Chapter 6: The Imperial Rose Incident

It is said that when the Pirate King's flag waved outside Minfoster, the largest port in the empire, one of the imperial navy's generals was so terrified that he wet his pants.

At the time, Minfoster Port had fewer than twenty warships docked for rest and maintenance, while the returning pirate fleet boasted over three hundred warships, their scale massive and their combat prowess formidable. They were capable of razing the empire's largest port in a single battle and, by marching swiftly along the coastline, could reach the imperial capital of Strasbourg within a week.

The bustling port city fell into despair—every resident and merchant felt as if doomsday was approaching. Fewer than half of the soldiers could muster the courage to fight.

When the Pirate King's flagship and its fleet raised the flag of surrender, Minfoster Port erupted into a celebration of unprecedented magnitude. Every resident cheered with explosive joy, and countless people flooded the streets, singing and dancing.

Zimourman Axel Robin led the pirate fleet back to the empire, pledging loyalty once again, and for a time his prestige was unparalleled.

In just a few years, Zimourman Axel Robin’s reputation had plummeted to rock bottom and then soared again to heights that even his extraordinary talents should never have been able to achieve in his lifetime. His young life became a legend of the empire.

That year, Zimourman Axel Robin's fame rivaled that of his ancestor Saroses Robin from five epochs prior. He was regarded as the most untamable figure of his time, destined to leave his mark on history.

When the king met Zimourman Axel Robin, he laughed and said, “Ask for any reward you wish—anything but the throne!”

What Zimourman asked for stunned everyone. He refused to rejoin the Robin family and instead requested the surname Axel from the king. He changed his name from Zimourman Robin to Zimourman Axel Robin.

After leading the fleet back to the empire, Zimourman Axel Robin seemed to have achieved all his life's goals. His personality underwent a peculiar transformation.

Before defecting with his fleet, Zimourman Axel Robin had been a silent and reserved man, deeply engrossed in his studies. He saw all forms of entertainment as unnecessary, was strict with himself, and led a rigid lifestyle. His mentors described him as having the precision of a clock in his schedule and the discipline of a saint in his conduct. "This man sees nothing beyond academics and truth," they would say.

However, upon returning to the empire, Zimourman seemed to shed all pretense. In just a few days, he became the empire’s most seasoned libertine.

Miss Menielma, the legendary senior of Charlot Mecklenburg, had once been Zimourman’s fiancée.

One day, when she visited her mother, she discovered Zimourman "working hard" on her mother.

The scene was an unbearable humiliation for Menielman.

Furious beyond measure, the empire’s foremost rose drew her sword on the spot, intent on dueling the debauched scoundrel.

Charlot Mecklenburg, having inadvertently stumbled upon the details, learned why Miss Menielman had burned those documents.

Were it not for the widespread dissemination of this scandal, Charlot suspected that the esteemed senior might have committed murder to silence witnesses.

Given her noble lineage and status, killing a few first-class civil servants of the forty-first rank would not have been considered a serious imperial crime.

The duel never took place as planned. After bringing Mrs. Pascal to the peak of ecstasy, Zimourman flipped over, smashed through the window, and vanished from Menielman’s sight with astonishing speed.

Menielman, the Imperial Rose, could not stop the shameless scoundrel.

The following day, Menielman issued a public declaration not only canceling the engagement but also challenging Zimourman Axel Robin to a duel to the death.

The most outstanding Imperial Rose found herself surrounded by countless loyal admirers eager to avenge her honor.

Within a single day, Zimourman Axel Robin received hundreds of duel invitations. No matter where he went, someone would corner him in the street, demanding a duel.

As a descendant of the Robin family, Zimourman had mastered his family’s swordsmanship to a level even fiercer and more ruthless than that of his ancestor during his prime five hundred years ago.

Zimourman won several duels in public but, during the eighteenth duel, was provoked into killing his opponent on the street.

From then on, he left no survivors in his duels. In 115 duels, Zimourman Axel Robin killed 115 challengers, earning the enmity of the majority of the empire's nobility.

After all, those qualified to challenge him were all noble scions of prestigious lineage.

This widespread conflict became known in history as The Imperial Rose Incident.

It marked the turning point in Zimourman Axel Robin’s life and the beginning of his grand downfall.

Zimourman became utterly incomprehensible overnight. Not only did he humiliate his opponents in duels, but he also made it a point to seduce their elder female relatives, including but not limited to mothers, aunts, and older sisters. When those options were exhausted, he targeted younger sisters, cousins, and even childhood friends.

Falling from a high-ranking noble to a criminal guilty of 257 offenses—murder, rape, arson, robbery, theft, kidnapping, intimidation, and more—he shattered the empire’s criminal records.

If not for his immense prior contributions, Emperor Julius VI would not have signed seven consecutive pardons. Without them, Zimourman would have long since been hanged.

As Charlot finished reviewing the documents, he couldn’t help but marvel. Now this was a life worth living.

Compared to Zimourman Axel Robin, even his own transmigrated existence seemed dull and monotonous.

Zimourman Axel Robin was currently imprisoned in Kilmainham Prison, awaiting either the emperor’s eighth pardon or the decree for his execution by hanging.

Charlot rubbed his temples, no longer willing to force himself to drink the tea of this world. He decided he would buy some imported floral tea from Dongli tomorrow.

Putting down the teacup, Charlot undressed and climbed into bed, soon falling into a deep sleep.

...

The next day!

Charlot awoke to the soft morning light, rubbing his eyes.

He had slept well. Crawling out of bed, he washed up, changed into clean clothes, and bundled his dirty laundry, placing it at the door.

The maids of the Savings Union apartments would collect the laundry, clean and iron it, and return it later. The charges were added to the monthly rent.

After tidying up his room, Charlot didn’t have time to deal with the women’s clothing left in his home and hurriedly left the apartment—he still had work-related matters to handle.

In this era, there was no such thing as digitized office processes. Everything relied on manpower.

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