Chapter 476
"It's now impossible to destroy the Warp Gates with only the guerrilla units... is this correct?"
"I'm afraid so, Your Majesty."
At Savolin Turner's words, filled with a grave expression, Bertus nodded with a somber look on his face.
He already knew that as the number of Warp Gates decreased, the operations to destroy them were becoming increasingly difficult.
In the most recent operation, tasked with destroying three Warp Gates, Savolin Turner had only managed to destroy one before being forced to withdraw their troops.
The monsters were too numerous and too strong.
In that operation, two Swordmasters of Shanafel and four Royal Mages had perished.
Such a powerful force could not be easily replenished, making it a painfully severe loss.
They were irreplaceable Master-class forces, and their loss was now permanent.
As the Gates became more dangerous, the power of the guerrilla units continued to decline.
However, the longer the complete destruction of the Gates was delayed, the more monsters would be unleashed upon the world.
"What do you think of combining Lady Ellen's unit with Lady Turner's unit?"
Although the reconstruction of the city continued, it was becoming increasingly difficult to rescue survivors.
Now, they would change Ellen's unit's mission to destroying the remaining Warp Gates and form a new, highly powerful unit.
At the Emperor's words, Turner lowered her head with a grave expression.
"Doing so would allow us to temporarily continue the Warp Gate destruction operations... However, I believe that such losses would still occur in the long run. Additionally, the risk of Ellen Artorious's death... cannot be completely ruled out."
If Ellen Artorious were to die while carrying out the Warp Gate destruction operations, it would be a disaster for humanity unlike any other.
People held great expectations and hope for Ellen. If she were to die not from fighting the Demon King but in an attempt to suppress the Warp Gates, humanity would be plunged into despair and lamentation.
While it was true that Ellen was already doing dangerous work, Bertus could not bear to push her into an even more perilous situation, especially one with a high risk of death.
Yet, he couldn't simply leave everything to Savolin Turner as before.
The situation was dire.
It wasn't as if there were no options at all.
"Ultimately... it seems that the time has come to organize a large-scale army."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
They needed to operate a massive force for a full-scale war.
Large-scale magical transportation was impossible.
Thus, the assembled troops would have to rely on magical supplies as they roamed the continent, embarking on an expedition to destroy the Warp Gates.
To preserve the forces of the Master-class and Archmages, they would have to sacrifice those of slightly lower rank.
It was impossible to predict how many would die in the process.
If they were to assemble and deploy such a force, they wouldn't be able to easily return. They would have to travel great distances to reach the Warp Gates and fight countless battles with the roaming monsters on the continent.
They had to organize a suicide squad that could not return until all the Warp Gates were destroyed.
Since the guerrilla units could no longer carry out their mission, they now had to truly wage war.
To put an end to the Gate crisis, they had to organize a large-scale army.
They had to travel an enormous distance on foot, so it was uncertain how many years it would take for the army to return.
Would they even be able to return?
However, if the Gate crisis did not end, humanity would be annihilated.
That's why it was now something that had to be done.
The decision had been made to gather everything that remained and organize a massive army, one that could be called the culmination of human effort.
"Your Majesty, what about the Princess…?"
"Reinhardt has taken her."
Turner was aware of this plan as well.
"…I see."
With a crestfallen expression, Saviolin Turner nodded at the Emperor's words.
The Empire had been unable to protect the Princess.
That was why they had to stage a play.
"Although there were unexpected situations… let's leave it at that."
In any case, things had gone as Bertus wanted.
The secret organization known as the Black Order appeared and attempted to kill the Demon King.
Although there was an unintended situation where Ellen, who happened to be at the scene, had to fight Reinhardt forcibly, in the end, Reinhardt feigned defeat at Ellen's hands and fled.
Thus, although there were considerable unforeseen civilian casualties, the atmosphere in the Empire was very positive.
They could not execute the Princess, and the Demon King's minions had escaped.
But the people saw Ellen Artorius overpowering the Demon King.
That seemed to be enough.
Though the Demon King had appeared, the Imperial Capital was in high spirits, having witnessed the hero currently holding the upper hand against him.
One week had passed since Reinhardt left Edina.
Charlotte, who had taken over the reins of the regency, was doing her best to carry out the affairs of the state.
Having been entrusted with full authority by Reinhardt, Charlotte not only carried out state affairs but also placed greater emphasis on assessing the current situation.
She could immediately organize a police force and systematize punishments to establish a standard for collective responsibility, but first, she had to confirm many things with her own eyes.
Edina had originally been a small country, but as it grew in size, it was no different from a child with an enlarged body.
Hence, it could not be expected to have the same laws and systems as the Empire.
Charlotte initially focused on the issue that had given Reinhardt the biggest headache: numbers.
The number of people, the amount of stockpiled food, the number of crimes, and the number of prisoners in detention facilities.
What was needed, and what was lacking?
Having somewhat memorized the numbers she needed to know, Charlotte carried out the next task.
That was, in a way, an even more important task than remembering the numbers: whether the numbers she remembered were accurate.
Sometimes, a situation is reported to be abundant but is in fact severely lacking.
Sometimes, there is more than the recorded figures.
Usually, such numbers are slightly tampered with along the way.
And finding the reason for the discrepancy in those numbers was Charlotte's role.
Sitting on the throne, Charlotte stared at the man who was kneeling before her, surrounded by guards.
"Explain the discrepancy between the amount of fish brought in for the purpose of producing dried fish and the amount shipped out."
Charlotte never thought she would be questioning the manager of a dried fish production facility in her life.
But the most critical issue and problem in Edina was food.
Food was a matter directly related to the lives of the people.
The fish and shellfish collected by the mermaids were vital and essential food resources, and the process of turning those fish into dried fish was one of Edina's most critical food projects, as it produced long-term preserved food for the winter.
There was a difference between the amount of fish brought in and the quantity of dried fish produced.
The person responsible for that dried fish production process was now in front of Charlotte.
"I, Your Highness…"
"Address me as Regent."
The fearful official, trembling, looked into Charlotte's red eyes and seemed to bury his head in the ground out of terror.
"Your Highness, basically, not all fish that are brought in for production are completed during the dried fish manufacturing process. A significant portion is lost during intermediate steps due to the mistakes or errors made by on-site workers, so the actual yield is not that high..."
"Are you saying the yield is low?"
"Yes, yes..."
"What's the loss rate?"
"Well, that is..."
"As the person in charge of the production, you should be aware of the average yield. Don't tell me you don't know?"
Not knowing what he should know.
Even if he didn't embezzle any dried fish in reality, not knowing what he should know is already a sin.
"The actual yield is around 80%..."
"That cannot be. Comparing the input and output quantities, the average actual yield is less than 60%. In reality, about 40% of the fish just disappear."
Charlotte calmly stared at the official who had provided false reports.
"Even if there were errors in the actual figures, those errors themselves are a crime. Issues related to preserved food are critical national projects in preparation for the winter. It is a severe dereliction of duty for the person in charge to be unaware of the situation. Additionally, if 40% of the product must disappear, there must be a technical problem. However, there hasn't been a single report about the need for technical improvements or any raised issues. Do you only do what you're told without understanding the purpose of this work?"
"Your Highness... But... Various things happen on-site... It's inevitable... That is..."
"Inevitable what?"
Charlotte tilted her head slightly.
"I have already confirmed that the dried fish you embezzled is being distributed in the Lazak black market. Let me hear more of your excuses."
"Your Highness! I have committed a sin worthy of death!"
As the official's face turned pale, he violently slammed his head on the floor. Charlotte smiled.
"It's a lie."
"...Pardon?"
"I have nothing better to do than to find out if someone like you is distributing dried fish in the market. I just tried saying it."
Charlotte laughed while looking at the frozen official.
"Nice to see you confess with just one poke."
Charlotte gestured to the guards.
"Investigate all of this man's crimes and execute him publicly. Surely there will be accomplices, so uncover them as well. Also, after you are executed, if any accomplices are found, I will execute your wife and children too. So, if you want to make their remaining lives comfortable, confess everything without lying."
"Your Highness! Please, forgive me!"
"Take him away."
Charlotte silently watched as the dried fish production line manager was dragged away by the guards.
Crimes occur everywhere.
Charlotte was not curious about why he had committed the crime.
It could have been for an inevitable reason, or simply for his own desires.
But once you start sympathizing, there is no end.
So, Charlotte had no intention of even considering such matters from the beginning.
"Your Highness..."
One of the attendants, who had silently observed Charlotte's decision, cautiously opened her mouth.
"Speak."
Seemingly unable to meet Charlotte's gaze, one of the attendants shivered.
"His Majesty the Demon King originally... did not discuss collective punishment when dealing with crimes..."
"Ah... I see."
Reinhardt's reign.
Charlotte was somewhat aware of how it had been.
Rather than killing, they had used them for labor, and even when they committed the most heinous crimes, only the perpetrators were punished.
Even those who attempted to assassinate the Demon King were only executed, and their families were not punished.
Reinhardt's view on punishment went beyond the simple question of good and evil, focusing on individual punishment.
However, Charlotte's view on punishment was different.
A single punishment serves as a warning to a hundred others.
Punishment is not a matter of morality, but a tool of governance.
"Didn't I say so?"
Charlotte spoke in a cold voice.
"From now on, many things will be different."
Crime and its punishment serve to instill a sense of caution in society.
"I have been granted authority over the entire administration of Edina and have been guaranteed the utmost autonomy in that regard."
"So, if I want to punish, I will punish."
"And if I want to pardon, I will pardon."
"Especially, the food-related businesses are directly linked to the lives of all Edina's citizens."
"For those in charge of such businesses to seek petty personal gains in the process is a serious crime that shakes the foundation of Edina."
"Edina is full of mouths."
"Far too many."
"So, I plan to reduce as many of those shameless mouths that suck the lifeblood of the nation as possible."
"From now on, regardless of their affiliations, anyone caught pursuing personal gains in Edina's food businesses will be publicly executed without exception, and their families who benefited from such ill-gotten gains will also be disposed of without exception."
Charlotte saw the officials shudder.
Among them were demon officials, but the demons who had absolute trust in the Demon King showed no fear in their expressions.
Those who were terrified were all humans.
"It seems there are those who have reason to fear, but if you are clean, you have nothing to fear."
Charlotte sat on the throne, resting her chin on her arm, scrutinizing the faces of the officials.
"Pray to the gods that your corruption does not catch my eye."
It's not just you who will die; your loved ones could vanish as well.
The lenient rule of the Demon King was over. Charlotte's reign would shed much blood to strengthen Edina's discipline.
Those who cared only for their own pockets in their complacency would have to brace themselves for a harsher reality.
"As for the pardons... Reinhardt might not like it."
At Harriet's words, Charlotte nodded.
"True. But his rule has been too lenient so far."
"..."
Charlotte's reign was strikingly different, even if it had the same goal.
Harriet was worried about what Reinhardt would think when he returned, his whereabouts unknown.
Did Reinhardt know this would happen when he entrusted the administration to Charlotte?
Harriet couldn't tell.
"Even the low-ranking officials are mocking the royal family and embezzling resources. Those in the know understand that the Demon King is actually quite merciful. And a merciful ruler is often seen as a foolish one. We must now eliminate such elements. We need to root out the rotten roots that do not contribute to national affairs. No, we must burn them in front of the crowds."
Indeed, Charlotte had once tried to burn herself in front of the crowds to maintain the cohesion of the empire.
Harriet didn't interject because Charlotte's words made sense.
"After all, pardons are for show. It's not a method we will use frequently. Once we make a few examples like this, discipline will be restored on its own. They need to know that if they get caught, not only they but also their entire family will be uprooted."
To kill a man as a display.
Though Harriet was a princess too, she could hardly stand the sight of Charlotte making such decisions with ease.
Two weeks since Reinhardt had left.
There had been several public executions in Lazak's main square.
The heralds recited the charges against the criminals, and the executioners beheaded them.
Through the heralds, people confirmed that the way of ruling had changed, and that Charlotte had made such decisions.
Rather than being paralyzed with fear, many people cheered.
These were mostly individuals who had embezzled public funds or committed unforgivable heinous crimes. As a result, the crowd believed it was only right for such people to die.
Of course, there were those who felt fear and voluntarily paid their taxes.
Charlotte did not sentence these individuals to death. She forgave them with a whipping or a flogging, and even took care of their wounds.
And those who had already been punished were not subjected to retroactive punishment.
In this way, Charlotte reorganized the nation, establishing new principles and regulations.
At the same time, she diligently examined the overall state of Edina.
"..."
Charlotte quietly observed the sequence of numbers in front of her.
Fort Mokna, an advance base responsible for securing survivors from the continent and sending them to Edina.
In a way, it was the most important place for Reinhardt. Liana de Grantz, known as the Thunder King to the people, was in command there.
The main forces were the United Order's knights and numerous magicians.
With an ordinary monster horde attack, it could never be destroyed, and it could not easily collapse because of the powerful supernatural Liana.
[Requested Supplies List for Fort Mokna]
"Is there a problem......?"
In response to Harriet's question from the office, Charlotte furrowed her brow.
"Can you show me the complete list of supplies sent to Fort Mokna so far?"
"Uh? Oh, sure. I'll look it up."
After bustling about the office for a while, Harriet soon brought the documents Charlotte needed.
"And can you also find any documents related to the number of survivors who have come from Fort Mokna to Edina so far?"
"Sure, got it."
What Charlotte requested was as crucial as any other document, so Harriet was able to prepare it right away.
Charlotte laid out the supply request lists by date.
Similarly, she lined up documents detailing when and how many refugees arrived on each ship.
Charlotte stared at the documents.
Harriet quietly watched Charlotte, who seemed to be pondering something unusual.
"Weren't there about two thousand permanent troops in Fort Mokna?"
"Yes. That's correct. There are around fifteen hundred combat troops, and with various other unit members, it's roughly two thousand. This number doesn't fluctuate much."
"Hmm."
Charlotte gazed at the documents for a long time.
Harriet broke into a cold sweat.
Though she didn't know what Charlotte was thinking, if there was a problem with Fort Mokna, it would become Liana's problem.
Liana didn't have any particular fondness for Charlotte.
If Charlotte discovered some misconduct at Fort Mokna and tried to rectify it, she would inevitably clash with Liana.
The likelihood of it leading to an unpleasant situation was quite high.
"Is there a problem......?"
"Yes, there is."
Charlotte nodded in response to Harriet's question.
"Fort Mokna is demanding an excessive amount of supplies, especially food. It's not just this time; it's always been this way."
According to Charlotte's calculations, Fort Mokna was requesting an overly excessive amount of food supplies, and in reality, Edina had been providing them with such provisions.
Charlotte noticed something strange between the numbers.
