Semi-Coercive Imperialist

“Select only the highest-quality cattle from Zerpha’s stock and supply them to us.”

The highlands beyond Alberon Gorge, a border village. To the man who had, in just one year, transformed himself into a large-scale rancher commanding thousands of head of cattle, I presented a new long-term contract.

“……Yes, yes. Understood.”

I didn’t undercut the supply price in the slightest. If anything, I set it generously to match the quality.

So that he could sustain his business and, beyond that, continue to flourish.

“Also, hire the villagers and have them specialize in harvesting the truffles that grow in this area.”

The purchase price for the truffles was the same.

In truth, truffles weren’t all that expensive an ingredient in these barren highlands. To the locals, they were just a somewhat unusual delicacy, and the biggest problem with truffles had always been how quickly they spoiled, meaning the difficulty of transport.

Even so, I paid them fairly.

“The price for the truffles will be set as follows.”

“……Huh. Yes, yes?”

According to Dieter’s advice– if you gouge profits at the source from the start, you’re far more likely to attract unwanted parasites.

Of course, I had secured exclusive rights to trade Zerpha products from the Crown Prince.

But if the truffles I bought locally for twenty dollars were selling for five hundred in the Empire, smugglers blinded by money would inevitably try to carve out a black market.

“Let’s take this opportunity to give the village a new name as well.”

However, if I bought them at one to two hundred dollars from the start and set the retail price at five hundred?

Once the initial infrastructure costs were factored in, refrigerated shipping costs using Mana Stones, labor costs, smuggling expenses, risk, and so on, the margins would plummet.

From the parasites’ perspective, there simply wouldn’t be enough incentive to dive into this market while risking conflict with the exclusive rights held by the Ebenholtz name.

“How about ‘Terone’? Terone truffles. It has quite a refined ring to it.”

I was no businessman, of course, but before the war, the empire’s vast wealth needed to flow toward me.

Money was a vast promise made by every human on the continent, and I intended to gather as much of that promise as possible and use it for the greatest cause.

“Yes, yes. That’s fine. But, um, these mushrooms, shipping them–”

“Don’t worry about it.”

I planned to commission Lorenzo Academy to develop refrigerated containers using Mana Stones and solve the shipping problem that way.

“If you discover any other hidden ingredients in this region going forward, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”

“Yes! I’ll keep that in mind, Sir Knight!”

The rancher bowed again and again, looking as though he’d gained the whole world.

……And then.

Before long, a new trend swept through the finest restaurants in the imperial capital.

Led by 「Lilac Vita」, which I had acquired, nearly every establishment backed by my capital introduced new menus featuring Zerpha’s specialty produce.

The handsomely paid chefs grasped the flavors of Zerpha beef and truffles in no time. They slow-cooked the Zerpha beef, low in marbling but bursting with rich, beefy flavor, at low temperatures over long hours to draw out its tenderness, then shaved truffles laden with elegant umami over it like snowflakes, presenting dishes of exquisite refinement.

The result was── exactly as expected.

“……Wait, Chef. What is this aroma?”

“It’s a rare mushroom that grows only in the pristine mountains of Zerpha──the ‘Terone truffle’.”

“Terone? Truffle?”

“Yes. The natural Mana of Alberon Gorge converges and crystallizes into…….”

From the moment the new menu launched, the capital’s gourmets went wild.

Even the Imperial Palace nobles, famous for their finicky palates, fell for the captivating flavor, filling the reservations at restaurants that cost several thousand dollars a meal day after day.

“Terone truffles” and “Zerpha Grade-1 beef” quickly earned their reputation as the continent’s most luxurious ingredients.

As something of a gourmet who had long been involved in the culinary business, I found that yet another layer of power, one I hadn’t anticipated, had been added to my arsenal.

* * *

“Wow…….”

Reutern II trembled with ecstasy as he tasted the new dinner course at「Lilac Vi⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠ta」.

Tremble. Tremble. His fingertips and toes shook on their own, like the wings of a fly.

“……This is insane.”

The flavor was completely new and perfectly refined.

The texture of the Zerpha Grade-1 beef was incomparable to any meat he’d ever tasted, and the Terone-whatever? This mushroom seemed to stimulate his brain directly.

“Truly…… truly magnificent.”

The nobles sharing the private room all chimed in, their faces lost in appreciation.

“To think I’d taste such a delicacy in the imperial capital…….”

“Who could have guessed that Zerpha of all places would produ⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠ce such exquisite ingredients?”

“Honestly, I can barely believe it even as I’m eating it.”

“It’s all thanks to Lord Reutern. I heard even Grossman couldn’t get a reservation here.”

These days, reservations at「Lilac Vita」were virtually impossible. No amount of money was any use, and no matter how high your status, nothing short of being His Majesty the Emperor himself would get you in the door.

Word was the restaurant’s backer was Ebenholtz. What were they supposed to do about that?

“Ah~ it’s fine. I’m happy as long as you all enjoy it.”

「Lilac Vita」had always been a restaurant of considerable prestige, but after the new menu launched, it had taken on a symbolic significance for the nobility, proof of power and influence.

From what he’d heard, reservation requests were pouring in from every conceivable direction.

“I don’t really like coming to a place this nice all by myself, either.”

Reutern II put on airs, fork still in hand. In truth, he’d only gathered them because Maximilian told him he could arrange a reservation whenever he liked.

“But it really is delicious.”

“The harmony between the food and the wine…… ah.”

“I feel like the taste is going to linger in my mouth even after I get home.”

These were nobles of the Imperial Palace. Mid to upper-mid tier, if he had to rank them. The kind who, whenever he’d invited them to hang out before, would spout some bullshit about “needing time to think it over”, but the moment he mentioned「Lilac Vita」, they’d come swarming in like their lives depended on it.

“This dish features the tongue of a Grade-1 cow, free-range from the pristine highlands of Zerpha, accompanied by wild greens and truffles…….”

Right on cue, the staff entered to describe the beautifully plated dish, and a sommelier poured the wine.

“Cow t⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠ongue?”

Reutern II furrowed his brow.

“This is cow ton⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠gue? People eat cow tongue?”

“Yes. Once you try it, you’ll find it’s quite a delicacy. Please enjoy.”

Reutern couldn’t wrap his head around it, but the staff left with a smile, telling them to enjoy.

“No, who eats cow tongue–”

“Lord Reutern.”

Just then, one of the palace nobles exchanged glances with the others as if on cue and broached the subject in a hushed tone.

“The truth is, we had something to discuss with you as well, which is why we gathered here.”

Reutern feigned attention while focusing on the new dish.

‘So this thing is cow tongue, huh. Cow tongue, really? Do I have to eat this? Am I going to throw up? Should I make someone else try it first?’

“We believe the time has come for us to make our decision. As a token of our gratitude to Lord Reutern, we would like to–”

“Ah, shit. What gratitude? There’s no need for that.”

We’re just sharing a meal together. It’d be tacky to make it about money.

“Just pick it up. Try it.”

At Reutern’s words, everyone elegantly cut into the cow tongue with their knives. Not a moment’s hesitation. They didn’t seem to have heard the dish description at all.

“……!”

“Huh!”

“……What?!”

Their expressions changed instantly. They looked as though they’d been shot.

“Good?”

At Reutern’s question, they chewed and swallowed in a flash, then asked back.

“Yes. Wh-wh-what is this?”

“Cow tongue.”

“C-cow tongue can taste like this?!”

They really hadn’t listened to the description.

“Anyway. Looks like it’s good, then.”

Reutern II stuffed his mouth full of meat as well.

One bite.

The instant he took just one bite, an unimaginable flavor, aroma, and texture seemed to carry him to another universe…….

“……Uuugh.”

Dazed by a taste beyond description, Reutern II swayed for a moment.

…….

The Imperial Palace, Reutern I’s private quarters.

“That boy of mine?”

“Yes.”

Reutern I received yet another report from his confidant, one far more gratifying than the last.

“Well, well…… I’ll be.”

His son’s moves had been bold. The boy had managed to secure a private room at「Lilac Vita」– a place that, frankly speaking, even Reutern I himself would struggle to book– and invited several nobles of the Imperial Palace.

Every one of them held voting rights.

It was clear.

His son, Reutern II, was now making his own serious effort to rally supporters and steer this political battle toward victory.

“That aside, how is the matter of convening the Ethics Committee progressing?”

The House of Nobles Ethics Committee was an uphill battle from the very first step. More than half the members of the House of Nobles had to vote in favor just to convene the committee, and then a two-thirds supermajority was required to approve a dismissal.

“The evidence we’ve secured is so airtight that the Julius faction won’t be able to weasel their way out easily. However, a cornered rat will bite the cat, so for now, we must be wary of their desperate thrashing.”

The confidant reported with a voice tinged with concern.

Reutern nodded gravely.

“An expulsion for the first time in a hundred years…….”

No matter how powerful the Reutern name was, setting such an extreme precedent carried an enormous political burden.

“We’ll compromise at an appropriate point. We’ll strip Julius of his real power, but stop short of expulsion.”

As befitting a seasoned politician, rather than cutting off their air entirely, he weighed what could be gained.

“However, rumors are rampant throughout the palace that Reutern II wants Julius’s complete dismissal and expulsion.”

“…….”

Reutern I’s eyes wavered.

Just looking at how he had invited Imperial Palace nobles to「Lilac Vita」, it was obvious that those rumors were indeed everywhere in the Palace.

“……I will persuade him myself regarding that matter.”

As his father, there was no helping it.

His hot-blooded son seemed to possess the kind of ruthless decisiveness that said “kill or be killed”, but looking at the bigger picture, stopping here would be far more beneficial for him.

* * *

The Sentinel Knight Order’s office.

─So, how much was the total?

Sitting in my chair, I listened to the voice transmitted through the wiretapped Mana Stone Cube owned by Reutern II.

─Sir Maximilian has already settled the payment…….

─Ah, forget it.

The ultra-high-purity premium Mana Stone Cube he had practically begged and wheedled out of me. Through the covert wiretapping magic implanted inside it, I could monitor Reutern II’s every move.

─It was under my name, so I should be the one paying. Go ahead and charge it as is.

─Yes. Including the six-person dining course and all beverages, the total comes to eighty thousand dollars.

The most effective way to keep the Imperial Palace in check was to ensure they endlessly suspected and distrusted one another. To sow the seeds of division so their factions could never unite.

While they tore each other apart, I would quietly build my own strength.

In that regard, Reutern II was quite the useful chess piece.

─Eighty thousand for six people…… this place really is expensive.

─Here is the itemized list of beverages you ordered.

─Yeah, I know. I know. The drinks are expensive…….

Muttering in a pained voice, Reutern completed the payment. Then came the sounds of him leaving the restaurant. A round of pleasant conversation followed with the palace nobles expressing their gratitude, and before long, he climbed into his car and settled in.

─I’m stuffed~ Let’s go, home.

─Yes, sir.

As the luxury car carrying him glided smoothly forward,

I picked up the communicator on my desk.

“Ready?”

One final act remained, the finale that would ignite the conflict between Julius and Reutern, the two factions.

─Yes. Give the signal whenever you wish.

Reutern’s vehicle moved through the quiet night streets.

I had sent agents ahead of time to plant a specially manufactured Mana Bomb beneath his vehicle.

It was an improvised explosive assembled with components partly scavenged from the old Gigantes, and its maker was Yukia. Furthermore, the Mana Stone used as the bomb’s charge was a variety called “Curio”, sourced from m⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠ines owned by the Julius family.

The Mana would volatilize and dissipate the instant the blast went off, but the Imperial Palace’s elite forensic division, or a knight of the Sentinel, would be able to detect the faint residual traces.

─Phew. Man, that was seriously good. Got my money’s worth, at least.

The very moment Reutern II patted his belly and murmured in satisfaction,

“Detonate.”

My order was carried out.

BOOOOOOM────!

Through the wiretap, a thunderous explosion tore out as though it would rip apart the eardrums.

KRRRRRUNNNG!

The massive armored vehicle was launched into the sky,

CRUNCH──!

The chassis buckled and crumpled under the blast pressure,

CRRRRACK!

Shredded steel fragments scattered in every direction, hammering the asphalt.

─Ugh, AAAAAAGH! GYAAAAAAH!

Reutern’s screams coming through were so shrill and theatrical that a smile crept across my face before I even realized it.

But there was no time to sit and watch.

Ding─.

An alarm sounded from the computer on my desk, the Sentinel mission system.

[ URGENT: Vehicle explosion on the main boulevard of Capital’s District 3 ]

[ Suspected attack on VVIP transport. Sentinel knight dispatch requested. ]

As Maximilian, knight of the Sentinel, I gladly accepted the deployment order.