Karlstein held absolute power, but that did not an everyone in the world followed him. His thod of ruling the Galactic Empire was to secure the most capable talents and place them in each field of profession. Then, Karlstein would entrust them with full authority and observe from behind.
This was how the current governance system of the Empire was completed, with Aria’s ticulous assistance and the symbolism originating from Karlstein himself. While not perfect, he thought it was the best thod for now.
Yet that’s been broken?
It did not make sense to him. Moreover, it was unnatural that they first detained Aria, who could coordinate and resolve such situations, thus escalating the situation.
Contrived was the word.
Of course, Karlstein’s authority still remained unshakeable. No one had dared to oppose him even when he only had Delroa’s power, and now he had obtained Kaira’s power as well.
Fwrsh-
As he stirred Kaira’s power that was slowly being digested within his body, the enhancent suit he was wearing was absorbed into his flesh.
Swish-
Then, as he imagined a comfortable formal uniform, it naturally ford over his body.
It was a transcendent power akin to a master key for matter and flesh. Additionally, by obtaining Kaira’s power, there were changes in how he utilized Delroa’s power as well.
The people seed to have forgotten… that the first thing Karlstein did upon ascending to the throne was to purge 80% of the corrupt establishnt.
“Then I’ll have to remind them.”
***
Karlstein moved without hesitation, like a fish in water.
A large-scale purge? He had done it once, so he could do it twice.
-Finance officer. Seems you’ve been eating well lately?
-Please forgive !
-Corruption in the defense industry? Of all people, a military man… The military was the one group I didn’t treat poorly, no?
-Isn’t this going too far, even for you, Your Majesty?
-I’ve seen enough. Get this one out of my sight.
-Y-Your Majesty!
-Silence.
With the assistance of the returned Aria, Karlstein removed what needed to be removed, and welcod what deserved to remain.
The list of targets Aria provided was even longer than he had anticipated. So much so that he naturally grew suspicious.
“Aria. You didn’t volunteer for this just to cull and purge, did you?”
[…I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that?]
Well, moving on.
Karlstein began to thoroughly eliminate those who had crossed the line, committed corruption and bribery, or instigated division. He split open the bellies of the greedy swine and boldly distributed their wealth for the developnt of the Galactic Empire.
Even if there was resistance in the process, it was aningless now that he had returned.
-Your Majesty! I only followed Grand Duchess Maxien.
-Please summon Grand Duchess Maxien instead!
-I was only keeping quiet because I was afraid of Grand Duchess Maxien!
-…
People began to talk about Maxien, but Karlstein ignored them all.
“How dare they try to implicate her.”
It was not Maxien’s fault. Though she oversaw Aria’s detention, the action was close to protective custody. If left alone, who knew what pretext it might have given to extremists.
This could be understood from his conversation with Maxien.
Karlstein was initially surprised by the lack of emotion in her words, however…
-I thought you could hold out until this subjugation… It was my oversight, Maxien.
-No, Your Majesty. I’m still fine.
One of the many reasons Karlstein rushed to obtain Kaira’s power was to avoid bringing Maxien along for future Single Number subjugations. He thought that Kaira’s power could sohow manage to fill her absence.
There was only a fragnt of emotion remaining in Maxien. She was possibly at her limit.
-Maxien. I’m sure you took the first move to protect Aria in this matter. She has many political enemies after all.
-… What? That’s… true but. Competitor… opportunity… pity…
-Mm?
-It’s nothing.
Karlstein was a tad concerned by the sight of Maxien licking her lips at the end, but fortunately, the situation was not as worrying as he had feared. So now, it was just a matter of handling the aftermath well.
The course of action to take was set.
The division of the Galactic Empire? Such a thing was aningless now that he had opened his eyes and risen. He would show them hell.
Even Mighty Corp would not get away. According to Aria’s investigation, they were suspected of orchestrating this incident from behind the scenes.
Guess there’s no need to show rcy anymore.
“The 4th and 5th Corps pressuring Mighty Corp are to begin their advance. And summon the 7th Corps.”
Karlstein’s thunderous order spread instantly.
The 7th Corps were specialists in combat against individuals.
You all have crossed the line.
***
“Phew…”
Harris, a space rcenary, blew out cigarette smoke while looking at the empty landscape of space.
“As expected of Mighty. The treatnt is different from other places. The pay is insanely satisfying.”
Chuckling and killing ti, he continued playing card gas while chatting with his colleague next to him.
Usually, as a mber of Sparrow, he was soone who could commit atrocities without hesitation, but things had changed. During peak seasons, he worked officially as a rcenary under contract.
Like now.
“Isn’t this totally sweet?”
“Mighty folks are always loaded with cash. Heheh.”
“How about settling down here?”
“Ugh. Don’t even ntion it. We can be this comfortable because we’re outsourced. I heard it’s really tough if you join as a regular employee.”
“Really?”
“They say the pay is good, but the higher-ups are super strict.”
“That’s a bit… hahah.”
“It’s perfect the way it is for us. Heheh.”
A job where you just kill ti playing cards under the guise of guarding and get paid handsoly. Could it get any better than this?
They say it was a frontline guard duty, but it was a place where there had not been any problem for over 10 years.
“Who would dare touch Mighty Corp? Even the Galactic Empire guys don’t try to ss with them. Haha.”
With a life like this, he could live comfortably without even doing piracy.
“Haha. I won this round.”
“Huh?”
“No take-backs! I won!”
“Wait…”
“Think you can fool again?”
“That’s not it…”
Harris smiled triumphantly as he swept all the chips on the table. But after collecting the chips and following his colleague’s gaze…
“Eh?”
He saw sothing that he should not.
A-a cannon head?
Gulp-
Cold sweat ran down his back.
The mont the muzzle of the cannon aligned straight ahead…
Flash-
“Fuck.”
Following a blindingly intense flash, Harris was reduced to sothing that could no longer open its eyes.
***
Bang!
“What do you an by that?!”
“W-well…”
“You’re telling to believe that they started a preemptive attack without any negotiation?!”
“I’m sorry.”
Gnash-
Well, the subordinate before him was just a ssenger delivering the news. Yelling at the subordinate would not solve anything.
“Haah… I got upset. It’s not your fault. I understand for now. You may go.”
-Sector 3, engaged with the 4th Corps. Annihilated.
-Sector 16, communication lost.
-Sector 32, battle result, about 100 survivors.
-The 1,729 who had infiltrated the finance departnt, military, and administration…
The man, a director-level executive of the Mighty Corp alliance, felt dizzy from the continuous incoming news.
To think they would make such a sudden move…!
“This can’t be…”
He wanted to deny reality.
Why? Without any consultation or negotiation, striking out of the blue?
Considering Mighty Corp’s influence, even the Galactic Empire could not act this way.
They were an alliance of corporations spread throughout the universe. Even the Empire could not escape its influence.
If even a small friction occurred with Mighty Corp, the economy would stagger.
In particular, he had recently heard that the Galactic Empire’s situation was not so good due to carrying out several military operations.
Beep-
“Activate the Galactic Empire hotline that the company side obtained through negotiations in the past.”
-Executing the order.
He felt the need for imdiate action.
The longer we drag this out, the more advantageous it is for us.
The hotline authority was a negotiation card obtained from the Galactic Empire in exchange for an enormous amount of money in the past.
What it ant was simple. It could be called the right to negotiate directly with the Galactic Emperor.
There was a limit to the number of tis this right could be used, so normally he should have reported to his superiors first.
Even if what they obtained at such a great cost was just opening the chance for negotiation….
Ring- Ring- Ring-
It was an invaluable card in the current situation. His superiors would understand.
To understand Emperor Karlstein’s true intentions through negotiation and secure ti through talks. It could even be said to be his mission.
Ring- Ring- Ring-
Click-
“!!”
As expected!
Perhaps the damn Emperor was waiting for contact as well. As long as both sides wanted sothing, there was surely a way.
“Hoo…”
He took a deep breath and plunged into negotiations with the Emperor.
“Would I be speaking to the great Emperor of the Galactic Empire, His Majesty Karlstein?”
-Mm? Ah… Is this that?
“Yes. I am a director of Mighty—“
He maintained an attitude of respect while showing confidence and praising the other party. All that remained was to slowly lt the Emperor with eloquent speech…
But after a 1-minute call, what he obtained was—
-Fuck off.
Slump.
He gaped with a dumbfounded expression.
W-what in blazes…?!
***
sko-fi/genesisforsaken
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