From his mountain cabin, Gozuki saw the distant red signal in the sky, his brows furrowing.
This was an emergency signal, and it was way too close to the Imperial Capital.
It meant the Capital faced a crisis.
Despite this, as the leader of the Empire's assassination squad, he took no action.
The signal's specific color expressed the danger's source; through this military code, he knew this was an emergency caused by Danger Beasts, not a human rebel army.
In terms of pure combat strength, he and his elite troops were capable of dealing with Danger Beasts; even First-Class Danger Beasts were vulnerable to assassination techniques.
But their main enemies were people. Danger Beasts required brute-force subjugation, not stealth assassination.
Compared to ghost operatives like them, the regular standing army was a much more suitable candidate.
....
Just as he analyzed, after the Imperial Capital received the news, Great General Budo immediately summoned the forces in the capital under his command.
Inside the royal palace, before the throne.
The young Emperor rubbed his sleepy eyes and asked, "Great General Budo, what happened? Why wake me in the middle of the night?"
Warning whistles and bells sounded everywhere in the Imperial Capital.
Budo wore his massive armor-type Imperial Arm, making his 1.9-meter tall, burly figure look even more majestic.
He stood before the throne, exuding the powerful aura of one man holding out against ten thousand.
Budo was a stern, uncompromising man.
He kept a straight face no matter who he faced, even the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, news of a massive Danger Beast riot has come from the southern forest. Swarms of Giant Danger Beasts march towards the Imperial Capital right now. I request Your Majesty to give the order, commanding me to lead the army out to subjugate them."
"Eh? Danger Beasts?"
The boy Emperor rested his chin on one hand and began to space out.
Even in a desperate situation, no one dared interrupt this Emperor's daze.
Budo said nothing, even if delaying for a single second meant many civilians on the outskirts would die.
He could act without regard for the royal command, because compared to the Emperor, he grasped the true military power of this Empire.
Whether in physical strength or political reputation, Great General Budo far surpassed a half-grown child, even if that child sat on the throne.
The Empire's current politics were controlled by Minister Honest, and the military was grasped by Great General Budo.
And Budo was fiercely loyal to the royal family, so even now when the Imperial Capital might be attacked, he didn't meet the enemy, but chose to request official orders first.
From the shadows behind the throne, a fat man walked out.
Even beside the throne, he held a high-grade meat steak, his mouth shining with grease as he ate.
He didn't swallow his food before speaking, "Your Majesty, let Great General Budo go. Danger Beasts or whatever, as long as he takes action, they will be resolved."
Seeing the man step forward, the Emperor bloomed into a bright smile.
"Oh, Minister, you're here too."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I worried about you, so I rushed over from home."
Honest smiled as he told a massive lie to the little Emperor.
In his heart, he thought: 'Fooled you. I was playing with the harem! a brat still wetting the bed wouldn't understand it.'
Seeing his unscrupulous appearance, Budo frowned, but didn't interfere.
He knew the Minister manipulated the Emperor.
But as a strict figure in the military world, interfering in political affairs was not allowed by his code.
If one day, His Majesty ordered him to execute the Minister, he would not hesitate to draw his sword.
It's just... that was an unimaginable thing right now.
"Is that so? Sure enough, you are my most loyal subject, but isn't eating meat this late too greasy?" the Emperor asked.
"Ah, hahaha, I just did some strenuous exercise, so I'm a bit hungry right now."
"Exercise? In the middle of the night?"
The Emperor tilted his head.
More than half of the ministers present were thinking: Idiot Minister, telling such an obvious lie.
Although His Majesty is young, it's impossible for him not to hear this is nonsense.
This is the crime of deceiving the sovereign!
Please wake up, Your Majesty!
Punish that bastard Honest!
Honest's fat face maintained a smiling expression.
In the Emperor's naive eyes, this was the most amiable face in the palace.
Honest glanced at the ministers below, having seen through their thoughts.
That's exactly why he said that.
To make this group of annoying guys recognize reality. He could say whatever he wanted.
"Oh, whatever, you are always right anyway," the Emperor waved a hand. "There must be some good reason for exercising in the middle of the night."
The ministers were shocked by the little Emperor's reaction.
How could His Majesty trust that man!? He is an evil thief who deceives his superiors!!
"Your Maj—"
An elderly minister planned to speak out, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he was pulled back by the person next to him.
Remonstrating here was political suicide.
They were angry.
But they couldn't act.
The Emperor wouldn't listen, because he had been thoroughly bewitched by Honest.
Honest's political power was too strong, at its zenith.
The only one who could contend with him, Great General Budo, aside from protecting the honest officials from the Minister's direct persecution, wouldn't do more to topple him.
They had to act in secret to save the people of the Empire.
Unlike the blindly loyal Great General Budo, these people were loyal to the Empire, not the Emperor.
If the Emperor made a mistake, they would correct it, provided it wouldn't cost them their lives.
In this current situation, if anyone dared to say a bad word about the little Emperor, they would be dragged out and dismembered by five horses in the next second.
Dying yourself was one thing, but it would implicate your family, resulting in the execution of your entire clan.
The true loyal ministers knelt on the marble ground, glaring with split eyes at the demon beside the Emperor, but they could only swallow their anger, powerless.
The Emperor smiled and nodded. "Alright then, I'll listen to you. Um—General Budo, set out now. Lead the troops and kill all those monsters that disturbed my sweet dreams!"
Hearing the Emperor's order, and seeing the smile on his face, Great General Budo recalled the late King's firm tone and confident expression.
That was a charm unique to that King.
Even if the two were not born from the same strong inner heart, this hollow mimicry was enough to comfort the General's soul.
"By your command!" Budo roared, turning on his heel.
Just as he was about to move out, Prime Minister Honest suddenly spoke again.
And this was after the imperial order had already been issued.
His behavior was practically no different from openly trampling on the emperor's authority.
He actually dared to do such a thing!
A vicious glint flashed through Budo's eyes.
He had his own principles, but that did not mean he had no emotions of his own.
Compared to him, the officials were even angrier.
They clenched their teeth so hard they nearly crushed them, their fists tightening until their nails dug into their flesh.
"Your Majesty, what do you think about having Great General Budo go without leading any soldiers, and instead personally face those groups of Danger Beasts alone?"
Indeed, with a child, it was almost too easy to manipulate him.
This bastard—was he planning to make Great General Budo face swarms of Danger Beasts alone?
Had he gone mad?
Was he trying to use such a childish method to eliminate Great General Budo?
Honest looked at the officials' startled reactions and thought, 'This is why all of you are trash. Kill Budo? How could that be? Without him, who would suppress unrest and preserve the Empire's stability?'
As for why he had made such a proposal…
Wasn't it obvious?
Because Budo alone was enough.
Yes. So what if it was a beast tide made up of Danger Beasts?
That man could stop it by himself.
Let the emperor witness the Great General's bravery.
But in the end, the one who would receive the emperor's praise would be the person who proposed this idea.
Him, Prime Minister Honest.
'So work hard and slaughter those Danger Beasts for the sake of His Majesty's praise toward me, Great General Budo.'
'Keh—hahahaha!'
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator