Is being an emperor enjoyable?

Even tyrants and foolish rulers may not be happy, let alone an emperor who wants to be a wise ruler.

After enduring a brutal wake-up service, he could finally sit in the study and rest for a while.

After dealing with documents sent from various places late last night, the Minister of Foreign Affairs arrived a little after 7:40, later than expected.

"You must have overslept!"

Upon seeing his minister, the emperor said this in a tone filled with unvented anger.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs felt a bit strange about it, but as a minister and a noble, it was his duty to answer the emperor's questions, which he regarded as a formality.

"Your Majesty, this is the first time I've arisen early in years. I can swear to anyone that I did not oversleep today."

The emperor suddenly felt disinterested, sensing there was no common language on this matter with these people.

As the emperor of this empire, he had to be awakened at 4:45 every day. Yet these damn nobles and ministers, getting up at seven-something, still thought it was "early"?!

ε=(´ο｀*)))

"Speak, what's the matter...", he put down his pen and looked at the Minister of Foreign Affairs, suddenly feeling annoyed, and turned to gaze at the glittering rooftops of other palaces outside the window to feel a bit better.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs didn't understand why His Majesty the Emperor seemed to deflate suddenly, but work had to be discussed.

"Yesterday, customs informed me that someone from the Federation diplomatic delegation's list arrived in Gafura ahead of schedule, that young man named Lynch."

As soon as business was mentioned, the emperor quickly collected himself, frowning slightly, "Didn't he arrive with the diplomatic delegation?"

Upon receiving a positive answer, His Majesty felt there might be an issue, "So after he arrived, where did he go?"

After a brief silence, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, "He went to Flower Street in the port city, spent 200 bucks on a dancer in a strip club, and then returned to the hotel with his assistant."

"Is there anyone investigating that nightclub and that dancer?", the emperor's intuition was sharp. He didn't believe that a young man, who might be a puppet figure with potential issues orchestrated by a big shot, would come two days ahead of the diplomatic note's mentioned schedule.

Then, instead of considering the dignity of the nation and himself, he went to a place like Flower Street, found a strip club that hadn't officially started business, and spent 200 bucks on a dancer.

"There must be some issue here.", the emperor decisively gave his opinion and conclusion, "Arrest the nightclub's manager, the bartender serving him, and the dancer. Investigate if there's any issue here. Has anyone done this?"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs nodded, "I've already instructed the police to do it."

"No, that's not enough, have the Special Division handle it, I'll call them later."

The Special Division is one of Gafura's security departments, officially known as the "Gafura Empire Special Internal Affairs Investigation Division." In Gafura's common language, the word "勤" in internal affairs can evolve meanings like "don't move" or "attack". To facilitate pronunciation and context, the department is finally referred to as the "Special Division".

The Special Division is roughly equivalent to the Federation's National Security Committee, but unlike the Federation Security Committee which handles both domestic and foreign matters, Gafura's Special Division is only responsible for domestic security issues, while international ones are handled by the Army Intelligence Bureau.

The emperor's decision to use the Special Division meant this matter wasn't going to be simple.

The nightclub owner and the dancer in need of help wouldn't have imagined that the simple act of running a business almost cost them their lives—in Gafura, there's a saying that even an iron man can't withstand the pressure to tell the truth after going into the Special Division.

In a monarchy, the emperor's will sometimes exceeds the law, and when the Special Division receives an order from the emperor, they're not as gentle as the Security Committee; they'll use any means!

You claim you don't know who Lynch is or you're not connected to him?

This isn't just resistance, it's outright contempt for our Special Division!

After dealing with these matters, the two men chatted about the mission's issues. The Gafura forces sent to escort and guide the Fleet had sent a telegram saying they had made contact with the Federation's ship and were escorting them back. They expected to arrive at the Gafura Eastern Port City by tomorrow afternoon and reach the Imperial Capital two days later.

The original plan was for the Federation Fleet to escort the diplomatic delegation directly to the Gafura Eastern Port, but the Minister of Defense deemed it unacceptable to allow the Federation to proceed so personally.

Once the Federation Fleet acquires knowledge about the sea conditions surrounding Gafura's mainland, in the eventuality of war, their fleet could penetrate Gafura's waters without reconnaissance and directly bombard the mainland.

Therefore, in the previous negotiations, the Federation delegation was initially escorted by the Federation Fleet. The handover took place on waters some distance away from Gafura's mainland, after which the Gafura Fleet escorted them back to Gafura's mainland.

During this process, they would also circle twice, trying their best to ensure that the Federation people could not obtain the complete route.

The Imperial Capital also needed to conduct a final inspection to ensure no jokes were made during the reception of the Federation delegation.

A bit past eight o'clock, the Emperor and his ministers ended their conversation. Urged by the Chief Steward, he wore a fake smile and walked to the palace wall, beginning to wave and greet the residents and tourists watching the Imperial Palace from outside the city wall.

This isn't something done every day, just twice a month, which also meant there were particularly more people outside the palace on these two days.

The Emperor felt not only pitiful but like an exhibit, like an animal to be displayed. He hated this profession!

Close to nine o'clock, Lynch finally got out of bed.

"This bed is too soft, it's making my bones ache!" he complained, twisting his waist and back, as he walked into the bathroom.

Of course, he couldn't be talking to himself. His assistant lying in bed offered a different opinion, "You really are a strange person. I think this bed is great. It's softer than any bed I've ever slept on..."

Many people in the Federation, or rather in most countries, inexplicably have a special preference for spring beds and soft beds. Their bodies don't seem to feel uncomfortable because of these soft beds.

But Lynch couldn't stand it. He was used to sleeping on hard beds. Even during his initial time in this world, he wouldn't feel sore, but psychologically he wouldn't sleep well and would suffer from insomnia.

Afterward, he switched back to a hard bed, and instantly felt much more comfortable. Now suddenly in Gafura, the soft bed once again made him feel uncomfortable.

While taking a shower and looking at the port city outside the window, Lynch recalled that last night he hadn't returned until past nine. In the bar, he sensed the greatest and most distinct difference between here and the Federation: an attitude, an attitude toward foreign groups.

Lynch noticed a problem while he was helping the girls in the bar. The patrons naturally divided into three groups.

Gafura citizens gathered around the best stage. Although no one said anything, generally speaking, other ethnicities or foreigners like Lynch wouldn't squeeze among them.

The bartender also advised guests not to make trouble.

People from backward countries and the defeated countries were excluded to the worst, smallest stages, while individuals from other countries, like the Victorious Nations Alliance or nations as developed as Gafura, became the middle class.

They looked down on those from worse places and were, at the same time, looked down upon by the Gafura people. This was completely different from the more inclusive Federation, offering an unappealing new experience.

It seemed prosperous, but in fact, it was full of flaws.

After bathing, Lynch enjoyed a massage from his assistant. In the afternoon, he wandered in the library. At night, as he was ready to go to the bar, he unexpectedly found that the bar he had visited yesterday had put up a sign announcing its temporary closure, with things placed at the entrance to prevent people from entering.

According to some curious onlookers, a conflict incident had occurred here not long ago, and the police subsequently took the bartender and the owner away. The shop closed down.

"It should have something to do with us," the Senior Soldier whispered in Lynch's ear in a timely manner. "We just came yesterday, and something happened today..."

Lynch nodded, "It must be that some people want to warn us not to run around." He looked at the other places still open around him, feeling the implicit and imperceptible gaze from the crowd, with a bad smile on his lips, "Our best choice now is to return to the room, but I won't be so obedient..."

He soon entered another venue with the Senior Soldier and exchanged some more money. The smiling hosts, unaware of what they would experience tomorrow, were still delighted by the arrival of a generous customer today.

Not surprisingly, this shop was also sealed the next day, but these had nothing to do with Lynch. The Federation delegation's ship arrived at the port.

The leader in charge of this diplomatic mission was until recently the second Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first Vice-Minister had been entrusted with important responsibilities by the President to conduct major development in the West due to outstanding work, and the second Vice-Minister had moved up a rank.

Rumor has it this Vice-Minister might ascend to the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs next year and is currently in high demand within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Having the first Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs handle this state visit is, in some sense, a slightly lower specification.

But the essence of this state visit is not about issues between countries, not military or political issues, but more about commercial cooperation and development.

Neither Emperor Gafura nor the Minister of Foreign Affairs would directly involve themselves in negotiations with any substance with the delegation. Gafura's side, primarily responsible for the negotiation work this time, were representatives from some consortiums and Gafura's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Everyone actually knows that commercial cooperation and development wield more societal influence than military and political negotiations, but people are just so hypocritical that they won't openly admit commerce is more important than the military and politics.

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