The Mogoru Empire's capital.

Jam, who had been walking over to open the vegetable store early in the morning, slowly stopped walking after hearing some voices.

"...The Empire's army lost?"

"The Sword of the Empire was captured? He lost to that Toonka?"

Jam's gaze turned toward the alley's walls. He could see some ripped papers as he heard some more whispers.

"I don't know for sure either, but didn't you see the notice that was plastered on the walls last night too? They said that the Empire had lost."

"I didn't see it because I wasn't walking around last night. When I went to see it at dawn, the capital guards were ripping them all down."

Last night. Each and every alley wall in the capital had a notice posted on it.

The contents were shocking. It didn't help that the soldiers were hurriedly taking the notices down early in the morning and that the Imperial Palace did not have any official response toward it.

"...Were we really defeated?"

"I don't know."

"...Since when did our Mogoru Empire begin to only have events like this occur?"

The morning scenery that was supposed to be lively was rather dreary. No, it was in a volatile state.

There had only been bad news ever since the terror attack on the Church of the Sun God. The people of the Empire were beginning to feel uneasy.

Perhaps it was a foreboding omen of ruin. Was something big going to happen to the Empire?

"They say that the soldiers are looking for the people who posted those notices, right?"

"I heard that they were scouring the area while looking for them."

Jam's mouth shut tight after seeing the torn notices on the walls. He quickly started to move. There was a place Jam had to visit before opening the vegetable shop.

He passed by the business district and headed for the slums while furtively scanned the surrounding area.

There were many people similar to him out and about. They all looked ordinary, albeit dressed a bit shabbily, and seemed to be in a hurry as if they were all only briefly stopping by on their way to work.

In addition, they all had smiles on their faces.

A smile slowly formed on Jam's face as well. He slowly headed for the old but clean house near the entrance of the slums.

Creeeak. He opened the old wooden door.

"Hm? Mr. Jam! You're here!" A middle-aged woman with a warm expression happily clasped Jam's hand.

Jam greeted her gentler than ever. "Priestess-nim, have you been well?"

The middle-aged woman in a white priestess robe handed over a small glass bottle with a smile.

The smile on Jam's lips was bright, but it quivered a bit at that moment. "Thank you, priestess-nim. Thank you so much."

Jam clutched the bottle containing the potion with a tearful expression. This would stop his daughter's cough a little bit.

A rumor has been secretly circulating among the people of the slums and the slums itself for a while.

[Healers who cure illnesses have appeared.]

No one knew when or where the rumor began. However, this rumor was true.

Healers in white robes appeared and hid around the capital while handing out potions or providing free simple treatments that didn't need healing abilities.

"That title is a bit burdensome, Mr. Jam."

"Priestess, no, healer-nim, I understand."

Although these healers wore priest robes, they refused to be called priests or priestesses. They also did not have a symbol inscripted on their robes to indicate which Church they followed.

Jam was grateful for these people. That was why there was only one thing that he could do...

The middle-aged woman requested a simple favor from Jam that could easily be done. "Mr. Jam, if you meet anyone who is sick or encountering difficulties, please let them know of this place."

How could there be such good people like this? The healers always asked others to bring those that are sick to them.

"Just make sure it is done secretly. You understand, right? The Empire has been a bit noisy these days...and as you know, people like us are being heavily ostracized."

"I know, I understand."

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Jam."

The middle-aged woman put on a bitter smile. "Who will be able to treat the sick if we are chased out?"

Jam's heart was full of admiration for the priestess' dedication to the sick even as he prepared for another long and tiring day of work.

He bowed to the benevolent priestess and headed out through the old door. "Healer-nim, I'll be careful and make sure that they don't find out about this place."

"Yes, thank you. Goodbye Mr. Jam."

Creeeak, click. The old door closed.

There was no one else coming to find her.

"You're pretty amazing, you know?"

The middle-aged woman turned her head toward the source of the voice. She could see a person coming down the stairs from the second floor of the old house.

"It's nothing, young master-nim. I'm just proud to be doing such good work."

Cale snorted. He spoke bluntly to the woman with a benevolent smile, the assassin Freesia.

"I think that you are full of vitality after doing some stealthy tasks last night for the first time in a long while."

"Hahahaha, surely not." Freesia dodged Cale's gaze with a slightly awkward expression on her face.

The assassin who sculpted the rabbit that resembled a guard dog from hell, did an excellent job imitating a benevolent priestess.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. You did a pretty good job writing the notice as well."

In addition, she did a good job carrying out her original duties.

The notices from last night were the works of Freesia and her subordinates.

'The Imperial Prince is probably in a bit of a fix.'

Although the attention that the Empire's defeat was getting from other countries was probably concerning to the Imperial Prince, it also probably wasn't as concerning as the attention it was getting from within the Empire.

That was probably why he tried to control the release of information about the war as much as possible. However, his control was broken by Cale before he could even begin.

Fressia spoke with a refreshed tone as she knew this was the case as well. "The Imperial Prince will have to do some damage control about this war soon."

He obviously had to do that. Wasn't he the one who declared war?

Was that it? There was also the correspondence that he had sent to the Whipper Kingdom.

The moment the Whipper Kingdom makes that correspondence public throughout the Western continent, the Empire will become a laughing stock among the people.

"He only has two options. One is to give up the war and concentrate on stability within the Empire..."

Freesia shrugged her shoulders and continued to speak.

"...Or he and his army can utterly crush the Whipper Kingdom and display the Empire's strength."

"Of course, it'll be the latter."

"Right? Even if the Sword of the Empire has been broken, its pride still remains the same."

If that was the case, how could the Empire crush the Whipper Kingdom? How would they bring relief to the people of the Empire and steady their wavering hearts?

"It seems like the Imperial Prince will have to go on the battlefield himself."

"That's right."

The Empire needed someone more impactful than Duke Huten.

Of course it had to be the Imperial Prince.

The assassin Freesia spoke as if she was enjoying herself. "Then the Imperial Prince will—"

Creeak— The door opened.

Freesia quickly stopped talking. However, she resumed speaking as soon as the door closed after seeing who it was that walked in through the door.

"...Then the Imperial Prince will soon be captured at Maple Castle, right?"

Cale looked over Freesia's shoulder and gazed at the person standing in front of the closed door as he answered her question. "Exactly. He'll be like a rat trapped in a jar."

And a cat will catch that rat.

Cale shifted his gaze towards the man standing behind Freesia with a concerned expression on his face.

"Sir Rex."

"...Young master-nim."

"Did you have something to say to me?"

The Cat Knight Sir Rex had run straight here the moment he heard of Cale's arrival. He responded to the white-haired Cale with urgency in his voice.

"Yes, there is something I must tell you."

"Follow me."

Cale headed toward the second floor, and Cale and Rex soon sat down on the couch facing each other.

Cale could see Rex's tightly clenched fists. He looked quite tired and had dark circles under his eyes as if he had a big concern.

Sir Rex bit his lips at Cale's gaze and then started to speak. "Young master Cale-nim."

Sir Rex remembered what Cale has previously said while pointing toward him.

"Sir Rex is the man who will defeat the Emperor and the Imperial Prince and rise to the throne."

Rex had been greatly shocked by that remark. At the same time, those words kept him unable to sleep at night.

The contents of the books that Cale gave him filled his head.

Leadership, public administration, and Emperor studies.

The information that he had read after Cale told him to study were all getting jumbled up in his head.

The Empire seemed to be tilting away from its stable foundation due to large and small incidents.

Rex had been noticing that change in atmosphere these days. That was the reason that the things that he learned were dominating his mind more and more.

However, Cale, the person who could put the chaos in his mind to rest, was extremely busy so Rex could not see him until today.

He slowly began to speak.

"I don't have what it takes to be a king."

"I know."

Rex flinched. Cale gave a simple answer to the words he spoke with great difficulty.

"...And I am a commoner."

Someone who was neither a member of the royal family nor a noble could not become the Emperor.

"I know." Cale answered nonchalantly as if he was questioning why Rex was asking something so obvious.

Rex suddenly became speechless. Why did Cale say those things to Rex if he knew?

"...Although I may look like a just person and seem a bit smart, I am timid and easily scared."

Cale paused unnoticeably for a moment.

'Oh, what is this?' Cale looked at Rex with a peculiar expression and began to speak. "Yeah, you seem that way to me too."

Rex started to frown. "Then why did you choose me-!"

Why did you choose me to become the Emperor?

Rex, who couldn't even utter the word, 'Emperor,' easily, was staring fiercely at Cale.

He looked frightened. It wasn't the look of someone who was unwilling, but rather the look of someone who was frightened at the weight of the title.

"Say it in reverse."

"...Excuse me?"

Rex flinched at Cale's words and asked again. Cale repeated what he had said.

"I said say it in reverse."

"..Say what in reverse?"

"Say 'Although I may look like a just person and seem a bit smart, I am timid and easily scared,' but in reverse."

Rex's mouth closed. Cale smiled at Rex's reaction.

Rex was someone who unfairly judged himself.

Sir Rex slowly started to speak after seeing Cale's relaxed gaze. "Although I am easily scared and timid... I am a bit smart and-"

Although it was through the form of a Cat, Rex was someone who had escaped from the Alchemists' Bell Tower without being caught. He even managed to become a knight through sheer tenacity even though he was from the slums.

In addition, he organized a group and aimed for the heart of the Empire without any hesitation.

Rex was able to finish his sentence after some time.

"...I am a just person."

"That's right. That's you, Sir Rex."

Rex's expression turned odd. On the other hand, Cale felt strange about this unexpected situation.

How many people could call themselves smart and just?

'What a funny guy.' Cale sat up on the couch with an unexplainable expression on his face.

Either way, he came to the Empire to say what he had to say. Of course, the one he had come to talk to was Sir Rex.

"If you don't want to become the Emperor, you can refuse."

'...It is ok to not become the Emperor?'

Cale continued to speak as Rex's eyes opened wide. "However, if the Alchemists' Bell Tower is destroyed and the Imperial Prince falls..."

If what Sir Rex and his group desires is accomplished...

"...Then the Empire will fall no matter what. It will fall into ruin. It may even vanish completely."

The Empire had many sins. From the Caro Kingdom to the Jungle and even to the Whipper Kingdom. There were many who were out to get the Empire.

Although there was an alliance between the Roan Kingdom, the four kingdoms, and the one tribe, desire was still a scary thing.

"...Hm." Rex's expression darkened. Even he thought that would be the worst result.

However, Cale just said that it was possible.

It was at that moment.

Plop! Rex could see the document that Cale had placed on the table.

Cale got down to business once Rex's eyes were filled with confusion after seeing the title of the document. "The Roan Kingdom is offering you a proposal."

It was a proposal where the Roan Kingdom could expand its territory without going to war while giving the Empire time to stand back on its feet without being invaded by the other kingdoms.

The very front page of the document was a map. Cale pointed to a spot on the map.

"The northwest part of the Empire and the southwest part of the Roan Kingdom."

In other words, it was the border between the Empire and the Roan Kingdom.

Cale drew a circle there. Compared to the total size of the Empire, it was a very small circle.

"We create a free city in this spot."

A free city. A place like Leeb-An city that was on the Eastern continent.

"...A free city?"

Cale smiled and responded as Rex asked with a blank expression on his face at the unexpected development.

"Yes, a free city for magic and alchemy."

Rex's expression changed.

Roan Kingdom's magic and the Empire's alchemy. It was each country's most famous strengths.

"The fallen Magic Tower and the Alchemists' Bell Tower that will fall."

Cale recalled his conversation with Rosalyn.

"Cale, it would be great if land became available. It's actually something I've needed."

"Then I have to do my best to provide it."

Cale thought about the new beginning after the destruction and collapse as he started to speak. "Won't they need a new land to live in?"

The Cat Knight, Sir Rex, did not know much about administration or politics.

"...A land for magic and alchemy-"

That was why he could only imagine a vague idea of that rather than pinning down the details.

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's simple."

Of course, it was not a simple issue. However, Cale was thinking about it in simple terms.

"Magic and alchemy have a lot of similarities. The small city will have a way to protect itself if we can gather people and provide a strong foundation for them.

He could hear the invisible Raon's voice.

– Human! Will Rosalyn get a new home? Let's build one for Goldie gramps too!

Cale simply ignored Raon but he had a slight smile on his face after hearing the comment.

"Young master-nim, why is that beneficial for the Empire and the Roan Kingdom?"

"For the first twenty years, the Roan Kingdom's palace and the Mogoru side's leaders will work together to select the mayor."

The mayor. It was the person with the most power in a city.

"Doesn't that just mean that the Roan Kingdom wants to recommend a mayor for twenty years in order to control the city?"

Sir Rex was certain that, although it was called a partnership, that there would be no recommendations that were from the Mogoru side.

Cale nodded his head and added on. "You're right. A Roan Kingdom's person will be the mayor for twenty years."

It meant that the land belonged to the Roan Kingdom for twenty years.

"After that, we guarantee that we will help support the city to become a truly free city where the citizens will have a say on the leadership. This will all be announced to the Western continent."

Rex's expression turned odd as if he could not believe Cale. "Just tell me flat out that you want me to give you some land."

His voice sounded sharp and critical. "Although it is called an offer, aren't you basically telling me to give you land for making me the Emperor?"

"Well..." Cale crossed his legs and leaned back into the chair. "My Roan has the strength to do that."

Cale followed that up by shaking his head.

"However, if we do that, the Empire would disappear."

"...Just what?"

"The Jungle, Whipper Kingdom, and Caro Kingdom. Do you think these three places would leave the Empire's land alone? They will try to make deals to steal land just like the Roan Kingdom is doing, or they would start wars in order to steal the land."

Sir Rex was at a loss for words.

The other three kingdoms had more negative feelings toward the Empire than the Roan Kingdom did, preventing Rex from antagonizing the Roan Kingdom as well.

The crazy priestess Cage had already explained everything the Empire had done in the Western continent to Rex.

"...Then do you truly mean that you want to turn it into a free city after controlling it for twenty years?"

"Yes."

He answered without any hesitation.

"That's the only way for the other kingdoms to accept it."

That was also the only way to get the Magic Tower and Alchemists' Bell Tower to be created in the city.

"Our Roan Kingdom plans to provide all of the foundational necessities and spend as much as necessary for magic and alchemy to develop in this city."

Who would have something to say against it if the Roan Kingdom says they will help out until the new free city is settled and were willing to spend a ton of money on it?

"They'll probably just call us stupid for spending all that money and then taking our hands away from it in twenty years."

"...Who would believe that you would really take your hands off after that time?"

"I'm sure that the other kingdoms will probably ask us to make a Vow of Death."

"Are you planning on doing that?"

"Yes."

Rex was completely at a loss for words.

However, Cale was not done talking just yet.

"Furthermore, we will be on friendly terms with the Mogoru as we will be creating this free city together. That is why we will work hard to control the issues that the new Mogoru has with other kingdoms."

Rex wondered if he was hearing correctly that the current rising star of the Western continent was willing to be the sturdy shield for the Mogoru that was the setting sun.

"We will also provide the funds for the Empire's Alchemists' Bell Tower and for alchemy itself to stand back up."

"Ha!" Rex was shocked.

He subconsciously said exactly what was on his mind. "What is left for the Roan Kingdom? Aren't you just giving and giving without receiving anything back?"

Cale heard Raon's voice in his mind at that moment.

– That's not true! You're wrong little Cat Knight! The Human and crown prince will not just be giving! I saw the two of them laughing!

Cale naturally ignored Raon's voice.

"Why do we get nothing back?"