Starting from the Planetary Governor - Chapter 1315 - 749: High Lord’s Seat
Chapter 1315: Chapter 749: High Lord’s Seat
After the passing of the Sun Lord, Zebert gradually consolidated power and is now regarded as the de facto Imperial Prime Minister.
In the history of the Empire, such prime ministers are actually not many. In the power structure of the Empire, it is not easy for a power-consolidator to emerge. There have been many instances throughout history, but viewed on the scale of ten thousand years, they haven’t been very long-lasting.
Usually, the departments that a prime minister can control vary. Theoretically, the four major chancellors are all his subordinates, but often powerful departments, especially the Military Affairs Department and the Legal Department, are frequently beyond the prime minister’s control. A strong and capable chancellor can often pose a significant challenge to the prime minister’s authority.
This is just the predicament within the Empire Government. Historically, most prime ministers are unlikely to manage everything smoothly, not to mention the many High Lord seats outside government departments, each representing a strong independent political faction.
Indeed, some prime ministers have become mere figureheads, turned into mascots by powerful departments in the Empire—not unheard of.
Zebert’s journey to this point has not been easy.
Currently, he has essentially consolidated the Empire Government’s power: let alone the four major chancellor departments, he has also seized control of major military departments such as the Imperial Navy and the Imperial Star Realm Army.
With these alone, he already holds seven out of the thirteen High Lord seats.
Additionally, with the support of Yasida, that makes eight seats.
This constitutes an absolute majority in the Supreme Council.
Not to mention, other High Lords, even Mars, the National Church, the Tribunal, the Assassin Court, and the like, must maintain respect toward Zebert under the current circumstances.
Calling him a rare power-consolidating prime minister is not an exaggeration.
However, within the political landscape of the Empire, even reaching a status like the Sun Lord faces challengers, let alone Zebert.
When factions grow large, internal division over interests and positions is inevitable, forming new factions. This is something Zebert has to manage as a priority.
The debate over whether the Alliance should continue hinges on this very issue.
Outside of his faction, Mars always remains independent and strong, with a closed internal environment, making it hard to intervene; the Tribunal has many mysterious internal affairs, although not entirely obedient, they take action when needed and are not inclined to challenge Zebert’s authority.
For these two, Zebert maintains a polite relationship for the time being.
However, the National Church is the greatest challenge to Zebert.
Of course, saying it’s the greatest challenge, realistically, the strength difference between the two sides in the Empire’s political arena is significant. However, the National Church’s frequent covert operations create considerable tensions.
Frankly, the National Church is not an easy target to deal with. After being weakened by historical factors, the National Church’s power is nowhere near when the Pope could simultaneously serve as the Imperial Prime Minister.
Yet, this does not prevent them from being the highest spiritual rulers for much of the Empire’s population today.
The Pope, long residing in the Religious World ’Minsatoria’, often comes to Holy Terra. Whenever he does, it sparks massive public turnout.
Admittedly, the National Church does not directly control tangible power. Yet, they cannot be underestimated. They don’t directly levy taxes, but nobility and commoners alike willingly donate money to the Church; various military groups, prompted by an Archbishop or Bishop’s call for holy war, follow clergy to purge rebels.
The Church maintains close cooperation with major Tribunals and large numbers of Battle Nun Associations follow orders from both entities.
Zebert and the current Pope, Innocentius XVIII, do not have a good relationship, having clashed multiple times in the High Lord Council. The Empire Government is dissatisfied with the Church’s independent actions, calling military groups, and launching so-called ’holy wars’.
Open and secret confrontations between the two are numerous.
Zebert did not expect the Church’s actions to be so shocking.
At the same time, he is slightly confused.
What is Yasida’s current situation? Has he been corrupted by the Aliens or co-opted by the Church?
These two pieces of information are quite contradictory.
According to the information from Gu Hang’s interrogation, both seem to coexist.
The Dark Spirit Race is quite active in the Star Devouring Cosmos, and their high-level spies tirelessly infiltrate the Space Domain Government, achieving significant results.
The orchestrator is the top family in the Dark Spirit Race – Blood Curse.
They belong to the same family as the one caught by the Alliance in the Spiderweb Domain.
Gu Hang remembers their long-term goal—to besiege and harass the Infinite Corps.
As for Yasida being invited by the Church, this happened recently. To avoid exposure—the Church also has some mysterious means, and the Dark Spirit Race did not interfere in this process. Yasida accepted the Church’s invitation and, according to the Church’s wishes, issued an assassination order against Gu Hang through the Assassin Court.
What was the aim?
The interrogation result did not make this clear, but Gu Hang could more or less guess and embellished the details to tell Zebert.
