Chapter 4
“How can administration be top-tier, but corruption be the absolute worst?”
If the ability to track the flow of money is top-tier and corruption is the absolute worst.
That means corruption is also being recognized as a legitimate flow of money.
In other words, tax money itself is being spent through legal routes on things that don’t benefit the nation.
“Just how many parasites are attached to the National Treasury for this to be the result?”
The Bellos Empire was structured so that all power was concentrated in imperial authority, with no Noble Faction to be found.
But corruption was happening in a place like this?
“Are they all happily sharing the spoils under the Imperial Faction?”
As long as one wasn’t greedy for the Emperor’s position.
The Imperial Faction would truly be the safest shade anywhere.
Right beneath the lamp’s base.
Right there, they were siphoning taxes in the name of strengthening imperial authority.
And it wasn’t just specific individuals doing it, but the system itself had been built that way.
The reason the National Treasury was still at an average level despite all this.
That was likely because the Empire hadn’t lost its prestige yet.
A massive landmass where Rare Resources were discovered even when one was bored.
An overwhelming population and the broad talent pool based on it.
A trade network with a firm grip on the seas, a powerful military, the most advanced culture, and so on.
Various factors were firmly propping up the Empire even while corruption ran at its absolute worst.
even with the Second Prince dancing on top of it while smashing the pillars with a sledgehammer.
“The Empire”s setting is truly amazing.'
When I was just reading the novel, I thought kicking out the Second Prince and finding the Emperor would quickly normalize the Empire.
But when I looked closer, the problem was so severe I didn’t even know where to start.
The only fortunate thing was that my position wasn’t at the bottom.
Now that the Emperor had gone missing for unknown reasons,
The one practically ruling the country in his stead was me, the Crown Prince.
It seemed the problems would be solved quickly if I stepped up.
“There are a lot of problems, but I can”t deny that corruption is at its worst.'
Normally, I would have studied history thoroughly to identify the enemy.
And would have tried to gather various information by fumbling through the Crown Prince’s Memory.
But right now, rather than that, I needed to root out the things that were rotting the Empire immediately.
To do that, the first thing I had to do was figure out how the money was leaking.
Actually, I had a rough guess about that part.
“They must have attached their parasites to that bastard, the Second Prince.”
Honestly, wouldn’t it be too easy?
They said they were sending various resources to the Maselin Kingdom.
Moving those resources would naturally require labor, and if they played even a little trick with those labor costs,
The expenses would inflate in an instant, making it the easiest structure to line their pockets.
So what I needed most right now was this:
“…The investment-related list I just asked the Foreign Affairs Officer for.”
Originally, I was going to Check and read it alone to figure out the Second Prince’s stupid actions.
But it was almost certain that other bastards had gotten in on the action.
“This isn’t something to look at alone.”
I passed my words to the Knight waiting in front of my room.
“Tomorrow morning, I will hold a State Council, so inform them that everyone must attend without exception, and that anyone who is absent will be strictly punished.”
“Loyalty!”
Let’s see the faces of the bastards who took bribes.
++++++
Dayrent, the Knight who had been guarding the Crown Prince’s Private Quarters,
He moved his body immediately upon receiving the Crown Prince’s order.
It was a very late hour to deliver a message to the Nobles.
However, a Knight was not one to question orders.
To carry out the task more perfectly and efficiently,
He directed his steps straight to the Imperial Guard Knights' Residence, not the residences where the Nobles stayed.
“Who goes there?”
As soon as he neared the Imperial Guard Knights' Residence, a sharp and heavy voice pierced his ears.
As if threatening to put a hole in his head if he moved even a little more.
A sharp arrowhead threatened his life, not even reflecting the moonlight.
“Dayrent, you are in charge of guarding His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Private Quarters today.”
“Guarding the Private Quarters is usually done in pairs, but you should still be keeping your post. What is your reason for forgetting your duty and coming here.”
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to inform the Nobles that there will be a State Council tomorrow, or rather, this morning.”
“Then you can deliver it alone. So why have you come here?”
A conversation so strict and cold-hearted that its participants didn’t seem to belong to the same affiliation.
The tension of this conversation seemed like it would never break.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince ordered me to inform them that anyone who is absent will be strictly punished.”
At Dayrent’s answer,
“…Are you saying the moment might come when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will strictly punish someone?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“I highly commend your judgment. Welcome.”
“Thank you.”
It broke in an instant.
Swish.
The Sentry who had been aiming the bow lowered it and pulled out a bell from his person.
Thrum.
As soon as he infused mana into the bell and lightly tapped it with his finger,
A sound that could not normally be heard struck the Imperial Guard Knights' Residence fiercely.
A whistle sound only trained individuals could hear was heard.
At that sound, the Knights appeared behind the Sentry fully armed in the blink of an eye.
“What is it, what’s going on? Why ring the Sun Bell at dawn? Everyone was sleeping.”
“There must be a reason to ring the Sun Bell, but seriously, why?”
“Ugh, I was sleeping so well… I was rolling around with an incredible beauty in my dreams.”
“Bix, even if it’s a dream, isn’t an incredible beauty too much of a luxury for your grated-cheese face? It’s undeserved even in a dream.”
“You bastard!”
Snicker, snicker.
They had summoned the Knights using the Sun Bell, but in fact, this kind of summons was very common.
To ensure they always maintained a state of vigilance, the Sun Bell was sometimes rung for no reason to Check their discipline.
So they had gathered, but everyone was in a relaxed state.
The words of the Knight holding the bow continued calmly.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has issued an order. He plans to hold a State Council tomorrow morning, so inform the Nobles who must attend of this fact, and…”
Actually, when the sentence reached this point, everyone had “So what?” written on their foreheads.
Summoning all the sleeping Imperial Guard Knights at dawn just to call the Nobles? Really?
Just as such doubts were about to continue,
“…inform them that anyone who is absent will be strictly punished.”
As soon as the latter half of the sentence followed, the sound of them joking around and talking about dreams abruptly cut off.
Like the life of a death row inmate being cut off during a hanging, snap.
And naturally, the words of the Knight holding the bow continued.
“For the first time in his life, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has announced that he will strictly punish someone. Those who take this lightly are soon taking the Bellos Empire lightly, and that is treason.”
“It is treason!”
“Inform the Grand General of this fact, that the Crown Prince who has been smiling all this time has finally drawn his sword! That the time has come to carve the agony of scorching heat into those who thought the light of the Sun was merely warm!”
From the Grand General down to the Imperial Guard Knights,
They did not participate in administration, politics, diplomacy, or anything else.
The only thing they cared about was protecting the Empire.
That was why they stayed still even when the things eating away at the Empire were running rampant.
Even as Supplies worsened day by day and the quality of weapons deteriorated,
They endured it even when payday was vaguely delayed, or when paperwork wasn’t processed on time.
Because they had not received an order,
The Crown Prince was that kind of person.
He was a person who hated giving orders.
He was one who gave no orders whatsoever, and just smiled benevolently.
The Imperial Guard Knights liked their liege, but on the other hand, they felt it was a shame.
If he were to bring out even a little of the strength hidden behind that smile, the things eating away at the Empire wouldn’t even dare show their faces.
“Finally… Finally…!”
Of course, he hadn’t said he would hand down punishments right away.
He had only said to inform them that those who were absent would be strictly punished.
However,
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has finally drawn his sword.”
The Imperial Guard Knights knew.
This would be nothing but the beginning.
They would have to sharpen their blades from now on.
It was the first step for this.
Therefore, they absolutely could not do this half-heartedly.
“We will go and show the arrogant Nobles that the sword of the Empire has not rusted.”
It was an unseasonable dawn.
“N-No, what time is it right now… what time is it for you to come to my bedchamber and do this!”
“It is the order of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Is that the proper attitude to have when receiving an order?”
Crash!
“W-What are you doing!”
“An Imperial Guard Knight upon receiving the order of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was trying to enter the residence, and I merely handed down a punishment because you blocked it. Do you think I was in the wrong?”
“Heeeek!”
The sword of the Empire was moving.
Of course, the fact that the Imperial Guard Knights were moving like this.
“…Ah, I can’t sleep well without the comforts of my former life.”
The Crown Prince was completely oblivious.
+++++
“What in the world happened at dawn?”
“They say it’s the will of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so is it important to know what happened? What’s important is that it’s something His Highness the Crown Prince authorized.”
“I’m just saying I was flustered because he suddenly did this, and it’s the first time it’s happened.”
“The gentle His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did suddenly change, has it been since the day before yesterday…”
“Huh, but isn’t this almost the first time everyone has gathered like this for a State Council?”
“Because he has never ordered it like this before.”
“I wonder what he’s planning to talk about to gather us like this.”
The noisy Round Table Conference Room.
The Nobles, having Knights suddenly barge in at dawn and being forced to attend from the morning,
They voiced their complaints about these two things.
Furthermore, even though it was past the time they were told to gather, not even his shadow could be seen, let alone the Crown Prince.
Not even his shadow could be seen, let alone the Crown Prince.
“No, he told us to come, but where in the world is the person himself…”
“Waking people up at dawn and now this is what’s happening, honestly.”
Just as the Nobles' dissatisfaction was rising gradually like that.
Bang!
The door to the Round Table Conference Room opened violently.
Step, step, step, step.
Knights began to enter the Round Table Conference Room one by one.
“W-What, what’s going on!”
“How can Knights enter the Round Table Conference Room fully armed!”
“How can they set foot in the Imperial Palace with such armaments!”
The Nobles were all surprised by this unprecedented event and tried to verbally stop the Knights from entering, but.
The Knights entered the Round Table Conference Room without giving a single glance toward the Nobles.
Step, step, step.
As if it had been their designated spot from the beginning.
They stood behind the Nobles sitting in the Round Table Conference Room.
“T-This is a clear threat!”
“What in the world is this! Who orchestrated this?! There’s no way His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would do this…!”
While the Nobles' backlash continued to erupt like that.
“Silence, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is arriving.”
The Grand General followed after the Knights had entered.
The Grand General appeared, revealing his Aura and killing the mood in an instant.
As soon as he realized the Conference Room had gone quiet, the Grand General took a step to the side.
And into that empty space.
Swish.
The Crown Prince filled it, and soon directed his steps slowly toward the seat of honor in the Round Table Conference Room.
And the Grand General was following right behind him.
The terrifyingly cold face of the Crown Prince, who always went around smiling, was unfamiliar to the Nobles.
The Nobles, to whom this entire situation was unfamiliar, had yet to grasp what was going on.
Thud.
The Crown Prince scattered onto the Conference Room table the Maselin Kingdom investment-related documents he had checked this morning.
“You have all worked hard having come here early in the morning.”
He sat down in his seat.
“We will now begin the State Council.”
With those words.
Slam!
The door to the Round Table Conference Room closed firmly.
“…”
Checking that the expressions of a few Nobles, who couldn’t possibly be unaware of the meaning of that, were dying in real time.
“Who managed the investments in the Maselin Kingdom?”
The Crown Prince, Bellon, announced the start of the cleanup time in earnest.