episode_0129

When you feel the sun setting before you know it.

-smart.

“Who?”

[His Highness the Archduke, Minister Karl has visited.]

ah? Come to think of it, I had something to talk about with Carol.

I was so busy looking at maps and planning supply plans that I forgot.

“Tell them to come in quickly.”

-Quick!

He must be angry, so he calls out to Carol, who has a bad expression, and Lucius behind him.

“Ah! Lucius, you have something to say, so come in.”

At my words, Lucius enters the office and carefully closes the door.

“Your Majesty the Archduke! Aren’t you doing too much?!”

-bang!

“Why are you so angry?”

I pretend not to notice Carol’s anger.

“They say they don’t have enough people to entertain the Golden Knights who are currently in prison. You want to lead angry citizens in a peaceful march through the streets?! If you do something wrong, there might be a bloody situation with the guards! Does it make sense to ask someone to do such a dangerous job?”

“Wow! Calm down, Carl.”

I tell you to calm down…

“Does it look authentic? You have to ask for something that is moderately difficult so you can follow it!”

I complain about those words.

“But if you just leave the people of the empire angry, you never know where the sparks will fly, right? So what we’re saying is, let’s create a protest and handle it so that it remains peaceful.”

What I’m most afraid of right now, in this situation, is that angry Roman citizens are flocking to the imperial palace.

If something like that happens… it’s truly dizzying.

So the goal of the method I came up with was to find a way to express their anger, have them march through the streets peacefully, and appease their anger by providing them with food in moderation.

“You could make a food wagon and give it a little festival-like feel.”

To catch a spy on Ioanes’ side who was in contact with an anti-state organization belonging to the Intelligence Department.

-Tap!

Carol is pounding her chest in frustration.

“Do you say such carefree things, knowing what on earth the angry people will do?”

I say those words with a serious face.

“What happens if the fire of angry people is properly ignited? I know it all too well. Because I know, I have to control it.”

Can’t we understand this just by looking at the communist revolution or the French Revolution in the world I lived in?

There is nothing I want to avoid more than the public rising up in anger over the current situation.

Of course, the Grand Duchy soldiers stationed in Roman are not from their hometown, so if you tell them to suppress it violently, they will suppress it…

Later, after the war ends, it becomes difficult to clean up after the war.

So, if it looks like it’s going to be violent, the organizers will either disperse it, or if it looks like it’s going to turn violent, I’ll give them the task of calming it down.

One of them is the food wagon.

If you protest at night and drink hot soup, it will calm down a bit.

“We still don’t have the manpower right now. How absurd of an order is this to go to jail during the day and wipe the knights’ butts, and organize anti-imperial demonstrations at night?”

At those words, I pick my ears with my little finger and say.

“That’s good. They tell me to work hard for the government during the day and hold anti-state demonstrations at night to let go of the anger that has built up while working for the state.”

-bang!

“Are you kidding me?”

I wonder if Carol took my joke seriously. As he gives off a sinister aura, as if he is going to pull out his sword and stab his head right now, I take out a piece of paper from a drawer and speak urgently.

“Of course it’s a joke. Karl, come here and take a look at this. It’s almost July, right? This is the budget to be allocated to the Information Department this quarter.”

Carol, filled with anger, took the document with one hand and…

“I… really? This much?”

“It’s obvious that you’re going through so much trouble, so why didn’t I prepare anything?”

Looking at Carol with a confused face, I continue speaking.

“Yes, and in addition, after this war is over, next year, we will pay this much so that the employees can travel throughout the empire. When this war is over, I will pay you this much… as a bonus.”

When I showed her the numbers written on the paper, Carol’s eyes grew incredibly wide.

“I… really?”

In fact, the numbers shown to Carol were when the Intelligence Department was first created.

In the early days, most of Agrippa’s budget was earmarked for labor costs.

After that, the budget was planned to be invested intensively starting from the second and third quarters.

Let’s make it for the first time. Most of the time, labor costs and training costs are for new hires.

After that, there are a lot of costs for building a base and intelligence network, and after that, there are artifact costs and activity costs.

In fact, it was budgeted according to Agrippa’s plan, but Charles, who did not have the authority to see this, would feel that the allocated budget had grown enormously.

In fact, traveling to the empire… is just the cost of setting up a spy network throughout the empire.

“Kuhm… I will try to comfort my kids. With a budget like this…”

The entire budget is for setting up a spy network throughout the empire, but Carol, who doesn’t know that, seems to be in a good mood.

“Thank goodness. Then, gather the angry crowd and release some stress. If necessary, try forming a political party.”

If you form a party and become active, you will listen to what the party leader says.

When I spoke with that thought in mind, Carol nodded.

“That’s good. What about the Equality Party?”

I nod my head at those words.

“Make anything. But there must never be any bloodshed. If necessary, consult with Minister Gaston, you know what I mean? Playing with fire means you shouldn’t start a fire.”

It must never lead to bloodshed or violence.

Roughly speaking, the most important thing is to have a protest like this and show Ioanes that I am having a hard time.

Carol nods her head at my words.

“Mm haha! Don’t worry about that. haha! Next year, I will go to the beach in Catalia for my vacation.”

I sigh as I see Carol leaving with a bright smile.

“I took a breather with this. Lucius, Ifa and maids who are close to the imperial family. Maids who can enter the Gold Area. Lift all other bans on going out and lift bans on all maids who are not allowed in the imperial palace.”

So far, high-ranking servants who meet imperial personnel have been prevented from going out.

Not only were they prevented from going out, but servants who had gone out were also prevented from entering the imperial palace.

As for the reason…

This was the work of Victor, who knew that the fact that I had handed over Egypt and Epirus to Ioannes should not be heard by the imperial family.

This is why I like Victor.

I was prepared for Theodora to say something strange to William for no reason.

At first, the members of the imperial family were puzzled because they could not see their close servants, but since they were close servants, he made an excuse that he was going to the training center for a while to prepare for emergencies.

But… there’s no reason to do that anymore.

William is now in prison and has no need to meet Theodora until he participates in battle. There won’t be any problem if she finds out that I handed over Ezip and Epirus.

“Yes. I understand.”

While saying that, he puts a cigar in his mouth.

“Really… it sucks.”

***

After making a deal with Devian, Karl heads to Roman’s prison.

Carol feels good as she looks at the prison, which has a high watchtower and a thick exterior wall that can be mistaken for a fortress.

I can’t believe that among the expenses set by the Grand Duke in the budget, the cost of activities is set so high.

He feels good because this makes his subordinates look at him with respect.

When you think like that.

The carriage passes through the iron gates of the prison and enters the interior.

Originally, it was supposed to be guarded by heavily armed guards, but now not only intelligence agents but also office workers are mobilized to guard the prison.

Well… it’s not like they’re escaping prison.

I ordered them to be lightly armed in the hope that the intelligence agents would feel at least a little more comfortable.

Eventually, the carriage stops, and Carol gets off the carriage and enters the prison.

I can feel the stinging glares of government officials from the Ministry of Intelligence… but what can I do? If we hold out now, we will be allocated a budget so large that it will only take a flowery path next quarter, or even next year.

Sadly, Carol has no doubt that their stinging glares will turn into respectful ones.

Poor Carol, who doesn’t know the future.

Anyway, after entering the prison, Carol heads to the room used by the guard in charge of the prison.

-smart.

[someone?]

A solemn voice comes from inside and Carol answers.

“My name is Karl, the Minister of Information.”

There is no way the guard captain would be higher than the minister, Carol, but as he answered with cautious words, an answer came from inside.

[Please come in.]

Carol entered in a cold sweat while hearing a solemn voice, and inside was William sitting on the sofa, smoking a cigar.

“What is this situation now? Since when did the empire give prisoners such luxurious treatment?”

Carol enters in a cold sweat hearing William’s angry voice.

“Well… In fact, all of this is the Archduke’s plan.”

William takes a puff from his cigar and exhales smoke.

“Ha… what is that?”

“That… actually…”

So let’s convey Debian’s plan…

William makes a confused face.

“Hehe… Is this a desperate solution?”

“Yes. you’re right. In the meantime, this is an order to provide generous support to Sir William and the Golden Knights.”

At those words, William puts his cigarette in the ashtray and says:

“We don’t need things like expensive food, good beds, and good clothes.”

William, who was staring at Carol like that, said with his eyes shining.

“If we ask for our armor and weapons back, will you give them back?”

Carol answers those words.

“It’s natural. The order has already been given and they are coming here. However, due to the weight and quantity, it may take some time to move it, but you will receive it within five days.”

William laughs at Carol’s words.

“Haha… Both the Archduke and you are thorough…”