Another month passed.
During this month, the imperial capital experienced a rare period of peace.
Even Night Raid, which was usually as annoying as a swarm of flies, miraculously vanished without a trace. They didn't carry out any assassinations during this month, leaving the bloodthirsty Jaegers with the frustration of having no outlet for their power.
This peace was a rare opportunity for the upper class of the capital to finally relax.
With Night Raid around, at least they used to restrain themselves a little.
But now, with the Damocles Sword hanging over their heads suddenly disappearing, those nobles who had previously shown restraint began to indulge themselves, and those who were already indulgent became even more unrestrained.
However, the only ones who were truly at ease were the low-ranking nobles who couldn't see the bigger picture.
The major families, who had spies within every faction, could all sense the undercurrents beneath this calm.
Sure enough, one month later, Najenda—the second leader of the Revolutionary Army and a former general of the Empire—sent word.
The contents of her message caused a wave of shock throughout the imperial capital.
Emperor Makoto immediately convened the largest imperial court meeting in years—not only summoning all the civil and military officials of the capital, but also commanding prominent officials from other provinces to return to the capital by royal decree.
The grand assembly was scheduled for today.
Having just wrapped up a final matter and met with several trusted confidants from outside the capital, Honest stepped out from a secret room in a restaurant and hurriedly made his way to the palace in a carriage.
As the first light of dawn broke, the atmosphere within the palace was calm and solemn.
There was no one in sight. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Honest quickly made his way into the main hall.
As expected, the hall was already filled with civil and military officials.
The two highest-ranking military commanders—Great General Budo and General Esdeath—were already standing in front of the gathered military officers, while not a single civil official was absent. They were all just waiting for Honest, the highest-ranking minister, to arrive.
"To fail to be the first to arrive at His Majesty's side on such an important occasion is a dereliction of duty on this old minister's part."
Honest walked to the front of the formation and bowed to Makoto with the demeanor of a loyal servant. "It was because this old minister's carriage was damaged on the way here that I was delayed, thus holding up the court assembly. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
"It's of no consequence. This is not the minister's fault. If I punished you for this, wouldn't that make me seem petty?"
On the throne, Makoto , wearing his crown and imperial robes as usual, smiled and shook his head. "The minister has always been frugal. I'm sure your carriage has been used for many years without replacement. After today's assembly, I'll have someone build a new one and bestow it upon you."
"Sigh, saying that I'm frugal in front of so many people... In past years, someone would surely have stepped forward to criticize me for this."
Though Honest kept a grateful smile on the surface, he was thinking to himself:
"Well, good thing my acting has improved over the years. I've always portrayed myself as Honest and upright in front of this kid, or else such a clumsy excuse wouldn't have worked."
Of course, the broken carriage was just a lie.
An hour before the court assembly, he had still been exchanging information with confidants who came from other provinces.
After all, the speed at which Makoto convened this massive assembly was far too sudden.
There had been no warning at all. As soon as he received Najenda letter, he sent messengers to summon officials from across the nation, without even asking Honest opinion, catching him completely off guard.
Although Honest didn't understand why Makoto suddenly seemed to have "grown wings," the urgent situation didn't give him time to ponder.
It wasn't until just now that he wrapped up his final matters and came to the palace.
Standing at the front beside Budo and Esdeath, the court assembly officially began.
"As you've all heard, the defected Revolutionary Army general, Najenda, has sent me a letter."
Makoto began, getting straight to the point: "She launched a rebellion within the Revolutionary Army, killed the greatest rebel leader along with many of their subordinates, became the second commander-in-chief, and formally changed their banner from revolution to 'Cleansing the Court of Evil Ministers.'"
Makoto held up the letter in his hand for all to see.
Though many couldn't read it due to the distance, it didn't really matter.
Those who stood in this hall were all people of considerable ability. The change in Revolutionary Army leadership and the shift in their slogan from "topple the Empire" to "purge the court" was no longer a secret.
As for who exactly the "evil ministers" Najenda referred to were...
Many officials glanced toward Honest.
But now, no one was foolish enough to directly point fingers.
Those who were most loyal to the Empire and the royal family had either been executed or exiled. Only a few had survived by remaining silent.
The emperor's incompetence rendered them unable to speak the truth, even if they knew it.
"In her letter, Commander Najenda stated that if the chief evil minister, Honest, and his lackeys are executed, the 200,000-strong Cleanse-the-Court Army will immediately lay down their arms and return to civilian life," Makoto continued. "But if I do not punish the corrupt officials, she will personally lead her army to the capital and take action herself."
"How dare such a petty rebel threaten His Majesty! Does she take the imperial majesty for nothing?!"
Before Makoto finished speaking, Honest immediately stepped forward and declared, "She must be the same as the former rebel leader. This 'Cleansing the Court' is just a pretense. Whether or not Your Majesty complies, she would still march her army to the capital. You must not fall for her deceit!"
Damn woman!
Who gave her such a brilliant idea?
Turning the Revolutionary Army into a court-cleansing force made them go from traitors to loyalists in terms of moral high ground.
If it were another emperor, even if he didn't believe they'd truly disarm, he would definitely become cautious and thoroughly investigate court affairs.
"What a clever plan—too bad the one on the throne is just a ten-year-old brat. He trusts no one but me."
Honest sneered inwardly. "Whether you're revolutionaries or court-cleansers, your fate is sealed—death."
He was the emperor's most favored minister, and a single word from him could decide life and death.
He'd already been through numerous impeachment attempts like Najenda and had emerged unscathed every time thanks to the emperor's trust.
Not only did he survive, but those who tried to impeach him often met miserable ends.
Two hundred thousand troops at the gates?
What a joke!
Did they think the Empire's million-strong army was for show?
Even if they broke through the Empire's defenses and reached the capital—what then?
The Empire's Shield, Budo, and its Spear, Esdeath, were both here. A mere 200,000 troops—how long could they last?
"Of course I don't believe such nonsense."
On the throne, Makoto nodded in agreement and reassured him: "Corruption, collusion, betraying the loyal—I've heard it all before. It's getting old."
Though he already knew Makoto wouldn't doubt him just from these accusations, Honest couldn't help but let a smile creep onto his face.
However, Makoto next words almost made him lose control of his expression.
"But in addition to these old crimes, Commander Najenda has added a few new ones I haven't heard before," Makoto narrowed his eyes. "Poisoning the late emperor, driving the empress to suicide, instigating a battle for the throne... now that's something new."
"Ha... haha..."
Honest forced a smile and bowed. "Looks like these traitors do have some imagination. Though their creativity could use improvement. This old minister's loyalty is as clear as the sun and moon. How could I commit such heinous acts?"
"As the minister says."
Makoto nodded approvingly. "These traitors really think I'm a naive child? They're wronging you so badly—blaming every crime on you."
"As long as Your Majesty knows my innocence, I don't care what others say."
Even though Makoto still didn't suspect him, a storm raged in Honest heart.
"How could anyone possibly know about these things?!"
On the surface, he maintained a calm demeanor, but inside his sleeve, Honest hand was clenched tightly.
"I haven't told a single soul about these things! Where the hell did the leak come from?!"
His acting skills had always been top-tier.
When he worked for the previous emperor, it was precisely because of his outstanding acting—and, of course, his formidable capabilities—that he earned the former emperor's trust.
Back then, the previous emperor truly regarded Honest as a pillar of the nation and placed nearly complete trust in him.
However, it was also not long after that the former emperor, who was still in the prime of his life, began to experience a gradual physical decline.
Within a few years, he was no longer able to manage state affairs and could only lie bedridden like a living corpse, akin to an old man on the brink of death.
He did not last much longer. Eventually, the former emperor passed away from illness.
And the true culprit behind the previous emperor's death was none other than Honest himself—who had taken advantage of the emperor's trust and used a tasteless, colorless alchemical potion to slowly poison him to death, little by little.
Not long after the former emperor's death, Honest barged into the imperial harem and violated the empress, who was drowning in grief.
Stricken with sorrow and fury, and under Honest coercion, the once-dignified empress eventually hanged herself in despair within the inner palace.
Immediately following this, Honest used his power and scheming to drag all of the late emperor's children into a brutal battle for the throne.
Royal families were never known for their sentimentality. Even though the former emperor had been a wise and benevolent ruler, and his children had maintained relatively peaceful relations, Honest meddling plunged them into mutual suspicion. Each and every imperial heir felt threatened and insecure, triggering one of the most vicious succession wars in the history of the empire.
Even many of them who never wanted to become emperor—only wishing to survive—got swept into the storm.
In the end, among all the direct imperial bloodline, only the youngest, Makoto , remained.
These were all secrets Honest had buried deep in his heart.
Especially the poisoning of the emperor—that was a crime he had committed with his own hands. There should have been no way for any outsider to know.
But now reality told him otherwise—perhaps a pair of eyes had always been watching her... watching everything that had transpired.
How could he not panic?
If not for being in front of the civil and military officials and the emperor, he would have long lost control of his emotions.
Even so, though he didn't break down, the composure he had just moments ago—when everything seemed under his control—was completely gone. His back was soaked in cold sweat.
His mind raced, replaying all the people he had encountered and the things he had done over the years, desperately trying to find some clue.
Perhaps it was precisely because he was so engrossed in thinking that he failed to notice the change in his surroundings.
Only after a long while did he suddenly snap out of his thoughts, his heart filled with suspicion as he realized that the great hall had been eerily quiet for quite some time.
Makoto , Esdeath, Budo—even the civil and military officials—were all silently staring at him.
A deep, overwhelming fear surged in his heart.
In the next moment, the scene around him suddenly shifted.
The smiling Makoto on the throne disappeared.
In his place stood a grim-faced Makoto wearing a green eye-themed headpiece.
And at his side, Yoshino had somehow appeared without his notice.
From behind him came the sound of blades being drawn.
Honest, like a startled bird, turned around in shock—only to find that the civil officials behind him had all turned into unfamiliar faces.
Najenda figure was also among them.
A trap! A setup! A Hongmen Banquet!
Looking at the headpiece on Makoto head, Honest instantly understood everything.
This was the illusionary ability of the "All-Seeing Omnipotence: Observer"!
From the moment he stepped into the great hall, everything he had seen was a hallucination!
The Makoto on the throne was a fake body created by him. Yoshino had her presence hidden. And those behind him weren't officials at all—they had always been members of the Revolutionary Army disguised as court officials!
In that instant, Honest felt like he had plunged into an ice-cold abyss.
He knew the "All-Seeing Omnipotence: Observer" possessed the power of illusion—and naturally, also the power of mind reading.
Everything he had just thought about had undoubtedly been heard loud and clear by Makoto .
"Your Majesty, I trust you already have the evidence of Honest crimes."
From the crowd, Najenda stepped forward, speaking calmly but firmly:
"We have fulfilled our duty to purge corruption by your side. Honest crimes are beyond forgiveness. Please issue a judgment that will convince the hearts of all your subjects."
"Honest…"
Makoto , sitting on the throne, had bloodshot eyes filled with madness.
He had heard every single one of Honest inner thoughts, loud and clear.
If it had only been corruption and embezzlement, he might have let it go.
For the sake of the many years they had worked together, he wouldn't have had the heart to sentence Honest to death—at most, he would've thrown him into prison.
But now that he knew that his father, mother, and all his older siblings had all been murdered by this man—
He was consumed by fury.
"Honest!!" Makoto roared, his eyes red with rage. "Your crimes deserve a thousand deaths!"
The emperor's judgment had been delivered.
The fate of the empire changed in that very moment.
[Main mission completed: Become the Hermit Who Secretly Guides the Transformation of the Empire]
[Roleplay session concluded]
[Within 24 hours, the host may return to the settlement space at any time]
Beside Makoto , Yoshino remained expressionless like a lifeless doll, her presence almost invisible in such a tense atmosphere.
She lowered her head slightly—hiding a faint smile at the corner of her lips.