The Foundations of Power

[Kuzan POV]

"Whaaa…" I let out a groan of satisfaction as I stretched my arms wide, savoring the feeling of muscles loosening after spending an entire week in deep, intensive discussion with my first hire in this strange new world—Lady Fiana. My body ached from sitting for such long hours, but my mind buzzed with the exhilaration of our exchange. "Not bad, not bad at all," I muttered to myself, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.

In all honesty, the week had gone better than I had ever hoped. Fiana had proven herself sharp, adaptable, and shockingly quick to absorb the vast knowledge I had to offer. And yet, spending a week in discussions about the nation's future, its complexities, and my position within this delicate balance was exhausting. It was as if I was introducing civilization to someone for the very first time—an entirely different type of diplomacy, one that required patience, precision, and careful strategy.

Our conversations had ranged across countless topics, each one more intricate than the last. I wasn't merely informing her of new ideas; I was dismantling everything she knew and reassembling it into something entirely different. We were laying the groundwork for what could become a new era for this world. But for Fiana, it was like being handed the threads of a tapestry she'd never seen before, and somehow, she was expected to weave it together into something magnificent.

Take farming, for instance. It had been one of the first things I mentioned to her—the foundation of any successful nation. We had spent hours discussing soil quality, crop rotation, irrigation methods, and the possibility of utilizing techniques she'd never even imagined. It wasn't just about planting seeds; it was about optimizing every square inch of farmland. I showed her the potential of what could be, speaking of agricultural advancements that would increase the kingdom's food production tenfold. At first, her eyes had widened in disbelief, but over time, that shock had turned into determination as she slowly grasped the depth of my knowledge.

Next, we had moved on to medicine. I had casually dropped the idea of antiseptics and the importance of hygiene during 'surgeries', which, apparently, hadn't even been considered in this world. Fiana had listened with rapt attention as I explained the concept of germs—something completely foreign to her. The mere idea that invisible creatures could cause disease had unsettled her, and yet, she hadn't dismissed it. Instead, she asked intelligent, probing questions, trying to understand the full implications of such knowledge. I couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration for her resilience. If this were anyone else, they might have recoiled or brushed me off as mad.

Law and governance were another major point of discussion. The legal structure in this world was primitive at best, more reliant on tradition than any sense of justice or order. I introduced the idea of codified laws, a system where the law itself was above any individual, even royalty. We talked about equality under the law, the importance of trials, and the prevention of corruption. Fiana had hesitated at first, struggling to reconcile these new ideas with her deeply ingrained beliefs. But by the end of our talks, I could see the gears turning in her head, understanding dawning on her as she realized the potential these changes held for the kingdom.

One of the most surprisingly enjoyable topics had been culture and cuisine. I had shared some of the recipes and cooking techniques I knew from my own world, watching as Fiana's face lit up in curiosity. She had always assumed food was merely sustenance, a necessity for survival, but the notion of cuisine as an art form, as an expression of culture, had fascinated her. I could tell she was already imagining ways to introduce these new ideas to the court and the people. It was a small thing, perhaps, but culture had a way of uniting people in ways politics or laws never could.

But by far, the most significant and taxing subject we discussed was warfare. Fiana had come to me with knowledge rooted in the medieval tactics of this world—mass infantry formations, cavalry charges, sieges—but I had shown her a different perspective, one based on strategy, logistics, and the clever use of smaller, more mobile forces. We discussed the importance of information, reconnaissance, and the revolutionary potential of asymmetric warfare. Her eyes had gleamed with a mixture of fear and excitement as I revealed how wars could be won long before the first sword was drawn.

Yet, the true challenge lay not just in conveying these ideas to her but in getting her to understand their implications. There were layers to everything, complexities that took time and patience to unravel. Each subject we discussed required hours of back-and-forth, probing questions, clarifications, and sometimes heated debates. The depth of the information I was trying to impart was overwhelming. It was like trying to pour an ocean into a single cup.

'Not to discredit her,' I thought as I glanced toward the papers still scattered across the table. 'I'm sure for any other person, without her capability, it would take a year just to comprehend the basics, much less grasp a way to move forward with this country's future.'

Fiana wasn't the only one learning, though. For every ounce of information I gave her, I received twice as much in return. The structure of this world, its "common sense," its people, politics, history—it was fascinating to see things through the eyes of someone who had lived here her whole life. Books in the Royal Library had given me knowledge, but Fiana had given me perspective. There was a vast difference between learning from the pages of a book and hearing it from someone who had lived and breathed it every day.

I had come into this world with knowledge, yes, but I was still an outsider. There were nuances I couldn't grasp, subtleties of this world's culture and history that only someone like Fiana could explain. In a way, it was an exchange of equal value. She had her expertise, and I had mine. Together, we were weaving something new, something far greater than either of us could achieve alone.

The week had been taxing, no doubt, and by the end of it, both of us were barely functioning on what little energy we had left. But I could see it in her eyes—the understanding, the hunger to learn more. She had grasped just enough to realize the enormity of what lay ahead. And though it had only been a week, it felt like we had laid the foundations for something monumental.

As I stood there, stretching the stiffness from my limbs, I couldn't help but think of what was to come. There was still so much more to do, so many more challenges ahead. But if Fiana's progress was any indication, we were on the right path.

'She'll manage,' I thought with a smirk, remembering the intensity in her eyes during our last conversation. 'And if she doesn't, well... I guess we'll find out soon enough.'

Of course, I wasn't naïve enough to think that all the 'recommendations' I proposed would be instituted overnight, nor did I expect them to be met with anything but resistance. The society here, like any other, was entrenched in its ways, bound by tradition and a lack of perspective. But the reason I had even scratched the surface of these ideas, these concepts that likely sounded absurd to their ears, was so Fiana would truly understand what I needed—my wants, my desires.

In matters of the court and politics, Fiana was the expert, not me. She knew the power dynamics, the players, the invisible strings that tied people together or pulled them apart. In contrast, I couldn't care less about this kingdom or its people. What did it matter to me if they thrived or crumbled into dust? Why, then, did I waste an entire week sharing such valuable knowledge with her, knowledge that could change the course of their history?

The answer was simple: I needed efficiency, not chaos. What I didn't need was a fragmented nation with varying sectors and factions pulling against each other, inefficient and disorganized. No, what I needed was a well-oiled machine that would work to fulfill my goals, to execute my plans with precision. Fiana had to understand that my vision wasn't some altruistic fantasy of making this world a better place. I had no such delusions. My ambition was singular, and it required a kingdom that could function like clockwork to make it happen.

Fiana knew this, Azuleth knew this, and even I knew that my value, at least for now, didn't lie in my physical strength or brute force. It lay in the knowledge I possessed—the knowledge that could reshape this world. By leveraging that, I was confident that eventually, they would have a monopoly over the country's power structure, making it all the easier to fulfill my demands.

Despite being the queen, Azuleth was only one part of this kingdom's puzzle. The real power wasn't just in the throne—it lay in the hands of the dukes, the aristocrats, the wealthy merchants, and the lesser nobles, each with their own interests, each pulling the kingdom in different directions. These factions were the gears that turned the nation, and if I wanted to turn those gears my way, I couldn't just rely on Azuleth's authority alone.

To make this happen, I was employing what I liked to call the 'carrot and stick' approach. Only, instead of beating the poor princesses with a stick, I was showing them the carrot. A carrot they had never seen before—one far juicier and more appealing than anything they could imagine. But the issue was, what good was a carrot divided among countless little ants? If every faction, every noble, and every interest group got a bite of it, there would be nothing left for me. And make no mistake, this carrot was mine, not theirs. They were merely borrowing it. In truth, these people were too poor, too backward, to even afford the real thing.

As a result, Fiana had become my secretary of sorts, tasked with building something from scratch. The poor woman now had the unenviable job of constructing an entire organization—a framework that would effectively 'patent' the knowledge I provided. Yes, using the lingo of Earth, it would be akin to setting up a system of patents, where the technology and ideas I brought to the table would be regulated and controlled.

Of course, it wasn't nearly as simple as I made it sound. For one, I didn't even know if the concept of patents existed in this world. From what I could gather, intellectual property wasn't a thing here. It was a world ruled by brute force and lineage, not ideas or innovation. So, essentially, Fiana would be building a whole new system, one that would require her to practically overhaul the entire country. And while she did that, I would sit back and reap the rewards, too preoccupied with my own pursuits to be bothered with the minutiae of statecraft.

It was almost like those stories from my past life, where someone with modern knowledge is transported to another world and uses their expertise to 'kingdom-build.' You know, the type of stories where the protagonist makes waterways, teaches people better farming techniques, builds new houses, and creates new weapons—all while becoming the savior of the land.

But in this case, the 'protagonist' wasn't me. I had no interest in the glory of revolutionizing this backward kingdom. No, the one doing all the heavy lifting would be poor little Duchess Fiana, who now had the monumental task of executing my plans. She was the one burdened with making the kingdom function the way I wanted, while I simply sat in the background, pulling the strings and enjoying the fruits of her labor.

Why would I bother with the hard work when someone else was willing—or, more accurately, forced—to do it for me? As long as I got what I wanted in the end, it didn't matter who carried the weight of the responsibility. I had no interest in being remembered as the 'genius' who brought this kingdom into a golden age. If I remained the invisible hand that shaped the future, that was just fine with me.

The truth was, this kingdom was too primitive for my tastes. From the short glimpses I'd caught during my carriage ride to the palace, I could tell that it lacked the infrastructure, the sophistication, the modernity that I had grown accustomed to in my past life. It was a kingdom of wooden huts, crude tools, and outdated methods. In its current state, it was hardly capable of accomplishing my goals. But that could change. And the sooner they caught up, the better.

To that end, I had outlined five key demands—five things that I wanted from Fiana immediately, no excuses. These had to be done before she could begin her great 'conquest' on my behalf.

1. An exhaustive compendium of all the monsters, beasts, plants, and animals found in this world. I wanted everything from legendary creatures spoken of in old wives' tales to the most mundane rodent that scurried through the streets. This wasn't just idle curiosity. The creatures and flora of this world represented resources—materials for magic, medicine, or weaponry. Knowledge of them could be power, and I wanted that power in my hands.

2. A detailed breakdown of the nature of magic in this world, including spells, incantations, and any magical artifacts in the kingdom's possession. My arrival here had hinted at the significance of magic, but to truly master this world, I needed to understand its workings. 

3. A comprehensive guide on martial arts and combat techniques. This was an obvious necessity. Knowing the fighting styles of this world's warriors, adventurers, and gladiators would give me an advantage in battle. If I was going to grow stronger physically, this would be a key part of it.

4. A thorough report on the different races in this world. I wanted to know everything: their strengths, weaknesses, unique abilities, and cultural traits. Every detail mattered. It wasn't enough to know just the human population; I needed to understand the non-human races as well. Knowing how to deal with each race would only increase my power.

5. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I demanded that Fiana create an organization whose sole purpose was to fulfill these requests and deal with the bureaucracy that would inevitably follow. I had no time or interest in managing this myself. If I was to build something grand, I needed a foundation of people—administrators, scholars, and researchers—who could handle the groundwork. Fiana would oversee them, of course, while I focused on more important matters.

When I gave her this list, I saw the light nearly leave her eyes. She had walked into our meeting prepared to negotiate, but I left her with the monumental task of creating an organization that didn't exist. Fiana might have been scared to meet me, but by the end of our conversation, I'm sure she realized just how mentally exhausting it would be to keep up with me.

And I hadn't even gotten to the part where I would demand resources for myself—a gym, advanced training equipment, rare materials for research, and whatever else I might need once I learned what this world had to offer. This kingdom lacked what I once had on Earth: a solid infrastructure to handle the grunt work. Back there, Aunt Elizabeth's influence ensured that everything I needed was provided without question, and now, Fiana was the one forced to fill those shoes.

While I waited for her to assemble my demands, I couldn't help but feel a sense of restlessness. I wasn't used to sitting idle. I had always been proactive, taking steps ahead of time, ensuring my plans were executed swiftly. But here, I had to wait. Patience wasn't a virtue I particularly enjoyed, but I recognized the necessity of it.

The thing that intrigued me the most was magic. While this world might not be as scientifically advanced as Earth, it had its quirks—magic chief among them. There were still too many unknowns for me to truly gauge how my knowledge from Earth would integrate with the realities of this world. What if my farming techniques, for example, were obsolete because they had magical methods to accelerate crop growth? Or what if my understanding of medicine was completely outmatched by their healing spells?

I had brought with me a 'truck load' of infomation prepared in advance just for this reason, and I wasn't about to let it be of no worth.

'Finally my request to Captain Strydum will be put to use...'

Again, these were things I wasn't interested in dealing with personally. That's why I handed all of this to Fiana. I had no interest in being a legendary hero or a revered ruler. That was wasted time. The moment I achieved my true goal, this world and everything in it would become insignificant to me. I wasn't here to build a utopia—I was here to get what I wanted and move on.

Still, I wasn't worried about Fiana betraying me. First of all, after observing her during our meetings, I had vetted her as someone intelligent enough not to jeopardize a godsend of a deal for short-term greed. Betrayal only worked when someone else could offer a better price, and no one in this world could offer Fiana anything remotely close to what I was giving her.

As for Azuleth, I had to stop myself from laughing whenever I thought about her. Handing Fiana the Royal Seal and passing along all her authority was a clear indication that Azuleth was just like me in one aspect: she couldn't be bothered with all this nonsense. If this were Earth, I'd have considered her the perfect woman. Unfortunately, that ship had long since sailed.

For now, I was stuck here, sheltered in the royal palace while Fiana prepared everything. I knew the information in those packets would be vital, but reading pages of text was hardly enough to grasp the world. I needed to experience it. I needed a tour to truly understand this place and figure out the best way to increase my strength.

What if I encountered the criminal underworld of Alkavia? What if I witnessed something that didn't sit right with me? Could I control myself in this unfamiliar, illogical world?

I had already set things in motion. I'd given Fiana my preferences, my ideologies, and my vision for how I wanted this kingdom to change. I didn't need to dirty my hands with trivial matters like corruption or cleaning up the streets. If there were corrupt nobles, I wouldn't need to lift a finger—the queen would gladly do it for me.

This world was a dog-eat-dog world, no different from Earth in that regard. The one with the biggest stick always decided how society functioned. And I currently had the biggest stick.

With the current Queen, and a Duchess working under my call, there were few that would be able to challenge my 'requets'.

But even with all this power, I still couldn't ignore the fact that there was someone out there—one person, in particular—who could be a threat. It was unsettling. Perhaps that was why I felt so restless, so jumpy.

But I would rectify that soon enough.

As soon as Fiana finished gathering the information I needed, I would give her the information she needed to bring this country to it's knees.