episode_0022
by fnovelpiaWhile looking into various problems with Elisa.
We could see that the Knights were having quite a few problems. They were intentionally reducing the number of monsters they hunted, which reduced the amount of magic stones and byproducts they obtained, and there were many cases where there were not enough swords and armors in the warehouse.
‘Is that a given?’
Knights are usually nobles. However, most knights who become knights are bound to be poor. It may not be the case if the family is wealthy, but most nobles do not even have a territory.
How much wealth do such nobles have?
Naturally, the children do not have enough to live comfortably. In the end, except for the eldest son who is destined to inherit the family, the other children must marry off or become government officials or knights to make a living.
But can the nobles really be satisfied with such a life?
Even if you just go to a social gathering, there are many nobles dressed up in fancy clothes. It may be natural for them to embezzle money because they want to dress up in fancy clothes like that.
Although knights were paid a lot by commoners’ standards, they were paid poorly by nobles’ standards.
Of course, it varies from territory to territory, but at least here in Biken Territory, the salaries weren’t that generous.
“The knights are so rotten, and the author, the lord, is not taking care of this. As a fellow noble, I feel a little ashamed.”
After becoming close to Elisa, she started to curse Wellington without hesitation, probably because she heard from Ertia that they were not on good terms.
“I will make sure to address this issue at this meeting.”
“Thank you.”
Elisa’s gaze was drawn to the collarbone line that was revealed due to her head being slightly bowed.
The sight was so transparent that I thought even Beta Males, who were not Alpha Males like me, could see into those eyes.
“Ahem… This is something that is expected of a noble! If you really appreciate it, I will treat you to a meal later… .”
“I’m sorry.”
I refuse Elisa’s invitation to dine with me whenever she asks me to. There are too many eyes on her invitation to dine. I like the feeling that we are still part of the same department, so I prefer not to see her hanging out with me privately.
Of course, it was okay for her to sneak into the breeding room. She would remove all eyes that were trying to enter the breeding room.
As time passed, the time for the regular meeting finally arrived.
Normally, a mere member of the Black Death and Pregnancy Countermeasures Headquarters would not be able to attend the meeting, but she was more like a supervisor sent by the Soryu Counts. She was more than qualified to attend this meeting.
“Then the first agenda item is how to utilize the magic stones and byproducts that the Knights Templar have obtained while subduing monsters this time.”
The meeting is naturally presided over by the Lord Chancellor of Wellington.
He brought up the most sensitive issue of money as the first agenda item. Currently, taxes are decreasing day by day due to the effects of the Black Death. In the meantime, if there is a fixed income, it is naturally the money earned by selling the magic stones and by-products obtained by hunting monsters by the knights and soldiers.
“Tell me what you think is the most important part of each department.”
“Our finance department invests in the top management operating in Yeongji… .”
“I think the Knights Templar will need some new spare armors.”
“The Department of Agriculture issues orders for plows… ”
And of course, the Knights cannot spend all that money. As is the case now, the largest amount of money is invested in the agenda items deemed most important through meetings.
It was obvious. There may be cases where a task that should have been completed with 1 gold may have to be completed with 100 gold, and there may be cases where an investment of 1 gold may earn 100 gold.
So, each department was trying to convince Wellington by making persuasive arguments about the budget that suddenly fell from the sky.
Melania, sitting behind him, just watched.
From what I’ve learned from attending several meetings, the Dragon Melania is actually the owner of the territory, but it’s run by Wellington.
It’s like a company that hires professional managers.
Unless there was a major issue, Melania was generally reserved in most meetings. Wellington knows this, and he skillfully leads most of the meetings.
Because of that, our department could only receive a very small budget.
But today is different. Today!
It wasn’t for nothing that we investigated embezzlement and tax evasion so diligently. Our department was planning to be allocated a budget based on what we had investigated.
Wellington might just ignore the embezzlement and tax evasion. Of course. Embezzlement and tax evasion are basically things that cannot be done without a connection to those in power.
Wellington must have gotten that bean curd in some way, but even if I, a mere breeder, were to report it, he wouldn’t listen.
But that wasn’t possible as long as Melania was present at the meeting.
But why haven’t you taken action until now? Well… not only to Wellington, but also to the heads of other departments, I’m just a breeder.
Something between a slave and a commoner.
Of course, if I were to tell them, I would only be hated by all the departments and wouldn’t be able to receive any proper help. Of course, it’s the same now… It’s a different matter to cooperate with some tasks while ignoring them in a subtle way and to completely refuse them.
So what I need is someone to speak for me.
And Elisa was a very suitable speaker.
“We at Heukimbu believe that budget planning should be done more accurately.”
Black pregnant woman.
This is an abbreviation for our department of plague and pregnancy prevention.
“First, I will ask Knight Commander Leona.”
“Yes. Any questions you have, Elisa Youngae.”
“The report that just came up says that 100 goblins and 359 orcs were subdued. Is that correct?”
“No. I’ve subdued over 150 goblins. And over 400 orcs.”
The Knight Commander speaks proudly, not even knowing that he has fallen into a trap.
“But this is strange. The price offered by the merchant who specializes in purchasing the byproducts of monsters caught by the Knights is 4,000 low-grade magic stones, 70 goblin hides, and 301 orc tusks. I demand an explanation for why there is such a large difference between the number of monsters the Knights have defeated and the number of monsters they have sold.”
“… That, that’s… ”
At Elisa’s words, the treasurer, not the commander of the knights, opened his mouth.
This, this… It’s not that the Knights Templar did it… It seems like the higher-ups run by the Ministry of Finance have reduced the report.
‘You crazy kids.’
There are cries of money shortage here and there in Yeongji, and they are thinking of selling this.
This is why beta mailers don’t work. They only pursue short-term interests and no one thinks about the big picture.
‘I’ll change it for you!’
There’s nothing I can do about it. This is also a burden that the alpha male must bear.
I vowed once again to resolve the issues of this estate and make Melania my proud female.
“The Knights’ report will be identical to the report submitted by our finance department.”
That’s right. There’s no way they didn’t falsify documents to commit embezzlement. Of course, both sides would have done it together.
“The Knight Commander just confirmed the achievements of this monster subjugation. The report… is it not falsified?”
Elisa’s polite words gradually began to reveal the confidence that a countess’s daughter should have. She is a more capable woman than I thought.
We had already heard from the soldiers who had subdued the monsters together and from Erica about the results, so we knew as soon as we saw the report that it was a fabrication.
That is why I asked the Knight Commander about his performance in the expedition first, as there was no way out. The Knight Commander could also be involved in the embezzlement.
However, as we can see from Erica and Ertia, knights are not used to writing reports and are clumsy. Leona, the commander of the Knights of Montmartre, who was granted the surname Montmartre but barely received the rank of Baronet after rising to the rank of Sword Master, is not used to writing documents.
Even if that kind of person were to manipulate things, it would be impossible for him to do it himself.
The Ministry of Finance, which is an administrative expert, must have taken care of it. That’s why Elisa was caught intentionally understating the results of the conquest.
If you had done it yourself, you wouldn’t have fallen into this trap.
“That Young-ae… There is a custom called Yeongji, so if you come out like this… ”
Came out. Custom.
The finance minister starts bringing up old practices that don’t help at all.
If I make Ertia the lord so that I can actively control the territory, you are the first target to be executed.
“Is it customary? Is it customary to fill my own pockets when the territory is in a critical situation?”
“That, that’s… .”
“Elisa, that’s enough. I will punish you severely for this. Then, the remaining amount due to the ‘incorrect’ report written by the Treasury and the Knights will be allocated to the Black Army’s budget.”
“Then let’s stop here for this part.”
“Are there any more…?”
“Yes. The armor and swords that have recently been supplied by the Knights are more than enough to provide two to each Knight. So why are you requesting additional armor and swords and purchasing them again today? Also, when I went to the Knights’ warehouse with Ertia a while ago, there was less than half of the inventory listed on the documents. Where did all the remaining armor and swords go?”
The Knight Commander’s eyes grew increasingly gloomy at Elisa’s sharp criticism.
“Is that what Elisa Youngae meant? Or is it what the breeder meant?”
“… This is the will of our family, which has a close relationship with the Viken Territory. To discover and solve the problems of the Viken Territory. That is the will of our family.”
“Don’t lie!! I know that this is a common practice among nobles! Are you ignoring me because I’m a baronet who was lucky enough to reach the level of a master? Do you think I don’t know that that damn breeder is inciting Young-ae? Young-ae is reeking of that man’s scent!!”
“… Since we are in the same department, it is inevitable that the smells are mixed… ”
“No! It’s a stronger smell than that. We didn’t mix bodies… but anyway, it’s a smell closer to being in the same department!! Damn it. Hey you. How dare you treat us like thieves?”
Leona, who appears as a perfect match.
From her perspective, this would have been the best way to cover up the large-scale embezzlement that had taken place within the Knights Templar.
“Follow me. It’s a duel-!!”
“Stop. I won’t allow a duel. Now that Alex is dead, what will happen to the territory if you die too?”
Melania, who had been watching our farce, finally opened her mouth.
“But… Melania! Our honor… ”
“I understand. It must be uncomfortable for a breeder like you to reveal your secrets. I will allow the duel itself. However, I will conduct it while casting a protection spell so that you cannot kill your opponent. Are you dissatisfied?”
“None.”
“Okay. Then let’s go out right now.”
Another duel?
It’s the Middle Ages after all. If you can’t communicate, you pull out your sword.
This is why I dueled with the Knight Commander.
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