Tracking Failed? The Continent’s Situation.

June arrived as May passed. Perhaps because they had resolved in earnest and proclaimed the eradication of narcotics, reports said the number of people distributing or inhaling drugs had dropped sharply.

Of course, there had been attempts to bring them secretly into the capital. Many of those were detected and arrested by the Secret Police. Still, total eradication was impossible because some brought drugs in through all sorts of outlandish methods.

They would fly a kite to send the drugs, or even tie them to balloons. One way or another they tried to smuggle them in, but failures outnumbered successes.

In the end, the conclusion was that the drugs already in circulation had drastically decreased. Naturally, to rip them out by the root, drugs across the entire nation—and even those coming from abroad—had to be eliminated. If this eradication proceeded steadily, we surely would achieve it.

Meanwhile, the quiet investigation focused on finding a mage who had engraved a magic circle that neutralized the magic lantern which detects specific substances—namely, narcotics. Naturally, the first to be investigated were the two known mages.

Their alibis, for now, were solid. Because their protection was so tight, surveillance and security personnel were constantly attached to them, leaving no sign that they had done anything else. We continued the investigation, suspecting “Could they have fabricated an alibi with magic?”

But no matter what means they considered, they could find no snag to catch. That left only the possibility that a mage unrelated to the existing, known mages might be inside the kingdom.

A third mage existing on the Polia Kingdom’s mainland? Centering on that, the investigation proceeded, but frankly, there wasn’t even a thin strand to follow—no evidence worth the name. We found no trace even when we looked for the manufacturer of the metal milk cans, nor among the organizations that had bought them to distribute drugs.

In conclusion, contrary to his assurances, Viscount Rubingston had been left with nothing to show. Because of this, he came to King Ian, fell to his knees, and harshly condemned himself.

“Please reproach my incompetence for failing even to find an outline!”

“It’s all right, Viscount. Rise.”

“I am worthless. I cannot properly resolve even the tasks entrusted to me by Your Majesty. How incompetent is that! A wretch like me should die. Please command me to die!”

“Now, now, enough. Stop and stand up at once.”

‘He’s not saying empty words—I know he means it. I can’t even joke about telling him to do it.’

From his expression and actions, Ian judged that if he said he couldn’t forgive him and ordered death, the man would kill himself here and now. He firmly told him not to and to get up. The viscount hesitated, so Ian put more force into his voice.

“If you don’t stand up immediately, I shall deem it disobedience to a royal command.”

“I—I shall rise.”

Viscount Rubingston stood, and Ian shook his head and spoke.

“It is regrettable we didn’t find the mage, but failing to catch someone who left not even a trace is neither your incompetence nor lack of ability. It merely means the opponent was that meticulous.”

“B-but…”

“Let’s not bring this up further. We’ll simply keep looking, slowly. More importantly, I hear drug addicts are still being found?”

“Yes, many are suffering withdrawal and causing disturbances, so they’re easy to identify. We are admitting them to hospitals and treating them.”

“See that they are surely treated. And afterward, I intend to impose appropriate punishment.”

“As you should.”

The act of seeking out and inhaling narcotics itself constituted a grave crime. Thus, we would sentence them properly. Whether forced labor or forfeiture of assets, we would show plainly how miserable drug use makes a life. In short, we would make an example for all to see.

“By the way, what is the situation in the Leman Federation?”

“Intelligence says the fighting is growing ever more intense. The trenches are said to exceed one hundred kilometers in length.”

“Mm, since it began in January, that means five months have already passed since the war started.”

“The death toll is reportedly climbing. Some opine more than two million could die within the year.”

“That figures. If you order charges into places where bullets pour like rain, they can only be mown down.”

The greatest losses would likely be on the Doicheun Empire’s side. As the attacker, they would have to replenish troops constantly.

“Did we hear that training is ongoing in the rear?”

“Yes. The Doicheun Empire is establishing new training centers and giving only basic instruction to conscripts there. I hear they train them for just two weeks and keep sending them out.”

Even the Polia Kingdom, when raising one hundred thousand troops, trained them for seven weeks before assigning them to their units; with only two weeks of training, they could only be a ragtag mob. Still, since it was a war of sheer scale, perhaps doing so didn’t matter? So Ian thought.

“The number currently conscripted into the training centers exceeds one million, yes?”

“Yes, for now, but more will likely be added. As time passes, the front will be refilled almost as fast as the men are dying.”

“The war’s scale will grow much larger with each passing month.”

“So it will. Especially since we are supplying weapons—because they can arm immediately upon receipt, in a month they can readily create over two million troops.”

They had delivered two million rifles, so they could quickly raise more than two million troops. They themselves produced many rifles as well, so even three million troops would be easy to assemble.

Of course, such troops were not existing elites. In other words, altogether at least four million troops could be mobilized. In response to the Doicheun Empire’s offensive, the Moria Empire and the Noma Empire would surely raise troops apace.

Perhaps within the year, forces reaching ten million would gather in the small territory of the Leman Federation and wage mutual slaughter. Gulp—he swallowed involuntarily. He foresaw too many dying in such battles.

‘Tremendous.’

He had guessed as much, but he now truly felt the vast aftershocks of such a great war. Importantly, he himself was contributing substantially to that battle. He had sold as many as three million rifles to both sides.

Not only rifles—he had also sold field guns in large quantities.

‘How many lives will be taken by the weapons I supplied?’

Of course, a prick of conscience would not make him stop selling arms right now. To him, it was far more important to build a society where the people of the kingdom he ruled lived better than to worry about deaths in other lands.

‘I can sell even more arms going forward.’

The stockpiles had gone out, but the munitions factories in the industrial zones continued producing weapons and ammunition. Empty warehouses were filling again, and within a month there would likely be a second round of sales.

If so, much more money would surely flow to the Kingdom’s side.

‘But I wonder if they can pay it all at once next time.’

The more bullets poured out by millions of troops, the more colossal the funds consumed. For now, imperial pride made them pay in one lump, but might that be difficult next time? Ian wondered.

“Ah, by the way, what are my elder brothers doing now?”

He asked about the brothers he had sent to the colonies. He had even sent their followers and maternal relatives along. Given that, the colonial situation was likely to be quite complex.

“Not long ago, Prince Vincent purchased a fairly large factory site and is building a plant.”

“A factory?”

“Yes, essentially a smithy-factory making shovels and pickaxes.”

“So he sniffed out money there. Indeed, before long, the empires’ colonies will become battlefields as well.”

“What shall we do? Would you like to stop him?”

“Leave it. If he earns money on his own, why stop him?”

“But if he keeps earning, his faction will only grow stronger.”

“That’s the point.”

“Pardon?”

Seeing the puzzled Viscount Rubingston, Ian revealed the part he hadn’t said until now.

“I want them to build their strength over there and for the brothers to clash and fight among themselves.”

“Is that… truly your intention? Ah, so that’s why you calmly sent them all to the colonies?”

“There’s no need for me to bear the stigma of fratricide. History is unkind to kings who kill their own brothers to ascend the throne.”

“I see. To consider even that—Your Majesty, as expected.”

Already the most loyal of men, Viscount Rubingston looked even more impressed. Yet he was shocked by what came next.

“Moreover, I intend to let them declare independence of their own accord in the colonies.”

“Y-you mean to abandon the colonies?”

“Rather than ‘abandon,’ it’s better to say we’ll utilize them in another way.”

“But the colonies are vast.”

It made no sense, on its face, to give up lands larger than the mainland. Ian spoke of the unavoidable reality.

“Though reduced now, rebellions keep breaking out there.”

“But that’s commonplace. We can suppress them.”

“Yet the belly button will cost more than the belly. Suppressing them will consume ever more military funds. As time passes, the burden will only grow.”

“So you mean to grant independence?”

At his repeated question, Ian nodded.

“That’s my thought. Not to wash our hands entirely, of course. We’ll have to negotiate with the newly independent states. Even if ores are produced on the mainland, for the future it’s better to import ores from elsewhere, isn’t it?”

“In short, you mean to secure resources through negotiations with the new independent powers?”

“Exactly. If we readily approve independence, they’ll have little choice but to negotiate with us. They’ll need immediate export markets and a state to protect them as well.”

Hearing Ian’s explanation, Viscount Rubingston finally grasped the reason for independence. In short, without our toil, we would bring resources to the mainland as cheaply as before.

‘He means the rebels and protests will all be handled by them.’

He still couldn’t fully accept the notion of “abandoning” the colonies, but if things went as described, the Polia Kingdom could steadily supply resources without complications and enjoy even more stable economic growth.

“As expected, Your Majesty. To think you are framing such grand plans. But I’m not sure everyone will accept this.”

“There will likely be much opposition.”

From a national stance, losing territory was hard to tolerate. In the last war, they had even dispatched two fleets to defend the colonies. If the colonies were granted independence, many would push back.

“Therefore one of my elder brothers must become the core of the independence forces.”

“I see. If someone of the Polia royal house ascends as monarch through independence, people will consider it a vassal kingdom.”

“At the very least, if the leader is of the same royal house, they can accept it to some extent, no?”

“Very likely.”

“Setting that aside, what was the current population living in the colonies?”

“Altogether, it certainly exceeds ten million.”

Of those ten million, perhaps one million were Polia Kingdom citizens. The rest were the original natives living on that land. Their circumstances were quite harsh.

Even the Polia people who had moved there suffered under excessive taxes—how much more wretched must life have been for the natives beneath them? In truth, the only reason all those taxes could be paid until now was the natives’ near-free labor.

“With ten million, that’s enough for the population of a decent state.”

“Most are natives, but it would suffice for form’s sake.”

“Let’s proceed that way for now. How about the Magnia Empire’s movements?”

Of the empires, one alone had not joined the war: the Magnia Empire. They merely watched as the three empires fought. They, too, would earn vast profits selling munitions.

“They appear set to maintain a stance similar to ours, increasing munitions factories and the like.”

“Indeed, they wouldn’t want to miss this chance.”

Backing either side would tip the scales and might hasten the war’s end. But none would be pushed back easily. True to the name “empire,” all three possessed vast territories, populations, and military power. It would likely only be settled after losing enormous forces.

In any case, from the Magnia Empire’s perspective, sitting still and selling munitions meant enormous wealth.

“Also, there’s an internal development: it seems Emperor Jedic has taken a consort.”

“A consort?”

“Yes, a lady named Josephine von Billywood, daughter of the Duke of Billywood. She has entered as a consort.”

“As expected.”

Perhaps men of this world found it hard to devote themselves to a single woman. Or perhaps he took in a duke’s daughter for political reasons. In truth, they still didn’t know how Emperor Jedic had so quickly surpassed his brothers to seize the throne.

“Keep close watch on the Magnia Empire. Depending on their intervention, the outcome of this war will be decided.”

“Yes, do not worry. Agents assigned through the embassy are monitoring properly.”

Strictly speaking, the Polia Kingdom had no separate intelligence service. Thus, all such work fell to Mauter agents. There were many personnel operating inside the kingdom, but fewer outside; in gathering external intelligence, they were not particularly strong.

‘I must expand Mauter and shape it into a true intelligence service.’

Resolving so, Ian briefly thought of Michelle, now Empress of Magnia, then shook his head and moved on.

“I hear some nobles are stirring negative opinion about the landfill project. Have you gathered all the files on them?”

“Yes, we have identified a total of fifty-five…”

In the conversation continuing in the office, Ian spent his day as a king without incident.