A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

41 – War on the Table (6)

Erwin Ipheria.

As for her story, even though I couldn’t meet her in person, I was familiar with the information.

Occupation: Chairman of Iperia Industries.

What you need to pay attention to is ‘industry’.

‘It’s a concept that doesn’t exist in the kingdom.’

It is a huge company that deals with the entire magical engineering industry.

If we interpret it in a kingdom style, it can be said to be a form where several upper parts are united as one.

‘It feels like the age difference is already widening.’

As the kingdom refined and refined its traditions and etiquette, the empire developed technology.

Not only in magic engineering, but also in science, commerce, and culture.

‘The reality is that military power, that is, everything except the power of a single entity is being pushed back.’

In fact, at this point, the only thing that can give the kingdom an advantage over the empire is a sword master who is suspiciously strong.

If it weren’t for the canyon, the kingdom would have long ago become a colony of the empire.

And various magic engineering items from Iperia must have arrived.

Something like a magic bike, a magic train, or an automatic security doll.

Erwin Ipheria is the president of the time, a talented person who inherited a large company from her father and turned it into the number one business in the empire.

Because the people are good, they are better than anyone else in the empire when it comes to technological development related to magic engineering.

‘It was a shame because I liked the people so much.’

For the record.

Although she was a great developer, she was not a great manager.

‘Everything was taken away by the emperor.’

All factories, starting with the Magic Engineering Research Institute, were taken away.

Despite being the mother of the emperor’s daughter and princess, she was robbed of everything.

‘Because I am a commoner.’

The empire declared that commoners could obtain high government positions, but this did not apply to Erwin.

‘We created a ladder for the commoners to climb, but the ceiling actually became stronger.’

The empress, who was of noble birth, did not allow Erwin to even enter her imperial palace.

‘I heard that as soon as she was born, the Crown Princess took her as her own daughter.’

Even as soon as her daughter was born, she was taken away and registered as an adopted daughter.

‘Fortunately, they seem to be seeing each other regularly, but I heard that she was seeing them as technical teachers rather than in a mother-daughter relationship.’

People in the world think that the granddaughter of the current emperor is the child of the crown princess, but no matter who sees it, this woman in front of her eyes is the mother of the granddaughter of the emperor.

‘Queen Carmen doesn’t know.’

Is her hidden information.

Although she mentioned her daughter a little while ago, if you ask her a bit more, she will probably change her stance by saying that she is not Hwang’s granddaughter, but her ‘daughter-like disciples.’

‘This is what I heard from the emperor in the first place.’

Unfortunately, that is knowledge obtained from the future, so it cannot be shared with anyone.

How did the emperor finance the war?

Purge the chairman.

All stocks are returned to the state.

Employees who protest are accidentally exposed to corruption and thrown into prison.

Weapons were produced in factories that manufactured daily necessities and transportation vehicles.

In this way, the emperor succeeded in raising the initial costs of the war.

-Women do not love, but dominate.

I still remember it because I was so proud of it.

-A huge amount of money was needed for the war, and it just so happened that the pockets left outside were full.

And so this woman met her doom.

She couldn’t even leave her last will to her biological daughter.

He was robbed and denied everything he had worked for, and was even stigmatized as someone who committed crimes and corruption in history.

He is a pitiful person.

But now I am the political son of Queen Carmen.

He just listens to the conversation silently in the background, but if the circumstances arise, he will step forward to help Queen Carmen.

‘I thought so, but this isn’t even a negotiation.’

Queen Carmen was fully prepared to deal with her empire.

She analyzed everything, including the facial expressions of her opponents and the political intentions behind each word, and tried to lead them in a direction that was beneficial to the kingdom.

“…Chairman Erwin.”

“Yes!!”

But, this is probably your first time dealing with someone like this.

“So, you are now saying that you can provide hundreds of billions of dollars in capital, but leave all operations to the kingdom, and the kingdom can handle everything on its own, including the academy director and teaching staff and operation plan?”

“Yes!!!”

Chairman Erwin is the opposite of Queen Carmen.

“As long as you meet a few demands, the kingdom can do whatever you want with the rest!”

“That request… hahahaha.”

You probably thought something like that.

‘Ask for the gates of the Gibraltar Gorge to be always open, a port in the Southern Strait, or a part of the kingdom’s land.’

A proposal that the kingdom cannot rashly accept.

You must have been thinking over and over again about how to refuse something like that and spend hundreds of billions of dollars on it.

“The Empire’s requirements are simple! One! Physical violence and physical punishment are prohibited! Two! Every year, 10 international students from the Empire must be accepted as new students! Three! The dormitory for the Empire’s children must have five managers. Let’s make it happen!”

“…….”

“That’s it! Oh, if there’s one more thing, can we pass through the Gibraltar Gorge on our first trip to the royal capital? Just for the kids!”

“Haa….”

Queen Carmen lets out her sigh openly.

“Huh? Oh, no? If you need more money, we’ll give you as much money as we can! If there are any problems with our demands, we can closely coordinate through discussions here!!”

“No, it’s okay. That much.”

Queen Carmen adjusted her posture and sat down again, trying to maintain her composure.

“…4 Things in total, including passing through Gibraltar just for the entrance ceremony. Is there anything more than that?”

“Yes! Nothing! Ah, if you need anything, please let us know! We will do our best to prepare for it!”

“…I would like to ask the opinions of those in charge of work from the Imperial Palace what they think.”

Queen Carmen pointed behind Chairman Erwin.

“The two ministers may not be practitioners, but they are experts in education and diplomacy, so what do they think about the current situation?”

“The experience of studying abroad in the Kingdom for three years will be of great help to the holistic growth of Empire students.”

The friendly-looking Minister of Education smiled and nodded.

“I am not forcing the imperial curriculum, but personally, I would like you to keep the age and grade level. It is a request, though.”

“First year at 17, third year at 19?”

“Yes.”

“…I don’t think there will be any major problems.”

Queen Carmen glances at me.

“If there is enough capital, it will only take three years to open an academy.”

If the Academy is created in 4 years, Princess Nana Naria will be 17 years old when she enrolls as a new student.

“What about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”

“As I said in advance in a letter, His Majesty the Emperor hopes that the two countries will build a sound relationship based on nurturing future talent.”

“…….”

“And Mr. Chairman, His Majesty the Emperor has entrusted him with ‘full authority’ regarding this matter.”

“…….”

This is something that no one in the kingdom can understand.

Ipheria is not a family, and Erwin is a commoner.

Such a being had higher authority than the ministers, and the emperor handed over full authority?

“Honestly, I don’t really understand. What the empire has to gain by spreading so much to the kingdom.”

In the end, it was Queen Carmen who collapsed first.

‘Normally, I would never say something like this.’

You look quite tired.

He gave me glances from time to time, but I just kept my mouth shut.

“What is the purpose? What can the empire gain by doing this?”

“If that’s what we get, it’s exactly as I said!”

Chairman Erwin smiled and stood up from his seat.

“Children’s diverse experiences! Exchanges between the kingdom and the empire! If we go further from here, I think it will be a small but big first step toward reconciliation between the two countries!”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes!”

The bright sky blue eyes were as clear and transparent as a cloudless sky.

“The grievances that have accumulated so far cannot be resolved in a short period of time. But I believe. After the children return to the kingdom and gradually begin to interact, when 50, 100, and 200 years have passed.”

None of these people here will be alive by then.

“Our future descendants may live in different countries and languages, but at least they will not point swords at each other and shed blood.”

“Such an ideal theory….”

“Queen.”

In the end, I whispered into Queen Carmen’s ear before she could stop her any further.

“People really have a lot of money.”

“…….”

“Personal assets will be equivalent to the palace’s annual budget. Obviously.”

“……!!”

Queen Carmen’s eyes shook for a moment.

“Really?”

“It’s an estimate, but it’s clear. If you look at the corporate value alone, it wouldn’t be strange to compare it not to the kingdom, but to the entire kingdom.”

“He is a kind of ‘king’.”

“Yes. When it comes to capital, he is the king.”

Queen Carmen nodded her head for a moment and then stood up from her seat.

“We sincerely thank Chairman Erwin Iferia for his suggestion. We will review this issue positively and respond in writing at a later date.”

Queen Carmen was the first to extend her hand.

“Ahh, really?! Be happy! Thank you!!”

Chairman Erwin immediately ran to the side of her table and grabbed Queen Carmen’s hand with both hands.

“Then, shall we write a detailed contract?”

The moment the word ‘contract’ came out.

“Yes, please do so.”

She smiled and pointed at her table, as if Queen Carmen was finally going to live.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Viscount Hex, and I will do it ourselves. Just as the contract was negotiated in writing, the two ministers will sit here.”

“Oh, what about me?”

“Chairman….”

Moment.

“This is a kid named Gray.”

Queen Carmen suddenly pointed at me.

“Gray? Take the Chairman and show him around the top of the 2nd Gate wall.”

“…I will do as you wish.”

For a moment, I wondered what kind of mother in the world would throw her political burden on her son.

“Chairman Erwin Iferia. It is an honor to serve you.”

“Oh my, I am truly honored! But….”

I greeted him politely, but Chairman Erwin tilted his head.

“The name is Gray, isn’t he the eldest son of the Gibraltar family?”

“…That’s right.”

“Wow! You got it right! Hee hee, high five!”

Although she was waving her hands out towards me, the chairman probably didn’t know that Queen Carmen behind her had a stiff expression on her face.

“Ah. Don’t you know the high five? This is where you clap your hands together like this.”

“No, I know. Just as the Chairman knows who I am.”

I haven’t introduced myself yet.

“I’m also a little interested in the empire.”

As the political son of Queen Carmen, I opened my mouth again, high-fiving Chairman Erwin.

“I will guide you up the wall, Chairman.”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on me.

Not only the kingdom’s knights, but also the empire’s people.

“…Imperial language?”

“I learned it.”

“…….”

Chairman Erwin’s expression hardened and he was taken aback by the fact that I was speaking the imperial language fluently.

“Then.”

Soon, Chairman Erwin lowered his head and whispered softly to me.

“Can I speak comfortably in the Imperial language…? As I try to speak in the Kingdom language, my brain starts to feel a bit dizzy.”

“You can speak comfortably. Language and tone of voice.”

I responded with a smile and held out my hand as if escorting him in royal manners.

“It is an honor to serve you, Lady.”

“Ahahahaha!!”

Chairman Erwin suddenly burst into laughter.

“Lady…! Ah, thank you, little knight. Then, please show me around.”

Chairman Erwin placed his hand over mine, a little awkwardly.

* * *

In a moment.

“This is the scenery!”

Chairman Erwin, who followed me without a single escort, enjoyed the view from the top of the castle wall with the wind.

“Aren’t you taking pictures?”

“Oh my. Is that what the master of Gibraltar is saying? Hey, you shouldn’t take pictures of other people’s military facilities!”

“Hot.”

“Oh my, are you smiling?”

“It’s okay to take a picture.”

At my words, Chairman Erwin immediately opened his eyes and glared at me.

“What? Boy, I don’t think you know much….”

“I am here now on behalf of the Margrave of Gibraltar. I mean the Margrave. Just as you are here on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…….”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Hmm, not like a child, but like an adult. Are the children of the kingdom like adults from such a young age?”

“I learned the truth of the world a little earlier than others.”

“Oh my. You even use difficult words. It’s really surprising.”

Chairman Erwin clicked his tongue and carefully took out his camera.

“Okay, then one piece-“

“Would you like me to take a picture?”

“What?”

“If you like taking pictures yourself, I can’t help it…”

“Ah, no! I would be grateful if you took a picture. The method is….”

“I saw you taking pictures when we first met.”

After receiving her camera from her chairman Erwin, I pointed it straight at her and pressed the shutter.

“Aw?! Hey! At least prepare…!”

“You came out beautifully. Naturally.”

“…Hmph. Look. Are you okay?”

Chairman Erwin clicked his tongue while looking at the photo I took.

“You’re talented, aren’t you? You have the talent to become a photographer later!”

“You may be the first person to ask the heir of Gibraltar to become a photographer.”

“Why? You don’t know the future, right?”

Chairman Erwin continued speaking while looking through the photos stored in the projection box inside the camera.

“You can take pictures as a hobby while serving as Margrave. Being a Margrave is a title, not a job, right?”

“…The Chairman is a really interesting person.”

“You are the one who said that the people of Gibraltar are so cruel that they kill people just by swinging a knife, but that is clearly a lie.”

“…….”

If Queen Carmen had said this, she would have thought, ‘Does she know?’, But this woman doesn’t need to think that far ahead.

“Chairman. You said earlier that you have a daughter.”

“Huh? Ah, ah, yes! Well, I do have a daughter. That’s…”

As expected, as expected.

“All the children of our company’s employees are my sons and daughters! Our company… Well, the top is like a family!”

Turn the horse around.

Smiling and grinning with effort is an expression that says, ‘I guess this is enough.’

“In that case, Chairman.”

I extended my hand towards President Erwin’s left hand and lifted her hand lightly.

“Now.”

“Uh, uh…?”

“Are you single?”

Chairman Erwin’s left ring finger was empty.

“Perhaps.”

Clean ring finger without any ring marks.

“Are you planning on getting married?”