<h4>Chapter 13: Civil Rights</h4>


    udius held an optimistic view of the future transformations in this world.


    Looking at the trajectory of history, these changes were undoubtedly inevitable.


    Eight centuries of rule had umted a vast number of contradictions. When these tensions could no longer be suppressed, they would inevitably trigger a massive bacsh, one so turbulent that no human effort could halt it.


    udius didn''t delude himself into thinking he was powerful enough to single-handedly suppress the wave of an entire era. For the various systems set in ce by the World Government, whatever was meant to change in the future would certainly still change. However, udius had no intention of passively epting all these changes.


    There were different types of changes.


    The first would be bottom-up, sparked by the revolutionary army that Dragon would one day establish. The sh of iron and blood would bring about a direct change in the ruling dynasty. At that time, while the World Government might survive in some organizational form, its current rulers would be doomed.


    The second type of change would be top-down. This was the method udius favored a transformation initiated from within, allowing the system to adapt to the changing era, thereby revitalizing itself. This was the path udius was leaning toward, and it might be the approach he would take in the future.


    "Even if the world changes, it should be guided by divine hands," udius muttered softly.


    "Your Highness?" Nia, standing by his side, looked at him in confusion, unsure how to respond to his cryptic words.


    udius smiled, setting aside the book in his hand. "Don''t mind me. I was just thinking out loud."


    udius''s n was clear: he intended to seize the right moment to initiate a top-down transformation that could adapt to the tidal wave of the new era. But before that, he needed to make preparations. If he wanted to stir up change, he couldn''t do it alone he needed power, allies who would conspire with him.


    At present, Dragon seemed like someone who might be of use. However, udius was still too young. Had he been born a decade or so earlier, he might have been better prepared. Therefore, until he possessed sufficient strength, he couldn''t act rashly or push Dragon too hard. His approach would need to be subtle he would have to gradually influence Dragon''s thinking, helping him understand udius''s ideas, so that the two of them wouldn''t end up as enemies.


    This kind of work required "culture." In simple terms: brainwashing.


    After all, udius hailed from an era of information overload in his previous life. His mind was brimming with knowledge, and as a well-educated man, brainwashing these natives shouldn''t pose too much of a challenge.


    "If things go as expected, the best solution would be to adapt to the times by reforming the existing system. Of all possible systems, a constitutional monarchy seems most fitting delegating symbolic power to the people so they feel like they have a stake in things, while holding the real, invisible power behind the scenes. That''s the framework I have in mind."


    udius pondered over this.


    When contradictions piled up to a breaking point, if one didn''t want to be overthrown, concessions had to be made. The biggest w of the current system was that the World Government wielded too much power, and the Celestial Dragons werepletely unrestrained, making them utterlywless.


    To avoid the fate of being overthrown, udius felt that some power needed to be ceded. However, this would only be a fa?ade. As long as societal productive forces hadn''t yet reached a point of equal wealth distribution, ss divisions would remain inevitable. Right now, these divisions were simply too ring, with the Celestial Dragons brazenly standing above everything else. Such contradictions were bound to lead to conflict.


    Although udius temporarily believed in delegating power, he had no intention of dismantling the upper ss. His goal was to stabilize their power through the redistribution of authority. He would use wealth to control power discreetly after the system was reformed.


    In short, udius intended to use constitutional reform as a fa?ade to create a pseudo-capitalist system. Outwardly, there would be no obvious power on disy, but in reality, he would still control the true power wealth.


    By that time, with one hand holding the illusion of symbolic authority and the other holding real economic power, coupled with Marine waving the g of justice, it would appear that significant changes had urred. But in reality, he would still be at the top.


    That would be enough.


    Of course, udius knew better than to let Dragon in on these deeper thoughts. He had to wrap these ideas in the rhetoric of the "new era" and make them seem progressive. After all, what''s more effective than using lofty ideals to manipte others?


    This kind of trickery was easy enough. It appeared grandiose, but it wasn''t tooplicated certainly not for udius.


    Once udius understood this, he realized that gaining Dragon''s cooperation would be his first major goal. The best way to do this? Books.


    Dragon was still serving as a Vice Admiral in the Marine, meaning his ideological views hadn''t solidified yet. His values were still being shaped,rgely influenced by Garp.


    That was perfect. At this stage, before Dragon fully discovered his path, udius could "rewrite" his thoughts using books that resonated with him.


    As someone who came from an information-rich era, udius had more than enough material in his head topose a book that could sway someone like Dragon. But for this n to work, the content had to fit this world it couldn''t be too oundish.


    Thus, udius had Nia continually gather books from this world for him, expanding his knowledge and preparing for the task ahead.


    This was just the beginning. First, he would write a simple work to "enlighten" Dragon. He''d find a way to ensure that Dragon stumbled upon it naturally, arousing his curiosity. That would be the first step.


    Later, when he was strong enough to travel freely, udius would traverse the world, writing a more substantial book one that could genuinely inspire Dragon.


    The best oue would be co-publishing a book with Dragon, tying him firmly to these ideals.


    "I really am devious... tsk." udius touched his chin, smiling wickedly.


    For now,cking the strength to act openly, he had to rely on this "cultural" approach. It was the only path avable to him.


    Of course, udius knew that without real power, all of this was mere talk. If this path seeded, it would be ideal. But if it failed, he would have to explore other means to secure his interests.


    "Mass murder..." udius muttered.


    The first approach, a top-down transformation, was the kingly path ruling through benevolence, enlightening the people, and guiding them with reason.


    The second, more brutal path, was hegemony. If reasoning failed, udius would have to use raw power to enforce his will. Whoever tried to overthrow him would be eliminated.


    These were thoughts udius kept to himself, weighing each option carefully. In the end, though, all roads led back to one conclusion: strength was essential.


    With that thought, udius snapped back to the present. Nia was still standing quietly beside him, waiting patiently.


    "Nia, bring me my pen and ink," udius said.


    Nia blinked in surprise. "Your Highness?" She thought he had been focusing on martial arts recently, and now, suddenly, he wanted to write? Could he be thinking ofposing a book?


    She was momentarily confused, but in the end, it didn''t matter. udius was a Celestial Dragon. Whether he was writing or even burning books, no one would dare question him.


    Pushing aside these thoughts, Nia quickly fetched the pen and ink.


    udius took the pen, paused for a moment, and thought to himself: if he wanted to influence Dragon''s idealism, he needed a title that sounded grand!


    After a few moments of consideration, udius made his decision and wrote tworge characters on the paper: "Civil Rights."


    But when he looked at his handwriting, udius froze. While the words themselves were fine, the writing was atrocious practically illegible.


    "Ugh, my predecessor was truly useless. A noble who can''t even write properly... It''s embarrassing," udius muttered to himself.


    Frustrated, he set the pen down. "Nia, you do it."


    "Me?" Nia was taken aback. "But Your Highness... I''m not sure what you want to write."


    "I''ll dictate it to you. My handwriting is too awful to show to anyone. You can write decently, right?" udius asked, smiling.


    Nia nodded hesitantly. "We do have to learn proper calligraphy in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Along with music, chess, painting, and so on..."


    udius wasn''t surprised. As a steward for the Celestial Dragons, it made sense for her to be highly skilled. After all, if one of the Celestial Dragons was in a good mood and asked you to y a tune or paint something, you couldn''t very well say no. Otherwise, they might kill you for being useless.


    "Good, then you can write for me," udius said with a grin.


    Nia sat down in the spot udius had vacated. After neatly writing the words "Civil Rights," she paused, waiting for udius to continue dictating.


    udius stood behind her, his voice calm and measured as he spoke:


    "The people are like water, and the ruler is the boat. Dynasties may rise and fall, leaders may change, but the people endure. Water can support a boat, but it can also overturn it. Therefore, the well-being of the people must alwayse first, while the ruler serves as their guiding light..."


    udius continued to dictate in a low voice while Nia diligently recorded his words. If udius wanted to influence Dragon''s idealism, he had to craft this carefully, blending grand ideals with practical rhetoric. The title and the text needed to sound profound enough to inspire someone like Dorag.


    Nia, listening intently to udius''s words, couldn''t help but feel a growing sense of disbelief. Initially, she thought udius''s sudden interest in writing was just a passing whim, perhaps some lofty rhetoric praising the greatness of the Celestial Dragons. But these words...


    The more udius spoke, the more shocked Nia became. His thoughts, his philosophy, seemed almost radical. As a member of the Celestial Dragons, udius''s ideas about the people being the foundation of society, about rulers needing to adapt or face ruin were astonishing, almost sphemous.


    She kept herposure, though, continuing to write, her pen moving steadily across the paper as she recorded every word.