160 – 164
A restaurant near the Royal Palace.
The most bustling area in the Roman city.
There exists a Roman-style popular restaurant not commonly found in the bustling area.
Wearing a ring enchanted with a disguise spell received from the intelligence department, I enter the restaurant, where a waitress approaches me with a natural smile.
“Sir, how many in your party?”
“I’m alone.”
Maintaining her smile, the waitress nods slightly and arranges a seat at an empty table inside.
“The kitchen is still preparing, is that alright?”
“As long as it’s not too late.”
Nodding slightly at my response, she hands me the menu, and I quickly skim through it before handing it back, saying,
“I’ll have the cream pasta, please.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Watching the waitress leave after taking my order, I think to myself.
Who would dare to think I’m an intelligence department agent with such a natural demeanor and actions?
In fact, we rented this restaurant entirely from the intelligence department a few days ago.
Throughout the area, suppression spells and around a hundred soldiers are on standby to immediately suppress any attempts to harm the intelligence agents.
I hope such a situation doesn’t arise.
Only then can we find the cultists of darkness hidden through them.
Sitting down, I wait for Amon and his group to arrive.
Suddenly, a few people enter, including Goran whom I’ve seen before.
They are all mid-level members of the Equality Party established by the intelligence department.
Receiving guidance from the waitress, they sit at a diagonal table.
Hmm… Amon is a bit late, isn’t he?
Glancing at the clock, I see there’s still some time left and anxiously take a sip of water, wetting my lips.
Is it nerves? My lips seem to be parched.
As I wait anxiously like that.
The door opens, and three men walk in—one with black hair, one with brown hair, and one with red hair.
The one with black hair must be Amon.
Black hair, sharp eyes, and a small mark under the eye.
Overall, a handsome face.
It’s the Amon I saw in the novel’s description.
Finally… caught.
As I suppress my pounding heart.
“Pasta is served. Guest.”
With these words, pasta is placed in front of me.
“Mr. Goran, you’re here early.”
“No, we arrived not long ago.”
Goran stands up from his seat and greets Amon.
Soon, the two of them sit down.
[The food here is quite delicious. Moreover, you can speak freely as the staff working here are members of the Equality Party.]
Amon looks around and then glances at me, saying,
“Is that gentleman over there?”
Goran replies apologetically, “Don’t worry. According to the restaurant owner, he is a regular here. His political views align with ours.”
Amon’s expression turns slightly uneasy but then nods.
Goran’s voice and Amon’s voice seem to echo loudly.
Normally, due to the distance, voices wouldn’t carry so well.
But the chair I’m sitting on has a special enchantment.
A magical spell is cast on this chair so that only the person sitting on it can hear the conversations at Goran’s and Amon’s table.
The sound doesn’t spread around but is confined to the chair’s owner.
It’s a magic often used by gamblers in the past to cheat.
Similarly, the information department agents outside the restaurant can also hear the conversation.
“Oh, that’s a relief. I was worried when I heard we were meeting at a downtown restaurant.”
“hahahaha, even the royal dogs wouldn’t expect us to meet so boldly in the city center. Ah! Let’s start with the menu first.”
Soon, Goran and Amon place their orders and wait for the food.
Meanwhile, I eavesdrop on their conversation while eating pasta.
“hahahaha, they have a lot of good wines here, don’t they? I’ll have a Cento Montepulciano.”
“I also like Cento Montepulciano, Amon. You seem to have a good taste in wine.”
By the time I finish eating, their ordered food arrives, and they start their meal. They order drinks and engage in conversation.
“Mr. Goran, with the current protest methods, we won’t be able to drive out that sinister Grand Duke. We need a more forceful approach.”
Gradually, the conversation seems to be becoming more serious.
“But that doesn’t mean we can harm someone, does it?”
Amon shakes his finger, replying to Goran.
“This is to prevent the Empire’s malpractices. The privileged hope that the system doesn’t change, so we have to act this way.”
“If the protests escalate, clashes with the guards are inevitable. Many people will end up in custody.”
“A revolution won’t happen without shedding blood. Isn’t the Grand Duke able to act recklessly because of the established order?”
Hmm… Are they inciting violent protests to create chaos?
I had a feeling it would come to this.
This way, they can prepare to summon the Demon King.
To summon the Demon King, two things are needed.
The blood obtained by killing many people and the descendant of an invited hero.
To fulfill these conditions, the Empire must be in turmoil.
Even if dozens of villages disappear overnight, even if the aristocrats go missing, if it’s not chaotic enough to ignore…
They will be pursued by the Empire and the Papacy.
Joy’s face suddenly comes to mind.
Innocent and adorable face.
In the original, Joy became the sacrificial lamb.
Disgust wells up at the thought of such a cruel act towards such a girl.
First, calm down, they are just puppets of the demons.
There is still a long way to go to capture the demon-worshipping leaders.
[Hoho, truly, nothing changes by merely criticizing. Goran! Outside the city, many people who have toiled hard in the fields for a year are being exploited by nobles and merchants. In other cities, widows who lost their husbands are starving with their children! Do you dare say such things?]
Goran rebuts Amon, speaking with a strained voice.
[So, if we overthrow the Empire, will the things you mentioned disappear? No? It seems they may even worsen.]
[Do you consider the suffering of countless Empire citizens?]
[Then, are you shedding blood yourself? Why do you force sacrifices on innocent people?]
Amon’s expression distorts at Goran’s words.
This isn’t a good situation at all.
I ponder on Goran’s firm words.
If I can’t convince Goran here, Amon will change his plans.
Whether by directly forming a faction or inciting dissatisfied members of the lukewarm leadership…
I must prevent that, so I call for the waitress.
That’s why I call for the waitress.
“Excuse me, where is the restroom?”
I call for the waitress and head to the restroom, planning for Goran to follow shortly after.
“Oh, it’s at the back door.”
Following the direction the waitress points out, I head towards the restroom.
Soon after…
– Knock, knock!
With two knocks, the door opens, and Goran enters.
“You called for me, Your Highness?”
“Yeah, it’s been a while, Goran. Just go along with what Amon wants for now.”
Goran’s face turns puzzled at my command.
“It’s… It’s already hard to manage things, and now you want me to stir up trouble?”
I calmly speak to the agitated Goran.
“I’ll take responsibility. Accept most things as they are. I’ll have a chat with the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of the Interior.”
It would be troublesome if they choose a different path.
“Let’s say that for now and discuss the specifics tomorrow.”
With that, I return to my seat.
After that, Goran and Amon engage in conversation.
[Ahem… Amon, you make an interesting point. We might need to reconsider our thoughts a bit.]
After Goran returns from the restroom and changes his stance, Amon brightly responds.
“Oh? Is that so? Indeed, Goran, you truly seem to be someone who genuinely cares about the Empire citizens.”
Amon’s desired conditions are gradually being laid out.
[First, we need to establish Equality Party branches throughout the empire… From what I know, a substantial amount of money has been raised through fundraising activities. We must then organize nationwide protests…]
[We need to establish a command system to prepare for the capture of the leadership.]
Listening quietly to various other proposals, I clear my throat twice.
This signals that I will consider the matter first.
Goran, after a moment of contemplation, then…
[Before discussing this further, I should consult with my colleagues. Let me talk to them first and then get back to you.]
Upon hearing this, Amon responds joyfully.
[Thank you for your words. hahahaha!]
Amon, pleased.
Hmm… I should start preparing the trap slowly.
Rising from his seat, Amon speaks.
[We will take our leave now.]
[Please, go ahead.]
And thus, the meeting concludes.
I should discuss today’s outcomes with the ministers tomorrow.
***
Sabirelli currently leads his troops, hiding near the mountains close to Adria after escaping from Duopol.
With morale low enough that 70,000 troops dwindled to 10,000 due to disrupted supplies, the situation is far from ideal.
At least they managed to halt the fighting to save war supplies, but…
From Noble mtl dot com
‘By the gods… Soon, our food will run out.’
Thinking that all remaining soldiers will desert, Sabirelli feels anxious.
‘Your Highness Johannes…’
In the grim aftermath of King Johannes’ death and Byzantion’s fall due to mercenaries’ betrayal, Sabirelli senses the despair.
‘I must somehow turn the tide.’
Nicaea has already lost too much.
Though not of Nicaean origin, Sabirelli owes a debt to Johannes.
Losing in war is inevitable, but he must strive for Johannes’ son, Andronikos Angelos, to become the next king.
‘What… What can I do?’
No matter how much he racks his brain, Sabirelli knows his options are limited.
Maintaining an army of 60,000 is burdensome, and soon they will all desert.
Sabirelli even considers that he might face a tragic fate like Johannes.
Then.
“Commander! There’s intelligence that William and the Empire’s main force have moved towards Byzantion.”
“What?”
Quick-witted Sabirelli suspects the reason for William leaving Adria.
‘Ah… They must be aiming to eliminate the mercenary group in front of Byzantion. If that’s the case, then Adria…’
“Prepare the troops for immediate departure! We head to Thessalonica.”
Wasn’t there a saying about finding a way even when the sky falls?
At this moment, Sabirelli truly understands the truth of that statement.