Chapter 8: The Erseth Mine Wage Arrears

A sudden notice was posted on a bulletin board on the outskirts of the capital.

It was about recruiting people for work.

But the conditions were a bit peculiar.

“Moving to the Carius Duchy? Why on earth do we have to do that?”

“It means they’re going to lock us up and make us work. What if we follow and end up as slaves?”

“The part about giving 4 silons a month sounds suspicious too.”

People who first encountered the notice were extremely critical.

It was because those who could read clucked their tongues first and spread the word.

But even if they understood the content accurately, nothing would change.

How many times had people gone to work in distant places only to meet misfortune?

Miners, in particular, were mostly like that.

If a tunnel collapsed and they died, their mouths would be completely wiped clean.

As if they had never brought the workers in the first place.

But soon, opposing public opinion arose.

“What are you all saying right now? Look who posted this.”

“Huh? It’s Duke Carius?”

“Would the one who made famous judgments commit fraud?”

“That’s right! Rather than lingering halfway, he must have judged that relocation is better.”

“Who dares to insult His Grace the Duke by spouting nonsense about slaves?”

The one leading the outrage was none other than Paul.

He had cleared his grievance and received all his back wages at once.

On top of that, wasn’t the court giving some kind of consolation money?

It was said to come from the fine imposed on Baron Parbiant.

After that, Paul had no choice but to become Abel’s fervent follower.

“I’ll be the first to apply.”

Paul, heading straight to the Carius Duchy.

Some laborers followed him.

Every one of them had received back wages thanks to Abel.

However, the majority did not believe the notice.

A few famous judgments couldn’t change deep-rooted distrust.

***

“Still, quite a few gathered. Honestly, I thought hardly any would come.”

Steward Miller Xavierre looked at the open space with a surprised expression.

There, roughly 200 people stood.

Of course, half were young children, but it was still a considerable number.

We can’t build walls yet. We should start small at first.

To prevent sabotage, solid defense was basic.

Moreover, with few people, other things had to be well-equipped accordingly.

Our house has only honor left. Military power is minimal.

That said, no one could look down on House Carius lightly.

There was the war machine called the berserker of the north.

Moreover, outwardly, he was receiving the emperor’s favor.

Having granted such large land, the bond between cousins would seem strong.

Unless utterly mad, no one would dare intrude recklessly.

“I’ve assigned the personnel as instructed, Your Grace.”

“Good. Let’s start by building the structures.”

“For the time being, they’ll stay in tents.”

“Please take good care of them, Steward Xavierre. Ah, how about the new management staff you were recruiting?”

“I’ve placed them in the mansion for now, and I plan to handle the handover as I come and go.”

“That’s good. Then, take care.”

“Safe travels, Your Grace.”

Leaving behind the brightly smiling Steward Miller Xavierre, I boarded the carriage.

From now on, the factory and village would be built as I demanded.

There was no need to worry about the details.

The subordinates would handle it themselves.

There was something else to focus on.

I need to figure out this commuting somehow.

This damn country gave the supreme judge too much work.

In Korea, it would be like the Minister of Justice.

The reason for this was that there were too few judges.

The emperor only appointed those he truly trusted.

In such a situation, I couldn’t just quit because I didn’t like it.

“Are there really no talented people?”

There was a reason for that.

Unless from a remarkably great family, one couldn’t remain indifferent to external pressure.

In that sense, I was the perfect judge.

Who on earth would challenge the authority of Duke Carius?

“We’ve arrived, Your Grace.”

“Good work.”

I waved my hand flutteringly toward the flinching coachman.

It meant I’d get down myself, so don’t do anything foolish.

The power of the nobility was immensely strong, and their vanity surpassed imagination.

Using an attendant’s back when boarding or alighting a carriage was commonplace.

But to me, a modern person, it was extremely strange.

Stepping on a person to get on and off a carriage—why do such a crazy thing?

It’s not even that high.

When I refused the footstool, the coachman’s expression crumpled.

He must have never seen such an unpretentious royal before.

I felt admiring gazes from behind.

A needless sense of pride welled up, but I shook my head.

What am I?

Since coming here, there had been many moments when my mind grew complicated.

• Interest

A strong class system and a culture that disregarded human life.

The lives of commoners were clearly dark fantasy.

It was a stroke of luck that I possessed a high-ranking figure.

Otherwise, I would have suffered terribly from the start.

Don’t think too hard; just do what I can. Then the world will be a bit better.

Fair judgments, improving treatment of servants, creating quality jobs, and so on.

It was absolutely not done out of some grand philosophy.

I just moved as my heart led.

I intended to continue doing so.

Who would complain about using the given money and power as I pleased?

While lost in miscellaneous thoughts, I was entering the courtroom.

“We will now begin the trial for the Erseth Mine wage arrears case. Salute to the presiding judge.”

Bow bow bow bow!

As always, everyone bowed their heads toward me.

The moment I tried to sit with a blank expression, a strange feeling arose.

I think I heard a really irritating word?

Flipping through the documents on the podium, I could grasp the reason.

“Wage arrears, you again?”

“Yes?”

Joseph reacted immediately to my mutter.

Anyway, there was no need to listen to that sycophant’s words, so I lightly ignored him.

That aside.

Why don’t they review in advance? I only find out what the case is when I come to the courtroom.

It was absurd.

How could one make proper judgments without knowing how things worked?

I threw a question to Judge Kolund Emir sitting on the left.

Soon, an answer popped out.

“It’s to eliminate preconceptions and external interference. If one knows about the case in advance, the judge’s mind might waver.”

What kind of barking nonsense is this?

It was utterly incomprehensible.

But soon, I had to nod.

Because Judge Emir showed the relevant law article.

“So judgments are made on the same day too?”

“Not necessarily, but they should be as quick as possible. Extending the trial date last time was quite rare.”

The code was all vague and nice, but absurdly clear here.

I furrowed my brow.

Because I noticed a serious issue that could affect judgment.

This way, everything depends on the prosecutor’s intent and ability?

Look at last time.

Didn’t the prosecutor from the Sierre noble faction try to pin it on the wage laborer Paul?

If not for my sharp intuition, it would have ended as ordinary injury.

Paul would have gotten no money and suffered forced labor for years.

Naturally, this case was no different.

As expected, the prosecutor claimed extortion by the victims’ families.

“These individuals fled right after receiving wages while working at the mine. Ten people vanished overnight.”

“I see it says they won’t pursue false accusation charges. Are you just claiming innocence?”

“They say they won’t claim damages from the workers’ flight.”

At first glance, it seemed the Erseth Mine owner was extremely generous.

But I didn’t think so.

Of course not. Even hearing bits here and there, that’s obvious.

Disappearances of mine workers were frequent.

If a tunnel collapsed, they treated them as if they never existed.

How could one find people buried deep underground?

Moreover, having assessed the ground was weak, they wouldn’t dig there again.

It was perfect evidence destruction.

But there’s not absolutely no way to prove it.

Just secure evidence that the mine owner lied.

Like finding out Baron Parbiant’s arm was fine.

Or secure witnesses.

Of course, the prosecutor had to move for a proper reinvestigation.

“Judge Kolund Emir.”

“Yes, Presiding Judge. Speak.”

“What’s that prosecutor’s reputation like?”

“Why do you suddenly ask that?”

“Just curious. Is he from the Sierre noble faction?”

“No. Prosecutor Kals Avery is from the Giovanni side. He joined recently, I hear.”

A name I’d heard somewhere.

A faction that, along with Sierre, could be called the empire’s two great mountains.

Is the problem these noble factions?

I couldn’t understand why the emperor left them alone.

With his charisma, he could sweep them all away and have plenty left.

But then, a sudden thought occurred.

Ah! What if he put me in this position for that reason from the start?

Abel Carius was a man called the berserker of the north.

A royal with immense martial power and authority.

The perfect sword.

Someone who wouldn’t yield to any external pressure.

Unfazed even after the ambush incident.

So that’s why he hastily gave me that chicken-rib land?

Giving a place without even a name decided yet.

I think I know the emperor’s scheme.

Then, I should dance the madman’s sword dance as he wants.

By making correct judgments, I please the emperor too?

Why refuse such a two-birds-one-stone?

“Today, I uphold justice again.”

“Yes?”

Joseph’s voice came from the right, but I lightly ignored him again.

Then, I abruptly stood from my seat.

Soon, the prosecutor’s sentencing demand followed.

“Since it occurred due to the workers’ flight, please declare innocence.”

“Hey, Prosecutor.”

“Yes, Presiding Judge.”

“In all my life, this is the first time I’ve seen a prosecutor claim innocence in court. Isn’t your role to reveal guilt?”

“We conducted sufficient investigation but found no evidence.”

“Then you shouldn’t have prosecuted in the first place.”

“That is…….”

Prosecutor Avery trailed off.

What happened was roughly clear from the situation.

Probably bribed by the Giovanni noble faction.

They couldn’t withdraw a case already submitted to the court for appearances.

So the prosecutor ended up in the funny situation of claiming innocence.

Naturally, evidence would have been completely destroyed.

But there wasn’t absolutely no way to uncover it.

Just charge in quickly and straightforwardly.

I looked around the assembly with a solemn expression and said.

“This case has too many suspicious points. So I intend to verify properly. By the court’s authority, we begin reinvestigation of Erseth Mine.”

“Then it will take too much time. The principle of swift trial will be broken.”

Starting over would naturally prolong things.

That Prosecutor Kals Avery wouldn’t cooperate either.

Everyone in the assembly was shaking their heads.

They seemed to think it was forced.

But at my following declaration, everyone gaped.

“Why would it take time? I’ll conduct the reinvestigation myself.”

“Yes? Wh-when did you say?”

“Right now.”