A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

40 – A Single Word of Praise

The rugged Laco Mountain Range.

A bone-chilling cold that made one’s flesh crawl, monsters of all kinds lurking, and even intense freezing temperatures. It was a place where even properly trained adventurers and climbers frequently met their deaths, and it was difficult to find any trace of human presence.

However, there were beings moving secretly along one of the rugged mountain paths. They effortlessly leaped over cliffs exceeding five meters in height and cleared away rocks blocking their path with a single gesture, demonstrating overwhelming performance as they advanced.

Above their heads were attached pointed ears, and between their legs swayed the tails of beasts.

“What about the injured?”

One of the Kambara Empire’s secret weapons. The Beastman Corps.

These monstrous beings were created by Sultan through feeding and taming those who had been rejected and persecuted by Kambara’s human population, forming a single unit with the strongest firepower.

Their leader was Chertu. Although she had a woman’s body, she was admired by Sultan for her exceptional combat skills.

“No one, Commander.”

“Good. Keep moving. We must reach the Porto Commercial District within this month, no matter what.”

“Yes. Of course.”

The water creatures surged forward, surpassing the place where humans could never reach with their overwhelming physical abilities.

No one had seen them.

A few spirit mages flew around to scout, but the water creatures could not be seen or heard amidst the noisy wind and blizzard unique to the Rako Mountains. They successfully crossed the Rako Mountains and entered the Ailam Empire.

Upon entering, they changed into Ailam Empire uniforms, wore hats to cover their ears that protruded from their heads, and wrapped their tails around their thighs before discreetly blending in among the people.

They had only one goal.

To destroy the Porto Commercial District.

…So far, everything went as they anticipated.

But what they did not anticipate.

“Commander Seoric, can you read this memory?”

“I am reading it as well. Some strange guys managed to infiltrate the empire.”

“Are they just illegal immigrants?”

“Do you think illegal immigrants can cross the impassable Rako Mountains? These guys are suspicious.”

The guards under Count Elond’s command were exceptionally competent. Seoric, who read the memories inscribed on the ground in the dimly patrolled alleys using dark magic, immediately sensed something suspicious and started chasing after them.

There was no need to inform Lando of this fact.

“There is a large tungsten mine within the Ailam Empire. Tungsten has a high melting point, making it difficult to produce using traditional mining methods. It seems we need to establish a separate production facility rather than relying on the steelworks.”

“Is there a way to mass-produce?”

“There is a method using chemical and magical means, but it won’t be quickly achieved. It requires trial and error.”

“I’m not saying we can obtain the Elixir Source tomorrow. Development takes time. I hope you will proceed…”

While discussing with Princess Selene for a long time, someone knocked on the door. When the door opened, Seoric was standing there.

“Oh, Seoric. What’s the matter?”

“I apologize for the interruption. But it’s urgent, Lord Lando.”

“Come in, what is it?”

In the room, there was only me, Selene, and Karia. In front of everyone, Seoric presented a somewhat shocking story.

“Yesterday evening, as usual, I was inspecting the trouble areas under Count Elond’s command. But there were strange memories left in the ground.”

“Memories in the ground?”

“With dark magic, we can read the memories imprinted on the land and objects, right? We confirmed it using that.”

“What were they? Tell me.”

“Strange humans with animal ears on their heads and tails attached to their waists came into the back alleys without anyone noticing. They disguised themselves as ordinary people and then disappeared among the crowd. I confirmed that they mentioned heading towards the Porto Commercial City.”

My eyes widened at those words.

They are the werewolves.

And if what I read in the original novel is accurate, they are the dangerous beings who attempted to assassinate Prince Adran and Seoric several times when the Western Continent invaded the Aylam Empire.

They were beings with supernatural physical abilities and monster-like reflexes that gave readers a creepy feeling in the original novel.

“If it had stopped there, I wouldn’t have bothered to come report, but what’s strange is that when I read through my memories, those guys didn’t come to the Aylam Empire through the trade route, but crossed the uncharted Laco Mountains. It must have been suspicious, so I came to report.”

“You did well, Seoric.”

Upon hearing the story, Selene and Caria look at me with uneasy expressions.

“They came through the Laco Mountains instead of the trade route? This smells suspicious.”

“Lendor. Just keep talking. I’ll release the legionnaires and begin a large-scale search operation. I don’t know what they’re up to, those people.”

If it was the Sultan, he would have surely ordered the werewolves to destroy the commercial city of Porto. Sending spies was not an option. Seizing economic control was not an option. Converting the existing settlers in the Aylam Empire into spies was not an option.

When all attempts failed, they sent the werewolves as a last resort. They probably aim to cause chaos by committing terrorism in Porto and seize various necessary technologies during that confusion.

“Should we capture them? If you order, I can handle it.”

Seoric says that as he grips the rifle hanging over his shoulder. Upon hearing those words, I laugh suddenly, having thought something quietly.

Now that I think about it, this problem. It’s such a simple problem.

Just make the werewolves on our side, and the problem will be solved, and we can also make the Sultan eat dirt. And I knew a way to instantly turn the werewolves to our side.

In the original, Adran used this method to turn the werewolves to his side and use them as weapons to destroy the Sultan’s army. It was a method that no one who had read the original could not know.

“The werewolves’ combat abilities are extraordinary. If we attempt to subdue them by force, the losses will be great. There’s no need to do that.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Just keep a close eye on them. Do not engage in combat unless the werewolves harm people first. I will try to bring those guys to our side.”

Everyone is shocked by my words.

“Is that possible? How can we turn the werewolves, who are not even human, to our side?”

I throw a question back at Caria in response to her words.

“Princess Caria. What is the image of the werewolves in the Aylam Empire?”

“There is no image. Because we have never seen them before.”

“That’s correct. Princess Caria. There is no image at all. So, to put it another way, it means we can even make them have a favorable image.”

One’s perception of the werewolves will change only when they have encountered them or when they have heard something about them. In the Karamba Empire, they hate the werewolves, but in the Aylam Empire, the majority of people do not even know what werewolves are.

And it was clearly stated in the original novel.

The reason the werewolves follow the Sultan is not because of their loyalty towards the Sultan, but because there was no one else but the Sultan who made it possible for them to eat, sleep, and live, despite being constantly persecuted, hated, and oppressed.

So, if we think about it in reverse, this is it.

If we appeal to the fact that the people here do not dislike the werewolves, but actually like them? Until now, the only one who treated them as somewhat useful beings was the Sultan, but if we let the people in this empire know that the entire empire actually likes the werewolves, what do you think will happen?

“Is it two days until the Fairy Day festival?”

Fairy Day.

One of the festivals in the Aylam Empire.

This festival was a celebration where people deliberately wore unusual clothes and ate desserts made of fruits, wishing for a good harvest in the following year.

One peculiar thing was that the lord or the emperor could determine the dress code for Fairy Day that year, if they wished.

“Let’s make the costumes for Fairy Day with animal ears and animal tails. If we do that, the werewolves won’t cause any terror.”

Seoric, Karia, and Selenne looked at me with expressions of not understanding.

“But it’s just the citizens wearing animal ears and tails and enjoying the festival. How can that possibly be a solution?”

“It’s definitely sent by the Sultan. Those werewolves. Who knows what they might do in the Portu commercial district…”

Worried words continued, but I could be sure.

“If beings who have never been acknowledged before receive recognition, they will easily overcome anything. Sometimes, a single laughter or a warm word can have a stronger effect than a gun.”

The werewolves will come to us. I was sure of it.

By the way.

Sultan Saldin.

Sending werewolves? This is crossing the line.

Let’s deal with the werewolves first.

And then it’s your turn.

“Chief Cherto, everyone has gathered.”

Fluent Aylam Empire language.

The werewolves were skilled in using the language of the eastern continent, as the Sultan had harshly instructed them to learn Aylam Empire language in preparation for a possible invasion of the eastern continent.

The werewolves, who had finally arrived in the Portu commercial city.

They naturally blended into every corner of the city and were ready to start the terror at any moment.

“First, we’ll start with city reconnaissance. Understand the geography, location of the water system, and the essential buildings for city operation.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Prepare poison for the water system, explosives for demolishing buildings, and assassinations of key figures. Everything must be completed in one week. Understood?”

“Yes, Chief Cherto.”

As they gathered in the alley and had a secretive conversation, suddenly one werewolf approached.

“Chief, I have completed the reconnaissance.”

“Any unusual findings?”

“It seems they are planning something similar to a festival. It seems like they want to hold a Fairy Day festival.”

“Is that so? It would be better to deceive the security by adding to the chaos. Fine. Wait until the festival begins, then commence proper city reconnaissance.”

“Understood.”

Thus, the werewolves began hiding in the darkness, waiting for the festival to commence.

As evening fell, and the festive noises started to echo, the werewolves moved in unison.

“Captain Chertu, we’re on the move.”

“Move. I’m initiating reconnaissance as well.”

Chertu, wearing a hat and dressed inconspicuously like an ordinary citizen, discreetly mingled among the people.

Her mind was racing, assessing potential targets—administrative buildings, water supply, guard barracks, various workshops, places where citizens frequently reside, and more.

However, her focus abruptly shifted when a sudden change occurred.

“Hail the Day of the Elves!”

“Hail the Day of the Elves!”

“Come taste the fruit tart!”

The citizens, clad in peculiar attire, were sharing desserts made of fruit and cheering each other on.

They were all animated, boasting animal ears and tails.

“Oh!…”

Chertu, witnessing the scene, was momentarily breathless, forgetting everything in her mind and freezing in place.

“Disgusting werewolves! Get out of here!”

In Karamba, they were seen as monsters.

“Because you had a baby, you think you can stay until it’s born? Trying to give birth to a monster in our home! Just leave already!”

No one had ever shown them any love.

“If you cut off your ears and tail, you can stay in our neighborhood! No way we’ll accept these monsters until then!”

Those with animal ears and tails were symbols of hatred and repulsiveness.

“Nowhere to go, and so full of complaints. Let me sweep away you useless creatures. I’ll use you as tools for my purposes.”

The only one who had ever taken them in, fed them, and sheltered them was Sultan.

Hence, the werewolves remained loyal to Sultan.

Even through harsh training that led their kin to die.

Even facing cruel punishment and death for failed missions.

In truth, they knew Sultan felt no affection towards them, wouldn’t shed a tear if they died, and saw them as expendable pawns, yet still.

Because only Sultan acknowledged their worth, provided a purpose, and deemed them useful.

They were the only beings who, even after seeing their hideous animal ears and animal tails, claimed that they were necessary: the Sultans.

The werewolves had no choice but to be loyal to the Sultans.

But here, everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves with animal ears and tails.

No one made a disgusted expression when they looked at the animal ears and tails. They were all laughing, chatting, and having fun together.

Cherthu’s legs gave out and she collapsed.

At the same time, the hat she was wearing fell off, exposing her ears to the world, but since everyone was wearing animal ears, no one looked at her strangely.

“This is fruit jelly made at our house! Please try it!”

A little girl wearing a poorly made animal ear disguise approached Cherthu and handed her the fruit jelly. Cherthu accepted it silently.

“The ears and tail are so pretty! They look cool!”

After praising her happily, the little girl disappeared.

Cherthu stared at the fruit jelly for a while before cautiously eating it.

The jelly was incredibly delicious.

For everyone.

No one looked strangely at her for showing her animal ears and tail.

In the end, Cherthu and her comrades couldn’t fulfill their mission that day.