"You'll grant all our demands? What do you mean by that?"
"This lawsuit would be dismissed on procedural grounds alone. Since it's destined to be thrown out, there's no need to grant any demands from the start."
The other person let out a frustrated sigh.
"What? Then why...?"
"Within seven days, and with a nationwide live broadcast. The significance of this is that it creates a platform to voice our opinion to the entire nation before public interest fades."
"Of course. So shouldn't we deny them that speaking opportunity all the more?"
The other person tapped the table impatiently with a finger.
"I understand. But the speaking platform isn't something only they can use, is it?"
"Huh?"
"I'm saying we can use that platform ourselves."
The other person stopped their agitated reaction and looked at the Prime Minister with a face of dawning comprehension.
"To prevent the public from mistakenly turning the arrows of blame toward the Imperial Family, we also need to state our position. And conveniently, our opponent is Duke Elias. He'll likely lose his temper, expressing only anger without logical arguments or rebuttals. Is there any reason to refuse?"
"...I see. He certainly seems like a good opponent for public perception... but you said the procedural requirements aren't met."
"That's right. The lawsuit will be dismissed after following proper legal procedure."
He paused and glanced at the newspaper on the table.
[Elias Hohenzollern files administrative lawsuit against Imperial Security Headquarters... Why?]
"The mere fact that a lawsuit has been filed is already raising questions about whether the government did something wrong."
"...Yes."
"A dismissal ruling could potentially worsen public opinion. The emotionally charged public would simply be angry that a lawsuit against the government was thrown out. It might take about half a year to get a dismissal, but if this issue is bigger than expected, half a year likely won't be enough to resolve it. Therefore, my intention to seize the initiative on this topic right now remains unchanged."
He continued, folding two fingers together.
"Not a trial, but let's have him participate in an extraordinary session of the Federal Council."
* * *
Four days after the lawsuit, we gathered in the waiting room of the Federal Council building.
"It's amazing no matter how many times I think about it. How does everything move exactly as you said without a single error?"
Elias laughed as he put on his suit jacket.
Leo frowned at the sight.
"Do you know your shirt and vest shoulder seams aren't aligned before putting the jacket on?"
"Really? It looks fine."
"Doesn't it feel uncomfortable when you wear it?"
"Nah. Help me out."
"...Sigh..."
Leo let out a deep sigh.
It seemed Leo's fatigue level had doubled since Elias arrived.
Anyway, they largely had no choice but to move within our expected parameters.
Both conditions we presented were signals meaning 'Give us a platform to speak to the entire nation.'
Both conditions were unprecedented.
Making such vague, abstract demands in a lawsuit context meant they couldn't be taken purely as a desire for a trial at this point in time.
'If they interpreted it that way, they shouldn't be politicians.'
Of course, they could have known all this and simply waited for the lawsuit to be dismissed.
From here on, it was a bit of a gamble, but there was a reason I could place my bet on them attempting to contact Elias.
To the Imperial nobility, Elias is seen as a troublesome figure who doesn't understand the ways of the world and acts on emotion.
Such a person, burning with a momentary sense of justice, stands against the Imperial Family and demands a platform to address the entire Empire?
'An easy opponent.'
Seeing the Prime Minister personally move to grant these unreasonable demands, they likely thought they could easily crush such a brash young man using political and economic logic.
Evidence of that thinking is here.
[Federal Council-Elias Hohenzollern Public Discourse D-4]
[Federal Council-Elias Hohenzollern Public Discourse D-1]
['First Ever' Participation of a Non-Councilor Civilian in Federal Council Meeting]
[Federal Council Vice-Chairman Christian Schlieffen: "Please pay close attention to the live-streamed public discourse"]
[First Informant Nikolaus Participates as Advisor to Elias Hohenzollern]
The front-page headlines of the Imperial newspapers over the past four days.
The Federal Council isn't blocking this at all; they're even advertising it extensively.
If they had treated the discourse as a mere formality, not a single article would have appeared.
Since the insect issue was bound to grow, forcing the government to act, it probably seemed like better publicity to start by publicly refuting a figure positioned as the government's opposite and securing a one-sided victory.
After struggling with his jacket for a while, Elias finally finished preparing and plopped down on the waiting room sofa.
Elias stared intently at my face, then pressed his lips together as if about to burst out laughing.
"If you have something to say, cast a soundproofing spell first."
At Leo's advice, Elias flicked his fingers and deployed the magic.
"Done? Seriously, I still can't believe it. You're that Nikolaus?"
"Yeah."
I nodded lifelessly.
The students from the gathering knew the contaminated insect announcement was conducted under Nikolaus's name due to Leo's hint, but they don't know he's me.
However, I told Elias I was Nikolaus before filing the lawsuit, since he had to stand with me.
'You're Nikolaus?' After answering that question about fifty times, a frustrated Leo finally managed to convince him by shoving a pitch-black mask in his face.
'It was arduous.'
On the plus side, Elias's favorability definitely rose.
Right before telling him the truth, his favorability was 2.5.
Now it's 4.5. Just the fact that I'm Nikolaus raised it by 2 points.
It seems Elias thought highly of Nikolaus.
Elias laughed and pointed at my face.
"Take the mask off again. Your eyebrows and iris color changed too, you really look like a different person."
"...No. No chance of being recognized here."
I don't have to take the mask off inside the council either.
We had help from the Bavarian Royal Family for that part. Even so, permission might not have been granted, but thanks to the Royal Family vouching for my identity, it didn't become a major issue.
Though the observers might find it strange... that's a price worth paying.
Also, even with the mask, my voice could give me away, so I found a suitable magic formula to slightly alter my voice.
It doesn't sound odd, but it's changed enough that people who knew me before can't recognize me.
Then, the waiting room door opened.
"Please get ready. Broadcast begins in 30 minutes."
"Yeeeah~"
"Keep your answers short."
"Okay."
"Don't say it to me, say it forward!"
Leo pressed between his brows and sighed.
"I'm not sure if entrusting this place to you was the right call..."
"Why not? Luca trusts me completely. You trust me too."
Leo shot a sharp glance at me sitting beside him, then nodded.
"...Right. He granted all your unreasonable demands. Why on earth?"
"Because I'll come back victorious."
At my simple answer, Elias tapped the tip of his crutch on the floor. It seemed like a substitute for clapping.
"Hey, that's really nice to hear."
"...Fine. What's done is done, but please don't do anything weird."
"I won't. I'm just going to go and persuade them."
"Physically?"
"No, I could use other methods... Anyway, I won't hit anyone or use magic. Don't worry."
"What other methods?!"
"Calm down, Leo. I'm the only one here who can speak most freely anyway. When there's only one path, you might as well enjoy it."
It's true.
Elias is the perfect person for this job.
While Leo or I stepping forward could be a passable choice, it couldn't be the 'best' choice.
Because the same action is evaluated differently depending on the actor.
Unlike the protagonist, who has been causing trouble for years but is seen as just living idly, Leo and Nikolaus are not like that.
They have much to lose even from an ordinary remark.
Thanks to his track record of causing incidents as easily as breathing and his thoughtless image, Elias has a relatively wider latitude for permissible speech and behavior.
The power of the 'that's just how he is' image is an excellent trait in the political world, where picking apart every word of an opponent is routine.
'But we must anticipate the risks.'
In the novel, Elias often got entangled in legal problems. Because sometimes things didn't end with just words.
He's still a minor, so he won't receive severe punishment yet, but I should be prepared to be detained once or twice along with him.
Since I've entered a novel where Elias is the protagonist, and since I've decided to make him an ally, it's practically a given.
Others would naturally avoid it, but knowing into whose hands this nation's power will fall in over a decade makes this bearable. It's also not the time to be picky if I want to keep the situation in optimal condition.
'Of course... I'm not sure if I'll still be in this crazy world by the time Elias becomes Emperor.'
But if necessary, can't we just move up the timing of his ascension? This whole affair itself is about bringing the attention focused on Elias forward by about half a year anyway.
I checked my watch and leaned toward the table.
"Let's go over it one last time. Today, the one conversing with the councilors isn't me, it's you, Eli."
"Great, I love arguing."
"Don't you just love fighting in general?" Leo muttered.
"I'll speak up if necessary, but I'm participating in an advisory role, not leading the discourse. More importantly..."
"You're going to find the traitor. Right?"
"Right."
I will participate, but I will identify anyone here connected to Pleroma. Any potential stumbling blocks must be removed from the start.
It would have been nice to use Narkissos's insight ability, but he has no justification to participate here.
Still, it's fine. It's something I can handle on my own.
"I'll basically leave all the talking to you. But to find out who the spy is, I'll need to speak up once or twice too."
"Sure, no problem. But you have a way to figure it out, right?"
I gave a slight nod.
Although I don't have an insight ability, the method is simple.
I can use the favorability of those who actively supported the barrier installation earlier this year.
* * *
"We will now begin the extraordinary session of the Federal Council. We have invited Duke Elias Hohenzollern and Sir Nikolaus Ernst to discuss the Pleroma insect contamination issue."
The Vice-Chairman of the Federal Council stood in the center of the spacious chamber and announced the start of the meeting.
Elias leaned on his crutch, stood up, and smiled confidently.
"Greetings. I am Elias Hohenzollern."
After Elias's greeting, as the applause died down, I began my introduction.
"To everyone here, and to all the citizens of the Empire, I greet you for the first time. I am Nikolaus Ernst."
Leo said using my original surname was too conspicuous, so he registered me with a new one.
It doesn't roll off the tongue yet, but it sounds much more natural.
Another round of applause followed.
Elias smiled at me, then swept his gaze around and addressed the room.
"I am sincerely pleased to meet the magical civil servants of the Security Headquarters and the Senators here today. Although he is not present at this seat, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Alexander for extending this invitation."
Really... surprisingly well-spoken.
Of course, I'd seen the protagonist's serious side in the novel occasionally, but seeing it in person like this is surprising.
Anyway, it begins.
I looked around the room.
White letters shimmered around the people whose eyes I met.
[Favorability +1]
[Favorability +1]
[Favorability +3]
[Favorability +2]
[Favorability 0]
It's my first time seeing so many people at once like this, so it feels awkward.
Anyway, none had asterisks.
Meaning the Favorability trait wasn't applied.
According to my research, those seated in the front rows are mainly barrier supporters and centrists.
Those in the back rows are mainly barrier opponents.
Naturally, the favorability shown from the opposition side is much lower.
But within each homogeneous group, no one shows particularly low favorability.
Then, what we need to watch for now is who among them shows a sudden change in favorability.
—-----------
T/N:
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