He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 148

Back on Earth, there were ‘secret societies’ known to the public through conspiracy theories.

Illuminati, Freemasons, Golden Dawn… They had various names and appealed to *chuunibyou* [a Japanese term for someone who exhibits delusional or grandiose behavior, often in early adolescence] sensibilities, so they were often quoted in novels and such.

The common thread of these ‘secret societies’ was that they were originally just social gatherings, not secret societies at all.

“Hendrik, how is the investigation into the ‘social gathering’ that the Count mentioned going?”

“The investigation itself is going smoothly. However… these guys are so elusive that it’s difficult to pinpoint their base before getting closer.”

Of course, this otherworld version of a secret society isn’t just a gathering of intellectuals. But the way they maintain their gatherings is very similar.

In other words, they too were surprisingly not ‘secret’ societies.

“So, there are several suspected gatherings?”

“Of course. It’s just difficult to identify which ones are them.”

“It’s likely a point-to-point organization. They can gather publicly, and at the same time, the risk of being caught is low.”

In a way, it’s obvious. If it’s really ‘completely secret’ from the start, who would know to join the society?

At least there needs to be a joining window, and that takes the form of social gatherings of nobles.

Of course, it’s not a structure that’s easy to find. You need to go through several connections in the noble network to participate.

“I regret to inform you that even the Counterintelligence Knights have not had much success. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not your fault. Of course, they wouldn’t be fools, so they must be well disguised.”

I took a sip of wine like a mafia boss and pulled out a plan.

“We need to change our approach.”

“Do you have any brilliant ideas?”

“It’s not really a brilliant idea. The method is simple.”

It’s difficult to simply track them down externally. They’re the type to hide as soon as they sense danger.

“So, we need to infiltrate them secretly.”

In simple terms, it means planting a spy.

To do that, we needed to become the beautiful bait they wanted most.

* * *

“Glory to the Queen of the Sea. Brother, how have you been?”

“Glory to the Queen, but alas, I have not been well.”

The cultists disguised as nobles secretly greeted each other.

The social gathering was in full swing, but their conversation was drowned out by the noise of the banquet hall, and no one could hear them.

“The situation of the cult has not been good in many ways recently. Not only the financial situation, but even the sacrifices to the Queen are not satisfactory.”

“That’s right, you might lose the Queen’s favor. We need her favor to fight against the Kthallion.”

“Who doesn’t know that? But where can we easily find a sacrifice that the Queen will be satisfied with?”

The two apostles of the cult clicked their tongues and looked around the banquet hall.

The nobles gathered here were all like empty husks.

Most of them had lost their former power after the civil war and were half-fallen, while those who had accumulated wealth were pirates and lacked grace.

Neither of them were the kind of figures that the ‘Queen of the Sea’ would be satisfied with.

Of course, if they caught and offered even those kinds of people, they would get some favor, but that was far from enough for their needs.

“It seems like this city is also a lost cause. We should cooperate with other branches and move-”

“No, wait, look over there.”

Just as he was about to give up on the branch in that city, one apostle pointed to one side of the banquet hall.

There was the person they wanted. Long silver hair, an appearance that could be called a beautiful boy, a tall body. And for some reason, wearing a wolf mask.

“Who is that…?”

“That’s Baron Shadow, who has recently appeared in social circles.”

“It seems to be a pseudonym. He’s wearing a mask too.”

“We’re wearing masks too, though.”

Although it’s a social gathering that feels more like an open window than a secret, many people used pseudonyms or masks to hide their real identities.

This was because the socializing here included smuggling, dishonorable matchmaking, and other ‘dishonest’ things like crimes.

“The important thing is that he’s said to be spending a lot of money.”

“Money?”

“Yes, he gives gifts for friendship if you show him a little favor, gives sponsorships, and spends money like water on businesses.”

“And he’s also flawless as a sacrifice for the Queen… He’s the talent we’ve been looking for.”

The two apostles agreed. But there was something a little unsettling.

“However, it feels too coincidental.”

“Coincidental?”

“Yes, didn’t the pirate Count we put so much effort into recently get dragged away by the Counterintelligence Knights? And the Siren we attached to him was also discovered and killed.”

“So you’re saying that guy is an informant?”

“There’s a possibility.”

Of course, there’s no evidence that he’s an informant. There’s not even a suspicion. Rather, there was evidence to the contrary.

“The money that guy is spending exceeds the level that the Counterintelligence Knights can mobilize. He spends money like an emperor. We can’t miss such a big fish because of mere suspicion.”

“But…”

“We’re going to brainwash him with a Siren anyway, so what’s the worry?”

“Hmm…”

The apostle who was advocating caution soon wavered.

Certainly, he was a big fish that was hard to miss.

And even if he was a real informant, that was good in its own way.

If they could seduce and brainwash him with a Siren, they could disrupt the Counterintelligence Knights in reverse.

“Okay, let’s send a Siren.”

They confidently sent a mermaid [in this context, a Siren is a type of mermaid with seductive powers].

Without knowing that it was bait.

* * *

Using bait meant using a strategy similar to fishing.

In other words, it meant that a lot of time and patience were needed.

In addition, the bait must be able to lure the fish to be caught.

The bait to be thrown here was myself and money at the same time.

“Baron Shadow, please invest in our business…”

“Do you need connections? If you give me a small reward…”

“Won’t you form a blood relationship with our family?”

The bait was excellent, so all sorts of small fry gathered. I just hoped that the real one would get caught, but unfortunately, there weren’t any easily.

But just because it was a waste of time didn’t necessarily mean it was bad.

Some of the guys who proposed businesses were useful, so I actually invested in them, and making connections with a fake identity would be helpful in the long run.

Well, I had to politely refuse the marriage proposals that some people made, overconfident in their status.

For some reason, Stella, Ygritte, and even Sarah seemed to glare at me whenever that happened.

But today, I was particularly lucky.

“Hello?”

A woman approached me while I was dealing with the nobles.

She was a woman with an inhumanly beautiful appearance.

The male nobles around her were openly showing their lustful eyes.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Seylam, the eldest daughter of the Arson family.”

“The Arson family… I thought they were ruined during the last civil war. There are survivors?”

“Yes, I was able to save my life thanks to the grace of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Even while exchanging greetings, she was throwing a strong flirtation.

That alone would have won over most men, but…

[An enchantment by an evil sorcery has been attempted.]

[The attempt to penetrate the mind has been blocked by high divinity and mental strength.]

[The Imperial Soul has actively begun to defend against mental attacks.]

…It wasn’t just the seduction of a pretty woman.

Fortunately, I resisted it very easily. Rather, thanks to this attempt, I was able to know that today was a ‘hit’.

But first, I pretended not to know and pretended to be caught in the seduction.

“It seems like it will be a long story… Shall we go somewhere quiet?”

“Let’s do that.”

I pretended to be in a hurry, drank the alcohol I was holding, and followed her.

Perhaps because of my acting, she didn’t suspect me at all.

Thud-

Then, we were left alone in a room.

“Baron, then… from now on, obey me.”

As soon as we were alone, the woman revealed her true colors. She probably wasn’t human… I pondered for a moment what to do now.

Should I continue to pretend to be hypnotized and infiltrate inside? That was closer to the original plan.

Taking out a sword here would be too hasty. I had to find out their base first.

[The Imperial Soul is attempting active defense against sorcery.]

[It has begun to reverse disrupt the opponent’s mind.]

“Hmm?”

At that time, something unexpected began to happen.

My Imperial Soul and the divine power flowing from my divinity seemed to be using the sorcery that was trying to interfere with my mind to penetrate the opponent’s mind in reverse.

“Ah, ah… Th-this is… This overwhelming soul is…!”

The opponent seemed to be overwhelmed as if seeing something overwhelming.

Like a believer who has witnessed a god. She looked like she would listen if I gave an order.

From that appearance, I could grasp what I had to do.

“From now on, listen to my words.”

“Y-yes, I understand, my true master…!”

As expected, I seemed to have succeeded in brainwashing her in reverse.

Well, considering my divinity, but if she directly witnessed the Imperial Soul, which is a pool of souls that is larger and wider than the sea, her mind would have been overwhelmed.

“You must now deceive your organization. Deceive them that you have succeeded in brainwashing me. And lure them as I tell you. Ah, and before that, tell me all the information you know.”

“I understand. I will gladly do so.”

The woman immediately said everything she knew.

As expected, she was not human but a Siren, and she belonged to a cult organization that believed in a being called the ‘Queen of the Sea’.

Certainly, the guys who appeared at the Count’s ball also shouted that name.

“You kidnap sacrifices for that queen? But why now? Or was it something you’ve been doing for a long time?”

Until before the civil war, the empire’s administrative state was not normal, so there may have actually been kidnappings from before.

But my feeling was that it had become extreme recently.

That meant there was a reason why it had to be.

“That’s because we are in conflict with the Kthallion cult. Over the hegemony of the abyss…”

“Kthallion?”

It’s a name I’ve already heard.

The evil god of the sea that the Naga tribe believes in, who had turned Blackbeard into his avatar.

I didn’t expect to hear that name here.

“You’re plundering the empire while competing for hegemony with him? How pathetic.”

“…”

It was an extremely arrogant thing to do. But my senses were already telling me.

“Then, is it possible to reach out to Kthallion?”

My political sense was saying that I could aim for *Yi Yi Zhi Yi* [using the enemy to defeat the enemy, a strategic maneuver].

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, if the enemy has another enemy, wouldn’t it be common sense to use that enemy to kill with a borrowed knife [use someone else to do your dirty work]?

If I do well, I might see Blackbeard again after a long time, that unlucky beard.