episode_0186

Cabinet meeting.

An important meeting where important and major issues for the country are discussed.

“Currently, the activities of protesters have increased, so the current security force needs to be expanded.”

As Interior Minister Gaston and Justice Minister Savinelli finish speaking, the conference room falls silent.

All the State Council members, including Theodora, look at me with cold eyes.

I feel burdened by the look in their eyes as if asking me to explain.

They seem to believe that the civil war has already ended and there is no longer any need for the Ministry of Information to run the Justice Party, but that they are wasting administrative power by running the Justice Party even now.

However, it is difficult to say that it is a trap to catch demon worshipers because they are involved.

I am confident that the members of the State Council have not colluded with demon worshipers, but if information flows to Department 5, other nobles with entangled interests may find out.

To begin with, most of the ministers in the Cabinet secretly know that I am behind the Justice Party, but the fact that this story has not spread so far means that they are good at keeping it a secret.

However, if demon worshipers are involved in the Justice Party, the story is very different.

A lot of information will be required to catch the demon worshipers, the enemies of humanity, and the information collected so far will flow into Part 5.

Then most of the people working in Department 5 will know.

Considering the possibility that there may be contact with demon worshipers among them, it is not easy to reveal this information.

To be honest, so far, all that is known about demon worshipers is just me, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the Holy See.

Let me organize my thoughts at the end of the discussion like that.

“My friend, why is it that you are not ordering the dissolution of the Justice Party soon?”

Theodora asks on behalf of the members of the State Council.

“It’s difficult to say anything about that part yet. It is not operated privately.”

During the last inn explosion, all the demon worshipers whose identity information had been secured, except for Amon, disappeared.

It is understood that Amon is currently touring the provinces and training protesters within the Justice Party.

If the Justice Party is dissolved here…

Amon will flee and the demon worshipers will return to the darkness.

Or they can change their behavior towards Locust and terrorist activities.

“Then, please explain that part.”

Savinelli speaks interrogatively with an interested expression.

“It is difficult to tell you that because it is confidential to the Ministry of Intelligence.”

The other ministers didn’t look so happy when I said that.

“So are you saying we should continue to waste precious administrative power?”

“We are ministers of the empire. No matter how confidential it is, you have the right to know.”

Except for Victor, who has served our family for generations, everyone has a bad expression.

“Grand Duke, do you want Parliament to take action on this matter?”

Savinelli spoke with a frown, and I answered with a relaxed expression.

“If Congress tries to hold a hearing, I intend to veto it.”

When I nail them like this in advance, their expressions don’t get any better.

If you say it this strongly, the Congress will not intervene.

If I somehow intervene and exercise my veto, it would be a loss of face for them as well.

“My dear, I am the emperor of the empire. But why can’t you tell me about this?”

I answer what Theodora says with a frown.

“You will know when the time comes. But it is difficult to disclose it now.”

Once again, silence fills the conference room.

“Your Highness, if you come out like that, we have no choice but to recommend to His Majesty the Emperor that he order to recall Minister of Information Karl.”

Savinelli spoke as if he had made up his mind, and I answered.

“I will exercise my veto on that part.”

-bang!

“Grand Duke! The right of veto is not meant to be used so haphazardly.”

“That’s right. The purpose of the veto is to prevent disorder in Congress, not to commit tyranny.”

“If the Grand Duke is going to do everything he wants, I will resign as minister.”

When Savinelli, Gaston, and Marcus speak in protest, I look at them coldly.

“This is the veto power granted to me by the Parliament and His Majesty the Emperor. What’s wrong with me using it when I need it? Also, if Minister Marcus wants to resign, I will formally accept it. Please submit your resignation by today.”

The Ministry of Military Affairs currently has the least authority among the five departments.

Originally, it was a department that could exercise great power, but the army they would command was outside of Roman.

“Good! I will submit it here.”

Marcus begins to write on the white paper in the conference room as if he is angry.

-Sleep!

“Ma… Minister Marcus?!”

The other ministers all look surprised at that sight.

“Your Majesty…, you must stop him.”

Sabinelli, taken aback by this, asks Theodora, and Teodora steps forward.

“Minister Marcus. Why are you quitting? Didn’t you swear allegiance to the empire?”

Theodora hastily tries to stop him, but…

“I have sworn allegiance to Your Majesty the Emperor and the Empire. This is not Debian, that wretched tyrant. Rather than suffer such insults! I’d rather resign.”

I shrug my shoulders as I look at Marcus who is growling.

“Do whatever you want. Because that is your right.”

It’s a shame that Marcus, who is respected in the military department, is missing, but the most important thing now is to punish the demon worshipers.

It’s a shame… but there’s nothing we can do.

“Huh! grandee! This is too much!”

When Savinelli shouts at me, I reply coldly.

“What do you mean? If you want to resign, write a resignation letter.”

Savinelli’s face turns red at those words.

-Ugh…

Let’s take a leisurely look at him shaking with anger.

“Hmm… Your words are excessive, Grand Duke. Isn’t this what happens because you are unreasonable?”

I admit that it is far-fetched.

But… now we have to reject their demands, even if it means being unreasonable.

“Your Majesty, I apologize, but it is for the sake of the empire, so please understand with great generosity.”

Theodora’s eyebrows furrow at my words.

“Why do you hide it so closely, saying it is for the empire?”

Theodora also looks upset.

“Grand Duke, you say you are for the empire, but don’t you have another agenda?!”

Savinelli frowns and shouts.

“Roman explosion incident… I happened to see it at that time. A dark purple light.”

Gaston and Victor also seem embarrassed, their eyes filled with astonishment.

“That… Is that really true? Minister Savinelli?”

“Huh?! Isn’t that Magi?”

Savinelli, he glares at me with cold eyes.

“No way. You won’t say that the Ministry of Intelligence and His Highness don’t know about that, right? There’s no way you wouldn’t know, right?! I understand that intelligence agents and Grand Duchy soldiers controlled the explosion site at the time. If it is true that demon worshipers are active, the information should be shared with us and the Vatican.”

The hall is filled with shock.

I look at Savinelli’s eyes staring at me and give him a cold smile.

It’s amazing.

I thought you hid it well.

A purification operation was carried out with holy water at the site in case there was any possibility of demonic energy.

“What do you want to say?”

As I spoke calmly, Savinelli opened his mouth.

“Isn’t the Grand Duke… in secret with a demon worshiper?”

-Percussion!

Theodora jumps out of her seat and shouts at Savinelli’s words.

“Count!”

“Huh! The minister’s words are excessive.”

After a while, Theodora trembles and speaks.

“Your words are excessive! Didn’t I tell you before?! The Archduke is not that kind of person.”

“However, given the circumstances, the information the Archduke is hiding is very suspicious.”

“Count, isn’t it possible that you were mistaken?”

Savinelli shakes his head at Teodora’s words and speaks with confidence.

“If you tell me that what I saw that day was a lie, I will sacrifice my neck. Please listen a little more. Isn’t the Justice Party engaged in activities to help demon worshipers through the Ministry of Information? The Justice Party is inciting protests in my territory, Lazio. Isn’t that their intention to confuse the empire and create a coffin for the Demon King?!”

no? Why does that happen?

Wait a minute, it’s me who’s hiding demon energy, and it’s me who’s hiding the activities of demon worshipers, right?

I was quite inspired by Savinelli’s words.

Well, that’s it and this is now.

“I have no such thoughts or intentions.”

“There is no case where the criminal says he is the criminal.”

I sigh at those words.

“So? Are you going to sue me?”

Savinelli nods his head at my words.

“There’s no reason you can’t do it, right?”

Sigh… it will be dismissed anyway since there is no power to prosecute.

One of the emperor’s rights is the right to inviolability of his personal life.

To put it simply, it can be seen as the right to be legally protected and not to be prosecuted in court.

Of course, it is obvious that it will be dismissed in court, but saying you will sue is no different from a meaningless threat.

“Please, I don’t have time to get caught up in pointless arguments anymore.”

I stand up and look at Marcus.

“Please give me your resignation letter when you have finished writing it.”

At my words, Marcus gets up from his seat and throws his resignation letter on my desk.

“Try to do it alone! You bastard will go to hell.”