The Billionaire CEO Becomes the Youngest Emperor-Chapter 9 - : Review your offer

Chris was sitting in a room of the immense imperial castle. In front of him, more than fifteen people dressed in luxurious garments were gathered, but their faces were so grim it felt like a funeral.

Staring at the table before him, Chris was lost in thought.

Lucian really has changed... I was the one who took care of him for years. I know him better than anyone else, and yet... he was never capable of such feats.

And he even knows who I really am... Only the former emperor knew that truth...

A mysterious smile spread across his lips, sending chills down the spines of the nobles present in the room.

Since that day... Every action he's taken has had a precise purpose, even the banishment of the marquis... How many steps ahead is he...?

That little boy who once seemed so lost...

And what if... what if this really was the work of a dark mage?

CLAP

The sound of his palm striking the table echoed through the room, betraying the anger boiling within him at the mere thought.

"No matter what his master does, a servant must bow and fulfill his duty... even if that means following a sovereign who could just as easily destroy this nation as turn it into a model that will inspire future generations."

His gaze fell on the terrified nobles, lingering particularly on the man sitting on the floor in a corner of the room — disheveled, pale, and stripped of all dignity: the former Marquis Clerc... or rather, just Clerc now, for he no longer had any ties to Lucian's 13th Empire.

"Very well."

Silence fell instantly. The atmosphere was so heavy you could almost hear the beating of every heart in the room.

"Let it be done according to the emperor's will."

A cold smile appeared on Chris's usually elegant face — a smile that made every person in the room stiffen in fear.

---

The first-day meeting lasted five hours and ended with the immediate banishment of the ex-Marquis Clerc and his supporters. The decree took effect without delay.

The nobles living nearby returned home, while those from afar were offered guest rooms in the imperial castle — including the Grand Duke Angelos Red and his daughter, Livia Red.

In the luxurious palace chamber, the two Reds discussed the events they had witnessed earlier.

"Father... is that really the same useless Lucian everyone used to mock?"

It was her first time seeing him in person. After all, until now, no one had really cared about meeting the emperor... not even the people.

Livia spoke in a nervous voice. As a genius from Walpurgis Academy, she had always considered herself unrivaled among the youth of her generation — except for Adeline. Yet the experience she had that day shattered that certainty, giving her a glimpse of how vast the world truly was.

A young boy with such courage, audacity, eloquence, charisma... and above all, intelligence.

A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as the memories of the day replayed in her mind.

"Tell me... have you perhaps fallen in love with Lucian?"

"Ah... yes..."

The response slipped out, spoken absentmindedly while she was still lost in thought.

Angelos's eyes widened.

"...Seriously?"

Finally realizing what she had just said, she sat up abruptly.

"No, no, no! I misheard! I was thinking of something else!"

Sprawled on the bed, she started flailing around, desperately trying to deny the obvious.

"That something... could it be the thought of marrying him?"

Furious, Livia hurled a flaming pillow toward her father, who was clearly having far too much fun teasing her.

It was the unique power of the Red clan: a fire of abyssal depth. Though relatively weak in combat, it was formidable in the right hands.

However, against the head of the Red family, this flame was nothing more than a breeze. He blew softly... and the fire vanished without a trace.

"Still... he would make an excellent son-in-law."

The blush returned to Livia's cheeks. This time, she simply buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled.

"Good night."

"Yeah, yeah..."

But as the room sank into silence, Angelos's mind drifted back to the look in Lucian's eyes when he announced the rebels' banishment.

I'm the greatest merchant in this small empire... I can't be wrong.

The look of profit.

It was a gaze only seasoned merchants recognized — a glint seen only in those who spotted a business opportunity of exceptional profitability.

The others may not have noticed it... But for Angelos Red, that look was impossible to miss.

"...Ha... Hahaha..."

"Dad! What's with that crazy laugh? I'm trying to sleep here!"

"Sorry, my little fairy. Go back to sleep — I won't disturb you again."

"...."

Silence settled once more, but soon, Livia's hesitant voice rose again.

"Dad... Adeline..."

"Go to sleep. I won't disturb you anymore."

His tone left no room for argument.

"...Fine, whatever."

Tch... Do I already have competition? Angelos thought, a smirk playing at his lips.

_____

In the Emperor's Official Office

The room was majestic, adorned with marble columns and precious tapestries, but the atmosphere was heavy, almost suffocating. Two men faced each other— or rather, a man and a child. Yet, in this moment, the age difference seemed to have reversed.

Sitting in a richly decorated armchair, Boris Zand, with his gray hair and sharp gaze, maintained a confident posture. But across from him, a small boy, too small for the large sofa he sat on, stared at him with an unsettling calm.

The silence was oppressive.

It was Zand who broke it, leaning slightly forward with a calculated expression.

— First of all, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for any inconvenience we may have caused you, Your Majesty.

Lucian didn't answer immediately. His polite smile never left his face. When he finally spoke, his childish voice rang out with surprising firmness.

— Do not worry... After all, this is nothing more than politics. And as politicians, we know all too well that sometimes we have to get our hands dirty, especially with the storm that's approaching.

An imperceptible shiver ran through Zand. This boy was nothing like the weak child he had been told about.

— I'm glad to see you are so understanding, Zand said with a feigned smile.

Who dared to claim this emperor was a fool? he thought, studying him more carefully.

Lucian, on the other hand, remained unperturbed. His professional smile was fixed, as though carved in stone.

— Do you remember our agreement? Zand asked, trying to regain the initiative.

— Of course.

A simple word, and yet, Zand felt the tension rise.

One of the tasks Lucian had given Chris on his first day in this world was to contact Boris Zand. The offer was simple: in exchange for his help in bringing down Marquis Clerc, Zand would get what he wanted... as long as he paid the proper price.

What he wanted was a specific region of the empire, uninhabited, abandoned due to its barren land and harsh climate—but still representing a tenth of the imperial territory.

— I'm satisfied with the result, Lucian continued. It's now time for me to keep my part of the deal. Tell me your price.

Zand nodded.

— I appreciate your efficiency... let's get straight to the point.

— We've evaluated the value of this region, Zand said with confidence. Considering its almost nonexistent infrastructure, the abandonment it has suffered, and its harsh climatic conditions... we are willing to offer 100 billion Velts.

Zand finished his sentence with a confident smile. It was an enormous sum for an empire in crisis. He was certain Lucian would jump at the chance.

But the emperor didn't flinch.

— Velts is the international currency, if I'm not mistaken, Lucian said, as though thinking aloud. (Its value is equivalent to the dollar, as if the author was American and couldn't be bothered to come up with a currency for his novel.)

— Indeed, Zand confirmed, intrigued.

— Very well... Let's talk numbers.

Lucian's tone shifted slightly. His childish voice became sharp, almost ruthless.

— According to international convention, one hectare is worth 15,000 Velts.

Zand felt a slight unease creeping in.

— One square kilometer equals 100 hectares...

The unease grew.

— And this region you desire covers 980,000 km²... or 98 million hectares.

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Silence fell over the room.

— If we apply the unit price, that gives us a total of... 1,470 billion Velts.

Zand went pale.

— That's...

— Far above your offer, isn't it? Lucian interrupted, still smiling.

The "fox" had just been caught in his own trap.

— Listen, Your Majesty... Of course, we've taken the conventional rates into account, but this region is... special. Its infertile land, its disastrous climate... all of that drastically reduces its market value. We estimated that 100 billion Velts was a more than generous price.

— Oh... I understand, Lucian nodded. So the lack of infrastructure is a reason to lower the price...

He tilted his head slightly, pretending to reflect.

— But tell me... don't you find it strange that the absence of past exploitation is seen as a disadvantage for you? After all, this means you'll be the first to profit from it.

Zand gritted his teeth.

— Moreover, I know full well that you don't intend to limit yourself to a few agricultural projects...

Lucian's gaze became piercing.

— Clerc informed you, didn't he?

Zand felt sweat bead on his neck. This boy knew far too much.

— Very well, Zand conceded reluctantly. We will accept to pay the full conventional cost.

1,470 billion Velts.

It was an enormous sum, but he couldn't afford to lose it all by trying to be too clever.

— Alas... Lucian sighed. It won't be enough anymore.

The emperor's childlike smile widened, and for the first time in a long while, Zand felt truly out of his depth.

— I hope you're ready to revise your offer... Mr. Zand.