Chapter 73

73.

***

After dismissing Charles and finishing various tasks, night had fallen.

Faint sounds of joyful laughter and shouts could be heard.

Perhaps it was because it was the first night, the streets were noisy well into the late hours.

The Inner Wall, with the exception of a specific area where noble mansions were located, was entirely open. Although the Imperial Palace was not fully accessible, the Inner Wall was bustling with people, much like the Outer Wall.

I turned around after taking in the brightly lit scenery outside.

The Audience Chamber was dimly lit by a few candles, creating an almost ghostly presence, when a corpse suddenly appeared in front of Charles.

“…What is this?”

“It’s Investigator 3 Division Chief Andre.”

“What?”

Charles explained calmly, as if it were nothing.

“Hmm…”

The body was entirely wrapped in cloth except for the face. Near the thighs, dried blood and dirt stained the fabric, indicating a messy state. The clothes were tattered, suggesting there had been a fierce battle.

Judging from the rise and fall of the body, it seemed like the person was breathing—still alive.

As I watched Andre with a peculiar expression, Charles added calmly,

“I rescued and brought him back after he fell into a trap.”

“Trap?”

“Near the capital’s forest. It seems he was betrayed.”

“Betrays… Didn’t you bring him silently and lightly ‘touched’ him to make it easier?”

At that, Charles protested indignantly.

“Master. I am a highly competent subordinate, having swiftly taken care of his injuries.”

“You once injected poison into my body without authorization.”

“That… that was…”

He averted his eyes, clearly at a loss for words. Watching his fidgety demeanor, I shook my head. Then, a faint groan echoed through the Audience Chamber.

“Uh…”

Andre’s eyes fluttered open, wide with confusion.

Perhaps assessing the situation, his calm gaze quickly scanned the surroundings. His hand instinctively moved toward his waist, gripping the dagger’s handle tightly, all while raising his guard.

Whatever brief surprise had crossed his face was now gone, replaced with a composed and stern expression. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, they swept the space before settling on me and Charles.

‘So, clearly intelligence department trained.’

Even though he had abruptly woken up in an unfamiliar environment, he remained unusually calm.

There was none of the fear, confusion, or anger one would expect from a civilian. This was clearly the reaction of someone well-trained or used to such situations. Very impressive.

Pausing my thoughts there, I stepped closer to Andre.

His pupils were contracted, his shoulders tense, his hands gripping whatever they could as if getting ready to strike at a moment’s notice. In a steady voice, I spoke,

“Investigator Andre. This is the Audience Chamber of the Imperial Palace. Calm yourself.”

Taking the candle from Charles, I approached Andre.

His face had been hidden in the shadows earlier. As the candlelight illuminated the space, his eyes widened in recognition.

“Investigator 3 Division Andre. I greet the moon of the Empire.”

Struggling to rise, Andre bowed his head.

*

What are the eyes and ears of the Empire?

If you ask that question, the answer is almost always the same:

The Central Intelligence Department.

To the nobles, they are a bothersome group that digs into scandals best left hidden.

To the commoners, they are a terrifying organization that engages in kidnappings, threats, and murders indiscriminately.

An organization that operates in the shadows, its fearsome reputation is well-known throughout the empire, despite its covert activities.

Their actions are similar to those of criminal organizations in the lower levels of society, save for one key difference: they justify all their actions by invoking the authority of the Emperor.

For spies, there is no grim reaper quite like them. A pleasant neighbor or a casual drinking companion may suddenly turn into a nightmare when they awaken in a damp dungeon surrounded by torture devices.

Whether a man who had been quietly hiding while plotting a long-term strategy or a young man with a good reputation in the village—none could resist when dragged away by agents of the Central Intelligence Department.

It was, after all, an organization with immense power, at least until the sudden collapse shortly after the passing of the previous emperor.

Whenever there is a shift in power, the previous order is usually revised or dissolved in some way.

With the imperial authority now in the hands of the nobility rather than the royal family, it was natural that the survival of such an organization was uncertain.

However, the Central Intelligence Department endured.

They ensured their survival by accepting the terms of becoming the lapdog of the nobility.

Transitioning from direct subordinates of the royal family to pawns of factions, their fate rested on the whims of their new masters.

Yet, from the perspective of faction leaders Tiersen and Barnel, the Central Intelligence Department was still a group that needed to be dealt with.

Since the formation of the department in the previous emperor’s era, they had been active even through the transition from the late emperor’s death to Iris’s coronation.

There was a need to uncover what secrets the department had kept hidden, crucial clues that could dismantle the two dukes and their factions.

‘The blind loyalty of the department is long gone.’

If the intelligence department had willingly sought contact after my ascension to the throne, offering everything, I wouldn’t have thought of dealing with them like this.

Now we’ll strip away their hidden secrets while also renewing their ranks. Max and his followers seem to align more with factions, so I’ll send him away.

Anyway,

To summarize, Andre accepted the reorganization of the Central Intelligence Department positively.

True to his nature as a department agent, he didn’t question the reasons, simply gazing out the window as if reminiscing, before bowing his head again. It reminded me of a candle wick completely burned out, a sight I’ve seen many times before, both in life and rebirth—indicating someone who has lost hope or purpose.

In fact, when seeing Andre like this, I briefly hesitated.

Pushing someone who’s already exhausted isn’t really my style. At one point, I was considering appointing Cruel as the director and revising the plan.

Then, Andre asked in a hoarse voice,

“Your Majesty, may I have the courage to bring up two questions?”

“Go ahead.”

“Then… why me?”

Why was he chosen among many others?

Even Cruel had similar questions when discussing reassignments.

‘Why Andre?’

Certainly, hearing such an unexpected promotion could raise doubts.

First, I gave a simple answer to Andre’s question.

“You do have desires, do you not?”

There are many among the commoners, especially those from the lowest rungs of society, who share similar backgrounds to Andre.

As a species, humans generally seek better living conditions. While some may conform to their current reality, most harbor some form of ambition within their hearts.

Is there anyone who lives without striving?

Even I, deep down, once had dreams of fame and success.

Saying one has no desires can mean one of two things: either they are driven purely by conviction, or they have resigned themselves to their circumstances and choose to live humbly.

Given the nature of the Central Intelligence Department, the latter case is almost non-existent. Therefore, it implies that Andre is a man driven by conviction.

In this sense, one could consider Andre somewhat of a fanatic, for he dedicates himself to his work without personal desires.

Musing over the existence of patriotism, I find myself questioning whether such a sentiment can exist when the state itself does so little to foster it.

Andre’s commitment seems purely based on personal beliefs.

No one recognizes the silent sacrifices made in the shadows.

Does he earn a lot of money? No.

Does he gain recognition worthy of admiration? No.

Does he enjoy overwhelming power? No again.

This was also why someone like Max attached themselves to others.

Max was a noble after all, operating within that framework.

This is why I selected Andre.

Having attained the title of Division Chief, he had sufficiently proven his capabilities.

“I have desires.”

Andre nodded as if accepting the truth of what I’d said.

Perhaps, it could be interpreted that I picked him because he was easy to manipulate.

Of course, selecting him due to his evident loyalty and ease of use is undeniable.

I do not believe in using people and then discarding them.

“As long as you work diligently, I will appropriately reward you, whether you ask for it or not.”

A high position awaits you.

Unless you leave on your own, taking responsibility for those within your jurisdiction is not difficult.

“Any other questions?”

He had mentioned two questions, the first being why he was chosen, so the second would likely be regarding the ultimate goal, right?

Contrary to expectations, Andre’s final question was different.

“Did we serve any purpose?”

Though unexpected, the question was not impossible to answer.

“Yes.”

Looking into his slightly renewed eyes, I calmly spoke.

“Whether that continues will depend on how you act.”

As for whether they had purpose, they certainly did.

Even if not, it was simple to ensure their usefulness.

Observing him silently nod, I pulled out a document from my robe.

“Charles will accompany you. And here, take this.”

I handed Andre a document listing those to be spared and those to be eliminated.

As he read the document with a serious expression, I said,

“Max is secured. The rest will be up to your judgment. However, if personal emotions sway your decisions, I will have no choice but to intervene personally.”

The materials are all prepared.

So now, I will observe.

You are to carry out the reorganization yourself, to a degree that satisfies me.

“The festival will be brief, now leave. Charles, from now on, you are to fully support Andre. You’ll return after the festival.”

Charles gave a light bow and turned to Andre.

“Then, Andre. Allow me to assist you. Let’s move.”

“Yes… thank you.”

Thud.

As the two left the Audience Chamber, the tense atmosphere slowly dissipated.

After extinguishing the almost completely burnt candle, I moved toward the window, which was flooding with bright light.

Inside the Audience Chamber, no longer illuminated except for the light entering through the window, it remained faintly bright.

“Quiet but noisy.”

Some laugh brightly; others are quietly buried.

Even in the late hours of the night, daggers might still be flying beneath the surface.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I exited the Audience Chamber.

Thus, on the day after recruiting Andre,

Upon arriving at the office later in the morning, a report was already on my desk, stating that Andre had processed thirty names.