Ch.144Kill each other from now on. (1)

# Chapter 144: From Now On, Kill Each Other. (1)

Of course, we weren’t just eating popcorn while watching the current situation unfold.

We had succeeded in creating the “situation” where the Pope was killed by Zeltech extremist terrorists, but…

“Minister, the Zeltech extremists’ activity levels are lower than our projected figures.”

“Hmm.”

With just this level of activity, our planned approach—having Zeltech and the Papal Office destroy each other in mutual conflict—would never materialize.

If we were to just sit back and eat popcorn in the current state…

While the Papal Office forces enraged by the Pope’s death might continue their fury, the Zeltech folks would quickly cool down like water in a pot taken off the heat.

And if that happened, the plan I wanted to execute would clearly fizzle out…

To keep a pot boiling, one must obviously continue adding firewood.

“Proceed to the next phase of the plan. Issue additional instructions to field agents and purge units.”

“Yes, Minister.”

We decided to continue driving a wedge between Zeltech and the Papal Office, while also maintaining our operations among the Zeltech refugees.

Additionally, we would spread the fact that Zeltech killed the Pope far and wide throughout the Empire.

‘Watch me, Artraia. I’ll become the chaos that serves the Empire…!’

Of course, in this process, many refugees would be swept away in the conflict between the Papal forces—consumed by rage—and the corporations employing large numbers of mercenaries with their overflowing capital to ensure their survival…

‘There’s no mercy for those who harm the Empire, try to mess with Artraia… and nearly ruined my main quest.’

Any compassion for Zeltech refugees had long disappeared from my mind.

‘Death to Zeltech!’

I felt no hesitation whatsoever in executing this merciless plan.

————————————

About a week after implementing the plan.

[Event: Papal Knights’ Massacre of Refugees]

[Zeltech population on planet Janiradia has been eliminated.]

[Event: Zeltech Corporate Alliance’s Mercenary Recruitment]

[Unable to stand by and watch the massacre by the Papal Office, the Corporate Alliance is hiring large numbers of mercenaries at the expense of their capital to stop the Papal Office’s actions.]

[Additional random events may occur]

As evident from the event messages appearing before my eyes,

The situation was continuing to be extremely intense.

“Riel, has there been any separate communication from the Papal Office?”

“I was just about to tell you. They’ve requested information sharing to help them deal with the Zeltech refugees.”

With their leader, the Pope, having died in a bombing attack,

The Papal Office—continuously provoked by our operations disguised as Zeltech refugees (not really) or Zeltech corporations (also not really)—finally drew their swords.

The Papal knights, already filled with rage over the Pope’s death, were rampaging throughout the Empire like unleashed mad dogs.

“The death of His Holiness the Pope must be paid for in blood!”

“The screams of heretics shall become a symphony for His Holiness!!”

Naturally, the Zeltech corporations and refugees were horrified by these fanatical zealots.

“We didn’t do it, I swear!”

Especially those Zeltech people who had no connection to the refugee group that carried out the terror attack desperately proclaimed their innocence, but…

“Shut up, you heretics!”

“Aaaagh!”

The crazed Papal zealots were carrying out what amounted to ethnic cleansing, eliminating anyone who was Zeltech without discrimination.

For reference, the reason the Papal Office had gone so insane was…

Due to our Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry’s covert operations suggesting that all Zeltech factions, without distinction, were rejecting the Pope and religion in an attempt to transform the Empire into a corporate state.

By sending such “plausible” information, we created this minor issue, but…

‘Well, that’s just how diplomacy, espionage, and underhanded work goes.’

Such trivial matters would remain our little secret.

The Zeltech people weren’t just taking this lying down either.

“We can’t just helplessly suffer like this!”

“Take up arms! We must survive these crazy fanatics!”

Refugees rose up in resistance movements with weapons they made themselves.

“Those crazy fanatic bastards.”

“Didn’t I tell you Sebelli was a bad idea?”

“That was then, and now we need to focus on surviving first, don’t we?”

Zeltech corporations, suddenly facing mortal danger, were either holding out by using their financial capital to hire large numbers of mercenaries, or…

“This country is insane. I’m leaving this hellhole.”

Some were abandoning their hard-earned facilities and equipment to flee to other countries.

Of course, those fleeing to other countries were a tiny minority.

“We cannot abandon this foothold we’ve finally established. Just because the nation of Zeltech has fallen doesn’t mean our spirit must wither as well!”

The majority were following the directions from the Sebelli branch of the Galactic Corporate Alliance, trying to counter the Papal knights.

But all these desperate struggles by Zeltech were proceeding exactly according to our Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry’s plans.

The true identity of the Corporate Alliance “leadership” directing them was…

“So today, let’s just reduce the Papal forces by this much, then have them abandon this sector, what do you think?”

“Not bad, but instead of here, what about over there…”

After turning the original leadership into vegetables,

They were now being operated by our Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry agents disguised as Zeltech people.

And there were even more ways the Zeltech people were being screwed over.

“Mercenaries? Of course, we can provide as many as you need… but how much are you thinking of paying as a deposit?”

“Since when do mercenaries demand deposits upfront…?”

“Take it or leave it. There are plenty of others looking to hire us.”

“…Urgh.”

First, the mercenaries hired by Zeltech corporations at great expense appeared on the surface to be recruited from various PMCs.

But there was a secret hidden within.

-“Oh, Minister, thanks to you, our business has been truly booming lately.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

All those PMCs were actually part of one massive mercenary fleet and ghost PMC corporation.

And the CEO of that PMC and Admiral of the mercenary fleet was none other than that Warlord Military admiral who had “negotiated” with us previously.

-“If it weren’t for your words, Minister, we would surely have been bleeding dry competing with other PMC bastards, hahaha.”

“We’re all just trying to prosper together, Admiral.”

At first glance, one might wonder what significance this holds.

It might seem like simple and common bribery or business favoritism.

But this too was necessary to control the situation.

-“As you said, if the corporations that hired us show hostile actions toward the Empire…”

“Indeed.”

It was about using the overflowing capital of those Zeltech corporations to make them put the noose around their own necks.

Of course, if they were simply mercenary PMCs, things wouldn’t have worked out so easily…

The admiral was “directly” hired by the Sebelli branch of the Corporate Alliance, and the public outcome of our “negotiation”—

That is, the public image of rushing to help their employer despite the absolute inferiority in military power when the branch was in danger—

And since the branch hired them directly, what could be more attractive to Zeltech corporations?

Thanks to this, the Zeltech corporations now trying to counter the Papal Office were in the bizarre situation of building their walls with mercenaries who were actually under our influence.

If they were to show resistance not just to the Papal Office but to the Empire itself…

They would find the mercenaries they hired for protection turning their gun barrels toward them instead.

To summarize the current situation:

We were pointing the Papal Office—which had gone insane and lost the ability to make rational judgments—in a specific direction,

And then placing Zeltech refugees and corporations as obstacles in that direction, effectively screwing over both the Papal Office and Zeltech simultaneously.

It was like picking your nose without using your hands, making every day at the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry feel like a joyous festival.

————————–

However, before long, I realized that such underhanded methods couldn’t last forever…

[Pause]

[Event: Ethnic Cleansing]

[Due to the recent actions of extremists within the Papal Office, including the Pope’s loyalists, dozens of Zeltech refugee camps and corporations have been annihilated.]

[This has caused concern and vigilance toward the Empire both internally and externally, including from other nations.]

[Goodwill of other nations toward the Holy Sebelli Empire -5%]

[Stability throughout the Holy Sebelli Empire -5%]

‘Ah.’

As if telling me to stop with the underhanded tactics, negative debuffs affecting the entire Empire were immediately applied through the event message.