The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 177

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

Episode 177
177
When footage of the rebellion appeared, people were momentarily taken aback.
After all, even among users who claimed to have traveled through many regions, the City was the absolute maximum they had reached.
Of course, they had been allowed to traverse multiple cities within the same nation, but for those who had never ventured beyond the City, this news could seem rather peculiar.
Well, but what does it matter if it seems entertaining, right?
Some thought this way, but many users did not.
In fact, far more did not.
Who were they?
None other than those active in the Baroque Empire.
They all spoke in unison.
Operating in the Baroque Empire was no trivial matter, they said.
There were certainly abundant resources and numerous Hunting Grounds scattered throughout.
Moreover, there were even cities where one could purchase Rare items from shops.
It was a region with exceptional resources and Hunting Grounds.
Vast enough to accommodate many users comfortably.
Because of this, many chose the Baroque Empire at the outset.
But they could only regret it soon after.
Was it because of Kaiser?
That wasn’t without reason, but the nobles and city Mayors were the greater culprit.
There were many nobles who deceived users.
Thus, the discontent of Baroque Empire users accumulated gradually.
But what could be done about it?
One could only endure and live with it.
Within the game, the power of nobility was absolute.
But what was this?
Not only did those wretched nobles run rampant, but Kaiser did as well.
And now Jin-woo, who disposed of such a Kaiser, steps forward to take down the Emperor himself?
Does this even make sense?
-The Emperor must be genuinely shocked;;;;
-For real;;;;
-Wait, rebellion is possible?
-I’m not sure, but if Jin-woo uploaded the footage, there must be a possibility, right?
-Yeah! That must be it!
-Ah, is the Baroque Empire finally becoming livable?
Everyone erupted in cheers.
For those active in the Baroque Empire, Jin-woo held the status of a savior, while other users were reaching for popcorn in anticipation of the entertaining spectacle about to unfold.
Among all these people, Jin-woo was watching a film and chuckling to himself.
Completely unaware of Young-jin’s thoughts.
-Hey, is this really okay?
“What, why? Again?”
Jin-woo spoke with obvious annoyance.
Young-jin asked back, his tone uncertain.
-I mean, is it really okay to broadcast something like treason in advance like this?
“How are the subscribers reacting?”
-The reaction is killing it! They’re going absolutely wild. I think it’s mostly people active in the Baroque Empire, but even those who aren’t are enjoying it as content.
“So what’s the problem?”
-What if there are users aligned with the Baroque Empire side?
That was precisely Young-jin’s concern.
If users aligned with the Empire saw the video and prepared accordingly, wouldn’t that become a problem?
It was a fairly valid and sharp question.
But Jin-woo responded with a scoff instead.
“That’s impossible.”
-Why? Isn’t it possible?
“No, the probability approaches zero infinitely.”
-To that degree?
“Yeah, you don’t know how rotten the Baroque Empire’s idiots are. Say users managed to curry favor with the nobility—but who was the best at that in the Baroque Empire? Who actually succeeded at it?”
-Kaiser?
“Exactly. But even Kaiser spent an astronomical amount of money, and the nobles didn’t even flinch—he barely acquired a single territory. Do you really think it makes sense that despite pouring out that much money, he couldn’t even establish connections, let alone acquire anything substantial?”
Now that he mentioned it, that was true.
How corrupt and dismissive of users would the nobility have to be to react that way?
Kaiser had poured out money without even establishing connections.
If Kaiser had truly connected with the nobility, he would be preparing for a comeback even now, but he wasn’t.
Kaiser had deleted his channel and hadn’t logged in for days.
He’d essentially given up entirely.
If he’d had connections, he would have made some move regardless.
Even the other executives were the same as Kaiser.
Particularly Valen and Raigan, who could be called his right and left hands, had supposedly created a new Guild and were starting from scratch.
If Kaiser truly had connections, would they have done that?
Moreover, if he were preparing for a comeback, his close associates Raigan and Valen wouldn’t be in that situation.
Young-jin could understand that now.
“From the start, the Baroque Empire’s nobility view users as lower than commoners. Those blessed by the Goddess who came to this land? They don’t care. They’re the type who don’t even believe in the Goddess and follow the Emperor instead. It’s practically a miracle they don’t actively oppress users.”
-Ah, I see.
“Now that you understand, stop bothering me. I have a meeting soon.”
-Got it. I’ll send you the video once it’s finished.
“Okay.”
After ending the call, Jin-woo chuckled softly and recalled several of his plans once more.
Treason.
Or more precisely, reclamation.
Reclaiming the Empire.
While there were indeed more nobles that Jin-woo had just mentioned, there were certainly some who weren’t aligned with him.
And all of those nobles had joined hands with Count Zapin.
“Hmm.”
To topple the Empire, the Emperor had to be struck down without fail.
But before striking the Emperor, there were several who needed to be dealt with first.
Marquis Kawen, who could be called the Emperor’s closest confidant, and Count Whinter, who was Marquis Kawen’s brother-in-law.
These two had to be eliminated before the Emperor could be struck.
However, since Marquis Kawen was one of the few called a Sword Master in the Empire, striking him immediately posed considerable burden.
More than anything, there was a separate reason why Count Whinter needed to be dealt with before Marquis Kawen.
It was simply that he held a tight grip on the various supplies delivered to the Imperial Palace.
The amount supplied to Marquis Kawen’s household was also enormous.
In other words.
‘If I strike Count Whinter’s household, I can cut off supplies right from the start.’
In warfare, supply lines are quite crucial.
But to start by severing them?
It’s as good as winning more than half the battle before it even begins.
So I strike Count Whinter’s household first, then Marquis Kawen, and finally the Imperial Palace.
After striking Count Whinter’s household and moving quickly against Marquis Kawen’s, I can seize the advantage of a surprise attack, but the final strike on the Imperial Palace won’t allow for that.
But that’s actually fine.
If I eliminate those two, the Imperial Palace’s conditions for victory shrink considerably.
Most importantly, all the righteous nobles aside from the corrupt ones were uniting.
Under the name of Count Zapin.
There were even Duke houses among them.
‘I can practically say we’ve already won.’
Though I still can’t afford to be careless about this.
As I thought about the war council to come, I chuckled like a child who’d found an amusing toy and murmured to myself.
“Shall I go try my hand at being a commander?”
* * *
Count Whinter’s household could be considered quite an illustrious family in the Baroque Empire.
Originally wealthy, Count Whinter’s household became immeasurably richer after establishing large-scale trade routes.
The fact that they even managed to arrange a marriage with Marquis Kawen’s household, who could be called the Emperor’s closest confidant, showed just how much influence they wielded.
Having accumulated enormous wealth, Count Whinter’s household seized hegemony among the central nobility and thereafter enjoyed uninterrupted success.
They were the in-laws of Marquis Kawen, the Emperor’s closest confidant.
What could they possibly fear?
Naturally, a territory that had accumulated such wealth could only prosper.
Yet his territory showed not a trace of vitality.
It was simply because despite accumulating such wealth, the taxes he levied on his subjects were absurdly high.
The subjects wanted to leave, but other places were no different from here.
If anything, the situation was slightly better because trade routes were open.
Taxes were expensive, but at least supplies were abundant.
Most people lived through each day with difficulty, finding solace in such small comforts.
Yet in stark contrast, the Inner Castle held festivals nearly every day without a care for the suffering of the Territory’s people in the Outer Castle.
Beautiful women filled the halls, and nobles of every rank indulged themselves in revelry at the sight.
“Ahahaha! Come now! Everyone, enjoy yourselves! We nobles of our faction have every right to indulge in such luxuries! Indeed, we do!”
“Hahaha! Count Whinter, you truly are something! A festival of such scale!”
“Remarkable!”
“My, what an impressive gathering of beauties!”
“Ahahaha! Even commoners have their tricks, and as for beauty—well, there are always commoners of acceptable appearance to be found anywhere.”
Though Count Whinter spoke thus, everyone present knew the truth.
Assembling women of such caliber required no small sum of money.
It would cost nearly a month’s operating expenses for an average territory.
Knowing this well, all the nobles fawned over Count Whinter.
He squeezed blood from the people and monopolized all wealth from the trade routes.
One might frown at his greedy, pig-like appearance, yet all seemed in good spirits, laughing heartily and enjoying the party.
The other nobles watched Count Whinter with amused chuckles, engaging in lively conversation.
Most of their talk centered on how beautiful some noble’s daughter was.
Nothing but sordid gossip.
Yet among it, some interesting tidbits did emerge.
“I hear that several nobles have been gathering together?”
“Ah! I’ve heard the same—provincial nobles are said to be uniting.”
“Hmm. Provincial nobles, you say… Well, there’s no reason for us to concern ourselves with them.”
From the perspective of these central nobles, provincial nobles held little real power.
Yet some watched with more serious expressions.
Naturally, they had reason to be cautious.
Though central nobles might hold greater political power, the provincial nobles commanded superior military strength.
Those positioned at the Empire’s borders required military forces to defend against foreign nations and the countless monsters pouring from the Demon Realm.
In terms of military might alone, they possessed the strength to crush central nobles in a single blow.
But such a thing was hardly possible.
“Kahahaha! Are you all so worried? With our Emperor and Marquis Kawen holding their positions, what could mere provincial nobles possibly do?”
“Ahahaha! Y-yes, that’s true!”
“Haha, indeed.”
“We needn’t even trouble the Emperor. Marquis Kawen or our Count Whinter alone could handle it, could they not?”
“Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Absolutely!”
They chattered away and laughed dismissively.
Even as they spoke, they concerned themselves not with the shifting political landscape, but only with immediate pleasure and indulgence.
As if nothing else mattered.
Thus they remained ignorant.
The provincial nobles they so despised had gathered and now stood at the very threshold of the Inner Castle, signaling to one another.
War would soon erupt, yet the central nobles remained oblivious, still lost in their revelry and excess.

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