Ch.49Seban Civil War (1)

# Chapter 49: The Seban Civil War (1)

Why must such unpleasant matters arise before I even get to enjoy the pleasures of civilization?

“So, what exactly is going on?”

With the sudden news, I hurriedly began receiving a briefing in the Foreign Affairs Executive Ministry’s conference room.

“Yes, Your Excellency. We’ve received news that a civil war has broken out in the Seban Administrative Region, one of our Holy Sebelli Empire’s vassal states.”

“…”

“As a result, one-third of our empire’s western trade routes are currently unavailable, and both the Trade Management Ministry and the Treasury are urging for a solution as soon as possible.”

“What’s the reason for the civil war?”

“We believe it’s a political issue.”

“Hmm.”

“The current position of our Foreign Strategy Department is that a faction harboring resentment against the existing governing system of the Seban Administrative Region has likely initiated a rebellion.”

But as I listened to the explanation, I couldn’t hide my inner bewilderment.

It wasn’t because our empire’s trade routes—ranked fourth in the galaxy—had suddenly become paralyzed.

Nor was it because I was witnessing the beginning of a terrible civil war that had split a nation in half.

“Riel.”

“What is it?”

When I whispered and asked her to lend me her ear, Riel looked puzzled but brought her ear closer to me.

And into Riel’s ear, I carefully whispered the true reason for my bewilderment.

*whisper whisper*

“Riel, where is the Seban Administrative Region?”

“…”

Of course, the moment she heard this.

The expression on Riel’s face as she looked up at me was… well.

It was as if she was looking at garbage.

‘Is she going through puberty?’

Faced with Riel’s expression, I held back tears, canceled the briefing, and took Riel back to my office…

“Wait a minute, this is just not right.”

I pulled out the etiquette injection rod from my pocket and brought it down hard on Riel’s head.

*CLANG!*

“KYAAAAAAAH…!!!”

“Be more mindful of your words and actions in the future, Riel.”

Clutching her head where a large bump had formed, Riel rolled on the floor and cried out to me as if wronged.

“Stupid Minister…! How could you not know that?!”

On this issue, at least, I could proudly claim to be in the right.

“How was I supposed to know?”

“What?”

“That bastard wiped out all the diplomatic information. How am I supposed to know?”

————————-

The situation had gone to hell in a handbasket, to be honest.

That traitor I personally dealt with.

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs had installed a virus bomb in the ministry’s central database, set to activate upon his death.

Not knowing this, we went ahead and slit his throat.

And right after that, the entire Foreign Affairs database was wiped out in a catastrophe.

————————–

“W-well, that’s true.”

“Honestly, the diplomatic information I currently have, excluding what’s come in during the past month… is no different from when I was the Minister of the Executive Ministry. Remember that.”

“Ugh…”

“So tell me quickly and briefly where the Seban Administrative Region is, before those people I sent on leave start coming back.”

“Ugh… fine.”

With her lips protruding in a pout, Riel began explaining to me as briefly as possible, though still grumbling.

“The Seban Administrative Region is a nation that our Holy Sebelli Empire has been sponsoring since they were a primitive civilization.”

“Hmm.”

‘In game system terms, it sounds like we enlightened a primitive civilization and made them a vassal state.’

When I nodded at her words, Riel continued her explanation.

“And after growing well through various circumstances, they now explore our empire’s uncharted western territories while also protecting the western trade routes.”

Listening to Riel’s explanation, it seemed like a more important place than I had expected.

‘Why didn’t I know about such a place until now?’

My confusion must have shown on my face, because Riel shrugged as if to say it couldn’t be helped.

“That’s because you didn’t need to worry about it, Minister.”

“Hmm?”

“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that there have been absolutely no problems with the Seban Administrative Region until now.”

In other words, according to Riel, there had never been anything worth reporting to me.

“Is that why it’s called an ‘Administrative Region’?”

“Yes, they named their country that way, saying they would maintain and manage the empire’s authority.”

Finding this quite interesting, I nodded and said:

“But now a civil war has broken out.”

“That’s right. I heard that in the past, there was a branch of the Executive Ministry within the Administrative Region that regularly updated information…”

“And?”

“But about 50 years ago, your predecessor withdrew it because there had been no problems.”

“…”

“And even the faint HUMINT network that remained afterward was forcibly disbanded by order of the late emperor.”

Why does my brother keep showing up here?

I felt dumbfounded that this guy, who was like an onion with endless layers of problems, was once again the source of the issue.

“Ah, I see… so that’s why there was no way for me to know.”

“Right? Though honestly, considering your tendencies, Minister, I think you would have established a HUMINT network in the west if you’d had more time.”

But hearing Riel’s words, I wasn’t sure how to respond.

‘To be honest, I thought the entire western part of our empire was uncharted territory, so I had no such plans.’

Of course, there was no need to reveal this, so I just nodded appropriately, pretending to agree with Riel.

—————————

The next day.

“Minister, I’ll begin the second briefing on the Seban civil war.”

“Mm.”

Wishing they would standardize my title, I began to focus on the briefing about the Seban issue.

Fortunately, the first part was mostly an introduction to the Seban Administrative Region, probably because it wasn’t well-known…

“Hmm, I see, right… so that’s how it is…”

Seeing me like this, the eyes of the former Foreign Affairs Ministry officials participating in the briefing filled with looks of newfound respect.

“It seems Minister Arto already knows quite a bit about the Seban Administrative Region?”

“That’s surprising. You’ve established HUMINT networks worldwide but didn’t extend them to the vassal states in the west or east…”

“You’ve had a month to take over the duties of the Foreign Affairs Executive Ministry, right? Isn’t this to be expected?”

“How could that be? All the diplomatic relations and vassal state lists were destroyed because of the terrorist act by that former minister.”

“This must mean you’re prepared to lead this Foreign Affairs Executive Ministry, including the areas we’ve been managing.”

“Indeed…!”

Hearing these words, I was inwardly begging them to stop putting so much pressure on me.

[Event: Diligent Minister]

[Your efforts as the newly appointed Minister of the Foreign Affairs Executive Ministry seem to have greatly impressed the formerly cynical personnel from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.]

[Loyalty within the Foreign Affairs Executive Ministry +10]

‘Stop the pressure…!’

Of course, no matter how much I cried out, no one would hear me.

Anyway, while I was thinking this, the briefing on the Seban civil war was already heading toward its conclusion.

“…for these reasons, our Foreign Strategy Department believes that simply sending diplomatic documents or showing reactions from our empire toward Seban would be insufficient to mediate this civil war.”

“Hmm, so how do you plan to resolve it?”

“Yes, Minister. It seems that unless someone with sufficient rank within our Foreign Affairs Executive Ministry goes… it will be difficult to coordinate the opinions of the parties involved in the civil war.”

“I see. Are there no candidates for this?”

At my words, beads of cold sweat began to form on the face of the former Foreign Affairs official conducting the briefing.

“Minister, we haven’t prepared that far yet!”

And beside that official, another sweet middle-aged man jumped in to cover for the briefing official.

While camaraderie is a good thing, this wasn’t necessarily the time for it.

“I believe I was clearly addressing the person giving the briefing.”

“…!”

When I pointed this out in a polite but stern voice, the man who had tried to cover bowed deeply and quickly returned to his original position.

“Ahem, so you haven’t narrowed down candidates yet?”

“Y-yes, that’s correct.”

Looking at the moderator who was slightly stumbling over his words, I decided to recommend a candidate myself.

“Then I’ll recommend a candidate.”

“You personally… Minister?”

This seemed unexpected, as surprised expressions appeared on the faces of not only the person conducting the briefing but everyone participating.

“Minister, who are you going to recommend? Surely you’re not going to suggest yourself in an act of pure ego? Pfft.”

And beside me, Riel unnecessarily quipped and reacted.

To Riel’s words, I pointed at her and said:

“This one will go, so there’s no need to select any more candidates.”

“…Me?”