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