The Criminals Guild in the Imperial Capital seems to be weakening rapidly.
Starting with a single branch, raids have been conducted one after another at related locations—hardly surprising. Ants swarming to honey will scatter once the honey is gone, after all.
However, Revan, who comes by occasionally, has started complaining with a resentful tone.
"We're so short on manpower that for the past three days, I've only been able to sleep three hours each day."
It seems that every time they raid related locations, corrupt individuals emerge, and since many are involved in maintaining public order in the Imperial Capital, the manpower available to suppress the Criminals Guild is being steadily depleted.
Certainly, from the Criminals Guild's perspective, the first people they'd want to silence would be those police-like individuals maintaining public order. It's a hierarchical society where controlling them means you can do as you please. If you control the person at the top, you can command and compel from above.
"Did you catch another big shot from the patrol corps?"
"This time it's a big shot from the water transport industry."
Though I said it teasingly because my guess was wrong, Revan doesn't look happy.
"Ah, the warehouse sector? Around the old harbor?"
"How do you know that? Seriously, what kind of intelligence network do you have? Or is this all information you gathered with your own two feet?"
"It's not quite that extensive. Going in and out is dangerous, so I don't do it frequently."
"...So even if irregularly, the Prince has been leaving and entering the palace on his own several times, hasn't he?"
As he said this, Revan seemed troubled.
"Aren't you going to tell Marquis Stratege?"
"Right now he's busy to the point that it interferes with his original duties. There's no way I can tell him anything unnecessary, right?"
While the police-like people patrolling the streets are being caught, when the upper ranks are apprehended, the lower ranks' movements become sluggish. Furthermore, the number of people on the catching side inevitably decreases to only those not involved in corruption, so when that happens, requests for securing personnel go to Marquis Stratege, who has been involved from the beginning.
Those who can be spared are either nobles related to the Marquis's household or the palace guards who must redeem their honor this time. Even if they somehow squeeze out resources from their original duties, filling the gaps created will again fall to Marquis Stratege.
"Won't you get scolded later for not saying anything?"
"I'd rather not say if possible? If His Highness the First Prince would promise not to do it again, I could keep it to myself, but...?"
Does he want to pretend it never happened by not saying anything at this point?
"Since I went to the trouble of thinking up a way not to get caught, I'll at least improve my precision to be harder to find."
"That's not the point. Why doesn't anyone know the Prince is sneaking out? Why is there no trace at all even when I investigate?"
Revan seems to have investigated in his own way, but he couldn't even grasp that I was entering and leaving through the gate. In other words, it's all thanks to Sephira's optical camouflage, so I'm feeling a bit proud.
"Why do you look so proud...?"
"I have been told not to go out because things are chaotic right now."
Ikuto declared this single line as if to keep the resentful Revan in check.
That's right—because arrests continue almost daily, I haven't been allowed out into the dangerous Imperial Capital where escaped criminals might be lurking. Besides, I got scolded for arbitrarily increasing paperwork, so I can't make unreasonable demands either. Though I have had Helkov negotiate with Molly and the others for the time being.
"Even if you spoke, perhaps only the Marquis would believe you, so keeping it to yourself might be one option."
When Wearel recommended tacit approval, Revan didn't deny it. Since I leave no traces and my methods haven't been exposed, they probably wouldn't believe it without actually seeing it.
Besides, I'm not the only one looking forward to walking around the Imperial Capital. Sephira seems to have awakened to exploration after the experience of pursuing the Criminals Guild alone, and has started wanting to go out under the guise of information gathering.
"If you want to restrain my movements that much, give me information that would make me think twice. Don't you know anything about the movements around His Majesty?"
"You've stopped hiding that you're using me as an information source, haven't you?"
"You demonstrated that usefulness from the beginning, intending to keep watch over me."
"That's not cute at all."
He's saying something.
But since he properly gave me information, am I really that much of a hindrance? The Criminals Guild will likely prepare countermeasures if we don't press the attack now, so I intend to move if necessary.
"Hey, please listen properly. You're not thinking something dangerous again, are you?"
Revan is somehow sharp.
According to him, they have struck at the large organized crime groups forming the Criminals Guild. Assuming a gap opens there, to prevent the next organized crime group from settling in, they have started moving to stop the flow of money that serves as the reason for gathering.
"To cut off the funding source, His Majesty's intervention is necessary, and since it connects to crushing House Edenbal, Duke Lucaios is also enthusiastic. Additionally, you're dismantling the opposition faction centered on House Edenbal that has been hindering progress, right?"
When I offered conjecture based on what I heard, Revan looked dissatisfied even though he had been listening properly.
"Hey, what happens to the people caught? What are the punishments?"
"That depends on the severity of what they did."
From what I heard, the maximum punishment in the Empire is the death penalty. However, it is rarely carried out, nor is it handed down as a sentence. This is because the Empire has enjoyed long peace under its rule, so there is no need to hurry and cut off heads.
"The head of House Edenbal would likely face exile if there's a country willing to take him."
His property would be almost entirely confiscated, he couldn't return, and would become a persona non grata not allowed to participate in politics. The accepting country bears the role of monitoring him, and if he causes trouble there, it includes disposal... It's treatment where he might as well be dead despite not receiving the death penalty.
There are also options like sending them to harsh mine labor, construction work for public projects involving heavy labor, or using them up as labor force. This applies regardless of gender, apparently.
"I hear about people being sent to monasteries, what about that?"
"That's a lenient punishment. For a patrol captain or someone who abused authority and significantly damaged the patrol corps' credibility, falling into slavery is also possible."
Slavery exists in the Empire. However, there are only two types: debt slaves and criminal slaves. Debt slaves are people who put themselves up as collateral because they have no money, while criminal slaves are people forced to work in service without pay until their sentence is complete. Both have virtually no social status, and climbing up from there is nearly impossible.
Moreover, apparently you won't have opportunities to see slaves if you're just living a normal life. They work quietly as slaves in places away from public view.
"There's still so much I don't know."
"That's what makes you the Prince, isn't it."
Revan makes a slightly relieved face.
It's not an atmosphere where I can ask, but I should check with my attendants later if there are any cases of people being sold into slavery. Even if I think something is common sense, I might be influenced by my previous life.
"Also... ah, do you understand that the palace will have gaps opening up because of this matter as well?"
"Ah, the positions that House Edenbal and their associates filled. Is His Majesty pushing his own faction members in there? Or did Duke Lucaios take the good spots?"
Though I answered because I was asked, Revan made his mouth into a downturned frown.
"Really, what do you usually teach him?"
"Shall you come observe the lessons next time? We only study the most basic academics."
Wearel responded with a composed expression.
If I had to say what's different from usual, it's that I've started asking Wearel about the academy. The story about egg hunting in the dungeon was interesting. Also, I never tire of hearing that student dungeons are separated into ones for children and ones for adults.
Oops, my consciousness wandered.
"So, what's the answer?"
"Well, the Emperor is trying his best too. Duke Lucaios has incomparable connections, so relatively speaking, the Lucaios faction is pushing through. Also, Duke Eurasion quietly took several seats."
Wow, so he's that thorough.
Though he's someone who let himself be deceived easily, I guess I shouldn't underestimate him after all. He's someone who competes with Duke Lucaios, so I should be careful not to do anything that catches his attention.
Even so, I heard that changes seem to be occurring in the power structure within the palace. Father seems to have gained a bit of power.
If that's the case, I might be able to think that the possibility of me entering the Lukiusaria Academy has emerged.
The Lukiusaria Academy, where enrollment is at fourteen years old and one studies for three years.
I wanted to think that I had gotten a little closer to it.
Regular update
Next time: Tea Party with My Younger Brothers 2