episode_0042

Chairman of the State Council.

Me, Theodora, and the five ministers are gathered.

The ministers who saw the proposal I wrote opened their mouths one by one.

“Your Highness, I am not sure whether it is necessary to create such a department in the current chaotic situation.”

“That’s right. Currently, the military power of the empire is rapidly weakening, and a new order of knights must be created as soon as possible to fill the vacuum of the Golden Knights.”

“Not only that, we have currently issued bonds and filled the treasury with gold, but it is still insufficient. I am against establishing such a costly and inefficient department!”

The Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Military Affairs, and Ministry of Finance take the lead and express strong opinions on the establishment of an intelligence department.

“I hope you understand why the chaotic political situation occurred. Didn’t all of this happen because we failed to prevent Valorant’s rebellion in advance? That’s why I want to open this department.”

“Also, it is acknowledged that military power has deteriorated. Therefore, the role of this department will be very important in the unlikely event that a group of traitors, enemy countries, or armed forces arise. In some ways, it may be a sharper sword than the Knights Templar. Doesn’t Minister Marcus know this too? In war, the enemy’s information becomes the foundation of our victory.”

“And Secretary Frank. It is true that the current finances are unstable, but the empire’s territory is fertile and the scale of commerce, industry, and magic engineering is very large. Additionally, the Grand Duchy and I will provide strong support to this empire, and the commercial information obtained from the Intelligence Department will be shared with the empire’s merchant houses and banks, which will provide a great advantage in future trade.”

I refuted each and every one of those opinions.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs is originally from the Grand Duchy, so there is no way he could refute it.

“Your Majesty, but I don’t think that the Ministry of Intelligence can actually play such an important role.”

“Tell me. Minister Gaston.”

He says, carefully rolling his eyes at my words.

“First of all, as you know, all departments other than the Ministry of the Interior are currently handling information, but that information is not easily obtained. It is honestly unbelievable that it is possible to create an extensive intelligence network targeting foreign lords or foreign countries outside of His Majesty’s direct jurisdiction.”

Gaston’s words make sense.

It may be because it is a department related to domestic security like the Ministry of the Interior, but it raises issues about obtaining information.

“I’ve been thinking about that for a long time.”

Although I hold the title of Archduke here, I am nothing more than an ordinary person on the planet I live on.

Therefore, we do not know exactly how intelligence agencies collect and compile information.

However, it is clear that even on Earth, there were many spies during World Wars 1 and 2, and there was an organization that commanded them and handled information.

Agrippa and I had been thinking for quite some time about how they would move.

“First, we will send an intelligence officer in charge of information collection to the area where information is to be collected and establish an intelligence network there. It would be important to hold frequent parties and interact with local celebrities, or to help the poor and get to know them. Please see this for details.”

With that said, I give you an example of building a spy network that I prepared in advance.

“By becoming familiar with them, the information obtained is passed on to the Intelligence Department, which collects and analyzes the information. And if additional information or operations are needed, it will be operated by dispatching agents to handle the mission.”

Victor from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaks as if he is perplexed by my words.

“That… The position of an intelligence officer in charge of information collection overlaps too much with the work of a diplomat. Is such a thing really necessary?”

Diplomats are civil servants dispatched here for the purpose of establishing goodwill.

As a result, although they build friendships mainly with high-ranking people in the sending country, they are also subject to surveillance by the sending country.

Therefore, obtaining information is limited, so it is necessary to disguise yourself as a private person.

“Yes, I need it. As you know, diplomats are under strict surveillance in the sending country. So moving secretly is close to impossible. That’s why we have a separate position called Duke Officer.”

It is difficult for a diplomat to take on the task of establishing an intelligence network in a dark place as secretly as possible, and in particular, collecting information about demon worshipers requires working in an even darker place.

“In that case, the temporarily determined amounts, such as related training costs, necessary artifact costs, and work costs, etc., are listed on the back page.”

-Sreuk…

Astonishment begins to appear on the faces of the ministers who were flipping through the papers.

“Grand Duke… Your Majesty… there are too many!”

I stand up and say that.

“Half of the cost for this part will be borne by our Grand Duchy. So don’t say things like that.”

I don’t know if it’s because the Grand Duchy is supporting a project that requires an astronomical budget, but…

The atmosphere calms down a little.

“Grand Duke… No matter how much you say, I cannot easily believe that the Grand Duchy can pay this amount.”

Frank soon breaks the silence and speaks.

“Grand Duke I have been working at the Empire’s Treasury for over 20 years. We know roughly the amount of tax revenue and gold reserves collected from various parts of the empire. No matter how high the financial soundness of the Grand Duchy is, I think it would be impossible to bear this large amount.”

Frank’s words are sharper than I thought.

After all, since I’ve been working here for a long time, I can probably guess something about the Grand Duchy’s finances.

What he said was not wrong. Even I think it is impossible to cover that enormous cost with current tax revenues.

Frank. As expected, you are capable.

However, contrary to my internal praise, Frank takes off his glasses as if he is tired, rubs his eyes as if he is tired, then gently makes eye contact with me and says.

“It is probably impossible to pay such a huge cost, considering the gold held by the Grand Duchy and the annual tax revenue. Perhaps the Archduke would consider borrowing money from the United Kingdom, since that is his maternal ancestral home. But you will go bankrupt in 5 years, or even 10 years at the most.”

The atmosphere in the conference room calms down.

Everyone here is probably checking my mood.

Am I wondering how I will behave in the future when the minister I personally selected clearly tells me that it is impossible?

Or do you think I won’t let Frank live?

But I like competent people.

Especially if you have that kind of conviction.

“Minister of Finance. I really think I did the right thing in choosing you.”

I smile brightly and continue.

“What you say is truly true. I am amazed by that insight. It is a blessing for the empire to have loyal subjects like you. But yes. There is one thing I missed.”

I try hard to break the heavy silence in the room, but it doesn’t break.

Frank adjusted his glasses.

“What do you mean?”

“First of all, as you said, it would be impossible for me to borrow such a large amount from my maternal family.”

In fact, the cost of artifacts and training costs for establishing an intelligence department, the cost of building an intelligence network, and the cost of training agents and operatives require an astronomical budget.

I don’t think even my nephew would easily be able to lend me such a large amount of money.

“How do you mean it?”

“Well? There is no need to say it. Everyone will probably find out in a few months.”

Frank says, nodding his head at my words.

“Well, even after getting that money first, it is not easy considering the financial health of the empire. When reviewing the data you provided, I think we will probably have to reduce the budget for artifacts and the training of operatives and operatives.”

When Agrippa and I first made plans.

The budget plan was only 1/10th of what it is now.

However, I didn’t want to give up the great agents and officers, and the artifacts that would support them, so I added more and more, and the amount ended up being astronomical.

“No, you can’t do that. But I have a question? Isn’t there a problem in saying that the Grand Duchy pays half of the cost, but it is difficult for the Empire to pay even the princely states?”

I provoke Frank like that, but he just looks at me with calm eyes.

Now… what do you want to say?

When me and him are waging invisible psychological warfare.

“Debian Archduke. Words are too much.”

Theodora steps forward with a red face, as if she was provoked by my words.

“Empires are always rich. You said you would pay half. Surely the Ministry of Finance is not saying they can’t afford it?”

“Your Majesty… Your Majesty, it is not that kind of problem. The amount of money being spent on this is so large that other government projects may have to be stopped.”

Theodora, who was listening to Frank, continues.

“Then how about doing it this way? First of all, the Grand Duchy said it would be able to raise a large amount of money in a few months, so check that and have another meeting?”

Frank nods at those words.

“Let’s do that first. I’m personally curious too. I wonder what kind of magic the Grand Duchy used to be able to raise so much money.”

I answer those words with a smile.

“You’ll see.”