Semi-Coercive Imperialist

A strange rumor spread throughout the Sentinel Knight Order.

To the knights, Maximilian was someone terrifyingly cold.

A fierce bird of prey that quietly honed itself inside the shell called Empire Point, only revealing its true colors late.

However, the rare disheveled state he showed when he went to Chiron’s office, along with Chiron’s equally furious demeanor as he followed him out, was enough to make the entire knight order tense.

“……Tiana. Do you really not know what’s going on?”

First-year Sentinel knight Tiana’s office. Leon tapped her on the shoulder as he asked.

“Ah, damn it, I don’t know. How would I─No, not there. Please install it on the window next to that one.”

Even as Tiana was giving instructions to the air conditioner engineers, Leon kept chattering, his hand resting on the back of his neck.

“Even the seniors knights and the rookies all come to me and ask. What’s going on with Max?”

“……Rookies, my ass. The 0-year kids are only one year younger than us.”

“These days, some of them are two to three years younger. You know that.”

“I don’t care.”

Tiana’s eyes were fixed on the window-type air conditioner. Leon puckered his lips.

“Tiana. Isn’t that thing way too expensive, though?”

The latest invention from Lorenzo Academy. Sleek design. Stylish and reliable performance, but the price was steep.

“It is a bit expensive…… but the staff are saying they’re dying from the heat. We have to install it. The seniors and juniors are all getting it, so I can’t be the only one not doing it.”

Knock knock─

Just then, the door opened with a knock. A few senior knights peeked in from the hallway.

“Hey, Tiana. By any chance, has Maximilian─”

“I don’t know either.”

Tiana answered right away. They turned back with awkward expressions.

Leon snickered.

“Do they all ask you too?”

“Yeah. I guess we look close because we’re from the same class.”

But no matter what, they couldn’t say they were close. It wasn’t a relationship where they could open up and talk to each other about everything.

Even so, the two of them held a rather unique position within the knight order. They were the only ones who called Maximilian “Max”.

“Installation is comple⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌te.”

Meanwhile, the air conditioner installation was finished.

“Oh…… Is it all done?”

“Yes.”

The engineer began gathering his equipment.

“Leon, did you get yours installed, the air conditioner?”

“Ours is coming next week. Orders are completely backed up right now.”

“Why? Aren’t we the only ones using the window-type?”

“Come on, it’s not just us. Look. It doesn’t damage the interior.”

Traditional air conditioners were bulky in appearance. Since they have to connect the inside to the outside, they require drilling through walls and take up a lot of space. In other words, they were eyesores typically found in banks or government offices.

But this window-type air conditioner was different. Thin and stylish, it actually looked like part of the interior.

“If you pay extra, they even customize it with something called crystal? Or whatever. That’s why the nobles are going crazy right now, paying extra to get it installed in their mansions first.”

“Ah…… yeah, I can see that.”

“How did you get yours done so early, Tiana?”

“I asked Max, and he arranged it. I even got a discount. If you ask him, he’ll probably do it for you too.”

At Tiana’s words, Leon realized something belatedly.

Ah, this is why everyone comes to us whenever something about Max comes up.

“Turning it on now.”

The engineer pressed the remote firmly.

Ssssss─

With a soft noise, cool air swept into the room. Before long, the atmosphere in the office became pleasant.

“Oooooh!”

The staff, exhausted from the heat, clapped their hands. Tiana raised her eyebrows with a touch of pride.

“……Huh?”

Suddenly, Tiana’s administrative officer muttered while looking out the window.

“Did the knights return?”

Through the window, they could see Maximilian’s latest custom transport ship landing.

“But seriously, why does he change aircrafts like they’re bicycles?”

Tiana was dumbfounded. The latest model she had seen last time had already become outdated, it seemed.

***

……Verkina, the secret VVIP private room of a newly opened club.

A tri-lateral meeting was being held there. It was an emergency gathering of the leaders of the three major factions dividing the territory of the Parmano Cartel.

“……I don’t really think there’s a need for us to gather like this.”

Costa grumbled as he looked at the man sitting across from him.

The boss of bosses, Fellier.

Though now calmly seated in a formal suit, the bloody legend he left behind in Verkina was nothing short of infamous.

Even Costa, known as the Mad Dog of Verkina, the Iron Boar, couldn’t help but be tense in his presence.

“Hey, Fellier. Is there some kind of problem?”

At Costa’s question, Fellier’s expression stiffened.

“Hoo…….”

He silently puffed on his cigar and glared at Costa. The pressure and unique aura emanating from his silence remained as overwhelming as ever.

“What you did is the problem.”

Fellier spoke as he exhaled smoke. His gaze held both coldness and fury.

“What problem?”

Even so, Costa responded nonchalantly. Instead, he exaggeratedly spread both arms and gestured around him.

“What the hell’s the problem? Did we just drop dead or something? Or is this heaven? Well, it does feel like heaven. Never thought a club like this would open in Verkina.”

Fellier’s lips twisted silently. For a brief moment, mana surged threateningly. The mercenaries behind Costa reached for their weapons. Fellier’s escorts also drew up their mana.

Murderous intent thick enough to tear the air apart filled the VVIP room.

“Hey, hey. What’s with everyone? Calm down.”

Kunta, the third faction, waved his hand dismissively.

Costa arched an eyebrow shortly after.

“……Alright, Fellier. You know damn well who’s backing us. The Imperial Guard, the fucking Imperial Guard. Those guys take our money and even grease palms in the Imperial Palace.”

He lowered his voice and let out a sneer.

“But the knight that died was a commoner. A fucking nobody pretending to be a knight. Killing a lowlife like that doesn’t cause any real problems.”

“…….”

Fellier listened quietly to Costa’s words.

“And do you know where the intel leak came from?”

He let out a fish-like chuckle.

“The Imperial Palace. The information came through the palace. The bigshots didn’t like that pretentious commoner poking around their cash flow. We just did a bit of housekeeping for them.”

Even so, Fellier’s face remained composed. Costa hated that face. That smug look that always seemed to say, ‘I know everything’, and ‘You’re right in the palm of my hand.’

Costa’s brow twitched.

“So the real problem here is─what the hell are you staring at me like that for?”

“……Where’s th⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌e body?”

Fellier asked.

Costa’s expression hardened.

“You said the body disappeared.”

“……We confirmed the death. No way he could’ve survived. The guy was only barely breathing thanks to drugs keeping him alive.”

The skin flayed, bones shaved, eyes gouged out, just a mutilated hunk of flesh, kept barely alive with medication.

“It’s nothing. What would anyone do with a body like that? He was someone the palace discarded anyway.”

“…….”

Tap tap. As he flicked ash off the long-burning cigar, Fellier delivered his conclusion.

“This time’s tribute is doubled. Costa. If you’ve got a conscience, you should shoulder more of the burden. You caused the mess, so you should pay the cleanup fee.”

“What? You fucking─…”

Costa spat curses, but Fellier didn’t bother listening and stood up.

As he exited the VVIP room, a mercenary asked him,

“Boss. Will this be okay? He killed an Imperial Knight─”

“It’s fine. Everything he said was true. The Imperial Guard won’t want it getting out that they were taking money from us.”

Eshton. Because of that bastard, Fellier’s large estate had taken a significant hit. Costa’s method had been rash, of course, but it was at least satisfyin⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌g.

“Brainless beasts like him are actually easier to use.”

Costa had done the dirty work for him, while Fellier saved money, time, and manpower.

“If anything goes wrong, we just throw that guy under the bus.”

“……Yes, boss.”

Fellier adjusted his sleeve cuffs as he descended the stairs.

──Step. Step.

With each step, his shadow stretched long. Muscles rippled beneath the neat suit, and from his pitch-black eyes, a murderous aura flowed, one no ordinary person could face easily.

──Step. Step.

A man who had trampled over thousands, tens of thousands of competitors, and climbed atop a mountain of corpses.

That was Fellier Crusio, the man who ruled the nights of Verkina.

***

From the moment the four knights returned from their classified mission, a secret “special team” was formed under the leadership of Chiron and Maximilian.

So confidential that even high-ranking knights weren’t given access to the information, the entire Sentinel Order was wrapped in taut tension.

Every member of the Order, knight, administrator, office clerk, or janitor, was curious about the matter.

“Me? You want me?”

Leon stared wide-eyed at Maximilian, who had come looking for him.

Maximilian, seated across from him, gave a brief reply.

“Yeah. You.”

“What’s the mission?”

“Classified. If you don’t want in, back out before hearing more. But once you’ve heard it, there’s no turning back.”

Leon blinked blankly for a moment, then nodded for now.

Next was Tiana.

“Me? You want me?”

Just like Leon, Tiana asked again.

“Yeah. You.”

“What’s the mission?”

“Classified. If you don’t want in, back out before hearing more. But once you’ve heard it, there’s no turning back.”

“……Alright then, I’ll do it.”

And so, the two most reliable members among the first-years were assigned to the team, and three were also recruited from the 0-years.

They were knights selected specifically for having minimal ties to the Imperial Guard.

──And today.

Pitter-patter. On an evening when summer’s heavy rain poured down.

“What? You again?”

0-years Royce, and Dare Tan, frowned as they stood at the entrance of a building.

“What.”

It was because of Hannah, who had appeared across from them.

Dare Tan stroked his chin and muttered,

“If she’s here, it probably is⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌n’t that important of a mission……”

They had all gathered very cautiously, dressed in civilian clothes, so why Hannah?

“It’s definitely not war, that’s for sure.”

The designated meeting point wasn’t the Sentinel Knight Order. Holding discussions there risked leaking information to the Imperial Palace.

Instead, they were invited under the guise of a dinner gathering at one of Maximilian’s buildings.

“Maybe this really is just dinner? Otherwise, there’s no way she’d be here.”

“Sounds about right.”

“He⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌y. You two, piss off.”

As Royce and Dare Tan chatted, Hannah raised her middle finger and stepped inside.

“But I mean, gotta admit, for a commoner, she’s got skills……”

Royce’s chatter cut off abruptly as he followed Hannah in.

In the darkness that faintly revealed what lay beyond, a round table came into view.

“…….”

And there, not only Chiron and Maximilian were present.

Over twenty knights whose faces were recognizable by name, and whose names conjured their faces immediately. Just by standing still, their presence radiated mana pressure that filled the large interior. If one had to describe it, like hundreds of tanks gathered into a single space.

In an instant, their hearts were clenched tight.

“What are you doing? Get over here and stand properly.”

At Chiron’s command, the three 0-years hurried to a discreet corner.

“Well then. It seems everyone is here.”

Despite being 0-years, they had arrived last. The trio shut their eyes tightly in shame.

Chiron looked over the faces gathered and gave a nod.

“Maximilian. Would you explain?”

At the nod, Maximilian stepped forward.

He placed a few photos onto a panel beside the round table.

“There was a knight who joined Sentinel over a decade ago.”

Egilon.

A young man with handsome features, wearing a Sentinel uniform.

“His future was bright. As a Sentinel knight, he could have enjoyed a life of abundance acknowledged by everyone, but he resigned, for a greater cause. To serve those in hardship, from the lowest places in the Empire.”

Not because he was an Ezenheim.

Not because he was a spy who had stolen someone else’s identity.

Not because Julian had uncovered the truth.

But because, as a pure Aran, he chose to care for the weak and the suffering.

“However.”

Maximilian placed a large duffel bag on the table. Without giving the other knights a chance to prepare, he immediately unzipped it.

In that instant, gasps escaped.

A corpse, eyes gouged out, skin flayed. The chest crushed, heart and internal organs completely torn out, horrific traces of brutal torture.

“He returned to us like this, barely in this form.”

Maximilian’s voice dropped low. The faces of the knights turned cold and grim.

“A mere cartel dared to do this to a knight of the Empire.”

Their eyes turned toward Maximilian. Deep beast-like lines were etched into his expression.

Perhaps it was a face no one here had ever seen before.

“He was undoubtedly our brother.”

His every tone was sharp. Like a blade slicing through flesh, murderous intent radiated.

“I, Maximilian, as a knight of Sentinel and an Aran of the Empire, cannot─must not─let this insult stand──”

Maximilian clenched his fist so tightly it turned white.

“I insist on that, with utmost force.”

……Silence fell.

Except for the occasional sighs and the faint grinding of teeth, no sound could be heard.

One knight reached out and placed a hand over Egilon’s hollow eye sockets. Another, with eyes closed, made the sign of the cross.

From within that silence, Chiron stepped forward.

“Operation name: ‘Path of Dreams.’ A large-scale decapitation strike against the Parmano Cartel, who dared to lay hands on a knight of the Empire.”

In effect, an entire axis of the knight order moving as one in a projection of force.

“We will─”

Chiron marked several locations on the map. They were the hideouts of the cartel capos positioned near Verkina’s border.

“─annihilate them all in one swift strike.”

6th-year knight Fried raised a hand and asked,

“Then the operation’s time limit would be about a week─”

“The time,”

Maximilian answered instead,

“─is one day.”

Everyone froze at his words.

“We will crush them all within 24 hours.”