Chapter 76: My Recommendation Is to Execute Roger
Azurevine Empire, Maple Spirit Moon Shadow Palace.
Empress of Eternal Night summoned the Left Chancellor, Margaret, for a private audience.
Margaret was in charge of military affairs and intelligence. She commanded two specialized secret intelligence units: the Nightingales and the Sparrows.
The Nightingales were not restricted to humans. Most of their members were bards, with a few being socialites from noble families.
Regardless of gender, beauty was the primary criterion for Nightingales. They were then trained to master various arts of conversation, manipulation, and seduction.
They mingled within high society and among powerful individuals, obtaining information through their exceptional skills.
The Sparrows, on the other hand, had a much more complex professional structure and diverse membership. On the surface, they appeared as ordinary people, indistinguishable in a crowd.
However, in reality, they were experts in lock-picking, eavesdropping, and acrobatic feats, specializing in forcibly acquiring intelligence.
Together, the Nightingales and Sparrows had made significant contributions during the war that spanned seventeen kingdoms.
The importance of intelligence in warfare was undeniable. A small piece of information at a critical moment could alter the course of the entire battle.
After the empire was established and the wars subsided, Empress of Eternal Night did not reduce her investment in the Nightingales and Sparrows; in fact, she increased it.
This was because the focus had shifted to the religious states of neighboring races. Infiltrating these states or finding potential informants among their believers required several times the effort and cost compared to dealing with human-dominated nations previously.
Although the progress in acquiring external intelligence was slow, Margaret had been quite effective in controlling domestic intelligence.
“The Nightingales did indeed notice some nobles intending to hoard grain. It was my oversight; I mistook it for normal reserves and didn’t realize they were even profiting from such matters!”
Upon hearing the Empress’s description of the situation, Margaret gritted her teeth in anger.
Even a seasoned schemer like herself found such behavior – profiting from a national crisis and seemingly ready to devour the common people whole – utterly contemptible.
She had worked tirelessly, posing as a revanchist force, to reduce the possibility of rebellion across seventeen kingdoms.
Yet, the nobles of the empire were now causing trouble over food supplies, hoarding essentials and seeking to acquire land along with the peasant farmers. Wasn’t this precisely the kind of action that would incite the citizens of the seventeen kingdoms to revolt, rendering all her previous efforts futile?
She had been negligent before, but with the Empress’s reminder, she wouldn’t let these scum off the hook. She solemnly assured, “Your Majesty can rest assured. I will identify all these disloyal nobles and ensure they have no opportunity to instigate trouble or flee!”
Empress of Eternal Night smiled faintly, “No need. Once you’ve identified them, arrange for them safe passage to the religious states. We’ll intercept their departing assets at the border.”
Margaret expressed her surprise, “Your Majesty, these people deserve to die. You are letting them go so easily?”
“Letting them go?” Empress of Eternal Night scoffed. “If I were to sentence them to death, that would be far too easy. I want them to witness from abroad the empire’s strength and growth. Then, we will sweep through the paradise they believe is so special, capture them, and hang them from lampposts… This is called ‘killing to demoralize!'”
Margaret, with her demonic bloodline and inherently evil alignment, listened with her crimson eyes shining, “Your Majesty, what a brilliant plan! Let’s toy with them, play with them to our heart’s content! This strategy is truly satisfying!”
Empress of Eternal Night reclined lazily on the Star Throne, listening to Margaret’s praise, a smile gracing her lips.
Being showered with compliments felt truly wonderful.
Copying someone else’s homework also felt amazing.
The strategy belonged to the subject, the glory to the ruler. That was the right way of things!
Had it been the old Empress of Eternal Night, she would have interrupted Margaret’s praise without hesitation, because a good empress would not indulge in flattery.
She would also have clarified that the idea wasn’t hers and attributed the credit to Roger.
But after their conversation tonight, she had “seen the light.”
A high EQ interpretation would be to act according to one’s heart and return to oneself; a low EQ interpretation would be to become lazy.
Since Roger didn’t care about such superficial fame, why should she, based on her own moral standards, waste her breath explaining it to him?
It was thankless work, so why bother?
She had realized that if someone desired apples, a dozen cartloads of oranges would be of no appeal.
Similarly, no amount of reward could satiate some people’s greed, and no lofty ideal could awaken all the people of the empire.
Thus, Empress of Eternal Night was no longer concerned with maintaining a “perfect” persona.
This was why Angelina had heard her unapologetically declare, “I’m here to enjoy your desserts.”
The positive reception of *The History of the Azurevine Empire, Volume 10* had removed Empress of Eternal Night’s final qualms.
The vast majority of the empire’s people could accept an imperfect empress, as long as she could bring them victory, security, and sustenance, preserving their modest happiness.
These unfortunate commoners were easily satisfied.
However, those nobles who always put their own interests first would exaggerate and attack any minor flaw in the Empress’s actions, etiquette, or words, tarnishing her reputation.
Empress of Eternal Night, in her concern for face and reputation, had done many things against her will.
In the past, the Empress was merely the CEO of the Azurevine Empire, while the nobles who controlled public opinion in the capital were the chairmen.
They used their familiar tactics to achieve many things and reaped the greatest benefits.
Empress of Eternal Night had always felt something was amiss, but she couldn’t pinpoint it.
That was until Roger told her that she owed nothing to this empire.
Empress of Eternal Night suddenly understood. Those who praised her, lauded her, and dictated how an empress should be, molding her into a saint-like figure of purity, were actually holding her hostage, binding her to serve the empire meticulously and bear all domestic and external troubles.
And after all her efforts, they colluded in secret, draining the empire’s blood and living the most decadent, luxurious, and unrestrained lives.
In secret, how must they have mocked her, this foolish “king”?
Empress of Eternal Night was naturally extremely intelligent; she had simply been too lazy to use her brain before.
Now that she had started thinking, she quickly realized. She was supposed to be the supreme ruler of this country, yet she had ended up working for them?
Why?
No matter how well she performed, she couldn’t earn their loyalty.
Yet, by slightly infringing upon their interests, they would readily seek to replace the empress and betray the country for personal gain?
She was tired, and she no longer cared.
From this day forward, the opinions of the empire’s nobles were all meaningless!
“I apologize, nobles, but I will no longer be a perfect empress!”
“As long as I ensure that the maximum number of people can eat their fill, even if I smoke, drink, and pilot giant robots, I will still be a good empress!”
She had realized that beyond the responsibilities of a “king,” there should also be a freedom belonging to a “king.”
To a certain extent, Empress of Eternal Night was now leaning towards a more relaxed approach, influenced by Roger.
However, because Empress of Eternal Night’s sense of responsibility far exceeded Roger’s, even in her relaxed state, she would still rack her brains for the sake of the empire.
But without those external constraints, she was more authentic, more herself.
First and foremost, she could wholeheartedly enjoy Margaret’s effusive praise!
Of course, Margaret was also thoroughly enjoying herself tonight.
As an extremely fervent fan, she poured out three thousand words of praise for Empress of Eternal Night’s wisdom.
Not once was she interrupted; it was pure bliss. The Empress truly doted on her fans!
Could Angelina achieve this level of sustained praise, with such rhythm and punchlines?
Margaret’s tail wagged with pride, her eyes darting about.
She intended to seize this opportune moment while the Empress was in good spirits to achieve something significant!
Margaret then spoke in a tone of feigned distress, “Your Majesty, the rebellion brewing among the empire’s nobles is also, to some extent, related to *New Arcana*.”
Empress of Eternal Night’s expression turned serious, “So, you believe *New Arcana* is problematic?”
‘Did I misjudge you, Margaret? You, with your seemingly innocent demeanor, are also trying to stop me from piloting a giant golem?’
“Your Majesty, you misunderstand. I have read *New Arcana* no less than ten times. Every word reveals wisdom that transcends the ages. You are the beacon illuminating the path forward for mages! You are the compass guiding magic back to greatness!”
Margaret responded with operatic flair, “We must absolutely continue with *New Arcana*. However, there are minor obstacles at present. I merely wish to help you swiftly quell the resentment of the nobles and traditional mages, which is…”
Empress of Eternal Night gestured, “Speak freely.”
She had not forgotten the Sword of Damocles hanging over the empire, the ten-year countdown foretold by Roger.
Therefore, the sooner more mages supported the industrialization of magic and contributed their wisdom and strength, the sooner the empire’s national power would surge.
Seeing this, Margaret stepped forward and whispered, “My recommendation is for you to execute Roger Charles, the president of *New Arcana*. Your Majesty will immediately regain the recognition of the mages!”
Empress of Eternal Night frowned, “Roger founded *New Arcana*. If we execute him, who will continue to run the magazine?”
“Your Majesty need not worry. The most difficult part of *New Arcana* was proposing a new, viable ideology. This most challenging hurdle has already been overcome under Your Majesty’s guidance. If even that useless younger brother, Roger, could accomplish this, I am confident that if I were to take charge, I could manage the magazine even better!”
“Oh, so you’re trying to snatch the credit?”
“If you don’t trust me, I believe the Minister of History, Dio Brando, could also preside over *New Arcana*!”
Empress of Eternal Night almost rolled her eyes.
“In the end, aren’t these two the same person? If you eliminate one, who will play the role of the other? A necromancer? My dear Left Chancellor, how much cheap wine must you have consumed to come up with such a brilliant plan?”
Yet, Margaret confidently analyzed, “Your Majesty, I am not gambling with this move. Executing Roger will regain the mages’ approval, and then we can gradually promote the concept of magical industrialization, which will undoubtedly proceed smoothly. This small sacrifice will bring about a tremendous acceleration. This opportunity is fleeting; it will not return. You cannot hesitate any longer…”
Frankly speaking, Margaret’s strategy, though somewhat vicious, was quite effective.
Pushing Roger out to appease the masses and then shifting the overall goal to industrialization, gradually applying magic to civilian life, would indeed be more readily accepted by the mages.
It was akin to a negotiation: first, propose a price that the other party would absolutely reject, and then gradually lower the price through concessions.
Margaret was confident that this tactic of “slowly boiling the mages” would have a success rate of ninety-eight percent!
However, the problem was that Empress of Eternal Night already had a complicated relationship with Roger. After their conversation at the Law Salon, their connection had deepened to the point of being “confidants.”
In her eyes, in this vast empire, Duke Roger was the only one who could understand her grand aspirations and view the empire and the gods from a similar perspective.
Angelina, Margaret, and others possessed ample loyalty, but their vision paled in comparison to Roger’s.
She was already walking an incredibly lonely path. If she were to lose Roger, wouldn’t she become even more isolated, with no travel companion at all?
Even if we take a step back, the now-relaxed Empress of Eternal Night truly didn’t care about the approval of the traditional mages, who were mostly nobles.
To kick away the ladder after climbing, to harm true loyal subjects just to appease a bunch of fence-sitters?
*Heh, without ten years of brain damage, it would be impossible to commit such a self-destructive act!*
Margaret, oblivious, continued her impassioned plea, listing the myriad benefits of executing Roger.
Empress of Eternal Night, however, had grown impatient. With a flick of her hand, she cast a spell.
Augmented by a series of talents such as instantaneous casting, extreme efficiency, and giant size, a simple Mage Hand became comparable to a forbidden spell. At a speed Margaret couldn’t even react to, it suddenly grabbed the arrow-tipped tail.
*Whoosh!* She was yanked all the way to the ceiling of the grand hall.
“Ahhhh—!”
Margaret let out a high-pitched scream, her voice changing pitch.
Empress of Eternal Night descended from the Star Throne, admiring the upside-down Left Chancellor, her lips curving upwards.
In the past, she would never have punished a subordinate in such a manner.
But now that she had let go, if Margaret displeased her, she would play with her until she was satisfied.
“I am free (σ’ω’)σ!”
Margaret, suspended in mid-air, felt as though her tail was about to snap off, and she would plummet to her death.
At this height, she shouldn’t die from the fall, but even a one-meter-eight man could drown and pass out in a one-meter-four swimming pool.
Caught off guard by Empress of Eternal Night’s sneak attack, Margaret’s brain capacity was temporarily insufficient.
Empress of Eternal Night’s voice was laced with amusement, “Margaret, were all your previous words spoken out of loyalty to me?”
Margaret whined in protest, “Of course, I am loyal, extremely loyal, absolutely loyal! I harbor not a single iota of desire to harm Your Majesty! Please, quickly let me down!”
Empress of Eternal Night let out a cold laugh and, with another flick of her hand, conjured another Mage Hand, striking Margaret’s rather prominent backside repeatedly:
“Hmm, you didn’t want to harm me, but you wanted to make Angelina sad, am I wrong?”
“I didn’t! I truly wanted Your Majesty’s wish to be realized faster, Your Majesty…”
*Slap, slap, slap, slap!* Several more strikes landed on Margaret’s behind.
Her petite body spun in mid-air, her limbs flailing helplessly as she couldn’t grasp anything solid.
Margaret transformed into a devilish little fan, and due to the distortion and displacement of her clothing, her curvaceous figure was fully revealed.
A large expanse of spring scenery was exposed, paired with her pitiful expression, creating a breathtakingly alluring tableau.
This scene, which was supposed to appear mid-game, had been brought forth early due to Empress of Eternal Night’s “transformation”!
In the midst of the merriment, Margaret was truly on the verge of tears.
It was painful, shameful, and terrifying.
The truth she had tried to hide also came tumbling out, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I was wrong. I did consider making that blue-haired saintess unhappy. I can accept you not killing him; as long as that useless younger brother is quickly removed from office and disgraced…”
Empress of Eternal Night snorted, dispelled the Mage Hand, and cast a Feather Fall spell, allowing Margaret to land gently on the ground without injury.
“Thank you for your performance. I am much happier now~”
Margaret rubbed her sore bottom and stood up. She glanced cautiously at Empress of Eternal Night, who wasn’t angry but smiling. She tested the waters, “Your Majesty, next time…”
“Next time you offer slander, remember to use your brain a little more.”
Margaret: “???”
*I wanted to say I’ll never do it again, but what does Your Majesty mean by that? I’ll inevitably be tempted to find ways to scheme against that blue-haired saintess!*
