Chapter 58 My Way
It is always greed that drives us forward.
We consumed, we searched, we discovered, and we consumed again.
Yet one day, we realized that consumption of what we can find alone cannot satisfy us anymore, so we began creating.
And we consumed our creations.
This is how we survived and thrived.
This core of mankind's highest ambition.
…
Elegant.
That word would effectively describe the room in which the higher-ranked officers of the empire normally rest. The ivory walls of the interior are carved with similar classical embellishments of the Victorian Age. A medium-sized bed is located toward the corner of the room. The material with which the bed is built would be something along the lines of a rosewood. A desk made from the same wood is installed neatly in front of the silk-curtained window. In front of the desk sits a silver-haired man. His only remaining left eye is gazing up and down on a stack of documents.
"The Thirty-Eighth Division of the revolutionary army is effectively slowing down General Esdeath's progress for overtaking the northwestern region in Mt. Ozi, which gives me a supplemental week to lay down the preparations."
Rising from his current seat, Junius lets his right arm into a slow tapping motion over his right temple. Briefly looking over the numbers one last time, he decides to place the stack of paper back onto the wooden shelf behind the desk.
"With the establishment of the my separate department, I should be able to relocate the financial resources. Now, in order to convince the Prime Minister…"
Eyeing all of the paperwork on top of the shelf, he carefully retrieves a folder on the righter shelf. The relatively undisturbed cover signifies the fact that this folder has not been opened for a long time. Making sure that he has chosen the correct set of documents, the young general proceeds to examine the documents.
"Taxation rate needs to be adjusted. I cannot let the rate increase above the calculated range. The suppression in the capital cannot be centered in the military, but the economy. Another divergence in the military can create a power vacuum. Propaganda should be placed secretly on the borderline cities, but the capital must remain unaffected; therefore, the density for the distribution of the Imperial Police will be lowered. In this case, Hei would have a more workable environment."
Pacing back and forth in front of the window, Junius gradually forms his new domestic policies in his mind. As one of the highest officials in the empire, he's control of the government is not necessarily force, like Budo and Esdeath, but intellect.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Yes, come in."
A young soldier opens the door. His eyes reflect the typical seriousness of those trained by empirical standards. There are no documents in his hands, and he is not equipped with any weapons, which means he most likely is delivering a message from the Prime Minister.
"The Prime Minister would like to see you in thirty minutes, General."
As predicted.
"Junius, please, Liam. I have told you that I do not take appreciation in formalities." The young general replies the soldier with a smile, "But yes, I will be there on time. Would you take this folder to him when you leave? Thank you."
"Consider it done, General."
The young soldier also replies with a gentle smile. Before Junius can attempt once again to correct his formal tone, the soldier disappears in the hallway.
Sitting down on his chair again, Junius involuntarily takes a light sigh. Since the very beginning of his employment, he was given the control of a small portion of the empire's police forces. Comparing to the military power held by Esdeath and Budo, this is barely worthy of mentioning; however, he would gladly take in all the benefits he can acquire.
When the Prime Minister chose to let Junius have a portion of the police force, he took out a little portion of the military from the two other generals and granted those soldiers to Junius. Budo was not very happy, but he did not like to entangle himself in politics. Moreover, the portion the Prime Minister took out was only ten percent of his total force. Esdeath only showed indifference – she gave the Prime Minister the weakest ten percent of her military, and she knew she can always acquire more soldiers by conquering neighboring kingdoms. When these soldiers came under the command of Junius, they were uncertain of their predicament, but one event changed their perspectives on their new superior.
Junius played cards with them.
Literately.
Having experienced the humorless and unyielding Budo and the forceful and merciless Esdeath, the soldiers were expecting something similar along the line.
But here came their new general, distributing stacks of cards.
He even played a few rounds with them.
And no, Junius did not always win those luck-based card games.
Now that was character.
Of course, as a general, Junius understood that order and discipline are always extremely important in commanding an army, and he never made the training portion of his soldiers' lives any easier, but he knew how to win the hearts of his followers.
By lowering himself to become one of them.
This is what Esdeath and Budo failed to achieve. And this is why Junius is now the one and only general with absolute loyalty in his army. Do Esdeath and Budo care for their subordinates? Of course, they do. In fact, the loyalty of the soldiers to Esdeath and Budo are probably better than some officials in the revolutionary army. The only difference resides in the fact that Esdeath and Budo are exercising their images of "protectors" while Junius is merely showing himself as a "friend".
And that made the impact.
Esdeath's greed lies in her desire for power and control.
Budo's greed lies in his desire for order and structure.
And Junius?
Internally, he really doesn't know. Being the half-creation of Shion the Izanagi, Junius's goal would be the same as Shion's goal. Subconsciously, Junius is just curious about life in general.
Now, the way Junius presents himself in front of the Prime Minister would be a different story.
Talk about the Prime Minister…
Junius gently places the white trench coat over his shirt, carries the similar top hat onto his head, and takes the walking cane sitting next to his bed with his right hand.
It is almost thirty minutes.