Chapter 339: 339

A tumultuous discussion continues in the office .

The cost for the construction of the fortress is too big . Wouldnt it be better if you built closer to the road instead of trying to do construction in such a difficult place?

Theres no meaning if we build it on the plains along the road . Setting it up along the steep cliff means we have a pivotal defense on the side .

I want to eat cherries .

Adolph and Leopolt, the ones in charge of politics and military respectively, are in the middle of a dispute with me also in the mix .

The goal is to find a good way to use the tax revenue . Well also be getting harvest tax in autumn so we have to deal with the grain, making things a little more troublesome than summer and winter .

I had to pay a fine because of Zilsepia too, so we need to cut back on our spendings .

Just because he has a fancy name, doesnt mean he has to do all of that unnecessary stuff .

The argument gets more heated .

Well in that case, the development in the south around Kisatto, dont you think thats a waste? That area hasnt officially been ceded by Vandolea . Also geographically speaking, the land will be ruined if a clash occurs and a war starts .

No, that region has been hit with disease and the community is falling apart . If they remain hungry without support, they will start flowing to the north and its possible that the fire pox which we finally got under control will expand again . Besides, the assimilation of the influx of refugees from the south will cost money too . If we neglect them, it will be the cause for a deterioration in public order .

Im sure small cherries are sweet and sour .

Detailed documents filled with numbers fly around and the debaters voices grow louder .

I hate numbers and meetings, but seriously participating in arguments like these once in a while is also the duty of a feudal lord .

We should sell off the harvested wheat and convert it into gold as quickly as possible . If we take the harvest in the northern region, it will also lower the market price, so wouldnt it be fine if we buy it again?

It may be possible that we need to take unforeseen military action . We should keep it on hand for half a year at the very least .

I would roll the shiny, juicy cherry on my tongue lots before swallowing it .

Leopolt and Adolph recognize each others ability .

However they prioritize different things so they butt heads quite often .

Meetings go smoothly because I regulate their opinions .

Celia joins the discussion .

I have an idea . We will decrease the allowance given to the women in the annex . With how many more girls there are, the total amount has really ballooned . Let us lower the treatment of female prisoners as well . They are only represent 10% of the total prisoners and are using half of the budget!

I have no objections to that .

Prisoners should be used to death in forced labor .

I will not accept that . All suggestions are rejected .

Occasionally being decisive is also a feudal lords job .

Gold, huh gold hm? I just remembered something .

Hey, didnt we get money from the King of the Federation? Wouldnt that help?

Oh right, we had that .

If you gave permission to open it, I would have included it in my calculations, but I thought you were deliberately not using it .

No, I simply forgot about it after tossing it in the treasure room .

If were using it, then lets use it right away . Gold is meant to be spent .

I enter the treasure storage with Celia and Adolph and search for the box with the money .

We have trouble finding it .

How strange . I thought it was around here

The box has an expensive look and should stand out so it shouldnt be this hard to recognize .

Its pretty dark here . It would be nice if there was a large window .

Well this is the treasure storage . Having any potential escape routes would cause problems .

I make idle chatter with Adolph and still come up with nothing .

Its not here . In that case, lets go with what we discussed in the meeting .

Celia and Adolph get upset at the same time .

Dont say that so quickly! If its not here, its a big deal!

It may be off the account records, but it is obviously important to note if there has been a theft! An immediate investigation is required!

I forgot about it for so long, it may have been misplaced somewhere .

Yesterday I had half a cake leftover and then it disappeared after I went to take a bath . Things happen .

That was because I at ahem! Err, anyways I know where we should start investigating .

Celia takes big strides and walks quickly through the corridor .

She barges into Nonnas room .

Come on, lets see it!

What is it, all of a sudden!?

I hear voices going back and forth .

Im talking about the thing you are keeping secretly!

Which do you I mean, I dont know what youre talking about!

More comments are exchanged .

Nonna is family . I dont mind if she takes anything, although I would have liked if she said something .

I never opened the door to the treasure room in the first place! Besides, the guard is like Leopolt-san and wouldnt let me!

So you tried to get in! As I thought, very suspicious!

In the end, Celia comes out with nothing .

I guess was wrong

Treating me like a thief! Waaah Aegir-sama, Celia-chan is so mean .

Nonna jumps into my chest and cries . Shes right that Celia is wrong for suspecting her so suddenly .

I ruffle her hair and change the style to look more comical .

Waah, my hair! Uuu there are more gold lamps in the room though . I dont think all of them can be bought with her allowance .

Nonna twitches in my arms . Her crying also stops .

Ill have to ask her about it later .

What should I do what should I do?

There was a flustered maid in the corridor .

Perfect timing, I was feeling hungry so Ill get something light to eat .

No use worrying about something you dont have . We can only focus on using the gold we have right now .

I take a look at the document which Celia neatly folded and put in my pocket .

Income

Harvest Tax: 20 000 gold (sold grain)

Mine Tax: 75 000 gold

Trade Tax: 35 000 gold

Total Income: 130 000 gold

Expenses

Mansion Maintenance: 7000 gold

Security Maintenance: 13 000 gold

Army Wages: 78 000 gold

Military Facilities and Other Miscellaneous Expenses: 12 000 gold

Domestic Development: 10 000 gold

Total Expenses: 120 000 gold

Net Income: +10 000 gold

I remember what was said in the meeting .

Our income from the Lintbloom mine would be hitting a plateau if we didnt find a new mineral deposit .

Trade is going smoothly within the nation, however the disease hit Malt hard, and there is a restriction on who can go in and out of Libatis, so trade overall has gone down .

Expenses have increased quite a bit .

The attack from Zilromance made us reinforce security on the mansion so our maintenance fee has increased substantially .

Mylas desire for the citys public order to improve is also reflected in the rise in expense .

Furthermore, our army has been strengthened in preparation for the rampaging Wilhelmina in the south and even defensive forts have been constructed .

Naturally we need to pay salaries and more maintenance costs .

The good news is that the epidemic didnt have a major impact on the harvesting of wheat .

Obviously harvesting wasnt done in the affected areas, although our main grain-producing regions within the territory did not particularly get affected .

Flood control has been making progress and our consistent fertilizer supply helped to ensure a steady harvest .

We have sold off a certain amount of harvested grain to keep ourselves in the black, but fully mobilizing the army will instantly drain our stocks .

In the worst case, I will have to borrow from Claire again .

Now that my work is done, its time to go play in the city .

The harvest festival just happens to be going on, so I wont be bored .

Master, everything going well?

Yes, thanks to you .

I drop by the Hard-boiled Pavilion branch store in Rafen .

The shopkeeper Andrei couldnt do business in the capital anymore because of his extreme fetish for little girls, so I helped get him a store in Rafen .

Hes an old friend, but more importantly his wife Natalie as well as the other girls with him would be too sad .

Its quiet in here .

All of Rafen is rowdy and energetic from the festivities .

Everyone has stopped working to participate in the merrymaking, with drinks and meat being distributed throughout the city .

Drunks are shouting loudly and some even get into brawls, but the guards dont bother to say anything for today .

The city is surrounded by the hustle and bustle, meanwhile time passes as usual in the Hard-boiled Pavilion .

I dont hate all the excitement, except it gets tiring doing it for so long .

Drinking peacefully and chatting with Andrei is pretty nice .

A lot of people have the same thought .

Despite the Hard-boiled Pavilion being relatively new, a decent number of customers have filled the seats in the store .

Business is booming, huh?

There arent many competing stores in Rafen . Thats why more customers gather .

I slide my empty glass to Andrei .

Do you still say Rafen is the countryside?

I ask with a playful smile .

Maybe not .

My glass slides back with alcohol poured in .

Is your fetish under control now? If you do the same thing in Rafen, Myla will arrest you .

Men have things they cant give up but there are times a man must sacrifice for his family .

Although he speaks in a hard-boiled manner, I essentially get that he is holding back on touching little girls .

I do see that Andreis left hand is shaking slightly .

Dont tell me hes having withdrawal symptoms .

Ill drink a little more and then go back to the mansion . Right when I was thinking that, I saw something unbelievable .

That was great, honey .

Yes, it felt wonderful .

A couple linking arms descends the stairs .

Clearly they just finished having sex .

Were not a love inn . However customers are customers . Theyll do what they want .

Andrei sounds like hes fed up, but thats not important .

While the man appears to a low-intelligence youngster, the issue is with the woman .

Peticheri!

I couldnt help shout out .

Dont call me that name!

Peticheri responds on reflex,

When she sees me, she seems visibly shaken .

Whats this about werent you going to become my woman!?

I dont remember making that promise .

My loud voice attracts the attention of those around me .

A lovers quarrel?

Hey now, dont kill the mood here .

Andrei also shuts his eyes and points to the door .

Hes saying to go outside to fight .

Well relax, Im not going to start anything here .

Hey man, you trying to take my girl

Shut up .

The guy falls on his ass when I give him a death glare .

I grab his shoulder and puff my muscles excessively to intimidate him .

Ill accompany her now . Any complaints?

N-no! Go ahead!

I thought he looked stupid, but he is quick to understand .

Lets go, Peticheri .

Haa understood .

I take Peticheris hand and exit the Hard-boiled Pavilion .

The guy remains seated on the floor and watches as Peticheri walks away, who doesnt even look back once .

Drink, young one .

Andrei offers a glass of alcohol to the man .

I signal to Andrei that Ill at least pay for the drink, and he nods in response .

Peticheri and I change location to a rather shady bar instead .

While dancers are showing off their indecent moves and the drunks are cheering, we sit side by side at the counter .

Im sad Peticheri . Who would have thought you would cheat with a guy who can think