A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

40 – War on the Table (5)

Arrived at the canyon.

I opened the closed gate, and Queen Carmen and her knights walked on the plain and entered the canyon.

“Even though it is the second gateway, it is a truly amazing view.”

Queen Carmen, standing on the wall of Gate 2, smiles softly.

“It’s a good thing I supported the elevator project. Otherwise, I would have had to be carried up by the driver.”

“It’s pretty good, isn’t it?”

I pointed to the elevator installed on one side of the castle wall.

The entire circular platform moves up and down, and the power source is a magic stone and pulley.

“I installed this to show the queen this view. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

“I thought you wanted to bring Naria here on a date.”

“Instead, let’s say we brought the queen with us.”

“Heh.”

Queen Carmen looked towards the Empire, towards the tightly closed first gate, and brushed her hair behind her ear.

“The Empire has been trying to open that door for 500 years. Do you know why?”

“Is this a history lesson?”

“It’s a short-term, accelerated course. If you know this, you’ll be able to communicate smoothly with them.”

Why does the Empire want the Gibraltar Gorge to be opened?

“Because it’s the shortest.”

There are various reasons, but it is because the canyon is the only way to travel east to west across the continent.

“It is the only passage on the continent that humans can use on the continent.”

Once the gateway is opened, it is possible to travel from the capital of the empire to the capital of the kingdom by carriage in about two weeks.

Even during those two weeks, it was just a matter of sleeping and resting all the time.

“If the empire takes over the kingdom. Oh, that’s really what if.”

The knights behind Carmen glared for a moment.

I understand.

People from the kingdom tend to assume ‘when the kingdom takes over the empire.’

“Hmm. If that happens, tens of thousands of people will move here every day as this is the only passage.”

Future.

‘When the citizens of the Empire toured the entire kingdom, they all passed by Gibraltar.’

When a railroad was laid through the canyon, a train running between the old royal capital and the islands could cover the continent in just one day.

‘When we collected the toll tax back then, that alone was enough to build many academies.’

If you use other methods, half a day is enough.

“Whether it is war, tourism, or trade, as long as the gateway is open, it is unconditionally beneficial to the empire.”

Therefore, the empire hoped that the gateway would be opened somehow.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes. So I tried to stab him somehow. Whether it was stabbing the letter or stabbing him with a knife.”

We have used various methods for this purpose and have finally achieved results.

“It is possible now because we have given half of our permission.”

“What is that?”

“Unofficial diplomatic document. It is the empire’s request for a meeting.”

Queen Carmen took out a letter from her arms and waved it.

“Originally, we were supposed to meet at the sea, but Gibraltar happened to cooperate, so we decided to meet here.”

Originally it was the sea.

In other words, originally, the imperial delegation would have contacted the queen through the sea.

Unlike now, before the return, Gibraltar and Morgania had contact with the empire.

‘Who would have guessed? The count must have personally crossed over to the empire and contacted the emperor.’

Even Morgania did not expect her father’s betrayal.

The father who decided to betray the country must have run at full speed and contacted people from the empire while his mother was sleeping.

‘I didn’t know either.’

I found out the day I graduated from the academy.

He said he had been in personal contact with him before.

‘Is that what has now merged into this place?’

History was distorted.

Unofficially or otherwise, Gibraltar joined hands extended by both Morgania and the Empire.

And now, present.

“Grey. An envoy from the Empire will be arriving soon. I sent a signal, so it will arrive soon.”

Queen Carmen was honored to take me personally to the place where she would welcome the imperial envoy.

“Originally, the Count would have gone out in person. He is the one who moves the gate.”

“Yes.”

The ‘original’ that the queen speaks of is the present.

It wasn’t about me coming out, it was about the Count coming out next to me.

“Emissaries of the Empire, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘Ministers’ from each ministry will come.”

“You know the empire’s administrative system well, right?”

“I learned it from the newspapers flying over there.”

“…It flies by often.”

Queen Carmen looks up at the sky.

In a clear sky without a single cloud, something flies in and hits the wall of the gateway.

It is paper.

It is a newspaper.

There are various news from the empire and the phrase [Imperial Times, subscribe now!] Written at the bottom.

“The Empire is very talented. On days when there is no wind, it blows something like this into the canyon.”

Queen Carmen opened her newspaper.

“…We should also use paper like this.”

A thin material that is quite different from parchment.

“You can make it, right?”

“The cost is too high. If you think about labor costs, technology, everything. If you even think about the screaming that existing parchment craftsmen have to say, it’s a headache in many ways.”

The technology itself is easy.

If you want to introduce it into the kingdom, there is nothing you can’t do.

“I don’t know about you, but there are plenty of people in the royal capital who say ‘No, it won’t work’ whenever you try to do something.”

However, if that happens, numerous existing stakeholders will raise their voices, so the kingdom cannot try something rashly.

“Really, there are many times when I want to slit everyone’s throats.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Why don’t you help me when you come to the capital? Princess Naria is already helping me a little.”

“The princess is already in charge of administering the kingdom?”

This is a little surprising.

“I thought I would do something after I got older and the academy was established.”

“That’s right. I don’t know what the wind is blowing, but he already started helping me last year. I’m still just learning how to follow the procedures.”

“…Aren’t you suggesting something like ‘improvement measures’ or ‘new laws’?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

One possibility passed through my mind, but the possibility is small.

If that had been the case in the first place, we would have been using imperial paper rather than parchment.

“…Once the Imperial Academy opens, many people will come and go.”

“There may be assassins and such in the middle, but on the outside, merchants and scholars will come and go.”

That was actually the case.

“Gray. This is not an official meeting. You must have noticed, right?”

“Yes. If it were official, the queen wouldn’t have come so secretly.”

Everyone will find out someday, but at least for now, it is a secret that no one should know.

“You probably couldn’t come out in the first place because you heard the ministers saying, ‘No, no.'”

“Puhup, yes, that’s right. Really, annoying things that don’t know how to change.”

Queen Carmen laughs bitterly.

“Only in the name of inspecting the castle walls can we meet in secret. I have to bring only my people with me.”

“Weren’t we originally supposed to meet yesterday?”

“They are the ones waiting. And who is the reason it was delayed?”

“I’m sorry about that.”

It is an important matter for the country.

The imperial capital is embedded in the center of the royal capital.

Movement of hundreds of billions of units of capital.

This is an issue that Queen Carmen, who is emotionally shaken, should not come to this event.

“If I had come here with a shaken spirit because of you, everything would have been ripped off by the empire’s envoys.”

Only after talking with me overnight was I able to get my emotions under control.

“Really. It’s a shame we have the Margrave standing behind us, otherwise everything would have been ruined.”

And now, through a conversation with her father, her cool-headed and rational self has come to stand in this position.

“So, you also have to take responsibility.”

“Is it okay to give advice?”

“Advice? Ha. How arrogant. Just standing behind me is enough for you.”

Queen Carmen stretched out her breasts and patted herself with her hands.

“No matter how much of a genius you are, do you think I’m incompetent enough to leave something to a 13-year-old?”

“No. Of course I believe it. But.”

“But?”

“Looking at the knights we brought, it seems like the three senior knights are the best.”

Sir Mente and two other knights of Morgania.

“Fortunately, including Viscount Hex, the four of us can take on the Master together for about 5 minutes.”

Viscount Hex is currently down there with the knights under the gate, preparing hard for something.

In the middle of an empty canyon, a tent resembling a conference hall is unfolding.

“Are you worried?”

“The idea is to think of the worst case.”

In other words, Sir Mente is at his peak power.

It’s not that Sir Mente is weak, but-

“Do you know? Among the enemies, there is someone who looks like a scholar. He might be the Master.”

“The conditions for the meeting are-“

“The opponent is an empire. If I were an empire, I would send a master unconditionally.”

To be precise, the premise is that this is the emperor I know.

“…I know the current emperor well. That old man is not the person to use such tricks.”

“He is a person who prefers to press with force from the front.”

“Yes. It’s okay to say this in a diplomatic setting, but I can trust you because you are generous in that regard.”

“I understand. I will follow the queen’s wishes.”

The current emperor would say that.

“But if there is a Master or there is danger, I will immediately protect the queen first.”

If the emperor I know did something, of course at least one person would secretly follow.

“Fortunately, this place is still Gibraltar’s territory.”

I bit my thumb lightly.

“I will buy time until my father comes running. Together with the knights.”

* * *

30 Minutes later.

Although we know the future, it is not advantageous in all situations.

I have a vague idea of the empire’s personnel.

In particular, master-level talent remembers accurately.

Of course, that is now 7 years later, after I turned 20.

Still, just as memories came to mind as soon as I saw Sir Mente or Ethan Cesar, I have a clear understanding of the talents who will become masters.

-These are the people you must rule over. Gray Gibraltar.

For various reasons.

I know it very well.

But can you tell Queen Carmen that information now?

‘Nothing.’

What was the basis for learning the true nature of the enemies?

How did you know that I didn’t even notice?

Because of the blood of Gibraltar? Don’t be funny. You answered as if you had known from the beginning that the other high-ranking knights had not noticed.

‘You will be considered to have at least future vision.’

I know the future.

Even if I give off that kind of nuance, Queen Carmen will immediately take me to the royal capital and use me.

‘That is an absolute specification.’

I feel sorry for Queen Carmen.

‘To be honest, I feel more comfortable using the empire rather than the kingdom.’

Unless I have a ‘ground and justification’ for being able to prepare information about her empire, I have no choice but to follow her behind her back as her 13-year-old Gray Gibraltar.

All we can do now is just quietly hold our breath in the background and remember those who come here.

I thought so.

“Hello~~”

The gate to the canyon opens and the representative of the imperial delegation greets you cheerfully.

Not in the official language of the empire, but in fluent ‘Nostrum’.

“Nice to meet you! Queen Carmen!”

“…….”

I was worried that the Master would come.

“Can I take a picture?! Oh, of course it’s a personal commemorative photo! Personal collection!”

However, even more serious than that, a serious asymmetric power appeared.

“Ah, you know the camera, right? It’s also called a projector, and it’s a magical object that projects the passage of time through a magic stone lens mounted inside….”

“Who are you?”

Queen Carmen asked with a stern expression on her face.

Unlike her usual self, a cold attitude appeared immediately upon meeting her.

“Queen. I’m sorry. Let me fill your cup.”

I immediately stepped forward.

I know it’s rude, but the current Queen Carmen will definitely stop you if you start talking to her envoy right away.

Breathe deeply, relax, calm down.

“Oh my! Your son? I haven’t heard of you having a prince.”

“…Not my son.”

Queen Carmen must have thought.

She said that at her negotiation table, people of the same type as herself would come and engage in all kinds of wars of words.

Actually, such people are behind us.

The Empire’s Minister of Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs stand behind and bow their heads behind the lively and cheerful woman in front of us.

“Huh. Let me introduce myself first. I am Carmen Morgania Nostrum, queen of the Kingdom of Nostrum. Who are you?”

“Me? Me!”

White hair.

Eyes as blue as the sky.

Unlike the queen who wore a dress, she wore a black imperial-style ‘suit’.

“Erwin, it’s Saguaro!”

And it bounces around a lot thanks to her active movements.

The buttons of the white shirt hold tightly to the fabric that opens precariously from side to side.

“…….”

It is clear that she is shorter than her mother, but thanks to her height, her appearance will appeal to those who like tall beauties.

The waist and skirt of the suit expose the line of the pelvis, so you can’t help but draw attention.

‘Look at the articles?’

In fact, Morgania’s knights relaxed their guard in an instant.

Although it is against etiquette, they look up and down the upper and lower body, and the imperial attendant nods as if he knew that would happen when looking at such knights.

Only Lord Mente, along with Queen Carmen, is on heightened alert.

Was there such a beauty in the empire?

‘Ah, yes.’

There was.

It was at this point.

“Erwin, that’s it?”

“Yes! Ah, I have been appointed by His Majesty the Emperor to be in charge of this meeting! Nice to meet you!!”

I haven’t met him in person.

A person I don’t remember meeting, but who was in the ‘records’.

‘Unofficial Crown Princess.’

A woman who died before I became a saint and before the emperor came to the throne.

“Hey, Chairman.”

Later, a person who appears to be the Minister of Education refers to the woman as ‘Chairman.’

“At least give me a business card.”

“Ah! Look at me. I’m sorry. This is my first time doing something like this. hehehe.”

He smiles like a penny and acts like a flower garden like anyone else, but he is not a flower garden.

“I am the chairman of the imperial company [Iperia Industries]!”

“Iperia…? No way, the investor-“

“Yes!”

Her abilities.

“I will pay the money needed to build the academy!!”

It is capital.

“I have a lot of money!”

Future.

“…I heard that 99% of the project funds will be supported.”

“Yes!”

“You suggested 100 billion won as initial funding.”

“Yes! I will pay!”

The emperor executed this woman and confiscated her property to finance her war effort.

“…Why?”

“Well, actually. hehehe….”

And.

“My daughter said she wanted the kingdom and the empire to become friendly!”

She is the biological mother who gave birth to the princess.