Ch.129This is a divine nation.

# Chapter 129: This is a Theocratic Nation

We headed straight for Artlaia’s private chamber as soon as we entered the imperial palace.

Or rather, we tried to…

“Minister Arto? His Majesty has been eagerly awaiting you.”

“Huh?”

Right after we entered the imperial palace.

The imperial guards took Riel and me and promptly delivered us straight to Artlaia’s private chamber.

“Ah, you’re here.”

Since I was finally face to face with Artlaia, I thrust forward the 57,000-character report I had brought.

“Artlaia, I can understand that the purge unit was yours all along, but… why did you allow them to interfere with the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry personnel?”

“…”

“And those useless Temple Knights, why were they assigned to our side?”

Along with my 57,000-character report, I unconsciously began to vent all the frustration I had crammed into it at Artlaia.

But at that moment.

“…Artlaia?”

I couldn’t hide my shock at seeing the emperor’s face, sitting on the sofa, looking more haggard than I had seen in years.

“What on earth happened to make you like this?”

When you look like this, it makes me feel like trash.

Seeing my expression, Artlaia let out a deep sigh… and then turned to me and began to speak.

“That’s right… I suppose I can tell you, Arto.”

“…?”

And just as I was about to hear what Artlaia had to say next.

-Ding♬

[Pause]

[Event: Economic Infiltration!]

[Warning: Choosing the wrong option in this event will result in main quest failure.]

[Capitalist, materialist, and egalitarian factions are gaining power in the Holy Sebelli Empire.]

[At this rate, even the name of the nation might change.]

I realized that it wasn’t just the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry…

The entire Holy Sebelli Empire itself was in a dangerous state.

—————————————

Going back in time to when Zeltech was destroyed by Prosnack and Fuchsviet.

“Though the nation of Zeltech is gone, its spirit will live forever.”

Unlike ordinary refugees, the corporations that made up Zeltech spread throughout the galaxy.

Although many companies perished due to various regulations and pressures from other countries after losing their national backing.

However, the Zeltech companies and capital that survived this process successfully took root throughout the galaxy as pure capital rather than as a nation.

The economic power and technology that once made them the wealthiest nation in the galaxy made them impossible for other countries to ignore.

Additionally, while they were disrespected for not having a country.

Ironically, this meant there was no nation to put a leash on the Zeltech capital.

They had grown into a massive capital force dominating the galactic economy—something that would make Arto exclaim “Jewish capital! Rothschild!” if he saw it.

But no matter what, the Zeltech people still harbored a desire to create their own nation.

“Wait, isn’t it better this way? We’ve grown because we don’t have a nation.”

“Damn it!!!”

“A home is something precious…!”

If they had never had a country to begin with, like the Trade Federation, it might have been different.

People who until just a year ago belonged to not just a respectable nation but one counted among the galactic powers couldn’t abandon that sense of belonging merely for profit.

Therefore, the top priority for the Jewish—no, Zeltech capital and refugees was to create a new homeland.

A sanctuary where they could settle.

And the sacrificial lamb selected for this goal was…

Unlike the unreliable Kerzin Federation adjacent to Prosnack, but with the victorious Ztrakpor nearby…

None other than the Holy Sebelli Empire.

Of course, no matter how impressive the Zeltech capital was, the Holy Sebelli Empire was by no means an easy opponent.

“That damned counterintelligence agency.”

“Grumble grumble grumble.”

Starting with the notorious counterintelligence and diplomatic handling of the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry.

“Money! Technology! Information!”

“We prefer religion over such things.”

“All people are equal! Though some are a bit more equal than others!”

“What nonsense? People are naturally divided by class and status.”

A political system completely opposite to the former Zeltech.

“Hello? I am here as a spokesperson for the Zeltech Corporate Alliance…”

“Nice to meet you, but what is that…?”

“It’s my pet robot, is there a problem?”

“A-Abominable intelligence!!!”

-Bang!

“Nooo!!!!”

A culture that rejected robots and synths, the alpha and omega of material capitalism.

It was a structure that could only be described as diametrically opposed, which is why initially there was significant opposition within the Zeltech capital to the plan to use Sebelli.

“It would be unreasonable to transform Sebelli into a wealthy nation like our glorious past.”

But despite this, there were many reasons why the Zeltech capital—no, the Corporate Alliance—specifically chose Sebelli over other nations.

“Sebelli’s public sentiment and opinion have been in turmoil since the days of that incompetent former emperor.”

“Although things have calmed down thanks to those vicious people dealing with it, such tendencies haven’t disappeared.”

First, Sebelli Empire’s inherently unstable public sentiment made it easier to infiltrate the empire from its roots.

Of course, having to erode the foundation of a massive empire was quite challenging for the Corporate Alliance with its limited manpower.

“We have refugees.”

“Oh.”

Since there were already large numbers of Zeltech people who had entered the Sebelli Empire as refugees to provide that “manpower.”

From the Corporate Alliance’s perspective, they wanted the Zeltech people to infiltrate the foundation of the empire and shake it from within.

Of course, even with many refugees, the existing population of the Sebelli Empire was far more overwhelming.

If left alone, they would become members of the new Sebelli theocracy rather than maintaining their roots as a corporate nation…

To preserve the status of these refugees, what the Corporate Alliance did was simple.

“It’s not much, but…”

“Oh ho ho, I like it.”

They gave “small” gifts to the Sebelli officials and administrators who supervised the refugees.

In other words, they spread corruption among Sebelli officials and administrators through bribery, expanded their influence, maintained the Zeltech identity of the refugees.

And through these refugees, they also conducted ideological education of the surrounding Sebelli people.

Above all, there was a reason why Sebelli appeared particularly attractive from the Corporate Alliance’s perspective.

It was because the Zeltech capital held most of the government bonds issued by the Holy Sebelli Empire.

The process was incredibly complex.

They would monopolize and hoard strategic resources like Tallium, which Arto had barely managed to handle in the past, damaging Sebelli’s economy.

Or the Zeltech capital would snatch up government bonds issued by the Sebelli Empire to resolve debts incurred from successive battles in the Irtelan War, against Warlords, and against Nano Machines.

In other words, the Zeltech capital had become Sebelli Empire’s creditor.

Of course, the Sebelli Empire wasn’t stupid and tried to prevent bonds from concentrating in one entity by encouraging dispersed sales.

But they failed to notice that all these supposedly dispersed sales were actually going to shell companies of the Zeltech capital.

As a result.

“Please pay your debts quickly, I’m getting dizzy here.”

“…”

“If you don’t pay up soon, we’ll file a complaint with the Galactic Federation.”

After years of preparation, they seized control of the Holy Sebelli Empire’s economy, deployed refugees, and captured official positions through bribery.

Additionally, by using refugees and the media, they also captured Sebelli’s ever-fluctuating public opinion…

The result.

“Our empire must shed its old skin and move toward a new era in line with the times, Your Majesty!”

“…”

“Constitutional monarchy! Equality!”

They had reached the point where they could openly say such things even to the emperor, who held the supreme position in an absolute monarchy.

———————————-

“Is this for real?”

That was what I blurted out after hearing everything from Artlaia when I checked the event message and unpaused.

Not just me, but everyone present could only nod at the despair contained in my words.

“So that’s why the outside has changed into such a mess.”

“Yes… they asked for their own free economic zone in exchange for partial debt forgiveness.”

I couldn’t believe the situation had changed this much in just three… no, half a year since I left my post.

“But even so, could war expenses really consume that much? Since the Federation directly designated it as a galactic crisis, there weren’t even any tariffs on the situation.”

Since I couldn’t comprehend the situation at all, I questioned Artlaia with incredulity…

“…It’s that bastard’s fault.”

“Whose?”

“The former emperor! That damned man’s actions brought the empire to this state!!!”

When I heard Artlaia’s words, bursting with long-suppressed anger and even tears.

I felt both bewilderment and anger rising within me once again.

‘Seriously, former emperor, it’s you again?’