Semi-Coercive Imperialist

──October 31st, 06:00

“Ha, fuck… I can’t tell if this is working out or not.”

A luxury hotel near the Sentinel Knight Order. In the lounge that had rented out the entire top floor, officers of the Imperial Guard under Goebel had gathered.

Puff. Puff. The smell of rising cigarette smoke hung thick like fog, and whether they were majors, lieutenant colonels, or colonels, everyone wore tense expressions.

“……Let’s wait and see for now.”

“Did you hear the rumors?”

“What rumors?”

“They say Chiron and Maximilian had quite a big clash. Apparently, Chiron stepped in to try and persuade him somehow.”

Whether Maximilian was shaken or not was unknown. But Chiron was the overall commander of Operation ‘Path of Dreams’…….

It was then.

Bang─

The door to the penthouse room swung open. From inside, Brigadier General Alfred and Major General Martin, along with Goebel’s closest aides, walked out with bright faces.

All the Imperial Guard officers stood up and saluted them.

“We’ve received word from Sir Chiron.”

“H-how did it go?!”

“Seems like it went well. He says the negotiations have been settled.”

Waaaah!

The Imperial Guard members burst into cheers. They hugged each other, clapped each other on the back, and applauded.

“We’re off. To escort Commander Goebel.”

Alfred chuckled as he put on his coat.

“Yes! Loyalty!”

The members all quickly fell into formation, clearing a path for them to leave.

…….

──October 31st, 07:00

Adria had confiscated the painting from Goebel’s residence, and after returning to the office, she cross-verified the cartel’s financial flow with the art auction records.

There was a definitive record that Goebel had personally won the bid on this painting.

“This is fucking hilarious. I mean, no one recognized a Van Helsing painting, so he got it for thirty thousand dollars?”

Tiana simply found it laughable. The auction had gone on like that, and after reappraisal, the painting was revalued at 13 million dollars.

“That’s solid proof.”

Adria leaned deep into her chair.

Could this be enough to tighten the noose around Goebel’s neck? Could they hang him, or at least kill him politically?

“Just give the order.”

Jerome said. Jerome, Adria’s closest aide, was prepared to take the fall if needed.

“……Hold on.”

Adria stood from her seat and went outside. Tiana followed after her.

The two of them stood in a park where the morning sun was beginning to rise.

“Tiana. Do you not get along with Goebel?”

At Adria’s question, Tiana nodded cautiously.

“Well, it’s a long-standing grudge between families.”

“Didn’t you say your father was a soldier?”

“Yes.”

Tiana gave a bitter smile.

“He was part of the Imperial Guard. Though he originally came from the regular army.”

He was deeply trusted by his subordinates and had a good reputation, but in the world of politics and factional battles, he was defeated, dishonorably discharged, and the shock left him half-paralyzed.

“He still only thinks about entering politics. His body’s broken, but he still has his ambitions.”

“That’s dangerous.”

“Yes. It is. He’s blinded by the desire for revenge.”

Tiana closed her eyes and took in the scent of the park.

“So what are you going to do now?”

To that question, Adria looked toward the Imperial Palace, bathed in morning sunlight.

“We need to be the ones to arrest Goebel. If not now, he’s not the kind of man we’ll ever be able to summon to the Knight Order again.”

“But can we take custody internally of someone who’s already been summoned?”

At that very natural procedural doubt, suddenly─

Adria took a deep breath and said,

“Detention authority.”

Tiana flinched and looked at her.

For individuals suspected of threatening the Empire, a knight has the right to detain them without a warrant for up to 35 days.

To invoke that power meant staking one’s political life as a knight.

“It’s been five years since I’ve used it.”

Adria said with a faint smile.

…….

──October 31st, 07:00

Meanwhile, in a secret reception room within the Knight Order.

Goebel, having exited the interrogation room, opened the door. Inside, already gathered, were familiar faces.

High-ranking officers of the Imperial Guard, whose smiles came naturally the moment they saw him. They were Goebel’s closest aides.

“You’ve been through a lot, Commander.”

“What do you mean, ‘been through a lot’. As Commander of the Imperial Guard, this level of hardship is to be expected.”

As they approached him with genuine concern and bowed their heads, Goebel welcomed them, patting their shoulders.

“Please rest comfortably before you head back.”

A voice came from behind. It was Chiron.

Goebel smiled.

“Thank you. I hear you went through a lot on my behalf?”

“……To be honest, it was very difficult.”

Chiron wore a deliberately exhausted expression.

“You know what kind of person Maximilian is. I broke a sweat trying to persuade him.”

“……Having dealt with him myself, I can see that now. He’s not an easy man to handle.”

Goebel let out a deep, resonant laugh as he sank into the sofa.

“I should think about what gift to give you. Is there anything you want?”

“For now… let me bring out some refreshments.”

Chiron replied politely and had cigars and alcohol brought in.

“Oh~ Thank you. Just what I needed, I was exhausted. How long was I in the interrogation room again?”

“Sixteen hours. Now then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Sixteen hours. As Goebel gave a hollow laugh, the officers of the Imperial Guard quickly clapped.

“Amazing.”

“And yet you’re still this…… Are you made of steel?”

“You haven’t aged a day, truly.”

Even after Chiron left, they idled away the time in the reception room.

“Phew…… Still, it was entertaini⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌ng.”

Drinking the finest wine and puffing on cigar smoke, Goebel began recounting war stories. Memories of facing off against the “greenhorn” named Maximilian. He certainly had boldness, but wasn’t entirely beyond control, that was Goebel’s assessment.

“Well then…… as regrettable as it is, it’s time to make a decision.”

They moved on to discuss whom to abandon and whom to save, choosing the scapegoats.

They wrote down the names of subordinates who would become the scapegoats, drawing an X over one name.

Then changing it back to an O.

Drawing an X over another name.

There was not a trace of guilt on their faces as they did this.

“This should be enough.”

“Yes. Understood. We’ll certainly lose a finger or so ourselves.”

After a rather lengthy discussion, the list was completed.

Just as they pick⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌ed up the list with sat⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌isfied expressions─

──Bang!

The reception room door burst open as if it would shatter. Beyond it stood Adria. In her hand was a single document, and behind her, knights poured in.

“W-what…… Adria?”

Goebel, startled, called her name.

“Commander Goebel.”

Adria’s voice rang out, cold and clear.

“By a knight’s direct authority, I am placing you under detention.”

She held out the document.

An [Emergency Detention Warrant], executed under the knight’s special authority. Among all powers granted to knights, it was the most powerful, and carried the greatest risk.

Goebel’s face twisted with dread as he stared at it.

…….

──October 31st, 20:00

Crash!

Adria’s office door slammed open, nearly breaking apart. Adria raised her eyebrows as if she’d been waiting, and Chiron placed both hands on her desk.

“You’ve finally lost your mind, Adria.”

Adria looked up at him. Chiron’s brow was deeply furrowed.

“You’re detaining the Commander of the Imperial Guard under emergency powers?”

“That’s right.”

“Do you have evidence?”

“Of course.”

Adria nodded confidently. A scoff curled on Chiron’s lips.

“You have evidence?”

“Yeah. The most solid evidence there is.”

She answered while signing some document. Chiron sat across from her.

“I-listen to me. I am genuinely worried about you, Adria.”

Adria’s lips twisted.

‘Worried, my ass.’

“I’m genuinely dumbfounded. Since when have you ever worried about me?”

“Detaining the Commander of the Imperial Guard without evidence is an act of war. Up until just now, what we did, that was the limit of what Sentinel could tolerate.”

“It’s fine. The evidence is solid. We seized it from Goebel’s residence.”

Suddenly, Chiron stiffened. He licked his dry lips and asked again.

“Seized? Evidence?”

“Yes. Goebel already signed the seizure warrant. You all received it. No, ‘we’ received it.”

On the day of the summons, Goebel had consented to the seizure, but Chiron and the knights under his command deliberately refrained from taking any action.

It was just a formality, after all.

“……You crazy bitch.”

A murderous gleam entered Chiron’s gaze. Adria did not back down.

“Chiron, you clearly said it yourself. Sentinel is Sentinel. There’s no ‘you’ or ‘us’. I just followed that to the letter.”

A cold smile spread across her face.

“Am I wrong?”

“…….”

Chiron was at a loss for words.

He genuinely wanted to punch her in the face, but if he lost his temper, he’d lose the argument.

“If you’re that confident, then go ahead.”

Chiron rose from his seat.

Bang─!

Crackkk!

The hinge shattered and broke off.

“He really slammed that hard.”

She’d have to bill him for the repairs later.

“……Phew.”

Adria took a deep breath.

Now was the perfect time to catch Commander of the Imperial Guard, Goebel. The reason she’d gone so far as to use the special authority of detainment was because there would never be a better opportunity than this.

Even with solid proof, if he stalled and dragged things out, and a war broke out in the meantime, everything would turn to scraps of paper.

“Tomorrow.”

The appraisers had already been arranged. The verification would take place first thing tomorrow morning.

“Tomorrow…….”

One of the biggest reasons this Knight Order maintained any semblance of normalcy was Anton.

They must never, ever lose him.

…….

──November 1st, 09:00

In the Knight Order’s main hall. With Deputy Commander Anton and the upper ranks of the Knight Order in attendance, as well as high-ranking officials dispatched from the Imperial Palace, Adria presented the evidence.

“It’s an artwork. The title is ‘A Woman’s Tears.’ A work by the master Van Helsing.”

Van Helsing. A master from Prozen who died over a hundred years ago.

“I will now examine this painting, which was undeniably purchased by Commander Goebel of the Imperial Guard.”

She revealed the back of the canvas. As everyone’s attention focused, the appraiser sprayed a solution with a sprayer.

Fssssss.

Like active traces, some letters glowed in a bluish light.

[From Fellier of Verkina─]

[To Goebel, the leader of the Imperial Guard]

It was a handwritten signature and message left by Fellier, the Capo of the Parmano Cartel.

“This is proof that confirms Fellier presented this to Goebel as a bribe.”

Chiron’s faction stared blankly at the painting, while an odd excitement appeared on the faces of Anton’s faction.

The Imperial Guard members and those from the Palace looked as though they were on death’s door.

“We will now begin the public verification of the evidence in question.”

At those words, the Empire’s finest appraisers gathered, one, two, three, four, five, six.

A total of six, huddled together, examining the painting through magnifying glasses.

“…….”

A tense silence settled over the room. Everyone felt the same. Chiron, Adria, and probably even Goebel, detained in the underground prison, waited for the appraisal with pounding hear⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌ts.

“First. Let me explain about the signature itself.”

After a long pause, the most authoritative appraiser cautiously opened his mouth.

“It’s true that it was made by mixing finely crushed mana stones with a special pigment only produced in Verkina. The mana stone type is also presumed to be ‘Tunic’, the highest purity mana stone from Verkina, or the southeastern region.”

Adria clenched her fist tightly. She could feel Tiana’s heartbeat thumping clearly beside her.

“But, more than the signature itself…….”

Suddenly, the appraiser tilted his head. He looked at the appraiser beside him, who looked at the next one, who in turn looked at the next. Each exchanged troubled glances with the other──and soon, they came to a conclusion.

“This painting itself…… is a forgery.”

“……What?”

Adria’s eyes widened. Everyone else was the same. A ripple of unrest spread throughout the hall.

“It’s a very cleverly made forgery. The brushstrokes and color palette closely resemble the original, but it is clearly different from Van Helsing’s work. The dating was also intentionally scrambled… Yes. It’s a fake convincing enough to fool even most professional appraisers.”

The appraiser continued speaking.

“Furthermore, since it’s not an authentic piece, the signature could’ve easily been forged and inserted at any time… Does anyone have a differing opinion?”

The appraiser turned to the others. They all shook their heads, indicating agreement.

It was unanimous.

“……The painting itself is a fake?”

Adria’s head throbbed as if she had a cramp in her skull.

Had someone swapped the painting? Or had it been a trap from the very beginning? Or had those morons in the cartel tried to cut corners?

No. That couldn’t be. This artwork had been verified at the auction, and there were official records of it being successfully bid on…

Lost in the swirl of endlessly branching doubts, she suddenly felt someone’s gaze on her.

Adria slowly turned her head.

In the grand hall, where voices laced with confusion and speculation rose and fell like waves. Even Chiron was visibly bewildered by the situation. Among the many knights caught in the confusion, one man stood out, with uniquely radiant golden eyes.

Maximi⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌lian.

He was watching her with an expressionless face.