After-Story Chapter 19: The Former Cold-Blooded Prince's Kingdom Rebuilding Chronicle (Part 2)

The time rewinds to shortly after the reorganization of the continent.

 

“A massive request for service? …Is that true?” Julius questioned Jirukoma’s report in the corridor of Wedan Castle, doubting his own ears.

 

In the period immediately following the reestablishment of the Kingdom of Lastania, when Julius and Jirukoma were busy trying to get the nation officially founded, the lack of both personnel and supplies was severe. Reconstruction relied on every connection Julius possessed, such as getting supplies from Roroa in the Kingdom of Friedonia and arranging large-scale airlifts from the Dragon Knights of the Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom.

 

Considering the neighboring Kingdom of Remus, which was struggling with reconstruction due to its weak connections with other nations, the Kingdom of Lastania’s speed of recovery could be considered fast. However, despite its rapid reconstruction, the Kingdom of Lastania suffered from a serious lack of personnel. The subjects inherited from the former Kingdom of Lastania and Julius’s own retainers were simply not enough to operate the New Kingdom of Lastania, which encompassed the northeastern part of the continent.

 

One might suggest starting with talent acquisition, similar to Souma’s first year as King, but that was also difficult. While it was true that many capable people who had lost their jobs during the reorganization were scattered throughout the region, these people had been residents of different countries before Fuuga unified them. Many of them resented having to serve the reestablished Kingdom of Lastania.

 

Since the Kingdom of Lastania had originally been a small state, many felt a sense of contempt, thinking, Must we, who lived in formerly larger countries, serve the Kingdom of Lastania? However, this discontent wasn’t severe enough to provoke rebellion and independence (they might not have the strength for that anymore); it was simply an unwillingness to serve the Kingdom of Lastania.

 

While not an immediate threat to the state, the situation was serious enough to trouble Julius. It was at this juncture that a request for service, in the scale of several dozen individuals, suddenly arrived. Jirukoma , asked by the suspicious Julius if the report was true, nodded.

 

“Yes, there is no… no mistake, Your Majesty. They even carry a letter of recommendation.”

 

“A letter of recommendation? From whom?”

 

“You would be surprised to hear the name. It is none other than…”

 

The name Jirukoma uttered made Julius question his ears again. “Why would he…”

 

“What do you wish to do? Will you meet them?”

 

“…” Julius thought for a moment, then nodded. “I will meet them. I will ascertain their true intentions directly.”

 

“Understood. For safety, I will serve as your escort as well.”

 

“Yes, I appreciate that.”

 

The two moved to the audience chamber to await the visitor’s arrival. After a short while, an elderly man with long hair streaked with white and an impressive beard was ushered into the room. He appeared lean, yet his posture was perfectly straight, and his core seemed solid. His attire resembled a gray butler’s uniform, fitting the description of an old gentleman.

 

However, his eyes, though seemingly calm, were sharp, and despite his benign appearance, he carried an air of evaluating Julius and Jirukoma. Julius felt a surge of caution.

 

(This presence… it reminds me of Sebastian. This man is a sly fox.) Julius, who knew Sebastian Silverdeer, Roroa’s right-hand man and owner of the ‘Silver Deer Shop,’ as a gentleman not to be trifled with, tightened his guard. This was especially true because the man’s referrer was that man.

 

The man walked to a position a short distance from the two, then knelt down and bowed his head. Julius spoke to him.

 

“Raise your head. Kagashi… was it? I hear you wish to offer your service.”

 

The gentleman, when asked, replied, “Yes, Your Majesty,” before lifting his face. “I humbly request that you accept me and my entire clan into the Kingdom of Lastania.”

 

“Hmm. But, is it true? The name listed as the recommender?”

 

“Indeed. Our former master, Lord Hashim.”

 

The name listed as the recommender for Kagashi and his group was Hashim Chima, the man who served as Fuuga’s strategist and schemed in the Great Tiger Empire. And Hashim was already deceased. This meant Kagashi and his group appeared before Julius with a recommendation from a dead man. This was the reason for Julius’s suspicion and caution.

 

“Lord Hashim supposedly died in the recent coup, didn’t he? How can he recommend you?”

 

“The heads of the Chima family decide on those who they will entrust their house and our kind to, even while they are still alive, in anticipation of their death. Due to their bloodline of strategists, they prepare for any eventuality. The letter of recommendation was also written while Lord Hashim was alive.”

 

“Men of your ‘kind,’ you say?”

 

“We are a clan that has served the Chima family for generations, earning our living through espionage. Our name is the ‘White Serpent.'”

 

They were Hashim’s intelligence collective within the Chima family. Yet, for some reason, they were seeking to serve Julius, who had no blood relation to them. And this was done under the designation of the deceased Hashim. Julius was bewildered.

 

“I heard about the existence of the ‘White Serpent’ while I was in the Kingdom of Friedonia. From Lord Kagetora, the commander of the Black Cat unit. You were clashing with them before the Great War, weren’t you?”

 

“Yes. The Black Cats were formidable adversaries. Setting aside their information gathering ability, they surpassed us in preventing information leaks through martial might. We were forced to operate so as to avoid conflict with them, and our espionage within the Kingdom of Friedonia yielded poor results.”

 

“Then why have you come to us?”

 

“Lord Hashim instructed us. ‘After my death, serve either Ichiha or Julius.'” Kagashi said with a poker face.

 

“I understand Lord Ichiha, but why was my name included?”

 

“Lord Hashim predicted that when the Great Tiger Empire collapsed and the influence of the Kingdom of Friedonia reached this far, you, Lord Julius, would be entrusted with this region, including the former Eastern Nations Union. He reasoned that you, who are capable of handling a difficult region and already have ties to this land through your marriage into the Lastania Royal Family, would be the one.”

 

“…” The explanation was understandable. Even if Julius were in Hashim’s position, he would have likely predicted the world would unfold that way after the collapse of the Great Tiger Empire.

 

“Then why did you come to me instead of Lord Ichiha?”

 

“Lord Ichiha is now the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Friedonia. That country already possesses the Black Cat intelligence unit. The places where we could work, even if we were to offer our service, would be limited.”

 

“So you came to me,” Julius concluded.

 

“Indeed.”

 

It seemed they had sought service with Julius, anticipating the Kingdom of Lastania’s shortage of personnel. Although this was quite cunning, the lack of manpower was a fact, so Julius could only be impressed.

 

“The world will move toward stability. The necessity for infiltration or maneuvering against other nations will fade. Rather, it will only lead to unwarranted suspicion. Do you still wish to serve?”

 

“It was because the era demanded it that we engaged in underhanded activities and kept our house alive. That is no different from the head house of Chima. However, the importance of information gathering will remain even in the most peaceful times, so we will simply adapt our way of life to the times. If we are told to emerge from the darkness and walk under the sun, then we shall do so.”

 

“…I see.”

 

They seemed surprisingly flexible and willing to adapt to the current era. It was certainly beneficial for Julius to have eyes and ears that could monitor events throughout the corners of his country. Early detection of potential seeds of discontent is the way to quickly stabilize the nation. Thus, the addition of Hashim’s White Serpent at this time was welcome to Julius. However, one point still bothered him.

 

“But I, along with Souma, thwarted the ambitions of Fuuga and Hashim. Can you swear loyalty to me?”

 

“That poses no problem. Our path, and that of the Chima clan, is to preserve the name and the house.” Kagashi stated clearly. “Lord Hashim even struck down his own father, Lord Matthew, to preserve the name and the house. And Lord Matthew accepted Lord Hashim’s way of life and passed the succession to him, leaving a few final words and a list of suitable people to Lord Hashim. That list is now in our possession. It was entrusted to us by Lord Hashim to pass on to someone in case of his demise. The Chima name will be succeeded by Lord Ichiha. And we, the ‘White Serpent,’ and Lord Hashim, believed that you are the one who could be entrusted with the strategic and morally ambiguous aspects of the Chima intellect, and the evidence of that intellect. We ask that you use us.”

 

Kagashi then bowed deeply again. Despite his humble prostration, his presence was dignified, conveying that this was their way of life. Jirukoma, slightly overwhelmed by the atmosphere, looked at Julius.

 

“Your Majesty. What will you do?”

 

“…I will accept them. After all, it is true that we are short-handed.” Julius stood up, stood before Kagashi, and bid him to rise. “My country accepts your clan. Dedicate yourselves to this new nation.”

 

“Oh. Thank you.”

 

“From this day forth, the White Serpent will serve as my eyes and ears… But Kagashi. You will step into the spotlight.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean that you will serve me publicly, as a retainer. I will take you on as my direct vassal. Learn the ways of living under the sun, not just in the shadows.”

 

“…I see.”

 

The White Serpent was, in effect, a ninja or spy collective. While useful for governance, if they remained shadowy figures for too long, they would become corrupted and turn into a hotbed for schemes. By making Kagashi their direct vassal, Julius was preparing a path for such individuals to rise in the public eye. This was the same method Souma used for Kagetora and others.

 

Kagashi smiled widely and bowed. “I am grateful for your consideration.”

 

---

 

And now, returning to the present, it was the day of the ceremony celebrating the reestablishment of the Kingdom of Lastania. The sight of the new capital, Wedan, and Wedan Castle, adorned for the occasion, and King Julius and Queen Tia attending the ceremony, was being broadcast live across the continent via the Orb.

 

The ceremony was incredibly splendid, rivaling Souma’s wedding ceremony in the Kingdom of Friedonia. What particularly amazed the people were the gifts sent from various nations to celebrate the reestablishment. Souma, the King of Friedonia and Julius’s brother-in-law, not only sent massive amounts of materials with Roroa but also offered financial aid for the reconstruction via the broadcast.

 

Kou, the head of the Republic of Turgis, sent a gigantic statue of Julius and Tia to commemorate the reestablishment and symbolize their friendship. Queen Shabon of the Nine-Headed Dragon Kingdom sent rare pearls and coral as a gift to Queen Tia. And the Dragon Knights of the allied Nothung Dragon Knight Kingdom performed an aerial acrobatics display over Wedan, asserting their continued friendship.

 

The display of congratulatory gifts from other nations impressed upon the viewers that the Lastania Kingdom, led by Julius, possessed powerful connections, startling those who had previously scorned the reestablishment of such a small state.

 

Furthermore, serving Julius and Tia at the ceremony were Jirukoma and Kagashi, along with many other capable individuals who had been sidelined after the coup. Seeing this confirmed the existence of the Kingdom of Lastania to the people throughout the country. Julius had succeeded in making the reconstruction of the Kingdom of Lastania an unmistakable reality.

 

“That was a truly amazing ceremony. It’s the first time I’ve been blessed by so many people,” Tia reportedly said later, stroking her son Dias’s head.

 

Julius smiled when he heard this. He then smiled at Dias, said, “I’m borrowing your mother for a moment,” and lifted Tia by the waist.

 

“Eh, Lord Julius?”

 

“It is only because I met you, Tia. Meeting you is my greatest happiness.” Julius then kissed Tia on the forehead.