Ch.67Smuggling (3)

# Chapter 67: Smuggling (3)

Was it because my quick apology came at such an exquisite timing?

“If Arto says so… I guess I have no choice, hmm.”

Fortunately, Artlaia’s anger seemed to lose its way and gently dissipate into thin air.

And perhaps because her anger(?) had subsided, her mood calmed down as well.

Artlaia once again seated her noble self on the sofa, and tilting her head curiously toward me, she said:

“By the way, Arto, if that’s true, couldn’t you have just handled it yourself without telling me?”

But to Artlaia’s words, I shrugged my shoulders as if to say ‘what are you talking about?’ and replied:

“No, I thought it would be better for you to know about anything concerning the former emperor.”

“Hmm… well, I suppose that’s true, but…”

When Artlaia showed a rather ambiguous reaction, I drove the point home.

“Think about it. If I dealt with matters concerning the former emperor without telling you, your blade might end up pointed at me.”

Logically speaking, when it comes to issues about one’s parents, if someone else handles it arbitrarily, it’s only natural to feel uncomfortable regardless of one’s feelings toward said parents.

So I explained that this was my own way of showing consideration toward Artlaia, but…

“I would absolutely never do that!”

“Oh.”

At my words, Artlaia shouted with a “Bwah!”

“Do you really think I would do that to you of all people, Arto?!”

“…”

At Artlaia’s words, I took a moment to reflect on past incidents.

After a brief moment.

“I see… so that’s how it is…”

“Arto, why does your expression look like that of an enlightened priest?”

“I won’t tell you the reason.”

After taking the emperor’s seat, I had to feel a chill run down my spine as I guessed at the true feelings of Artlaia, who had put on a brazen face.

But that wasn’t what mattered right now.

I had Riel bring the materials I had prepared in advance, trying to refresh the awkward atmosphere.

“Here it is.”

“What’s that?”

And when Artlaia expressed doubt upon seeing the materials Riel brought, I finally opened my mouth, thinking I could now proceed with the conversation.

“Well, this is the plan our Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry has devised.”

“Hmm?”

The moment she heard my words.

Artlaia erased all traces of her previous disheveled appearance.

In an instant, she regained the dignity of the Iron-Blooded Monarch and began to meticulously examine the materials I was showing her.

Then, just a few minutes later.

“Phew… so in simple terms, we’re going to use those loyalists to extract resources and technology from Prosnack… is that it?”

“That’s right.”

She understood and summarized in just a few minutes the plan I had struggled with for a full five hours before coming here.

Feeling some inexplicable sense of unfairness at Artlaia’s quick comprehension, I still nodded in agreement.

“To be precise, as you already know… it’s a modified version of the overseas spy network I’ve frequently used before.”

“I see.”

At my explanation(?), Riel, who was standing behind me, carefully whispered in my ear.

*whisper whisper*

“Minister, isn’t that just saying the same thing?”

“Be quiet, Riel.”

I was just trying to sound knowledgeable, and here this loathsome intelligent humanoid was butting in tactlessly.

As I was pushing away Riel’s forehead, Artlaia spoke up, expressing doubts about the plan.

“But Arto, will these guys actually listen to us?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, your purge unit participated in intensive interrogations, right? But according to this data… they maintained their resolve even under such high-intensity questioning, so how do you plan to convert them?”

At Artlaia’s words, I found myself nodding inwardly.

‘Indeed, they were people with remarkably strong willpower…’

Although I didn’t conduct the interrogations personally.

Since I gave instructions through a screen, they probably already knew I was directly involved…

‘Arto, you bastard! Even if you cloud His Majesty’s judgment, our loyalty will never waver!’… or something like that?’

Besides that, there was all that talk about how if the former emperor were alive, my overstepping of authority would never be tolerated, and so on.

They were truly embodiments of faith and will, so honestly, I didn’t have high expectations either.

I just confirmed that their loyalty wasn’t solely directed at the former emperor but also toward the empire and the imperial family.

So I thought that with the right approach, they might be repurposed, that’s all.

But after reviewing the plan once more, Artlaia came up with a response I hadn’t anticipated.

“I understand… so you came because you need my help?”

“…Huh?”

“Alright, then I’ll speak with them directly.”

Out of nowhere, she was saying she would personally talk to the key individuals we had captured… the loyalists.

Feeling perplexed by Artlaia’s words, I expressed my reservations.

“Are you sure that’s okay? Honestly, it’s not my place to say this after bringing it up, but aren’t these people the type that provoke a visceral disgust in you?”

“And a person who knows this well brought this to me?”

But when Artlaia put it that way, I had nothing to say even if I had ten mouths.

If I tried to argue unnecessarily here, it would be like admitting I had brought this up without any thought.

And seeing me like this, Artlaia placed her hand on her chest and said:

“Don’t worry too much. It’s not like this is the first time you’ve helped me.”

“…”

“I should do at least this much. It’ll allow me to repay a small portion of the debt I owe you…”

I never asked her to go that far.

At Artlaia’s words, I felt as if my gastritis was flaring up again.

—————————–

And following the great Emperor’s request, we secretly transported the ‘loyalists’ we had stashed away at the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry’s base to the imperial palace.

“Urgh…”

“You, you damned cursed ones, if His Majesty learns of this, he will never forgive you!”

Of course, since no one cared about the safety of the cargo during the process, the bodies of those dragged in were all in a battered state.

Perhaps because their vision had been completely blocked to prevent escape.

Unknowingly bumping into all sorts of things, their bodies were covered in bruises.

Yet even with their bodies and minds exhausted, they still maintained such resistance toward those who had tortured them.

“Amazing, I didn’t expect them to maintain such a defiant attitude in this situation.”

Even Riel, a humanoid, was surprised.

But now wasn’t the time for us to be amazed at their resilience.

“Remove their blindfolds.”

“Yes, Minister!”

As we grabbed them to remove their blindfolds, the loyalists began to thrash about and go berserk again.

“What, what are you trying to do now!”

“Don’t touch me! Let go!”

“Ahhh, Emperor! Please protect us!”

But once the blindfolds were removed.

Before their excited eyes…

“…Your Majesty?”

“Oh… ohhhh…!”

“Let’s hear what you have to say.”

When they confirmed that the greatest and only Emperor of the Empire, Artlaia, had personally appeared before them, the situation was resolved in an instant.

When we were handling them, it took us days just to uncover a single route.

“I see, so would you be willing to… dedicate your business relationship with Prosnack for the sake of the throne and the empire?”

“Of course, Your Majesty!”

“Our only purpose in life is to serve the imperial family and the empire. Please give us any command!”

With just one word from Artlaia, they were ready to offer everything they had, and high-quality information about all sorts of routes came pouring out.

Watching this scene from a distance, Riel spoke to me.

“Minister, you must be feeling quite strange right now.”

“…I have nothing to say.”

Still, this was precisely when an AI, humanity’s friend, should step up.

So I was inwardly moved by Riel’s words and was about to respond, but…

“It’s like watching someone else achieve the same or better results with just the push of a button, while you struggled and fought hard, even creating slogans.”

“…”

“Click, click, click, click.”

“…”

Realizing it was just mockery, after this was over and we returned to the Diplomatic Enforcement Ministry.

“Wait, that was just a joke to lighten the mood…”

*BONK!*

I had to execute justice by swinging the Etiquette Injection Rod Mk47 at Riel, who had foolishly believed her crown would remain intact.