Ch.193Coward-Vaccine, The Rebellious Governor (2)

# Chapter 193: Cobard-Vaccine, The Rebellious Governor (2)

What if the Governor Goliath of the Abar planetary system rejects the negotiation proposal again?

Then wouldn’t that be precisely the time when swift and bold decisions are needed, without having to worry about others’ opinions?

Personally, I’d prefer to just blockade all the hyperspace jump routes of the planetary system like the Berlin Wall, but…

‘Check current quest progress.’

[Emergency Quest: Vaccine Removal Operation]

[Remove the Cobard Type-C 19 vaccine and “Verichip” from citizens who received Prosnack’s injection.]

[Time Limit: 91 days]

[Available Operation Time: 180 days]

[Progress: 95.9%]

[Failure Consequence: -90% stability throughout the Holy Sebelli Empire, generation of large-scale rebel forces]

As the quest window showed, the time limit was more pressing than I had thought.

Thankfully, there was the warp gate technology that Minister Vermut had developed earlier.

And through the warp gate network we’d established, we could quickly send negotiation teams or whatever else was needed.

‘Geez, back in the days before gates, it would’ve taken years just to travel around the imperial mainland.’

Anyway, I desperately hoped that the ultimatum-cum-negotiation team, assembled through the combined efforts of my ministers, would bring back good results.

Honestly, since I even sent my “personal letter” with them, they should be inclined to listen, right?

Of course, when I say personal letter…

In reality, it was nothing more than a printout created by an algorithm program trained in my handwriting, with gold embellishments and other decorations added. But that’s beside the point.

However…

Contrary to my expectations, the reality was far more difficult than I had imagined.

————————————-

The Governor’s Residence in the capital city of the Abar planetary system.

“Governor, please remember that this is the central government’s final ultimatum.”

“Hmm.”

The negotiation team—or rather, the ultimatum team—sent by Arto and the ministers pulled out a personal letter from their breast pocket and presented it to the elderly gentleman-like Governor Goliath.

“…What is this?”

“This is a personal handwritten letter from His Grace Duke Arto, the Saint who is currently leading Project V.”

In the Holy Sebelli Empire, which prided itself as the ultimate theocracy, a “handwritten” letter from the Saint was a significant matter.

The governor noticed how the negotiator’s hands trembled with a mixture of tension and awe as they presented the letter.

But as the governor received the letter, he maintained his unchanged expression, gaze, and demeanor as he read through it…

After a moment.

“I see, so this time you’re determined to waste the Empire’s resources on that useless endeavor.”

After placing the letter made of premium paper on the table.

The governor stared intently at the negotiation team standing confidently before him, and then, as if having made a decision, nodded and replied.

But his calm yet unmistakably contemptuous tone left the negotiation team perplexed.

“Governor, I believe further opposition to the central government will lead to unfavorable consequences.”

“Nonsense. You should know well that my authority and responsibility as planetary governor were personally granted by His Majesty the Emperor himself, meaning the ministers have no right to dictate to me.”

Faced with this pure embodiment of will, pride, and arrogance, the negotiation team members felt their jaws dropping.

“…Even considering that the position of planetary governor is directly appointed by His Majesty, surely you haven’t forgotten that imperial ministers are also appointed by His Majesty?”

“Moreover, as we mentioned earlier, the actual person in charge of this operation is the Saint himself.”

No matter how much the position of planetary—or rather, planetary system—governor was effectively a position of absolute authority within his domain.

That was only true as long as the existing power structure and order were maintained.

Under the universally acknowledged supreme dignity of the Empire and its unparalleled Emperor, His Majesty Artraia Belliard Penash Khan Sebelli.

Now that Duke Arto Virtorius Sebelli had ascended as the “Saint” and firmly established himself as the undisputed second-in-command.

Only the long-obsolete ancient laws of the Empire maintained any semblance of horizontal relationship between “Saint” Arto and Governor Goliath.

Therefore, the members of the negotiation team were increasingly puzzled by the governor’s attitude displayed before them.

What possible reason could he have for such arrogance?

Not only daring to object to an operation authorized by His Majesty and personally commanded by the “Saint.”

But even expressing opposition and causing significant disruption to the operation’s progress.

In this situation, the head of the negotiation team had been patiently enduring extreme frustration…

“I’ll say it one last time: as planetary governor, I have exercised my veto power against the central government’s current approach, and I will not budge on this matter.”

After months of stalling, the conclusion was simply “I won’t listen to you.”

“…If you continue like this, aren’t you tarnishing the reputation of the great Emperor who appointed you to this position?”

The negotiation team, with veins bulging beneath their cheeks, barely managed to speak through their suppressed rage.

But upon hearing this, Governor Goliath called his butler to bring a freshly opened bottle of premium wine and a glass.

-Glug glug glug…

-Clink.

Without a word, he poured wine into the glass, raised it as if savoring the aroma, took a sip, and only then spoke.

“Who exactly is this great Emperor you speak of?”

“What do you mean by that, Governor Goliath?”

The negotiation team leader’s brow furrowed at what seemed like another evasive statement.

But the governor, abandoning his previous tactic of nitpicking the team’s attitude, actions, and even expressions to waste time.

The vain, unsightly old man disappeared, and in his place stood a “governor” with an even colder expression as he addressed the negotiation team.

“I can say with certainty that our current Emperor is making a mistake.”

“…What are you—”

Naturally, the negotiation team couldn’t hide their bewilderment at the governor’s words.

Regardless, the governor continued speaking while swirling his wine glass.

“If this matter had been directly initiated by the current Emperor, Artraia… His Majesty, I would have accepted it without a word.”

“…”

“But what is this? Whether Duke Arto is a Saint or whatever, is he the Emperor?”

“…”

Not only was the governor speaking with surprising vigor for his aged body.

But the meaning behind his words:

‘Who does Arto think he is, acting like the Emperor? I cannot accept this.’

Understanding this, the negotiation team felt a shiver run through their bodies.

However, being elite members carefully selected for this mission.

They tried to respond rationally to the governor’s statements.

“…But as we mentioned earlier, this matter has been authorized by His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Authorization and command are different things.”

“Do you think such sophistry will be accepted?”

To the negotiation team’s words, the governor shook his head and continued.

“No, of course not.”

“Then why not accept reality, Governor? If you continue to refuse what His Majesty and the Saint demand, won’t your position be in jeopardy?”

At these words, the governor once again silently tilted his wine glass, watching the remaining wine inside.

But then…

“I believe it is the duty of an imperial planetary governor to obey the commands of His Majesty the Emperor, the sun of the Empire, holy and great.”

“…No, I cannot accept this.”

“…???”

The governor, who had been listening quietly, suddenly stood up with his wine glass as if a switch had been flipped.

“How can someone who is manipulated by such a sycophant just because he bears the title of Saint possibly reign as Emperor of the Empire?”

“…Wait, Governor?”

“Those words could be punishable as treason if misinterpreted!”

As he uttered these shocking words, the blood drained from the faces of the negotiation team members.

But immediately after:

“This confirms it! Indeed, that woman was never worthy of being Emperor!”

After making this utterly shocking statement in front of the negotiation team, the governor threw his wine glass to the floor and declared:

“From this moment, the Abar planetary system will no longer submit to a weak and incompetent Emperor who is manipulated by sycophants! We will uphold the will of the great former Emperor and make the Empire great again!”

And with the governor’s declaration, troops burst through the doors of the reception room.

-Click-click-click-click!

“Th-this is rebellion, Governor Goliath!”

“Silence, you trash who remain loyal to that sycophant.”

They pointed bizarre weapons at the negotiation team, who were naturally unarmed.

—————————————

And as soon as I heard this news, I couldn’t help but be shocked that the shadow of that absolute bastard was acting up again.

‘The former Emperor, that son of a bitch?!’