Your Excellency Is Strong, but My Art Style Is Above Yours!

Iori did not hesitate. After the verdict was announced, he decisively ordered every last one of them be beheaded. The gushing blood silenced the officials, while the common people were stirred into a frenzy, many of them shouting themselves hoarse!

That afternoon, after the stolen funds in the governor's residence had been counted, Iori set aside half of them. Then, personally overseeing the matter, he ordered the samurai to distribute that portion of the wealth among the city's residents.

Items taken by force were returned to their original owners first. Anything whose ownership could not be proven was temporarily sealed away. The large quantity of gold coins, meanwhile, was distributed relatively evenly among the citizens, with priority given to the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled.

Every citizen received a certificate clearly stating that the funds were compensation from the imperial court, legal income that did not need to be taxed again.

Interestingly, aside from the official seal, the certificate bore a strange blue symbol. It was said to be a soul character from the East, the general's personal seal.

Thus, the entire city erupted in celebration, with joy filling every corner as though it were a festival.

The mark of the soul character, along with the name "Masked General," also began spreading among the people...

"Impressive... The Revolutionary Army has held public trials and distributed wealth to the people before, but every time, all sorts of problems arose. We were never able to carry it through smoothly... Look at them. Their joy comes from the heart. You would never see this anywhere else in the Empire."

Nadjeta and Akame were also in the city this time. Having watched Iori's actions from beginning to end, both wore expressions of utter disbelief.

The black-haired girl with straight locks asked directly, "How did you do it?"

"Fairness, justice, and transparency!"

Iori kept it simple. "Crimes must be judged fairly. You cannot negotiate or compromise with the governor beforehand. Assets must be counted openly. You cannot let people divide them up in private. And when distributing money, you must treat everyone fairly. You cannot only win over the local young men, strongmen, and powerful families."

"How miraculous... Was it really that simple?" Akame seemed to understand, yet not quite.

"..."

Nadjeta understood a little more, but she could not help shaking her head.

Iori had his own inner circle, only a little over two hundred people. He could fully control every subordinate, ensuring fairness and justice throughout the process.

But it was almost impossible for the Revolutionary Army to imitate him... To say nothing else, the Revolutionary Army was a mixed bag. Its members came from all walks of life and had different ways of doing things. Why would they follow your rules?

Yet Nadjeta was unwilling to admit the Revolutionary Army's shortcomings. Gritting her teeth, she pointed out a problem. "But if word of what you are doing gets out, won't it make the minister suspicious?"

"Let him be suspicious." Iori smiled. "I never planned to keep rising through the Empire's ranks anyway. The title of general is enough for me. So what if the minister suspects me?"

He appeared completely calm, and he truly had nothing to fear.

If he did this seven or eight times, his reputation would probably spread throughout the entire Empire. By then, everyone would know that the Masked General was the Empire's conscience, a hero who stood on the side of the people—then Iori's goal would be achieved.

In the end, his personal strength was overwhelming. He had no need to care about the minister's reaction. Besides, it was not as if the minister had received no money. He should know when to be satisfied!

If he pushed Iori too far, Iori would simply flip the table. He already had righteousness and reputation in hand anyway!

"...But you are not a local civil official. You cannot stay here forever."

Nadjeta spoke seriously. "While you are here, naturally no one would dare make any moves. But once you leave, can these people keep the money they received?"

"Maybe they can. Maybe they cannot." Iori shrugged.

"You do not care at all?" Nadjeta frowned deeply. "Everything you worked so hard to accomplish could be destroyed overnight by those vermin!"

"You seem rather eager to see me fail."

Iori looked at Nadjeta with a faint smile. "What, did what happened today touch a sensitive nerve?"

"Mm..." Nadjeta fell silent.

"Actually, I already knew someone would set their sights on the money in the people's hands. After all, in some people's eyes, ordinary people are merely prey to be exploited... Not just imperial officials. The Revolutionary Army might become like that someday too."

"No, I believe that will not happen!" Nadjeta denied it firmly.

"...I hope so." Iori gave an awkward smile and did not intend to argue with her.

"But if you do not care, why go out of your way to distribute the money? Wouldn't that make it meaningless?"

"Meaningless? I do not think so."

Iori looked at the jubilant people below and asked softly, "Tell me, when the compensation they received is taken from them again, how will they feel?"

"...Angry?" Nadjeta pondered it. "They will want to overthrow the Empire?"

"No!"

Iori said resolutely, "They will miss me!"

"—!"

Nadjeta slowly widened her eyes. At last, she understood something. Combined with how Iori had infiltrated the military system, a terrifying suspicion emerged in the female general's mind.

Could it be that the man before her was the greatest ambitious schemer of them all?

What he wanted was not mere power, but something even more direct—the "hearts" of the people!

"You really are a... terrifying man~"

Nadjeta suddenly relaxed. She gave Iori a look filled with both admiration and wariness. For some reason, even after learning of Iori's ambition, she unexpectedly felt no disgust toward him.

Because unlike ordinary ambitious schemers, Iori's appearance was a good thing for the people...

"But perhaps only someone like you can truly change this world!"

Gradually, a strange and complicated look appeared in Nadjeta's eyes—

Akame, standing slightly behind them, blinked as her gaze shifted back and forth between Nadjeta and Iori. The female assassin was, unusually, shaken.

What was going on?

Girls, does anyone get it? Why was her female superior looking at her male friend with such tender affection?

Chapter 55: Iori: Well Said, but I Have Cheats

"All that gleaming silver being handed out to the poor—what a sin!"

Inside a luxurious manor, Minister Honest sat at one end of a long dining table, viciously biting into a thick steak as though he wanted to transfer all his dissatisfaction into it.

"Rebellious son! How dare he do something like this! Idiot! Is he really Honest's son?"

"Minister, it is said that the one leading this matter was not Young Master Syura, but the general under him named Izou."

"What, Izou?" Honest's eyes shifted. "That man... An foreign samurai. Did he not say that he only cared about his sword? This does not seem like something a killer would do."

A tall, lean man with clearly defined muscles was reporting to the minister. He was one of the Rakshasa Four Ghosts, from the martial arts holy land of Imperial Fist Temple. Though he was not an Imperial Arms user, he possessed strength on the same level.

"Izou's identity is also highly suspicious. After all, he has never shown his face. He claims to have rescued Young Master Syura, but the Revolutionary Army headquarters is heavily guarded. How could that have been so easy? Perhaps the Revolutionary Army sent someone to impersonate him in order to get close to Young Master Syura and you!"

"That makes sense..."

Honest nodded, but then became troubled again. "But I personally introduced him to the Emperor. If I immediately say he is a traitor now... Besides, Syura is far too close to him, willingly letting himself be treated like a toy... Is that brat really my biological son?"

"Minister, you can always have another one."

"That is true."

Honest nodded, showing no regard for father-son affection as he decisively made his choice.

"We cannot let others say my son is a traitor. Quietly kill them. Leave this matter to your Rakshasa Four Ghosts."

"Understood!"

"However, now that I think about it..."

Honest thought of the wealth that had been delivered to his manor, and his eyes shifted again.

"Wait until they have stirred things up for a while before taking them down."

"Hm? Minister, what do you mean?"

"Hmph! If they had not caused this mess, I would never have known those bastards had been cooking the books all along!"

Honest looked nearly mad. "My money! It is all my money! I only get one million while they get two million, and I am supposed to thank them!"

"Uh... I understand."

This man had followed the minister for a long time, so naturally he understood Honest's thoughts.

It was simple. What Iori was doing now was merely confiscating the property of local officials. He was not purging the bureaucratic system itself, so the Empire's rule had not been affected. At worst, they could simply appoint another governor.

Honest had no shortage of people under him who wanted official positions. This was the perfect opportunity to replace them with people he found more satisfactory and strengthen his control over the regions. If that caused dissatisfaction among those below, then he could throw Syura out to take the blame.

See? This was all their doing. To protect our shared interests, I even killed my own son!

—That was Honest's only son. At his age, it was practically the end of his bloodline. The weight of such a pledge of loyalty was certainly enough.

"Money really is a wonderful thing... Those bastards have been lining their pockets behind my back for so long. It is time for them to spit it out." Honest picked at his ear. "Also, inform the noble families, large and small, in the Imperial Capital that I have a batch of official posts for sale recently. Ask who is interested."

"Yes, Minister."

Having discussed their plan, the two men smiled brightly.

—At the other end of the dining table, Iori wore the same smile.

During the day, he caused trouble outside. At night, he used Shangri-La to return to the Imperial Capital, moved about in spirit form, and openly observed Honest's reactions. Then, based on the minister's plans, he made plans of his own.

It was not just the Imperial Capital, either. He had even placed teleportation markers at the Revolutionary Army headquarters!

Iori had the advantage in both strength and intelligence. He could freely travel between places with his Imperial Arms, and at a critical moment, he could flip the table, kill Honest outright, and join the Revolutionary Army on the spot—

With a dragon rider right in their faces, how could he lose?!

That was why Iori could act with such utter impunity!

That old fox Honest probably could never have imagined that someone like Iori, a complete cheat, existed. Conventional tactics were utterly useless against him~

He thought distributing money to the poor was sinful, and he believed the Empire's rule would remain unaffected. But he did not know what kind of game Iori was playing in this struggle for supremacy.

Iori had never wanted to win people's hearts through favors, nor had he intended to manage territory. He merely wanted to cause a big enough sensation for his name to rapidly spread throughout the Empire.

That would be unwise in an ordinary struggle for supremacy during chaotic times, but for Iori, it was the most efficient approach, because what he had always wanted was "fame"!

As for governing the nation and bringing peace to the world, once his Art Style Value rose high enough and he dealt with Esdeath and Shikoutazer, he could suppress the age with overwhelming strength like the First Emperor. Those problems would then resolve themselves naturally!

At its core, this was not a normal world. It was a fantasy world where a top-tier powerhouse could take on an army of four hundred thousand alone!

CG Added

Empire's Star General - Eagle Vision Wolf Look

Category: Art Style

Level: --

Quality: --

Reward:

Art Style Value +2

Eagle Vision Wolf Look? I do not like that term. Sooner or later, I will turn it into Heavenly Strategy Grand General!

"Former Imperial Navy member, reporting as ordered!"

A young man in a blue coat stood at the office doorway. He was plainly dressed, with upright and resolute features.

"Will? Come in."

After receiving permission, Will pushed open the door and entered, only to discover that several people had already arrived.

One was a handsome, elegant blond man. One was a strange middle-aged man wearing glasses. One was a tall girl holding an odd little dog. And lastly... uh.

Will was startled by the bizarre person at the far end. That person was bare-chested from the waist up, yet wore a terrifying gas mask, looking like something out of a horror novel.

He looked like a pervert no matter how you looked at him!

Then Will looked at the commanding officer seated behind the desk. He too wore a mask, and his hands were wrapped in bandages. In terms of strangeness, they were evenly matched.

...What kind of place have I come to?

"Do not be nervous, Will."

Seated in his chair, Iori folded his hands before the lower half of his mask and calmly addressed the five people. "Some of you were personally invited by me. Some of you received transfer orders from your superiors. Some of you were recommended here by seniors you trust."