Chapter 71 – Bloody Purge

“You have great audacity.”

Varasha spoke regarding Kaiser, who had boldly come to find her.

Although there was Ambassador Cokle’s introduction, she was still displeased.

“I would have nothing to say even if I were to arrest you right now, would I?”

Ambassador Cokle, who was seated with them, did not know what to do, whereas Kaiser was relaxed.

“If it were not for the imperial family, you wouldn’t have been so obsessed with me. Honestly, the imperial family was the problem; did you really want to chase me that much?”

She glared at him with a displeased gaze.

“Aside from the imperial family’s affairs, I do not look upon you very favorably. You surely know that I am from the Imperial Army, don’t you? Do you know what kind of people I despise the most?”

“Is it enemy spies?”

“You know it well. The suspicion of you being a spy is clear. You keep denying it, but the evidence is already overflowing. Do you know someone named Eisen Bernstein?”

In the early part of his possession.

He was the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency who recruited him when he was confined in the prisoner-of-war camp of the Allied States.

“Haha, I do not know him.”

“You don’t know? He didn’t seem to think so?”

“I do not know. Ah, come to think of it, I might have heard such a name when I was living in the camp. Was that a detention facility under the Intelligence Agency? If so, he would be the master of that place.”

“Are you asking while knowing?”

Kaiser caressed his chin with his fingertips.

“I might have seen him once, but what does that matter? Didn’t I tell you back then too? Even if the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency of the enemy state contacted me, and even if I became a spy. Could such a spy become the party representative leading the revolutionary party? That makes no sense.”

“You are saying that again.”

The Allied States itself was a place that defended monarchy.

They were the ones who were most wary if Landfall were to happen in the Empire, and they were not a group that wanted the Empire’s Landfall.

They were the ones who would invade at any moment using Landfall as an excuse.

Therefore, Kaiser, the representative of the Golden Age Party, was not a welcomed figure to them at all.

“Rather, how about this? The Allied States leaked false information to check me. They fabricated it as if I were a spy. What is certain is that my existence is a threat to them. If I start a revolution like this and bring down the imperial family, would they, who support monarchy, like that?”

“So they leaked the false information that you are a spy to the Internal Inspectorate?”

“Or there is also this possibility. It could be a lie fabricated by the imperial family to frame me. In any case, being in this position, I receive a lot of attacks. I am not shaken by such things at all. As the vanguard leader of the revolution, it is naturally something I must endure.”

“Do you really think all of that is a lie? Innocently?”

Ambassador Cokle, who was listening, chimed in.

“Whoa, whoa, calm down. I arranged this meeting because I wanted to be of help to both of you. I did not invite you to start a fight.”

Next, the Ambassador’s gaze turned to her.

“Lady, this man is the party representative leading the Golden Age Party. Perhaps he is the one who will stand at the forefront to defend and protect the Council. Furthermore, if he were really a spy of the Allied States, could he lead the revolution as the party representative?”

He was taking Kaiser’s side in his own way.

Common-sensically, it was also correct.

“I also agree with his thoughts. Perhaps it is false information fabricated by the enemy state or the imperial family. From their perspective, isn’t he an eyesore?”

Although she was reluctant.

She showed a reluctantly agreeing appearance.

“I suppose that could be so.”

Kaiser cut in.

“Please do not hate me so much. Even if this position is one that receives hatred, I do not want to be hated by you, who are my classmate and friend.”

“You are saying the same thing again. You say I am a classmate from the same academy, but I don’t know you. I have no memory of you.”

Kaiser laughed.

“Of course you wouldn’t know. Back then, you were a celebrity and popular superstar whom all the students looked up to, and I was just one of the nobodies worrying about repeating a grade due to lack of talent. Still, Ryden at least tried to recognize me. You are really too much. You could at least pretend to know me.”

“There are so many academy classmates, why should I remember even you?”

“You really dislike me.”

“I have another reason for despising you. Let’s say the spy charge is a lie. But how do you plan to explain the incitement against vampires?”

In her eyes, he was disgust itself.

“I can never agree with the method you pursue.”

“Haha, there is a misunderstanding. I am merely using it as a means of demagoguery.”

Kaiser spoke with a straight face.

“Just like you, I have almost no hostility towards vampires. It’s a secret, though.”

“Are you telling me to believe that? There must be things you have blabbered about until now, right?”

“As I said, it is an excellent tool for incitement; it is very far from my true feelings.”

“You did that simply for the sake of demagoguery?”

“Yes, and as I also told that person in the past. It is not that I incite because I want to. I am merely inciting what they want.”

“…….”

“Think about it. Is the hatred for vampires a thing of today? It existed since long ago, and that emotion will continue.”

Kaiser continued.

“Making someone the target of hatred. That is one of the core techniques of demagoguery. It is somewhat sorry to the vampires, but if we can firmly gather strength with this.”

He was sincere.

“I intend to maintain this position. It is inevitable to bring down the imperial family.”

“…….”

Falling into thought, she asked something else.

“Will you still do that even after the imperial family falls?”

“No. It will change as needed then. However, I will tell you that there probably won’t be anything for you to worry about, just like that guy. I also have no particular interest in it, and first of all, bringing down the imperial family is the first step. I only regard it as a means.”

Only then did her expression soften slightly.

But she did not trust him completely.

Because words could change at any time.

“So what is the reason for calling me to this place? I heard your pathetic story well. Though I don’t know if it’s true.”

“Arranging a meeting with you, Inspector, was also because I thought an explanation about myself was absolutely necessary.”

Kaiser’s gaze met Ambassador Cokle’s for a moment.

“And running over here at the talk of your interest in the revolution was also part of it. If not for that, I wouldn’t have come out to meet you like this, risking danger.”

“From whom did you hear that I am interested in the revolution?”

“Is it a secret?”

“I am an Internal Inspector. I monitor spies of enemy states, but I also have to block things harmful to the imperial family. Revolution to someone like me? What is the difference between telling an Inquisitor that you are a player?”

“Is that really so?”

At that question, she showed a bitter smile without answering.

“I will not ask for an answer. But please listen to my story.”

Kaiser’s words continued.

“Even at this moment, our party members are continuing rallies throughout the Empire, including the capital, crying out for the overthrow of the imperial family and the arrival of a new era. I and our party are sincere about this. Did you know? That the Golden Age Party was originally a place that defended the imperial family, not overthrew it?”

It was a story she was hearing for the first time.

“Was that so?”

“Yes, in the beginning, it was a political party defending the imperial family, but I changed everything. To the overthrow of the imperial family. We restarted with the purpose of driving out the current incompetent Emperor and opening a new era. There were various ups and downs at first, but not now. Our power is clear. If there is a certain trigger, our growth rate will skyrocket very sharply.”

She expressed doubts.

“Do you think there will be such a trigger? There are still many people in this country who yearn for the Emperor’s rule. That is because it has been as long as a thousand years. Even so, do you think their hearts will be easily moved?”

Kaiser looked at his pocket watch.

It was just the day.

The day when the naive Emperor, and she who assisted the Emperor, made an irreversible choice.

“Yes, I am sure. Otherwise, would you like to take a look?”

“A look?”

“According to my information source, His Majesty is inspecting the capital today. I will ask you.”

Kaiser continued to the suspicious her.

“In your view, does that young Emperor look like a figure who can lead this chaotic political situation? Internally, finances are ruined and people like us are gaining power. Externally, the Allied States are sharpening their swords to avenge the last war. The current Empire is a candle in the wind. In this period, such an incompetent and young Emperor is of no help.”

That route was roughly grasped anyway, and that place was already filled with nothing but chaotic rallies of the Golden Age Party and various political parties.

‘He will absolutely not be able to avoid it. Because destiny is originally like that.’

“Would you like to go together? I will personally show you how lacking and pathetic the one we serve as Emperor is.”

* * *

The day the inspection was scheduled.

The princess set out of the imperial palace along with her young brother, Emperor Carlos XIII.

Prior to departure, she was filled with worry.

If it were her, she could predict and endure the outside situation to some extent.

But it was obvious that all of it would remain as a wound to her brother, who was not yet ten years old.

Because he was a child who always shrugged his shoulders even at the weekly state affairs meetings, her heart ached even more.

“Your Majesty, it is a light inspection, so you must not be too shaken by what the people say. In any case, they are Your Majesty’s people. They are pitiful ones, so you must listen to them with that thought and let it go.”

The inspection was his wish.

She had wanted to dissuade him, but she could not go against the decision of her brother, the Emperor.

She worried about the shock he would receive outside, but he had an innocent face full of curiosity.

“Yennifer, this is my first time coming outside! Is this outside the imperial palace?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This is outside the imperial palace. Arcadia, the heart of the Empire.”

Unlike her, who wore a blank expression, the young Emperor was filled only with excitement and anticipation.

“This place is no different from the imperial palace. It’s small but similar. Boring.”

The inspection began peacefully.

Right outside the imperial palace was the Noblesse District where nobles resided, so there was no problem with the inspection.

However, what the young Emperor was interested in was not the grand mansion, but the 3rd and 4th Districts where children of his age were occasionally seen.

“Yennifer, I want to see further inside. Let’s go further inside! Please?”

They had already crossed the 2nd District.

From the 3rd District and beyond, it was hard to expect a good sight.

“Your Majesty, how about stopping here for today?”

“No! We came out with great difficulty. Let’s look around more. All the way inside! There are many people too!”

A voice mixed with concern came from the driver’s seat.

“Princess, it seems rallies have entered the existing route. It seems there are more than usual, what should we do?”

It was hard to show the rallies.

“Your Majesty, let’s stop the inspection here.”

“Why? Can’t we look around more?”

“It seems better to look only up to here.”

Whether resentment arose at her firm appearance.

The pouting Emperor’s voice was sharp.

“Does Yennifer ignore me too?”

“Pardon?”

“I am asking if Yennifer ignores me like the cabinet members do. I said it. I want to see more of the inside.”

Reluctantly giving in, she showed a smile.

“No. You must do as Your Majesty wishes.”

“Yennifer, absolutely never ignore me. I hate that.”

“There is no way that would happen, Your Majesty.”

“The Emperor is me. Not Yennifer.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Eventually.

As she feared, they ended up reaching a place they should not have encountered.

Because she also knew it, she tried to avoid it as much as possible, but there was no way to stop the naive Emperor.

“Overthrow the incompetent Emperor! Bring down the imperial family and open a new era!”

“Powerless imperial family, step down! The Empire is ours!”

“Activate the Council! We do not need a Council in name only! Imperial family, do not interfere in the Empire’s politics anymore!”

“Expel the vampire noble bastards and the incompetent Emperor! No more vampire rule on this land!”

“Drive out the vampire nobles! End the exploitation of blood!”

“The blood rule is over! Welcome the era of freedom!”

Numerous crowds participating in the rally cried out for the overthrow of the young Emperor and the imperial family.

It was not just one or two, but a rally of hundreds of people.

And that rally was always on every street.

Whether it was painful, the young Emperor grabbed his head and screamed.

After the scream, his expression was precarious like deeply cracked glass.

His eyes were blank with shock, and his trembling chin looked as if he would burst into tears again at any moment.

“Yennifer…… they say someone like me is not the Emperor. They say someone like me…… must die. What…… am I anyway?”

It was a situation she absolutely did not want.

However, now that things had already happened, she had to do something.

Whether that was for the imperial family, or for her still young and fragile brother.

“Your Majesty is…… the Empire itself.”

The vehicle stopped and the window rolled down smoothly.

The captain of the guards, who had followed for escort, came to stand next to the window.

Having made a firm resolution, her eyes froze coldly.

“I can no longer just watch. They have insulted the imperial family.”

Understanding that meaning, the guard captain’s expression also sank low, and he bowed deeply, showing respect.

“Vestra Maiestas.”