Chapter 45: The Twelve Families: The Stinky Leitania is here and we are begging for food in Syracuse

[The next day, the news that Syracuse announced its return to Leithania spread quickly across the Terra continent.]

[As expected, there was an uproar in various countries. ]

[After all, for them, all this was too easy to be true. ]

[What is Syracuse? It is a country that became independent from the control of the powerful country of Leitania. ]

[In the eyes of other countries’ top leaders who don’t know the inside story, the relationship between the two countries should be similar to the relationship between Colombia (the United States) and Victoria (with the United Kingdom).]

[We can’t say they are as close as father and son, but at the very least we can say they are incompatible.]

[Therefore, in the eyes of other countries that had never known the inside story of Syracuse, Syracuse's lightning-fast surrender seemed so strange and terrifying.]

[A country that had finally gained an opportunity for independence under the rule of the brutal Witch King was successfully reconquered by this new emperor in just a few months? 】

[What on earth did this guy do to Syracuse? ]

[Compared to the confused leaders of other countries, Syracuse's return has set off another wave of enthusiasm in Leitania! ]

[Although the citizens of Leitania don't know how you persuaded Syracuse to submit. ]

But they all saw the results.

[Syracuse, which had become independent under the rule of the Witch King, successfully returned to the embrace of Leithania less than half a year after their new king ascended the throne! ]

[For a time, the whole country of Leitania was jubilant, and the people, who were already extremely fanatical about you, were completely immersed in their worship of you. ]

[Every day, in Trilin Terme, countless people spontaneously organize themselves and swear in front of your statue that they will follow you for the rest of their lives.]

[In Leitania, there is an endless stream of hymns and music praising you, and it has even become a trend. ]

[In public places such as bars and dances, many musicians would gather together to sing their newly created hymns.]

[And at Gertrude's suggestion, taking advantage of this momentum, you, who had only been on the throne for half a year, also launched a "referendum" in Leithania. ]

【The content of the referendum is our support for you. 】

【The result was totally unexpected.】

【In this referendum, you received 99.8% support. 】

[Under the propaganda of Gertrude's propaganda department, Leitania, and even the Gaul survivors who have just attached themselves to you, have become even more reverent towards you.]

[And those nobles who still felt resentful towards you, after seeing your terrifying ruling power, all put away the last bit of their dissatisfaction in their hearts.]

[They knew that they would never have the chance to return to the feudal era.]

[It is better to obey your rule honestly and work for you peacefully. ]

[At least this way they can preserve their noble status and allow their family to remain in the upper class of Leithania. ]

[No one dares to challenge your imperial power anymore, and your position can no longer be shaken. ]

[And now, you can finally free up your hands to properly deal with the internal problems of Syracuse. ]

[You know very well that if you want to squeeze enough value out of Syracuse, it is unlikely to be solved in a bloodless way given the current situation of the twelve families.]

[But this time, you did not send any troops. ]

[Once the army takes action, the twelve families of Syracuse will certainly be alert. If we provoke their united resistance...]

[Although we can definitely win, there will be many unnecessary sacrifices. ]

[The people of Syracuse will inevitably be affected, which will only increase the cost of your rule. ]

[Therefore, you have already planned to deal with the problems of the twelve families in a way that will cause the least sacrifice.]

[This time, in addition to Jian, Hildegard, and Lady Sicily, you only brought the elite secret police trained by Jian himself.]

[But this time, the secret police's mission is not to protect you. ]

[These fifty secret police will be your fatal blow in dealing with the Syracuse family.]

……

"Oh? Are you here?"

[Your land ship is rapidly approaching the mobile city of "Volsini" in Syracuse.]

[And on the outskirts of the city, you notice a row of people standing in the front, each of them wearing luxurious and exquisite clothes, obviously the owner. ]

[Behind them, there was a group of members, both men and women, young and old, who had been waiting here for a long time.]

"The people in the front row are the heads of the twelve Syracuse families."

On the land boat, Mrs. Sicily, who was sitting next to Chen Qi, looked much calmer after several days of mental preparation.

“Behind them are their families and the backbone of the organization.”

"For the Syracusans, family and clan are always the most important things."

"The twelve family heads are willing to bring their families to greet you. According to Syracuse's tradition, this is the highest honor they can offer."

"——It is truly an honor."

[It should be said that the traditions of the Syracusans have had some special impact on you.]

[If you just look at it from a human perspective, you will have a favorable impression of the Syracusans and their concept of family and household. ]

[But unfortunately, you now come here as a king. ]

[You will not give the Mafia, a destabilizing factor, even the slightest bit of mercy.]

[Besides, you are also very clear that these family heads gathered here not to swear allegiance to you or to express their attitude.]

[If you hadn't taken a tough stance before by threatening to send a large army, the attitude of these family heads towards you would probably be no different from that towards the Witch King.]

【Highlight the one who is indifferent. 】

[They just want to know whether you, the Emperor of Leitania, will affect their family status, that's all.]

【And you will make them get what they want. 】

"Everyone, let's go. We shouldn't keep the masters of Syracuse waiting any longer."

As he spoke, Chen Qi cast his gaze towards Madam Sicily, who had been trembling with fear, and said calmly:

"Mrs. Sicily, please help me introduce her."

"...No problem, Your Majesty."

Now, Mrs. Sicily, who no longer resists, obeys all of Chen Qi's orders.

The only thing she could pray to God now was... hoping that this emperor could save the Syracuse family from shedding less blood.

Under the leadership of Lady Sicily, Chen Qi, Hildegard, Jian, and the fifty fully armed secret police who followed them, all got off the land ship.

And the moment when Chen Qi, wearing an exquisitely crafted black robe and long scarlet horns, walked out of the land ship.

The twelve family heads took off their hats one after another, covered their chests with them, and bowed to Chen Qi in standard Syracuse etiquette:

"The twelve families of Syracuse are here to greet His Majesty the Emperor of Leitania."

"Be bold!"

This time, before Chen Qi and the others could speak, a secret police captain behind him spoke coldly to the twelve family heads in front of him:

"Syracuse has now returned to the embrace of Leithania and is under the rule of your great majesty."

"Since you are a member of Leitania, when you meet His Majesty, you should follow the etiquette of Leitania and salute His Majesty!"

The captain's rebuke immediately made Mrs. Sicily, who was standing by and reacting, break out in a cold sweat.

These stupid guys!

Did they really think that with their intricately-rooted power in Syracuse, they could render helpless the emperor who easily said "Slaughter Syracuse until it is willing to obey the rule"? !

Do they really think that with the example of the Witch King, their descendants will be even more helpless against them?

idiot!

But before Lady Sicily could open her mouth to scold, a hand beside her grabbed her.

That was the hand Chen Qi extended.

"…I'm sorry, masters of Syracuse, my people said something disrespectful."

"But, I am indeed curious. Before I came here, I sent a protocol officer to introduce you to the etiquette of Leitania."

"Why do you still choose to adhere to the traditional etiquette of Syracuse?"

Under the horrified gazes of Lady Sicily and even Hildegard who was following closely beside him, Chen Qi actually showed a very kind expression towards these family heads.

In the eyes of those who knew Qi's cold-blooded side well, Qi with a gentle smile was even more terrifying than when he was cold and ruthless.

Unfortunately, this was the first time that the Syracuse family heads had come into contact with Qi.

They did not know the other side of the emperor in front of them.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor."

Confused by Chen Qi's rather gentle attitude, the head of the Saluzzo family, Alberto Saluzzo, took the initiative to explain to Chen Qi with a smile as a representative:

"Syracuse is a closed country. Everything here is stamped with our culture and traditions—even the tail."

"We have our own deep-rooted persistence, so we choose to welcome you in the Syracuse way."

"Please believe that our respect for you remains unchanged."

No less respect?

Are you saying you don't even want to learn the etiquette of Leitania?

This time, not to mention Lady Sicily and Hildegard, even Jian could hear the hypocrisy in the words of the head of the family.

This is intended to give us a warning as soon as we arrive.

"……I see."

"Then it was really my people who were rude first."

However, facing the implied meaning that even Jian could understand, Chen Qi seemed to notice nothing.

He just maintained his gentle side, like a simple young emperor.

"Then, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. I will also observe the etiquette of Syracuse."

"I heard that the Syracusans value family ties, so please introduce your families to me."

"I also want to... get to know your family."

"——It is our honor, Your Majesty."

Perhaps it was because of Chen Qina's identity as the "Son of the Witch King" in the outside world that these family heads, who thought that the Witch King could not do anything to them, looked down on this "Son of the Witch King" even more.

After Chen Qi showed his kind and benevolent side, they had no doubt that they had been deceived.

"This emperor seems to be much more merciful than his father."

"Sure enough, the head of Sicily's family was just frightened."

"She thought she brought 'guns and order' from Rutland, and that as the head of Grey Hall, she could control all of our families."

"I'm afraid that even the idea of a large army approaching our border is probably just an excuse for Lady Sicily to unify the power of our family under her command."

"Fortunately, I didn't fall for it."

"Oh, even the Witch King couldn't do anything to us back then, what can his son do to us?"

"In Syracuse, the rules cannot be broken. Even if the emperor of Leithania comes, they must obey them!"

——What the heads of the families were thinking: some were disdainful, some were curious, some were careless, and some were dismissive.

But not all householders are like this.

The heads of the three families, Saluzzo, Bellone, and Rossetti, keenly sensed something from the emperor's smiling face...

A young, promising and ambitious emperor...he lowered himself voluntarily and obeyed the rules of Syracuse without even trying?

This doesn't seem like the character of an emperor who slaughtered so many nobles without blinking an eye.

unless……

"Ok?"

When Chen Qi's gaze rested on the members of the Saluzzo family.

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