Chapter 81

A morning slightly more spirited than usual.

Josephine, holding her peacefully sleeping child, walked along the path after stopping her tears.

Thanks to having filled her stomach for the first time in a while, she could generously feed her child yesterday.

Although she didn’t know how long this situation would last, the mere fact that her time with her child had been extended even a little made her feel a flicker of happiness.

With that slightly peaceful sentiment, Josephine mustered her strength and wandered around searching for food today.

At that moment…

“Hmm?”

A scene suddenly started to catch her eye.

With a glimmer of hope, she made her way toward the crowd of people gathered together.

The presence of many people meant something was happening.

She didn’t know what it was, but perhaps it might be an opportunity to get food again, just like before. With that thought, she cautiously approached the area.

Right after that, the scene before her eyes unfolded.

‘Those people…’

People dressed in neat black garments were headed somewhere.

Though they lacked flamboyance, there was a sense of seriousness about them, and among those that particularly caught Josephine’s eye, there were two individuals.

A woman with an unusually striking appearance and a large man standing beside her.

They were undoubtedly the “benefactors” who had graciously provided precious meals to the poor, including Josephine, just the other day.

Watching them walk with serious expressions, Josephine felt…

And the people who had also received a meal from them, along with their acquaintances, started to show intense interest in their movements.

“Those people… they’re definitely the ones who provided us with meals, right?”

“It feels like something important is happening. Where could they be going?”

“Now that I think of it, I heard something about an important meeting taking place today…”

“Oh, I heard too! I think it’s called the Three Estates Meeting or something?”

“I heard that it involves discussions between High Nobles and representatives of the common people or something…”

Though they didn’t know the specifics, conversations began to spread among the crowd regarding some major discussion, and soon they might even hear good news.

Given that the ‘good news’ among the starving citizens meant merely a hope for food rations like before, that was all they wanted.

With curiosity and a bit of expectation in their hearts, people began to tentatively follow their movement…

The crowd started to grow larger.

Initially made up of those who had just received meals, the group grew larger and larger.

At this point, even someone completely clueless would still feel compelled to check it out at least once.

Especially now, in a world so frustrating with nothing going right, in the minds of those who wished for a “big event to happen…”

Thus, the crowd that began with a mere dozen swelled to hundreds, even thousands…

And that enormous procession headed toward the Grand Hall located on the outskirts of Pare, following the so-called ‘representatives of the common people.’

*

“This… this is unbelievable… how… how is this happening…”

“I can’t believe it… in just two days, this many people have gathered… when Fiora spoke before, there wasn’t even half of this…”

Robe Fiora and Admiral Napoleona exchanged horrified glances while glancing around.

Given the importance of the day’s events, the increasing interest from the citizens made it clear that facilitating the meeting would become easier.

They all knew the undeniable power of a crowd, like an unstoppable wave.

However, no matter how hard they tried to gather people, it wasn’t easy.

Explaining or rambling about Ancien Régime or absolute monarchy to ignorant people with nothing in their heads wouldn’t yield any results.

So, for those who had mostly given up on that part, successfully gathering such a large crowd with just a handful of coins in that short time seemed like significant shock.

And seeing the astonished faces all around, I couldn’t help but let out a small sigh inside.

‘Honestly… how can these people planning a revolution be so clueless about the basics…’

Gathering people wasn’t as hard as one might think.

With free food and a bit of allure, it was easy to gather a crowd to some extent, and from there, it would naturally roll with the crowd’s psychology.

Isn’t this what they call “bread and circuses?” (Not really.)

Trying to gather people with tired speeches without knowing even this basic thing…

Seeing the naive and immature looks of these rookie revolutionists only made me realize how far they had to go.

‘Still, in the original work, they had a bit more sense… Well, this explains why they had such a rough start…’

With a sense of defeat—not that I’m a man of defeat or anything—but I moved toward the Assembly Hall with my subordinates, ready to see them excitedly learn the ropes.

And then…

“Eh?”

“What… what’s going on?”

“…”

Before my eyes was a tumultuous scene.

In response, Admiral Napoleona and Robe Fiora hurried towards the Assembly Hall, and watching them, I raised my hand to stop my subordinates in their tracks.

“…Captain?”

“Hmm… I somewhat expected it, but these folks are coming on stronger than I thought.”

*

Admiral Napoleona felt an exhilarating thrill.

With the high chances of success for their already considered successful plan, along with the crowd gathered by the Pirate King, she was confident that these supporters would surely ensure the revolution succeeded today.

However.

At that moment, the sight before her began to cast significant doubt on her certainty.

Upon arriving at the Assembly Hall with expectations, none of the revolutionaries, including her, could enter the hall.

Soldiers had set up barricades at the entrance, firmly blocking the way.

Seeing the situation where at least hundreds of soldiers were fully armed with weapons and even had cannons set up, Napoleona could only feel a moment of disbelief.

“General Rafael!”

“Oh, you’ve come.”

Napoleona and Robe Fiora approached the General before them.

With her subordinates drawing their weapons, Napoleona cautiously questioned the General who was facing off against the soldiers.

“What on earth is going on? Why are the troops stationed at the entrance to the Assembly Hall?”

“Perhaps… it seems the Duke Ocleang has sniffed something out. For now, we can only assume he anticipated our plans and took action first.”

“How could that person…?”

Everyone knew that the Duke Ocleang held enormous power.

Yet, did that mean he was clever at all?

Absolutely not.

He was the kind of person who would have ‘pearls around a pig’s neck’ fitting well.

Due to that foolishness and incompetence combined with a very lewd character, considerable accidents had occurred many times.

Had it not been for the parasites trying to suck the juicy benefits, he would have been dispatched long ago, dying of embarrassment as a noble with royal blood.

To realize that such an individual had discerned the discreet yet near-perfect plan they had prepared struck shock among them, including Napoleona.

“I’ve requested entry several times, but was refused each time. Apparently, there’s a royal decree stating that no one can be admitted until the ‘meeting’ concludes.”

“A meeting? But if the representatives of the common people are all here, what meeting could possibly be happening?”

“Perhaps they’ve seated a few commoners for show and are just pretending to hold a Three Estates Meeting. Those filthy nobles would absolutely do that.”

“Ugh…”

Robe Fiora spoke with cold fury.

Napoleona bit her lip and frowned.

“Then, General… what should we do now?”

“Hmm…”

At Robe Fiora’s question, the General momentarily looked at the sword in his hand.

After considering it several times, it was still too risky to attempt a forced breakthrough.

Of course, with the strength of General Rafael, a Grade 11 Grand Warrior, the Grand Magician Napoleona, and the unmistakable power of the Pirate King combined, he believed they would not lose in an immediate battle.

However, if things went that way, it would indeed be outright rebellion.

Moreover, with their adversaries fully prepared as they were, if they launched an attack, the chances of missing the Duke Ocleang and other nobles would be very high.

In that case, in the worst-case scenario, they could be labeled as traitors and might have to battle the entire Frantz Kingdom Army.

No matter how much General Rafael commanded the military, the limits became extremely clear before the absolute power wielded by the King, even if he was rotten.

After much deliberation, General Rafael finally reached one conclusion.

“Cannot. If they’re coming at us this way, we have no choice but to use backdoor methods. Let’s head toward the tennis court right in front of us.”

“Yes, General.”

“Understood.”

They began to move toward the large indoor sports facility located near the Assembly Hall—the place where the most people could gather at once in this situation.

At this moment, they began to walk, alongside the numerous crowds following them…