Chapter 140: Chapter 139: Corrupt Leaders

“The entry of the Plandor family’s head and adventurer, Woo Hyo-sung, has been confirmed.”

After showing the invitation to the castle guards, Cheska and I stepped through the entrance they opened for us.

Immediately greeted by a red carpet and the grand interior of the castle.

The marble floors reflected the golden light from the walls, and the ceiling was filled with large, grand chandeliers.

As I thought before, it really was a magnificent place.

Though, knowing now that all of this was funded by taxes didn’t make it look all that appealing.

“You seem quite composed. Most people are usually astonished upon their first visit here.”

Does my reaction concern them?

Responding to Cheska’s question as we walked through the Imperial Palace’s hallway, I scoffed nonchalantly.

“It’s not that surprising. I’ve been here before.”

Indeed, when I was summoned here before, I was overwhelmed by the interior of the Imperial Palace.

Even though I came from a more advanced civilization, the only time I’d seen rooms plated in gold and studded with jewels was in dramas.

Well, that amazement didn’t last long since I was kicked out shortly after my unique abilities were verified.

“They bring you here and throw you out on their own whims. It’s hard to become attached to such a country.”

“It seems you have quite a few complaints about the empire.”

“Yeah, being a noble, you wouldn’t understand.”

Their idea of hard work might just be looking at documents in an office… Not to mention, this empire was crawling with those who left even that to their secretaries, utterly disregarding any sense of duty.

How could such people understand the struggles of workers who earn their daily bread, or the fear of adventurers risking their lives?

“Right. I couldn’t even pretend to understand your struggles.”

Cheska took even that sarcasm in stride.

Despite being a noble and likely finding my attitude distasteful, they didn’t scold me but rather seemed to have lost interest in me long ago.

“However, regardless of your opinion of me, I hope you won’t see the Orion Empire in too negative a light.”

We arrived at a hallway where numerous portraits were displayed on the walls.

The hallway was filled with elaborately dressed men and women, with their names, statuses, and the years they lived indicated below the portraits.

It was likely a place that recorded members of the Imperial Family who had led the empire throughout history.

I noticed Cheska’s eyes slightly trembled as they gazed at these figures.

“Even if the empire seems to be on the wrong path now, it was once the most prosperous and great nation, which is why it has become humanity’s hope today.”

It was the first time I felt emotion in their voice, which had been consistently blunt.

It didn’t take long to realize that emotion was one of distress.

“…You do know that this hope is maintained by sucking the marrow out of many people?”

Where that emotion stemmed from.

What this unemotional and unauthoritative young noble thought while looking at the portraits of the corrupt leadership of this country.

“I am well aware.”

In response to my sarcastic question filled with doubts, the young noble finally took their gaze away from the portraits and proceeded down the hallway.

“No matter how great the country was in the past, such glory cannot last forever.”

Even though I couldn’t know the details of their inner thoughts.

They made it clear that they were more aware of the empire’s issues than I was.

Yes, even if this empire sustained itself by draining the marrow of those in pursuit of hope, it was because this country alone was regarded as the sole beacon of hope in this world.

Anywhere outside the empire was teeming with dangers, and humans were too frail to survive such a perilous world.

No matter how corrupt the leadership was or how many would-be saviors turn out to be mass-produced characters of moral bankruptcy.

Clinging even to the coattails of such individuals was the only option for humanity to cling to life in this world.

-Murmur.

The empire’s leadership, thriving on the blood of such people, was now gathered in full force at the banquet hall where I stood.

Not all, but a significant number of key figures were likely present.

Today’s banquet, a regular social gathering held by the imperial family, was an event of great importance to the nobility.

“I heard you recently opened a new mine. How is the progress?”

“Not very well. The location seems to have been poorly chosen, so the returns are not as good as expected…”

Noble gatherings were not only for building relationships but also for exchanging political know-how and making arrangements for mutual assistance.

From this perspective, regularly gathering leaders at the Imperial Palace for discussions could be deemed necessary for proper governance.

However, the problem, in my view, was that it seemed good in intention only.

“Well, since it’s known that rare minerals do surface occasionally, it’s worth digging deeper. We’ll have plenty of workers to replace soon enough, so I plan to wait and see until then.”

Workers to be replaced.

As I reflexively reacted to the topic, I saw nobles in traditional attire engaging in conversation.

“Speaking of which, I heard a large number of refugees recently arrived in your domain?”

“They are from a nomadic tribe, seeking refuge because their original habitat was completely overtaken by monsters. Of course, that alone is insufficient, so I plan to request His Majesty to send the recently summoned foreign workers to my domain.”

“Workers from other worlds are indeed diligent. Though their skills may not be very useful, they have nowhere else to go, so they are compelled to work hard at any given task, wouldn’t you say?”

“Not everyone, but most do make their keep well enough. I’d prefer to make them lifelong slaves upon summoning for easier management… It’s a pity that changing the law to that extent is too much of a hassle.”

“Ha, don’t view it too negatively. You know, like livestock, they panic if it’s too cramped, but give them a little breathing room, and they’ll think they’re free and behave.”

“Of course, for easier management, it’s best to keep the leash loose. With the insurgencies on the rise, it would be a loss for us too if we provoked them unnecessarily.”

Treating citizens like livestock, and granting citizenship to foreign workers who should be made lifelong slaves to suppress rebellions…

I had somewhat expected such attitudes to be prevalent, but hearing them firsthand at the banquet only doubled my discomfort.

“Those damn rebels are so tiresome. They need to be eradicated someday.”

“Speaking of which, that gemstone you’re wearing looks quite magnificent. Which artisan did you commission?”

“Ah, this one? It was quite expensive, but I can introduce you to the artisan if you like…”

Beyond that, the conversations were steeped in luxury and indulgence.

Listening to them put politics and human well-being on the back burner was distressing enough.

There was no need to torment myself over things I couldn’t change. As I was turning my attention away, Cheska, now at the center of the banquet hall, began to look up at me.

“So, what are your plans moving forward?”

“Plans?”

“Since you’ve been invited to this banquet, it’s a good opportunity to make your presence known. Surely you’re not planning to just dine and leave?”

I had no such intention.

My reason for being here wasn’t to enjoy the banquet but to use it as a platform to announce my presence and confirm my official standing.

Assuming they would take care of it, I found it distasteful to have to navigate this sordid place myself.

“If you’re looking for a sponsor, it would be wise to start preparing now.”

Does my inaction seem odd to them?

Soon, Cheska adjusted their glasses and spoke as though issuing a warning.

“If you do nothing and just stand by, you may find yourself making regrettable decisions swept away by the circumstances.”

So, they were suggesting I familiarize myself with the faces and prepare mentally, lest I get swept up by the situation.

Certainly, as they warned before arriving here, glossing over this situation could lead me down a path entirely opposite to my intentions.

But knowing that, how could I easily muster the courage?

Especially now, with the tension high, everyone here seemed like nothing but pretty garbage.

“It’s too much to ask. At least, not by myself…”

Hence, I hoped they could at least introduce me to someone appropriate.

“Hey, little one! Come over here for a moment.”

Just as I was about to make such a request, a voice called out from the center of the banquet hall.

It was immediately clear that the voice was directed in this direction.

The crowd parted for the source of the shout, and a stout man at the center was looking this way.

“Can’t you hear me? I’m talking to you, the blond kid with the glasses!”

His face was flushed, and his speech was slurred.

Clearly, he was drunk.

Yet, none of the surrounding nobles criticized his behavior.

Despite the clear lack of dignity for a noble, some even looked on with eager anticipation.

“Stay put, Hyo-sung.”

With a foreboding feeling, Cheska, unaffected, left my side and walked towards him.

Their action was resolute, and the gesture of placing their hand on their chest before the noble felt distinctly polite.

“Plandor’s head, Cheska, greets the Lord of Elmat.”

The Lord of Elmat.

Even for someone from another world like me, he was a figure whose name I had heard at least once or twice.

The capital of the empire was located in the Imperial City where we were, but the Elmat domain, managed by him, was responsible for the roads connecting various territories.

In essence, being responsible for most of the goods circulating in the empire, he was the second most powerful figure after the Imperial Family.

“Ah, right. Plandor something… It is indeed you.”

Proving his indifference to everyone’s attention, he took a swig from the bottle he held and began scratching his head.

“My memory’s a bit hazy, but were you that abandoned royal offspring?”

Cheska’s body trembled with a start.

That statement caused a stir not only in me but also among the surrounding nobles, indicating it was information too significant to overlook.

An abandoned royal? Was Cheska of royal blood?

No, the Plandor family exists… Perhaps it means something like an illegitimate child?

“I’m not quite sure what you’re implying.”

In response to Lord Elmat’s question, Cheska simply adjusted their glasses and stood upright, ready to listen.

“Currently, I am Cheska Plandor, the head of the Plandor family. It’s absurd to even mention the name of a royal in my case.”

“Hahaha! No need to pretend~ Everyone knows you were adopted into a remote territory because of your lowly lineage~”

Despite Cheska’s denial, Lord Elmat laughed heartily, taking another bold sip from his bottle.

And then, pfft!

Lord Elmat spewed the alcohol straight into Cheska’s face.

“…If you’re so despised, you should’ve stayed quietly tucked away in your remote territory. Why crawl all the way here just to annoy people?”

Then, inverting the bottle, he began to pour its contents over Cheska’s head.

From their delicate face, down to their coat, and onto their body, alcohol trickled down in a cloud.

Among the watching nobles, one by one, snickers and snide laughs began to spread.

“It seems I’ve caused a bit of a misunderstanding.”

One person.

It was a moment when this place became an arena for mocking that one person.

“I came here not to participate in the banquet, but as a lord, I have matters to report to the imperial family.”

Despite this, Cheska maintained a polite demeanor, but Lord Elmat, oblivious to such self-awareness, continued to mock.

“Hah, right. If you’ve inherited something lowly, you should live according to your station. Of course, attempting to meet with the royals while drenched in alcohol might get you beaten~!”

“Ahahaha~!”

Laughter erupted, nailing the sarcasm that even their purpose here would not be achieved.

I felt emotions boiling over—not from the party involved, but rather—I, who was watching.

Realizing that the person I merely thought to be unlucky was a saint compared to the nobles here, and why Cheska had warned me.

And the thought that those I must confront in the future might be more revolting than demons or the undead.

“And you, why do you keep staring?”

As my emotions intensified and showed on my face, Lord Elmat, sensing my gaze, spoke harshly.

Between his words, the sound of hiccups indicated none of the courtesy or decorum one might expect from a noble like Cheska.

With no one of higher status present, there was no one to reprimand his behavior.

“Judging by your attire, you look like a commoner… Who are you? A mercenary hired by this guy?”

“…My introduction is overdue.”

But with this letter I had just taken out.

If they realize that the ‘Imperial Family’ invited me to this Imperial Palace, their attitude might change somewhat.

“My name is Woo Hyo-sung, an adventurer invited to this banquet upon the Imperial Family’s invitation.”

While it might not completely turn the tables.

I hoped it would at least provide an opportunity to escape this situation alongside that unfortunate kid.

“Woo Hyo…? Ah, you’re the one who was at the Dragon’s Tomb recently, that…”

As I confidently showed the letter stamped with the imperial seal, he seemed to recognize me, exhaling in admiration and beginning to speak as if he’d been waiting.

“So you’re the scoundrel who killed all the heroes there and hogged all the glory, is that it?”

An accusation I hadn’t anticipated before coming here.

A statement surpassing all the revulsion I had imagined, made nonchalantly.