The Returned Sword King Decided to Become a Tyrant Chapter 78
trace (2)
“welcome.”
I’ve been coming to the Ministry of Finance a lot lately. I guess it’s inevitable since I’ve stepped into the internal affairs business.
And the face of Margrave Walter, the Minister of Finance, was pale again today.
“The pressure on the Treasury these days is just too much.”
“pressure?”
“Yes.”
Then he suddenly started to say that he was in trouble, and when I asked him why, he just rubbed his eyes and answered.
“His Majesty has allocated a budget for the domestic production of raw materials. However, other research departments in Matap that have not benefited from the increased budget are expressing dissatisfaction with this.”
It was an unnecessarily long explanation, but to summarize, it was as follows.
“They want money too.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Harvesting produced sweet fruit, but it inevitably required labor and investment. Fruits that had no marketability were left untouched.
But if the fruit rotted, it would only be a problem for the caretaker. And that was the problem that Marquis Walter was facing now.
Of course it wasn’t my fault.
“I remember you explaining that the lack of research funds up until now was Cromwell’s fault?”
Cromwell, who was appointed as the director of the research institute, embezzled more than half of the subsidy for various reasons, including espionage against the Federation Empire and personal luxury.
Even using disciples to mass produce fake projects.
It wasn’t revealed openly, but the amount was beyond imagination…
So now that the guy was gone, there was no need for a shortage of support funds. Of course, I was the one who killed that guy.
However, it seemed that it didn’t seem that way from other people’s perspectives.
“It seems the wizards are rebelling. If that’s the case, then why did you build the temple…?”
“Did they naturally think that the additional budget would be theirs?”
“……yes.”
It was understandable to be mistaken. With a budget three times that of the original, they were sure to get something for themselves.
But I just nodded indifferently.
“I told you it was impossible.”
“… … .”
“Or I’ll tell you myself. I’ll thoroughly check the previously paid estimates and collect them.”
“I will pass it on in the name of the Ministry of Finance.”
If it had been necessary, I would have ordered the increase first. After all, the Tower was an institution that would become Esteban’s strength.
But that was only for ‘one year if necessary’.
“Increasing research funding won’t necessarily lead to useful research. It’s not like progress will be made that much faster either.”
“That, that’s right… … .”
Research was ultimately a matter of manpower and time.
If investing money would bring immediate results, then that would be fine, but for now, killing Cromwell and restoring research funds to normal was enough.
In that sense, the reason I increased the budget for the tower was largely because I knew that it would proceed in a direction without trial and error. As soon as I spent the research funds, it was natural that I would see results.
Anyway, since Marquis Walter seemed troubled, I changed the subject.
“Have you received any communication from the upper echelons of the kingdom?”
“Yes, I will show you the report on that.”
“hmm.”
I accepted the report the Marquis handed me. Then I nodded with satisfaction as I confirmed its contents.
“As expected, the price of Mithril is high overall.”
“It seems that since the Age of Chaos, the reserves of the Mithril mines have all dried up… … .”
“Are you sure you’re running it well so that your tail doesn’t get stepped on?”
“Yes, we recover the proceeds through at least three washes.”
“I see.”
Even though only a small amount of Mithril has been released, they have already succeeded in securing a fairly large national treasury.
If we could fully reveal the existence of trade with the Holy Empire or the Mithril mines, we would be able to sell large quantities of Mithril at this price.
And in the end, it would be Esteban who would completely dominate that market.
“Replenish the manpower in the Galder Plains.”
“Are you planning to bring forward your plans for fortification?”
“Yeah. If you want to try different things, you’ll need some money.”
Even though it was the dwarves who built the walls, it was natural that if there were more workers to assist them, the dwarves’ efficiency would increase.
In that case, the fortification scheduled for two years could be shortened to one year and six months, or even more.
‘It depends on the guys’ skills. It probably won’t be bad.’
“All right.”
Marquis Walter, who nodded without objection, seemed to have decided to give me strength just like his father.
Considering the power he possessed and the role he played, this was a very desirable phenomenon.
“What do you plan to do about the affairs of the Holy Empire?”
“The Holy Empire… … .”
The question was whether they would start trading Mithril and food before the fortress was completed, or whether they would do so after securing safety and power.
Of course, it would be safe to say that the correct answer to that question was already set.
“Mithril is essential for making sacred relics. They must be anxious to reach an agreement anyway. Rather, they must be frustrated that no discussion has been held yet.”
“You want them to bring up the subject of negotiation first.”
“okay.”
I shrugged and continued.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“I’ve already told them about Esteban’s situation. But what will happen if they hear news of the Federal Empire’s trade sanctions?”
“that…….”
Marquis Walter paused for a moment, lost in thought. Then, when his eyes lit up with conviction, a voice mixed with admiration flowed out.
“They will rush to implement the agreement, saying, ‘That’s right.’ Let’s immediately publicize the contents of the exchange between the two countries.”
“Then we can see additional benefits from it.”
Is that what you call a secret meeting? In any case, it was the word that best suited the current situation.
As I continued speaking like that, my eyes widened slightly.
“Until then, we harvest other things first.”
“All right.”
Marquis Walter’s eyes sparkled as he confirmed all the details.
* * *
When I returned to my office, the letters that had been cluttering the floor had already been neatly organized.
And that wasn’t the end of it. There wasn’t a speck of dust left on the floor, and the windows looked as if they had just been replaced.
Soon, as I was looking around the office, my gaze turned to George.
“The magician has come and gone.”
“I got caught right away.”
The obvious… … .
There was no way I could ignore the thick scent of magic I could feel from within.
Perhaps it was also with Matapju’s help that he was able to get rid of all those letters. After all, George was one of the benefactors to Matapju who had also worked to normalize Matap.
“He was not at his seat, so I asked him to tell him that I was going to train the little boy. He said he would come back later.”
“That is truly blind loyalty.”
I sat down with a smirk. On my desk in the office was a letter that was believed to have been left behind by Matopju.
Let’s take a quick look at the introduction, and you’ll see a list of familiar words.
‘Traces of ancient magic?’
… … I see. Have you already figured out the information you read from the canyon?
As I read the letter, my expression turned into a smile of interest.
[… … So, I have sensed that the storm factor that Your Majesty has confirmed is similar to the energy felt from the great magic of the Magic Tower. And the artifact Your Majesty possesses is also the same.]
[It was a trace of magic that had been passed down from ancient times. Also, as the time of the storm’s appearance suggests, it was relatively recent.]
[… … So, to conclude, it seems that the ancient magics that were once extinct still remain in the world.]
‘I see, that’s true.’
The existence of ancient magic.
It was a long-winded and exaggerated inference that one would not have thought a mere wizard would have guessed, but it was still close to the truth.
… … Yes. It was only a ‘close’ inference, but at least it is not a story that matters to me.
‘Ancient magic… … .’
I guess it wouldn’t be so bad.
As for the factors that will make Esteban rich.
I put down the letter with satisfaction, recalling the events before my return. At the very bottom of the letter, the last words the Archmage had left behind were briefly visible.
[And I think I can interpret this.]
* * *
these days.
Baron Vidor was in a good mood.
What aide would feel bad when his superior is being courted from all sides?
However, he even sent along the small letters that he should have organized himself. It was also a timid revenge against the First Prince who had forced him, who was only a baron, into an excessive position.
So even though he was busy with work, the Baron’s smile showed no sign of fading.
dripping-
“I will go in, Your Majesty.”
The Baron, who had been knocking on the door of the office, tilted his head because he heard no voices from inside.
dripping-
“Ahem… Your Majesty? May I come in?”
I knocked again, but it was the same.
The sunlight streaming into the royal corridors indicated that it was now high time for the First Prince to be in his study.
“The announcement of the results is coming up… … Where did you go for a moment… … .”
hmm?
Suddenly, the Baron felt a sense of foreboding that something like this had happened before.
When was it? It was a very long time ago, but judging from what I remembered in my heart, it must have been an impressive scene.
… … Yeah. For example.
Bam-!
“majesty!”
The Baron opened the door to the office in a hurry, then clutched his forehead when he realized there was no one inside.
It really was like that time.
But there was still a possibility. A slight possibility that the Prince had left for a moment, just a moment.
It was around the time when he checked the note left on his desk that the baron began to despair.
“This, this is… … !”
A crooked and ugly font.
Clearly, it belongs to George. Not the prince, but George’s.
But the content was surprisingly similar to that time.
-I’ll be back in a bit.
The Baron sat down in his seat, feeling extremely dizzy.
Yes, this scene was familiar to him. That was when the First Prince had pushed himself into the Federal Empire’s delegation.
The Baron cried out, waving his hands in the air.
“Your Majesty must make an announcement regarding the achievements of the Magic Tower soon… …!”
Between the arms of the wailing baron, the script he had painstakingly prepared poured out.
