The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 66

Although an unprecedented incident had occurred, with the governor of Paloma and his son, who were direct descendants of the ducal family, having their heads severed, the situation calmed down as if it were a lie.

The dead are always silent.

Gede and Hozat’s father and son had taken the blame for everything.

It was fitting that they did, to begin with.

However, just because they claimed ignorance didn’t absolve those who had followed and sided with Gede from their wrongdoing.

Thus, those who had followed Gede kept their mouths shut, half willingly and half reluctantly.

It was a proverb put into practice: Keep your mouth shut, and you’ll at least end up in the middle.

Though Gede’s schemes were brutal and immoral, Blint and his mother Katrina’s crimes were no less significant.

Therefore, outwardly, even the winners(?)—the nobles of Sionia and the Twin-headed Eagle Castle—could not recklessly demean or gloat over those who had sided with Gede.

“But didn’t we win? Shouldn’t we crush those fishmongering rebels from Paloma and suppress them for good this time?”

Young knights and nobles, full of youthful vigor, who would go around shouting such things, were swiftly suppressed by the high-ranking nobles of Twin-headed Eagle Castle, who were linked to them through family ties.

The senior nobles, who confirmed the existence of the Alpha and Omega of the duchy, had no intention of watching their children’s recklessness.

– He is watching over you.

This phrase appears in every religion, but none of them have ever shown that their god truly exists.

However, the high-ranking nobles of the Twin-headed Eagle Castle had witnessed and experienced firsthand the Founding Patriarch of the duchy, who was akin to a god, manifesting and demonstrating a divine ability known as a Divine Message.

It was only natural to become a fanatic of Si-on.

And, like any god, their Lord was firm and ruthless, yet at the same time,

He was broad-minded and infinitely merciful.

Thunk.

“What is this?”

When Si-on threw a bundle of papers wrapped in thread into the conference room, where Yonas Hender and the other ministers were gathered, they asked respectfully.

Even if they put aside their reverence for Si-on’s very existence, it was impossible not to be respectful when recalling the fist-shaped crater Si-on had created a few days ago.

“You haven’t collected taxes properly for almost a year, right? You haven’t even been able to allocate a budget?”

“My apologies.”

“Forget it. Just take a look anyway. It should help put out some fires in urgent places.”

The older ministers, gathered together, carefully untied the thread and inspected the papers one by one.

“T-This is!”

“A promissory note issued by the Orlanda Trading Company? A value of ten million Dien!?”

“One, two, three… Fifteen million Dien in checks from the Brelian Bank!?”

“This is more than enough… No, this isn’t just about putting out urgent fires!”

After confirming part of Si-on’s wealth that had been handed to them, the ministers transformed like someone who had been starving all day, only to receive a large order of blood sausage soup or black bean noodles with sweet and sour pork unexpectedly.

Although one wouldn’t actually die from a day of fasting, more often than not, it’s that exact moment when the phrase “I’m starving to death!” would involuntarily come to mind.

Even a simple meal like ramen cooked by a childhood deity would be appreciated, but Si-on had presented them with a foundational soul food.

“Ahhh! Your Grace, the Duke!”

“How can we ever repay this grace….”

“Ahhh….”

Si-on, unable to hide his discomfort at the tears of the older ministers with speckled gray hair, spoke.

“I’m not just giving it to you. About half of it is already designated for specific uses, so don’t argue and follow my instructions.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

“In the town located in the northern part of the duchy, build an orphanage that doubles as a school. Gather the town’s children and orphans from nearby villages.”

“…Excuse me?”

One of the ministers, who had reflexively questioned the order, realized his mistake and quickly waved his hands.

“Ah! I, I do not oppose Your Majesty’s command in any way! I’m just foolishly curious… I humbly ask because someone as dull as I cannot fathom Your Majesty’s profound intentions.”

“During the time when the position of Duke was vacant, you’re aware of the administrative gaps in the duchy, aren’t you? You all may not have noticed since you were holed up in Sionia, but it was on the verge of becoming a complete mess.”

“……”

The ministers, unable to defend themselves even with ten mouths, lowered their heads.

“Even if administrative power were to return to normal right away, it’s difficult to change the reality of some subjects who have already been devastated. Especially the children, the future of the duchy. Therefore, build an orphanage in a town that includes several nearby villages within its administrative range to care for children under twelve. Provide basic education in reading and writing.”

“What profound intentions!”

“Children are indeed the future of the duchy. Truly wise words.”

“The more important thing is.”

Interrupting the ministers’ fervent flattery and devotion, Si-on continued.

“Except for Sionia, people in other areas, especially small villages under the town level, don’t care who becomes the Duke. Why? Because they’re too busy worrying about survival.”

“……”

The ministers’ heads sank even lower.

“You need to show the residents that the chaos within the duchy is over. Hender and the ministers must provide a clear signal that they can lead them well. Taking care of the children first is the beginning of that.”

“Yes!”

“Draft a plan immediately and implement it as soon as possible. Also, contact the direct descendants of Flandre and Rozin. Inform them of what has happened and how it’s been resolved. They maintained neutrality until now, but it’s time for them to rally once more under the banner of the Twin-headed Eagle.”

“As Your Majesty commands!”

The ministers responded in unison.

From Si-on’s perspective, while they might not have been exceptional, they were certainly capable.

Moreover, they had shown their loyalty to the ducal family by receiving messages of clan member re-registration.

With the right leader, they would be able to fully demonstrate their abilities.

“Hender, see me separately.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Yonas, who had suddenly become the second-in-command of the Si-on Duchy, approached Si-on with a stiff posture.

“When it’s just the two of us, be at ease.”

“How could an unworthy descendant….”

“Shush!”

“Understood, Grandfather.”

As Yonas laughed awkwardly, Si-on spoke more gently than before.

“How’s the work? Can you handle it?”

“I’m still not sure. I don’t doubt your decision, Grandfather, but I worry whether I can manage well, considering that I’ve mainly wielded a sword and only dealt with trivial administrative tasks.”

Although he spoke cautiously, Yonas was essentially expressing that he didn’t quite understand why he had been made the equivalent of Prime Minister, Hender.

Si-on patted Yonas on the shoulder.

“A position makes a person. And right now, the duchy doesn’t need a leader with exceptional skills or charisma. Not that I’m saying you lack ability.”

“Yes, please continue.”

“The leader the duchy needs now, Hender, is someone whom both sides—Sionia and Paloma—may not particularly like but at least don’t hate or resent too much. Someone who they can acknowledge.”

“I see.”

Yonas acknowledged this himself.

Not only the knights of Paloma, but also the noble families in the vicinity had never had any serious conflict with him.

Furthermore, the nobles and administrators of Sionia, despite him being one of Gede’s close associates, highly valued Yonas for recognizing Gede’s ruthlessness and turning to support the Si-on ducal family.

As it stood, Yonas was the only “Si-on” acknowledged by both sides.

“Yonas, you care for and cherish Sirvan, don’t you?”

“Yes! Of course.”

Although Sirvan was a mischievous nephew who didn’t always listen, Yonas had loved and doted on him since he was young.

“Your job is to hold out until Sirvan is ready. You’re not telling me you can’t handle that much, are you?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Your best won’t be enough. In two years, at the shortest? No more than five years, a significant event will occur. Upheaval? Yes, let’s call it the era of great upheaval. Not just for our duchy but for the entire world.”

“You speak of the Divine Message.”

“Yes.”

Si-on didn’t believe that only he and the figures of the duchy were the ones receiving these “messages” from a being that could be a god or some unknown system.

Before he arrived, several of the northern elves, including Friel, had seen level messages.

This meant that a select few special individuals in the Kingdom of Obla, or perhaps in the entire world, were also receiving these messages.

“You can’t read the Divine Messages now, so you don’t know what they are. But do you think it will stay that way forever?”

“No, it won’t.”

“Right. Some clever kings or lords might have already started researching it. You’ll be leading the duchy during such a time.”

“But you’re still here, Grandfather. I’m just here to follow the path you guide me on.”

“You idiot. Am I going to govern the entire duchy myself now? I’ll show you the main road. You and the ministers have to plan the specifics and carry them out.”

“But, Grandfather….”

“Besides, I have a lot of separate matters to handle.”

“Yes? Separate matters, you say?”

Hearing this for the first time, Yonas’s eyes widened in surprise.

Si-on walked to the conference room window and opened it.

He then looked outside to the northwest, away from the scorching sunlight.

“I might not be able to do it for long, but I think I’ll often have to do things that nobody should know who did them or how they were done.”

“That means….”

Despite the tension, there was a peculiar intensity in Yonas’s voice, and Si-on’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Yes. First up is Count Pamel. This old man will go ahead and set the stage, so once I signal, bring the men and finish it.”

“I will do so without fail.”

Though Gede had committed treason and filicide, the fact that he was Yonas’s half-brother whom he had once followed would never change.

That’s why Yonas had no intention of forgiving Count Pamel, who had provoked Gede and even sent hundreds of mercenaries to destroy the ducal family and the duchy.

Since Gede was dead, Count Pamel had to pay the same price.

‘Because that… is justice.’

The Hender of the Si-on Duchy gritted his teeth, glaring at the northwestern sky with eyes burning like fire.

* * *

“Still no news?”

Count Pamel asked, unable to hide his fatigue.

In the office, the retainers of the count’s family, all with dark expressions, looked at one another.

Finally, one of the less experienced ones, unable to withstand the stares, stepped forward.

“N-No, Sir. There is still no word from Sir Sanders or the mercenaries, and it appears there’s no particular movement from the Si-on Duchy either.”

“‘It appears’? Does that mean someone went in and checked directly? Or is it just assumed to be the case?”

“S-Sorry, Sir.”

Since it was the latter, the retainer sweated profusely and lowered his head.

For some time now, people had been entering the Si-on Duchy, but none had come out.

Unaware that the duchy’s three elf tribes, led by the northern elves, were jointly blocking the paths in the Forest Without Echoes, they had no way to ascertain the internal state of the duchy.

“How long has it been since Sir Sanders went into the forest?”

“It’s been 16 days since he left the castle and 14 days since he entered the forest.”

To navigate the notoriously perilous forest, they had spent several years and a considerable sum of money recruiting wandering elves.

They had been confident it would take no more than three or four days, a week at most, but still, there had been no contact.

There was only one explanation for this.

All those mercenaries had been wiped out.

“Is that even possible!?”

Bang!

Count Pamel slammed his desk.

He hadn’t meant to say it to his retainers. It was a denial directed at his own doubts.

Count Pamel had no idea that his suspicion had actually become a reality.

Nor did he know that the undying ancient monster who had caused this unimaginable disaster would soon be coming for him.