Build towers underwater (5)
That was unexpected for anyone in Daejeon.
That would be too. While the Cabinet meeting was in progress, the knights came crashing in… … Who could have imagined that a noble would be taken away in an instant?
Because of this, not only the king but also the 2nd prince faction to which Viscount Lukins belonged had no choice but to watch the situation with their fisheyes dumbfounded.
Of course, that was also the case with Count Valmons.
“… … sh*t.”
Kwajik-!
It was inconvenient to plant the fan in his hand and break it. I already thought that all the evidence had been destroyed, but it was unexpected that I would dig up what had already happened several months ago.
Moreover, the last words left by the lips of the first prince who was looking at him were… … .
-Use your wealth for good.
It was very arrogant, and also full of composure.
Was it insider information? If not, was it an attack that had been prepared for a long time?
“… … .”
… … No, in such a situation, it was meaningless to question who provided the information and how.
Count Valmons bit his lip.
‘The situation of the 2 prince faction is not good.’
The aristocrats belonging to the 2 Prince faction were in a state of confusion.
It was the same even if I tried to control it as much as possible. It was absurd because there were few people who knew the truth of the incident, but if it wasn’t for that, there wouldn’t be time to talk about it as being framed.
The problem was that it was not the first time that the 2nd Prince faction was in chaos.
1 Prince… … Ever since he stood out in the raid of the barbarians, the 2nd Prince faction felt like they had stepped into the invisible leader.
From killing Asus to receiving useless land and so on. There was obviously a bit of a gap to attack, but strangely, things were working out.
‘If I don’t somehow turn the mood around… … .’
It was never a good thing that the voices of the 2 Prince faction, which were pushed back from legitimacy, were diminishing. So, even now, I had to make the first prince’s movements slow down.
But how… … .
Now his status is getting higher day by day?
… … sh*t!
my head hurts. That was the time when the count was looking for something sharp.
“Count Valmons, you have too many worries in your head.”
“… … !”
The count’s head turned at the grave voice he heard. Then he opened his eyes wide and stood up from his seat.
“dismissal?!”
… … Berretto William.
The highest power among the current nobility, and the duke who leads the 2 Prince faction. Duke William came to visit Count Valmons.
A man who never moved privately came to find him.
* * *
The nobleman sitting across from him trembled like an aspen tree. Soon, when our eyes met, my trembling body stiffened as if it had met a hungry beast.
And I met him face to face and curved my eyes in satisfaction.
“Thanks to you, things have become easier, Viscount Herg.”
“Go, thank you!”
Viscount Herg bowed his head deeply. It was such a quick move that I hit my head on the desk.
Of course, it wasn’t the look of genuine gratitude.
“Well, then, as you promised, are you forgiving my sins?”
“Of course. But it’s not yet turning a blind eye to everything.”
“Chu, that’s enough! Thank you so much.”
“It’s just like thank you.”
I nodded, holding back a burst of laughter. Then I slowly crossed my legs and scanned the guy’s figure.
‘It’s like selling out a colleague as soon as his position is threatened.’
Viscount Herg.
Like Viscount Lukins, he was one of those who supported the duke within the 2nd Prince faction.
It might sound like a contradiction to say that a duke was served on a subject belonging to the faction of the two princes, but, funny enough, it was true.
Their purpose from the beginning was not to put Albedo on the throne, but to take the throne he had stolen from them.
Considering those things, the current situation was absolutely ridiculous.
‘Haven’t I been able to keep even such a modest goal?’
He betrayed the 2 Prince faction faster than anyone else.
The motive was simple. Because I gave him a choice.
That is, he held the criminals hostage and recommended that they give evidence.
Will you survive or will you keep your faith?
Of course, the choice of the guy who decided his fate was betrayal.
In particular, the guy has committed so many corruptions that he couldn’t preserve his title in the future.
Taking advantage of that, it was clear, at least to me, that it was easier than overturning public opinion.
I said as I looked at the viscount wriggling as if he were sitting on a cushion of thorns.
“Then, please take good care of me in the future. I believe it will bring good information.”
“Yes, yes! I will definitely not disappoint you!”
“Go back and look at the situation.”
“All right.”
So the viscount bowed his head and politely left. I also saw him off with an expressionless face.
Contrary to that appearance, however, in my heart I had thoughts that would frighten me if he heard it.
‘It wouldn’t be too bad to just kill it like this.’
A raw murderous intent flashed from the image.
kill before irritating It was only natural that he had a history of betrayal once.
However, I calmly calmed down that intent to kill and thought about it.
‘He also holds an executive role within the 2nd Prince faction.’
If he made a spy like that, he would be able to move more comfortably.
Fortunately, there was a way to deal with such opportunists.
In the first place, he must not have followed the duke with all his heart.
‘I’ll leave it alive for the time being.’
Killing is something you can do at any time. So I’ll keep it alive until it’s useful.
… … After organizing my thoughts, I got up from my seat.
Eventually, the place where the footsteps headed was the royal treasury where Marquis Balter was located.
“Your Highness the First Prince?”
The Marquis, who found me right away, put down the documents he was looking at and approached me.
His face looked tired, probably because he had a lot of work to do.
“How did you come to see me without being called?”
“What about the budget?”
“ah… … Are you talking about the property of Viscount Lukins, which was returned to the national treasury?”
The Marquis was taken aback by the main argument that came out of nowhere. However, befitting the title of Minister of Finance, he quickly came to his senses and answered.
“For now, it is at a sufficient level. I was taken aback when Her Highness said that the budget would be finalized at the State Council meeting, but you did a trick like this.”
Of course, it was an extremely ignorant method to call it a trick. I wasn’t even a marquis to say such a thing.
“At this level, it is worth considering not only the 3 times, but also the 4 times you mentioned.”
“Right.”
“Of course, only within the current budget… … For now, you can take it positively.”
“… … .”
I lost myself in thought as I watched the Marquis respond.
With this, the part about the budget has come to an end. I used one of the cards I had in mind, but I think it was well worth it.
What remains now is how to lead this situation going forward.
However, there were challenges that needed to be addressed before investing in the Mage Tower.
“When you say budget for the current year, do you mean you don’t know what will happen in the future?”
“Ah, yes, it is. Because the budget is so uncertain… … .”
“That means that next year’s national treasury is a problem right now.”
“… … That’s right.”
The Marquis replied feeling uneasy about something. The flow of the conversation was something like the previous one.
And I smiled as if in response and suggested a solution.
“Then, if there is something that will definitely fill the treasury, there will be no problem at all.”
“yes… … .”
“So, from today onwards, I will be in charge of managing the top tier of the kingdom.”
“Hey, Your Highness! What do you mean?!”
The words were said as if nothing had happened, but the aftermath was enormous. The Marquis jumped wild enough to be seen.
The expression on his face was undoubtedly shocking.
On the contrary, my mischievous smile gradually grew thicker.
“Of course, I already got permission from my father. Go and get the managers at the top.”
“This, this… … !”
The flow was already inescapable.
* * *
top of the kingdom.
True to its name, it was a trading guild officially operated by the royal family, but surprisingly few people knew about its existence.
It was natural.
Although it is said to be operated officially, its purpose was mainly to obtain necessary things for internal affairs.
In a way, it is only natural to move secretly.
And the meaning of being in charge of the management of such a kingdom was simple.
… … I will get my hands on the administration of state affairs in earnest.
It is too presumptuous a story for a prince who has not yet been crowned crown prince to touch.
It was also an obvious transgression to anyone’s eyes.
But now it was an urgent time.
Because your father knows that too. No, that’s why I had no choice but to leave it to me.
It was a situation where the awareness that Esteban was being targeted had risen to the bottom of his chin.
“Should I send a present to the 4th prince?”
From giving the weapon called the Ministry of Information to working at the top of the kingdom.
It was truly a tree of generous giving.
I passed the time by telling such bland jokes. After a while, the highly anticipated guests knocked on the door of the office.
“Meet Your Highness, First Prince of Esteban.”
Costumes that indicate merchants even at a glance. Of course, it was easy to guess their identities even without such costumes.
At least that is for me.
“nice to meet.”
familiar faces.
I looked at the managers at the top of the kingdom and said.
“You must have heard the story.”
“That’s right. I heard that His Highness, the first prince, will lead us from now on.”
“I know you well.”
There was a bit of anxiety on their faces.
If the leader of the group changes, the members of the organization will also change in the name of reorganization.
Wasn’t the upper house of the kingdom in particular an institution related to internal affairs?
Most of the time, people tend to prefer the one that suits them.
But I wasn’t.
“From now on, you will be touring various countries, buying and selling things that will help Esteban in the future.”
“… … I’m sorry during the talk, but are you talking about us?”
“okay.”
I hired them even before the regression.
When I ascended the throne, it was the time when the Commonwealth Empire was provoking, so it was because I didn’t have time to care about that either.
But in the end, it was the right choice.
Because they were the ones who left behind the feat of going to and from far away countries to get goods in order to break through the trade restrictions of the Federation Empire.
As long as the patriotism and ability were proven, there was no need for further introduction.
“Also, what I mean by ‘buy and sell’ will be different from what you all know.”
future knowledge.
I was thinking of moving them based on that.
It meant not just moving for money, but painting a picture that really looked into the future.
From noble mtl dot com.
And that first start must be really fun.
“Let’s go to the southern continent.”
“If it’s the southern continent… … .”
… … Yes, paradise across the sea. land of the sun.
In an instant, my eyes flashed.
“There will be what we need.”