I suppose it must be the Empire after all.
The Magic Federation hasn't even sorted out its chaos yet, but the Empire has already used diplomacy and politics to push the Zodiac Twelve Palaces all the way to the Floating City. If the Empire had wanted to demonstrate military force, the Magic Federation would have suffered a fatal blow.
But there's no need for that.
The Empire is the hegemon of the continent, and the stakes it holds are nearly infinite. With infinite stakes, you can win any game. Just double the bet every time you lose.
Shei looked at the Zodiac Twelve Palaces visible in the distance and spoke with evident distaste.
"The Empire is intervening. Finally..."
"That doesn't seem like a welcome face. Do you have some bad feelings about them?"
"They're technically on our side... but to put it nicely, they're confident; to put it badly, they do whatever they please. Even during the crisis of the end times, they handle everything their own way and mess things up several times, intentionally hide information, and try to control the situation themselves..."
Muttering Shei suddenly flinched and stiffened his expression, saying:
"No. It's safe to consider them enemies."
"Like 'a stupid ally is scarier than an enemy'?"
"Beyond incompetent, they're a group that shouldn't be competent. Because their power is the power of the King of Sin itself."
Ah, that's what it means.
The Empire is the pinnacle of civilization, and the power they wield is the full might of the human race. In other words, my sister's power.
Seems like we need to be wary. Or reduce them in advance. Though I don't know if that's possible.
"Let's go for now."
The center of the Celsius family's courtyard. The Celsius mages are surrounding the area, but the one leading the situation now is Antares.
The Zodiac Twelve Palaces is a position where all the world's attention gathers. It refers to the twelve strongest qi practitioners in the world, so men interested in rankings must have heard of it at least once.
Antares of Scorpio.
The owner of the Red Scale Spear.
The exact principle is unknown. Revealing the mental image itself would become a weakness. But the inextinguishable flame at the tip of his spear was too famous to hide.
What principle makes fire come from the spear tip? I was curious and finally have a chance to find out. Shall we try...
"Stop."
Someone blocked me. No, not just one person.
Twenty people wearing the same uniform are glaring at me. They seem to be standing disorderly, but they're ready to form a formation and surround us if necessary. Breaking through their weakness? That won't be easy either. Every one of them is a strong practitioner who has mastered sensory qi. In a military nation, they'd be at the general level.
Behind them are two mages. They're hiding sharp, jewel-studded rods closer to throwing weapons than wands in their robes. Their knowledge and mystique may be inferior to the Floating City's mages, but they are battle mages who have honed their magic solely for combat. Their pure combat power and senses might be even better than the Floating City's mages.
Moreover, the one leading them was also extraordinary.
"Hughes. And Shei. Noteworthy figures. But, there was no mention of them having learned qi... Lord Antares. What shall we do?"
Master Schumahel.
In any given country, they would possess military power close to a legion, and be treated as a general or a six-star commander. But in the Empire, they're just one of the countless Masters. Enough to serve as an aide to a Zodiac Twelve Palace.
Schumahel's voice wasn't very loud, but it resonated through the air. It's a technique that uses qi to grip the air itself and transmit sound—voice transmission. Antares answered delightedly.
"The main characters I've been waiting for have arrived! Send them here!"
My description has already spread? Tch, with this I can't even commit a crime.
***
If the Empire had intended to wage war, they would have already done so. With both sides' near-mystical forces having departed, the Magic Federation alone would struggle to face the Empire.
Assassination, terrorism, bombing, infiltration, and so on. The Empire can use every means imaginable.
But the Empire is a nation that walks the righteous path. Coaxing the Gauss territory and dividing the Magic Federation was nothing more than retaliation for 'Pride's' attack.
"Let's consider this much a light greeting."
They arbitrarily swallowed up another nation's stronghold and call it a light greeting? What's more surprising is that it's not even bluster. This... makes me want to tease them a little.
"Only the Gauss territory ended up pitiful. They'll be happy without even knowing they were used."
A word muttered without much thought. The Lord of House Gauss flared up and shouted.
"It was the Magic Federation that used the Gauss territory! We are also proud members of the federation and the chosen people, yet the Floating City treated us as nothing but miners!"
"You're the only mage miners in the Magic Federation, I suppose. Does anything change in the Empire? You'd just be one remote mine among dozens in the Empire."
"Hmph. You couldn't even imagine. What concessions the Empire has promised us..."
"So they did promise concessions to win you over."
It's a fact everyone knows, but the moment it's spoken aloud, the justification disappears. Now it's just a simple, easy-to-understand dispute over interests. I prefer this over justification. How honest and comfortable is it?
"It's better than House Celsius. The moment the Floating City was destroyed, they took everything right away!"
"It was destroyed from receiving the meteorite, what can you do. That was the only available landing site at the time."
"Land can be prepared. There's plenty of empty space in the Gauss territory too."
"Coveting something you can't even swallow. The Gauss territory is mountainous terrain with little flatland and food shortage, right? Whether it's the Floating City or the Gauss territory, both would have been exhausted? Especially if a heavy object like the Floating City weighed down the ground, would the mines remain intact?"
"Kuh...!"
No matter where else it falls, it can't go to the Gauss territory. You're out of the rankings.
Having subtly conveyed the cold reality, I soon muttered as if regretful.
"What a shame. I was already worrying about how to handle this meteorite, so I would have welcomed the people of the Gauss territory..."
"What? Meteorite?"
The Lord of House Gauss's eyes gleamed with momentary desire.
From a purely material perspective, the meteorite's value isn't particularly high. It's just a large rock filled with magical power and rare metals.
But its academic and magical value is immeasurable. This is the meteorite that nearly wiped out this entire continent. A large, hard rock with extraterrestrial magical power is mystery and treasure to mages.
Especially for a house like House Gauss that works with iron, it would make their eyes spin.
"Yes. You've probably felt it too, but that meteorite has a lot of iron content. It's already troublesome to handle. I wished the people of the Gauss territory would help..."
Yeah, that's a lie.
Actually, I was going to sell the meteorite. In return, I planned to work the Gauss territory like dogs. I only refined a little iron so as not to cause too much resentment.
But it all became futile.
"The, the meteorite..."
The Lord of House Gauss subtly cast a sensing spell. Without even needing to check separately, he could feel the immense meteoric iron contained within that massive meteorite. Instantly, he glanced at Antares with regretful eyes.
But a piece once played cannot be taken back. Having once invited in external forces, he can never betray them. Neither this side nor that side would accept him.
Sensing that regret, in that moment, Antares clapped loudly and shouted.
"Oh ho! Is this the King of Humans! You're a demon at handling people!"
Clap, clap, clap. Each time he clapped, the surrounding air vibrated greatly. While others were intimidated by the explosive sound, Antares spoke.
"This is my first time with the Magic Federation too, and I don't know who the Lord of House Gauss is either, but to move a person's heart with just a few words! Amazing!"
Yes. Here it comes.
The Empire can attack the Magic Federation with every means at its disposal. But the reason they used such 'normal' diplomatic means is because attack isn't the goal.
"Shall we get to the point. The reason the Zodiac Twelve Palaces came here in person was solely to meet you. King of Humans."
"Lord Antares! Wh-what do you mean! I said nothing!"
The Lord of House Gauss, suddenly fearing he might be abandoned, cried out urgently.
If the Empire were poor, petty, or cruel, they might have abandoned the Lord of House Gauss. Because the money spent on the Gauss territory would be a waste, or because the attitude the Lord of House Gauss showed was offensive, or to punish the Lord of House Gauss for daring to be distracted. They could abandon the Lord of House Gauss here.
But the Empire doesn't do that.
There's no need to.
"Lord of House Gauss. Don't worry. The Empire keeps its promises. Meteorite? There are a few meteorites that fell in Imperial territory too. I'll gift you one."
"Y-You, Lord Antares?"
"At most it'll go to auction, and even at its priciest, it'll sell for around 100 million alke. That much."
100 million alke. An amount of money that could never be considered realistic.
Even 10,000 alke in gold coins is an exorbitant price. That amount requires ten thousand of those gathered to barely reach. Some might say a national asset could somehow scrape together ten thousand, but that's too simplistic an interpretation.
Because of the existence of alchemy, only currency with real physical value can be used for trade. Credit transactions are only possible for the Holy Emperor's Court with its sanctified gold, or for patron merchant groups blessed by the Holy Saint. The value of alchemical coins doesn't rise or fall. It possesses actual value, sleeping within the gold coins.
In such a world, ten thousand alchemical coins? That's an entire resource to arm ten thousand soldiers moving wholesale. It's a cost that even makes nations nervous.
However.
"If it comes to it, I'll pay out of my own pocket."
To the Zodiac Twelve Palaces, it's money they can readily spend.
The massive system the Empire has built. The wealth accumulated there circulates and ultimately flows back to the Empire. The remaining money goes to the Empire's 'winners.'
The head of the patron merchant group.
The Zodiac Twelve Palaces.
The Tower of the Moon.
And the Imperial Palace.
Even the actual resource of alchemical coins piles up, pulling astronomical numbers down into the realm of economics.
An individual casually pays an amount that even the Gauss territory would find hard to imagine.
The digits of wealth are different, so there's no need to be frugal.
Goodwill is money. Both come from deep pockets. Even if they used just a quarter of a quarter of a quarter of a quarter of the money they've earned, it would become a fortune worth risking one's life for someone.
Justice is spending. If one readily pays that petty sum, it becomes justice itself.
"Now. This roughly settles it, right? Move aside."
Antares gestured casually, and Master Schumahel stepped forward to shield Antares. The Lord of House Gauss retreated with a reluctant face. Having chased him away, Antares comfortably played the host and said.
"With this, Gauss's business is done, so my business remains. Or should I say His Majesty the Emperor's business."