Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 184
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Game Opportunities Become Reality Episode 184
43. Development of the Duchy of Lawrence (5)
When you think about it, this is simply an assault case.
The problem is that the theme of ethnic conflict got mixed into that assault case.
If we take this lightly and try to wrap it up carelessly, we might end up facing a serious fallout.
We need a conclusion that is as fair as possible and that the parties involved can accept.
But this is both a headache-inducing situation and an opportunity.
If I resolve this matter wisely, the Croysen people's perception of me will change, and once that happens, running the duchy will become much easier.
"Hmm..."
I pondered.
Isn't there some way to achieve a dramatic effect?
'The currently available means are agitation and fabrication.'
If necessary, I can even turn non-existent facts into truth using the administrator authority of the Hollywood System.
'The surest way to put this case to rest is to turn the Croysen assault victim into an agitator. As it turns out, they picked the fight first, and the Rhinehearts people fell for the provocation and committed the assault. The Croysen agitator, using their victim status, is stoking ethnic conflict...'
It's a viable enough method, but this still feels like crossing the line too far.
No matter how much the Rhinehearts people dislike the Croysen people, aren't they now my subjects as well?
While I was lost in such thoughts, Maryang, who had been drinking tea with Arcia in the corner of the office, offered a sharp remark.
"Why not just go out there honestly?"
"Pardon?"
"It's obvious you have a scheming look on your face, but is there really a need for that? You're the king and the representative of the Rhinehearts people just step forward, apologize sincerely, and announce that this case will be dealt with strictly according to the established law. That should resolve it."
At her words, I furrowed my brow.
But after quietly thinking it over, I realized she wasn't far off.
And I felt like my behavior was overlapping with someone from Earth.
'As a Korean, I almost ended up imitating Imperial Japan.'
Agitation aside...
Isn't distorting facts with lies and deceiving people something a leader must never do?
I think I was getting too caught up in convenience and started having misguided thoughts.
To be honest, the positions of Croysen and Rhinehearts are completely different from Korea and Japan of that era.
If I had to evaluate it, a Japan+China-like country harmed Korea and got turned on and suffered the backlash instead.
'Why was it that I tried to protect the Croysen people and their culture as much as possible while taking a firm stance? Wasn't it at least to rationalize that I was different from that country?'
What I need to do in this situation is not play cheap tricks.
As Maryang said, I need to step to the forefront and face it head-on.
Apologizing doesn't make you grovel in the first place.
There is honor that is protected precisely by apologizing.
"So your age of over 100 and your position as Grand Elder of the Allied Nations weren't just for show?"
As I looked at Maryang with admiration, she got flustered.
"What!?"
"It's a compliment. Honestly, I'm impressed. Thank you for the advice."
"Hmph, hmph. Is that so? Well, heeding advice is also an important virtue of a leader."
I had been pretending to be an enlightened leader through my ongoing online diary, yet I almost did something shameful.
So I readily expressed my gratitude to Maryang, who had stopped me.
"Anyway, now can you let me go..."
"Let's go, Prime Minister Walker. We will make a statement and hold a press conference."
"Understood, Your Highness."
I rose from my seat to take action immediately, and Maryang puffed out her cheeks at the sight.
And of course, Arcia poked her cheek with her finger at Maryang's reaction.
* * *
The riot that began centered on the Croysen people spread worldwide through online channels.
In response, other nations poured out various opinions some mocked them for still being immature even after losing their country, while others made hasty judgments about whether the Grand Duke Lawrence, being of the same Rhinehearts people, would properly punish the offenders.
But the mainstream opinion was...
'How dare they defy the king they must all want to be executed as traitors.'
It pointed out the terror of the feudal system.
No matter how much the world has advanced and information from across the sea can be received in real time, the mainstream political system of Rondel is still the feudal system.
This means that social classes clearly still exist.
Is it not feudalism that allows tens of thousands of heads to be severed at a single wave of the king's hand?
'Could the Croysen people really act that way toward the former Imperial Family too?'
'From Grand Duke Lawrence's perspective, this could be seen as an event where he was disrespected.'
'The Croysen people's actions have clearly crossed the line.'
Surprisingly, international public opinion was not on the side of the Croysen people.
In the past, such reactions would have been filtered out, but now that they had been incorporated into Rhinehearts, they reached the Croysen people in full.
"Isn't Rhinehearts manipulating this systematically?"
"Th-that could be."
Even though they were clearly the victims, having the victims attacked was inevitably disconcerting.
And when news spread through the media that Adrian El Lawrence, the king of the Duchy of Lawrence, would make a statement, those who had participated in the riot could not help but grow fearful in advance.
Blinded by rage, they had committed the act, but regret came flooding in too late.
"Huh?"
But Adrian's statement shattered everyone's expectations.
This was true both for the Croysen people who had started the riot and for foreigners who had been watching the situation with interest.
[I do not believe this incident occurred simply because a young Croysen man was assaulted by young Rhinehearts men. Clearly, the Croysen people have been subjected to discrimination in ways seen and unseen, and the resentment that piled up and piled up eventually exploded.]
[If the royal family had made an effort to communicate, this situation could have been prevented. This is a failure on my part as a leader, and I sincerely apologize to my people who were hurt simply for being Croysen.]
A king of a country where it was only natural that his head felt heavy and his neck stiff had apologized to his people.
It was a shock.
To the citizens of other countries under the same feudal system, and of course, to the Croysen people who had participated in the riot as well.
[I do not intend to apologize with words alone. To prevent the recurrence of such incidents, I will establish an institution for communication and discrimination prevention to stop the division of subjects' statuses by ethnicity. Furthermore, if a crime with a high potential for inter-ethnic conflict occurs, I will take measures to form a jury composed of members from each ethnicity so they may participate in the trial.]
[I take this opportunity to make it clear: in this Duchy of Lawrence, there is no difference in status based on ethnicity. Just because I am of the Rhinehearts people does not mean I will favor my own kin, and just because they were once enemies does not mean I will discriminate against the Croysen people.]
[You are all equal citizens who registered your residency in my country of your own free will, and regardless of ethnicity, all of you are precious subjects.]
He apologized yet remained dignified without a trace of servility.
He clearly upheld his dignity as king, yet his words were more than enough to soothe the emotions of those who were angered.
The Duchy of Lawrence is not a democratic nation.
It was an absolute monarchy, and the Croysen Empire had been no different.
But the way they treated their people was completely different from the Imperial Family of the former Empire.
[All property damage caused by this protest shall be compensated by the royal family.]
[This is by no means me, the king, yielding to the protest. Rather, I have recognized my mistakes and stepped forward to correct them. If violent protests like this occur again, the entire protesting group will be severely punished according to the law.]
[If there is anything you wish to ask of or appeal to this nation, do not resort to violence appeal through the communication channel that will soon be established. All civil complaints will be answered, and if a response is unsatisfactory, a system will be put in place to appeal to higher institutions, and if that fails, directly to the royal family.]
Additionally, he rebuked the riot itself.
He looked so stern that the Croysen people watching the broadcast could not help but swallow dryly.
[I will grow this nation strong and prosperous. My goal is not only to strengthen the royal family and the nobles, but to become wealthy together with the people. So I ask you all to trust me and follow me.]
[With that, I conclude the royal family's statement regarding this civil disturbance.]
A young and handsome man.
But also a capable politician, soldier, and Mage Adrian El Lawrence.
This statement best revealed his character, and it was enough to stir a small ripple in the hearts of those who witnessed it.
"That man is completely different from other leaders who are authoritarian and greedy."
Most people felt that way.
After Adrian's statement, the riot that had broken out in the Duchy of Lawrence was immediately quelled, and, as if proving that his words were not empty, channels for communication were quickly established.
Moreover, in the trial of the assault case that had ignited the riot, the participation of a civilian jury was decided for the first time under the feudal system, causing a major stir.
Afterwards, people described Adrian's statement in these words.
"He apologized politely while still showing charisma."
That's what they said.
"I think the Grand Duke Lawrence isn't so bad."
"Right, at least he doesn't see the people as tools."
"Now that we can look up foreign information, it turns out the Croysen Empire isn't always in the right."
And because of this, the tide within the Duchy of Lawrence shifted.
* * *
Ophelia Island.
After resolving the civil war of the Kingdom of Roberto and receiving a 50-year lease from Queen Sia Rin, that island naturally came to be incorporated into the duchy along with me.
In less than a year, Ophelia Island's atmosphere had completely transformed its population swelled to nearly 30,000, bustling with activity, and research facilities worthy of being called the world's finest were established.
However, first-time visitors to Ophelia Island are not so much surprised that such a developed island exists on the Sea of Silence, but rather by its ironclad security.
Twenty Heaven-Piercing Fortresses floated in the island's skies, and a thousand Vanguards were deployed, making the island itself no different from a fortress.
Furthermore, Blue Moon managed the core facilities alongside the Lawrence Mage Tower, thoroughly blocking any illegal intrusion by outsiders.
"Your Highness the King of the Duchy of Lawrence, Happy New Year."
Among the research labs on Ophelia Island, there was a space located at the very deepest level a place where new artifacts were developed based on the research materials and cultural relics left behind by Grand Duke Lucas.
When Arcia and I visited that place, Owen, a 7th Circle Grand Mage of Blue Moon, and Torres the dwarf bowed deeply to me in greeting.
Although it was already the end of January and quite some time had passed since the new year began, the two offered their New Year's greetings, perhaps because it was their first meeting this year.
"Yes, Happy New Year to the both of you as well."
At my reply, they scratched their cheeks as if embarrassed.
They looked so innocent that it was hard to believe they belonged to the fearsomely infamous Blue Moon.
"Has everything been completed?"
I asked Torres the dwarf.
At that, he nodded vigorously and laid several pieces of equipment onto the table.
"Oh?"
The first things that caught my eye were three white swords and, contrasting with them, two black swords.
These were Force Swords forged from the Orichalcum and adamantite obtained from the Dragonlands this time.
Arcia would personally wield one Orichalcum sword, while two Orichalcum swords and two adamantite swords would serve as her reserve armaments for use as Flying Swords.
All were made to the same specifications as an arming sword (one-handed longsword), and these weapons alone were worth enough to buy dozens of Heaven-Piercing Fortresses.
"Do you like them?"
I asked Arcia.
Her eyes sparkled as she tested each sword one by one, then she nodded in admiration.
"I love them."
Of course.
As far as I know, the only people who possess swords made of pure Orichalcum are the Emperor of the Bringham Empire and the Holy Son.
Having multiple such weapons in her possession there would be no one in this world who could compare to her.
'Ah, but there's Blake.'
That meant, at least among humans, there was no one to compare.
Next, we turned our attention to the next piece of equipment.