Chapter 72: The Post-Mortem Trial (2) The trial orchestrated by the Imperial Palace was a disaster from the start. The flustered prosecutor merely mumbled through an overview of the Gigantes terror incident, and the judge struck his gavel, announcing that a date for a retrial would be set later. The proceedings, intended to secure compensation, ended in a hasty, slipshod manner.
"This is truly regrettable."
"Haha... Haha..."
"Ahem. Still, with the Gigantes destroyed... it seems a bit much to let personal feelings take precedence..."
Most of the Imperial nobles scurried away, casting wary glances in my direction as they fled.
Of course, not everyone in the Palace was like that. It was just that the proportion of such people was remarkably high, and any normal or exceptional noble wouldn't have coveted the "easy money" associated with the Gigantes in the first place.
Regardless, the hearing came to a dull halt. The security staff who had occupied the defendant's dock approached me hesitantly, bowing their heads.
"We are sorry. We are truly sorry, Sir Knight."
They apologized repeatedly alongside their lawyer, but I simply waved them off.
"There's no need to apologize. You weren't put in those seats to take responsibility in the first place."
"...Pardon?"
The Empire's class system occasionally serves as my weapon or the justification for my actions.
"How much responsibility can a commoner truly bear? To suggest that the destruction of the Gigantes was solely your fault is utter nonsense."
Their complexions cleared, seemingly relieved by my arrogance. I turned away as I watched them tearfully embrace their families.
Alphonse was standing there.
"Do you really believe that? What you said during the trial."
Alphonse looked suspicious. I shrugged and replied.
"...The logic might not be perfect. When one is angry, emotional sophistry tends to come out. However, my belief remains unchanged: control bordering on oppression and treating people like machines does not lead to efficiency."
"How unexpected. Don't nobles usually think of subjects as cattle that need to be told when to eat and sleep?"
I let out a hollow laugh at Alphonse's provocation.
"You seem a bit too happy that the Gigantes was destroyed. You should restrain yourself, or you might actually end up in prison."
"...."
Alphonse stuffed his camera into his bag and walked away. He certainly had nerves of steel.
As I walked through the court lobby, I spotted a familiar face.
"Edmond!"
Colonel Edmond Brwindol. He turned toward me and raised a hand, his expression stiff. He was a man who carried the weight of his public duties with exceptional gravity.
"Max. I heard you suffered heavy losses because of the Gigantes as well."
"What's lost won't come back, so let's not talk about it. More importantly, how is the situation on your end?"
"An emergency has been declared. Everything from the border regions onward."
Just then, a man slunk up beside Edmond. Edmond gestured toward him with a look of slight discomfort.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Major Goetz. He's on the staff."
"Loyalty! It is an honor to meet you, Sir Knight!"
Goetz. I knew the name, and I knew the face. He had bulging eyes that looked ready to pop out, a scrawny frame, and curly hair that was unnecessarily well-groomed, creating a jarring imbalance.
He was a noble-born officer who would eventually rise to a high-ranking position, only to end his life as a particularly vile war criminal.
"I have heard much of your exploits in the eastern borderlands, Sir Maximilian!"
"I see."
"Please, speak comfortably! I cannot tell you how moved I was hearing of your distinguished service from afar..."
Goetz rattled off a stream of sentences without pause. They were words decorated on the outside but hollow within.
In other words, it was pure, unadulterated flattery.
Having dealt with this type of person since long ago, I was already sick of it.
I turned to Edmond.
"Has there been any word from the military or the Imperial Family?"
"It's an emergency for them as well. No matter how many problems the Gigantes had, it was responsible for a large portion of the Empire's military supplies."
In that case, I needed to get ready.
Soon, my factory would fill the void left by the Gigantes.
"...However."
Edmond smiled faintly and gave my shoulder a light tap.
"What you said in court earlier was right. The person responsible for this incident is someone else entirely."
His simple praise didn't feel bad.
"Um, excuse me... Sir Knight."
Major Goetz, who had been watching for an opening, cut in.
"If it wouldn't be an imposition, could I have your terminal number? My own knowledge is humble and lacking, and I would like to seek your counsel on various matters in the future..."
A greedy glint. People obsessed with social climbing are exhausting—especially those desperate to grab onto a lifeline.
"I'll give you my administrator's number. My schedule is busy, so it's difficult for me to take calls directly."
"Ah... Yes. I understand! Even that is an honor!"
Goetz bowed and scraped, trying his best to hide his disappointment.
Edmond raised an eyebrow.
"Well then. You seem busy, so you should get going."
"Right. Take care."
I turned away from Edmond.
Suddenly, I wondered what his true feelings regarding the Gigantes were.
Edmond was likely a comrade of the Revolutionary Group.
One of the core leaders, deeper in than even Thomas Wagner.
"...."
Edmond Brwindol. A man who had grown up with me since childhood in the Ebenholtz stronghold, like a brother.
Would he have to become my enemy one day?
Would I have to cut him down with my own hands?
Is that the only way it can end?
For now, no one could know.
* * *
Thud!
In the Knights' office, a heavy stack of papers landed on the desk. They were documents brought by Dieter.
"Is there really this much paperwork?"
"Yes. These documents explain the advantages of our factory and prove that we can replace a significant portion of the Gigantes' production."
Dieter continued his explanation calmly.
"We have the site we purchased in advance in Southern Hermes, and we happen to have the latest precision machinery imported from the Kanilan Independent State for the mana stone refining business. Since these facilities were originally designed to process unstable mana stones, their durability and precision exceed military standards. The logic is that with slight adjustments to the process, we can immediately produce artillery shells, firearm components, and even tanks."
The justification was perfect. I had even pre-emptively purchased numerous raw material mines, including iron ore, in preparation for this very event.
"Should I head to the Palace right now?"
"Yes. The timing should be about right."
I left the office with Dieter.
When we went down to the parking lot and got into the waiting car, Yukia of the Yaken race, sitting in the passenger seat, gave a short nod. Aware of how the Yaken were treated, she had concealed her features with sunglasses and a suit.
"Why don't you introduce yourself?"
At my words, Yukia gave a brief reply.
"...Executive Secretary, Yukia."
"Ah, Sir Knight. I am conducting job training, but... perhaps because her Imperial language is clumsy, I can't seem to fix her short way of speaking."
The administrator added apologetically.
"It's fine. Let's go."
She was probably doing it on purpose.
"Yes, sir."
On the road from the Knights' headquarters to the Imperial Palace, a massive shadow suddenly loomed outside the window.
Rumble—!
It was a transport plane taking off with a roar. At the distant landing zone, knights waiting for their turn were huddled together, checking their equipment.
Before long, aerial insertion would go beyond being a basic knightly skill; it would become an essential capability required for the coming war.
Leaving that scenery behind, I arrived at the main gate of the Imperial Palace.
"Wait here."
I stepped out of the car. Guided by Imperial secretaries, I headed to the grand conference room. It was the venue for an emergency meeting convened to fill the vacuum left by the Gigantes.
Under the brilliant chandeliers, high-ranking officials from the military and the Ministry of Finance, various Imperial nobles, and businessmen from appropriately sized companies had already gathered.
"Our Elon Industries will secure a production line for new artillery shells as quickly as possible. Please trust us with this task."
"Kaision Heavy Industries here. We can immediately supply parts for combat-ready tanks."
"We, Emelton, will take responsibility for the steel supply. Though we cannot compare to the Gigantes..."
The parade of self-promotion from various companies and families continued until it was finally my turn.
"I am Maximilian Ebenholtz."
The people who had looked bored, some even yawning, instantly straightened their posture.
This was the weight of the name Ebenholtz.
"I have a factory in the Southern Hermes region."
I spread the proposal out before them. The latest equipment from Kanilan, a stable raw material supply chain, and immediate production capacity.
"This factory is scheduled to implement the latest automated facilities from Kanilan. Since these machines were originally intended for mana stone refining, their durability and precision exceed military standards..."
The Imperial nobles nodded visibly in response.
"Though its scale is smaller than the Gigantes, its efficiency will be vastly superior. What took a hundred people to make at the Gigantes, we can do with ten. I guarantee that level of efficiency."
It was likely because they felt a certain degree of debt regarding the losses I had incurred from my investment in the Gigantes.
"—However, Sir Maximilian."
There was, however, someone here who wouldn't be easily swayed.
Oscar Steiner, the head of operations at the Ministry of Finance, adjusted his glasses with a stern expression and made a sharp point.
"You say these facilities were built for mana stone refining—does this mean you require tax subsidies for the conversion?"
I had no intention of begging for subsidies from the Palace. It was obvious they would use subsidies as an excuse to interfere with shares and other matters.
"I will cover everything with my private funds. If funds are lacking, I will proceed even if I have to put up my mana stone mines as collateral."
A stir went through the room. Oscar looked even more puzzled as he asked back.
"Then what do you want in return?"
"All I ask for is manpower and steady orders."
"Manpower?"
"Yes. Select the skilled workers from the Gigantes and supply them to our factory."
No matter how advanced Kanilan's automation technology was, heavy industry like munitions was ultimately a human endeavor.
The skill in their hands, the know-how, the intuition.
The Gigantes had fallen, but the craftsmen who had worked metal there for decades survived. I needed them, and the Palace needed a way to deal with those who had suddenly been relegated to the ranks of the unemployed.
"I believe that will suffice as compensation for the losses I suffered with the Gigantes."
I slowly scanned the faces of the Imperial nobles.
"This is an opportunity for no one to be blamed or held accountable for the Gigantes incident. We are wasting our anger elsewhere or trying to shift our gaze."
It was a fundamental point: the target of their anger should be the treasonous organization that destroyed the Gigantes, so why were they trying to tear each other apart?
"I believe my proposal is the most ideal answer to the current situation."
"...Yes. I understand. However."
Oscar still looked suspicious.
"Transparency regarding cost ratios and margins must be a prerequisite."
"Discuss that with my staff. We will supply at a very reasonable unit price."
Since the defense industry was destined to grow larger by the day, I only needed to take a reasonable profit. One percent of a hundred-billion-dollar project is a billion dollars. Even taking just one percent meant an enormous sum.
Furthermore, I was satisfied with the fact that this would weaken the Palace's foundation while making the Empire's military strength even greater.
"A reasonable unit price. Can I trust that?"
I smiled at Oscar's question.
"Yes. Of course. I swear it on my name."
* * *
The meeting room of the Imperial Ministry of Finance.
In the silence, only the dry sounds of scratching pens and turning pages echoed. The officials, led by Finance Chief Oscar, were dissecting the documents submitted by Dieter Schmidt as if performing an autopsy.
"...Hmm."
Oscar eventually furrowed his brow.
To be honest, he was suspicious of Maximilian's motives.
The destruction of the Gigantes could be an opportunity for a Great House. If he were the type to crave tax money, it would have been easier to understand.
However, the conditions brought by his administrator were excessively reasonable.
No, they were advantageous to the Empire.
"Administrator Dieter Schmidt."
Oscar spoke to Dieter, who was seated with them.
"Documents alone are not enough. I will decide after seeing the factory with my own eyes."
Dieter nodded.
"Yes. Please do. You are welcome anytime."
"...."
Oscar was silent for a moment. He stared intently at Dieter before speaking.
"Nevertheless, military payments are made with the blood-tax of the subjects. Therefore, we would like a portion of the profits you will gain to be..."
Just as he was about to demand additional benefits to test them.
"We are willing to reinvest more than 30% of our net profit back into the civilian sector."
Dieter beat him to the punch.
Thirty percent. It was a staggering figure. Oscar and the officials looked as if they couldn't believe their ears.
"What is the reason?"
Oscar finally took off his glasses and set them down. He glared at Dieter with sharp eyes.
"You seem like as much of a numbers man as I am, so let's be blunt. This isn't the logic of a businessman."
"Munitions is a massive industry. Therefore, if the business continues steadily, great profit will eventually return to us as well."
"I know that. One might endure current losses for future gains. If there is a need to do so, that is."
The Empire had to fill the void left by the Gigantes.
That meant they were desperate.
It meant that you, the suppliers, could easily be the ones in the position of power.
"But right now, there is no need for you to go that far. So why on earth?"
Dieter tidied his pen and replied lightly.
"It is the Chairman's will."
"Sir Maximilian's will?"
"Yes."
He added calmly.
"Because the Knight is a loyal subject of the Empire."
"...A loyal subject."
A loyal subject. A word rarely found in the stagnant Imperial Palace, or perhaps one preserved only in textbooks.
Oscar blinked blankly before letting out a hollow laugh.
"It seems you are momentarily confused because you have seen too many fakes until now."
Dieter continued, looking around at everyone in the Ministry of Finance.
"He acts only for the sake of the Empire."
"...."
Tick. Tock.
Oscar and the other officials were lost for words, and in that silence, the sound of the clock echoed unusually loud.
Dieter turned his gaze back to the documents as if nothing had happened.
Tick. Tock.
Through the gaps of the rhythmic second hand,
Their conversation was being transmitted to 'somewhere' unseen.
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