All of Them

The rebel organization Marquis Crocell belonged to — the Empire Liberation Army.

“They’re blowing up the railway? Are they insane?”

“I share your sentiment. But combining all the intelligence, there’s over a 90% chance it’ll happen within the next week on this northern route.”

“What’s your evidence?”

“We’ve already secured physical evidence to some degree and have strong circumstantial proof. If Marquis Crocell’s plan had succeeded, major chaos would have erupted in the north, and eventually troops from various regions would have moved, right? They’d naturally travel by rail…… and if the railway got blown up then?”

“It becomes uncontrollable.”

Orca’s words made sense.

The Millennial Empire is vast, with a population exceeding 400 million.

An era when people travel by horse and transport food by wagon.

But after I built the railway, human resources and all sorts of things could move quickly.

And even stronger centralized control became possible.

In other words, the Millennial Empire’s core was the imperial railway.

“If the Empire Liberation Army’s plan succeeds?”

“……It will cause tremendous chaos.”

Lisera spoke to my words.

“To the empire’s citizens, the railway is a symbol of prosperity that His Imperial Majesty personally created. If it’s truly destroyed, this will lead to upheaval throughout the entire empire.”

“Right. That’s why the Railway Military Police……”

I created an independent corps that guards and protects only the railway, 365 days a year, knowing how important it was.

The Railway Military Police.

An independent military force that follows only my orders as emperor.

“You should request cooperation from the Railway Military Police for this. What was their response?”

“I tried bringing it up…… they scoffed. Naturally. They only followed orders from my father, His Imperial Majesty.”

Orca looked troubled.

I made the Railway Military Police independent in the command structure…… but after my death, the chain of command disappeared.

“Still, refusing to cooperate in preventing this kind of terrorism is being stubborn.”

“They’re actually that stubborn. When I, a prince, requested, they misunderstood it as violating the Railway Military Police’s independence.”

Orca smiled bitterly.

The nuance suggested he’d already requested multiple times and been completely ignored.

Heinkel suddenly interjected.

“Division Chief, I understand everything you’ve said. But couldn’t you compress it more?”

“……We’ve also stepped on their tail, so they’ll probably move within 3-4 days. No, let me say it more clearly. They’re going to target this very train car.”

Everyone’s faces hardened at Orca’s words.

I asked,

“Bait?”

“Right. The terrorists are trying to bring chaos to the empire. But if it’s a car carrying me and Sister, they’ll naturally target it first. Even if they have to change their existing plan.”

Orca stated firmly.

His words made sense, but something felt missing…….

“Hey, about Lisera……”

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely protect Sister.”

Orca spoke resolutely and looked back at Lisera.

“Sister, you should get off at the next station. I’ve already prepared a body double for you.”

“I cannot flee alone while my brother holds his position. I am also Father’s daughter.”

“Sister, even so……”

“If I fled before such calamity, the world will not respect our imperial family. The more dangerous it gets, stay at your post until the very end — didn’t Father say so?”

“……You’re right. Thank you for enlightening me, Sister.”

Orca placed his hand over Lisera’s.

Siblings holding hands tightly, making their resolve together.

A prince and princess confronting terrorists on the front lines?

Objectively, it was the pinnacle of noblesse oblige.

“Whoa……”

Not just Garul — everyone reacted with admiration.

But I felt dismayed.

These kids are my children, so I’m worried.

“Hey, you two shouldn’t rashly step forward……”

“Human of Librata, I’m grateful you protected Sister. I’ll reward you separately. But you have no further reason to be involved. You’re the one who should get off at the next station.”

Orca spoke resolutely.

“My father, His Imperial Majesty, was someone who fought more bravely than anyone against the wicked god. And I, who inherited that blood, can never turn my back on the sinister forces threatening the empire.”

“……”

“Imperial blood is not something to be protected. If it can stop the tears of all the people, we should rip out our hearts and give them. I have never forgotten Father’s words for even a moment.”

“Ah, that.”

I was just being dramatic in my youth!

My mouth fell open, but Orca spoke seriously.

“Father is no longer here. So I will stand at the forefront.”

“……”

I couldn’t persuade him further.

It was righteous.

The next day, noon.

The men’s bedroom, just me alone.

In the center of the bedroom, I stood on one hand in a handstand.

A stunt requiring not just brute strength but balance and muscular endurance.

“Mmm.”

Rigen’s body is flexible with good balance, but lacks endurance, so the posture keeps breaking.

Each time, I supplemented bit by bit with telekinesis.

Simultaneous training of body and mental strength.

“Phew.”

After sweating profusely, I now sat properly and checked my magic.

Green magic swept across my body, flowing down and clearly pooling in my feet.

A technique I could learn only by breaking through to fourth rank.

With each rank increase, magic grants new abilities.

And now I could use fourth-rank abilities.

Normally, reaching a new rank doesn’t mean you can immediately use it.

It requires physical finesse and mental enlightenment…… but I’d already done all this as Sirik, so I could do it immediately once the rank increased.

“Well then……”

The body, mental strength, and magic inspection ends here.

I looked up at the ceiling and sank into thought.

“He did grow up well, but……”

Orca, becoming bait himself to catch terrorists.

He’s my son, but honestly, it was cool.

But I’m worried.

Orca lacks experience in many ways.

No, even with lots of experience, as a father I’d worry.

“Assuming I help appropriately from the side. In the first place, I suffered to death building this damn railway, so I can’t just leave it alone.”

Should I coax Orca to extract more information about the Empire Liberation Army?

As I was standing up, noisy sounds came from outside.

“What’s this?”

Why is there a commotion in Royal Class, of all things?

When I went out, a group of people stood with their hands behind their backs near the car entrance.

Tight-fitting gray uniforms.

Ten people — the Railway Military Police.

And Orca stood before them.

Even at a glance, the atmosphere was hostile.

“What’s going on?”

Heinkel explained as if he’d been waiting.

“The Railway Military Police boarded. They’re saying they need to search Royal Class.”

“Do they have a warrant?”

“Well, no. But the Railway Military Police can investigate and even detain railway passengers anytime, right?”

“……”

I set it up that way, didn’t I?

To prevent terrorism.

I told Heinkel,

“Go to the women’s room with Garul and wait there.”

“Understood.”

An order to protect Lisera and Amelia — Heinkel understood and withdrew.

Meanwhile, the military policeman facing Orca shot back hostilely.

“So you’re saying you can’t cooperate with the search, Your Highness Orca?”

“Shouldn’t you provide convincing grounds first? Barging in suddenly and demanding to search without reason — what kind of discourteous behavior is this!”

“Hey, why are you taking this seriously?”

I approached and pressed down on Orca’s shoulders to stop him.

When I suddenly intervened, the human man who’d been confronting Orca glared at me.

“Who the hell are you! Get lost if you don’t want a beating.”

“Oh my? I’m a noble, yet you’re acting tough?”

“A noble?”

“The youngest son of Librata. I’m living in luxury in Royal Class thanks to His Highness’s consideration.”

“Librata?”

“Right, First Class Collett.”

It was written on the name tag on his chest.

The Railway Military Police ranks go Third Class, Second Class, First Class in ascending order.

First Class means he’s considered a veteran in the field.

Collett spoke without restraint.

“A scrap from the twelve houses acting like you’re something! We’re the Railway Military Police. If you don’t cooperate with the investigation, we’ll consider you traitors and punish you.”

“……”

Are these bastards insane?

I looked around at the dark elves’ reactions in disbelief.

But even though the dark elves looked furious…… they didn’t resist.

Conversely, the Railway Military Police members were grinning.

“I don’t quite understand — are these bastards always this nasty?”

They weren’t like this a hundred years ago.

I felt it when they took bribes and let people through inspection, but…… they’re just thugs?

Orca shrugged off my shoulder to push me away.

“I’ll handle it myself, so step back and go to Sister’s side. I’m asking you just in case.”

“No, wait. This is ridiculous.”

As someone who built the imperial railway and created the Imperial Military Police, I cannot overlook this.

I glared at Collett and asked,

“No, really, you’re acting tough — how are you planning to clean this up afterward? After picking fights with a human noble and a dark elf prince?”

“You’ve got no sense. So what are you going to do? We’re the Railway Military Police. On the railway, we are the law! And yet you’re complaining?”

“……”

Ah, these bastards are just going full throttle?

But seeing Orca grit his teeth, the Railway Military Police’s influence really must reach the sky.

“No, this isn’t right. Sirik Karakas gave you enormous authority because the imperial railway is that important — to protect it well. He absolutely never meant for you to throw tantrums at first meeting.”

When I said something sensible, Gunter approached and stopped me.

“Stop it. We must not fight the Railway Military Police.”

“Why? There’s no crime for insulting royalty, but they’re really crossing the line. What about the consequences for those bastards?”

“……Even if we dark elves formally protest later, it’ll be meaningless. That First Class Collett will get maybe a one-month pay cut…… and actually advance his career.”

“What?”

“The Railway Military Police are lone wolves. If they pick fights with forces outside themselves, they actually get praised internally. For raising the military police’s prestige.”

“……”

Showing strong gestures to outside forces to raise internal evaluation?

If it’s an exclusionary group, that’s entirely possible.

As I was dumbfounded, Gunter continued explaining.

“Everyone needs to use the railway in emergencies. The empire doesn’t function without the railway.”

“But if you cross the military police, they pick fights every time you use the railway?”

“You might be completely barred from using it. They can brand you as a suspicious passenger.”

Tyranny.

The Railway Military Police held total authority over the railway.

That’s why they’re acting arrogant even toward Prince Orca.

Dark elves complaining?

If needed, the military police would just block dark elves from using the railway.

In this era, if you can’t use the railway, you have to travel by horse, which is too inconvenient.

In the end…… even Orca has no choice but to endure the humiliation.

“Completely insane.”

The military police I created had become thug bastards.

“These guys just came to pick a fight for no reason? Like ‘hit me if you’re mad’ style.”

“No, no. We’re wasting time on some crazy dark elf’s delusion, right? What? Someone’s going to blow up the imperial railway?”

At my words, Collett twisted his face and laughed.

Then he stuck his face close to Orca’s and snarled.

Even more blatantly.

“You think being a dark elf and a prince makes you special? Dare to boss around our military police? Making people do annoying inspections with fake information.”

Collett stuck out his tongue mockingly.

Childish provocation at his age, but that makes it even more infuriating.

Still, Orca endured.

Not enduring could harm all dark elves.

Collett tapped his own cheek.

“Oh, you mad? Hit me. Hit me……”

That moment, I channeled magic into my feet and charged forward.

Fourth-rank technique.

Mana Sprint.

This ability that triples movement speed — weaklings can’t react even when they see it.

Before Collett could finish speaking, I closed in and struck his abdomen with my palm.

Thwack!

Telekinetic Palm.

A technique that detonates telekinesis inside the body.

“Gaaack!”

Collett staggered while vomiting what he’d eaten.

But I didn’t give him time to vomit and slammed his head against the wall.

Wham!

Pressing Collett’s face against the wall, I cheerfully shouted,

“All aboard, the train is departing!”

It rotted while I was gone?

I’ll replace all of them.