Chapter 163

Relying solely on the spread of fentanyl was insufficient.

This thought occurred to me while receiving a report from ‘Jin Ying,’ a maidservant who was both a confidante of Empress Lianhua and a sorceress dispatched to the Chinguk Empire.

“The two counties of Nanyoung Prefecture in Huainan Province, and the three counties of Gangjoo Fortress in Ningling Prefecture, can already be considered under our control. Through local magistrates or powerful merchants and martial sects in the area, we are influencing the local gentry.”

“While we are gradually expanding our influence, we do need to be cautious. The regional censors and patrol envoys have already become aware of the situation. As instructed, we have fabricated memorials to deceive them.”

“Still, they will figure it out eventually.”

The local administrative divisions of Chinguk were organized into provinces, prefectures, and counties.

Each province was roughly the size of a small nation.

Instead of advancing into the major cities that served as provincial capitals, the local distributors targeted mainly the counties.

This was as per my instructions. Selling narcotics in areas densely populated by government offices increases the risk of getting caught.

So far, it has been highly successful.

We have succeeded to the point where five counties can be considered “under control.” There’s even a county where the county’s second-in-command is acting as a salesman.

This means more than just good drug sales; it also means we can now influence the officials from these regions.

We have secured over ten officials who can serve as strategic assets.

“Even this way, it’s taking too long.”

Chinguk was an enormous country.

It would take a long time to deal a fatal blow to Chinguk at this pace.

A year, perhaps even longer.

Unless Tang Yeon-cheol, the new Cheon-ja, was a fool, he would likely take action before the nation collapses completely.

While it would be difficult to devise and implement a sophisticated anti-drug policy, there’s still a chance that decisive action could be taken before the country falls.

Before losing the drug war, the decision might be made to resolve the situation through a real war.

I wanted to avoid a full-scale war with a nation of such magnitude, especially one that could mobilize tens of thousands of soldiers under the command of a single provincial general.

Wars are not the kind of problems that can be solved with drugs.

“Can I contribute through means other than drugs?”

This was something I wanted to avoid as well. If I went too far, I might spend the rest of my life under the threat of assassination. And even the safety of children I haven’t yet conceived could be jeopardized. Newly betrothed, I couldn’t risk it.

There was a separate plan prepared.

Even if fentanyl didn’t spread across the entire Chinguk Empire, there was a way to strike fear into every citizen and official.

There was one attack method that could rapidly escalate the fear of drugs beyond even the animosity toward the Britannia Empire.

The target was the Martial Arts community.

Before I could implement this plan, however, I met someone.

Empress Lianhua.

I had already gathered all the information she could provide, but there was one last question I needed to ask her.

I didn’t rush to ask my business right away upon meeting her. It wasn’t out of respect for her as a mother-in-law-in-law, but for another reason.

“I’ve heard that the funeral procedures are almost complete. Though it’s late, I wish for his eternal peace.”

“Thank you.”

The Empress was dressed in mourning attire.

She looked at me with a faint smile while leaning on her elbow, sitting there, but how could she not be sad? She missed her father’s final moments and couldn’t even attend his funeral. Moreover, she was participating in the attack on her father’s country.

It seemed reasonable to listen to her brief lament.

“Do you know the temple name that Tang Yeon-cheol conferred upon his late father?”

“Please enlighten me.”

“It’s Hyejong. He probably chose it himself.”

Hyejong. A kind and benevolent ruler. Though not derogatory, it felt a bit unsettling as a posthumous name for a ruler who governed Chinguk decently for over 30 years. This feeling was even stronger when considering which nation Chinguk resembled.

“I’m not sure if I saw it correctly, but it seems there’s no intention to properly honor the late emperor’s contributions. It doesn’t seem like a temple name suggested by officials either.”

“That is also my impression.”

“In any case, my condolences.”

“It’s alright. It’s actually quite surprising that you, who’ve never been to Chinguk, seem to understand something about their rites. …Now that I think about it, you’ve always been knowledgeable. You haven’t been planning this from last year, have you?”

“Of course not.”

“In any case… thank you.”

The Empress gave a faint smile and took a sip from her teacup.

It wasn’t lemon tea made with psilocybin.

According to Siena, the Empress had been taking psilocybin less frequently these days.

About once a week? Instead, she enjoyed drinking coca leaf tea.

Though the cocaine content was too low to be used recreationally, it still had better invigorating effects than most tonics. It was a good beverage for the Empress, who was often unwell.

After she finished her tea,

I judged that I had fulfilled the required courtesy and proceeded to speak.

“Your Majesty, the Empress. There is something I would like to inquire about.”

“Hm?”

“Yes, you’ve already provided all the necessary information. This time, I am not here for precise information. I merely wish to seek your opinion on which direction the thoughts of Cheon-ja Tang Yeon-cheol are headed. Would that be alright?”

Empress Lianhua nodded. I immediately raised my issue.

“Will the Cheon-ja allow the Yongbongjihoe?”

“Yongbongjihoe?”

The Yongbongjihoe was a martial gathering where promising young talents participated. It was also an event where exceptional students received the honorific titles of dragon or phoenix.

In a world with few entertainments, this event drew crowds of spectators and gamblers along with martial artists.

The Yongbongjihoe was an event I had targeted since beginning the manufacturing of fentanyl due to my understanding of the place martial artists held in Chinguk.

Armed wealthy families, regional defense groups, and a pool of talent supplying advanced personnel to the military—they occupied an important position.

Administratively superior to the Britannia Empire, Chinguk couldn’t install magistrates everywhere across its vast territory, so these martial groups were unofficially recognized for maintaining order.

Leaders of renowned sects or prestigious families were treated as notable figures.

And the gathering of these future leaders of the martial world was the Yongbongjihoe.

It was scheduled to take place soon, but there was a problem.

“It seems they’re considering whether to hold it, given that it’s shortly after the imperial mourning period.”

“That surely makes sense.”

Technically, the former Cheon-ja’s funeral wasn’t entirely finished.

The new Cheon-ja was still overseeing the nation’s affairs while staying in the capital, but the late ruler’s remains were reportedly still being transported to the mausoleum on a ceremonial carriage, slowly and methodically, stopping to conduct rituals at altars along the way.

Holding a festival in the midst of this was a delicate issue.

“They say the Martial Arts Alliance unofficially inquired through the Chief of the Western Archives about the new Cheon-ja’s intentions. Whether it would be appropriate to proceed with the Yongbongjihoe, to postpone it, or even cancel it.”

“The Chief of the Western Archives… isn’t that the overseer of the eunuchs? It seems your intelligence network is more sophisticated than mine if you already know that?”

“We’ve managed to recruit a few humans through narcotics and money. Once the Cheon-ja makes the decision, we’ll find out immediately.”

“Then why ask me?”

“We need to start as soon as the Cheon-ja’s decree is issued. Given the immense cost involved, we can’t afford failure.”

“Ah.”

The Empress immediately nodded at the mention of the ‘enormous cost.’

A significant portion of the profits collected on-site would be spent to efficiently strike during the Yongbongjihoe. While I hadn’t sent fentanyl and methadone to Chinguk solely to make money, the funds should not be spent recklessly.

Therefore, I wanted to confirm before execution.

“Will the Cheon-ja allow the Yongbongjihoe?”

The Empress briefly pondered the question before nodding.

“He will definitely permit it.”

“Definitely, you say?”

“Yes, certainly. He has had frequent interactions with the martial world since his youth. Even as a child, he would often spar with promising young talents, despite knowing the Empress Mother disapproved. As I mentioned before, he’s quite skilled in martial arts.”

“So he was.”

“I assure you. I don’t think he’ll cancel a pre-scheduled event. Even if he’s still in mourning, he will extend leniency to the martial artists.”

Empress Lianhua confidently stated that the Cheon-ja would definitely permit the Yongbongjihoe.

Truthfully, I also anticipated the same. Cancelling a festival that people eagerly anticipated shortly after ascending the throne would be politically detrimental.

Now, her affirmation gave me the confidence to proceed.

“Let’s move forward with it.”

I slowly stood and paid respects to the Empress.

“Thank you. I apologize for asking such inconvenient questions when you are grieving.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

The Empress calmly nodded.

Despite the death of her father and the gradual spread of narcotics in her homeland, her expression remained relatively composed, as if she had already come to terms with the losses. But as a human, she was likely still troubled inside.

Could coca leaf tea alone soothe her aching heart?

Hoping to offer some kind of comfort, the Empress took the initiative.

“If you don’t mind, could you please call for Anais?”

“Anais?”

“Yes… By the way, I’ve set up a modest mourning altar. Even though the girl is busy sewing lately, it is good for her to know that her grandfather has passed. I’ll send her back after a brief visit. Please bring her discreetly so as not to attract attention.”

A modest request to see her daughter, who was busy making lingerie for Siena.

I gladly agreed. Considering her contributions to turning Chinguk’s martial world into a living hell, it was an incredibly humble request.

After agreeing to the Empress’s request,

I remotely issued instructions to my distributors, including the maid Jin Ying.

I urged them to rush to the provincial capital of Huainan, where the Yongbongjihoe was scheduled to take place. Also, I instructed them to buy out the staff of high-end inns, taverns, and pleasure houses in the area, regardless of the cost.

After all, our military funds were plentiful.

Due to the abundant customers already purchasing fentanyl and methadone in Chinguk, the money collected from them was simply being reinvested into Chinguk.

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