Of course, my iron gavel did not smash Skyler’s skull.
It only obliterated the neat stone steps at the entrance of Corrections Headquarters.
But the effect was undeniable.
“HIIEEK!”
“URGH!”
Skyler fell flat on his backside in shock, and people poured out of the building.
The once-solid stone steps had turned into rubble; everyone was stunned.
He and his attendant sprawled on the ground—quite the sight.
Grab!
“COUGH! Which bastard— HUP! D-Duke Carius?!”
I seized the collar of Holt Almeida, who came rushing out in a panic.
His ferocious scowl smoothed out as if ironed.
He had no choice but to grovel.
A mere Corrections Director had overturned the High Judge’s verdict.
Yet he didn’t look terrified.
‘He has a backer now. That’s what this is.’
The Emperor was indifferent to the case, and the two great noble factions had united to push for it.
Holt Almeida had surely been promised a reward commensurate with his decision.
Protection from both the Sierre and Giovanni dukes would follow.
So it was awkward, but not frightening.
Even with immense authority and public popularity, I was still alone.
“You’ll pay for the repairs. Bill our house.”
“Haha! Things get broken sometimes. I won’t hold you accountable for something like this.”
“You’re fixing it with your own money?”
“N-No, of course not.”
“Don’t take credit with taxpayer money. It’s disgusting.”
I shoved Holt Almeida aside and looked up the stairs.
Two impeccably dressed middle-aged men stood there.
Sierre. Giovanni.
The two dukes who propped up the empire.
Why else would they come to Corrections Headquarters?
To spring Skyler.
And, incidentally, to humiliate me.
The two dukes turned and parted ways, smirking openly.
“I really don’t want to say ‘you’ll see,’ but you lot have crossed the line.”
Skyler, Holt Almeida—I’d have to bundle them all up and show them true justice.
That’s the only way this world becomes a little more beautiful.
Of course, I couldn’t do that right now.
The Emperor’s command took priority.
‘Damn it, if I were Emperor…’
Whoa! What an impious thought.
I almost blurted it out and ended up on the guillotine.
Even thinking required caution.
***
The western dispatch was delayed by several days, so I spread my intelligence network in all directions.
The results revealed a few facts.
The price Duke Sierre paid for this incident was enormous.
‘No wonder Giovanni moved, and even the Emperor stayed silent.’
The amount poured in to save one little darling was astronomical.
No—beyond money, it was value that couldn’t be bought.
Rights he would never have sold were handed over on a platter.
For example, gold mining rights and southern canal monopolies.
Only golden-egg-laying geese could nullify a 20-year sentence.
“By the way, Skyler mainly operated in the west, didn’t he?”
The empire’s west was an unstable region.
Only recently subjugated, guerrilla warfare flared up constantly.
Remnants of the fallen Delriat Kingdom still lingered in numbers.
They say turbulent times are opportunities.
Skyler must have ridden that wave.
Chaos made hiding crimes easy.
‘I’ll just uncover different charges there.’
The Sierre family’s wealth was several times greater than mine.
But could they do this again?
They couldn’t hand over dozens or hundreds of golden geese.
Eventually the funds would dry up, and the darling would rot in prison.
“That thought makes me feel a little better.”
The rage that had boiled to the top of my head finally began to subside.
Before leaving for the west, I made one last visit to the court.
Judge Emir immediately thrust a document at me.
“What’s this? Looks urgent.”
“The Corrections Director submitted his resignation. It hasn’t been accepted yet, but he hasn’t shown up. He’s completely unreachable.”
“Wow! Even his exit is artistic… Wait, wrong expression. Anyway, we need a replacement fast?”
“Yes.”
“But isn’t that His Majesty’s job?”
“The High Judge’s recommendation comes first.”
So I create the shortlist for the Emperor?
A procedure I very much liked.
Bring good candidates, and I can seat a friendly face.
Come to think of it, Holt Almeida wasn’t someone Abel recommended.
No debt owed, so he obediently followed the dukes’ requests.
‘You’re next after Skyler.’
I cursed the former director inwardly and signed roughly.
The resignation was now fully accepted.
Good riddance to those who want to leave.
Judge Emir soon presented another document.
“This is the list of potential nominees.”
“Any criteria?”
“Only those unaffiliated with noble factions.”
As reliable as ever.
He gets things done perfectly on his own.
If only he didn’t hate long trips, he’d be perfect.
I pretended to scan the list.
“Send intent letters to everyone who’d accept. I’ll decide by interview.”
Paper alone wouldn’t tell me who was suitable.
I needed to meet them and check their status windows.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Judge Emir bowed solidly and left the office.
I wanted to take him west, but then there’d be no one to run the court.
Leaving it to the notoriously biased Joseph was out of the question…
‘Can’t we replace him too?’
I wish I could overhaul all the judges.
There’s no one truly trustworthy.
Lost in such thoughts, Judge Kolund Emir soon returned.
“Someone rushed over immediately, Your Highness.”
“So fast?”
“He happened to be in the capital.”
“Then send him in first.”
“Yes.”
The first person to enter the office.
I looked up without much expectation.
But the man slightly exceeded it.
“It is truly the honor of a lifetime to meet you like this!”
At first I almost didn’t recognize him.
He had lost so much weight.
The man bowing excessively was none other than Baron Lelbrant.
“But why are you in the capital? What about your territory?”
“It’s nearly back on track. All thanks to Your Highness’s grace. Ah! I’ve installed my son as acting lord.”
“Smart kid?”
“Yes, far better than me. I’ll introduce him next time.”
“Good. Anyway…”
I smiled warmly and snapped my fingers.
“Baron Lelbrant.”
“Yes?”
“You’re hired.”
An obvious choice.
He owed me his life—no candidate could be more loyal.
“Thank you! I will devote my utmost loyalty!”
Baron Lelbrant shouted in ecstasy.
I watched him warmly.
But Judge Emir tilted his head.
“Already hired? You’ve only met one person.”
“How many candidates am I required to nominate?”
“There’s no strict rule, but customarily three…”
“Then just submit Baron Lelbrant.”
“Pardon?”
“No legal issue, right? His Majesty will understand.”
No—he probably won’t even care.
He’ll just pick one; if there’s only one choice, even better.
Perfectly reflects my intent.
Leaving the stunned Judge Emir behind, I exited the office.
“I leave the rest to you. See you later, Baron Lelbrant. I’m too busy right now.”
“Ah, I heard you’re heading west as governor. Please return safely.”
“Yes, take care.”
***
Western Empire, Delriat Autonomous Territory.
Administrator Hozein Allegan was racking his brains.
He had gained high office for siding with the empire.
But stabilizing the chaotic political situation was excruciatingly difficult.
“Sigh! Why are they all so stubborn?”
Every governor sent from the mother country made the same demands.
Everything—military organization, religion, culture—must conform to imperial standards.
For a defeated nation, it was excessive oppression.
Even a cornered mouse bites the cat.
If this continued, the barely established Delriat governorship would collapse.
“They say some duke is coming as governor this time… Explaining will be pointless again.”
Hozein sighed deeply, fiddling with his wide-brimmed hat.
Then a staff member came running in frantically.
“Administrator!”
“What is it?”
“T-The governor has arrived!”
The moment he heard the report, Hozein snapped awake.
The governor wielded absolute power.
Practically the king of Delriat.
No—greater than a king.
He held tremendous status even in the mother country.
Politically, no one could oppose him.
The moment he was displeased, imperial troops would sweep the land again.
“Prepare to greet him at once…!”
Hozein scrambled.
They said internal issues would delay arrival, yet he came far earlier than expected.
What duke had such an impatient personality?
Crossing that vast distance in just two weeks?
Normally governors toured the territories along the way like a pleasure trip.
Yet this one was different from the very start.
Rushing out, Hozein saw the governor’s party already inside.
First meeting, yet he recognized the man instantly.
Natural golden hair, a face carved by a sculptor.
The phrase “blinded by someone’s beauty” suddenly made sense.
“I greet the Governor. I am Administrator Hozein Allegan.”
Hozein imitated imperial etiquette as best he could.
This usually earned pleased nods.
A vassal state official going this far was unexpected.
Yet the new governor merely gave a curt nod.
He seemed uninterested.
Hozein subtly frowned.
‘Another useless one.’
To imperial nobles, the Delriat governorship was a giant piggy bank.
They plundered freely during their term and returned home singing.
All the oppression until now had one purpose: to suck the region dry.
‘Give him an impossible task so he can build “achievements” with it.’
Feeling unease at the governor’s indifferent gaze around the building, Hozein heard a casual question.
“What’s the biggest problem?”
“||?”
He hadn’t expected those words; Hozein could only blink dumbly.
Then he hurriedly collected himself.
“W-Well, first is water management.”
“Water shortage?”
“Yes.”
“I heard the remnants are causing trouble.”
“That is…”
Why did the ghosts of the old dynasty linger in Delriat?
Because life was too harsh.
If the present were prosperous, no revival movement would arise.
But if the goal was simply to line pockets, words were useless.
Swallowing a bitter smile inwardly, the new governor spoke again.
“If you have a solution, implement it. I’ll support you fully.”
Hozein could only blink, speechless.
An utterly unexpected word had appeared.
‘Did I just hear… support?’
Wow, this chapter actually made me grit in teeth too. Holy fck, those corrupted nobles 🫠