Black-Haired Dad Isn’t Something You Reap - Chapter 185

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 185. Where Is Kirke? (6)
Well, the Imperial Family does stand above the law, but we’re still a nation of laws in our own way, so I could at least communicate with the Provisional Government people. That region, you see, is trying to control people through law and administration alone without the authority of a king, right? I don’t know who will become the President, but they have no justification to rule that land and aren’t even of royal blood—yet they must become the leader. That must be incredibly difficult.
And on top of that, it’s a newly independent nation, so there must be so many things to worry about. A leader with no legitimacy and no rightful claim… I’d be too anxious to live if I were in their position.
“Hmm…”
If an outstanding hero had led the group to independence, at least they’d have justification to become President. But looking at how things are unfolding, there doesn’t seem to be such a person. If we’re talking about who made the greatest contribution when the nation gained independence, it would actually be…
“…”
“…”
I had my suspicions, so I glanced at Nanakda. Whether Nanakda understood what my look meant or not, he flashed a suspicious grin.
So this bastard knew and did it anyway. I decided to hold a meeting at the Princess Palace after the birthday banquet ended.

✦ ✦ ✦
Deep into the night. In one corner of the Princess Palace, members of the Imperial Family, their associates, and Nanakda’s group gathered, continuing the day’s banquet with boisterous chatter and bright lights.
Father, Nanakda, Croa, and Shirley Fair were playing pool with eight-ball rules, while Choco was discussing military matters with Nanakda’s subordinates. The Chief Chamberlain, having had no opportunity to observe Nanakda carefully until now, was staring at him intently while comparing him to documents, and I was sipping herbal tea that wouldn’t interfere with sleep while bringing up the topic from earlier.
I sipped herbal tea that wouldn’t disturb my sleep and broached the subject from earlier once more.
“I believe it will be within a year.”
I brought it up without a subject, but those gathered understood, sharing daily life together. Choco and Nanakda’s subordinates showed little interest and returned to their military discussion, though.
“A year seems rather fast, doesn’t it?”
Not necessarily, Shirley Fair. In “Martin’s Discourse on Republics,” a forbidden book from another world that came through the Heavenly Realm, the author Martin described his nation’s situation like this: a crumbled empire saw a republic rise, but within a year it collapsed and someone proclaimed themselves emperor.
It’s a story from a different universe, a different planet, but it reflects actual history’s demonstration of the republic’s transience. Of course, after about thirty years of trial and error, by the author’s later years, the republic seemed to have taken proper root.
I explained this and argued that in this case, with external intervention, Seleukia’s situation would change rapidly.
“Oh, external intervention, you say?”
“That’s you, Nanakda! You bastard! You, you, you, you, you! You, damn it!”
“Haha.”
This guy’s ridiculous. Hey, you deliberately funded their independence to swallow Seleukia, didn’t you? Now that I’ve experienced it, I can’t underestimate religion. There’s nothing more convenient and powerful than faith for controlling and dominating people. It’s only been about four months since Nanakda entered the Imperial Palace, and in that time, three nobles surrendered their titles and threw themselves entirely into the Dharma Sect with all their wealth? Since they’re not hereditary nobles, it’s not a great loss for the Imperial Kingdom, but it’s a bad omen, you know. I kept getting an uneasy feeling. I heard a newspaper company and several major corporations also invited Nanakda to give lectures.
I kept getting an uneasy feeling about it all. A newspaper company and several major corporations have apparently invited Nanakda to give lectures.
“Nanakda, get out! Leave my Imperial Kingdom at once!”
“Come on, I haven’t even finished building my house yet.”
“Are you even working on that construction?!”
It’s been nearly half a year already—why haven’t I heard any progress updates? You’re not building a palace or anything, just one house, so why are you dragging it out like this!
“I find it amusing, so I don’t mind.”
“Father, be quiet!”
“Hmm, he’s resourceful, wealthy, and I’ve known Pisha since childhood, so that’s a plus. He’s also quite handsome, which is nice.”
“What are you evaluating now, Chief Chamberlain!”
So that’s what you were staring at Nanakda for all this time? This Chief Chamberlain does the strangest things. I already have a marriage arrangement with Croa! When I stated this, the Chief Chamberlain adjusted her spectacles and told me the history of the Kisomalos Royal House.
“Helga and Helbatro were both like that. I don’t see why Pisha would be an exception.”
“I’m different from my Adoptive Father!”
“Hahaha.”
So you don’t believe me now? The Chief Chamberlain seemed to find my self-control and integrity laughable, so I shot back at Croa to say something.
“Tania, curses are fair to everyone.”
Well, so you don’t believe in my integrity either, Croa. Damn bastard.
“I could dispose of you this very moment. I have all the necessary preparations in place.”
“What an unpleasant creature.”
“You should thank Pisha. The only reason you haven’t died twice is because of her.”
“Grant stands behind me? If you curse me, you’d have to forfeit your own life as well, wouldn’t you?”
“Then let us die together. Rather than watch Pisha juggle two households, I’d prefer to simply perish.”
How terrifying. Croa wore such a sorrowful expression that I scratched at the goosebumps rising on my arms, while Nanakda observed Shirley quietly. The bewildered man pointed at Shirley with his chin and spoke.
“Isn’t the Princess already managing two households with her around?”
“Ah, that matter falls outside my purview.”
“What are you talking about?”
“We’ve had an agreement with Shirley for the past ten years—a ceasefire, you might say.”
So they’d made such an agreement without my knowledge. And the word “ceasefire” suggested they were ready to resume hostilities at any moment if circumstances shifted.
“But Father, why did you suddenly become close with Nanakda?”
He’d come to the banquet with him today too, and the two often disappeared while conversing. Suspecting some sort of collusion, I was about to investigate when someone rushed from outside and knocked urgently. Choco went to receive the report, and after reading the telegram, she relayed the northern disturbances with a flat tone.
“The north is in chaos right now. Colonial independence forces have staged an uprising, and the vassal states are engaged in localized warfare.”
A sudden uprising? Were they inspired by Seleukia’s independence? Yet the timing seemed too convenient. Of course, I could guess who was responsible—Nanakda, who’d been chanting prayers for the Empire’s downfall since we escaped Astiages. What truly puzzled me was how these rebels were managing to fight at all.
Warfare requires armies, and armies require weapons. Firearms and war chariots don’t simply materialize on demand. They must be supplied by nations with the requisite technological capacity.
“…Father?”
I called out to Father, suspicion crystallizing in my mind. Could his recent closeness with Nanakda have been for this reason?
“Obsolete war chariots, missiles—we’ve been having trouble disposing of them.”
“Father!”
You handled such a critical matter without my consent? I’m a military official too, aren’t I? But there’s something even more important I need to confirm.
“How much did you sell them for?”
“He offered a fair price.”
“Well done!”
Those weapons had been a headache—the Imperial Army wouldn’t use them, and neighboring nations wouldn’t buy them. This was an excellent opportunity to finally move them.
“You could have at least given me a heads-up.”
“Even the military generals don’t know about this. He’s being extremely cautious.”
“Hmm.”
That made sense. The scale of the operation was enormous, so keeping the circle of knowledge as small as possible was wise.
“It can’t be helped. His revenge is a personal matter, and the fewer people who know, the better.”
I scratched my head and decided to focus on determining our diplomatic strategy going forward. The moment I accepted the situation and shifted my stance, Nanakda’s subordinates and Choco began whispering among themselves.
“Wow, she actually understands.”
“People who think alike really do find each other well.”
“Ahem, our Princess is quite versed in matters of war, you see.”
That definitely didn’t sound like praise. I was about to assign them both extra duties when I heard footsteps rushing from outside, the door burst open, and my Aunt entered.
“Pisha! I’ve turned even the last pig into a person!”
“Excellent!”
So my Aunt had prepared a birthday gift for me too. I took the finder she’d brought—a tool for locating people—and earnestly wished for it to reveal Kirke’s location. The device hummed and whirred, then pointed in the direction where Father stood.
“The north…?”
“If it’s the north, that means Astiages, doesn’t it?”
“Well, if we cross-reference it with Genie Teacher’s divination, that would make sense, wouldn’t it?”
So Kirke is in the middle of the battlefield right now. She needs to be safe.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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