The parties have been revealed.
You have seen the blade and the eyes, the nerve and the lamp, the spirit and the tongue.
But a body without a heart cannot move, and without a head it cannot think.
It is time to speak of the engine that fuels these six pillars, and the bond that turns separate "parts" into a single Empire that cannot be divided.
Rei closed the file concerning the Second Pillar and looked at the faces exhausted by the lengthy explanations. He did not need to say more for them to realize that everything so far had merely been preparation for the monster lurking on the final page.
[The First Pillar: Administration.]
This pillar would restructure the Empire from its very foundations.
Its changes were not limited to adjustments of authority or administrative reforms. It would redefine the very meaning of "the state" in everyone's mind. It would transform the Empire from a collection of noble-owned fiefdoms into a great institution owned by the throne.
For that reason, Ray had spent countless nights revising, correcting, and discussing his ideas with Rei, trying to design this pillar in a way that would be easy for the nobles to accept—or at least tolerate.
Especially the new taxation system...
Still, Ray could not deny that flaws and gaps existed within the system.
Nothing was perfect, and perfection itself was unattainable.
All he could do was establish the foundation, then correct the mistakes that emerged over time.
But to lay that foundation, he required assistance from many of the people gathered in this hall.
Therefore, he signaled Rei.
The meaning was simple: manipulate the atmosphere until it worked in their favor.
Rei nodded and began speaking calmly.
[We have arrived at the First Pillar, the pillar that binds all these threads together. Within the Seven Pillars System, as everyone knows, this is not merely an administrative department. It is the engine and the center.]
[Therefore, anyone who has objections is free to raise them.]
No sooner had Rei finished speaking than the Duke of the West raised his hand.
The traitor who had declared himself king within his own territory only days ago seemed far more interested in this system now.
"Excuse me. If the Prime Minister serves as the Commander of the First Pillar, does that mean he holds no authority over the other pillars?"
[You are correct. At the summit of the First Pillar stands the Prime Minister.]
[He is the Empire's chief executive. He directly oversees the ministries and manages the daily operations of the state. He is responsible for transforming the Emperor's sovereign commands into administrative reality.]
[As Commander of the First Pillar, the Prime Minister possesses no military authority over the Second Pillar and no intelligence authority over the Third Pillar. He is their equal in rank, though he surpasses them in administrative legitimacy and in managing the lives of the people.]
"If Your Majesty will permit another question," the Duke of the West continued, and everyone seemed interested. "This position should not remain vacant during the restructuring process. Have you chosen someone?"
"I have already said this before," Ray replied. "Opportunities are equal. For the moment, I will assume the position temporarily alongside my primary duties."
"Regardless of rank, gender, or race, if I determine that you are suitable, you will receive full authority."
"That said, several positions must still be filled. For now, I have selected ten ministries, which will be announced later."
Breaths froze.
It was not the words themselves that shook the gathering, but the truth hidden within them.
Ten ministries.
Ten seats.
Ten supporters of change.
The hall transformed into a battlefield of silent paranoia.
Sharp eyes searched the faces around them.
Who were they?
And suddenly, many gazes settled on a single person.
The Duke of the South.
His suspicious calmness.
His earlier display of goodwill.
His measured conduct.
Everything pointed toward him as a likely candidate.
Amid this growing confusion, Rei spoke calmly.
[Please pay attention to an important point. The ministries are considered branches of this pillar, not part of its chain of command.]
What did that mean?
[The second level of authority does not consist of ministers.]
[Instead, it consists of the Ministerial Coordination Office. Their task is to connect the ministries—Agriculture, Industry, Education, and others. This ensures that ministries do not operate as isolated islands, but cooperate under the supervision of the Prime Minister.]
[The third level is the General Administrative Secretariat. Its duty is to draft decrees and administrative laws, transforming the decisions of the First Pillar into official directives that reach even the lowest employee in the most distant province.]
[Finally, the fourth level is the Administrative Oversight Authority. Their mission is to combat administrative corruption within the ministries and ensure that employees and ministers perform their duties according to the Imperial Handbook.]
So the focus was not merely on who governed.
It was also on how those who governed would be monitored.
Was this not effectively transforming ministers from masters into senior employees?
Questions and doubts spread throughout the hall.
Ray personally answered what he could, explaining certain parts while concealing others.
After all, the purpose of this meeting was simply to ensure a smooth transition toward the new system.
Whispers rose like the hissing of snakes.
The idea was beginning to take shape in their minds.
And it was terrifying.
Ray was not searching for partners in governance.
He was forging golden chains.
Ray frowned.
He realized he needed to intervene.
He had already given a silent signal, yet it had taken too long for the hall to quiet down.
That displeased him.
It was a sign that he was losing control.
"Let everyone hear this."
Ray leaned back against the throne.
"A capable senior official who serves the Empire efficiently is more valuable to me than a failed lord drowning within his own fief."
"This system does not target your dignity. It exists solely to reorganize the Empire and provide a better path forward. Stop looking at titles and look at responsibilities."
"And so that no one misunderstands," Ray added in a calmer tone, trying to ease the tension, "this system does not strip you of sovereignty over your territories. It frees you from the bureaucratic burdens that have drained your resources."
"The central administration will handle technical organization, while you remain the pillars of this throne and the lords of your provinces."
"And you will have the opportunity to participate in governing the Empire as a whole."
In other words, Ray was offering them security and status in exchange for order and loyalty.
He did not wish to replace them.
He wished to transform them from rebellious rulers into institutional rulers.
The words "you will remain the pillars upon which this throne stands" echoed through the hall.
Partners in a vision.
Not individuals drowning in ledgers and calculations.
But would everyone accept that and bow their heads?
That was impossible.
Even the Duke of the South remained silent.
After some thought, Ray decided to adjourn the session.
Everyone needed time to think.
The hour had grown late as well.
Everyone was confused.
Everyone needed rest.
And it seemed another long night awaited them.
Ray returned to his chambers with Morgana.
He was in no mood to return to his office, so he left Rei behind to organize the documents.
In any case, that person did not need rest.
They entered the shared room, a gesture intended to display harmony between Emperor and Empress in the eyes of the nobility.
But inside the room, far removed from the dignity of an Emperor, Ray threw himself onto the bed in obvious frustration.
Honestly, he had not expected such a harsh reaction.
He had anticipated opposition, certainly.
But he had also expected supporters.
Instead, deadly neutrality had dominated the hall once the framework of the system had been presented.
"What can I say? This is exactly what I should expect from nobles."
Ray sighed.
Some among them were fools.
But none of them were idiots.
While he remained lost in thought, Morgana approached a table and picked up a strange book.
Recognizing the title, she pointed toward it.
"Your Majesty... this is the book you've been waiting for."
"Hm?"
Ray only turned his head slightly to see what she was holding.
The moment he read the title, he forced himself upright.
"Let me see."
This was the book whose printing had taken six full days because of repeated failures in the magical printing presses.
It would become extremely important once the restructuring plan was accepted.
The National Examination of the Seven Pillars: Simplified Edition
Version One
Ray skimmed through the contents, focusing only on the important sections.
He found no major problems.
The pillars had been simplified.
Their functions had been explained clearly.
The terminology associated with the Pillar of Spirit had been altered, and certain departments had been hidden so that it would not appear as though the system aimed to control the minds of the populace.
That was a phrase far too easy to misunderstand.
Especially in a world where black magic existed.
While reviewing the book, Morgana sat on the bed and asked,
"What will you do if opposition increases?... As you know, half of the hall is loyal to my father."
"What will I do?"
Ray set the book aside and sighed.
"It would certainly become a problem... but is this really the time to hesitate?"
There was still one trump card left.
And that card was the world itself.
Why had Ray decided to begin with the system?
Why had he chosen such a direct and aggressive approach instead of slowly infiltrating power from the capital?
Why risk so much political turmoil now?
Was there not a better way?
Had he adopted a less aggressive strategy, he could have implemented the system gradually from the capital, restored the authority of the throne, eliminated his opponents through the Shadows, and only then forced everyone to follow the new order without debate.
The answer was both simple and terrifying.
The Black Winter was coming.
And it would not miss its appointed date.
--------------------------------
End of Chapter
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[Important Information: The Red Moon Phenomenon]
[It is the very event around which the world's calendar was created. Hours and months are nothing more than a countdown ending on the night of the Fifth New Year.]
[When the three moons align and turn crimson, villages rush to shelter behind the walls of cities, whose gates close like coffins. Even the Church enters a state of lockdown.]
[On that night, the gates of the Great Labyrinth open, and thousands of monsters emerge onto the surface. Every monster already on the surface is driven into a frenzy and begins moving with a single purpose that remains unknown to this day.]
[And once that night of hell finally ends, the month known as the Black Winter begins.]