The Imperial Arts could be complex or simple. In the end, they were merely the art of checks and balances.
It was like the thirty-six stratagems: everyone knew at least a few, but applying them flexibly was what truly mattered.
Yet what Vita called the Imperial Arts was not the traditional art of rulership.
After all, the person preparing to become Shawn's "imperial father" had yet to conquer a vast empire for him to inherit.
Instead, she was counting on the "crown prince" to work hard and usher in a new era.
Inside the office.
Vita waved a blackboard over and wrote on it from a distance with her wand.
-Leader's bearing, mastering power, political scheming-
Then she began to speak.
"These three points will form my curriculum for the coming year. Each can be divided into many more subjects, which I'll teach you little by little.
"As I teach you, I'll use the example of how a formidable friend of mine took over the Austria Ministry of Magic fifty years ago, in just eight months, without shedding a drop of blood.
"We'll also use solutions to some of your current troubles as practical examples, so you can put what you learn to use."
Shawn was secretly astonished.
Good grief. She'd secretly taken over an entire Ministry of Magic in eight months? That friend was you, wasn't it?
Lucius and the others really were useless. They ought to be packed off to Grindelwald's Army for further training.
Shawn grew even more attentive.
"Today, we'll begin with a leader's bearing.
"A leader needn't be elegant or noble, but he must possess powerful personal charisma and the ability to move others. Very few people have these qualities. They may seem innate, but they can actually be cultivated.
"And Shawn, you've already done