Chapter 167

The path to the execution grounds.

At my side was my fiancée, Victoria.

Her preferred method was always public execution.

‘After all, it’s for setting an example.’

The square, stacks of dry firewood arranged into pyres, and countless onlookers with faces filled with either fascination or fear.

However, this time around, the executions were to be carried out quietly, out of the public eye, with only a limited number of observers present.

“There are many to be executed.”

“Yes.”

“Setting up fifteen stakes would require no less than a few hundred bundles of wood. The air would become polluted, and I don’t want to endure that.”

“I agree.”

That was the conversation Victoria and I had on the way to the execution grounds.

Compared to the number of people the Empire’s ruler is executing now, fifteen seemed insignificant.

It was rumored that every prostitute, maid, and their families who worked for our distribution brokers in the Empire were being executed en masse. And that wasn’t all—they were even planning to go against the sacred rule of immunity and kill the remnants of the Southern Palace and the Huangbao factions.

‘And they’re not just killing them—they’re executing them slowly and painfully.’

Yet even with hundreds being killed on the other side, fifteen wasn’t a small number by any means.

Victoria had her fists clenched tightly as if she realized the weight of it herself.

Even someone as composed as her might have felt a little burdened by executing such a large number of people at once… though it didn’t seem that way.

“Sir Alan, do you know what these people have done?”

“I have a general idea.”

“They were salt merchants and the laborers beneath them. Since you also spent your childhood in a secluded village, you must understand the role of salt merchants in isolated places. Rarely is there a presence as welcome.”

“…”

“So, they fell for it easily.”

The soon-to-be-executed individuals were salt merchants. It was said they sold morphine in the villages.

The morphine wasn’t mixed with the salt. Distributing it that way wouldn’t create the spectacle the Empire was aiming for.

Their deeds were far more theatrical.

“They went around performing small miracles in the countryside.”

“Victoria.”

“The toil of a lifetime can break a person’s body before they even reach thirty. Chronic pain is prevalent among these people. But… these salt merchants sold morphine, passing it off as unicorn bone powder.”

“It must have been convincing. Morphine is exceptional at relieving pain.”

“Exactly. A deceptively simple but effective ruse. It shows that the Empire’s leadership is clever. For all we know, they might even have manufacturing facilities within our Empire.”

Frankly, it was surprising they were caught at all.

Apparently, it happened due to a brawl. A village chief’s son, dazzled by the wonders of “unicorn bone powder,” rallied his friends to try and steal it. The situation escalated, prompting soldiers from a nearby city to intervene and investigate.

One could say it was a stroke of luck that they were apprehended.

But I couldn’t feel relieved.

Even now, somewhere in the Britannia Empire, morphine packaged as powdered unicorn bones might be flying off the shelves. And that morphine will continue to quietly erode the productivity of our Empire.

This is undoubtedly why Victoria was angry.

Still, it didn’t seem to excite her like some might expect. She seemed to regard it as just another task.

As we approached, we arrived at the execution grounds set up within the Imperial Palace compound.

“Please, spare me! Spare me!”

“It wasn’t unicorn bone powder! But the guy who gave us the stuff hinted it was wyvern bone powder! That could be true, right? We were just testing it out, and it sold well…”

“I just carried the load! Why am I being executed?”

The condemned, upon seeing us, started clamoring for mercy.

It was evident on their faces they’d undergone severe torture, no doubt from the harsh interrogations at the military police headquarters. Despite our relentless efforts, only worthless information was gleaned.

Most of them were simply minions. They had no idea what they were truly involved in.

Though it varies in scale, the Empire and we are both perpetrating similar actions against our counterparts.

We both tend to resolve things by executing large numbers of our own nationals as well.

The executions were imminent.

“Sir Alan.”

Victoria, who’d been looking at the prisoners’ faces, called out to me.

“Yes.”

“Do you think I’m here to oversee these executions because I enjoy killing?”

“There’s no need to explain yourself. I understand.”

“Do you?”

Victoria stared at me intently.

“…Isn’t it because you wanted to watch these men die, not knowing why they were sentenced? If you don’t oversee such moments yourself, it might become too easy to disregard human life. I understand how you feel.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Victoria nodded, her expression visibly relieved.

That was a typical conversation between us. Victoria subtly tests me to gauge my empathy, and I play along. I’ve also used this to steer her in the direction I desire.

But there was a clear change from our usual interactions.

“Very well. Proceed with the executions…”

“No, Victoria.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll give the command.”

Upon hearing this, not only Victoria but even the elite officers awaiting her command turned to look at me.

But soon enough, a faint smile crossed Victoria’s lips. She realized I was stepping in to ease the burden.

I was, after all, the fiancé of her and other princesses, a position that allowed me to exercise her authority in her stead.

“Very well, Sir Alan. If you offer to do this…”

After Victoria’s consent,

“Carry out the executions.”

I issued the order promptly.

Twenty-eight soldiers clad in uniforms stood in formation, aiming their muskets at the prisoners. For every prisoner, there were two soldiers.

“Please, spare me!”

“What crime have we committed, damn it? We didn’t know!”

“I just wanted to make money!”

Though they began thrashing about, pleading for their lives,

BOOM!

They weren’t given the chance.

The condemned collapsed lifelessly as they were struck by bullets fired at close range. A few were still twitching, their breath not entirely gone, but death was inevitable.

Victoria stared at the scattered, wretched corpses for a moment before firmly holding my hand.

“Sir Alan.”

“Yes.”

“In fact, I was reporting to Her Imperial Majesty recently about the situation these last few weeks. She’s currently staying at a scenic hot spring resort in Longkenny Prefecture. Thankfully, she’s taken a liking to beer over whisky, which is somewhat reassuring… However…”

“It seems Her Majesty is turning a blind eye to the current situation.”

“Yes. But there’s no need to worry.”

We have you, after all.

She tightened her grip on my hand.

The Emperor is wandering far from the state, indulging in alcohol, while the impact of the drug war grows more evident. Surely, Victoria also feels the pressure. Even if the other side suffers more, our pain is undiminished.

“By the way, Sir Alan… the drug war?”

“The transport of narcotics into the Empire will become more difficult. Some of our local brokers, especially those who play intermediary roles, will likely distance themselves. Why wouldn’t they, given the recent public executions where even the families are killed?”

“Does this make our job harder?”

Worry lined Victoria’s face.

Could she be concerned the war will stall? I shook my head immediately.

“No, quite the opposite. Things have become easier.”

I wasn’t lying to reassure her—that’s genuinely how I felt.

They’ve named it pethidine in the Empire, or ‘Gang-hon-san’ as it translates. The Son of Heaven has declared that anyone even slightly involved will be executed, and they are acting on it.

Even now, somewhere, reckless men may be mutilating someone’s body.

While this has disrupted operations, it’s paradoxically easier to hit higher-ranking targets.

“We’ll now target the Emperor of the Empire directly.”

I looked directly into Victoria’s eyes and vowed.

**

Among the informants I’ve secured and their families, some work in the palace of the Empire.

An official from the Guanglu Administration, responsible for banquets.

A tutor from the Neissu Academy, where eunuchs are trained.

Even a manager charged with the upbringing of the imperial princesses.

There were even resources unrelated to narcotics.

Former palace maids in the service of Empress Lianhua who, after receiving her favor, have since been sent back to the Empire and reassigned to menial tasks.

Judging from this alone, one can see how much the Son of Heaven despises and distrusts his own sister.

‘I can’t issue risky orders to them.’

For instance, to poison the Son’s wine with pethidine.

It’s unlikely they’d follow such an extreme order. Even if they attempted it, there’s no chance the Emperor would ingest it. The food and drink destined for the Emperor and the palace’s inner circle are meticulously monitored, regardless of the substance used.

Directly striking the Son would be difficult, no doubt about that.

‘But it’s not impossible.’

The Son of Heaven has multiple consorts.

The chief consort, who was crowned Empress upon his coronation. Two Consorts and two Wives beneath her, for a total of four concubines.

Though four concubines may seem relatively few for an emperor, there are undoubtedly those who are neglected.

Spiritedly praying each night for a visit from the Son,

Not stopping there, but employing tricks to share the Son’s night,

Sometimes even engaging in secret rivalries with each other.

In truth, a concubine is an entity that quickly withers if ignored by the Son.

Especially if a concubine has yet to bear an heir?

It would be excruciating for them. Now that Crown Prince Tang Yeon-cheol has officially ascended the throne, the number of concubines is bound to rise. As this increases, existing concubines will be pushed further aside.

There lies an opportunity to work through these anxious concubines.

Fortunately, I have an ally who knows the intricacies of the Imperial Inner Court: Empress Lianhua. With the information I’ve gathered from her, it’s time to put things into action.

This isn’t merely about scattering narcotics around the Empire’s palace.

I intend to turn Son of Heaven Tang Yeon-cheol into a mad tyrant.

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