My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 237

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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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Father Hides His Strength
Chapter 237
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Imperial Palace, War Room.
Twenty days before the invasion of the kingdom.
Emperor Nicholas had summoned all the Ability Users.
Nine Dos Legion commanders had gathered, excluding the Magic Swordmaster Order’s captain, who was absent from Jedo undergoing soldier training.
“Then, aside from the Paladin Order’s leader, is there anyone else who refuses this expedition order?”
Nicholas looked each of the seated legion commanders in the eye.
All of them bowed their heads, signaling their obedience to the command.
It was the outcome he’d anticipated.
“Then, Enoch. I ask once more: will you truly throw away this chance to partake in such a glorious endeavor? Do you mean to defy the imperial will?”
“No matter how many times you ask, my answer remains the same.”
“Aha, I see.”
How could one be so unwaveringly consistent?
Nicholas gazed intently into Enoch’s unwavering eyes.
“I have no intention of letting this matter slide. When the war ends, I will hold you accountable for your insubordination.”
……
“It may even cost you your life.”
Despite the biting threat, Enoch’s expression did not falter. Instead, held breaths escaped from the others around the table.
“Should I assume your Holy Knights share the same conviction as you?”
Only then did Enoch’s eyes waver.
It was a question asking whether he would impose his beliefs on his subordinates and have them die alongside him.
“…No, Your Majesty.”
Enoch answered after a long pause.
“Have the Ability Users belonging to the Paladin Order summoned separately and issue them the expedition command.”
“Just as I expected from you.”
“I will take my leave now.”
Without waiting for permission, Enoch rose and swept from the war room like wind.
The Ability Users glanced uneasily at the empty seat left by the Paladin Order’s captain.
“Hahahaha!”
Amid their discomfort, Nicholas burst into laughter.
“Truly, such consistency.”
* * *
Magic Tower, Oscar’s office.
“Coming all the way to the Magic Tower in person while so busy—I would have gone to you, had you sent word.”
Oscar stood facing Emperor Nicholas, who had arrived unannounced.
“I’ve just finished summoning all the Dos Legion commanders to issue the expedition order for the invasion of the Isolem Kingdom.”
“Ah, I see.”
Oscar gave a flat exclamation.
There wasn’t a soul in Jedo who didn’t know the Emperor was preparing an invasion war.
“So everyone’s marching out?”
“Well, except for that Paladin Order captain who keeps contradicting imperial orders—everyone else, yes?”
Oscar paused, then laughed quietly.
“Enoch Rubinstein again?”
“Yes, again.”
“I’ll admit the man has nerve, but this is rather serious. Isn’t he openly declaring enmity with the Imperial Household?”
“He is. Tell me, Tower Master—do you know why all these powerful figures have committed themselves to this expedition?”
“Well, because it’s a sure victory, I’d imagine?”
War.
A failed invasion diminishes the leader’s standing and weakens the Imperial Household’s influence.
But should it succeed…
Emperor Nicholas von Pavillion, having achieved the great enterprise of Continental Unification, would be remembered as an unparalleled wielder of power.
The Imperial Household’s dominion would be cemented beyond all question.
The Rank system the Imperial Household propagated would grow only firmer.
The Emperor, a Primera, would be none other than God Himself.
Through the Theocracy that has endured all this time, the Chosen People Ideology dividing Ability Users from the common folk would deepen further.
The age of absolute power—Imperial Autocracy—would arrive at last.
‘That’s what he thinks, anyway.’
Oscar chuckled silently to himself.
“His Majesty’s Magic Swordmaster Commander came to see me himself and relayed the news. That you’ve finally cracked the key to a certain invasion victory?”
“That’s right. Now the Isolem Kingdom has no way to stop Cheshire Libre’s true strength. If this invasion’s success had been uncertain, some of the commanders might have refused the expedition out of deference to Enoch.”
“Come now, there aren’t many with such grand ambitions. Now His Majesty has both a new sword to match Enoch Rubinstein and victory in war assured—Continental Unification is practically within reach. Who wouldn’t be mad with excitement?”
Oscar’s expression darkened.
“That aside, I thought the Duke of Rubinstein was a sharp man, but it seems he can’t even read the times.”
“No. It’s not that he’s ignorant. He’s simply unwavering. Enoch won’t do anything that contradicts his convictions.”
Nicholas’s eyes suddenly gleamed with a savage light.
“Even when those convictions strangle his own throat like this.”
“…Your words are frightening, sire. Are you thinking of crushing the Rubinstein family? That man has been troublesome for more than a day or two.”
“It’s the natural course. I no longer need Enoch’s abilities, and he’s a dissident who taints my fortress. So naturally.”
Oscar’s eyes widened at the swift reply.
‘What? They’ve both been plotting each other’s demise all along?’
“When the war ends, I plan to burn Enoch and his entire family without a trace. As for Enoch, well, he’ll have two choices.”
……
“Flee as he did long ago, or wait for the day of his death.”
……
“Either way, I welcome it. As long as Enoch doesn’t remain on Jedo and continue to muddy the waters.”
“…And if he doesn’t flee?”
Oscar caught Nicholas’s gaze, carefully probing.
“The father may be foolish, but the child is blameless. You understand?”
“Aha ha ha! Ha ha ha!”
Nicholas burst into hearty laughter at Oscar’s cautious words.
“You’re an interesting fellow. In fact, I came here today to speak of Enoch’s daughter. I know very well all the effort you’ve put into entrusting the Magic Tower to her.”
“I’m honored that you’re aware.”
“When the war begins, Jedo will lack high-ranking troops. The only useful Returnee left there is Enoch.”
……
“I worry greatly that Enoch might cause trouble the moment Jedo’s defenses grow thin. A man willing to embrace death to preserve his trivial convictions—what couldn’t he do?”
Oscar swallowed sharply.
‘This bastard… he’s testing me.’
Nicholas stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I’ll prepare separate troops to defend Jedo, but I’d prefer to have a more reliable shield. So.”
……
“There’s work I need from you.”
Nicholas spoke, his smile gone.
“I need you to detain a hostage in your custody around the day the Imperial Army mobilizes.”
“…Who, if I may ask?”
“Who else? Enoch’s daughter.”
Oscar’s face went rigid.
“She’s the finest card I have.”
“You mean to take his daughter hostage and wield her as leverage, even while uncertain what Enoch Rubinstein might do?”
“Whether he does anything or not, when this war ends, Enoch must disappear. But his daughter.”
……
“She troubles me greatly. That’s why I’ve come to you. You’ve cultivated her as a talent—you wouldn’t want to see her die simply because of her father, would you?”
Oscar, who had been silent, asked with studied composure.
“…I understand, but wouldn’t it be faster for Your Majesty to act directly? Why involve me?”
“That would be difficult. Because of Cheshire Libre.”
Nicholas picked up the teacup he’d set down and continued.
“After the war, he’ll stand at the pinnacle of power. As the supreme architect of Continental Unification, he must be treated accordingly. In short, I cannot afford to be careless.”
……
“There are certain things I must never touch with Cheshire Libre. An unspoken rule between us, you might say.”
……
“A being whose existence I might endanger or manipulate through my power, thereby offending that man’s sensibilities. Enoch’s daughter is among those beings.”
Oscar’s mouth fell open at the piercing assessment.
‘Damn serpent. He sees everything from where he sits.’
The Emperor grasped it all with perfect clarity.
“But knowing that his daughter is the finest card to crush Enoch—how could I not use her?”
Oscar laughed in disbelief.
‘So you’re using me to accomplish what you can’t touch directly?’
He had no intention of draining his Life Force by touching Lilis directly, nor of creating Cheshire’s displeasure by taking the child hostage himself.
But to control Enoch, he had no choice but to use his daughter—so he was dumping the role of threatening the child onto Oscar.
“I’ll take the Rubinstein princess as a hostage. But the fallout afterward—Cheshire Libre’s wrath—I should bear that alone, yes? That’s what you’re saying?”
“Why? Can’t you do it?”
…….
“Oscar Manuel.”
Nicholas curled one corner of his mouth upward, smiling viciously.
“The balance of power has tipped decisively now. Stop playing that annoying bat game, darting back and forth, babbling about neutrality.”
Leaning forward, Nicholas pressed on with a cutting edge to his voice.
“If you want to wash away your past insolence toward me and continue as a power-holder in the empire, you’d better show me some sincerity, hadn’t you?”
Oscar stared at Nicholas, dumbfounded, and inwardly conceded the point.
‘The man’s got a vicious brain.’
The Emperor’s judgment was flawless.
Anticipating Enoch’s movements and moving to crush him first.
Using his daughter as leverage to control him.
Thinking ahead about the currents of power, declining to act directly while palming the role off onto Oscar, and simultaneously—
pulling the neutral Magic Tower firmly over to his own side. A perfect finish.
‘It’s chilling. If this had been his first attempt… wouldn’t everything have gone exactly as he planned?’
Oscar in his past life was merely a power-holder who cared only for his own portion, someone who hated being bothered.
He’d played at boldness when the situation allowed him to tout neutrality and such, but he wouldn’t have hesitated in a moment where the power balance had clearly shifted—he’d have simply done as instructed.
He would have taken Lilis as a hostage without question.
And then everything would have fallen apart.
But.
‘Your mistake is—’
not knowing.
That this is the second attempt.
And also—
the bond between Oscar and Lilis, something so profound that no outsider could even guess at it.
Now that ‘lost time’ was gone.
Those awful memories of the past life too.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Oscar smiled brightly.
“Of course. I’ll do as you command.”
The choice to coerce the neutral Magic Tower Master and hand over the child.
It was certainly clever.
“Taking the girl and forgetting my past disrespect—for me, that’s a profitable transaction.”
Sadly, that strategy had only been optimal when there were no ‘failed timelines’ behind him.
For a Returnee who’d come back from terrible failure, for Oscar who’d grown to love the child enough to throw away his own life—
‘You’ve handed the fish to the cat, you bastard.’
—could any decision have been worse than giving up the hostage?

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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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