Ch.174Chapter 174 – Gaining Powerful Backing

For the Liu Empire to effectively rule the entire Eastern Continent, people are needed to coordinate the various affairs of each region, both large and small.

Since people have different concerns and demands, it’s impossible for the Emperor to handle every matter personally.

Therefore, to resolve this issue, officials who would oversee national affairs were selected through examinations, and those who passed and took office were called “bureaucrats.”

The number of people who passed the exams and became bureaucrats was approximately 30,000.

Of those, 99% were lower-ranking officials below the fourth grade.

Above them, only 1% were high-ranking officials of the third grade or higher, and among them were three individuals who stood above all others, second only to the Emperor.

These individuals were given the title of “Minister,” signifying they were the highest authority in their respective fields.

Finance Minister Song Buyeo, who managed all funds and national budgets of the Imperial Dragon Fortress.

Administrative Minister Go Gwancheol, who was responsible for all administrative officials throughout the country, including the Imperial Dragon Fortress.

General Minister Geum Gunryeong, who oversaw the Liu Empire, including the Internal Military which served as the empire’s military and police, acting on behalf of the Emperor.

These three were the leaders of their respective factions, and even the Emperor of the Liu Empire did not dare to go against their wishes.

Even the Emperor himself could not effectively govern without the help of these three individuals.

Moreover, Song Buyeo, Go Gwancheol, and Geum Gunryeong were elders of the sixteen great families.

It was an open secret that to rise to a high position, it was faster to impress these three individuals rather than the Emperor himself.

However, the Emperor could not express any dissatisfaction with this arrangement, for if he did… it was almost certain that he would be replaced before long.

In that sense, the Emperor had given Patos truly vital advice.

And following the Emperor’s counsel, Patos approached the three individuals, resulting in a very private meeting.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Count Patos Severio of the Celebrio Empire.”

“Pleased to meet you. I am Song Buyeo, Finance Minister of the Liu Empire.”

“It’s an honor to meet the famous Sword Destroyer. I am Go Gwancheol, Administrative Minister.”

“So you’re the one Bergen mentioned. I am Geum Gunryeong, General Minister.”

Fortunately for Patos, the three welcomed him, speaking fluent Western Continent language.

Since he was a visitor from another country, it was clear that Patos was not the Emperor’s man.

If Patos had been loyal to the Emperor, they would not have met with him.

There was no reason for them to show favor to someone loyal to the Emperor.

After all, the Emperor was merely an international diplomatic mascot set up by the sixteen great families.

And the three highest-ranking officials of the Liu Empire were well aware of why Patos had visited.

“We know that you came to treat the Emperor’s baldness.”

Song Buyeo was the one who broke the ice in the conversation between Patos and the three ministers.

Unlike the other two who seemed more relaxed, he had a truly urgent matter.

“And seeing that you’ve come here, I assume it’s practically confirmed that you’ve treated the Emperor’s baldness.”

“What do you want from me?”

“By any chance… can you cure the disease where the male organ fails to rise properly?”

Song Buyeo’s serious problem was erectile dysfunction.

Song Buyeo had a legal wife and two concubines, but recently, strangely enough, his manhood kept losing strength whenever it came to actual performance.

He had tried everything reputed to be good for male vitality and sexual potency, but to no avail.

Then, he heard that a person with mysterious abilities who had cured baldness in a large Western empire was visiting the Liu Empire at the Emperor’s request, and now he was meeting him.

After hearing Song Buyeo’s story, Patos willingly used his ability to help him.

“To cure erectile dysfunction, I need to hammer the Finance Minister’s body.”

“I’m willing to accept that much. There’s nothing I haven’t tried to cure this damned disease.”

With permission granted, Patos hammered his body three times, and Song Buyeo’s lower body began to respond.

His manhood, which had shown no response no matter how much he tried, rose vigorously like a salmon swimming upstream.

Since only men were present, the situation could have become awkward, but fortunately, it didn’t.

“Amazing. I never thought his erectile dysfunction could actually be cured.”

“Ahem. Actually, I’m suffering from the same problem…”

Of course, Go Gwancheol and Geum Gunryeong were also experiencing similar symptoms.

However, unlike Song Buyeo, their equipment only functioned properly with their legal wives, but failed to work when they tried to have fun with their concubines.

Patos used his ability on both of them as well, and the three men became about 10 years younger than before.

Not only did their erectile dysfunction disappear, but their bodies were adjusted so that their masculinity could function more smoothly.

“Thank you. Thank you so much. You’ve cured what no renowned doctor in this country could. There will be talk of your reward at the upcoming ministers’ meeting, but don’t worry.”

“We never forget a favor. So you can expect a reward.”

“No one in the Liu Empire will dare disrespect you. That’s our guarantee.”

Thus, thanks to Patos’s ability, the three men who had been freed from the terrible disease of erectile dysfunction that had troubled them for a long time, came to support his statement during the meeting with the Emperor.

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“…Anyway, thanks to that, the matter of your reward proceeded smoothly.”

After hearing what the Emperor told me about what happened during the meeting, I realized that my plan was working properly.

Erectile dysfunction has always been one of the most difficult diseases to treat, both in the past and present.

At least in modern society, with the emergence of drugs like V**gra, amazing things happened where even what was dead could come back to life.

Besides, I’m a man too. There’s something that men understand about each other.

If the three had been lunatics who harassed women and stole others’ wives, I would have reformed them into good people, but they didn’t seem to be that bad.

Moreover, I found out there were reasons why the three had formed factions.

“If we don’t form factions, strange people will form them and destabilize the country. So instead, we with strong power form factions to check against the emergence of strange factions.”

“Thanks to each of us taking charge of different factions, the institutions belonging to the three factions check each other, so no one can manipulate this country as they please.”

“Of course, controlling the factions so they don’t fight each other isn’t easy… but what can we do? Someone has to work for the peace of the country.”

I was simply amazed to witness a near-perfect separation of powers that I couldn’t even see in South Korea.

So I didn’t hesitate to use my ability on the three.

Well, if necessary, I could always visit them for a session of reformation.

An ability that can turn even a deranged ruffian into a new person… surely it could make new people out of the three actual power holders of the Liu Empire?

Of course, it was fortunate that I didn’t have to do that.

“So, what reward have you decided to give me?”

“We have decided to give you a position, though honorary: ‘Special Grade Repairman,’ a position created just for you. In addition, you will receive rare medicinal ingredients, herbs, and various goods. Most of the items will be sent to the Glesius Academy where you’re staying, and instead, to ensure you’re not inconvenienced while here, I will give you the imperial gold token.”

“By imperial gold token, you mean…”

“When you purchase items and show this, the amount will be billed to the imperial court later. And remarkably, the Finance Minister, Administrative Minister, and General Minister have agreed to be your guarantors. This means that while you stay in this empire, no one will dare to touch you.”

Hearing this, I realized one thing.

People with terrifying power had become my solid backing.

However, there was also some not-so-good news.

“By the way, the heads of the great families to which the three belong have invited you. It seems the great families have officially begun to show interest in you.”

It seemed I would have to stay here a bit longer.

Should I just tell my sister to come over here?