The Royal Banquet and Hidden Agendas

If Thanatos had genuinely intended to unleash the plague, there would have been no way for me to restrain her.

While she certainly put up a convincing struggle, how could a revered deity truly be held back by a mere mortal such as myself?

“Which means she wasn’t truly intent on unleashing the Black Death.

A mere word of persuasion from me, and the thought of releasing the plague vanished from her mind.

So, all that wriggling in my arms afterward was nothing more than an act?”

“Oh, splendid.

Here I was, frightened out of my wits, while you, it seems, were secretly reveling in the moment.”

Yodel suspected this was the true state of affairs.

Upon reflection, it made perfect sense.

Thanatos, a goddess who had existed for tens of thousands of years, wouldn’t descend into hysterics simply over the prospect of four additional years of work.

“Be that as it may, the task of averting war remains paramount.

It would not only save countless lives but also alleviate Thanatos’s immense burden.”

The mere thought of preventing a world war left Yodel with a throbbing headache.

Drawing upon the knowledge from his previous life, Yodel understood that a world war erupted from the ceaseless accumulation of myriad contradictions.

Consequently, there were only two conceivable paths to avert such a colossal conflict.

The first was to resolve these underlying contradictions, a fundamental solution to prevent a world war, yet one that appeared utterly impractical.

To untangle the intricate web of inter-state conflicts would demand decades, perhaps even a century, of dedicated effort.

However, the year was already 1913.

To dissipate a century’s worth of entrenched animosity and strife in less than a year was an impossible feat, even for Yodel, regardless of how extraordinary his abilities might be.

The second approach involved forcefully suppressing these contradictions, thereby temporarily averting the war’s outbreak.

While a superficial remedy, it could nonetheless buy precious time for the first, more fundamental solution.

Indeed, this was the strategy Yodel felt more inclined to pursue.

The nation he presently inhabited was the Three Islands Kingdom, which, in his past life’s understanding, corresponded to the… the British Empire.

As the ostensible preeminent power of the world, its influence over global affairs was undeniable.

While it might not possess the capacity to entirely prevent a world war, delaying its advent for a significant period should certainly be within its grasp.

Should he manage to exert a degree of influence over the kingdom’s policies, he believed he could effectively impede the inexorable march toward a global conflict.

Even if, at its direst, the war still erupted, he could, to some extent, mitigate its ferocity and diminish the tragic loss of life.

Though innumerable souls would inevitably perish, such an outcome was undeniably superior to utter inaction.

“Therefore, my initial step must be to forge connections with the kingdom’s highest echelons.

This, fortunately, should not prove overly challenging.

I may not even need to make the first move, as the kingdom itself is likely to dispatch envoys to seek me out.”

“Moreover, the upcoming medal ceremony for the Defense of Landon will see both the Prime Minister and the King in attendance.

This presents a prime opportunity for me to gain access to the upper echelons of power.”

“Henceforth, my course of action will be clear: to expand my network as a means, with the ultimate objective of progressively augmenting my influence within the kingdom.”

With his next course of action firmly established, Yodel began to meticulously inventory the resources at his command.

“Compared to the meager resources I possessed upon my transmigration, what I now hold is remarkably abundant.”

“My three core abilities: Omen of Death, Battle Records, and Eye of Death.”

“In terms of weaponry: a revolver and rifle blessed by Thanatos, along with a Reaper’s Scythe whose precise function remains enigmatic.”

“Furthermore, I possess a mystic robe, resembling a trench coat, which can be worn as everyday attire.

When donned, it significantly enhances my perception and agility.”

“My financial standing is considerable compared to that of an ordinary citizen, yet I am far from being a magnate within the Three Islands Kingdom.

I suspect it will be challenging to forge connections solely through monetary means.”

Yodel estimated his current power level to be roughly equivalent to that of a bishop, a conclusion primarily drawn from the limitations he had uncovered regarding his Eye of Death ability.

Specifically, this formidable ability could only be directed at living organisms.

Confronted with a vast army, Yodel could, in a mere second, riddle them with holes as if they were sieves.

However, when faced with inanimate objects such as steel plates or fortified city walls, the Eye of Death proved utterly incapable of locking onto them.

Furthermore, Yodel had observed that he could only target areas illuminated in a stark red, and these glowing regions invariably corresponded to critical vital points.

To illustrate.

When a person was viewed through the Eye of Death, their head and torso would be vividly highlighted in red.

Yodel could only lock onto these illuminated areas, thereby precluding any possibility of holding back.

“Given that this ability was derived from the very authority of death, these inherent limitations are entirely consistent with its intrinsic nature.”

“Knock, knock, knock.”

While Yodel was deep in thought, a series of knocks echoed from his door.

Tucking away his mission notes, he unlatched his bedroom door.

“Yali? Is something amiss?”

Yali stood demurely outside the door, her hands clasped behind her back.

“Um… Herman University has a tradition of hosting an inaugural banquet, and students are permitted to bring one family member.

Brother, might you be available?”

“A banquet, you say?”

Yodel pondered this.

Herman University, much like Leicester University, exuded an aristocratic aura.

As a distinguished institution within the kingdom, it educated the scions of numerous high-ranking officials and nobles, with Princess Cecilia Windsor being arguably its most celebrated student.

Attending this banquet would not only allow him to care for Yali but also perfectly serve his objective of expanding his network.

He found no compelling reason to decline.

“Very well.

I’m not particularly occupied these days, so I shall accompany you.”

“Hooray!”

Upon hearing her brother’s assent, Yali joyfully scampered away to prepare her belongings.

Her motive for wanting Yodel to accompany her was far simpler: she was merely apprehensive about attending the banquet by herself.

Yet, with her brother at her side, she knew she would fear nothing.

****

Concurrently, within the opulent confines of the imperial palace, Cecilia clutched a newspaper.

The newspaper dedicated almost a quarter of its sprawling page to a monumental photograph.

The photograph depicted Yelica, General Melson, The Archbishop, The Elder Principal, and Yodel standing together.

Universally acknowledged as the five most pivotal figures in averting the recent catastrophe, they had been christened the “Five Heroes of Landon” by various media outlets.

The central, most prominent position had been voluntarily ceded to Yodel by the other four.

Cecilia’s gaze, in turn, lingered for a prolonged moment on Yodel’s face, which commanded the focal point of the image.

‘Yodel Finn, just where exactly did you emerge from?’

With a delicate flick of her finger against the newspaper’s edge, Cecilia murmured, almost imperceptibly, to herself.

‘Are you merely a reckless brute, possessing strength but devoid of intellect? Or an astute sage, blessed with profound foresight?

Will you be the one to press the brakes for a kingdom hurtling toward the precipice?’

The soft tread of footsteps announced the approach of her personal lady-in-waiting, who entered the room and offered a respectful curtsy.

“Your Royal Highness, should the Herman University banquet, scheduled for next week, be incorporated into your itinerary?”

“A banquet? I find myself utterly disinclined.

Inform them I am indisposed and have it canceled.”

The lady-in-waiting did not immediately acquiesce, instead adding a crucial piece of information:

“Your Royal Highness, Yodel Finn’s adopted sister will also be in attendance at this very banquet.

It is quite possible she will bring Mr. Finn along with her.”

A faint, almost imperceptible, curve graced Cecilia’s lips—a smile that, if displayed in public, would undoubtedly captivate legions of young gentlemen.

“Maggie… you retain your fondness for divining the thoughts of others.”

“All my efforts are solely in service of Your Royal Highness.”

Maggie bowed with profound humility, her posture exceedingly low.

“Thank you for your concern, Maggie.

Please arrange my itinerary; I shall indeed attend the banquet… cough, cough…”

Suddenly, Cecilia bent forward, seized by a violent fit of coughing, and several drops of crimson blood splattered onto the plush carpet.

“Your Royal Highness! I shall summon a physician and a priest immediately!”

Yet, Cecilia raised a hand, effectively halting her lady-in-waiting.

“It’s futile.

How many times have they been summoned, only to offer no remedy whatsoever?

I merely need to take my own medicine.”

“But, Your Highness…”

“There are no ‘buts’ about it.

Go and arrange my itinerary.

I intend to meet that Yodel.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness…”