I’m the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire! - Volume 8 Chapter 13
V8 Chapter 13. The True Winner
The Banfield Family’s fleet has returned to Augur.
Out of the 30,000 ships that made up the fleet, a couple thousand of them have been lost, and we’re holding a funeral for them as we speak.
Klaus talks to me as I’m standing in front of the war memorial in my mourning attire.
“Lord Liam, what are you thinking about in front of the memorial?”
I’ve been staring at the war memorial so intently that he must have grown suspicious.
He must be wondering why a villainous lord like myself would act all serious at times like this.
But see, it’s only when they are dead that I can fully trust them.
They have laid down their lives for me and proven that their loyalties were genuine.
I’m sure not all of them were willing to do so, but it doesn’t change the fact that they died for my sake.
They have all the right to swear at me, to resent me.
“It’s nothing.”
Even if I told him “I’m praying for the dead”, I doubt he’ll believe me. Not to mention, it’s already too late for those that have died.
I’m just doing this for self-satisfaction.
“Make sure to properly compensate the families of the deceased.”
“Of course.”
Klaus and the other knight-escorts follow behind me as I turn my back on the memorial.
Wallace comes over to me in his mourning attire.
“Liam, bad news!”
“What is it?”
“A big problem has occurred in the Capital! Look, the department you were in has been accused of corruption, and it’s been decided that it’ll be crushed!”
Wallace operates his terminal and shows me an article about a case of corruption within the Capital.
It’s where I worked at before I was transferred here.
“Ahhh, you mean that. Well, we’re approaching the end of our training after all.”
“Huh, what do you mean? I’m telling you; your previous workplace is about to be crushed. Investigators from the Capital might rush over here if we’re unlucky.”
Wallace is making a big fuss about it, but it’s nothing serious, so I keep walking.
Dissatisfied by my reaction, Wallace demands an explanation.
“I’m the one who made the report.”
“Eh?”
“I didn’t like the fact that I was getting chased out of my workplace, so I gathered evidence of corruption. I had quite a hard time getting it all done before the scheduled time.”
That said, when I made up my mind to be the whistleblower, I became extremely motivated.
There’s a saying telling us to leave everything neat and tidy when you leave, but I went ahead and crushed my workplace.
I have no need for people that try to kick me out, and it’s their fault for allowing me to find proof of their corruption.
Wallace’s cheeks are twitching.
“You crushed them ‘cause you didn’t like them?”
“There’s that, but it was done more as a harassment—Randy of the Lengrand Family will have a hard time because of this.”
Just like me, Randy’s about to finish his training, but I’m looking forward to how these changes because of this incident.
Normally, when someone’s found to be involved in a case of corruption, they’d have to restart their training.
When he threw his work at me, I made sure to set him up.
—Hmm, he should be receiving the information on this by now?
When I say “restart” their training, I mean redoing everything except preschool, which is impossible to do.
In other words—it means going to the military academy again.
All the aristocrats that were in my workplace would have to restart their training.
Wallace flinches.
“You’re a devil. Given his age, Randy would look extremely out of place in the military academy.”
“Worry not. Just the fact that he has to start over due to corruption would make him stand out.”
Basically, if you don’t complete your training by the age of 200, the people around you would be like “That’s a bit…”
This is especially the case if you have to start over as punishment for corruption.
But this also means any act of corruption would normally be overlooked as long as that individual hasn’t finished their training.
This just goes to show how lenient the Empire is with the aristocrats.
As I thought, being in a position of power is the best.
◇
At the Capital…
The department that Randy had been assigned to for his training had been emptied of all equipment including desks and chairs.
The official that investigated the case of corruption made an announcement in front of the aristocratic children that had gathered there.
“Normally, as aristocrats of the Empire, this would be considered a serious offense. However, as you all haven’t finished your training, you’re only considered half-baked. As such, you will restart your training, and this incident will be swept under the rug.”
Randy furrowed his brows in frustration in front of the officials, who reported directly to the Prime Minister.
“You dare do this to me, someone from the Lengrand Family?”
The officials laughed derisively at his words, greatly upsetting Randy, but what followed made him dismiss this small details.
To be more precise, his anger was redirected to someone else.
“A message from Count Banfield: ‘Just a little more, and you would’ve been done with your training. My condolences’. Unlike everyone else here, Count Banfield, who was transferred, has successfully finished his training and become a full-fledged aristocrat. He’s a fine man, isn’t he?”
After throwing his former colleagues, juniors, and seniors under the bus and having them restart their training, he had gone off by himself after finishing it.
Randy’s face turned red as he imagined Liam laughing out loud.
“H-him?”
“Indeed. Count Banfield was the informant after all. Oh, and he wanted to know what kind of expressions you guys will have when you learn of this, so please look over here.”
Liam had only demanded one thing in exchange for being an informant: a picture of Randy and the others’ frustrated expressions.
Everyone at the scene was furious that they had to go through the training again just for that.
“You’re being too overbearing here. I have the support of a faction—”
As Randy was about to finish his sentence, someone entered the room.
It was Rosetta, who had remained behind in the Capital to move on Liam’s behalf.
She was being protected on all sides by her escorts, which included Tia and Marie who were back in their knight uniforms.
As Liam was absent, they had been released from maid duty and were tasked with escorting Rosetta.
“Randy-dono, which faction are you talking about?”
“Y-you’re Liam’s fiancée.”
“It’s Rosetta, pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Rosetta’s voice echoed in the barren room.
When everyone’s attention was on her, she operated her terminal.
“His Highness Cleo has something to say to you.”
A stereoscopic image of Cleo sitting on a chair was displayed, prompting Randy to fix his posture in a hurry.
“Your Highness Cleo, this—”
Before he could make any excuse, Cleo raised his right hand to shut him up.
‘Randy-dono, I’m disappointed with you. Go redo your training.’
“A moment, Your Highness! This is clearly Liam’s—”
‘Are you going to say that Count Banfield has set you up? If you aren’t perceptive enough to see through this level of trap, you don’t have what it takes to lead a faction.’
Seeing how much disappointment he has caused, Randy looked down in vexation.
‘Count Banfield will be returning to the Capital now that his training is over. Good job working as his substitute.’
The stereoscopic image disappeared, and Randy collapsed to his knees.
“Why? I’m the Lengrand Family’s successor, you know? Is His Highness Cleo thinking of cutting off his relationship with the Lengrand Family despite the close bond they share?”
Rosetta stared down on Randy.
“I won’t criticize you for wanting to get on the winning horse, but your timing and attitude couldn’t have been more off.”
If he had been humble and joined the faction while staying under Liam, none of this would have happened, but he had gone off and taken advantage of the fact that he was a member of Cleo’s maternal household.
As for what would’ve happened if they had supported Cleo from the beginning—such an assumption wasn’t even worth considering.
“—Not yet. It’s not over yet.”
In spite of everything, Randy hadn’t given up.
Now that she had completed her objective, Rosetta turned around to leave the room.
“Is that so.”
She no longer paid Randy any attention.
◇
When Rosetta was outside the now-emptied building, Eulisia, who was acting as her secretary, opened her mouth to speak while operating her terminal.
“The building’s reputation has hit rock bottom due to this case of corruption, and it seems it’ll be rebuilt because of that.”
It was being rebuilt for a flimsy reason, but Rosetta wasn’t interested in any of this.
“Rather than that, how are things progressing on our side?”
Her eyes were on the building where her workplace was.
She had been working on a floor where only women could enter, and she was also just about finished her training.
As for the result—
“Everything has gone well. The boss, who was from the Calvin Faction, has been demoted and replaced by someone from the Cleo Faction. In fact~ in just three years, we’ll be able to replace 70% of them with people from our faction.”
—With the help of the talented Eulisia, the Cleo Faction was able to take control of most positions.
While Rosetta and her retinue were returning to their workplace, they came across one of Rosetta’s former seniors who had been dismissed.
“How dare you—!”
Her hair was a mess, and she reeked of alcohol.
Before she could reach Rosetta, Marie stepped forward to stop her.
However, her former senior couldn’t hold herself back and shouted at her.
“You better not think you’re safe after doing all this! You’re next to be kicked out! The Crown Prince’s faction won’t remain silent!”
She had been dismissed because of the classic act of embezzlement.
Aristocrats weren’t very perceptive, they usually behaved however they wanted, and did whatever they desired.
She had just paid the price for that.
“Is that so. The thing is, I’m not particularly attached to this workplace. So, I’ll be retiring now that I’m done with my training.”
Her former senior was stunned to hear that Rosetta would so effortlessly retire from the workplace that she herself had clung so desperately onto. After a short pause, she began screaming.
The knights dragged her away, and Rosetta returned to her workplace.
Eulisia shrugged seeing this.
“You’re quite hated now.”
“You were the one who did everything though.”
“I was told to take things seriously after all.”
Eulisia was usually all goofy, but she would be able to accomplish most of what is expected of her once ordered to do so.
Rosetta took this as a sign that Eulisia wasn’t taking things seriously.
“From now on, take things seriously before being told to do so.”
“I think it’s better to do everything in moderation. Lady Rosetta’s too stiff about everything.”
“And you’re too lax about everything!”
With her hands on her ears, Tia was receiving a report with a serious look on her face as the two ladies continued to argue.
Rosetta noticed her behavior and asked, “Did something happen?”
Tia let go of her ears and said with a somewhat impatient expression, “—It’s about the war with the Kingdom of Dominion. The Imperial Army has been defeated. The main army under His Highness Calvin has withdrawn, with great damage to the army.”
“Pardon?”
Rosetta’s face turned pale when she heard that the battle at the border where Liam had been dispatched to had ended with the Kingdom of Dominion’s victory.
◇
Damaged ships are arriving at the spaceport above Augur seamlessly.
Ships that have been wandering aimlessly in space looking for a place to receive supplies and maintenance seem to be gathering here.
However, there are more of them than we were expecting, and the spaceport is becoming very crowded.
Next to me, Wallace gulps seeing the state of the Imperial Army’s battleships.
“How did they win after losing their commander? Liam already killed Izel, right?”
The Imperial Army has lost.
The battlefield I was on ended with the Empire’s victory, but the Imperial Army lost on the other battlefields.
The aristocrats of the Calvin Faction appear to have fought hard, but they couldn’t resist the onslaught of the Kingdom of Dominion.
Eventually they decided to withdraw.
“Calvin, who was backed to a corner, made the decision to retreat.”
News was arriving one after another, but from what I’ve gather, there were some unnatural movements.
Some of the aristocrats seem to have purposely allowed the Kingdom of Dominion to approach Augur.
I’m not about to forgive them just because we won, but there’s nothing I can do if the perpetrators are dead.
Wallace clings to me.
“Liam, let’s run away! This is no longer a base that’s in the rear. We’re at the front lines! Even my brother withdrew. No one will say anything if we run.”
Calvin’s a capable man.
The damage to the Imperial Army wasn’t that great, but he ordered a retreat to minimize the damage upon realizing that he couldn’t win.
Thanks to that, Augur has become a base situated at the front lines, and Calvin’s even left behind a souvenir.
“We can’t, an order has been handed down from the Capital.”
A small window that’s used for displaying electronic documents is floating in the air.
I gesture it towards Wallace, and the window slowly moves until it’s right before his face.
Wallace confirms the content of the document, his eyes roll back and he faints.
Now that I’ve finished my training and become full-fledged aristocrat, the document is telling me to go to the front lines and serve as a breakwater against the Kingdom of Dominion.
“And here I was, preparing to head back to taunt Randy. What a bother.”
After realizing that he couldn’t win, not only did Calvin run away, he pushed the matter of the border to me.
Just as I’m wondering what to do next, Klaus rushes to my side.
“Lord Liam, we were told that the Kingdom of Dominion would be sending an ambassador.”
“From the Kingdom of Dominion?”
“Yes, they wish for a ceasefire.”
So now that they’ve shaved off a chunk of the Empire, they want to end the war?
“And the Kingdom of Dominion has nominated Lord Liam, who defeated Crown Prince Izel, to act as the negotiator.”
“They’re already acting like the victors? What an impatient bunch.”
“What will you do?”
Klaus is sweating profusely.
Well—it sounds rather interesting, so I guess I’ll take part in the negotiations.
“Contact the Capital.”
I was under the impression that we won a large-scale battle, but from the looks of things, it was only one piece of the puzzle.
Even if I win, it doesn’t mean anything if we lose on all the other battlefields.
—But this must have been a dangerous wager for Calvin as well.
If he can’t recover from this, he’ll probably lose his status as the Crown Prince.
“—Oh, one more thing. Klaus, take Wallace back to his room.”
“U-understood.”
Klaus carries Wallace away.
