On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 408

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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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First Day of Infiltration, The Organization Was Destroyed — Episode 408
The Pleasure of Power (2)
“Ah.”
I’d forgotten for a moment.
The man before me was a Dark Ghost.
In raw power, there was no limit to what he could do.
‘Wait, the Dark Ghost wouldn’t clean this up himself. Is he trying to hold Ziel Steelheart in check?’
A new misunderstanding took root.
‘Surely he’s not planning to swallow the entire Steelheart Territory?!’
My hands trembled.
This man before my eyes, this Dark Ghost, was preparing for something enormous.
A hero of the Empire!
Challenging Ziel Steelheart itself!
‘Truly, the Dark Ghost is something else. Then is he aiming for the overthrow of the Empire?’
To touch Ziel Steelheart was to touch the Empire itself—they were one and the same.
If anything happened to Ziel, the Empire would rage.
‘What move is he planning?’
Though my questions were many, one thing was certain.
I was in the same boat as the Dark Ghost, and I had to show loyalty by any means.
“What’s on your mind?”
“Ah, um. It’s nothing. I pledge my loyalty.”
“See that you do.”
The report continued.
“To summarize, the restored Steelheart Territory consists of the old Steelheart Family Estate grounds and its people—with considerable chaos due to the absence of public order. If I were Ziel Steelheart, I’d likely begin with reconstruction and caring for the territorial people.”
“And why would that be necessary?”
“Nobles believe they were born first and the people afterward, but it’s the reverse. Without the people of the territory, nobles are nothing.”
Berte made this dangerous statement without hesitation, though he caught himself—yet he felt no regret.
Berte was born of the lower classes.
Publicly, he posed as a discarded noble, but in truth, he had clawed his way up from the very bottom, enduring every contempt along the way.
Yet Ziel took little interest in Berte’s origins.
“I see. Care for the territorial people. Understood.”
“Sir?”
“I said I understand.”
Berte, who had worried despite his lack of regret, felt relief wash over him.
“What else?”
“Well… to care for the people, you’ll need food supplies and facility improvements. The mill is barely functioning, of course. Other facilities and sanitation are in terrible shape. If you visit and offer even modest aid, you’ll earn their favor before Ziel Steelheart ever could.”
“I see. Understood. Anything more?”
“Recruiting the Rim Family in advance might also be wise. They’ll likely be tempted. Of course, they won’t come forward easily when the opponent is Ziel Steelheart, but…”
“Hmm. Understood. Anything else?”
“And finally, there’s apparently some madman at the old Steelheart Estate grounds.”
“A madman?”
“Yes. Whenever people try to enter, he rages like fire and charges at them. Though it’s mostly useless land anyway—only the traces of the mansion remain.”
A madman, then.
“Understood.”
Having heard much sound advice, Ziel asked a question.
“Berte.”
“Yes. Dark Ghost.”
A wave of tension washed over me instinctively.
Was there something he meant to say?
“The tea is delicious. Do you have more?”
“Ah, yes, yes, of course!”
I was pleased that the tea was good, at least.
But a small accident occurred in the midst of this.
Berte rose to pour freshly brewed tea himself, and while standing beside him pouring—
“Hm?”
A few drops fell onto Kelvin’s shoulder, who was caught under a Perception Distortion.
Kelvin tried to stand at once.
But Ziel stopped him.
“Sit, subordinate. He’s a witness, yes, but still useful.”
“B-but.”
“You cannot treat him.”
“Yes, sir.”
This time Berte nearly dropped the entire teapot itself, not just the water!
‘What was that? What did I just see?’
The feeling of becoming the protagonist in a novel who has learned something they should never have known!
But he’d survived.
“Berte, close your eyes for a moment.”
“What?”
Thud.
Berte crumpled to the floor.
There would be no serious pain.
“That’s the second time now.”
“You fool! Because of you, I’ve just offended a strict man!”
“Ah, ah… broad shoulders.”
So Berte lost consciousness twice over.
And when he came to, he found himself alone in his quiet room.
“Huh? Why am I on the floor again……?”
Berte muttered to himself, seriously debating whether to call a doctor.
“But when will the Dark Ghost arrive? I need to tell him that the Secret Arts User came and went last time…….”
* * *
The day after the night journey.
Ziel had made his preparations to go to the Imperial Palace.
He was heading there to receive a reward for thoroughly eliminating the remnants of the Red Raven.
“Indeed, Boss, that’s impressive. Now the Imperial Palace is actually sending a carriage to the Academy.”
An Imperial Carriage had come all the way to the Academy to pick up Ziel!
Shimmering with golden light and bearing the Imperial crest carved in grand relief, the carriage was the very epitome of splendor!
“Inefficient.”
“Sir?”
“Walking would be faster.”
“But there’s the matter of dignity. If you opened the window and waved at the citizens, you’d probably feel quite pleased.”
“Why would that feel good?”
“Well… it’s a symbol of power?”
Ziel couldn’t comprehend it.
“Is that what you call power?”
“It’s human nature.”
He fell into philosophical contemplation.
‘Then am I not human?’
One thing was certain: it wasn’t a human strength he possessed.
“I’ll be going.”
“Boss, I hope you find a dance partner at the masked ball.”
“Not interested.”
Ziel dismissed Gilbert’s remark and headed toward the Imperial Palace.
The treatment he received had definitely improved compared to before.
Of course, Ziel still thought it inefficient.
But to adapt to the world, one had to understand what “procedure” meant.
Ziel sat quietly in the carriage, concentrating on the sounds drifting in from outside.
“What’s this? An Imperial Carriage all of a sudden?”
“Has His Highness the Prince appeared?”
“I heard both of them were dispatched to the Northern Region, didn’t you?”
“Then who is it? Ah! Could it be……?”
The citizens seemed to have roughly figured out who was inside the carriage.
And then a problem arose.
“Show us your face!”
“The Empire’s hero! Ziel Steelheart!”
“And I’ve never even gotten to see Festa!”
The citizens were clamoring to catch a glimpse of Ziel.
In truth, situations like this were nearly unprecedented.
It was standard practice for whoever rode in a carriage—whether royal or noble—to open the window and show their face, waving at the crowd.
Knock, knock.
“What is the matter?”
“Excuse me, Teacher Ziel Steelheart. I apologize, but it might be better to show your face to the citizens for a moment.”
“Is that a rule?”
“Not exactly a rule, but… if the carriage keeps stopping like this, it will be problematic.”
Ziel pondered briefly, then understanding dawned.
“So it’s one of the procedures, then. I understand.”
“If you want to put it that way, yes.”
Ziel immediately opened the window.
And waved his hand.
Very broadly.
“Oh! Over there! Over there!”
“He’s really handsome!”
“Teacher Ziel! Look this way!”
The citizens’ enthusiasm was extraordinary.
“But he’s waving his hand so dramatically.”
“He’s got real showmanship.”
Whistles sounded, and flowers that had been flying off the shelves at the sudden commotion came raining down toward Ziel.
‘An assassination attempt?’
Of course not.
Fortunately, the road opened up ahead.
Ziel felt an odd sensation watching the citizens cheering for him.
A kind of elevation, perhaps.
He still couldn’t quite name it precisely.
‘Is this what power feels like?’
It seemed pleasant.
Feeling good confirmed it.
Then power was something that made people happy.
But he had read otherwise.
Power sometimes made people unhappy.
Not just oneself, but those around you as well.
‘Then is power inherently wrong?’
While Ziel sank into philosophical contemplation, the carriage raced down the open road and entered the Imperial Palace.
A welcoming party from the Imperial Family was already lined up waiting from the palace gates.
He recognized some faces.
The Imperial Knight Order, always deployed for occasions like this.
Still, today their expressions were brighter than usual.
Because their subject was Ziel.
“Sir Relio, is that really…”
“Quiet, apprentice. Where did Sir Eton go? Isn’t anyone managing the trainees?”
“I-I apologize.”
For the Apprentice Knights, he was an object of admiration!
The rumor that Ziel had split a massive tree in two on Osu Island had already spread widely.
And rumors, as they say, accumulate details.
“Is it true he split the sea as well?”
“Just the sea? I heard he split part of a mountain too.”
“How is someone so skilled…… Why in the world is he at the Academy?”
Not just the trainees, but the junior official members too had eyes gleaming with excitement.
They would have no regrets if they could exchange even a few words.
Unfortunately, the Imperial Knight Order was always merely background decoration at the Masked Ball.
It meant being assigned escort duties for distinguished guests.
“Sir Relio, would it be possible to invite Teacher Ziel to the Iron Keep sometime?”
“Sir Eton, would you control this thoughtless apprentice… Eh? Sir Eton?”
“Hehe. I’m excited too, you see.”
Relio eventually sighed.
The Imperial Knight Order’s dignity was crumbling.
‘Well, who could maintain dignity in front of him anyway—except His Majesty the Emperor.’
Rumor had it the Mage Corps had made a foolish blunder outside the palace.
Against Teacher Ziel, no less!
It was most welcome news.
Word was the unit commander had become furiously angry.
The very commander standing right there, struggling to conceal his expression.
‘What a sight. Always spoiling for a fight.’
The Imperial Knight Order and the Mage Corps—the twin pillars of the Empire’s military strength—were naturally at odds.
The mages’ characteristic sense of superiority led them to regard the knights as beneath them by several degrees.
Though the knights themselves weren’t particularly gracious about it, either.
‘He’s going to have a fit.’
The sight of the Corps Commander trailing after Ziel like a duckling was thoroughly entertaining. Even the Imperial Knight Commander Benjamin, seated at the same table, was struggling to maintain his composure—and failing spectacularly.
“Chief Relio, mind your expression.”
“I’ll correct it at once.”
Alyx, who had returned to the Knight Order for the break period, found herself stifling laughter as well.
Everyone save the Emperor was hanging on that Corps Commander’s every word, and yet here he was, reduced to this.
Power was indeed a terrifying thing.
‘I wonder if Teacher Ziel truly understands what power means.’
Had he cared for power, he would never have remained at the Academy in the first place.
According to what Department Head Berhal had said, he’d shown no interest in leaving.
‘Could it be… a long, measured breath before something far greater?’
If one had to name the most inscrutable person in the world, it would surely be Ziel.
In any case, Ziel was presented with formal wear in a chamber reserved only for the highest dignitaries, and donned it before standing before the Emperor.
“You have surprised me once again, Ziel Steelheart.”
“I merely did what was necessary.”
Perfect humility.
The Emperor was pleased.
The administrators exhaled in relief.
At least this time there was no irreverent opening—a blessing beyond measure.
“You have once again eliminated a threat to this Empire. More than that, you even brought them all in alive and turned them over to the Imperial Knight Order. Therefore I ask: when such great deeds are done, they must be met with fitting reward. Yet whenever I have asked what you would have, your answers have always displeased me.”
“Displeased you, Your Majesty? In what way?”
“You have chosen only trifles instead of rewards commensurate with your achievements.”
There was truth in that.
At least, from the Emperor’s perspective.
Ziel had requested only such modest things that those presenting the rewards felt embarrassed.
That was why the Emperor had taken it upon himself to grant the restoration of the Steelheart Family name and the bestowal of fiefs.
But this time would be different.
“This time, speak freely. What do you desire?”
Ziel answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Then I would ask for power.”
The audience hall fell silent in an instant.
Power?
‘Has he finally revealed his ambition?’
‘Power… so what is he after? Surely not the position of Imperial Knight Commander?’
In that silence, countless thoughts crossed.
And from within that silence, Ziel’s words continued.
“I seek not the kind of power that brings misfortune to others, but power that can bring joy to myself and to those I hold dear.”

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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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