The Scoundrel Prince Sold Out the Empire - Chapter 62

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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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Episode 62: Wings of the Bat (7)
To put it in one word, Rensuka’s reason for arranging this meeting was simple.
Hospitality.
Lavish hospitality at that—extravagantly so.
“Curious, isn’t it, Commander? So close to the sea, yet not a single fish on the table.”
Rensuka laughed dramatically, his whole frame shaking.
“When you eat fish and shellfish every day, it becomes something of a ritual to seek out places like this when entertaining distinguished guests.”
He seized a roasted suckling pig’s hind leg and tore into it with gusto.
“Besides, being by the sea makes it so—the beasts from inland become luxuries here. Ehehehe!”
‘Something tells me he didn’t come here just for the meat.’
Zion’s gaze drifted to a corner of the room. Three musicians sat with their instruments, watching carefully for a signal.
He’d turned away all the beautiful women who’d tried to enter moments before.
The fact that both musicians and women had filed in as though they were routine suggested this place served purposes beyond fine dining.
“It’s a courtesy for you, Commander. I doubt your military wages would cover this.”
Watching Zion speak, Rensuka laughed emptily in return.
Half a day ago, this man had flushed with embarrassment in the interrogation room. That seemed impossible now.
‘Surely he didn’t interpret turning away the women as a signal to have a private conversation? That would make him…’
No. Impossible.
The musicians were still in the corner—he wasn’t stupid.
“Your Highness. There is something urgent I must discuss with you.”
Ah.
So he really was an idiot.
‘Winter said he was the powerless sort at Naval Base Headquarters, always on the verge of being dismissed. So this is purely incompetence? No wonder Winter showed him such open contempt.’
Notably, Winter hadn’t remained outside waiting as befitted his position as aide.
The person they were meeting wasn’t just anyone—it was Commander Rensuka.
It would serve Zion’s interests far better for Winter to discuss business matters with Director Eitar than to wait on ceremony.
There was no point wasting time with both of them present.
Winter’s demeanor toward Rensuka had been almost dismissive.
“I was genuinely moved by the dignity you displayed today.”
‘Commander. Please don’t. You’re making me share Winter’s attitude.’
To stand before someone who had openly trampled the organization he’d devoted his life to and spout such flattery?
Being dull and tactless was one thing—something that simply made people keep their distance.
But lacking conviction and integrity? That was sin itself.
In other words.
“Heh. Commander, you’re more interesting than you look, aren’t you? Pour me a drink. Put your heart into it, yes? I’ll discard it if the taste is off.”
Zion extended a wine cup, his posture crooked.
His tone—and his manner—were far more insulting than before.
“To be given the honor of pouring for the blood of one who sits in the Divine Seat! I am truly blessed, Your Highness!”
Rensuka’s speech and bearing grew even softer.
As Zion’s manners degraded, or perhaps several times over.
“Ah, fine taste. Have a drink yourself.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Rensuka made a show of wiping his hands and cup on his sleeve, then extended the cup with both hands respectfully.
Zion tilted the bottle over it.
Hastily—far too hastily for such a small cup.
Splash, splash, splash!
The cup brimmed full in less than a second.
It would be more accurate to say he’d poured wine directly onto Rensuka’s palm.
“If I’m going to bother restraining even the Empire’s worst wretch, you’d have come prepared for this much, wouldn’t you?”
……
A lengthy silence stretched out.
Then came a soft laugh.
The silence wasn’t born of anger or offense.
The reason for Rensuka’s pause was plain to see.
It was written all over his face.
He was calculating—which comment would earn him more favor?
‘Ah. The true strength of the Empire.’
Watching this embodiment of incompetence, Zion felt the Empire’s power in his bones.
It had to be this way.
This fool held a position within the top ten of Naval Base Headquarters?
‘I’d have liked that, Rensuka. If only this were a country where you could rise high even through incompetence, as long as you offered up everything but your liver and gallbladder.’
The Empire, at its foundation, operates on a state philosophy bordering on the worship of strength.
That’s why they parade chivalry and honor about so much.
It’s like a mask worn by the strong who reign over the weak and claim everything for themselves.
‘And beneath such strong men, the cunning and the spineless always gather.’
“Colonel. Whose backside did you have to grovel before to earn those two stars?”
Language offensive enough to provoke an immediate duel without hesitation.
Yet the colonel answered as he had before—completely unbothered.
“Well, it was… a few years ago, a senior officer who has since passed away…”
“Never mind.”
Dead meant there was nothing more to hear.
Besides, I wasn’t curious anyway.
So he could be used and discarded without consequences. Perfect.
‘A man incompetent and friendless enough to be openly shunned even within Naval Base Headquarters itself?’
Still, he had the bearing of someone who’d clawed his way up through sycophancy and networking, so at least he grasped the concept of danger.
This made things easy.
“Colonel. Drink.”
I extended the bottle as I spoke.
“Not more, not less—just enough to match the size of your desire to become the pet of this prince. Ha ha.”
It was only the second time in my life I’d called someone a dog.
The first had been Winter, when I was forcing myself to play the role of a degenerate prince, and even then my heart felt uneasy after saying it.
‘You’re different, Colonel. The name suits you perfectly.’
Even now, it did.
Whatever his master offers, he shoves into his mouth without question.
‘Bad money drives out good.’
In the Empire as it stands, a man lacking all talent can still climb to high office through connections, flattery, and bribery.
Because the nation is strong.
But here’s the thing.
‘If the incompetent grow so numerous that capable men cannot hold them up—’
Suppose there exists one colonel, honest and able.
Rensuka would move heaven and earth to force that man into retirement.
“Aha ha ha! I’ve seen your loyalty clearly. So I swear to you—I have every confidence you are talent destined for greater heights, and I intend to move on that conviction.”
Joy flooded Rensuka’s face, which had been flushing crimson.
“A subject of the Empire honors you—a member of the Divine Clan!”
He staggered to his feet and performed an exaggerated Bow of Respect.
While I stared coldly at the crown of his head, my voice dripped with cheerful warmth.
“But I’m sorry—how can I help it? I don’t trust people easily. I’ll need to verify that your loyalty is sincere, won’t I?”
“Please, cast aside such apologies! It is simply the duty of a subordinate to follow.”
“You’ve learned that very well. You must come from a good family. Though it couldn’t possibly be better than mine.”
At the light jest, the colonel laughed until his sides ached.
‘Here’s the truth, Colonel. I have nothing I can actually give you.’
That’s why I’d made the excuse about testing his loyalty.
Promotion? Preventing discharge? I’d need people in Naval Base Headquarters to pull strings.
But I couldn’t say it was difficult just now.
The Ninth Prince, Zion Riobeldt, was—well.
The sort who spouted grand lies even when he had nothing to show for them?
“Let’s begin your first test. About what Remikoning the Marquis was planning to do.”
“Smuggling, Your Highness?”
“Supposedly a decent little earner. You must be in on it already, naturally?”
“Well… the thing is…”
Ah. Too weak to get in on it.
“Good fortune smiles on you. From now on, you’ll earn yourself some pocket money.”
“Your Highness—you mean you’ll lend your support?”
Me? I have no such power.
“Of course. I permit it. Should anyone object or resist, use my name. One storage room out of such a massive warship—what’s the problem? If they keep refusing, tell them to bring me. I’ll handle things from behind the scenes. Don’t worry.”
It was, needless to say, one hundred percent pure bluff.
‘Will this actually work? Well, if it doesn’t, so be it.’
Besides, if it blew up into a military tribunal and his rank got stripped or his neck got cut, that wasn’t my concern.
“Oh, and one more thing. I’d like to earn some pocket money myself. Once you secure space within the ship, let me know. Preferably somewhere larger than this cabin.”
“You speak of quite substantial space, Your Highness?”
His lips curved upward as he watched discomfort bloom across the man’s face.
It would hardly do to let bluster end in bluster alone, would it?
“Come. Look at this.”
What he withdrew from his pocket was a small piece of Gold Ore.
Director Rensuka’s mouth fell open at once.
‘I brought this to show Eitar and propose the venture, but it seems circumstances have changed.’
“This is…….”
“Yes. Gold. Mined from Deber. Now do you understand why I need a space far larger than this room?”
They’d been mining gold continuously in Teragrad, but converting it to cash and actually spending it proved difficult.
Because he’d registered the mine as a tin mine.
Yet to register it officially as a gold mine now, paying vast taxes in the process—well, that was another matter entirely.
He couldn’t shake the memory of swimming through a warehouse filled with gold.
If he paid taxes, roughly thirty percent would vanish. He couldn’t possibly surrender such a fortune to the Empire.
‘So you’re going to have to step up, Director. If things go wrong, I’ll have your head on a pike.’
But contrary to Zion’s hidden thoughts.
……
After a moment of silence, Director Rensuka answered in a solemn voice.
“I shall carry out the Prince’s command without fail. Glory to the Sun!”
‘What is this excessive reaction? I think he’s misunderstood something.’
For Director Rensuka, misunderstanding was inevitable.
The man carried himself with such absolute confidence, showing not a shred of hesitation.
And on top of that, he’d casually dropped the enormous secret of illegal mining.
It was the limit of a mediocre mind.
He’d merely shown the Gold Ore, not handed it over—how could he possibly know whether it was purchased or genuinely mined? There was no way to tell.
Director Rensuka’s thoughts didn’t reach that far.
His brain was only ablaze with imaginings of the spoils that might fall to him.
“This much should be sufficient, yes?”
He rose to his feet. He’d said all that needed saying, and he’d given the Director what he wanted, even if it was mere illusion. There was no reason to linger.
‘Ah, I forgot.’
“One last thing. What was that officer’s name again? The Major.”
“Major Mac Alister, Your Highness?”
“That’s the one. He personally denounced his own father. Shows remarkable loyalty to the Empire, doesn’t it? A talent too valuable to waste. Look after him, Director.”
In any case, Mac Alister was a whistleblower.
If he favored him too openly, there would be endless gossip.
“Without question! I stake my very name on it—I shall watch over him with particular care!”
Rensuka bowed deeply, his face wreathed in smiles.
Zion looked down at that bent spine and thought to himself.
‘I’ve given him nothing but a name, but still I wish him to climb ever higher. The fall will be all the more exquisite then.’
And on that note.
It was time to crown the final moments of the one he’d cast down with his own hands only yesterday.
Fwooooosh—!
The sound of raven’s wings beating from deep within.
Zion Blizhe, shot dead, had returned.
To personally execute one of the ten traitors.
‘I need to contact Reianna.’

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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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