The ambassador closed his eyes, cursing under his breath.
"The Imperium… is no longer the crumbling empire we once knew."
A military attaché, a grizzled officer with scars from past border skirmishes, exhaled.
"This man… this Imperator… he is not going to be contained. He's not just ruling. He's preparing for something."
Another diplomat, his hands shaking, whispered the question they were all afraid to ask.
"What is he preparing for?"
The ambassador didn't answer. Because they all knew. And none of them wanted to say it.
As the day continued, the newsboys kept shouting, the paratroopers kept marching, and the people kept whispering.
In every tavern, every factory, every marketplace, the conversation was the same. The old world was gone. The Imperator had rebuilt the ducatum overnight.
And now. Now, all of Nova Roma spoke only one name.
"All hail the Imperator."
...
The Imperial Palace Study was a monument to both the past and the future.
Ancient books, scrolls, and fragile parchments lined the towering mahogany bookshelves, their leather-bound covers filled with knowledge of centuries long gone.
Beside them, telegraphs, landline phones, modern maps, and military strategy boards illuminated under the golden glow of electric chandeliers.
The scent of aged paper, ink, and cigar smoke filled the air, blending with the faint aroma of burning wood from the grand stone fireplace, whose flames danced in a hypnotic rhythm.
The weight of history and the future clashed in this single room.
I stood near the massive French windows, looking down at Nova Roma, a city bathed in the golden light of a setting sun, its streets still humming with tension and whispers.
Newsboys still ran through the boulevards, shouting headlines. Paratroopers still patrolled, their presence a constant reminder of my iron rule.
And within the palaces of the noble families, behind the velvet curtains of the rich and powerful, men and women trembled in silence.
I took a slow drag from my cigar, exhaling a cloud of thick smoke as I stared into the city I now ruled absolutely.
And then, as the silence stretched, a single thought settled in my mind.
I slaughtered hundreds of people. Innocents. I butchered them just to prove a point. And the worst part?
I felt nothing. At least, I thought I would feel something. Remorse. Guilt. Even a hint of disgust. But thanks to my brain augmentations, all I felt was… nothing.
Cold, calculated efficiency. And that realization made me feel… what? Disgust? Horror? No, that wasn't it.
I frowned. Then, I felt it. Something warm. Moist. Sliding down my cheek. I froze. Reaching up, I wiped it away.
Tears. I was crying. I stared at my damp ring covered fingertips. A strangled chuckle left my lips. A bitter, hollow sound.
"Hahaha...
I shouldn't be crying. I couldn't be crying. The augmentations removed all unnecessary emotions, weakness, guilt, grief, regret. So why?
Somewhere deep inside, something was still ringing bells. A final, desperate remnant of my former self screaming in the back of my mind.
And the moment I realized that? A consuming rage erupted inside me. My scleras turned pitch black, veins darkening beneath my eyebags as my emotions spiraled into fury.
The moment they did an unfamiliar golden notification appeared in my interface.
"Hmph. That's what you get for insulting me, mortal."
For a moment I scoffed, rolling my eyes that slowly returned to normal as I took another deep drag from my cigar.
Of course. You're still watching, you omnipotent, keyboard warrior perverted motherf*cker, tell me do you get off seeing me become a monster In human skin?
I barely finished my thought when another notification popped up.
Excuse me? Who the f*ck are you calling a pervert?
I snorted.
Oh, I don't know, maybe the almighty cosmic dipsh*t who decided to shove me into my own fictional world, gave me no choice but to become a monster, and is now watching me slaugther hundreds of Innocents just to prove a point like it's some cheap soap opera.
LMAO, d*ps*it author. I love your suffering. Keep it up, you're doing a mighty fine job of keeping me entertained hahaha.
I gritted my teeth.
"You do realize that if I die, I'm dragging your sorry ass down with me no matter what It takes, right?"
Hehehe you can try by the way why do you think I just wouldn't just bring you back and make you do this all over again, again, again and again until Im completely satisfied?
I stared at the text, then I cursed out loud startling the gather behind me people who were waiting for me to finish my cigar.
"MOTHERF*CKER!"
As I did I could hear the shufftle shuffling of feet and murmours as the gather people started preparing themselves mentally to be executed on the spot, thinking that they somehow offended me.
Screaming won't change your fate, dumbass, now get back to ruling your Imperium like a good little protagonist and finish youre g*ddamn book!
I rubbed my temples, exhaling sharply.
This motherf*cker."
I cracked my neck, rolling my shoulders, my anger still boiling beneath the surface.
"Fine, you want a protagonist?"
I muttered under my breath.
"Then I'll give you the f*cking greatest Imperator this universe has ever seen."
Now that's the spirit. Can't wait to see how you f*ck it up next.
The notification disappeared, and silence once again filled the study. I sighed, exhaling the last of my cigar smoke.
Then, I turned back the men and women I had personally chosen for my administration, ministers, generals, strategists sat still, their backs straight, their faces pale as they waited for my next words.
I exhaled the last of my cigar smoke, watching as their eyes flickered nervously at my every movement.
I walked toward the massive antique desk at the center of the study its polished obsidian surface, scarred from centuries of use, contrasting against the modern telegraphs, phones, and files stacked atop it.
With a casual motion, I dropped onto the ornate ancient chair, crossing one leg over the other, my black leather boots resting on the table.
Then, in a voice that left no room for argument, I spoke.
"Alright. First order of business Improved worker benefits."
Silence. Then, a sharp intake of breath.
The Minister of Industry, a balding man with a nervous disposition, hesitated. Then, slowly, he raised his hand. I narrowed my eyes, signaling him to speak.
"I... mperator,"
He began, voice shaky.
"If… if we do this, not only will our political stability decrease, but our coffers will suffer as well. The Patrician houses will not take this lightly. There will be… resistance."
I remained silent for a moment. Then, I repeated myself.
"Increase worker benefits."
The minister swallowed hard.
"Y... Yes, Imperator."
He shrunk into his seat, his eyes darting nervously to the side, already making peace with the fact that the nobles and patricians would likely slit his throat in his sleep for this decision.
"If anyone gives you trouble,"
I continued.
"Feel free to contact Cerberus for pest control."
A single, suffocating pause. Then, the Minister of Industry straightened his back, puffing out his chest with newfound courage, as if the mere mention of Cerberus shadowy reach had given him a second life.
"Yes, Imperator!"
I nodded, satisfied. I turned my gaze to the man seated to my right the commander in chief of Cerberus.
Unlike the rest of the trembling ministers, he was composed. His eyes were sharp, his posture rigid, his expression void of hesitation.
His updated service uniform, identical to mine, but with an insignia of three headed black hound embroidered on the arms upper sleeve marked him as the most dangerous man in the Imperium outside of me.
"Next order of business Infiltrating the Hellenum Dominion."
The moment I said those words, the atmosphere shifted. I could feel the entire room tense. The Hellenum Dominion. The Imperiums biggest and nastiest traitor.
The only reason they weren't actively at war with us was because their parlament was just as f*cked as ours Senate had been. The commander In chief of cerberus did not hesitate.
"Clarify the scope of the operation, Imperator."
I smirked.
"I want sleeper cells, intelligence branches, covert influence networks, and logistical data leaks, retired military NCOs and officers that arent happy with their goverment, paramilitary organizations loyal to me"
I leaned forward, my fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk.
"Your goal,"
I continued, my voice cool, calculated.
"Is to make sure that when the time comes, I can reintegrate the Dominion into the Imperium as fast and as clean as possible."
The Cerberus Commander remained silent for a moment, processing, then he spoke up.
"Understood."
His voice was calm, yet unmistakably lethal.
"Do you want certain… individuals in their parlament compromised?"
I smirked.
"Naturally the more the better. Offer money where money works. Offer fear where money fails."
The Commander nodded.
"As you command, Imperator."
I could already see the gears turning in his mind, names of politicians, generals, merchant lords all potential assets or liabilities.