"Of course not. This minister is lying, Your Majesty..."
"The Empire is flourishing under your rule."
"A minister who enjoys telling lies is best dealt with by getting rid of him..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, looking entirely in agreement.
"That's right. Why would Minister Honest deceive me?"
"Then throw him in prison."
Honest looked a little puzzled. Usually, in a situation like this, Little Emperor would ask him how to handle it.
But today, Little Emperor had made the decision on his own and said the minister should be thrown in prison.
Still, the man was just a minor figure. It hardly mattered how Little Emperor chose to deal with him.
Even so, Honest remained on guard. The reason he wielded such power now was largely because of Little Emperor's legitimacy.
Just like the eunuchs of the feudal dynasties in Sarutobi Hiruzen's previous life, the Empire's thousand years of rule had deeply rooted the emperor's bloodline in the people's minds. Honest had no chance of usurping the throne.
So, to Honest, keeping Little Emperor firmly in his grasp was more important than anything else.
Ignoring the various remarks from the righteous minister, several Imperial Guards nearby seized him and dragged him away.
Once the morning court session had ended, Honest eagerly spoke to Little Emperor.
"Your Majesty, I've made another batch of Joy Pills..."
"Take a look..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was puzzled, but the name alone made it clear that they couldn't be anything good.
Joy Pills... They were probably some kind of addictive drug.
No wonder Honest had Little Emperor completely under his thumb. So this was the key.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen still had to act as if he were extremely interested.
"Really?!"
"Then lead the way, Minister Honest!"
Honest led Sarutobi Hiruzen to an extravagantly decorated palace. It looked like