Build towers underwater (4)
The royal treasury, which was not peaceful, was overturned.
It’s not that it wasn’t, it was because of a piece of paper that came down in the name of the king this morning.
“what’s this… … .”
For the first time, the Minister of Finance, Marquis Balter, learned what it meant to have a headache.
3 times the previous year’s budget… … That’s not even any other facility, but the content that the budget of the Mage Tower, which is called the money-eating toad, will be tripled.
Of course, it’s bound to give you a headache.
“you… … Did you bring this right now?”
“Yes, yes.”
The financial manager standing next to him answered with a tearful smile. The expression on his face seemed real.
So, is this really real?
However, as if ridiculing that state of mind, the seal stamped on the signature column was shining brilliantly, reminding him that this was reality.
“I-I can’t do this.”
Like that, Marquis Baltaire moved quickly and steadily.
The destination was the first prince’s office, to the proposer of the budget written on the document.
… … so the present.
“Your Highness, especially at the time of restoring the damages of the war like now, there is no place to cover three times that budget.”
“is it?”
“Yes, at this rate, the national treasury will be drained and the tax amount will have to be raised. There may be opposition from nobles.”
“Right.”
“… … Whoa.”
The Marquis let out a deep sigh in desperation, as if he didn’t have the strength to speak passionately anymore.
When the Marquis shouted the impossibility of budgeting and presented evidence, I accepted and pretended to listen, then let it go in one ear.
Of course, even when new conversations came and went, the flow was the same. It was literally a wheel of conversation.
“majesty… … What are you thinking?”
“I thought maybe even 5 times would be okay.”
“majesty… … .”
“It is a joke. I don’t know if it’s 4 times, but I think 5 times is too much.”
“… … .”
The head of the Marquis who was silent like that seemed very complicated.
Well, sure… … I am the same who proposed this budget plan, but my father’s intentions in sending it down to the Ministry of Finance must be confusing to him.
‘Of course, there’s no room for me to change my mind.’
I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.
The localization of raw materials was an essential element for the future as well.
At least I had the knowledge of the future, so it was three times, but in reality, it would be absurd to try to localize it with only three times.
Saying it would be nice if it was four times was not a joke.
‘And if it’s not now, there’s no chance.’
After their attack began in earnest, even if they poured 30 times instead of 3 times, they would not be able to overcome the crisis.
The more the tower was delayed, the more pressure the tower was subjected to, and since time was not on Esteban’s side, let alone preparations, it was said that a war could break out before localization was achieved.
I could never have let it go like that. Because that is why I exist here.
I opened my mouth seriously, as if the jokes had been lies.
“So you’re saying that the budget is an issue after all?”
“Yes that’s right. I guess… … .”
“That was enough.”
I said that and checked the calendar on the desk. It was the last week of November.
… … That was enough.
Before long, he met the gaze of Marquis Balter, who was immersed in concern.
“I will attend the next cabinet meeting. That’s where we’ll put an end to the noise about budgeting.”
“… … yes?”
The Marquis didn’t seem to understand. Maybe you want to avoid reality.
But there was no explanation twice.
“Tell the nobles about the localization. I will take care of this with my own hands.”
“majesty!”
The Marquis was shocked and stood up from his seat.
Looking at this as if wondering, the Marquis looked around and asked, lowering his voice. However, he could not hide the raised tone of his voice.
“Sir, do you really want to bring up a story related to mithril?”
“Are there any problems?”
“What a problem! Doesn’t His Highness know very well that its existence shouldn’t be revealed yet?!”
Mithril’s existence had to be hidden.
As soon as its existence is revealed, the relationship with the Federation will return to hostile relations without waiting and sleeping.
Although they had arranged a countermeasure to wage war against the barbarians and establish a cooperative relationship with the Holy Empire, it was natural that they would find themselves in a difficult situation.
But my plan just wasn’t like that.
“do not worry. It is only in Daejeon that the budget is covered.”
“yes? Budget in Daejeon… … .”
“It seems like it would be easy to raise a budget.”
“Wait, what do you mean by that?”
“There is such a thing.”
Well, you can tell by looking at it.
My eyes narrowed like half moons.
‘About five days until the Cabinet meeting?’
For some reason, excitement and interest came at the same time.
It seemed that he couldn’t stop laughing at the thought of roasting nobles who might be on the side of the Federation Empire or allies.
* * *
When the cabinet meeting began, as expected, the aristocrats jumped up in awe.
“Investing a budget to localize raw materials for so many magic tools?!”
“No!”
As with any skill, polishing and polishing basic magic skills in particular was no different from pouring water into a bottomless pot.
In addition, it was so inefficient that the budget was huge and the output was disastrous.
At best, wasn’t it a quality material inferior to that of other countries at best?
“His Highness the King.”
At that time, Viscount Gerek, who is a guardian-class wizard and manages the court wizards, left some advice.
“In order to maximize the quality of magic tools, we need to use higher quality materials. But, as you know, you can’t develop it just because you want to.”
“It’s quality… … .”
“That’s right. Raising that kind of budget won’t be easy, but if you can’t raise the quality, there will be nothing better than importing it as a result.”
If it was easy to raise the quality like that, other countries would have followed suit.
Rather, it meant that it was absurd to invest in a field where the results were not certain, even if related items were imported.
“… … In that case, it would be better to give up localization and provide research funds for the Mage Tower.”
“Yes, you saw it correctly.”
“Hmm.”
Suddenly, my father’s gaze, which had been stroking my chin, turned to me.
“What does Prince 1, who expressed the need for investment, think of the advice of the ministers?”
Then, all the eyes of the surprised nobles focused on me. Some were trying hard to hide their distorted expressions.
I guess he didn’t know it was me who proposed the investment. I opened my mouth, appreciating each of those gazes.
“First of all, I agree with the story of pouring water into a bottomless pot.”
“part?”
“That’s right. Even if it consumes the budget as much as its appearance, the excess will not be in vain.”
Persuasion could have been easier if he said that he was prepared for pressure from the Commonwealth Empire. But it was natural to say that you shouldn’t do that.
That’s why I started to express the need for basic magic skills with standard explanations.
“Esteban’s magic development has always been geared towards knights, and the direction that follows is clearly different from that of other countries. You could say it’s a special case.”
“Um, yes.”
“This means that basic magic skills can also be established in a form suitable for Esteban.”
You can make as many items as you want for Esteban.
Also, it was said that there is a high possibility that raw materials will also develop accordingly in the process.
Beyond resolving the issue of export control of raw materials, it can contribute to development in itself.
“So investing in it will be indispensable.”
“… … Right.”
Understanding this, my father nodded.
As if to say that it is really possible.
In a way, it was the same as an empty dream, but even the nobles nodded their heads at his confident appearance.
however,
“That is nonsense!”
At that moment, a nobleman shouted.
It’s a familiar voice at times. My gaze turned to him.
Oh yeah. Obviously, Duke William’s manservant… … .
“Viscount Lukins.”
“Yes, Your Highness the First Prince. I’m sorry about what I said, but isn’t that a very irresponsible comment?”
“hmm? Why?”
Timing is not like this.
This situation was very interesting, so I pretended not to know anything and asked, and then he jumped at it as if he had seized his chance.
He had a mean smile on his lips.
“Didn’t Viscount Gerek tell you earlier? In the end, if you can’t improve the quality, it’s as good as not worth it.”
“yes. Until then, it will be nothing more than an investment with no promise.”
“Chemm! These are your words. But can Esteban follow the know-how developed over hundreds of years?”
“Hmm… … !”
“surely… … .”
Seeing the nobles nodding their heads as if they were waiting, I shrugged my shoulders.
Well, whether to trick me or not. It was normal to think that way with modern knowledge, and I didn’t think I was going to be sorry for sympathizing with it.
‘But that’s just modern knowledge.’
Of course, it was an insignificant level of rebuttal to me.
The reason he objected to that was just to block my progress.
That’s why I didn’t want to listen to any more childlike complaints.
“Then your position is that localization is absolutely impossible?”
“Precisely, it means that there is no meaning to achieve by using the budgets of so many countries.”
“But, unfortunately, I don’t think we will need that much budget.”
“… … .”
The faces of the nobles, including Viscount Lukins, turned blank. However, that was no different from prey to Viscount Lukins, who came to his senses.
“… … her! Are you saying that tripling the budget for the mage tower isn’t a lot of budget? With that amount of investment, the national treasury will surely run out… … .”
“hmm? What are you talking about? Aren’t you the investor?”
“… … yes?”
That was the moment.
“What, what are you doing?”
Viscount Lukins was taken aback.
It was no different, it was because I had stopped talking and was moving towards the entrance of Daejeon.
It must have been an act he couldn’t understand at all. But the reason soon became clear.
“Come in slowly.”
“insect!”
“Go, what happened all of a sudden… … .”
“majesty?!”
Those who rushed into the Great War with that spirit were the Argon Knights.
However, it wasn’t just one or two people. A staggering number that could easily become one platoon.
The nobles, frightened at the sight of that number of people rushing at them, took a backward step.
Of course, the agitation in their eyes was not as great as that of Viscount Lukins.
“Hey, what are you doing!”
The knights who came across the Great War surrounded Viscount Lukins as if arresting a criminal, and soon tied his arms and pressed them to the floor.
“… … Whoops!”
A painful breath escaped the mouth of the motionless, kneeling man.
Daejeon is frozen.
“… … .”
A space where silence flows.
I looked up at my father looking down at me from the throne. My father also seemed very embarrassed, but he only nodded his head with a firm expression, as if telling me to proceed.
… … good.
Then it must be time to show the finale that will decorate this stage.
From noble mtl dot com.
“I’m just grateful that you came out at the moment because I saved time to introduce myself. Viscount Lukins.”
“Hey, Your Highness! What the hell is this!”
“You are urgently arrested on charges of attempted assassination of the royal family and instigation of murder.”
“… … !”
“No, nonsense… … .”
In front of the audience who were so astonished.
In front of my father, who also showed embarrassment.
My gaze turned to Count Balmons, who was at the center of the 2nd Prince faction.
My mouth smiled with a bright expression that couldn’t be better.