Blackstone Code-Chapter 461: The Unchanging Nature

“Your Majesty…”
The Empire’s Minister of Defense stood up, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
The ruling hall of Gephra wasn’t as intimidating as people imagined. The Emperor sat on a high platform, but beneath the steps were seated ministers, not trembling subjects.
Some artists and writers had painted the Emperor as a tyrant, but their portrayals were biased. Here, the ministers had their own high-backed chairs and often sat through sessions lasting into the afternoon. If they had to stand, most wouldn’t last long.
Besides, the Emperor wasn’t truly a tyrant. Though sometimes short-tempered, he was generally a decent ruler and would not mistreat his ministers.
The Minister of Defense spoke, “Your Majesty, after much thought, I believe we cannot resolve these issues quickly.”
He glanced at the other ministers; some looked surprised, others expressionless.
“I pessimistically believe we lack the ability and means to completely solve this problem, because we are the invaders—and we have been avoiding this truth.”
The Emperor frowned but let him continue. “Don’t worry about my mood, speak your mind.”
“Wise as always, Your Majesty,” the Minister added with a blatant compliment, easing the Emperor’s temper.
“Your Majesty, colleagues, no matter how we disguise it, we cannot change the fact that we are invaders.”
“To us, helping the people of Amellia develop their economy is your mercy and glory. To them, it’s just a trick of invaders.”
“As long as we cannot erase this identity, they will never fully quiet down because we are inherently opposed.”
His words sparked murmurs among those present. Everyone understood this truth but had avoided saying it aloud.
The Emperor believed that developing Amellia would benefit the Empire and bring prosperity and loyalty to its people. Over time, resources would flow to the region, and many at home felt Amellia’s people were lucky.
But he overlooked the Defense Minister’s key point: the Gephrans were invaders. They took the region through war—killing relatives, forcing rulers to submit, and occupying the land.
The supposed glory only became shame, humiliating everyone.
Living under invader rule, accepting invader rule, children eating invader food, singing invader songs—would the people accept this?
No, they would tell their children to remember this painful history. It’s not glory, but disgrace.
This contradiction cannot be resolved. Even if all rebel groups were wiped out today, new ones would rise tomorrow—until everyone is destroyed.
The Defense Minister’s blunt honesty frustrated the Emperor, who tapped the armrest. “I didn’t ask you to lecture me. I asked if anyone can solve this. Understand?”
The Minister bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty. That’s why I presented these facts—we need someone to help us bridge communication with the locals.”
“To ease tensions and gradually change their views of us. When a new generation grows up, our rule will be more secure.”
“In two or three generations, no one will remember who the invader was or what the homeland truly was.”
Everyone nodded in agreement; this was their original hope.
Children have no fixed views—they learn what they’re taught, and treat it as truth.
If they grow up immersed in Gephran culture, after several generations, they become true Gephrans.
The Emperor even planned to emphasize racial equality—though symbolic, it might win hearts.
The Emperor looked at the Defense Minister, “So what’s your plan?”
“A buffer, a bridge, Your Majesty. We need a third party to assist us,” the Minister said. “I believe the Baylor Federation would be a good ally, first…”
“Impossible!” The Emperor interrupted angrily before he finished. “Impossible! I will never agree. If that’s the only option, find another power—but not the Baylors!”
Calm until hearing the word
Baylor,
the Emperor lost control. A naval battle had shattered Gephran pride and invincibility. Their remaining fleet barely dared leave coastal waters. Who knows what submarines lurked outside?
This defeat wasn’t just about losing half the fleet; it destroyed Gephra’s invincible image and the Emperor’s pride, leaving them vulnerable internationally.
So long as the Defense Minister avoided mentioning Baylor, the Emperor remained composed. But once said, he lost control.
Seeing the Defense Minister about to press the issue, the Emperor stood and left the hall, abandoning the meeting entirely.
Those left exchanged glances, then left too. This was the fastest court session in years—never before had one ended so quickly, usually dragging into afternoon. Today, they could even return to rest.
Of course, that was a joke—they wouldn’t get to sleep.
As the Defense Minister stepped out, a car horn sounded nearby. He glanced over to see several familiar faces in the rolled-down window.
After a brief hesitation, he approached and got in.
He wasn’t fond of this; neither was the Emperor.
As the Empire’s most powerful noble, the Emperor disliked nobles forming factions.
Strong noble groups threatened royal authority. Several past political crises nearly toppled the throne because nobles had become too powerful.
Ministers rarely gathered so openly. But today was different—the Emperor left abruptly, and the meeting ended early. The topic had included Amellia.
The Defense Minister hesitated briefly but then entered the car when the door opened.
There were three others in the car: the Navy Minister, the Army Minister, and the Minister of Finance.
All three were deeply involved with the Amellia region.
Though the Empire’s fleet hadn’t left the harbor recently, when necessary, it would still set sail.
Once the car started moving, the Navy Minister asked directly, “What made you bring up involving the Federation?”
The question seemed casual but was actually a probe. The Navy, Army, and Finance Ministers all knew the others were accepting bribes—not just from Preyton, but from many others.
Over the years, the Empire’s navy had been unbeatable. For merchants wanting protection overseas or to quickly establish their businesses abroad, the simplest way was to have the navy escort their ships and appear occasionally near commercial ports.
The Army and Finance Ministers operated similarly. Merchants seeking their help had to pay them off.
Many merchants, like Preyton, supported three or four, sometimes even more ministers.
Some of these connections were known among themselves, but today the Defense Minister suddenly defending the Federation was unexpected.
After all, national defense usually only involved collusion with arms manufacturers, not monopolistic merchants like Preyton. How were they connected?
To avoid revealing their suspicions, the Navy Minister didn’t directly ask if the Defense Minister knew Preyton, but rather questioned his motives.
Having been in power for years, they could instantly see if a person’s motives matched their actions—especially given the importance of stability in Amellia.
The Defense Minister looked troubled. “Have you not seen the new from the Governor of Amellia?”
Without waiting for a response, he continued, “More and more young people are leaving their homes to join the rebel groups. If this momentum isn’t stopped, soon they won’t just be ‘rebel groups’ anymore.”
“From the intelligence we currently have, they plan to capture an area to use as a stronghold to push for Amellia’s independence…”