Faced with Emiya's words, every civil and military official present raised their hands in agreement.
After all, these words came from the emperor himself.
They were a divine oracle.
One was a god.
One was the emperor.
With both combined, as mortals, the only sensible choice was obedience.
Hadn't they all seen it?
The usually arrogant and domineering minister was behaving with unprecedented restraint.
But just then, a man stepped out from the ranks and knelt heavily on the ground.
"Your Majesty," he said loudly, "your subject, Saul, has something to say."
Emiya looked down.
The man kneeling was middle-aged, bearded.
He looked vaguely familiar.
A minor figure from the original story.
This was the internal affairs officer who had once impeached the minister-and paid for it with his life.
Along with his wife and daughter.
That incident had occurred shortly after Tatsumi joined Night Raid.
"What do you wish to say, Lord Saul?" Emiya asked.
The internal affairs officer raised his head, expression resolute.
"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach the minister."
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere changed.
Faces stiffened.
Even the minister's expression darkened.
In the past, he wouldn't have cared about the impeachment of a mere internal affairs officer.
But today was different.
This hall no longer belonged to him alone.
There was a goddess standing above him.
And if that goddess wanted him dead, he wouldn't have enough lives to lose.
His thoughts raced.
In the next instant, the minister stepped forward, threw himself to the ground, and began wailing.
"Your Majesty, your subject is guilty! I have failed you!"
Saul froze.
Completely stunned.
He hadn't even begun listing the crimes.
And the minister had already confessed?
Was he courting death?
Emiya maintained the young emperor's usual innocent expression.
"Minister, why do you say you are guilty?"
The minister cried as he spoke.
"Your Majesty, I have a relative named Iokaru. I trusted him deeply. But recently, I discovered I had been deceived."
"He used my name to commit atrocities-kidnapping women, torturing them to death, secretly accepting bribes, and more..."
As he continued, Saul's shock deepened.
The minister was pushing every crime he had committed over the years onto this so-called relative.
The upright officials glared at him in fury.
Those from the minister's faction were stunned by the audacity.
So that was it.
He had tolerated his relatives' abuses for years for this very moment.
To use them as sacrifices.
After listening, Emiya nodded slowly.
"So your relative is truly despicable."
Saul immediately shouted, "Your Majesty, you have been deceived! These crimes were not committed by his relative, but by the minister himself! He is the greatest parasite in the Empire!"
The minister looked wronged.
"Your Majesty, Lord Saul has misunderstood me. It's not his fault. My relative truly went too far."
Emiya spoke calmly.
"If this was done by your relative, then it naturally has nothing to do with you."
"I believe we should arrest your relative and execute him by a thousand cuts."
The minister showed no objection.
Instead, he spoke first.
"Your Majesty, although he acted behind my back, I failed to notice. I beg for punishment."
Emiya nodded.
"In that case, your punishment will be the confiscation of three years' salary."
The minister sighed in relief inwardly and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Seeing this, the upright officials could only sigh.
They understood.
The emperor still favored the minister.
Removing him wouldn't happen overnight.
But this wasn't bad news.
It was good news.
The presence of a goddess meant the minister could no longer act as he pleased.
For the conscientious faction, this was a victory.
Encouraged, another internal affairs officer stepped forward and knelt.
"Your Majesty, your subject also has something to report."
"Oh?" Emiya asked. "Speak."
"Ogre, captain of the Imperial Guard, has extorted money, framed innocents, killed indiscriminately, openly accepted bribes, and colluded with corrupt merchants."
"Under his command, the once-glorious Imperial Guard has rotted."
He continued steadily.
"Someone like this is no longer fit to serve. I beg Your Majesty to arrest Ogre, purge the Guard, and reorganize it to restore peace to the Empire."
Emiya turned his gaze to the minister.
"Minister, is this true?"
The minister's eyes flickered.
Ogre's arrogance had never been unrelated to his support.
So this was their plan.
Remove his claws first.
If he defended Ogre now, his own position-and life-might be at risk.
With that thought, the minister nodded firmly.
"I have also heard rumors of Ogre's conduct. I never imagined he would dare trample the law."
"Such a man deserves death."
"I beg Your Majesty to make an example of him."
Emiya nodded.
"Since even the minister agrees, then send someone to arrest Ogre."
Hephaestus spoke calmly.
"I have two people to recommend, Your Majesty. With their strength, capturing Ogre will be effortless."
"They are also qualified to serve as captains of the Imperial Guard."
The minister's expression darkened further.
Was this goddess planning to meddle directly in imperial politics?
If so, his situation was dire.
Emiya smiled.
"Warriors recommended by the goddess? I look forward to meeting them."
"Where are they?"
"They've arrived," Hephaestus replied.
At the same time, the hall doors opened.
Two men walked in.
One tall.
One short.
Though the shorter one was still over six feet tall.
The only reason he seemed short was because the man beside him was enormous.
Over eight feet.
Towering above everyone present.
They were none other than Heracles and Cú Chulainn.
To rule an empire, Emiya and Hephaestus alone were not enough.
That morning, before heading to the platform, Emiya had already summoned several idle figures into this world.
These two were just the beginning.
Others would be placed into suitable positions over time.
Hephaestus spoke slowly.
"Your Majesty, these two are Heracles and Cú Chulainn."
"They are demigods with divine blood."
"Though they wield no Teigus, their strength surpasses them."
"With their power, Ogre is insignificant."
Emiya nodded.
"Since the goddess recommends them, I have no doubts."
"Heracles will arrest Ogre."
"Cú Chulainn will capture the minister's relative."
Neither objected.
"You can count on me, Your Majesty," Cú Chulainn said eagerly.
Not because of the task.
But because he could finally fight.
Though this world lacked many strong warriors, there was one who intrigued him.
Esdeath.
And beyond her, terrifying Danger Beasts roamed this land.
He wanted to test them.
After Heracles and Cú Chulainn departed, the meeting ended.
The upright officials were elated.
The minister and his faction wore grim expressions.
The minister himself was furious.
The arrival of a god had completely derailed his plans.
But he dared not bare his fangs.
A god could kill him effortlessly.
So he swallowed his rage.
This meeting had been humiliating.
Once it ended, he left the palace at once to confer with his cronies.
When the hall emptied, Hephaestus looked at Emiya, seated on the throne.
"I thought you'd remove the minister immediately."
Emiya replied calmly.
"Honest is tyrannical, but capable. Otherwise, he wouldn't have replaced the former minister."
"Once his usefulness is exhausted, I'll throw him out to appease the people."
Hephaestus rolled her eyes, unwilling to argue.
Emiya then summoned General Budou.
"I need you to find someone."
Budou knelt.
"Whom does Your Majesty seek?"
"There is a woman in the Imperial Guard who uses a biological Teigu."
"Bring her and the Teigu here."
Budou assumed this was for upgrades and nodded.
"I will arrange it immediately."
"Go," Emiya said.
Budou stood and departed.
At the same time, news of a god's descent spread through the imperial capital.
And the city was shaken.
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