The Empror's Trap

While Pluvia was overthinking this, Kenji hadn't paid attention to what he had just said.

Because in Kenji's original world, "we" was commonly used and didn't exclusively refer to "us," but could also mean "I."

However, this was ultimately just a regional language habit. In many places, "we" would still only be understood as "us."

So Kenji had just spoken casually, but that single "we" had completely confused Pluvia.

She thought this guy couldn't wait anymore and was throwing a direct pitch...

"Are you already thinking about wedding plans?"

Pluvia decided to press for clarity.

Kenji's current attitude clearly showed some impatience.

"I wouldn't say I'm considering the wedding yet. How should I put it... At least we should have a general direction, in case we really do get married someday?" Kenji chuckled. "Your Majesty, what do you think? Setting aside religious stances, would you prefer a simple, practical ceremony or a traditional, festive one?"

"Huh? I... I haven't thought about this yet."

"What if you consider it now?"

"This..."

Good grief, I know you're eager, but let's not rush, okay!

Pluvia's mind was thrown into chaos. She hadn't anticipated the conversation turning this way. Rationally speaking, marrying now might even be a wise choice—after all, according to the Celestial Master's advice, an alliance through marriage could benefit the empire.

"If you think it's acceptable, then I suppose a traditional ceremony would be better," Pluvia said.

As the two pillars of Camelot, adopting foreign wedding customs from the western church nations might send the wrong message.

"I see. So Your Majesty does lean toward tradition after all."

What does this have to do with tradition? It's purely a pragmatic choice!

Of course, Kenji had no idea about Pluvia's mental grumbling. He checked the time and smiled. "Let's set this aside. By now, the most suspicious individuals should have been apprehended."

Given the Gray Scales Division's efficiency, capturing the first batch of suspects wasn't an issue. Kenji had previously agreed with Lina that if she couldn't swiftly handle the highest-risk targets or faced unexpected resistance, he'd deploy military support.

Since Lina hadn't requested backup, the operation was likely proceeding smoothly.

Pluvia checked the time and grew solemn.

If the intelligence was accurate—that the Holy Church had infiltrated multiple sectors in Luminara City and was lying in wait—she couldn't assume the port cities or other open hubs were in better shape.

If even Luminara was in this state, the poison needed to be purged thoroughly.

"I've prepared responses for the foreign merchants and envoys. Kenji, I trust you won't plunge the empire into ruin, correct?"

"Your Majesty need not worry. I'm willing to devote myself entirely to Camelot," Kenji replied respectfully.

"...I believe you. I trust you won't betray that faith."

After speaking, Pluvia turned to gaze beyond the capital.

——

For Lina, today had been remarkably fruitful.

At the Four Seas Hall, a group of foreigners was detained despite their protests. The Gray Scales agents not only arrested them but also combed through their belongings.

Camelot had always been tolerant of foreigners, especially the wealthy and influential ones at the Four Seas Hall, whom ordinary officials dared not investigate.

But today, the Gray Scales ransacked their rooms and possessions with unyielding efficiency.

As expected, evidence of clandestine communications was found in many rooms. Some individuals posing as merchants' sons were actually carrying Holy Church crucifixes. Among their items were materials for proselytizing and transmitting intelligence—such as detailed records of Luminara City's guard rotations.

The Four Seas Hall was no longer the welcoming gathering place it once was. It had become a covert base for certain factions.

"Commander, we found these in the furnace!"

A Gray Scales agent held up a tray of still-smoldering ashes.

Lina examined them.

Faint writing was visible on the charred remains. She glanced at Manager Liu beside her before waving her hand. The agents carefully placed the ashes on a table and sealed the room.

Lina studied the fragments. Many of the words, though scorched, remained legible—not in Camelot's script, but in a western language.

"Transcribe these characters. Preserve them under a seal as evidence," Lina ordered, then turned to Manager Liu. "Do you remember what we told you earlier?"

"N-no, I truly didn't know they—"

"Don't thank me, or your foreign friends. Thank their money instead."

Lina's dark humor fell flat for someone facing execution.

These foreigners' status was reflected in their expensive ink and high-quality seals, which remained visible even after burning. What was meant to signify prestige now became damning evidence—for Manager Liu's increased culpability and the foreigners' imprisonment.

Cheaper ink and wax would have blurred or faded when burned, making the text illegible. But their luxurious supplies left clear traces, even in ashes. Though fragmentary, it was enough to prove their crimes.

"Take them away for interrogation."

At Lina's command, the Royal Guards escorted the prisoners—including Manager Liu—to the dungeons.

Surveying the ransacked Four Seas Hall, Lina finally felt her exhaustion catch up.

She hadn't slept since the night before. After Kenji assigned her this mission, she'd worked with deputies and aides to devise a plan, scout locations, and rehearse maneuvers. With time tight, she'd skipped sleep, meals, and even washing her hair.

Only now did she remember to eat. Before raiding the Four Seas Hall, she'd shut down several other foreign-linked establishments, leaving her drained and hungry.

Thus, the leader of the Gray Scales Division, Duke Anos's confidant and a high-ranking imperial official, sat unceremoniously on the steps and bit into a lamb pastry she'd stashed in her robes—prepared earlier by Kenji's cooks so she wouldn't starve.

---

Events unfolded exactly as Kenji and Pluvia had anticipated.

By the next day, the Spring Peace Palace and Pluvia's study were buried under mountains of petitions.

Most were panicked inquiries from central officials about the Gray Scales' arrests. Many had no idea what was happening—when the lockdown order came, they hadn't imagined it was for mass detentions. Who expects a full lockdown just to arrest a few people?

Others, better informed, pleaded for leniency for certain detainees, including Manager Liu.

For now, few understood the situation, and fear of the Gray Scales' crackdown spread rapidly.

"Should we explain why we're arresting people, Your Majesty?" Kenji asked.

Though the petitions were addressed to the Spring Peace Palace, Kenji had them moved to Pluvia's study to streamline their collaboration.

"Not yet. Let them speculate," Pluvia replied.

Her approach was deliberate—a warning to the court.

Many officials still doubted her authority and even sought to undermine her. The Gray Scales' sudden strikes were meant to intimidate dissenters into compliance.

To maximize the psychological impact, Pluvia would let their anxiety fester before revealing the reasons—without disrupting order.

With her answer, Kenji relaxed.

Pluvia had struggled to root out officials colluding with foreign powers. Now, the arrests had exposed many traitors' tails.

Some petitions urged caution, arguing that such drastic measures should be implemented gradually. While not entirely wrong, their advice ignored the urgency of the situation.

Others were more telling.

For example, one official acknowledged the arrests were justified but claimed the "crimes" didn't warrant such severity, suggesting fines instead...

Simply by analyzing their wording, Pluvia could guess which petitioners were complicit.

"How negligent I've been—to let the court rot like this without noticing..."

Kenji shook his head. "Your Majesty, this is inevitable. The Holy Church hasn't acted openly—their operations have piggybacked on Camelot's foreign exchanges. Since most western nations follow the Holy Church, their activities blend into daily life. It's hard to distinguish devout clergy from ordinary believers."

The infiltrators were too well-hidden. Everyone knew westerners often followed the Holy Church, varying only in devotion. Its influence permeated their lives, making it arduous to identify malicious actors amid the sea of benign foreigners.

Before the Gray Scales' formation, little effort was made to monitor them, allowing the Church to operate undetected.

Digging out their spies now was like finding needles in a haystack.

Moreover, the Holy Church was still expanding in Camelot, operating primarily in shadows. Without overt activity, detection was nearly impossible.

"We'll need stricter vetting for foreigners going forward," Pluvia mused.

Camelot's current screening was woefully inadequate. Thorough initial inspections would prevent future crises.

As she pondered, Kenji suddenly laughed.

"What's funny?" Pluvia asked.

"Nothing. I just found an unusual petition amid these repetitive ones. It's... interesting. And it carries good news."

"What news?"

"A message from the Hedian Empire's envoy. They've submitted a formal statement: if we attack Samanjiang, they won't intervene."

This was excellent. Given the Hedian Empire's military strength, Kenji had hoped to avoid their involvement in the western campaign.

While their assurances weren't entirely trustworthy, they indicated Hedia's reluctance to antagonize Camelot—for now, they preferred stability.

This surprised Kenji. After he'd proposed talks, the envoy responded swiftly, showing Hedia's respect for Camelot.

"If Hedia stays out of the western campaign, what are our chances of victory?"

Pluvia deferred to Kenji's expertise.

"About fifty percent. It depends on how many nations the Church mobilizes. Most countries won't risk total war with Camelot—it'd gain them nothing. Unless powers like the Vishi or Hedian Empires join, our odds are strong."

"And if one does?"

"Then we'd need to sow discord among them."

If a major power joined the "eastern expedition," they'd demand a larger share of the spoils, leaving less for smaller allies. Resentment would brew, making it easier to turn them against one another than if all were equals.