As long as you can connect to Yggdrasil, the world itself can be manipulated.
Since the World Tree is equivalent to a history book, and the Heart of God is the pen that writes in that book, those who possess this artifact are qualified to change history.
The Great Sage looked down condescendingly at the people below, with obvious contempt and arrogance in his eyes.
"It doesn't matter. Even if I can't clear my name right now, it doesn't matter. All I need to do is wait a little longer. Once I master the Heart of God and connect to the World Tree, I will simply erase the matter itself."
He tightened his grip on the chess piece he held in his hand.
His heart began beating faster and faster, filled with excitement.
Rewriting past history… just thinking about it was enough to make him tremble with desire. It was a power so coveted, so absurd and insane, that anyone would go mad for it.
No matter what happened—he had to obtain that power!
Although the current turmoil seemed serious at first glance, in reality it was nothing significant. He was not a fool. He knew very well that the forced retraction, repression, and banishment he had ordered were merely a way to scare the monkeys—a brutal warning to ensure that everyone else remained silent.
Those methods were extremely dangerous.
But so what?
"As long as I suppress the current situation for now, I will succeed soon. And then everything in this world will change according to my will… and I will become… the new God of this world!"
Once he could control the World Tree, anything that was not advantageous to him would simply cease to exist. There would be no more hidden dangers, no more concealed threats.
As for the possibility of those civilians rebelling directly?
That was a joke in his eyes.
They were merely civilians.
Throughout the entire history of this world, civilian rebellions that had truly succeeded…
Simply did not exist.
After all, magic was the absolute symbol of power.
Ordinary people without any magical power could never fight against nobles who possessed magic. That was the iron rule of this world!
He murmured confidently:
"Everything is fine. Everything is within my expectations. The plan is working."
At that moment, high above Sumeru City, a boy observed the commotion spreading across the entire city with a satisfied expression.
Everyone was acting exactly according to the script he had prepared.
Without the slightest deviation.
Leon slightly raised the corners of his lips.
This feeling of controlling everything from behind the curtains was simply irresistible. The desire for domination within his heart was being completely satisfied.
"Charlotte, thank you for your help this time."
Leon turned and spoke to the girl standing just behind him.
"It is an honor for me to serve Your Highness. Besides, revealing the truth and making it known to the world is precisely my job. In fact, I should be the one thanking you."
Standing before him was a girl wearing a red beret, with pink hair and green eyes.
Her most distinctive feature was the monocle over her left eye, along with the strange magical device she carried—a tool known as a photographic camera.
That person was none other than Charlotte, the legendary reporter who had revealed countless hidden truths to the world.
In reality, she was also one of Leon's people.
Or, more precisely, someone who had received his patronage.
By chance, Leon had discovered the girl's extraordinary talent for journalism.
So he invested a great deal of time and resources into cultivating her, turning Charlotte into the legend she was today.
In fact, the founder of the world-famous Steam Bird Newspaper had also been Leon himself.
However, his goal in creating that newspaper had never been purely informational.
He wanted to control the power of public opinion.
After all, it was an extremely convenient tool.
If there was a noble who was guilty but lacked sufficient evidence to be condemned, it would be enough to publish a report in the newspaper.
After all, newspapers did not need absolute proof.
When enough people began criticizing and condemning someone—even without concrete evidence—Leon could simply execute the noble in the name of justice.
After all, even a lie becomes the truth when enough people believe it.
If the Steam Bird Newspaper ever managed to completely control the public opinion of the world, then anyone who became Leon's enemy would have to be prepared to become the enemy of the entire world.
"Please stay with me during this period."
"Yes, thank you very much, Your Highness."
Charlotte nodded, visibly relieved.
In truth, the main reason she had taken refuge under Leon's protection had nothing to do with money or power.
It was simply a matter of survival.
For a young reporter like her, constantly exposing the sins and scandals of those in power was extremely dangerous.
There were countless people in this world who wanted Charlotte dead.
Before she had been discovered by Leon, she had nearly been assassinated by a killer sent by a mere viscount whose scandal she had exposed.
It was at that moment that the girl realized a harsh truth:
Even someone who wished to reveal the truth needed enough power to survive.
And that kind of power could only be provided by one person in the entire world.
The Prince of Palettia.
As long as she remained under Leon's protection, she would not need to fear retaliation—even if she exposed scandals involving his own royal family.
However, that asylum had a price.
She would no longer have the right to refuse Leon.
Whenever Leon needed it, Charlotte would have to write the reports he desired.
Her name, her reputation, and even her hands would belong to Leon.
Just like the newspaper that had been published moments ago.
"Your Highness, what do you plan to do now?"
"What? Are you interested?"
"Of course. I'm very curious to know what kind of shocking event you plan to create next. My intuition tells me it will also become a major headline."
Charlotte adjusted her monocle.
As someone who only knew the tip of the iceberg of what Leon was capable of, she clearly understood that he was about to do something enormous.
That was why the reporter's eyes shone so brightly.
Charlotte might not particularly like Leon, but one thing was certain:
At his side, there was never a shortage of news.
In fact, that man's very existence was, by itself, a massive headline.
Disastrous events seemed to occur wherever he went.
"Haha… Charlotte truly is a pure reporter. But if you continue like this, you'll end up knowing too much… and then you won't be able to turn back."
Leon said it in a tone that sounded like a warning.
The girl was already at the limit.
If Charlotte chose to give up at that moment, he could still let her leave—reluctantly.
But if she learned just a little more about his plans…
Then it would be too late.
She would know too much and would never again be able to leave his side in this lifetime.
"It doesn't matter. Even if I can't turn back."
Charlotte replied without hesitation.
"As a reporter, how could I ignore a major story that is about to happen? Besides… I can no longer turn back."
She had already made her decision.
"Well then… in that case, I will allow you to witness it."
Leon smiled and lightly patted Charlotte on the shoulder.
Then he pulled two knives from his dimensional storage.
In the next instant, the blades were violently thrown behind the girl.
"Ugh!"
"Ah!"
Two muffled screams echoed.
Two disguised assassins immediately collapsed onto the ground.
"Ah!"
Charlotte was also shocked.
Leon, on the other hand, simply yawned in boredom.
"Don't worry. They're just two assassins. Well… judging by how crude their technique is, it seems you were the target."
"Thank you for saving my life, Your Highness."
Charlotte nodded and quickly regained her composure.
Apparently, those assassins had been sent by some aristocratic faction she had offended with her reports.
Without wasting time, the girl ran toward them.
From somewhere, she pulled out a small notebook and a pen, approaching the two men lying on the ground.
"May I interview you? Do you have anything to say in the final moments of your lives? And who was the one who ordered you to kill me?"
"You… you…"
The two assassins' eyes widened.
However, before they could say anything, blood began to spill from their mouths.
Moments later, they died.
Charlotte let out a deep sigh.
She looked genuinely disappointed.
"What a pity…"
"Alright, alright. The show is about to begin."
Leon spoke, slightly surprised by the girl's attitude.
"How about you get yourself ready first? After that, I'll give you the chance to interview the Great Sage Azar of Sumeru."
"Really?! Thank you very much, Your Highness!"
(End of Chapter)