Chapter 96

Seina spoke about what she had heard at the coming-of-age party. Specifically, it was about the victorious whisper when the Scissors Mantis stampede occurred.

"Was the heir of the Suzukoku family surprised that the 'Iron Spider' was activated?"

The prime ministers, who had never heard this before, lost their composure and became agitated. It was strange to be surprised by the activation. If the Iron Spider, which was supposed to be on guard, was activated, it meant that the person had thought it would not move.

In front of the agitated adults, Seina placed her hand on her chest, looked at everyone with a serious face, and continued to speak with a dignified attitude. Her posture was impressive for a ten-year-old. She did not show any sign of fear in front of the seasoned adults.

"Yes. At first, I didn't understand it either. However, after that, the victor also muttered, 'I didn't think the Duke Shina's plan would be foiled like this.'"

"What a situation... If that's the case, the Duke of Suzukoku knew about the Duke Shina's plan. But, isn't the heir too careless? Or, is it that important strategies are conveyed to a ten-year-old child?"

Nobunaga put his hand on his chin and pondered. This operation was highly confidential. If it succeeded, the emperor's prestige would significantly decline, but it was different from the usual intrigues. Even the slightest suspicion of involvement would mean the end of the operation.

After all, there was a possibility of tens of thousands of casualties. It was on a different level from the usual court intrigues to bring down an opponent.

"Maybe, like us attending this meeting, he was taught as part of his education?"

"No, no, this is on a different level from the meetings where the old men chatter. This time, it was something that absolutely couldn't be discovered. Even if it was a duke, it wouldn't just be a demotion. It would be a complete downfall. It's not something a child should hear."

The emperor negated Choumasa's words with a half-closed eye. It was an impossible story. The Duke of Suzukoku wouldn't just get off easily.

"That's right. Hmm... This story seems off. Then..."

"Either that young troublemaker from Suzukoku was not involved, or he definitely provided support to the Duke Shina without leaving any evidence."

With a heavy voice, Ouga growled, and the Duke Ryusui, with a bewildered expression, made a guess.

"Not involved, you say? Then why did his son, the victor, know about it?"

In response to Seina's puzzled look, the Duke Ryusui waved his hand dismissively and began to speak so that everyone could hear.

"The House of Suzukoku is the house that governs fire. The explosive type has extremely high combat power, so many people from the house serve in the military and the samurai corps. The dungeons they own are for resource extraction, such as minerals. Dungeons for mineral extraction have many hard enemies, but they are eliminated with fire magic, allowing for the extraction of many minerals. Do you understand, young lady Seina?"

"Eh, um... Ah, so the House of Suzukoku is very wealthy!"

"Right! The House of Suzukoku is rich, old lady."

Seina, tilting her head and placing her index finger on her cheek, thought aloud. Her cute guess was simple. Choumasa also loudly agreed.

"Yeah, that's right. They're rich. That family is rich, really."

Slightly narrowing his eyes and snorting, the Duke Ryusui shrugged. His obvious attitude of disappointment made Seina look dejected, and the tall Choumasa looked confused.

"I understand. Duke Ryusui, you're saying that despite the House of Suzukoku's wealth and military power, they don't stand out in politics."

With a very serious expression, Nobunaga made a guess. Despite the limited information, his sharp insight pointed to the right direction, befitting the next emperor.

"Huh? ... That's right. In the military and politics, the House of Suzukoku has strong power, but they're not at the top. Why is that?"

"You big tree, use your head a bit more. Don't be so thoughtless."

"Eh? But, old lady, I'm not the only one. This is impossible to understand, right, Seina?"

"Yes, Brother Choumasa. I didn't understand it at all. What does it mean?"

After being scolded by Duke Ryusui, Choumasa pulled a face and involved Seina. Of course, Seina didn't understand either. She showed an innocent smile, indicating that she didn't understand at all.

"Use your head a bit more. The House of Suzukoku doesn't stand out. They should be in the running for the top, but for now, the Duke Shina is at the top. Thanks to that, the Duke Shina is so arrogant that he's trying to take the emperor's place."

"The House of Suzukoku doesn't take big risks. They always consider risk management carefully, so they don't make big profits. They are solid and troublesome, but to be at the top in politics, being solid alone is not enough. They need to take some risks somewhere."

"Ouga is right. Even the most loyal minister, if they know they'll be targeted by some old man, will protect the political sphere by surrounding themselves with recovery mages until the last moment. Even if they're friends with the old man."

Ignoring the emperor's skeptical gaze, Ouga brushed it off. To maintain power, such actions were normal. In the political world, where all sorts of people thrived, being straightforward alone was not enough. The emperor's loyalists also needed power.

"The young man from Suzukoku doesn't take risks. Small bets for small profits. That's why he has many assets and a certain amount of power, but he doesn't get involved in dirty work and is a tough opponent without any weaknesses."

"Old lady, you're right. The victor's whisper is probably a message from the young man from Suzukoku. It suggests that the Duke Shina was planning something, but there's no evidence. It's a troublesome, roundabout message."

The emperor, tired again, slumped his body. The noble society was really troublesome. Even the straightforward young man from Suzukoku sent such an unclear message. He thought it would be better if he could be more straightforward.

"So, the victor's whisper was, after all, a stance of 'happening to overhear in front of his father's office.'"

Seina understood that it must have been a message disguised as an accident. Her father must have given her secret instructions to pass on a message.

In reality, it was impossible to overhear in front of an office. There was soundproofing, and high-ranking nobles took various precautions against magic. Even if it was a son, it was impossible to overhear. The idea of overhearing by chance was only in fiction; in reality, people were cautious.

"The victor is said to be a child with a good head. A child who can do such tricks... Nobunaga's future will be tough. I'll support him from the shadows. Maybe he should become emperor now?"

"I don't want to be emperor for at least ten more years, so please work hard. It takes that long to build your own staff and base, right?"

"No, no, my child is a safe driver. I don't know who he takes after."

"Better than a reckless sister who keeps stepping on the gas."

"Bwahaha! Good one, brother!"

"Mou, that's harsh. My car is a safe driver."

While the emperor and his child engaged in a lively exchange, the Duke Ryusui continued his explanation.

"The young man from Suzukoku was also working to ensure his own benefit if the Duke Shina's plan succeeded at the party. He's worse than a bat. He doesn't show his tail to either side but manages to infiltrate both."

"I think this is also a message that further investigation into the Duke Shina over this matter is futile. No more information has been obtained, right?"

"The tank battalion commander was apparently 'requested' by the Duke Shina to extinguish the tank's fire, but it wasn't an 'order.' Therefore, it's not recorded in the military records."

"Many information brokers in the capital have disappeared since before and after the party. It seems we were a step behind."

The reports from the ministers did not provide concrete evidence of the Duke Shina's involvement. It was all talk that could be denied. Punishing a duke based on mere speculation was impossible, and everyone made bitter faces, realizing that further investigation into the party incident was futile.

It was likely that all evidence had been disposed of. The information brokers were eliminated to prevent even small evidence from being obtained, which was proof of this.

The emperors had made a mistaken assumption. They hadn't considered the involvement of some deities. However, it was understandable given the timing.

"Well, there's nothing we can do. Let's interfere with his next move a bit. He's a dangerous opponent. We want to weaken him as much as possible. Right, Seina?"

"Yes, Father. According to the great detective's reasoning, they will conduct a flight test and hunt druids."

Naturally, Seina and the others thought that the victor's reasoning was a message from the House of Suzukoku. They imagined that everything was connected to the Duke Shina's wicked plot.

They never thought that the person involved was a reincarnated being from another world, who knew this world as a novel. Anyone who realized that a reincarnated being was involved should go to the hospital. It was that crazy a story.

Therefore, the people who were too accustomed to intrigue ended up thinking in a completely different direction.

"Druids... I've been thinking that something needs to be done about the druids, just like Tokyo, which has been left alone. Ouga, isn't your son coming back from his studies soon? It would be a good opportunity to add prestige to the samurai corps he will lead. Take him and Choumasa on a field trip."

"Understood. I'll send a small, elite team to avoid being noticed by the Duke Shina."

"Sure, thanks. Don't let them do anything too dangerous. I don't want the heir to die and be hated."

"I'll tell them to be careful. Young people tend to seek achievements."

Ouga nodded seriously in response to the emperor's light tone. Satisfied with the answer, Emperor Touya's face turned serious as he looked around and gave instructions in a heavy tone. His appearance was that of a man at the top of Japan.

"Then, I expect your continued efforts. I believe in the abilities of those I trust, so I leave it to you."

"Ha!"

Everyone bowed, and the secret meeting ended.