Ch.421Episode 16 – The Six Million Dollar Man

# The Emperor Has Dementia

After receiving this intelligence, I fell into deep contemplation.

“……”

Just as South Korea’s National Intelligence Service closely monitors Kim Jong-un’s health, intelligence agencies worldwide showed great interest in Emperor Nikolai VI’s condition.

Intelligence related to the Emperor’s health could significantly impact both the Kiyen Empire’s internal politics and international relations.

Several operations had been launched to assess the Emperor’s health status.

But all failed.

The imperial intelligence agencies strictly controlled all information directly related to the Emperor’s well-being, and the imperial palace, protected by the Imperial Guard, was physically impenetrable.

In the end, the only option was to recruit the Emperor’s physician or attendants. But would the Imperial Protection Bureau simply allow that?

All informants planted in the palace had been eliminated, and operations collapsed before they could even begin.

For decades, information about the Emperor’s health remained completely unknown, even to the Abas intelligence agency with its superior intelligence network.

Then suddenly, intelligence came in.

“……”

I fell into serious contemplation.

If this intelligence leaked, the Imperial Protection Bureau would immediately trace the source.

The first person to fall under suspicion would be Lucia.

The Church’s Saint was beyond the control of imperial intelligence agencies. And “uncontrollable” meant information could leak at any time.

It seemed strange that the Imperial Protection Bureau would allow Lucia to treat the Emperor despite knowing this.

…No, that’s not it.

With the Emperor suffering from dementia, what could they do? All intelligence agency decisions ultimately fell under the Emperor’s authority.

Even if the Grand Duke brought in the Saint to save the Emperor, the Imperial Protection Bureau would find it difficult to oppose. Depending on interpretation, such opposition could be seen as treason against the Emperor.

The Emperor who should give orders was bedridden. They needed the Emperor to regain his senses before they could receive post-approval.

They probably thought strengthening security would prevent problems. Or perhaps they desperately prayed nothing would go wrong.

But eventually, the situation exploded.

“…Is his condition very serious?”

“At least from what I saw, it was. He couldn’t even recognize his physician of 30 years. He barely recognized the Grand Duke’s face, but…”

Lucia’s voice trailed off. Her demeanor revealed just how serious the Emperor’s condition was.

“…Let’s bury this.”

I decided to bury the truth.

It was a decision for Lucia, and simultaneously for myself. The enraged Imperial Protection Bureau would surely slaughter everyone regardless of status. At least for now, this had to be buried.

The truth went into the shredder.

I didn’t report to the company. I hid all related materials in a place only I knew about.

Five months passed.

And today.

The veiled truth finally revealed itself.

## Episode 16 – The Six Million Dollar Man

Even after receiving the intelligence report, Leoni remained silent for a long time.

She stared into space wordlessly, seemingly lost in thought.

I waited for the director to speak.

“…Are you certain?”

Leoni broke the silence with a question about the reliability of the intelligence.

“Saint Lucia isn’t the type to lie. She’s the kind who would rather stay silent than tell a falsehood.”

“……”

I revealed the source of the intelligence.

“Last January. In Laterano, during the canonization and coronation ceremonies, Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna met with Saint Lucia. It was an unofficial meeting, and we understand a deal was made.”

“What kind of deal?”

“A personal arrangement between the Grand Duchess and the Saint. When tracking demons in the north, the Grand Duchess proposed that in exchange for approving the Inquisition forces’ activities, the Saint would later grant her a favor.”

That favor meant treating the Emperor who was suffering from dementia.

Deep contemplation began. Leoni rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

I stepped forward and began to persuade her.

“Director. You need to make a careful decision.”

The information that Nikolai VI had dementia carried an impact incomparably greater than internet memes about a U.S. president having dementia.

And in a much more violent and destructive way.

“According to the Saint’s testimony, the Emperor’s condition is extremely serious. He can’t even recognize close aides who have served him for 30 years.”

Emperor Nikolai VI’s reign approaches 50 years. To be precise, it’s slightly less than 50 years, but that’s splitting hairs.

He’s the type who chewed through officials and even purged his own children out of distrust. Only the Chancellor, his childhood friend, and the physician who has been responsible for his health for 30 years have remained by the Emperor’s side.

The closest of the close. The Emperor is now in such a serious condition that he cannot even recognize his most trusted confidants.

Leoni’s expression reflected the gravity of the situation.

The director of the Military Intelligence Agency’s Foreign Affairs Department began gravely:

“Does he recognize his own blood? The Crown Prince? Other princes and princesses? The Grand Duchess?”

“He barely recognizes the Grand Duchess. Even then, his memories are mixed up, saying things like congratulating her on her 90th birthday.”

For reference, Alexandra Petrovna is already over 100 years old. The Grand Duchess in the Emperor’s memory appears as she did 10 years ago.

“According to the physicians’ examinations, there are instances when the Emperor’s mind returns, but the frequency and duration are irregular.”

Despite the existence of magic and divine power in this world, brain-related diseases remain a mystery even here.

If the Magic Tower had conquered dementia, the Grand Duchess wouldn’t have sought out Lucia. In other words, dementia is an illness that even Archmages cannot solve, and even with a Saint’s power, the possibility of complete recovery is slim.

“There’s no way he can run the state in this condition. The dementia has progressed to a serious level. For years.”

“…When did the dementia symptoms first appear?”

“Initial symptoms appeared eight years ago, with significant deterioration five years ago.”

Three years is sufficient time for an early-stage dementia patient to progress to the middle stage.

And,

“When did the Grand Duchess go into seclusion?”

“Right after the northern conflict broke out.”

The Grand Duchess had been reclusive even before the northern conflict, but after it began, she completely disappeared.

Initially, everyone expressed concern for the Grand Duchess’s well-being. After all, an Archmage isn’t immortal.

But what if.

What if the reason for the Grand Duchess’s disappearance wasn’t her own health but the Emperor’s condition?

“The timing overlaps.”

“I believe she was likely searching for a remedy to alleviate the Emperor’s symptoms.”

“The Grand Duchess enjoyed adventures in her youth. She might have known of some beneficial herbs…”

While intelligence about the Emperor’s deteriorating health is serious in itself, the real problem lies elsewhere.

I mentioned the possibility in a serious tone.

That possibility was a military coup.

“You’re already aware that the Crown Prince has been receiving military authority. This information came from the aide of an imperial congressman who defected last year.”

The Abas government had believed that the Crown Prince received military authority from the Emperor—an attempt to secure military control before inheriting the throne.

But the Emperor has been suffering from dementia. For seven whole years.

So the Crown Prince. Rumors began circulating that he only started receiving military authority after the northern conflict broke out. From whom exactly did he receive this authority?

Only the Crown Prince himself knows the answer to this question.

But predicting situations is an intelligence officer’s specialty.

“…So he didn’t properly receive military authority.”

The Crown Prince giving orders to the military without formally inheriting authority wasn’t because the Emperor suddenly regained his senses and resolved the succession issue.

The Crown Prince was seizing control of the military on his own.

Leoni nodded. I continued.

“If this fact leaks, the Empire will fall into great chaos. The government, having lost its sovereign, will debate whether to follow the Crown Prince’s orders or wait for the Emperor to rise from his sickbed. This confusion will affect both the military and intelligence agencies.”

The problem is that no one knows which way an uncontrolled military might swing.

Bluntly speaking, what if these bastards stage a coup, claiming that power is there for the taking?

The Emperor with dementia couldn’t pass full authority to the Crown Prince, and in a dictatorship, a flaw in legitimacy can lead to regime change.

I said:

“Director. If we leave this alone, we’ll lose control. If we delay any longer, an unmanageable crisis will surely erupt.”

The Crown Prince trying to maintain the Empire by succeeding his fallen father.

But enemies surround him.

“How many princes and princesses are there in the imperial family? I believe the Emperor has nearly ten children, and they’re all adults now, aren’t they?”

Siblings fighting over the throne.

“And what about society? The northern issue may be resolved, but weren’t protests the real problem? We already had terrorism in Abas due to the dictatorship. If news spreads that the military violently suppressed protests in the north causing casualties, university campuses will surely erupt.”

Citizens protesting against dictatorship.

Succession disputes and protests are sensitive issues for both the imperial family and the Empire. But now the master of both the imperial family and the Empire has vanished.

“Who will the military be loyal to in this situation?”

“……”

The most ideal scenario would be for the military to pledge “absolute loyalty” to the Crown Prince. It’s unfortunate for citizens in a dictatorship, but if civil war breaks out and the Empire is torn apart, neighboring countries will go berserk.

Considering what happened when Hussein was ousted from Iraq, perhaps continued dictatorship might be better.

But there are no “absolutes” in this world.

No one knows whether the military will recognize the Crown Prince as the legitimate successor, or if generals with ulterior motives will side with other imperial family members.

Of course, the Crown Prince wasn’t a fool.

He had already prepared minimal safeguards.

“You’re aware that there are commanders in the intelligence units loyal to the Crown Prince.”

The Imperial Reconnaissance Command. The imperial intelligence units have commanders who have aligned themselves with the Crown Prince.

“Since last winter, reconnaissance troops have been entering the capital. Presumably, the Crown Prince mobilized intelligence units loyal to him to bring special forces into the capital.”

I recited exactly what had been discussed in the meeting room months ago. The difference was that Leoni had judged it to be the Emperor’s intention.

That judgment was supported by both the Royal Intelligence Service and the Military Intelligence Agency. It was the most plausible hypothesis at the time. But in intelligence agencies, hypotheses are overturned as regularly as eating meals.

I overturned Leoni’s hypothesis.

“Aren’t special forces in dictatorships deployed to suppress rebellions?”

From light infantry serving as scouts and reconnaissance to elite special forces, all units with “special” in their name in the Empire are under the command of the Reconnaissance Command.

The reconnaissance commanders have aligned with the Crown Prince, while the Capital Defense Force and Imperial Guard focus solely on defending Petrograd and protecting imperial family members.

The Imperial Guard has traditionally been loyal to the Emperor. The Capital Defense Force had its command structure taken from the Ministry of Defense when the Emperor was relatively sane despite his paranoia. While the Ministry of Defense determines personnel transfers for lower-ranking commanders, the Emperor personally appointed the commander-in-chief and key commanders.

If a military coup succeeds, what fate awaits those who remained loyal to the Emperor? One thing is certain: execution grounds will be busy for a while.

Anyway, if the capital’s armored units, artillery, special forces, and Imperial Guard obey the Crown Prince’s orders, they can counter a coup.

In exchange, millions of Petrograd citizens will be exposed to danger.

“Realistically, a coup in the Empire has little chance of success. The possibility of one occurring is also low.”

“I know. But that only applies when the Emperor is alive and well, holding power.”

And now the Emperor is practically a living corpse.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and a power vacuum tempts everyone like the One Ring. Historically, no group has more wayward thoughts than the military when a dictator dies.

I asked Leoni:

“Let’s say the Reconnaissance Command has chosen its side. Where have the Imperial Protection Bureau and Counterintelligence Command aligned themselves?”

“After internal purges, the Imperial Protection Bureau has focused solely on intelligence work. They’re loyal to the imperial family.”

More precisely, to the Emperor. But that Emperor is now incapacitated.

For now, these guys are wildcards.

If a coup erupts, they’ll either choose a side then or just stand by helplessly.

“The Counterintelligence Command is ambiguous. Support for different imperial family members varies by internal faction. While no one is crazy enough to openly show political colors, many subtly display favoritism.”

“How much of that share does the Crown Prince hold?”

Leoni frowned and waved her hand dismissively.

“Almost none.”

Damn.

While intelligence units are loyal to the Crown Prince, counterintelligence units are not.

Considering that counterintelligence units can legally intercept military communications, this is a significant loss. When suppression forces loyal to the Crown Prince communicate, counterintelligence will intercept.

The moment they side with the rebels, operation information will leak continuously.

“Then we need to find out which side the Imperial Counterintelligence Command has aligned with.”

We need information first. Internal information from the Counterintelligence Command.

Only then can we attempt something if a coup breaks out. At the very least, we need to know something to have answers when summoned by the Prime Minister.

The problem is:

“But who can bring us that information?”

There’s no one who can retrieve the information.

Silence followed.

It’s not that the Military Intelligence Agency can’t plant double agents in the Imperial Counterintelligence Command, but to discover which imperial family member they support would require recruiting a high-ranking officer equivalent to a general.

And recruiting a high-ranking intelligence officer in a country actively engaged in counterintelligence is practically insane.

“What if, Director…”

Here, I rolled the dice.

“What if we monitor military movements with the cooperation of someone close to the Grand Duchess?”

“Be realistic.”

“I’ve conducted several operations with the military in the north, so I have connections with high-ranking commanders. Including General Mikhail who commanded during the conflict.”

Leoni began calculating.

“A general of that rank is essentially a candidate for the next Chief of Staff. For General Mikhail, the position is practically guaranteed.”

“Even if not General Mikhail, I know many officers under him. How many of his military academy classmates must be serving in counterintelligence units?”

This means we could have informants within the Counterintelligence Command.

When intelligence agencies target intelligence or counterintelligence units, they typically start with military academy classmates. While intelligence officers’ identities are protected, field commanders are exposed. No matter how well they hide, close classmates know who went into intelligence and who went into counterintelligence.

But this isn’t the core issue.

“As the Grand Duchess’s disciple, I have easy access to the palace. While approaching the Emperor directly might be difficult, what about other imperial family members? They’ll likely approach me first.”

Contact with the imperial family. This is the real core issue.

Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna is the Emperor’s aunt, making her the great-aunt to the imperial family members. In more familiar terms, their grandmother’s sister.

According to Francesca, she treated the Emperor’s children as her own when they were young. So a route of approach through the Grand Duchess’s connections is also open.

“Director. Please reconsider just once more.”

“……”

Leoni sank into deep contemplation with a solemn gaze.

With her back to the desk, she stood by the window, gazing at the outside scenery. Though her expression wasn’t visible, her complex inner thoughts were easily discernible from her posture.

The director spoke:

“If you’re caught and either the hero or you are arrested, the company can’t provide any help. We’ll try to get you out of prison, but you’ll have to bear the consequences entirely on your own.”

“……”

“Still want to do it?”

One intelligence officer asks. Another intelligence officer answers.

“Why are you suddenly making a big deal of this? When has it ever been different?”

Hearing that answer, Leoni smiled slightly.

Walking back to her seat, she sat at her desk and said:

“You go and do your job.”

The director says:

“I’ll persuade the upper and lower houses and the committee.”

*

Two weeks later.

A brief message was delivered to the office of the Director of Foreign Affairs at the Military Intelligence Agency.

The message of less than 100 characters from the Mauritanian continent stated that the operation supporting the warlord had been successfully completed.

This happened as the operation entered its first month.