Ch.131Sometimes, focus is needed for making choices.

# Chapter 131: Sometimes Focus is Needed for Making Choices

Of course, Artraia wasn’t ignorant about the current Pope.

But the one who had appointed the Pope was none other than the late emperor, the source of all evil who was now dead.

Though Artraia and I had managed to consolidate our power through countless purges by now.

Back then, due to that bastard former emperor’s idiocy, imperial authority had been severely weakened.

As a result, we hadn’t had the opportunity to pay attention to the current Pope, Alexander I, who had been appointed by the former emperor.

Besides, as Artraia said, the man who had constantly sung praises about power and emperors since childhood had practically hidden his presence after ascending to the papal throne.

Thanks to that, while Artraia became emperor and worked to consolidate imperial power, we missed the opportunity to purge him.

And since he had spent over 16 years just quietly minding his own business.

There was nothing to say except that Artraia and I had let our guard down and been stabbed in the back.

So I discarded the 57,000-character report I had brought.

And began brainstorming with Artraia about how to resolve the current situation.

“…Why am I being included in this?”

“The more minds thinking, the better.”

We roped Riel in as well while we were at it.

“Though we came here of our own accord, seeing how we were essentially kidnapped as soon as we entered the palace… Artraia, it seems you already have a plan?”

“Yes, you know me well.”

“What do you want?”

“The expulsion of Zeltech capital that dares to deny the Empire’s class system, and the elimination of those who challenge imperial authority, including the Pope.”

Hearing her plan to simply crush the root causes of the current problems, I nodded and said:

“Artraia, you know as well as I do that we can’t attack both forces at once in the current situation.”

“I know. The Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry isn’t in a normal state either, is it?”

When Artraia mentioned that the absence of the Purge Squad was particularly significant, I decided it was a good opportunity to ask about that.

“Come to think of it, I’m really curious—why was the perfectly functional Purge Squad disbanded?”

“Actually, the Zeltech people demanded the dissolution of imperial loyalty units like the Purge Squad as a condition for partially forgiving our debt.”

“…?”

Hearing this, I wondered if Artraia had become a fool who would cut off her own limbs for money…

Seeing my expression, Artraia waved her hand dismissively and said with a light laugh:

“Obviously I wouldn’t actually disband them! It was clear that the loyalty units would become targets of Zeltech or the Papal Office if left as they were, so I pretended to disband them while actually hiding them away.”

“Hmm.”

As expected of Artraia, Emperor of the Empire.

You had it all planned out.

“Oh, but since the Purge Squad was too well-known, rather than keeping them together, I deliberately scattered them.”

“…”

Statement retracted.

Hearing that the Purge Squad had been broken up like pieces of the S*ul Gem or Dr*gon B*lls, I shot Artraia a very dubious look.

Of course, Artraia casually brushed off my gaze and continued speaking calmly:

“Arto, you probably already know this so I didn’t mention it, but… if the Purge Squad had stayed together, they would have been restricted by the Papal Office and Zeltech.”

“Hmm.”

“But if we completely disband them like this and scatter them individually, it will paradoxically make our opponents feel secure and stop preparing countermeasures.”

Of course, I understood Artraia’s reasoning on this matter.

After all, we had a ‘method’ to gather the scattered members, so as Artraia said, it was merely a deception aimed at our opponents.

But when else would I get to see Artraia making excuses while I give her dubious looks?

‘Cute.’

But everything has its limits, so after storing that image firmly in my mind, I nodded to Artraia and said:

“I know that much—that you disbanded the Purge Squad to deceive them.”

“Right?”

She sighed in relief at my words, then promptly returned the conversation to the main topic.

“Anyway, the important thing is deciding where to attack first.”

“Hmm.”

Regarding this…

[Pause]

[Empire Faction Status]

[System Update: 3 days ago]

[Imperialist Faction: 15%]

[Democratic Faction: 21%]

[Capitalist Faction: 30%]

[Class-based Faction: 25%]

[Militarist Faction: 20%]

[Theocratic Faction: 40%]

[Other Miscellaneous Factions: 35%]

[Personnel in each faction may overlap, and individuals participating in multiple factions are counted as members of each faction.]

‘Damn, the math is impeccable.’

[Pause End]

After assessing the situation through the recently updated faction status display with its changed UI and faction names, I decided to speak.

“Well… Zeltech is probably the most important target.”

“Arto, so that’s what you think?”

And for good reason—opposing factions that shake the foundation and system of the Empire are gaining power exponentially.

‘If the name “Holy Seveli Empire” changes by mistake… it’s game over for me.’

At this rate, it might end up being called something like the “Seveli Democratic Republic,” so whether I liked it or not, destroying Zeltech and its associated factions first was most important.

However, Riel quietly raised a point about this:

“Minister, what about the Templar Order stationed in the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry?”

The group of fanatics that the Papal Office had essentially placed to monitor and control us.

In response to Riel’s question about what to do with them, I remained silent for a moment, then:

“…Riel, how long would it take to gather the Purge Squad members right now?”

“Well, it depends on individual circumstances… but if we gather the closest ones, we could assemble at least one platoon within 10 minutes.”

Hearing this, I nodded and said:

“Leak some information about heretics to the Templars, enough to require most of their personnel to deploy.”

“Not all of them?”

“Yeah, if it seems like a situation requiring the entire Templar Order, they won’t act themselves but report to the Papal Office instead.”

“Understood.”

Watching us, Artraia looked on with interest before speaking:

“Arto, are you planning to attack the Papal Office first?”

Of course, I gently shook my head in denial at Artraia’s words.

“Of course not. I’m just planning to turn their threat—their means of essentially holding me and the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry hostage—against them as hostages instead.”

“Hmm.”

—————————-

After having a deep conversation with Artraia about various matters.

Upon returning to the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry, I immediately had Riel implement the plans we had discussed.

“Heretics have appeared!”

“What!”

“Let’s go!”

“Deus vult!”

Of course, we didn’t send large numbers of personnel from the beginning.

We took our time, passing on missions that could be handled by small groups of limited numbers with time intervals between them.

Through this method, the Templar Order’s personnel, which had numbered nearly a thousand, was reduced to just a few dozen.

After confirming the number of remaining personnel, we decided it was sufficient and immediately activated the secret assembly order for the Purge Squad members.

“Purge Squad… assemble!”

The method involved a forced call through programs installed on the terminals or wearable computers belonging to Purge Squad members.

About 10 minutes later.

We expressed satisfaction with the results as we watched the Templars inside the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry being subdued by Purge Squad members who had appeared naturally from somewhere, and then exiled to the basement.

And there were no difficulties afterward either.

Since they had been dispatched in small numbers, the Templars returning in small groups were subdued by the Purge Squad as soon as they entered the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry.

They were immediately sent to the basement.

And when more returned, they were also sent down.

After repeating this process dozens of times…

-Hubbub hubbub hubbub

“…Look, humans are like garbage.”

“Where did you learn such nasty language?”

The place that was once used as the Purge Squad’s training room, conference room, or assembly area…

Had now become a place where Templar Order members, stripped of all their equipment, were sprawled around in their underwear.

“Y-you bastards! Do you think the Pope will let this slide?!”

“Hmm… no?”

After looking down at them, I instructed Riel and the other squad members nearby:

“Manage them properly, and if there’s any trouble… riots or whatever, take action first and report later.”

When I spoke these cold words, unlike before, Riel nodded with a pleased smile.

And the Purge Squad members beside her even let out cheers, clearly eager to turn the Templar Order into something that was merely formerly an order.

——————————–

But as they say, life doesn’t go according to plan, and this time was no exception.

“Minister, I have something to report.”

“What is it, Riel?”

“Most of the Templar Order members have been captured by us, but some teams realized the situation during their return and fled.”

“…Hmm.”

It seems a few minnows escaped when we had almost caught them all…

“Don’t worry too much though. The Purge Squad has already sent pursuers after them.”

“Then I suppose there’s no need to worry further.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Reassured by Riel’s confirmation that the Purge Squad had been dispatched to capture them, I immediately began looking into what to do next.