As Sanbate overflowed in the capital, people initially cheered. However, they soon realized that it was a grave mistake.

With the Sanbate they had, they couldn’t buy any goods.

Despite the abundance of money, there was a shortage of goods. So, even if they brought bags full of money, they couldn’t buy a piece of meat or even a piece of bread.

Nevertheless, the nobles who employed landlords and imperial citizens continued to pay wages to the people with Sanbate. As a result, the angry citizens initially attacked the mansions of the nobles.

However, they soon realized that the root cause of their poverty was in the royal palace.

Rumors about the atrocities committed by the Empress began to spread rapidly among the people. The rumors reached an uncontrollable point. Now, even children mocked the Empress’s name without hesitation.

Carson sat and waited for Noah to return.

When even the tail of the procession disappeared into the darkness, Noah returned to the office.

Carson sat on the sofa and tilted his head, indicating for Noah to sit on the opposite side.

“What’s the current situation?”

“People have been burning Sanbate in the square since morning. The procession you just saw is additional personnel.”

“What about those who were taken?”

“They should all be released by now.”

As discontented imperial citizens gathered and staged protests all over, the Empress gave in and shook hands.

Until then, Carson hadn’t organized the imperial citizens into a systematic group for resistance. He also refrained from any political moves.

They had only asked to be given proper food. There were no acts of violence. Yet, the Empress arbitrarily arrested some of them, blaming them as leaders of the group.

The number reached over a hundred.

After arresting them and only a few days later, the Empress made another wrong choice. She carried out public executions, which had disappeared from the public eye in the empire, claiming to set an example. Scenes of over thirty people dying were openly shown to the imperial citizens without filtering.

It was a situation where the proud and fair judicial judgment of the renowned Kane’s law couldn’t reach. Because of this, public sentiment began to solidify.

“It’s already secretly known that the Lord helped to release them.”

The first riot occurred in Halibin. Carson secretly assisted them and learned new facts in the process.

“The person who delivered grain to Halibin in the name of the Crown Prince was Sweindane Yeong-ae.”

Carson couldn’t help but smirk.

“You said you didn’t plan to make me the Emperor.”

“That’s not the only thing.”

“What else?”

“The one gathering funds for the protests all over the empire is none other than Lord Mondray.”

Mondray was a virtual character created by Ines. Currently, he also served as the head of the bankrupt Mondray Bank.

“What about Viscount Grandel?”

“He’s currently in hiding.”
“Track down where he might have gone. We’ve uncovered enough to know that even Grandel must have been caught off guard by Mondray.”

“But we can’t move recklessly now. It seems they haven’t figured out who Mondray is yet.”

The arrow of public sentiment was first directed at Viscount Grandel among the nobles. They believed he was the cause of the civil unrest. Voices calling for his capture and execution were loud.

“But he won’t stay still. He’s a figure who has been in Monstera as a changeback for a long time. If he’s cornered, he’ll likely reveal his true colors. Besides, he has acquired quite a lot of military supplies.”

“Understood. We’ll expand the search range.”

“How is the royal family responding now?”

“As soon as people began gathering in the square, they firmly closed the castle gates and set up defenses at each intersection.”

“But they’re not suppressing it immediately?”

“Knights came to suppress, but the momentum is so fervent that they can’t intervene.”

Carson smirked, lightly brushing his lips.

“How will the Empress handle this now?”

“She already announced a significant reduction in taxes paid by peasants, but it was ineffective.”

He pondered deeply. Closing his eyes, he began retracing everything from the beginning. If he knew anything well, it was the Empress’s methods. So, in the current situation, what would the Empress sacrifice?

When Carson got lost in such thoughts, Noah couldn’t even breathe properly and stood guard by his side.

“Noah.”

In a lowered voice, Noah tensed.

“Speak.”

“Perhaps the Empress will… offer a temple to the imperial citizens.”

“A temple?”

“Yes, she knows better than anyone that supporting temples is too burdensome for the imperial citizens.”

Although Noah hadn’t thought that far, he empathized deeply. Documents meticulously recording not only the registration and land registers of each noble but also the ownership of lords’ castles were well-preserved in each temple.

“Blame all the misfortune on the temples, and, if possible, take advantage of the chaos to seize and distribute the confiscated properties that were given to the nobles.”

“Is it possible with the laws in the empire?”

“Possible?”