The Map ability. It contained a stored map, and it was possible to draw a second one. The important thing, however, was the missing map. It was filled with countless details, even marking the locations of Rei's maker's laboratories, but...
I had no memory of ever seeing this map among the maps contained in the Rabbit's memories. In fact, I wasn't even sure whether it was a map of this continent.
Since it would require a more thorough investigation, I decided to set it aside for now.
As for the other abilities...
Transformation and Analysis seemed to have evolved somewhat, but I could not see much value in them at the moment beyond Transformation, which would allow Rei to physically assist me.
The only ability that truly seemed useful right now was the Virtual Domain.
It allowed me to project my virtual domain onto a designated area, creating a virtual simulation over reality itself.
In short, I could use it to build a virtual vault and simulate every possible scenario that might compromise the system.
It could also be useful for deceiving others, just as I had done with the Testament. The difference was that now I could even make the First Emperor appear if I wished. That was one of the advantages of virtual reality.
"Well, it's better than nothing. Return to your cube form while I think of a way to bring you into the palace without causing problems."
[Understood.]
After that, I returned to the office.
Forget hiding Rei.
There was simply too much work. If he could help me, there was no reason to delay things.
I snapped my fingers, and one of the Shadows appeared.
Interestingly, the Shadows were fully aware of the surveillance inside the room and disabled it every time they entered. Even so, they had never informed the Rabbit because they had been forbidden from interfering in anything that took place within this room.
In any case, I handed the cube to the Shadow and ordered him to leave it in an alley near the castle.
He left without asking a single question.
He took the cube and immediately carried out the order.
"It seems I have quite the trump card here."
Ray smiled before returning to his desk.
...
Far away from the office, the Shadow moved like a specter while carrying the cube.
He never looked at it, nor did he spare it a single thought.
After leaving the castle, he searched for a secluded location and eventually chose a hidden corner in one of the alleys. He placed the cube there and departed.
The moment he moved more than fifty meters away, the cube reacted.
Its form began to shift.
After adjusting his black clothes and checking his condition, Rei produced a summons document before heading toward the castle.
With documentation proving that he was a guest of the Emperor, he should have been allowed entry immediately. However, the guards frowned while inspecting the papers.
They exchanged glances before one of them finally gestured for him to proceed.
The main reason they allowed him through was simple.
Rei's appearance and attire made it obvious that he was no ordinary individual.
And when they requested additional documents to verify his identity, the Virtual Domain quietly played its role, deceiving everyone involved.
Once inside the castle, he entered the surveillance range of the Shadow Guards.
The process of gathering information on the strange guest immediately began.
Meanwhile, a maid guided him to the reception room, and Ray was informed of his arrival.
Upon receiving the order, Ray naturally made his way to the office.
[I feel like I'm wasting energy.]
"I don't care how you address me, but I expect a certain level of respect in front of others. If you're finished complaining, come help me."
[As you command, Your Imperial Majesty. Should I bow as well?]
"Bow over those documents and start working."
[Don't expect too much. I can only sort and organize these things for you. By the way, do you know anything about the Black Fog?]
"The Black Fog?"
[I don't know. My sensors detected something approaching called the Black Fog, but the information related to it has been blocked from the records.]
"Is it dangerous?"
[I told you already. I don't know.]
Ray frowned.
The name certainly didn't sound reassuring.
Rei walked over to help and sat down at Sysilin's desk.
[What I do know is that this thing called the Black Fog will arrive ten years from now.]
"Ten years? Then let's focus on what's in front of us first. I don't have the luxury of dealing with future problems."
Every document in the room needed to be reviewed, and an even larger pile was waiting its turn.
Ray pushed the matter of the Black Fog aside and focused on the present.
Soon, Rei's efficiency began to reveal itself.
He did not need to read every document individually. He merely verified them, sorted them, and classified them according to importance.
Within a single hour, the documents covering Sysilin's desk had been cleared away and replaced with the ones stacked on Ray's desk.
Some required signatures.
Some required review.
Others demanded immediate intervention.
Rei arranged everything according to priority, and after that, time began to fly.
"I'm starting to get jealous of your ability to scan documents in an instant."
[Are you complimenting me?]
"No. I'm cursing you."
[How kind of you.]
"Here."
Ray lifted one of the documents and pointed at it.
"If you find the other papers related to the military budget issue, bring them to me."
[Understood. Though if this is what they call an army...]
Rei frowned as he reviewed the latest report from the five fortresses.
[I genuinely wonder what the neighboring kingdoms are waiting for and why they haven't attacked yet. Six thousand soldiers? Three hundred mages? Aside from the Royal Guard Knights, there are practically no third-rank knights at all. No air force. No respectable ground army... Is this even a kingdom?]
"It's supposed to be an empire."
Ray smiled bitterly and sighed.
"The reason is that they're afraid the Empire still has a trump card hidden somewhere."
[Does it?]
"The Sword of Conquest can be used to defend the capital. There are relics capable of helping the capital endure a siege while inflicting heavy losses on the enemy and..."
Ray pointed at Rei.
"You."
Part 2
[Do you consider me your trump card now?]
"You're more like a Joker card. The Virtual Domain could have plenty of uses when it comes to deceiving an enemy."
[The Virtual Domain only has a range of one meter. If I want to exceed that limit, I have to pay an equivalent amount of energy.]
"..."
Ray fell silent for a moment before asking just to make sure.
"You're serious?"
[Do I look like I'm joking?]
"What are you, Aquaman or something?"
[Who is that?]
"Someone who seems completely useless at first but turns out to be powerful in the end."
[A fitting description. You could say that, considering I'm only Level 1.]
Level 1?
Ray didn't even want to ask about that right now.
He sighed and set the matter aside. Perhaps he should stop relying on the cube so much for the time being.
The important thing was dealing with these documents before the grand meeting he was planning.
Most of the papers Rei had separated were either useless under the current circumstances or belonged to departments that should be responsible for handling them themselves.
After several hours of continuous work, Sysilin returned to the office.
His steps were heavy with exhaustion, and frustration was written plainly across his face.
For an entire week, he had been moving from one place to another.
No, more accurately, ever since the Duke left the capital, he had become terrified of losing his position and had been desperately trying to hold on to it.
He had even abandoned his previous hostile behavior and was genuinely trying to recruit administrative assistants to help.
Unfortunately, circumstances were working against him.
The nobles refused to send their children because they feared the responsibility.
The educated and capable had left the capital in search of safety.
And the position itself was far too large for any ordinary person to handle.
He entered carrying another stack of documents before suddenly freezing in place.
There was a young man he had never seen before.
Sharp features.
Black hair.
Cold crimson eyes.
The stranger was sitting at his personal desk, casually organizing documents at an alarming speed.
"Your Majesty... who is this?" Sysilin asked in confusion as he set the documents down.
Ray sighed.
He had absolutely no desire to explain.
He put down his pen, introduced the two of them with a few calm words, and immediately returned to work.
"This is Arknos Venturi. He has been appointed as a second advisor. He's still lacking experience, so for now he'll accompany you outside and learn from your work. Take care of him."
Sysilin stared at Rei in shock.
Rei stood, greeted Sysilin politely, gave up the desk, and moved to a nearby sofa.
Work resumed in the office, but Sysilin found himself unable to calm down.
Was he being replaced?
The very thing he had feared was beginning to happen.
The weak and easily manipulated Emperor had become increasingly confident in the eyes of the nobility.
He had expected this eventually.
But it had happened too quickly.
Far too quickly.
The speed of the transformation left him unsettled.
Among the nobles, those who had once remained neutral had begun supporting Ray because of the Testament.
Those who had already supported him became more confident and serious than before.
Those who opposed him had grown increasingly afraid of losing their authority and had begun maneuvering in secret to spread their influence and strengthen their roots.
Amid the storm of changes Ray was unleashing upon the Empire under the authority of the First Emperor's Testament, caution had become a common trait among everyone.
Especially with the leader of the opposing faction absent.
The Duke of the North had suddenly fallen silent.
No one knew what he was doing.
It was almost as though the news had never reached him.
Even the Dukes of the South and East had become noticeably more supportive of the Emperor's new policies.
The balance of power was shifting rapidly.
Sysilin had believed that if he worked hard enough, the Emperor might overlook his previous actions.
Yet every day the scales tilted further, drawing him closer to the abyss.
Could he truly cross over to the other side and overcome the wall the Emperor had placed between him and everyone else?
Now Rei's appearance confirmed one thing beyond doubt.
That seat no longer belonged to him.
Nor would it belong to him in the future.
Even his father—the Marquis, head of House Sysilin—had become a supporter of the changes Ray was implementing.
To him, it felt like a declaration of defeat.
The Duke of the North had been manipulated into leaving the capital.
And within only two weeks, Ray had established his presence so firmly that what had once looked like a winning gamble had turned into a complete failure.
Now the Duke was absent.
The Emperor had immediately begun implementing reforms.
Every day brought new changes.
Even the newspapers no longer had enough time to keep up.
The capital itself was changing.
Soon, those changes would spread across the entire Empire.
At this point, Sysilin merely hoped he could still find a place for himself in that future.
After exchanging greetings with Rei, he sat down quietly and delivered a summary of the reports he had collected from the ministers, along with updates on the progress of various projects.
"Good."
Ray nodded.
"Prepare to receive talented individuals from other cities for evaluation. There will soon be an Imperial Assembly."
His expression grew serious.
"This is a royal order. Every relevant sector within the institution must gather in order to review upcoming changes to the institution's system. Inform the Empress as well."
Sysilin thought for a moment before replying.
"Your Majesty, under the current circumstances, gathering everyone so quickly will be difficult."
"I don't care."
Ray's voice remained calm.
"Whatever work is keeping them busy, they can set it aside. The meeting will begin in ten days. Let everyone organize their affairs and prepare."
"The distant sectors are authorized to use the Transportation Gate."
"There will be explicit punishments for anyone who fails to attend."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Inform the sectors that attempted to rebel that this is their one and only opportunity to withdraw those decisions and avoid punishment."
"Should I send a summons to the former Duke of the West as well?"
"Yes. Send it to every faction within the Empire's borders."
Ray sighed before speaking calmly.
"Anyone who refuses to attend will immediately be considered a rebel against the Crown."
Previously, the most important priority had been preventing the currency from collapsing completely.
Now that it had stabilized, it was time to restructure the institution and implement the Seven Pillars System.
The time had come to rebuild this Empire from its very foundations.
"Oh, right."
Ray suddenly remembered something.
"Summon the person in charge of Information as well."
"And the former headmaster of the Royal Academy."
In five days, the first wave of profits from the book Mind, Body, and Soul would return.
Even so, these reforms might exceed the limits of the Red Line Budget.
But there were other solutions.
For now, it was more important to establish the framework for the Empire's return before the neighboring nations began making their moves.
I think it's finally time to sell more of the treasures stored in the First Vault.
Let's see whether the Lady of the Red Tower answers the summons.
-----------------------------
End of Chapter
-----------------------------
Special Note:
During the reign of the Eleventh Emperor, there were no major signs indicating the collapse of the Empire—only a series of minor setbacks.
However, those small problems eventually transformed into monsters that devoured the Empire during the reign of the Twelfth Emperor, who later became known as the Tyrant.