I, who was eager to retire, became an Imperial General.

Chapter 300: Wolves, Sick Tiger, Young Dragon—Fate Begins to Ripple.

As the autumn wind grew increasingly biting, the seven days passed in the blink of an eye amidst the chill that permeated the capital.

During these seven days, after tricking Conrad onto the pirate ship, John, who had completed the plan to win over potential members of the party, did not do anything extra. Instead, he continued to teach Lothar command skills in the morning, go to the magic soldier training camp in the afternoon to check on the progress of the selection of reserve members of the 303rd Division, and in the evening, according to the invitations he had previously selected, attend dinner invitations from reformists, small neutral forces, and some new asset nobles and merchants, and try to find more potential partners in these political exchanges.

After returning to the hotel late at night, in addition to getting the necessary rest, he would squeeze out one or two hours to read magic books, trying to further familiarize himself with and master his own power.

As for the invitation extended by the First Princess Alafia at the victory celebration banquet, he completely forgot about it and never even considered going to the so-called Mirror Spring Manor to meet this extremely troublesome Rose Witch.

Even though he has now retrieved the sealed box and officially restored his combat power, the loss of his memory means that he still doesn't know what deal the original owner made with this troublesome being. Going there rashly would only expose his own information and weaknesses, and there would be no benefit.

Therefore, even though he knew that breaking his promise would only make him a target of the Rose Witch's attention, John had no choice but to do it.

However, judging from the attitude the other party displayed at the victory celebration banquet, the cooperation between the original owner and the other party must have been mutually beneficial. Otherwise, this major villain who appeared less frequently in the original work but was basically a key plot point in the sequel would not have been so peaceful in the past seven days.

John was equally puzzled about what kind of deal the two had reached and was very curious about its contents.

But compared to things that won't affect, or rather, won't affect, the future trajectory in the short term, John feels that what he needs to focus on right now is something else entirely, and that is:

"The upcoming peace talks!"

At nine o'clock in the morning, in a suite on the sixth floor of the hotel, looking out the open window at the brightly lit Queen Street below, listening to the laughter and joy around me, and seeing the genuine smiles of happiness on the faces of countless Imperial residents who were about to welcome peace and whose families who had joined the army would be able to return safely.

John, despite the warm atmosphere, did not smile. Instead, he silently looked at the unprecedentedly dazzling palace in the distance, his dark eyes becoming more solemn and serious than ever before.

As someone who once served as an army general in the Kingdom of Loran, an honorary marquis in the Kingdom of Brown, and an honorary professor at the Magic Research Institute of the Kingdom of Victoria in the game, he is familiar with the situation of the high-ranking officials of the Allied countries.

It's safe to say that no one in the world understands this better than John.

Therefore, the seven-day negotiation period was different from what the Imperial Strategic Decision-Making Department had predicted, based on insufficient intelligence.

In his calculations, in order to secure greater benefits and to complete the distribution of interests and the division of responsibilities for losses within the Allied forces, this process would likely take more than twice as long, approximately fourteen to twenty days.

Furthermore, based on John's understanding of the Allied forces during this period, he was almost certain that they would cause trouble.

For example, they could send troops to assassinate high-ranking officials of the Empire, or conduct infiltration to gather intelligence, or even specifically arrange for personnel to assassinate their own delegations, so as to frame the conservatives or reformers for this crime, and then use this as leverage to gain more benefits for the Allied side in this peace negotiation.

Furthermore, given that Olko had already launched an assassination attempt against him under the guise of Roxie back in Bahamut, it's highly likely that the other party has already accelerated the establishment of the Special Operations Department and completed the formation of this assassination department that he is most familiar with.

It's even possible that your own name might appear on the other side's action list!
However, unlike the past when he had to live in constant fear, now that he has gained power, he has the ability to fight Anna, the protagonist of the game, even without bodyguards.

Furthermore, it relies on the effects of the Extraction Mark and the corrosive properties of the Sealed Box.

If the other party dares to attack me, I can kill them directly if necessary, thus nipping this person who is destined to be my enemy in the bud!
Although it is regrettable to have to turn against my former comrades, if things really have to come to this point, then this is the only way I can do it!
After all, his current situation is completely different from when he first transmigrated alone. The path he is on is entrusted with the lives of countless people and is related to whether the future of countless citizens of the empire can usher in true light.

If hesitation leads this path astray, or even completely cuts it off.

That would not only betray the trust and loyalty of his subordinates, but also be an insult to the soldiers who died on the battlefield because of his orders and their reverence and faith in the future!
This responsibility, this mission, this commitment that he must remember and fulfill with all his heart, allows him no room for wavering!
Even if it means enduring unimaginable distress and sorrow, he is willing to do it!

"After all, once you choose a path, you must give up the rest of the possibilities. Only in this way can you persevere to the end."

"Those who blindly pursue perfection will either be troubled by illusory dreams for the rest of their lives, or they will be unable to move forward because of their fear of failure."

"But unlike them, once I truly chose the path I wanted to take, I was already prepared for the corresponding consequences."

"Whether it's flowers and praise or filth and insults, I can accept them calmly, and I will never let any external force change or shake them!"

John murmured to himself, his dark eyes hardening with an unprecedented resolve.

Of course, if possible, he also hoped that the members of the Special Operations Department, who had once been his comrades, would see the future empire transformed by his presence.

They will gradually let go of their prejudices in that scene and avoid a deadly battle.

But he knew perfectly well that the Allied high command would not allow this to happen, and that Olko, who was determined to destroy the empire and lead the Kingdom of Victoria to glory, would never allow such an absurd future that would completely negate his life to occur.

Therefore, if he wants to achieve this goal despite all the obstacles mentioned above.

Then he must acquire more power!

However, this power and magic are different from class; they are a different kind of existence.

Its real name is, The Great Trend!

It is something that embodies the will of countless people, something that even the most cunning and treacherous politicians cannot deny or distort with brainwashing rhetoric. Once it is born, it will spread like a virus and resonate with countless people.

It originates from spiritual power!

In order to acquire this power and develop it to a certain scale, he must wait for now.

We await the complete conclusion of these peace negotiations, the start of partisan strife by the conservative party, the formal spread of the conflict between the two parties, and the eventual suffering of the people.

In this crisis, he could then, in the name of Dormammu and under the guise of the reformists, propose initial reform measures. Meanwhile, the conservatives, in order to consolidate their partisan power and further undermine the reformists' prestige, would...

The other party will most likely agree to the reform request and attempt to tamper with the reforms.

In this way, John had room to maneuver, and in this reform that seemed to be a political maneuver between the two sides, he promoted policies that benefited the people while formally establishing the party.

That's right, John's real goal was to use the partisan struggle between the two parties to build his own party and expand his influence and scale!

Compared to the increased prestige that reform brought to the reformists, his real goal was to use reform to secretly advance the party's agenda, vigorously develop its mass base, and complete the initial implementation of Maslow's hierarchy of needs!
However, it should be noted that his true goals must be hidden beneath the surface; otherwise, once discovered, he and his party associates will likely face certain death!
John had already devised a plan for this within the past seven days.

He plans to develop local members by supporting or forming mutual aid societies.

His primary target was veterans from various regions who had already retired but lacked formal employment due to disability or lack of support, resulting in poor family finances.

By issuing policies to support veterans, the party gains their support and thus forms the initial strength of the party.

After the initial forces were assembled, as the conservative party's oppression in the party and government gradually increased, and the implementation of reforms was frequently hindered by the interference of local nobles, the resentment of being oppressed and exploited would grow in the hearts of the people in hatred, and gradually give birth to the seeds of resistance.

However, considering that such sentiments could be exploited by those with ulterior motives and could potentially bring unprecedented turmoil to the empire, John chose to carry out this part of the plan in William's name. The plan involved promoting policies that benefit the people, which were proposed by His Majesty William, but were thwarted and terminated due to the obstruction of treacherous individuals.

This would bind the emperor and the people to the same boat, push the conservative party to the opposite side of the people, and focus the people's resentment and anger on the factional struggle.

In doing so, without arousing suspicion from the reformers and William, they formally expanded the influence of their own party.

With Wolf's wisdom, the other party will surely see through his intentions. In order to stop the damage in time and save the family's reputation, the conservative party will definitely make a series of concessions. However, more often than not, they will try to retreat in order to advance, and force the reform to stop because it has taken too big a step.

This would in turn cause public disappointment and doubt, leading them to attribute the failure entirely to the reformists' lack of composure under His Majesty William.

Ultimately, the conservatives reaped both prestige and benefits, ending with the reformists suffering a severe blow.

But that's exactly what John wanted to see.

"After all, in this fierce competition, when everyone thinks that only one side can win."

"No one would have imagined that in this battle, the one who would truly emerge victorious would be a third party."

Looking at the gleaming capital in the distance, John murmured to himself, but his gaze grew even brighter at that moment.

His dark pupils shone with a light that was hard to describe.

If a newly promoted senator were here, they would immediately understand upon seeing John's expression.

The true name for the emotion John is displaying at this moment is 'ambition':
"That's right. While these two behemoths were tearing each other apart, each trying their best to annihilate the other, we, who were inconspicuous in the shadows in the corner, were frantically absorbing their shattered flesh and blood to grow and spread in this bloody battle."

"By the time they realized it, our presence was already felt throughout the empire."

"Furthermore, unlike in the past when even the mere appearance of something would be considered a sin, and the two would unite to destroy it."

"When we officially take the stage and formally declare victory to the whole world."

"At that time, our outstretched wings were enough to cover the entire sky, our angry roars were enough to tear apart the clouds above the heavens, our strides were enough to crush the planets beneath our feet, and our fists were enough to make the galaxy tremble!"

"And we will become the empire's only one, transforming into the strongest dragon formed from the collective vision of countless people, becoming a true miracle that surpasses even the golden eagle that founded the empire, a miracle that even the gods will marvel at and fear!"

"!"

At that moment, John's eyes gleamed with a heart-stopping light, in the sunlight streaming through the window and in the shadows cast by the windowpane.

His face was clearly divided by both sunlight and darkness.

One side was a deep, inky darkness, while the other side was a completely opposite light.

And accompanied by a smile that was either wicked or holy, he gazed at the nearly thousand-year-old imperial palace in the distance, which was radiating brilliant magical light and where countless high-ranking officials of the empire were gathered, currently conducting peace negotiations with the delegation sent by the allied forces.

At that moment, he slowly raised his right hand and gently tapped the windowsill in front of him, making a muffled sound.

Like a sacred judge, making a final verdict in a trial.

It was crisp and clear, yet full of majesty.

"Boom!"

Then, his calm voice slowly rose and echoed throughout the room, like an ancient incantation that could transcend the river of time, filling the small room and lingering for a long time:
"Because I have foreseen the future, and from now on, the fate of the empire will be entirely in my hands!"

……

(End of this chapter)