"Karen-san, what are we going to do about this?"
"…It looks like I’m about to be forced into the role of provisional president, doesn’t it?"
"But aren't you part of the Liberal Party, Karen-san?"
The Chronos Annexation Party was the one that had supposedly swept the election. The Liberal Party only held ten meager seats out of the four hundred available.
"Whose fault do you think that is?! During the election, it was leaked that I was a subordinate of the King of Chronos!"
"Well, I mean, that’s public information, isn't it? Mike & Hammer Co. is part of the Kamishiro Group, after all."
"The internal affairs of a conglomerate don't matter to the commoners of Lepsitol! But now, it’s become prime gossip fodder! People are saying whatever they want—they’re even claiming I’m Your Majesty’s mistress!"
"I’m a married man, so… sorry, but no."
"Why are you acting like I just confessed to you?!"
"Was I wrong?"
"You are dead wrong! Regardless, please work your magic so that I don't end up as the leader of Lepsitol!"
Isn’t it a bit late for that?
"Just do it! Please let me defect to Chronos!"
"Why don’t you just accept the presidency? Become the president and then just… find a way to avoid the annexation by Chronos…"
"There’s no way the citizens would accept that! They’re already overjoyed, thinking they’ve finally been liberated from the rule of the conglomerates."
"Ehh… Thinking everyone will be happy just by getting rid of the conglomerates… that’s a pretty naive way of looking at things. The system that allowed the conglomerates to do whatever they wanted was the problem; simply deleting the conglomerates isn’t a magic fix…"
It was the same with the Duke Association. Wifey had implemented various policies specifically to prevent the emergence of another group like it. She separated the police and the military from the judiciary and significantly strengthened the auditing processes for both the military and the noble territories. The nobility lost their jurisdiction over criminal and civil trials within their own lands. Now, both the police and the courthouses belonged to the Empire. They could no longer commit acts of tyranny as they pleased.
Furthermore, most of the decent nobles were honestly relieved that their workload had decreased so significantly. I mean, the Imperial Capital was now handling all the tedious police work and legal cases for them! They didn't have to take the fall anymore! They didn't even have to handle the tax collection! The local regions were finally able to concentrate on their original duties, which included the military.
In the end, excessive power is nothing but a burden to the person holding it.
So, what really mattered was the structure of the system… or rather, the rules of the game. Currently, Lepsitol was a garbage game with no outcome other than a bad ending that would send your SAN values plummeting. Rather than destroying the conglomerates, it was better to change the factors that made the game so terrible in the first place. In this case, we just needed to apply a Conglomerate Nerf and increase the number of roles for the commoners to participate in cooperative play. Like adding police characters specializing in economic crimes, for instance.
Yeah, yeah, I’m basically the developer of a death game.
"So, putting the whining aside, how about something like this?"
I presented a plan for a Conglomerate Nerf and a buff for the commoners. For starters, we would swiftly crack down on violent crimes.
"The Yakuza will target my life, you know?"
"Then we’ll just crush the Yakuza."
"But the police force itself has been bought off…"
"Then we’ll just arrest every single one of them."
I stated these obvious facts with a smile.
"And how exactly do we do that?"
"We bring in the Taikyoku Nation."
"Huh?"
"We'll round up any Yakuza who look like they might be useful, snip 'em, and turn them into Eunuchs."
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!"
Karen-san’s eyes turned completely into those of a snake. I suppose the suggestion was that much of an atrocity to her.
"I’m joking. But Lepsitol does owe money to the Taikyoku Nation, so let’s have them cooperate."
It was over…
Karen-san’s eyes now looked like they were broadcasting a notification for the complete and utter end of Lepsitol. I mean, look—the reason armed organizations run rampant in the first place is because compulsory education and the employment rate for new graduates have gone to hell. Also, we needed to thoroughly crack down on those mysterious Higher Existences known as 'Local Paisens' during their youth! No matter how stupid someone was, they had to be turned into a cog in the social machine. The Galactic Empire was excellent at that sort of thing. I felt like I could even find common ground with Parcion-kun on that specific point.
"Anyway, please don't be hasty about trying to become part of Chronos!"
"Y-Yes…"
That was a very spiritless reply. The atmosphere she’d had when we first met—where she’d try to cut a deal whenever she saw even the slightest opening—was gone. She looked like she was halfway to becoming an empty shell.
A few days later, the Taikyoku Nation's army was stationed there under the guise of maintaining public order. Along with the Chronos Army, of course. By that time, things had truly begun to move.
I watched the broadcast of Karen-san along with Wifey, Claire, and the others.
"President Karen has been elected."
She had the eyes of a dead fish.
Good, now just say, 'We will undergo fiscal reconstruction. We will remain an independent nation!'
"Our country… will undergo fiscal reconstruction and aim to become a part of Chronos in the future."
Wait, what?
"Let us become subjects of His Majesty Leo Kamishiro Chronos and carve our names into the history of the great Kingdom of Chronos!"
"Aaaaaaaaah! She actually did it!"
"His Majesty Leo has personally promised—no one will be turned into a Eunuch!"
"Uooooh!" the people roared.
No one would be made a Eunuch. The people were moved to tears of joy by those words.
"Hey, you total traitooooooooooooor!"
I screamed out of pure frustration. She betrayed me! She betrayed me perfectly! She did it because she anticipated that Chronos wouldn't be able to refuse, given the country's strategic location! She did it knowing that Chronos would have no choice but to step in and clean up the mess!
Then Wifey, who was watching the broadcast with me, spoke up.
"Lord Groom, congratulations on the birth of the Galactic Overlord!"
Then Claire followed.
"Since we've swallowed a major power, I suppose we're the Chronos Empire now."
Stooooooop it!
"Why don’t you just go ahead and complete the Unification of the Galaxy while you’re at it?"
Even Melissa joined in.
"As expected… my Master is a true Alpha Male."
Ren was saying things I couldn't even begin to understand.
"Ah-ha… Leo… you just have to give up and accept it…"
Kevin was at least being sympathetic.
"Hmm, I wonder if it’s just destiny?"
Even Rikochi!
"Your Majesty… If I may be so bold, I believe your destiny was already sealed the moment you first remained behind on that battleship to save us."
Even Saijo-kun turned on me!
"Well, isn't it fine? He's my big brother, after all. Right, One?"
"His Majesty is the strongest, sir!"
"Lord Leo… you are so wonderful."
Even Tatiana, One-oh-one, and Shiyun joined the chorus. Stop looking at me with those eyes! You look like you're admiring a star athlete from a school club!
And so, the infamy of Chronos, which had only recently become a kingdom, echoed throughout the entire galaxy. Along with my own infamy.
WhYYYYYY?!
I just want to spend my days idling around with Wifey and the others!
The rest of them started the "Congratulations Party for the Birth of the Galactic Overlord." The other guys started showing up to celebrate as well.
Left all alone, I turned pure white, completely burned out in a corner of the dining hall.