Chapter 108: The Dapan Group

The child trafficker Norman Hewitt case caused quite a stir.

Since there were no juvenile law provisions in the imperial code, there was a tendency to leniently overlook things in secret.

By reducing the sentence a bit, for example.

But I shattered that custom in one go.

By handing down a heavy sentence to a mere seven-year-old child.

“It’s clearly an unprecedented trial, but when Your Grace does it, it makes sense.”

“That’s because the verdict was so justified. Honestly, if that guy grew up without any real punishment, he’d end up like Skyler Sierre.”

“Is it because of that example? It totally clicks.”

Not just ordinary citizens, but the legal community’s opinion was the same.

The atmosphere prevailed that kids aren’t completely ignorant.

Wasn’t it the six-year-old girl Helen who revealed the arson murderer Bassett’s crimes?

“Anyway, I wonder if this is okay.”

Separate from the groundbreaking verdict, the religious reform was proceeding smoothly.

The emperor had completely pulverized the Aramid Order.

He even dispatched the imperial guard knights to dig up all their past injustices.

Until now, the clergy could sell divine power as they pleased.

Like making long-term contracts with nobles, or ignoring the order and going first to those who paid more.

They’d been committing shameless acts.

Ignoring the people in crisis was basic.

“It was a bit excessive all along.”

Divine power isn’t some fish fillet, yet they charged market prices.

What do they take medical laws for?

Oh, right, those don’t exist here?

Until now, there were no laws regarding divine healing in the imperial code.

Making them belatedly would be meaningless.

Because the imperial code had the ‘principle of non-retroactivity.’

Thus, acts before the law’s enactment couldn’t be punished.

That’s why the emperor had pretended to be uninterested and played dumb until now.

He deliberately showed gaps to make the order let their guard down.

Then, when someone like Enrique Giovanni crossed the line far, he swiftly wielded the sword.

Now there’s justification.

After thoroughly shaking down the Aramid Order, he’d leisurely create something like medical laws.

Whether that happened or not, it had little to do with me.

“I’ve got to focus on my own business.”

Now it was time to execute what I’d been thinking about for a while.

Actually, up until now, it had been pretty much haphazard.

Well, of course, it was more systematic than any other business.

It just didn’t satisfy my standards.

Look at it now.

Even still, the butlers are acting as middle managers, aren’t they?

It’s time to create a company.

Of course, not the concept of a stock company.

No need to raise capital from outside.

My own assets were more than enough.

It’d be a kind of mom-and-pop store, but an insanely huge one.

Just lumping together the businesses I’d started so far would make the scale tremendous.

If it’s a mom-and-pop anyway, what’s the difference from now?

The employees’ mindset will change.

A lifetime of the same tasks, a workplace with no changes, was bound to breed laziness.

So I intended to introduce a system of stepwise delegation of authority for management.

With a company, the sense of belonging would grow stronger than now, and even pride would emerge.

People work harder when there’s a goal.

I spread out a large sheet of paper and started drawing an organizational chart.

Actually, it wasn’t that impressive a task.

Just neatly organizing the messy ranks.

From now on, I’d leave only about ten real butlers and send the rest to the company.

“What should I name it?”

Ideas that came to mind were Abel Group or Carius Group.

Putting the founder’s name in is the simplest way.

But that’d be too cliché.

So I decided on Dapan Group for the company name.

It meant selling everything in a dark fantasy.

It’s a bit lame, but people here won’t know what it means.

After completing the organizational chart, I called Butler Miller Xavier.

“Uh, Your Grace? What is all this?”

“I’m thinking of merging and operating my businesses from now on. Actually, there won’t be much difference from what we’ve been doing. Except ranks will be introduced, and there’ll be a separate headquarters.”

“That’s a huge change just with that? It seems like it’ll definitely motivate the employees.”

As expected, Vice President Xavier saw right through my intentions.

Well, I did give quite a few hints.

He couldn’t miss it after seeing such a massive organizational chart.

“From now on, Butler Xavier, you’re the vice president of Dapan Group. I’ll give you most of the authority, so lead the company well.”

“Your Grace!”

“I’d like to raise your title too, but as you know, I have to watch the higher-ups’ reactions.”

A duke had the right to appoint viscounts and below on their own.

But I hadn’t utilized that at all.

Why create issues to be nitpicked over?

Better to live as is than risk suspicions of treason.

“I’m grateful just for giving me such a high position.”

“Don’t mention it. Vice President Xavier, you’re the one I trust most.”

“I’m so overwhelmed I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“I’ll be counting on you going forward. Help me out a lot.”

“I’ll work until my body breaks!”

Miller Xavier, slumped on the floor, stared at the top of the organizational chart for a long time.

He seemed amazed that his name was written at the very top.

In this world, fallen quasi-barons were as common as dirt.

Basically, they only had basic education, no different from commoners in status.

Yet, to become the second-in-command of a massive commercial conglomerate like Dapan Group.

What greater success could there be?

“The salary will also be adjusted to match the vice president position. For now, about 200 goldens should be fine, right?”

“D-doubling it?”

“You deserve that much.”

“Oh! Thank you, Your Grace.”

Actually, Miller Xavier had been receiving quite a lot even until now.

Even if he went to another duke as butler, he wouldn’t get this treatment.

The world was so stingy with wages.

But now it had improved somewhat.

Unpaid wages had decreased quite a bit, and it was at a livable level for people.

“Ah, speaking of salary.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“For the time being, we’ll maintain it like this and raise it slowly.”

Actually, it had risen quite sharply so far.

Still, there was a reason we had to do it this way.

Because before, it was hell among hells.

If we didn’t do at least this, there’d be no change.

Anyway, the results were pretty good, right?

As talents flocked to Carius Duchy and Midias, other lords raised wages similarly.

But if it rose more here, it’d only create employment instability.

Vice President Miller Xavier nodded vigorously.

“I’ve been waiting for those words.”

As the one responsible for the mansion’s finances, he was very sensitive to labor cost increases.

Anyway, now there was nothing else to do separately.

The empire didn’t manage things like corporate registrations.

We just had to run it well among ourselves.

But Vice President Xavier, having gathered the organizational chart, didn’t leave the study.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have something to report.”

“Ah!”

“I suppose I won’t be doing this kind of thing anymore.”

“If it’s butler work, you need to step away now. You have to focus on Dapan Group. Anyway, what is it?”

“His Majesty the Emperor has summoned you to the palace.”

“……”

Why a summons at this timing of all times?

I wish he’d just get absorbed in beating up the order and forget about me a bit.

I let out a short sigh and nodded.

If he calls, I go. What can I do?

It wasn’t that long ago, but Emperor Karon’s face had changed quite a bit.

Not that he’d aged, but his expressions had become more varied.

Normally, he’d glare scarily with a blank face, but today he seemed somehow affable.

He was smiling, after all.

Though it felt quite rotten.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“What kind of imperial family member are you, only showing your face at the palace when called?”

Ah, of course, that didn’t mean his words were affable.

This guy enjoys beating people down with words by nature.

What to do in this case?

What choice is there?

Just prostrate and wait for the storm to pass.

“I’ve been too busy with work to find time. There have been so many headache-inducing trials…….”

“Heh heh heh! Yeah. That makes sense. Thanks to you, I’m having some fun.”

Yes.

You punished one cleric and took the chance to thoroughly thrash the order.

I inwardly sneered while diligently bowing my head.

Then, surprisingly, the emperor’s curt tone softened a bit.

“How have you been lately? Your business seems to be doing well.”

“What have I done? All of this is thanks to Your Majesty’s grace.”

“Kukuku! You’re a really amusing guy. Living with ambition in your heart, yet knowing how to hide it to the end.”

Ah, here it comes again.

His trademark.

Probing if I harbor rebellious intentions is now routine.

But this body has thickened its bones tremendously over time.

I immediately unfolded logic that couldn’t help but work.

“No way. Your Majesty! I’m too satisfied with my current life.”

“Oh?”

“Of course. Just managing the businesses I’ve built so far gives me headaches. How could I handle a massive country like the empire?”

“Hoo?”

“I’d refuse even if it was spoon-fed to me. Even if Your Majesty told me to sit on the emperor’s throne, I wouldn’t.”

“Puhuhuhu! Is that why you haven’t married yet?”

“Absolutely. I’m definitely going to date first.”

In this era’s marriage culture, political alliances were basic.

Connections between big houses increased the chances of maintaining power.

Just look at the child trafficker Norman Hewitt.

His maternal family’s power was so strong that ordinary judges couldn’t even think of touching him.

But I had no intention of a political marriage.

As long as she’s pretty and kind-hearted, that’s fine. How to find someone with a good family on top?

If I valued the latter more, I’d have to give up the former.

I just lived single because I didn’t like that, but it became a great excuse.

Even this politics max-level emperor seemed convinced.

Anyway, it seemed time to get to the main point.

“Enough with the pleasantries; let’s talk business.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“As expected, you anticipated it. Well, every time I call, I do assign something.”

“Just command. I will follow immediately.”

Of course, my inner voice was shouting the opposite.

Ah, stop using me already!

This old man assigns work without even giving quest rewards.

Wasn’t the Yates Marquisate tax issue like that?

All I got was the Weapon Mastery skill.

Ah, that was really good, though.

Anyway, it wasn’t a reward from the emperor.

Hiding my feelings and just bowing my head silently, the order finally came.

“You need to go to the Sordin Order in the northeast. They’re also a target for reform.”

I, who had been nodding silently, stopped dead.

Because I suddenly recalled where that order was.

Ah, this old man, really. That’s filthy far!

This time, I absolutely couldn’t accept it.

I felt like I had to say something.

Something had to fall to me for me to go that far.

But the emperor, watching me silently, opened his mouth.

“Is there nothing? There is. Of course.”

Surely not just sparing my life?

Hey, cousin, isn’t the joke too much!

As I heightened my tension with such thoughts, a dry voice followed.

“I’ll let you take one thing you want from the imperial treasure vault.”

Oh? This is tempting?