Published: January 4, 2026
I have scheduled posts up to Chapter 128.
"Hmm?"
"If there are any suspicious movements, wouldn’t it be logical to investigate thoroughly? Yet this report is so minimal."
"Ah, that was intentional."
"Intentional?"
"Yes. Spies like these usually blend in with the servants without raising any suspicion. If a mere servant suddenly starts prying around because something caught their attention, that would arouse suspicion. They’re not experts in infiltration or investigation."
"Then wouldn’t it be better to use specialists?"
"Heh."
"Master?"
"For example, if I sent you to Oscar’s mansion and ordered you to report everything you saw, do you think you could uncover any secrets?"
"……Impossible. I have too much presence; I’m not suited to probing secrets."
Leviathan answered with a slightly sulky tone.
He realized it too.
My question was basically forcing him to admit something he couldn’t do.
"Exactly. That’s the point. Your view is extreme, but the same applies to specialists. A man like Oscar would never overlook an unnatural sense of unease emitted by such people."
"I see."
"That's why I ordered everyone I bought off to ‘report exactly what they see’ and ‘not dig any deeper.’ Instead, I create multiple channels."
As I said this, I held up the second letter I had read, stacked on top of the first.
It was a report from another servant—a gatekeeper.
"Oscar’s people had serious looks when they entered but left with a smug expression."
"Hmm."
"Although the contents are still unclear, I can infer the direction of the story."
"Hmm… impressive, Master. I didn’t expect you to think this far."
I smiled gently.
I was glad Leviathan understood.
At the same time, I read the two letters.
Though the specific details were unknown, it was reasonable to suspect that Oscar might have been incited by someone among his household.
Perhaps he was targeting me while I was away on campaign.
I definitely wanted to keep my trump card, Leviathan, close at hand.
At the same time, I felt a little frustrated.
This intelligence network was a result of my own design.
Even if the accuracy was low and the information from each source was limited, if multiple routes fed in, I could piece things together.
I believed in covering quality with quantity.
The advantage of this method is that when something happens, multiple reports arriving make it clear that "something has occurred."
A single report relying solely on quality often leaves lingering doubts about its authenticity, but receiving five or ten reports based on quantity almost guarantees that something has indeed happened.
"I wonder what Father was doing."
I had a deep respect for Father’s ability to gather information.
His network excelled in both quantity and quality, but above all, speed was incredible.
I thought that if it were Father, he would have completely grasped Oscar’s moves by now.
But I still didn't know how Oscar would act; perhaps he wouldn’t move at all.
"…"
Not knowing can sometimes be an advantage.
I don’t know if Oscar will truly act.
Because I don’t know, I can leave things ambiguous.
I imagined Oscar’s personality in my mind.
Given his character, he’d likely hold back until he clearly knew the opponent’s hand.
Then, naturally, my own course of action would become clear.
Looking up at the moonless night sky, I pondered how to increase the number of ambiguous cards in my hand.
After refreshing myself in the garden, I returned to my office and resumed handling political affairs.
The emperor of the empire is a busy person.
I had some idea from watching Father, but after ascending the throne myself, I realized I had underestimated it.
Being emperor is a hundred times busier than what I imagined as a commoner before reincarnation.
There’s no time for debauchery; almost all my time is consumed by daily reports and instructions arriving from all over.
I was processing those even now.
In front of me was a letter from Evelyn, who was at Almeria’s mansion.
As expected from a servant who left my household, the letter showed she understood my policies well.