"The real show has only just begun. Charlotte, take your camera and don't miss the wonderful scenes that are about to unfold."
Leon spoke while observing from above, his gaze filled with condescension as he looked down at the streets, where the so-called "Disciplinary Officers" enforced "order" throughout the city while relentlessly confiscating scandalous newspapers.
"I understand, Your Highness."
Charlotte was startled for a brief moment, but she quickly composed herself and positioned her camera to capture everything happening below.
Although she didn't know the full extent of Leon's plan, she understood perfectly well that the man beside her was capable of devising even the cruelest strategies to achieve his goals. If he had said that, then something extraordinary was about to happen—something that could not be missed.
As a professional journalist, she would never let such an opportunity slip away.
On the streets, the Disciplinary Officers, dressed in dark-blue robes, and the mercenaries hired by the Great Sage to maintain the city's security, marked by their green scarves, adopted an authoritarian and oppressive stance. They suppressed the surrounding citizens while forcibly confiscating all newspapers related to the Great Sage.
At the same time, they loudly proclaimed:
"These newspapers are full of false information!"
"It is forbidden to discuss anything related to their content!"
"Hand over all newspapers immediately!"
Without hesitation, they tore the papers straight from people's hands.
Naturally, such behavior provoked dissatisfaction.
In a nation known as the land of wisdom, banning discussion in such a rigid and irrational way only sparked even greater curiosity—especially among scholars, who were far more inquisitive than ordinary people.
Soon, someone frowned and questioned:
"How have you proven they're false? This comes from the legendary reporter Charlotte. Why are you calling it fake?"
"This is suspicious… extremely suspicious."
"You're acting under direct orders from the Great Sage. At first, I didn't fully believe the newspaper… but now, isn't this too incriminating?"
"Other than taboo research, since when are there topics that we, scholars of Sumeru, are forbidden to discuss?"
Whispers began to rise from all directions.
If they were alone, very few would dare to say such things openly in front of the authorities.
But here, in the middle of a crowd, many believed their voices would be lost among the others. With so many people present, they thought they wouldn't be identified—and therefore wouldn't be punished.
Before long, what should have remained mere murmurs turned into a constant buzz of discussion, loud enough to darken the expressions of the Disciplinary Officers.
"How dare you slander the Great Sage?! Do you have a death wish?!"
"Confiscate everything immediately! Don't leave a single one behind!!"
"Arrest those who just spoke!"
As the authorities drew their swords, the expressions of the people in the crowd froze instantly.
Horror filled their faces.
They had never imagined that those responsible for maintaining order would become so authoritarian.
The institution that was supposed to protect the people had become the exact opposite.
From trusted guardians… to feared oppressors.
"Why are you doing this?!"
"Did we do something wrong?!"
"You're just the Great Sage's lackeys! D-Don't come any closer!"
"They're going to kill someone!"
In the next instant—
One of the mercenaries advanced without hesitation and struck a man in the back with his sword.
"Ughhh!"
The moment blood spilled, chaos erupted completely.
Panic spread like wildfire.
People tried to flee desperately, but they were surrounded. The mercenaries and Disciplinary Officers, following the Great Sage's orders, continued confiscating newspapers by force and… planned to kill more civilians to set an example.
They knew.
They knew that their actions, to some extent, confirmed that the scandals published were true.
But that no longer mattered.
Even if no one believed in the "guilt" of the Great Sage, it was enough to eliminate anyone who dared to say it out loud.
If no one remained to speak…
Then, in a way, it could still be called innocence.
Soon, screams of terror echoed through the streets.
Bright red blood stained the bluish-gray pavement.
"This… this is too much…"
Charlotte's eyes widened.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
No… it wasn't just the Akademiya.
It was the Great Sage himself.
He had chosen a method so brutal, so extreme, that it crossed every limit.
Suppressing his own people.
Killing without justification.
Even having seen countless corrupt nobles throughout her life, Charlotte had never witnessed something so horrifying so openly.
The pink-haired girl swallowed hard, a chill running down her spine.
"Your Highness… what should we do now? Are we… just going to watch?"
She took a deep breath to steady herself while pressing the camera shutter repeatedly, capturing every moment.
At the same time, she looked at Leon beside her, seeking an answer.
Leon merely shook his head.
He didn't intend to just watch.
But he wouldn't act immediately either.
If he truly wished, he could have stopped everything before anyone was hurt.
But…
Moments like this were exactly why he had prepared everything.
He needed a "legitimate reason," a justification to intervene.
As for the lives lost…
To be honest, Leon didn't care in the slightest.
After all, those people were not his.
And in the end, they were only a few dozen lives.
Far too small a sacrifice to even be considered on the grand board.
Leon raised his gaze, watching the tragedy with an almost bored expression.
To him, it was merely… interesting.
Charlotte, noticing that expression, felt her heart pound violently.
What kind of gaze was that?
In that man's eyes, that tragedy was insignificant.
"Charlotte, do you know something?"
"Huh? W-what?"
"Human beings are fascinating creatures."
His voice was calm, almost instructive.
"Although they can be despicable, ugly, and evil by nature… they are also capable of kindness, nobility, and beauty."
He paused briefly.
"Humans are, above all, social creatures."
"When isolated, they tend toward selfishness. But when gathered in groups… something interesting happens."
"Order, rules… justice, and even resistance begin to emerge at their core."
Leon's purple eyes gleamed faintly.
"Humans like to gather in groups just like animals. They obey the group instinctively and subconsciously."
"When faced with external pressure, all it takes is for a single person to have the courage to resist…"
"…and soon others will follow the same path."
His lips curved into a subtle smile.
"So… I will help them make that decision myself."
"And ignite the fire of rebellion."
"I will make them lose control."
Snap.
Leon snapped his fingers.
In the next instant—
Spatial cracks appeared in the sky once again.
Just like before.
A rain of newspapers began to fall, scattering across the entire city.
The sudden scene caused even the violent mercenaries and Disciplinary Officers to hesitate.
Instinctively, someone grabbed one of the falling newspapers.
Upon reading its contents—
Their eyes widened, and their fists clenched in fury.
"T-This is…!"
"That damned… Great Sage… that bastard!"
"This has gone too far!"
The crowd began to boil.
People's eyes turned red…
(End of Chapter)