Semi-Coercive Imperialist

[THE BLACK]

It was an espionage novel from before the regression. Published in Hailand as a "true story," it became a bestseller across the continent.

The novel was structured as an anthology, and I'd read a few of its episodes myself. The only episode set in the Empire took place here, in 「Roderbach Chaos」.

Still, the course of events could change at any time. I couldn't rely on my memories.

Tap. Tap.

Disguised as an old man, I walked with a cane.

The Roderbach VVIP Floor. I'd visited this private casino floor several times in the past, so it was fairly familiar.

Back then, I was in my mid-twenties and wholeheartedly devoted to indulgence and luxury.

The scene was a vivid mix of whiskey, cigar smoke, low string music, Imperial nobles and newly wealthy tycoons, high-ranking Imperial Guard officials, Kanilan shipowners, Zerpha nobles, Prozen businessmen, Hailand executives, and simply wealthy men and women...

Their nationalities and languages differed, but every one of them was treated as someone important in their own country.

And among them, I suddenly sensed Izenheim.

There weren't just one or two of them.

Tap. Tap.

I reached the betting floor. A massive panel covered one wall.

──[Player Rankings]──

1. Count: Rutger

2. Crescent: Selim

3. Goliath: Bruno

4. Tailor...

28. Rookie: Ann

[Today's match results will be reflected in the combined payout odds.]

─────

The names of the poker players were listed there. The VVIPs could bet chips on one of them winning.

To borrow the words of [THE BLACK], it was a gambling colosseum where gambling gladiators fought.

The last section of the notice suited that nickname perfectly.

[ VVIPs may bet on a specific poker player's victory. ]

[ Poker players may bet everything they have. ]

"Sir?"

A voice called out to me from behind. The moment I turned, a man approached.

Gewald Pfalz. The owner of this casino, accompanied by a host of guards.

"Welcome. I heard an honored guest had arrived, so I came to greet you."

"Honored? Me?"

I answered in the old man's voice I'd worked hard to perfect.

Gewald gave me an oily smile.

"You're close friends with Sir Maximilian, are you not?"

"Ah, this?"

When I handed him the document, Gewald skimmed it before asking again.

"Yes, that's correct. May I ask your name?"

"Wilhelm Fran."

"Hmm. It's not that I doubt you, sir, but there have been so many forged documents lately..."

As he spoke, Agent Black passed behind Gewald.

"Verify it however you wish. If you'd like, I can even connect you directly to Max."

Gewald's eyes flickered slightly at the name Max.

"We'll make inquiries with the Sentinel Knights ourselves."

"Go ahead."

"Then I'll be on my way. I hope you have a pleasant day..."

"Ah, wait."

I stopped him as he tried to leave.

"I didn't bring any money today, you see. So..."

Gewald kept his gaze fixed on me, tilting his head slightly without losing his smile.

"Could you give me some money?"

Not lend. Give.

That word choice was intentional.

I'd forgotten the most important thing to bring.

* * *

The upper-level railing of the Roderbach VVIP Floor.

"...It's real?"

"Yes."

Gewald received a reply from the Sentinel almost immediately.

"We received a direct response from Maximilian's side at the Sentinel..."

──[ Sentinel Knights: Maximilian Office ]──

We have verified the authenticity of the document held by Lord Wilhelm Fran, concerning the inquiry requested by your establishment. The document was issued directly by Knight Maximilian of this office, and we confirm that its contents are true.

As this individual has a particularly close relationship with Knight Maximilian's office, we request your cooperation in ensuring that he receives every courtesy and convenience during his stay...

──────

Gewald put down the reply and snorted.

"So they're all the same in the end."

Obsessed with money, clinging to another's authority, and tolerating those who borrowed that authority.

Maximilian was no different. If one dug deep enough, there was no way he wouldn't have something dirty to hide. Integrity was nothing more than perfume worn by a greater thief.

"Give him about a million dollars."

"Yes."

An acquaintance using Maximilian's name to demand money. What a ridiculous sight.

"That's enough... Hey, Illich. That's the one."

Gewald pointed toward a table on the floor below.

Ann Keller was already seated at one of the VVIP poker tables, receiving her cards.

Illich looked down at her and nodded.

"How long will it take to figure out her habits, hand habits, and betting style?"

"...Three days."

"That long?"

Without taking his eyes off her, Illich answered.

"She seems quite skilled."

"...It looks like she'll make it to 「The Final Nine」. Try to finish it quickly if you can."

Gewald patted Illich's shoulder a few times, then left.

"...."

Leaning against the railing, Illich watched Ann Keller.

Then a passing waiter slipped a note into Illich's back pocket.

When Illich unfolded it, it read:

[ Base establishment progress: 93% ]

Base establishment.

Illich's people had infiltrated Roderbach. Members planted by Illich and a business partner among the casino staff, including guards, kitchen workers, and room attendants.

Even now, they were installing mana stones throughout the casino.

Once the 「barrier」 was complete, the entire casino would become their base.

Roderbach would descend into chaos. The lives of those self-proclaimed important people would be snuffed out, and the source of the barrier magic would be traced back to Hailand.

The money funding this entire operation came from bearer bonds Illich had stolen from the Hailand Intelligence Bureau.

"Mass slaughter. The Empire's fury. Diplomatic conflict. A pretext to bring war forward."

Illich wanted chaos across the continent.

Illich wanted the war the Empire sought to wage to happen far sooner and with far greater violence...

....

Ann Keller kept winning.

She started in twenty-eighth place, then rose to eighteenth, then tenth... Her chips eventually approached twenty million, and she was finally invited to an event called 「The Final Nine」.

"Hmm. Do I really need to participate in an event like that? I could walk away now and live comfortably in Hailand for the rest of my life."

At her words, the manager smiled faintly.

"Under the Empire's Foreign Exchange Control Act, your request to take the funds out of the country may be denied. You may find it difficult to leave the country as well."

"...What?"

"That is Imperial law. However."

Swish. He slid a sheet of paper toward her.

"At this event, you can obtain not only chips, but rights like these as well."

A document written in the Interior Minister's name, granting special permission to take foreign currency out of the country.

"At The Final Nine table, Ms. Ann may stake everything she possesses and likewise take everything."

"...Everything."

"Yes."

Blake folded her arms, pretending to think it over. In her mind, the word "everything" took on another form.

The bearer bonds stolen by Illich from the Hailand Intelligence Bureau.

"...All right."

"An excellent choice."

The manager handed her a pen and paper.

"You only need to sign the application form. Is there a player nickname you would prefer?"

"I'll remain Rookie."

"Yes."

Later, Blake came out to the VVIP Floor in the late evening.

The place was still thick with heated breaths, gambling, and indulgence.

"...."

She quietly examined every corner of the corridors.

Certain objects kept catching her eye. Were they sensing stones meant to prevent the use of magic? Or something else disguised as them?

"How many hands have I gone without a pair, fuck..."

"Would you like to bet?"

"Call... No, raise. Another hundred thousand."

"Champagne over there! Bring another bottle to this table!"

"Madam, perhaps you should stop here..."

As she walked through the noisy floor filled with such voices...

"Thank you."

A clear voice suddenly reached her.

Blake flinched and turned around.

"...Who are you?"

In the blind spot of the lights, the darkness was too deep for her to see clearly. Still, it was an old man leaning on a cane.

"Ann Keller. I've won quite a lot of money thanks to you."

"Oh, is that so? That's good to hear."

The old man offered her a glass with ice floating inside.

"Would you like some cola?"

"Ah... So this is that thing said to have come out of Hailand."

For a Hailand native, it was a regrettable invention. A drink created by one of their country's people had become the Empire's and spread across the continent.

"That's right."

"Thank you, but I don't care much for carbonated drinks."

She declined with a smile.

She didn't drink anything handed to her by someone else. It was an obvious rule.

"That's a shame. Then... this."

The old man took out an accessory.

"...What is it?"

"It was a gift from a younger friend of mine. I'm so grateful to you, you see."

An earring offered by a wrinkled hand.

"No, that's all rig-"

"I heard you've been selected for The Final Nine."

The old man's voice became calm and low.

"You never know what might happen in there."

Blake's eyebrows twitched. Only then did she look at the accessory again and realize it was far from ordinary.

"...It seems to be an artifact. What does it do?"

"Who knows?"

The old man placed both hands over the head of his cane and shrugged.

"If you find yourself in danger, perhaps a knight of the Empire will come to save you."

"...."

Blake blinked before giving a faint smile.

"Well, thank you. But just how much did you win?"

The old man whispered the amount into her ear.

"...Wow."

If he had made that much betting only on her, a gift like this was certainly worth it.

"Please do well again this time, Miss Rookie."

It seemed he intended to bet on her in this event too.

"Yes. Look forward to it."

"All right."

He let out a phlegmy chuckle and disappeared into the crowd.

"Ms. Ann Keller?"

Another employee appeared just then.

"I'll escort you to The Final Nine table."

As she followed him, she put the earring through her right earlobe.

Step. Step.

When she climbed the stairs to the table on the highest floor, eight other players were waiting for her.

The most noticeable face among them was, as expected, the terrorist Illich.

Found you.

Blake smiled silently.

* * *

「The Final Nine」

Roderbach Casino's biggest event had just begun.

Ah. You couldn't watch the game directly. The VVVIPs had their own seats, but everyone else had to remain here on the betting floor.

[ Player 1, Count, folds. ]

[ Player 3, Crescent, raises. ]

All they could do was watch the text broadcast on the wall panel.

That was why everyone held a betting slip in their hands.

I went all in on Player 9, Rookie.

[ Player 8 eliminated. ]

Player 8 had just been eliminated.

The game would now resume with 「The Final Eight」.

"What happens to eliminated players?"

I asked the person beside me.

"It depends on what they wagered. If they have enough left to repay their debts, they can try again. But if they've been cleaned out so badly they can't even pay the entry fee..."

He made a slicing gesture across his throat.

"They die."

[ Player 3 eliminated. ]

"Ah, damn it!"

"That bastard!"

Several people crumpled their betting slips and threw them aside at Player 3's elimination.

I casually looked around.

The suspicious mana stones installed throughout the casino. The events of the coming 「Roderbach Chaos」.

I vaguely knew all of it, but I had no intention of stopping it immediately.

This was clearly a game laid out by Izenheim. I needed to find out exactly what they wanted.

[ Player 5 eliminated. ]

[ Player 7 eliminated. ]

[ Player 2 eliminated. ]

The players continued to be eliminated for quite some time.

[ Final Two ]

[ Heads-up between Player 1, Count, and Player 9, Rookie ]

At last, only two players remained.

"Wow. Rookie made it that far?"

"Still, Rookie can't beat Count."

Count's odds were 3.3.

In a nine-player game, that meant Count was practically the strongest player there.

[ Count calls. ]

[ Cards revealed. ]

[ Count, two pair. Rookie, high card. ]

[ Count wins. ]

The heads-up between the two, a one-on-one duel, began.

[ Count calls. ]

[ Cards revealed. ]

[ Count, three threes. Rookie, queen-high flush. ]

[ Rookie wins. ]

A fierce exchange, each pushing the other back.

[ Rookie calls. ]

[ Cards revealed. ]

It was tense even though I could only follow it through text.

[ Count, two pair, queens high. Rookie, two pair, aces high. ]

[ Rookie wins. ]

"Oh. Rookie is holding on well."

"Still, Count isn't called Count for nothing..."

"Nobles always win in the end."

[ Count, a pair of eights. Rookie, a pair of tens. ]

[ Rookie wins. ]

"Rookie keeps winning."

"Is Count really a noble?"

[ Count, two pair, threes high. Rookie, three queens. ]

[ Rookie wins. ]

Rookie's winning streak was unstoppable.

Gamblers seated at tables became spectators, and even the dealers stopped running their games to watch the text broadcast.

[ Count goes all in. ]

Count went all in first.

[ Rookie goes all in. ]

The instant Rookie called.

"Wow!"

"Fuck!"

"Shh! Shh!"

"Everyone, be quiet!"

Everyone shut their mouths and swallowed hard.

[ Cards revealed. ]

Now the hands would be shown.

[ Count ]

Even the panel moved deliberately slowly.

[ Q ]

[ Four of a kind ]

Four of a kind, an incredibly strong hand that usually won.

Wasn't it a full house in the novel?

A sense of unease came over me, while the people who bet on Count erupted in cheers.

[ Rookie ]

What about Rookie's hand?

[ Jack ]

[ Straight flush ]

A jack-high straight flush.

A hand that beat four of a kind.

"W-What?"

"...Huh?"

"Ha ha! Would you look at that?"

"No, fuck!"

"That's insane. Does that even make sense?!"

"Ahahahaha!"

The cheers and shrieks of everyone watching mixed together.

Thump.

A particularly ominous sound joined them.

Most people seemed to think it was footsteps or part of the commotion and paid it no attention.

Thump.

The impact continued, like an excavator striking the ground.

Thump.

Slowly, everyone stopped moving...

Thump.

It's coming.

Kraaaaaak!

The floor tilted sharply as gunfire rang out.

Bang! Ratatatat!

"Aaaaaah!"

"W-What is this?!"

"Argh!"

"Don't move!"

A shout tore through the screams.

Those who had clearly been waiters, cleaners, guards, or even guests pulled masks over their faces and aimed their guns.

"Move and you're dead!"

Bang! A fired bullet pierced a nobleman's chest. Gurgle. He collapsed, frothing blood at the mouth, and the room fell silent as a grave.

"...If you cooperate."

A slick voice carried through that silence.

"You won't be harmed."

I looked toward the speaker.

Thump.

My heart shook.

Thump.

An Izenheim man with the face of a snake.

I knew that face...

"I'll say it again."

...I knew him.

"If you remain still and do not cause a disturbance, you will be allowed to keep your lives."

That voice overlapped with the past.

"Is there any reason to keep this filthy noble alive?"

A member of the New Cabinet who had worked with Edmund as part of a radical revolutionary faction.

"If it were me, I'd hang him. Edmund, you're too caught up in personal feelings. It's obvious it'll hold back your career someday..."

Aceid Caven.

As I stared at him...

"They are honored guests. Cover their eyes first."

A mask was pulled over my face.

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