Semi-Coercive Imperialist-Chapter 133: Your World

I submitted a petition to the Imperial Palace requesting the revocation of Julius's House of Nobles membership, as the man behind this entire incident. (TL: Noble Council changed to House of Nobles.)

The justification was charges of embezzling and smuggling Gigantes weaponry, thereby draining national wealth. Reutern II's documents were enclosed.

Revocation of one's House of Nobles status meant expulsion from the Imperial Palace. For them, it was a punishment tantamount to a death sentence, so political warfare was inevitable.

Now the Palace factions would split apart and tear each other to pieces, and in that process, the royal guard would be frantically weighing which side to align with.

A single incident had spread like wildfire, but I intended to keep my distance from that whole mess.

"Well done."

The Sentinel Knight Order. Chiron wore a pleased smile.

"The Dun Caan Decapitation. Path of Dreams. And now this 'Truth of Weapons' operation."

Truth of Weapons. That seemed to be Chiron's own naming.

"How about 'Beyond the Steel'?"

"Oh. Very philosophical. Let's go with that."

Operation names mattered more than one might think. They would be permanently recorded in the Sentinel archives as official files, and could later be included in Empire Point textbooks or used as training materials for new knights.

"I hear the winds of war are stirring in the Imperial Palace."

"Yes. But political struggles are not our concern."

"Right. Honestly, I never knew Reutern II was a man of such grand ambition."

That bastard Reutern probably still had no idea what was even happening, but well.

It didn’t matter.

“Oh, right. A letter arrived from Zerpha.”

"Yes. I received word as well."

The civil war in Zerpha was currently ongoing. The clash between the incompetent Royalist Faction and the rabid Republican Faction dragged on endlessly, and only innocent citizens suffered for it.

Someone would have to break that vicious cycle.

"I hear there's a military faction diverting the supplies I sent to the back lines."

Until now, it had been a patient wait to build justification.

Now I would weed out those worth weeding from Zerpha's military, elevate the capable ones, and turn them into allies of the Empire.

"Haha. Right then. What's the operation name this time?"

Chiron asked casually, but this time it wasn't something that could be lumped together as a mere operation.

The goal I had already set in motion quite some time ago was.......

"It's the first step toward the annexation of Zerpha."

In that instant, Chiron's expression went rigid.

* * *

Before departing for Zerpha, I briefly visited Southern Hermes.

"This is the warehouse."

The vast land that was already the area's greatest advantage had been expanded further by renovating the underground. The entire space, divided into dozens of sections, served as storage for provisions.

"As a precaution against emergencies, supplies are distributed and stored across multiple sections. Mana Stone-powered climate control magic circles operate around the clock, completely preventing food spoilage."

I nodded at Lorenzo's explanation.

"From now on, prepare enough canned goods and preserved rations to feed the entir⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌e Imperial army for a minimum of ten years."

War would break out within six years at most. It could come sooner, but it would never be delayed.

The Western Alliance, which had already caught on to the Empire's military buildup, and the Eastern Alliance, now completely under Ezenheim's control and rapidly expanding its military power.

The golden window to crush them was exactly six years.

This was the accepted consensus among republican military scholars after the Empire's fall in my previous life, so it was trustworthy.

"Taste matters too."

The soldiers' rations couldn't be garbage. Taste was critically important for maintaining morale.

"Please direct every mind at Lorenzo Academy toward this."

"Yes. Understood. Also, Sir Knight, Arman says he has something to tell you."

Lorenzo pointed toward the deeper recesses of the underground warehouse.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

A man walked out.

It was Arman.

"......Is that really you, Arman?"

"Yes. Once the growth spurt hit, he changes by the day."

He'd truly grown enormously. The buzz cut I'd seen before had grown out into something like an orange mane, and his height nearly reached my shoulder.

"Sir Knight. The prototype for the Mana Stone Watermill has finally been completed."

Even his voice had deepened considerably after going through the change.

I was struck anew by the realization.

Time truly flies.

It was astonishing, and a little bittersweet……

"Lead the way."

"Yes, sir."

We moved together through the underground passage.

Past the tunnels connecting to the warehouse, in a cavern left hollow after the Mana Vein had been fully mined out, a single large mechanical device had been installed.

A watermill, turning round and round and round.

"It collects ambient mana that pools in this vein, or underground in general, and manufactures natural Mana Stones. But the purity isn't very high yet."

Arman scooped up a handful from the heap of output piled at the base. They were crystals imbued with mana.

"What's the production volume?"

"As it stands right now, a single watermill produces enough low-purity Mana Stones in one day to power a single tank for one month."

I looked at Arman. He'd grown too big to pat on the head anymore.

"Arman. Wear gloves. Handling Mana Stones with bare hands is dangerous. Wear a mask too. You need to live a long life."

"Yes, sir."

"You've grown up well."

Arman smiled shyly, just a small grin.

"It's already been nearly two years since I first met you, Sir Knight."

......Indeed it had.

When did he become so mature? Did he get a girlfriend or something?

"However, there's still a problem with this watermill."

"Cost?"

"Yes. I've reinforced durability as m⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌uch as possible by addressing the issues you pointed out before, but...... to increase the watermill's size and ensure stability, there are certain components that can't be compromised."

Arman took a deep breath and continued.

"In other words, the manufacturing cost per unit is ten million dollars."

It was extremely expensive.

Assuming the annual Mana Stone cost for a single tank was fifty thousand dollars, the math showed that this machine would need to run for seven years without a single breakdown just to break even.

Was I pouring too much money into this?

"Hold on."

Whenever such doubts crept in, all I had to do was check the numbers in my account, neatly organized by Dieter. The Twin Notebook shared between Dieter and me.

"......Hmm."

An endless line of zeros. By predicting the Canilan bubble collapse and draining their capital, along with various other businesses, enterprises, and successful Mana Stone mining expeditions, I had far too much money.

Someday, no, as quickly as possible, it all needed to be spent. I had to convert every last bill into tangible assets.

The moment war broke out, the Imperial Dollar's value would be thrown into chaos.

"P⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌roceed."

"Wait, are you really sure about this? If we mass-produce at this rate, the losses will......"

Arman asked with concern, but.

"Don't worry about money."

I said, watching the fragments of Mana Stone the watermill churned out.

"Make one, then make two, then make three. Sooner or later, a better method will come to you."

The capital to absorb failure was more than sufficient, so there was no need to fear it.

"Arman. You're a genius. I don't cut costs when it comes to the Empire's talent."

In that moment, the eyes gazing up at me trembled like a beating heart.

* * *

This was the dormitory at Empire Point.

Erik, a commoner cadet, tore open the delivered parcel with trembling hands. The envelope bore an elegant silver seal on its face.

"Hah, hah......"

Breathing roughly, he ripped it open, and at the very top was──

[ Maximilian Foundation: Notification of Erik Frantz's Selection as an Empire Point Academic Scholarship Recipient ]

"......Whooooaa!"

A cry of elation erupted from him instantly.

He was the son of a farmer from the Empire's remote frontier. His entire family had gone into enormous debt just to barely get him enrolled, but living expenses had been hopeless. Everything had seemed pitch dark.

Then salvation he'd never dared imagine descended upon him.

"Ah, I'm about to cry......"

Inside the envelope, alongside a check for a staggering sum, a single book had been included.

A hardcover edition with its title embossed in gold leaf on a leather cover.

──「Knight of the Empire」──

Author : Johann Georg Goetze

Editor : Johann Georg Goetze

Review : Maximilian Albrecht von Ebenholtz

────

The purity of the Aran people, the historical mission of Empire Point, and the absolute loyalty that a Knight of the Empire must possess.

It was an ideological textbook written by Johann under Maximilian's direction.

A conditional clause was appended at the bot⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌tom of the notice.

'Continued support is contingent upon passing the theoretical examination administered by this foundation.'

The examination venue was Maximilian's estate.

It meant that only by reading the book and fully internalizing his ideology could one continue to receive sponsorship.

"......."

Erik stared blankly at the check placed beside the book.

Three hundred thousand dollars.

More than enough to cover living expenses and pay off his family's entire debt back home in one stroke.

『Cadet Erik. For the glorious future your abundant talent shall draw. We await your devotion to the Empire.』

──Maximilian Albrecht von Ebenholtz

The handwritten message Maximilian had scrawled on the back of the check pounded fiercely against Erik’s heart.

The emotion of knowing that man had recognized his worth. He clenched both fists tight.

──Boom!

Suddenly, a heavy rumble shook from outside the dormitory window. He flinched and turned to look.

The hill behind Empire Point. The once-dense forest and hillside were being carved away wholesale, construction in full swing. In their place, magical structures were planned that would recreate countless battlefields with lifelike fidelity, from urban warfare to mountain combat to trench fighting.

The training ground's name was──「Maximilian Ground」

"......Hoo."

In any case, Erik took a deep breath. He had an aerial assault live evaluation that very afternoon.

Maximilian, the progenitor who had pioneered the knight's aerial assault tactics. His Dun Caan Decapitation, and the Path of Dreams operation. Thanks to those two achievements recorded in the textbooks, aerial assaults had become more than mandatory.

─Move aside!

An irritable shout rang from the far side of the parade ground.

The Novus Knight Order. Regarded as second only to Sentinel, the Empire’s second central knight order had come all the way to Empire Point for aerial assaults training.

Because they had neither their own transport ships nor aerial drop training facilities.

"Ah, they're here again. Those people."

Which meant plenty of grievances on both sides. The cadets lost precious aerial assaults training time, and the Novus knights felt humiliated having to come to Empire Point, swarming with junior cadets barely out of childhood.

"......."

Erik drew the curtains. He sat neatly at his desk. He finished his meal with half a bowl of soup. He needed to keep his stomach empty to avoid vomiting during the drop.

Imagining himself leaping from the dizzying heights of the sky that afternoon, he opened Johann's book, 「Knight of the Empire」.

Mind control.

.......

Knight Hannah Usar received a plaque of commendation at the Sentinel's grand hall.

–Operation Beyond the Steel. Zero-year Knight Hannah Usar. We honor your contribution in safeguarding the Empire's security.

Deputy Commander Anton's words were something she could barely remember. She'd been practically half-unconscious at the time.

Still, she received a generous bonus, and her knight budget had tripled.

Everyone clapped and celebrated her achievement, but within Hannah's heart lay a strange emptiness.

Even late at night, organizing her things alone in the knight order office──an office upgrade, no less!──that hollow feeling simply wouldn't go away.

Which was why she visited Empire Point for the first time in a while. As a proper Senior Knight of the Sentinel, no less.

"You came."

Her old mentor, the commoner instructor Phillips, greeted her warmly.

"Yes. I'm sorry I haven't been able to keep in touch."

Hannah set the gifts she'd brought on the table and offered a small smile.

"No, it's fine. You must be busy with work."

"Not really. Oh, and these are gifts to pass along to Cadet Commander Dane."

Premium whiskey and an expensive tea leaf set. Luxuries she couldn't have imagined even a year ago.

Phillips gazed at her quietly.

The youthful look was still there, but before he knew it, her face carried the dignity and chill edge befitting a Knight of the Empire.

"......You've toughened up."

"Well. I'm almost a one-year knight now."

She had clearly changed.

"But how's Empire Point doing? I heard rumors that training's gotten insanely intense. Saw they built a bunch of new training facilities too."

"It's gotten much harder. Forty percent of this term's elite division has already been hospitalized. The noble kids' whining is especially bad."

"Ha. And those noble parents just sit quietly? The complaints must have been relentless."

A noble cadet hospitalized? Back in her day, the school would have been turned upside down. Probably would have cost a few instructors their jobs.

"Cadet Commander Dane made up his mind about it. Hannah, you actually would've had the advantage in an environment like this."

At Phillips's words, Hannah smiled quietly. For some reason, she missed those days a little.

When she could throw herself into training without a single worry or thought.......

"Well then, I should be going."

She had to report to the knight order again tomorrow.

Piled-up paperwork, training, and a new mission would be waiting for her.

"–Before you go."

When Hannah rose from her seat, Phillips called out to her in a heavy voice.

"There's something I need to tell you about Jacob."

"......Jacob?"

"Yes."

He let out a deep sigh.

Hannah was still only nineteen. No, she must have turned twenty by now.

In any case, her Empire Point days, when she'd been even younger than that. At that age, fellow cadets held enormous significance, and fearing she might be shocked, he'd kept this truth hidden all this time.

"The truth is...... Jacob tried to frame you."

"......Wha⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌t?"

Hannah awkwardly sat back down.

"Wh-what are you talking about? Out of nowhere?"

"When Jacob's belongings were sorted through, a diary was found."

Phillips continued in a low voice.

"It contained detailed entries claiming you snuck out of the dormitory every night to meet with subversive elements."

"No, what── I never did anything like that!"

"You really never did?"

"Of course not! I was busy training every single day, where would I even go! Me! Is, is that real?"

Phillips squeezed his eyes shut. Conversely, Hannah's eyes, nose, and mouth widened in shock. The memory of being betrayed by Gale, a fellow commoner senior, in Volska and nearly dying overlapped with this.

She'd barely survived a brush with death, and now again?

"So it really was Jacob's fabrication. I thought so too."

"Of course it was! Jacob, that── no, where's that diary now?"

Phillips shook his head with a dark expression.

"Gone."

"What?"

"It was burned."

'Burned?'

Gulp. Hannah swallowed hard.

"......By you, sir?"

"No."

Phillips gave a bitter smile and spoke a name Hannah never could have expected.

"Maximilian."

In that instant, Hannah's eyes shook violently.

"It was already over a year ago."

The words continued, quietly, slowly.

"Over a year ago, Knight Maximilian already saved you."

Suddenly, Phillips's voice seemed to drift infinitely far away.

"A commoner overflowing with talent. Simply because you would be of use to the Empire......"

Jacob Mac was a Subspecies, and nothing written in that creature's diary carried any credibility.

But Hannah Usar's birth was certain. She was born and raised in the heart of the Empire. Even if she came from nowhere, from some backwater with nothing to her name, she was unmistakably a pure-blooded Aran of the Empire.

"He said that with your level of talent, you more than qualified to join the Sentinel."

"......."

Hannah listened to his words in a daze.

A faint smile spread across Phillips's face.

"Congratulations on your commendation. You proved his faith in you."

In that moment, Hannah's mind went blank.

A jolt like the one she'd felt when Gale had betrayed her struck through her, but its meaning was the complete opposite.

It seemed that trust found in the most unexpected of places.

Sometimes arrived with the same force as betrayal.