitable.

However, one concern was whether this man could be trusted. Moreover, Luke sensed an unusual magical wave emanating from Hudson’s head.

“This fellow seems to have a mental magic spell on him?”

“Oh, you noticed? As you can see, there’s a mental restraint on his head to prevent any betrayal. Of course, it was done with his consent.”

At Hans’s explanation, Luke looked at Hudson with a surprised expression, and Hudson nodded as if to confirm the truth.

Mental magic or brainwashing through dark magic had the same effect in preventing betrayal.

However, unlike simple brainwashing that dulls the mind and forces obedience, mental magic involved placing several restrictions, causing extreme pain if the person acted or spoke against them.

In a reality where dark magic was forbidden, mental restraints through mental magic were often used by some noble families as a means to prevent absolute betrayal.

However, it was generally imposed, and it was rare to hear of someone volunteering to receive such a restraint.

In that sense, Hudson was unique.

“But who cast the restraint?”

“Mute knew about it, so he cast it.”

Upon hearing Hans’s words, Luke spoke to Hudson.

“Do you not regret it?”

“You saved my life and gave me an important position. A restraint is nothing. If I could, I would give my soul to serve you.”

Philip clicked his tongue inwardly at Hudson’s resolute bow.

‘I wonder how he’d react if he knew that the lord was a dark mage who actually manipulates souls.’

Not just any souls, but a powerful figure who controls even the souls of evil demons.

Philip was also shocked when he belatedly learned that Luke had demons as subordinates.

“Depending on your performance, I will reward you greatly, so do not disappoint me or my people.”

“I will do my best.”

After Hudson, who had pledged his loyalty, left, Luke introduced Anna and Alex to his retainers.

Since they were to join the retainer group, he wanted them to greet everyone first.

“These are subordinates I gained from my post. There are more, but you’ll meet them gradually later.”

“Oh! They look strong at first glance.”

“Their future is promising.”

Alex gave a faint smile at the retainers’ generous praise, but Anna was too busy scrutinizing Reina.

She was looking for any flaws that might make her inferior.

However, Reina’s beauty, which was almost sacred, her perfect proportions, and her natural grace were enough to make her feel defeated.

The only thing Anna was better at than Reina was her sturdy physique, which could rival even male knights.

Anyone would say it was an insurmountable wall, but…

‘Hmph! I won’t lose!’

Anna, burning with fighting spirit, glanced at Reina. However, Reina simply smiled kindly at her.

“By the way, my lord, the atmosphere in the Imperial Capital seems unusual. Is something going on?”

At one of the retainers’ questions, Luke explained as much as he could reveal.

The retainers’ eyes sparkled as they listened to his story.

“Hmm, there might be a civil war soon.”

“If the two factions fight each other, it will be advantageous for us, right?”

“If we’re lucky, we might have a chance to avenge the past 500 years…”

“Ahem! Do you forget where you are? ‘Walls have ears,’ as they say. Be careful what you say.”

The retainers quickly shut their mouths at Hans’s scolding.

If their words were to leak out here, they might incur the wrath of both noble factions.

“Alright, alright, it’s getting late, so let’s call it a day and meet again tomorrow.”

Luke ended the meeting early, concerned that the retainers might be tired from their long journey.

4

The next day, Luke spent a pleasant time with Reina, visiting famous tourist spots in the Imperial Capital.

“Shouldn’t you be attending the victory parade at the central square?”

“My subordinates will handle it well.”

“But there must be many people who came to see the war hero.”

“I made an excuse that I was resting due to a fever, so it’s fine.”

The Emperor was probably preoccupied with the noble faction issue and wouldn’t have time to worry about his negligence.

Therefore, Luke decided to dedicate the day to Reina, as compensation for his absence.

“The old Imperial Palace…”

Luke and Reina entered a white marble fortress near the Imperial Palace.

This was once the palace of the Kingdom of Livia, and it had been well-preserved since the first Emperor, Carno de Barok, held his coronation there.

It was used as a guest palace for visitors, but it had been open to tourists for several years.

“I know this place. I used to live here when I was in the Imperial Capital as a child.”

Reina’s face lit up with a nostalgic smile as she recalled her childhood memories.

“That cherry tree is still the same as before. I used to climb it and get scolded by Sir Pavel.”

“You must have been quite the tomboy.”

“Yes, if I hadn’t been scolded, I might have become a knight.”

“Hmm… I can’t quite imagine that.”

After exploring the old Imperial Palace with Reina’s memories, the two moved to another location.

It was a low hill slightly away from the downtown area, with an old temple at the top.

“Wow, you can see the entire Imperial Capital from here.”

“The sunset view from here is amazing.”

Not long after Luke spoke, the sun began to set. The red glow began to paint the sky.

The magnificent scenery remained unchanged even after 500 years.

“Oh my, it’s so beautiful.”

“It’s one of the hidden scenic spots of Nemesis that an acquaintance introduced me to.”

Luke gave a bitter smile.

The person who had shown him that scenic spot was Katarina.

Ironically, he, who had been introduced to the place by her, was now showing it to someone who resembled her.

“But it’s a bit strange.”

“Strange?”

“I lived in the Imperial Capital as a child, but I rarely went outside the guest palace. But somehow… this scenery doesn’t feel unfamiliar. It feels like I’ve been here before.”

Luke’s heart skipped a beat at Princess Reina’s words.

He knew that Reina resembled Katarina, but they were not the same person.

However, hearing these words made him feel strange.

‘Could it be that reincarnation and rebirth exist, as they say in the Southern Continent?’

If Reina was truly Katarina’s reincarnation, he would be sincerely grateful to the gods.

“Let’s go back now. If we’re late, you’ll get scolded by Sir Pavel like when you were a child.”

“I wish we could stay a little longer, even if I get scolded.”

Reina gently took Luke’s hand.

Luke smiled faintly and held her hand as they walked down the hill.

After enjoying a date with Reina and returning to the hotel, Luke heard unexpected news from Alex.

“The Imperial Council’s war hearing has been canceled.”

“What?”

“The Emperor canceled it using his authority because it seemed like something would go wrong if the hearing were held.”

“Is that even possible?”

“It is according to the Imperial Law.”

Luke looked very disappointed. However, Alex was not finished yet.

“And this is something I heard from my father this morning. The noble faction is currently gathering their territorial forces in two places: the Butler Duchy and the Myers Marquisate.”

They were claiming it was a joint training exercise for monster subjugation between friendly territories, but no one believed it.

There was no reason to make such a grand event for monster subjugation, and the timing was too suspicious.

“So, what about the Emperor?”

“He ordered them to immediately stop the training and disband, but the noble faction refused.”

In response, the Emperor’s faction was planning to move the Imperial Knights and some of the Central Army to the vicinity of the two territories to keep them in check.

“Is a civil war going to break out like this?”

At Alex’s words, Luke thought for a moment and then shook his head.

“It’s a shame, but it won’t happen.”

“Why not?”

“Neither side is full of idiots, so they won’t go to the extreme. And if a real civil war were about to happen, they wouldn’t move their troops so openly.”

They would have moved secretly to avoid being noticed by the enemy.

“So, it’s a show of force?”

“It’s a kind of brinkmanship. It means that if you don’t yield here, they won’t stand still anymore.”

Luke considered shaking both sides a little more but gave up. If the tail is too long, it will be caught. He had been safe so far, but there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t be discovered in the future.

Both sides were desperately searching the Imperial Capital for the person who had assassinated their noble allies.

‘So, I shouldn’t do anything that could give them a reason to suspect me. If I do, the seeds of discord I’ve sown might not even have a chance to sprout.’

As Luke had predicted, the next day, rumors spread throughout Nemesis that the Emperor’s faction and the noble faction had agreed to reconcile.

Alex found out that the Emperor had made some kind of promise, and all the noble faction’s forces that had been gathering had returned to their respective territories.

“It turned out as I thought.”

It was a shame, but there was nothing he could do.

However, his scheme was not entirely without results.

Although the two factions had reached a compromise in the end, the rift between them had deepened more than before.

In fact, the hot-blooded young nobles on both sides were complaining about this inconclusive result, and their animosity towards the other side had increased.

If there was any trigger in the future, the two factions would draw their swords against each other at any time.

Therefore, Luke decided not to rush and wait for a more opportune moment.