Ch.139Discipline Enforcement

Guild Council.

Surprisingly, in the council chamber created for guilds within Amurtat to freely exchange opinions, there was a seat of honor.

That seat was where the monarch sat to oversee the guild masters, and it was also the reason why I was here now.

Normally, this place would be filled with not just commotion but also shouting and bloodshed, but as long as I was present, there didn’t seem to be any brave soul willing to engage in such madness.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

I was deliberately making rhythmic sounds, tapping the armrest of the throne with my index finger.

That dull sound was the only noise in this silent room, and it was also silent proof that I dominated this space.

TAP!

*Flinch!*

When I put force into the final beat and stopped the sound, the guild masters sitting in the meeting hall collectively shrank back.

Tremble, tremble, tremble…

Among them, there was one who was particularly restless—the Labor Guild Master.

“Labor Guild Master.”

I called his name, no, his title.

“Y-yes! Your Majesty!”

He rose from his seat, lowered his body in an awkward posture, and then turned toward the seat of honor where I sat.

“In this recent incident, a significant number of Labor Guild administrators obtained information about redevelopment through improper means… conspiring with government officials to profit from price differences.”

“I… I deeply apologize!”

Those affiliated with the Labor Guild weren’t just construction workers.

Coachmen who drove carriages not their own, factory workers, servers in cafeterias, and even prostitutes in the red-light district… The Labor Guild was in charge of all so-called ‘professions that earn by physical labor.’

Therefore, I wasn’t particularly surprised that high-ranking officials of the Labor Guild were involved in this incident.

It was natural for bees to gather where flowers bloomed.

If they had only tried to take a reasonable profit from price differences, I might not have caught evidence, or I might have dismissed it as typical land speculation.

But if you’re a bee, you should quietly suck nectar… how dare you covet the sap from the flower stem itself?

The insane price increase of 23 times had both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage was that their shallow scheme was shattered from the beginning; the disadvantage was that if those behind this incident had been clever like the Academic Society, I might have had to watch helplessly as they cunningly raised prices and conspired to feast together.

“You saw their execution, didn’t you?”

“O-of c-course, Your Majesty!”

“Then you must have received the ‘jeotgal’ as well.”

“Y-yes…”

“UWEEEEEK!!!”

When I mentioned ‘jeotgal,’ one of the other guild masters vomited.

For a moment, all eyes turned to him, but when I showed no particular interest, everyone diverted their gaze again.

The ‘jeotgal’ I referred to was none other than fermented flesh made from people who had been dismembered alive and filleted.

I deliberately added a scent that would induce fear even in dreams a hundred years later, arranged the packaging to maximize discomfort and terror, and meticulously crafted the appearance of the jeotgal so anyone could tell it was made from humans.

In other words, those gathered here would never be able to put ‘jeotgal’ on their dining tables again.

They would probably have seizures at the mere mention of the word.

“Now then, tell me what you plan to do next. The charges against the Labor Guild are not yet resolved.”

“I… I… I…”

Even though I spoke gently, if the recipient couldn’t take it that way, it would only backfire.

But right now, that backfiring was exactly what I wanted.

Inwardly smiling, I asked again to the guild master who looked like a child staring at floor patterns while being scolded by parents.

“Are you making me urge you for an answer?”

“N-no, not at all!”

At my words, the guild master jumped up and waved his hands frantically.

“Then, speak.”

At that moment, the standing guild master began rolling his eyes nervously, and only after exactly 32 seconds did he start to provide an answer.

“F-first, we must begin a comprehensive audit of the entire organization… Then there will be a complete personnel restructuring… and after that, if there are those who have committed wrongdoing, we will expel them and return the illegally acquired assets to Your Majesty.”

“Hmm…”

It was a model answer.

In truth, if I pressed further, there would be no option left for the guild master except suicide, so if this much unearned income could be gained just by creating a certain atmosphere, I was more than willing to do so.

“Very well. Return to your seat.”

“Yes! Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty!”

*Scrape… Thud!*

As if he had sweated a lifetime’s worth in one day, the Labor Guild Master’s clothes were soaked through.

Yet the other guild masters said nothing about his condition because they instinctively sensed they would be next.

“…”

Without saying a word, I slowly and profoundly surveyed the assembly.

None of the guild masters present should be able to leave without having a ‘conversation’ with me.

*Scrape!*

At that moment, the Blacksmith Guild Master rose from his seat.

“Your Majesty! Though it is presumptuous of me to say, four master craftsmen under my jurisdiction have also conspired in this incident. This is a disgrace and insult to those who work with iron and steel. Using Your Majesty’s sacred anger as fuel, please permit a comprehensive audit and complete personnel restructuring of the entire guild!”

“Ho.”

I curved my lips into a smile.

If they showed such initiative in cowering before me, it would save me considerable effort, so there was no reason to refuse.

Moreover, a comprehensive audit doesn’t just root out corruption. Internal audits discover parachute appointments that shouldn’t be there and unearth hidden talents. If they could endure the complete confiscation of ‘illegitimate assets’ discovered in the process, the Blacksmith Guild would reach much greater heights.

“Your words are filled with loyalty. I grant permission.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

After I granted permission and the Blacksmith Guild Master sat down, the guild masters began playing a game of chicken, one by one standing up to pledge renewed loyalty and promise comprehensive internal audits.

And all the small change discovered in the process would end up in my account.

“…Therefore, we of the Academic Society also seek Your Majesty’s permission to expel and sanction those unworthy of the title ‘Battlefield of Wisdom.'”

“Permission granted.”

“Your grace is boundless.”

Finally, the Academic Society President’s pledge was recited, and I smiled enigmatically as I heard the final declaration.

Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations for their internal audits and claims of eradicating corruption.

It was common knowledge that audits conducted by internal personnel rather than external forces typically led to predictable outcomes.

But now Amurtat had dozens of guilds, soon to be hundreds.

It was impossible to pour external personnel into all these numerous guilds to conduct audits, so internal audits were an inevitable choice.

In truth, what I truly desired was the guilds’ ‘voluntary donations’ and comprehensive personnel movements.

Money was always better in greater quantities, and comprehensive personnel movements could resolve staffing stagnation.

Well… if that doesn’t solve the problem, what can I do?

I’ll just have to dance with my blade once more.

“It pains me as your monarch to think that you must deal harshly with the guilds you cherish for the sake of the nation. I have instructed my servants to prepare nourishing medicinal dishes, so eat well before you depart.”

“””Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty.”””

At my signal, attendants opened the chamber doors and began bringing in various medicinal dishes.

The menu was identical to that served at a monarch’s coronation feast, making mouths water at the mere sight, but the guild masters, having exhausted all their energy, seemed to lack even the strength to lift a spoon.

“Take your time. Once you finish eating, you’ll need to work hard.”

With those words, I left the meeting hall, and only then did the sounds of utensils being picked up begin to filter through the door.

As many have already guessed, those medicinal dishes weren’t offered out of consideration for them.

They were more like a drug prescription to sustain the lifelines of those who would soon be mercilessly ground down. From the moment they finished their meal, they would begin stabbing the backs of those who had supported them in order to fulfill their loyalty pledges.

But that was none of my concern. All I wanted was enough ‘voluntary donations’ to build roads.