"Hmm?"
If there were suspicious movements, would it not stand to reason to probe into the finer details? Yet to settle for a report of this caliber...
"Ah, that was intentional."
Intentional?
"Right. Spies like that blend in among the servants day in and day out with nonchalant faces. If an ordinary servant noticed something odd and started prying around—doing that would arouse suspicion. They aren't professionals in infiltration or investigation, after all."
In that case, should you not employ professionals?
"Heh."
Master?
"Take this for example. Suppose I left you at Oscar's mansion and ordered you to report everything you saw. Do you think you could uncover any secrets?"
...That is impossible. My presence is far too great; I am ill-suited for ferreting out secrets.
Leviathan replied in a somewhat sulky tone.
She had realized it, too.
My question was practically forcing her to admit what she couldn't do with her own mouth.
"That's just it. Yours is an extreme example, but the same holds true for investigation specialists. A man of Oscar's caliber wouldn't overlook the unnatural air such people give off."
I see.
"That's why I ordered everyone I bribed to 'report only what you see' and 'do not pry deeply.' Instead, I established multiple routes."
Saying that, I held up another letter that had been layered beneath the first one I read.
It was a report from a different servant—a gatekeeper.
"Oscar's retainer had a grave look when entering, but when he left, he apparently had a smug, triumphant expression."
Mmph.
"We still don't know the exact details, but we can infer the general direction of their conversation."
Mmh... Impressive, Master. To think you had planned that far ahead.
I smiled gently.
I was glad Leviathan was convinced.
At the same time, I looked over the two letters.
While I didn't know the specifics, the hypothesis that Oscar might have been incited by his retainer held weight.
I considered the possibility that they might target me during my campaign.
I knew I definitely wanted to keep my trump card, Leviathan, close at hand.
At the same time, I felt a slight sense of frustration.
This method for my intelligence network was the result of my own deliberation.
Even if the precision was low and each individual piece of information was sparse, if it came from multiple sources, I could piece it together somehow. That was my thinking.
A method of covering quality with quantity.
The merit of this approach was that when something occurred, receiving multiple reports made it clear that "something happened."
Relying solely on a single high-quality report often left lingering doubts about whether it truly occurred, but if five or ten reports arrived through sheer quantity, the fact that "something happened" became a certainty.
"I wonder how Father did it."
I was well aware of how terrifying Father's eyes and ears were.
His intelligence had both quantity and quality, and above all, its speed was absurd.
If it were Father in a situation like this, he probably would have had a complete grasp on Oscar's movements.
I didn't know how Oscar would act; in the first place, it wasn't even set in stone that he would.
"..."
Not knowing sometimes had its advantages.
I didn't know whether Oscar would actually make a move.
Because I didn't know, I could keep things vague.
I pictured Oscar's personality in my mind.
Given his nature, no matter what he did, there was a high likelihood he would refrain from acting as long as he couldn't clearly discern his opponent's hand.
In that case, the course of action I needed to take naturally became clear.
Looking up at the moonless night sky, I contemplated ways to increase the number of cards in my hand that appeared ambiguous.
After taking a breather in the garden, I returned to the study and continued processing government affairs.
An Emperor of the Empire was a busy man.
I had imagined it to some extent from watching Father, but after actually ascending the throne, I realized even those expectations had been naive.
Being Emperor was a hundred times busier than I had imagined back when I was a commoner before reincarnating.
There was no time for lavish debauchery; nearly all my time was consumed simply by the daily reports and directives flowing in from various regions.
I was currently processing them in that manner.
Before me lay an open letter from Evelyn in Almeria.
As expected of a retainer who had come from my own estate.
Its contents demonstrated a thorough understanding of my policies, so I wrote a reply in red ink leaving everything to her discretion.
"Your Majesty."
As I did so, one of the eunuchs spoke to me.
When I raised my head, on the other side of the desk stood a young, boyish eunuch.
The boy knelt before me, raised his head, and looked my way.
"I haven't seen your face before. What's your name?"
"Eh? Ah, yes. My name is Luke."
The novice eunuch answered my question with a slight hint of bewilderment.
I set down my pen and asked another question while wiping my hands with a nearby cloth.
"Luke, is it? You still seem young. Why did you become a eunuch?"
"Y-Yes. I-It was to pay for my younger sister's medicine."
"I see."
I gave a small nod.
It wasn't an uncommon story.
Because becoming a eunuch was predicated on castration, it was standard practice to provide incoming recruits with a substantial preparation allowance.
In fact, they used that as bait to gather numbers, almost bordering on deception.
Consequently, many applicants were youngest sons from impoverished families who volunteered on the grounds that they wouldn't inherit the household.
For such families, there was no doubt that the lump sum was a fortune.
So that applies to the boy before me as well, I realized.
"So, has something happened?"
"Ah, yes. A person named Lord Neil has arrived—I mean, an au... aud...?"
"An audience?"
"Yes! He says he requests an audience!"
"I see. Send him in."
I said with a chuckle.
Smiling gently at the novice eunuch who wasn't yet accustomed to his duties, I granted permission for Neil.
The novice eunuch, Luke, stood up, turned around in a fluster, and hurried out of the study.
A moment later, Neil entered in his place.
Neil stopped before the desk, dropped to one knee in accordance with etiquette, and bowed.
"Haha."
"Y—I mean, Your Majesty? Was something amusing?"
"No, nothing. The boy just now is a newcomer, so it can't be helped that his phrasing and manners are poor, but it made me realize you're awkward with etiquette as well."
When I said that, Neil blushed slightly and let out a wry smile.
"I'm not used to this sort of thing."
"Then it's fine. Manners are unnecessary where there are no naggy old men around."
"That's a relief."
Neil chuckled and stood straight up.
I considered his lack of unnecessary modesty to be one of the man's virtues.
Neil Noble.
The third son of the Empire's strongest veteran general, Damian Noble.
A while ago, when Damian recommended his sons for official posts, he did not recommend this third son alone.
The eldest, the second, the fourth.
Despite that earnest warrior pitching his sons with various praises, he had made no mention of this third son whatsoever.
Finding that strange, I investigated him.
I discovered that, unlike his other three brothers, he possessed such talent that he was bound to distinguish himself eventually, even without parental recommendations or riding on family coattails.
People were treasures.
Learning that, I couldn't sit still; I went directly to him, persuaded him, and brought him into my service.
He had talent with a sword, but was the type of man who disliked anything stiff and formal.
I thought it would be a waste to force such a man into a mold of rigid formality, so I told Neil that etiquette was unnecessary.
Leaning back deeply into my chair, I asked Neil while completely halting my work.
"So, what business brings you here today?"
"Take me with you on this upcoming personal campaign."
"What's this? Did you develop a desire for military glory?"
"Frankly speaking, I guess you could say that."
"Hmm."
Nodding slightly, I looked at Neil.
I thought there was hardly a man further removed from the concept of "military glory" than him.
I had thought he was a man with no interest in accolades or climbing the social ladder.
"If need be, I don't mind serving as that songstress's bodyguard. I'd be more useful than the riffraff around here."
"You mean Alice? There's no need to worry about that; I have no intention of placing her anywhere outside my sight."
"Is that so?"
"However..."
I pondered for a moment.
Neil was particularly useful among the pieces at my disposal.
―――――――――――― Name: Noah Ararat Emperor of the Empire Gender: Male Level: 17 + 1 / ∞
HP: C+B | Fire: E+S+S MP: D+C | Water: C+SSS Strength: C+S | Wind: E+C Endurance: D+C | Earth: E+C Intelligence: D+A | Light: E+B Spirit: E+B | Darkness: E+B Speed: E+B Dexterity: E+C Luck: D+C ――――――――――――
Even from his status, I could tell he had sworn loyalty to me.
On top of that, his swordsmanship was exceptional.
It would indeed be a waste not to deploy him in an effective position.
"..."
After a moment's thought, a blueprint formed in my mind.
"In that case, there's something I want you to do."
"Oh? What is it?"
"First, some groundwork. Go to the Fourth Prime Minister's place and win as much as you can."
"Win? What are you talking about?"
"Start with that. In the meantime, I will proceed with preparations on my end."
"..."
Neil stared at me for a moment.
"I just need to win as much as I can, right?"
"Yeah."
"Understood."
Neil nodded, turned crisply on his heel, and exited the study.
His willingness to listen and his quick decisiveness were a talent in themselves.
After seeing him off, I called out:
"Someone, come here."
The novice eunuch, Luke, came back inside.
Luke entered in a hurry and prostrated himself before the desk, nearly tumbling over.
"D-Did you call, Your Majesty?"
"Summon the Minister of Military Affairs. Tell him I will be in the garden and have him shown there."
"Yes, Sire!"
After responding, Luke scrambled his way out of the room.
I stood up and left the room as well.
I walked down the corridor toward my destination.
Soon, a lady-in-waiting approached softly and placed a shawl over my shoulders.
To ensure the night breeze wouldn't harm my health, no doubt.
Accepting it wordlessly, I continued at my pace and stepped out into the garden.
Even at night, lights were illuminated everywhere throughout the gardens of the detached palace.
Relying on them, I headed toward the pond.
In the center of the reasonably large pond was an island, upon which an arbor was built.
Inside the arbor were a stone chair and table, naturally blending in as a part of the island.
I sat down in one of the stone chairs.
A lady-in-waiting brought tea immediately.
The cold tea served with ice moderately cooled my head, which had grown heated from all my pondering, and refreshed me.
I placed the cup on the stone table.
Droplets of water trickled down the outside of the iced tea cup.
The spot where the lady-in-waiting had originally placed it, and the spot where I set it down after drinking.
Two puddles formed, slightly apart from each other.
After waiting for thirty minutes while watching them, Henry came hurrying over.
He crossed the bridge onto the islet and dropped to one knee at the entrance of the arbor.
"Imperial Prince of Military Affairs Henry Ararat, answering your summons and reporting for duty."
"Umu, take a seat there. Bring some tea for the Imperial Prince of Military Affairs as well."
I told Henry, who had arrived, and the lady-in-waiting who had guided him.
Promptly, the lady-in-waiting brought over a cup of tea for Henry.
It was the same iced tea using precious ice that I had been drinking.
"Thank you for your service. You may withdraw."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The lady-in-waiting obeyed the order and withdrew.
I casually gazed at the scenery of the garden, while Henry watched out of the corner of his eye until she was gone.
Once the lady-in-waiting was out of sight, Henry turned straight toward me once more.
As he did, he glanced at the cup I was drinking from and the two puddles of water.
"To summon me to a place like this, is there some confidential matter you wish to discuss?"
Henry was quick on the uptake.
They say walls have ears.
When discussing confidential matters, using a place like this isolated island in a garden, where there was nowhere for anyone to hide, was best.
A closed room was actually not a good choice.
At first glance, being surrounded by walls made it seem safe from prying ears, but one could never truly know who was eavesdropping on the other side of the wall or how they were doing it.
A completely open space like this was best suited for secret talks.
Though it no longer existed, several centuries ago there was a sport popular among aristocrats called hole ball.
It was a game played on an expanse of land so vast it could be mistaken for a grand prairie, where one struck a stationary ball with a stick and competed to get it into a hole hundreds of meters away in as few strokes as possible.
While it was moderately popular as a sport, having hundreds of meters per course meant, more importantly, that two people were entirely alone in a vast arena.
In other words, no matter what was said there, no one could overhear, making it the perfect location for secret discussions.
Similarly, I had chosen this open place where no one could eavesdrop, and Henry had grasped that immediately.
"Your Majesty?"
"Ah, forgive me. I was lost in thought for a moment."
I tapped my half-empty cup with a finger and turned my gaze toward Henry again.
"There is something I want to ask. Are there any individuals with... complicated backgrounds in the Ministry of Military Affairs?"
"Complicated backgrounds... you say?"
Henry furrowed his brows and looked at me with puzzled eyes.
Without even needing to ask, his face seemed to say, Why do you ask such a thing?
"Yes, anything is fine, so long as they have 'complicated backgrounds.' A unit's worth would be ideal, but even a handful of people will do if that's all there is."
"There is a group of just over a hundred men, akin to a band of ruffians, but..."
"What sort of people are they?"
"They were originally close to bandits, but, well—"
"Ah, that's fine. I have no intention of probing into the details; I'm sure there are things that cannot be said."
"I am grateful for your understanding."
"What matters is whether those men will listen to what you say, Henry."
"Let's see..."
Henry took on a contemplative look.
Realizing from my tone that this was an important question, he seemed to be considering it seriously.
"For the time being, so long as they don't feel they've been treated as disposable, they will handle most things."
"Hahaha, straightforward fellows, aren't they? Are you providing them with sufficient carrots?"
"To a reasonable degree."
"Good. Then I shall offer them some carrots as well—500 Rien per person."
"I offer my gratitude on their behalf."
Henry stood up and bowed respectfully from the waist.
Then, sitting down once more:
"And so, what would you have them do?"
"You know Neil, don't you?"
"Neil... Noble's son, is he not?"
"Yes. I intend to place those men under Neil and have them slip into the dark."
When I revealed that, Henry's eyes widened in surprise.
"For what reason?"
"I am currently having Neil build up his credentials; if all goes well, Neil will come out on top. That very top performer slips into the dark alongside men with complicated backgrounds from the Ministry of Military Affairs. Henry, what would you do if you were in their shoes?"
"That would..."
Henry said, once again adopting a thoughtful expression.
While waiting for Henry's answer, I touched the two puddles from the cup alternately, tracing them with my fingertip to merge them into one.
"...I see. No one was here before me."
"..."
I smiled faintly.
"Who did you think came?"
"Either the Fourth Prime Minister or Her Majesty the Empress."
"Hahaha, two polar opposites. Well, that's natural."
Finding it somewhat amusing, I laughed out loud.
"Well played, Henry. To include Audrey as well."
"As expected of Your Majesty, I am deeply impressed."
Henry stood up, bowed from the waist, and offered a polite salute.
When sharing this arbor with someone, there were only two patterns: discussing confidential matters, or dallying with imperial consorts.
Furthermore, since he was meeting me, this time would normally be narrowed down to confidential matters.
Yet Henry had raised the pattern of entertaining women as a possibility alongside it.
Knowing that he considered it because the probability was not zero made me find it rather entertaining.
"Shall we return to the topic?"
"Understood. By increasing the number of possibilities, the opponent will inevitably fall into paranoia."
"Precisely. They'll jump to conclusions about Neil on their own. Even if, in reality, he's merely gone off sightseeing somewhere, they will view it with suspicion. The cleverer a person is, the more incapable they are of stopping themselves from weighing possibilities."
"Truly magnificent, Your Majesty. The other party will undoubtedly succumb to suspicion."
"That would be a great help."
I nodded and stood up.
Clasping my hands behind my back, I turned around and looked out over the pond.
"The Imperial Guard Army has been made independent on the outside, but they stand in the light. Spies can be slipped among them endlessly. Therefore, I want a piece that can be deployed in the dark—one whose existence is known, yet whose details cannot be grasped at all."
"When people cannot see, hesitation is born."
"The cleverer they are, the truer that is."
I gave a small nod, agreeing with Henry's words.
"Let me ask again. Does this band of ruffians seem suitable for the role?"
With my hands still clasped behind my back, I turned only my neck to look at Henry over my shoulder.
"Yes. While some enticements or persuasive explanations may be necessary, please leave that to me."
"Understood. I leave it in your hands."
I faced forward.
Facing forward, I gazed straight into the distance.
Henry fell silent, waiting for my next words.