Chapter 70

■ Chapter 69. Storm (4) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

Power is an intangible force that is both very simple and complex, and it is inextricably linked to 'people.'

Naturally, power is essentially 'strength.' Historically, those who possessed strength always had strong power, while the weak had to bow their heads or wait for an opportunity to strike.

Then, what are the ways to gain power? A very simple method is to be stronger than the other party.

If you are strong, it doesn't matter how much the other side tries to attack; they will likely end up being the ones to suffer. Therefore, they will inevitably bow their heads and follow, whether willingly or unwillingly.

Lina, the first princess of the Minerva Empire, is a case in point. She was not someone who gained power through her own efforts but was born into a position of immense power.

Who would dare to touch the princess of the strongest nation? One could confidently say that no one would, unless they were suicidal.

“... ...”

After everything was over, Lina returned to her quarters and lay on the bed, dazed. Even in the dark bedroom, where no light entered, her golden hair shone.

On a normal day, she would study or read a book, but today she had a lot to think about. Lina looked up at the ceiling, recalling the events of the past four days.

After the announcement of the hiatus for the tenth volume of "The Xenon Chronicles," the Minerva Empire fell into great turmoil. Protests demanding an explanation erupted across the country, and the higher-ups moved quickly to address the situation.

In fact, protests were not limited to the Minerva Empire; they occurred in other countries as well, but the situation in the Minerva Empire was more severe.

Other countries blamed the empire for the responsibility, citing the fact that the publishing company was located in the Minerva Empire. Given the empire's notorious reputation for cultural imperialism, the criticism was even stronger.

To quell the situation, Lina stepped forward. If Isaac's hiatus was indeed due to her and Leort, an apology would be necessary to calm the situation.

She was prepared to accept any proposal Isaac might make. As the princess of the empire, she was willing to humble herself and bow, and she would accept any strange proposal.

However, Isaac only made a proposal that Lina could not understand: to speak informally. Even if he had asked her to bow down, she could have understood it.

'I can't understand it.'

Lina was born with the power and authority befitting a princess. She entered politics at a young age, in her early teens, and knew more about politics than anyone her age.

From this, she realized one fact:

There are people who have never tasted power, but there are no people who have tasted it just once. Once someone tastes power, they are desperate to gain more.

She had seen countless such people in the palace. They would do anything to get a crumb of power, flatter and try to undermine authority subtly.

Lina dealt with such people herself. The education she received from her mother since childhood and her keen observational skills allowed her to detect them early.

This growth environment forced her to wear a 'mask' and led to a major conflict with Mari.

At the time, she mistakenly thought Mari was approaching her to gain power, but Mari was actually approaching her with a pure heart to be friends. However, she did not realize this and betrayed Mari's expectations.

'Isaac is... amazing.'

Lina thought of the red-haired boy, Isaac. The son of Hawk, known as the Red Lion, and the author of "The Xenon Chronicles," he was a very unique individual.

At first glance, his expression seemed stern or taciturn, but that was not always the case. Lina, with her keen observational skills, knew that he could display a wide range of expressions.

Moreover, Isaac was strangely averse to power. At the previous gathering, even though he could have solidified his position by staying close to her, he did not.

Instead, he firmly expressed his desire to enjoy the gathering like a normal person and to avoid getting involved in politics. He genuinely wanted to enjoy the gathering without any burden.

'Does he really dislike power?'

The reason she called Isaac and Nicole separately was to propose a symbiotic or cooperative relationship. Although pressuring them with tax evasion was wrong, it gave Isaac a weapon as well.

Even without revealing his identity, Isaac held an authority in the cultural world that no one dared to challenge, and she had overwhelming authority due to her status. If these two combined, they could achieve anything.

However, Isaac did not do so. Despite having authority, he did not want to exercise power and went ahead with his planned hiatus. Thanks to this, Lina realized something.

Ah, Isaac is not someone who can be manipulated. If I push him, I might end up in trouble.

Just announcing the hiatus caused the world to go into a frenzy. Lina, who was used to handling major events with authority, was taken aback for the first time. She was even more surprised by Isaac's true intentions.

'Writing purely out of a passion... without any ulterior motives...'

Isaac said he wrote "The Xenon Chronicles" as a hobby. This was not a lie but the truth.

That's why she couldn't understand it. How could someone with such power and authority write "The Xenon Chronicles" just as a hobby...

'...No. That's why he can have such authority.'

Lina smiled. Despite her efforts, understanding Isaac was still difficult.

Even Mari, who was detached from authority, couldn't understand him. How could Isaac be any different? There was a reason they liked each other so much.

But that's why she wanted to understand him even more. Why did Isaac dislike power? And why did he propose speaking informally?

A person who could influence the world without boasting. Lina became increasingly curious about Isaac.

At first, she approached him out of curiosity, but now she could make a decision. She wanted to understand Isaac as a person, not because of his abilities or background.

'Approaching someone as a person is new... Can I do it?'

Until now, Lina approached people to assess their abilities or potential. She approached Isaac after his presentation at the first lecture for the same reason.

However, she had never approached someone just to understand them as a person. Could she do it well?

'I can do it.'

Although Mari stood firmly by his side, she needed to muster the courage to approach him to resolve her curiosity.

Perhaps she could improve her relationship with Mari and be forgiven for past mistakes. Lina, recalling her past errors, briefly wore a sad expression but soon resolved.

'When approaching Isaac, I will put aside my power.'

Since he dislikes power, she should do the same. By speaking informally, they could break down the barriers between them.

'First...'

The protests happening around the world need to end. There's nothing she can do now.

Isaac said he would send a letter to the publishing company himself, as having the palace spokesperson would cause many problems. Since Isaac wanted to remain neutral, it would take time, but it was a sure method.

'I hope it goes well.'

Lina hoped Isaac would resolve the situation well and slowly closed her eyes.

For some reason, Isaac's image came to mind.

'...I should give him a gift later for the trouble.'

* * *

It had been half a month since the tenth volume of "The Xenon Chronicles" was released.

The protests happening around the world showed no signs of decreasing and were becoming more intense.

The crowd in front of the publishing company had grown, and every day, nobles came to plead for help.

This was not limited to the publishing company. In the squares of major cities and on busy streets, people were holding signs and demanding an explanation. Leaders were struggling to handle the protesters, fearing another Jeros Revolution.

Although they had power, using it recklessly could lead to a complete collapse. Therefore, they had to act cautiously.

“... ...”

The publishing company president sat in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. His eyes were unfocused, and his expression was lifeless.

He looked exhausted, his once plump cheeks now gaunt.

Rough protest voices seeped into his ears. The protesters in front of the publishing company had been shouting for half a month without tiring. As the president, he was at his wit's end, but he no longer had the energy to react.

Until a few moments ago, he had to deal with nobles who were even more difficult than the protesters. Fortunately, they had to attend to their duties and left, but he would have to face them again tomorrow.

Thinking about it, the president shuddered and sighed. He then glanced at the newspaper on his desk.

Individually, people might struggle against power, but when united, even an empire would have to surrender. The president felt the profound impact "The Xenon Chronicles" had on the world.

Fortunately, another Jeros Revolution had not occurred, but it was only a matter of time. He had heard that troops were being stationed in various places.

If a revolution did occur... the publishing company would be finished. The protesters outside would storm in, and hiring mercenaries would be meaningless.

“Ugh... really...”

The president clutched his head in distress. It had been days since he sent the letter, but there was no response.

He feared that the author of "The Xenon Chronicles" might disappear. He wanted to pack his bags and flee, but he couldn't bear to abandon the company he had built.

'Hang in there. Good things will come if you wait a little longer.'

The president prayed to Luminous. He hoped the situation would resolve quickly, as it was the only way he could survive.

And perhaps his prayers reached Luminous.

Bam!

“President! We received a letter from the author!”

“What, what?!”

Matthew, his secretary and trusted employee, burst in without knocking, bringing good news.

Under normal circumstances, he would have scolded him, but given the situation, the news was like a bolt of lightning in a clear sky.

The president jumped up and shouted at Matthew.

“Is it true? Is it really Xenon?”

“Yes! The messenger confirmed it’s him!”

“Give it to me quickly!”

As the president extended his hand, Matthew handed it over without hesitation. The president quickly checked the envelope and hurriedly pulled out the contents.

He confirmed the handwriting. It was indeed from the author of "The Xenon Chronicles."

“Great!”

Nothing else mattered. The first sentence alone would be enough to calm the situation.

However, there was one problem. Would the citizens believe this letter? Given the situation, they might dismiss it as a lie.

If there were original drafts to compare the handwriting, it would be different, but...

“Ah! And just in case people don’t believe it, the author sent the original draft of the first volume!”

“...Thank you!”

The president was genuinely moved.