What is the worst possible act?

It is betrayal.

Having suffered a terrible betrayal in my past life, I, Liam Sera Banfield, was reincarnated into the family of a Count in the interstellar nation, the Algrand Empire.

I was born a winner, and now I've risen through the ranks to become a Duke.

I even emerged victorious in the Empire's succession struggle and am now on the verge of achieving ultimate prosperity within its borders.

And yet, I was planning the most heinous betrayal this world has ever seen.

In my mind, it's a legitimate right, but to others, it would surely seem a despicable act.

After all, I—I am about to betray the very man I supported, the Third Prince Cleo.

To rewind a bit, I had been supporting Cleo in his bid to become emperor.

With vast funds and a powerful army, I pushed him all the way to the position of Crown Prince.

And what happened then?

Once he became Crown Prince, Cleo decided I was an obstacle and turned against me.

It's an infuriating turn of events, but at the same time, I see it as an opportunity.

After all—this gives me the perfect excuse to betray the Empire.

For me, an aspiring evil lord, betrayal is a part of daily life.

To be honest, I always thought Cleo would betray me someday.

My past life taught me that's just how humans are.

So, it's not something to get overly enraged about.

—However, I will make Cleo and the Empire pay the price for betraying me.

To that end, my top priority right now is to build up my own strength.

"Master, regarding the settlement status of the pioneer planets, we are behind schedule, but it is within an acceptable range."

Listening to Amagi's report in my office, I furrowed my brow.

We're a few percentage points behind schedule, but it's true that a delay of this magnitude isn't worth making a fuss over.

It's within an acceptable range, but—the problem is, I don't have the luxury of time right now.

Now that I've decided to fight the Algrand Empire, I need all the power I can get.

For that reason, I can't overlook even a delay of a few percent.

However, rushing development won't lead to good results, and even if I did hurry things along, the overall impact would be minuscule.

So, what's the solution?

—I just need to acquire planets that have already been developed.

"Steady pioneering isn't bad, but I can't afford to spend too much time on it. Amagi, compile a list of incompetent nobles whose domains are in financial ruin."

Incompetent nobles—the kind who don't develop their own territories and just keep racking up debt to fund their extravagant lifestyles.

Amagi immediately prepared the list, and I scowled as I looked it over.

"—There are so many."

"The Empire is vast, after all. Still, it's hard to comprehend. If they managed their domains more efficiently, the Empire's national power should have been several times greater."

It's a ridiculous state of affairs that the nation's strength has been so greatly diminished because governance was left to the nobles.

But ironically, it's thanks to this that I have a chance of winning against the Empire.

"The Empire has no interest in the frontier. —Amagi, I'm acquiring this planet."

"Master, that planet already has a lord, does it not?"

The planet I intended to acquire was ruled by a Viscount.

It was underdeveloped and debt-ridden, with nothing to recommend it.

I set my sights on such a planet because the Viscount lives on the capital planet.

In other words, the Viscount has no interest in his own territory.

"I'll buy the planet from this incompetent Viscount. It's easier to acquire something that already exists than to develop it from scratch."

Just as my own territory once was, as long as there's some foundation, development is possible.

"You intend to take on the Viscount's debts? Will he part with his territory for that?"

The more incompetent they are, the higher their pride.

He probably won't give up his territory easily.

"On top of his debts, I'll give him enough money to live a life of leisure. He'll happily hand it over then."

Preparing a budget of that size will be a bit of a strain on my finances.

Even though I possess the Alchemy Box, my budget isn't limitless.

Honestly, the Empire is more impressive than I am with my Alchemy Box.

It constantly gathers rare metals from all over, and other necessary resources accumulate in massive quantities without it even trying.

It's a difference in fundamental strength that even the Alchemy Box cannot overcome.

I could feel Amagi's concern for me, despite her expressionless face.

"—Are you truly going to fight the Empire?"

"Of course. Cleo was the one who betrayed me first. If I don't win this, I have no future. Don't worry, I will never lose."

With the Guide's protection, defeat is impossible for me.

As I was choosing which planets to purchase, Amagi brought up the topic of Ellen.

"I see. On a different note, I have something to discuss regarding Lady Ellen."

"Ellen? I threw her into the elementary military academy. Did something happen?"

"She graduated from the elementary academy quite some time ago. She has since completed her military service and is currently on the capital planet preparing to enter university. How about having her return to the home planet for a visit?"

While I was busy with various things, she had not only finished the elementary academy but her military service as well.

Amagi projected Ellen's military evaluation into the air.

Her final rank was Major, and she had earned several medals.

"Hah, that was fast. I feel like I just sent her off the other day."

"That is because you have been very busy, Master."

Once she came of age and I judged her old enough, I tossed her into the elementary military academy.

Originally, Ellen isn't a noble, so she wouldn't have been granted admission.

I used my authority to push her in because I wouldn't be able to look after her for a while.

Managing my domain is truly hectic.

I'm swamped with my own training and work.

As the one who will inherit the One-Flash Style, I'd like to train Ellen strictly.

But I don't have the time, so as a last resort, I threw her into the elementary academy.

I would have preferred to entrust her to my master, but he refused.

He said that he, who was deeply wounded and could no longer unleash the One-Flash, was not worthy.

The next candidates would be my junior female disciples, Fuuka and Rinho.

Those two, however, are frequently visiting my master's house these days.

They've been going to check on my master's son, Yasuyuki-kun, whom they find adorable.

They've become quite lax, so my true feeling is that I can't entrust Ellen to them.

—Once I've cleared my work, I'll take my master's place and look after them strictly myself.

It's unforgivable that they're the only ones who get to visit my master's house.

I want to drop by too, but I'm stuck working from morning till night.

Though I can't complain, since I'm the one creating all this work for myself.

"Have Ellen continue on to university as planned."

As I made my decision instantly, Amagi looked dissatisfied.

Her face was expressionless, but it clearly conveyed the sentiment, You took her in as your disciple, yet you won't even look after her?

"Have you confirmed her own wishes?"

"I'm busy. —Send Ellen's mother to the capital planet."

I'll give them some time to spend together as mother and child.

Amagi, perhaps a little exasperated by my decision, spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

"You certainly keep yourself busy. If you're going to buy planets and develop them, you'll only become busier."

"Once Ellen becomes a full-fledged knight, maybe I'll have her help with my work."

"—Master."

Amagi narrowed her eyes, and I shrank back, returning to my work.

After finishing the task at hand, I revealed my true thoughts to Amagi alone.

"I'll tell you this, but for all its military might, the Banfield family is short on commanders to lead its forces. My expectations for Ellen are also for that reason."

Originally, I wanted her to focus solely on the One-Flash Style, but I no longer have the luxury of letting her remain idle.

Also, since I could do it, I had expectations that Ellen could too.

It seemed Amagi was also concerned about the number of commanders.

"While there are many competent individuals, we have few top-tier commanders like Lord Klaus."

We have a fine selection, including Klaus, who can handle any situation, as well as Tia, Marie, and Kukuri from the black ops.

But we just don't have enough of them.

This wouldn't be a problem for a single lord, but it's a major issue when facing the Empire.

"Now, how should I assemble the numbers?"

This isn't a problem that can be solved just by gathering well-educated elites.

I mean that I want powerful individuals who have experienced real combat and have a track record of success.

Before the battle with the Empire, I don't need them to be on Klaus's level, but—at the very least, I want commanders on par with Tia and Marie, or perhaps slightly below them.

If I wished for it from the Guide, would he provide them?

—Even I think that's asking for too much.

He helps me out all the time, so I'll try to manage this on my own this time.

◇

Around that time.

The Guide was on the capital planet of the Algrand Empire.

He was sitting with his knees hugged to his chest on top of a garbage can in a filthy back alley, overcome with sorrow.

"Damn it. —I hate Liam. I hate him so much."

Reduced to nothing but a hat, the Guide shed tears from eyes that were nowhere to be seen.

He sobbed, muttering insults about Liam.

Why was the Guide here? Why was he crying?

It was all Liam's fault.

When he tried to pull a prank at the wedding with Rosetta, it backfired on him a hundredfold.

Having lost his body, he arrived, battered and broken, on the Empire's capital planet, a place swirling with negative emotions.

"This place is truly calming. Just being here, negative emotions flow into me. It's like a wonderful planet prepared just for me."

Feeling a sense of comfort from the accumulated negative emotions, the Guide began to formulate his next plan.

Just then, a person passing by threw away an electronic paper, which he picked up.

When he unfolded it, he saw it was a rather old newspaper.

"To think I have to gather information from a piece of trash like this. —How did I fall so low?"

Before, he could get any scene he wanted to see or any information he desired with a snap of his fingers.

And yet now, he was wounded, weakened, and could do nothing.

He quietly unfolded the newspaper, and a part of an article began to play.

The photo section turned into a video.

"Rumors are spreading that His Highness Crown Prince Cleo's relationship with his former collaborator, Duke Banfield, has soured—"

Even on the capital planet, rumors of a rift between Liam and Cleo were beginning to circulate.

The Guide was aware of it, but it seemed the two had now completely broken ties.

However, in his current state, the Guide was powerless to intervene.

"I want to support Cleo with all my might, but right now, I can't do anything. I'm so frustrated with myself."

A tear fell onto the electronic paper.

The Guide looked up at the sky of the capital planet.

The sky of the capital planet, which was encased in metal with even its weather under complete control, was a fake.

It was nothing more than an image projected onto the shell that covered the planet.