Chapter 159: Treasures from the Lake

Early the next morning.

I headed to the Crawford National Hall.

I had not yet decided exactly how to proceed, but I still needed to get a grasp on the work.

This place was a national institution that covered administration, judiciary, and legislation all in one.

In other words, it performed the same role as the governor-general’s office in Delriat.

The country was small, so it seemed quite convenient in that regard.

It makes overhauling everything a lot easier.

Of course, the problems in the Crawford Principality were not limited to politics and resource redistribution.

Because of the mountainous terrain, it suffered from chronic food shortages, and overcoming that would be extremely difficult.

If relations with neighboring countries soured even slightly, the people could end up starving to death.

“It is a headache in many ways.”

Lost in various thoughts as I made my way to the National Hall, a group came out to greet me.

“Good morning, Chancellor, Your Excellency.”

“Nice to meet you. But who are you?”

“I greeted you at the banquet hall, but it seems you do not remember. You met so many people that it is only natural. Haha!”

A cheerful black-haired man in his twenties smiled innocently.

Wearing a white shirt and a neat vest, he somehow gave off the impression of a bartender.

No, so who are you?

He seemed to be the type who talked a lot of unnecessary things.

The style where he skipped the core content and only spoke about himself.

In times like this, it was best to just get straight to the point.

“I am sorry, but could you tell me your name?”

“Ah, yes. I am Junior Baronet Dewey Marcel.”

“I see. I suppose there is no need for me to introduce myself?”

“Of course not. There is no one in the Crawford Principality who does not know Duke Carius. Please come this way.”

“Thank you.”

I followed Dewey Marcel.

As I walked down the internal corridor of the National Hall, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

But why is the chancellor’s aide only a junior baronet?

The status treatment between the empire and surrounding small countries differed slightly.

For example, a viscount in the Crawford Principality would be equivalent to a baron in the empire.

There was roughly a one-rank difference.

Here it was junior baronet?

By empire standards, he was practically no different from a commoner.

“Marcel Aide.”

“Yes, Chancellor, Your Excellency.”

“Could I ask when you were appointed to this position?”

“I received the assignment just this time.”

“Ah, I see.”

I roughly understood.

They had attached someone who knew nothing in order to cloud my judgment.

Whoever had sent Dewey Marcel, I could feel a subtle cunning.

As for me, it does not matter who the aide is.

No matter what they did, they could not block my eyes and ears.

Feltron was mobilizing crows and bats to collect every kind of information.

I just needed to carry out the reforms step by step.

“This is the office, Your Excellency.”

“Thank you for guiding me. Since I need to grasp the work, could you bring me the related documents?”

“Excuse me? Already?”

“I like to work hard and then rest for a long time. Please bring them right away.”

“Ah, understood.”

Dewey Marcel retreated hesitantly with a complicated expression.

I did not know exactly why he reacted like that, but one thing was certain.

He does not like me much.

Was it because I put him to work as soon as I arrived?

I shrugged and looked around, but things that felt very out of place caught my eye.

“Is this a place to work or to play?”

A normal office should have had a desk, bookshelves, sofa, and such.

But this place was filled with grand statues and lavishly decorated furniture.

Moreover, they had somehow prepared various board games.

Clunk!

When I casually opened the inner door, it was even worse.

In one corner, a display cabinet was lined with liquor bottles, and a large bed had been prepared.

He probably had a nice drink and slept soundly before leaving work.

I could vividly picture what the previous chancellor had been doing for fun.

How could there not even be a single map in the chancellor’s office?

“No wonder the country is on the decline. Or rather, it has already tilted so much that a guy like this became chancellor?”

Whatever the case, it was clear that everything needed to be completely overhauled.

I sat in the ornate chair gilded with gold leaf and waited. Soon Aide Marcel returned.

“These are reports from lower departments and matters requiring approval, Your Excellency.”

“Place them here.”

“Yes.”

Dewey Marcel grunted as he moved the documents.

Wondering how heavy they could be, I turned my gaze and let out a hollow sigh.

What era is this that they still use parchment?

It seemed paper had not been properly distributed yet.

It was a bit strange.

Count Schultz, who had built a villa here, could not possibly be unaware of this fact.

There must be some reason why paper cannot be introduced.

There had been such a case in the empire too.

Count Coplin of the Giovanni noble faction was a good example.

He had tried to interfere with the paper business and almost got hit by the backlash instead.

If I had not gone easy on him, that gentleman’s family would have walked the path of downfall.

Anyway, now that I held power, introducing paper could be done gradually.

Quantity was not an issue either.

Because I was the owner of the Dapan Group.

“Let me see. Which matter is the most urgent?”

I activated my Korean uncle trait and quickly flipped through the documents.

Because they were parchment, they were only ridiculously thick; the content itself was nothing special.

Sending a delegate to the western nation alliance—who would be good to go?

How to handle the problem of the poor who kept crossing into designated zones.

Roughly things like that.

There are no fundamental issues.

Sending a delegate did not really matter.

They did not have to import food only from there, or if there were items usable as weapons, that was fine.

If they cut off food exports for political reasons?

Then we would not send anything either.

That kind of response was possible.

Of course, being able to produce food domestically would be best.

“It will not be easy.”

There could not have been no wise people among those who had lived on this land.

There had probably been countless attempts.

Making a living was the most important issue after all.

If the food situation improves, the slum problem will resolve naturally.

It was an issue with no sharp solution for now.

I pushed the documents aside and opened the system.

“What is the point of clinging to things that cannot be done? I should start with what can be done.”

So what was that?

I was going to cut out the bureaucrats who were just occupying seats and loafing around.

When the boss changed, a blood wind was supposed to blow, after all.

Law Officer: Benny Mitchell (asleep)

<Crawford National Hall Staff Management>

Finance Officer: Tret Duffy (eating and drinking)

Senate Chairman: Brahan Soltri (in meeting)

Senator: Stephen Keho (in meeting)

Because there was the chancellor position, there was no separate administrator.

Still, the overall bureaucratic format was similar to Delriat.

The unique part was the existence of a separate legislative body.

The Senate is a bit annoying.

When carrying out any matter, justification was quite important.

Politics and administration were based on law.

If the Senate held the legislative power tightly, carrying out reforms would be difficult.

They could create special laws to obstruct.

“The senators cannot be dismissed arbitrarily even by the prince, so they only seat people they can especially trust, right?”

To completely take control of the national affairs, it seemed I would have to start by dealing with the Senate.

But looking at the staff management window, it was truly ridiculous.

The bureaucrats were all either sprawled out sleeping or drinking.

Surprisingly, the only place running properly was the Senate.

“Sigh! This is why idiots should not occupy positions.”

I grumbled to myself and stood up from my seat.

Staying holed up in the office would not solve anything.

I needed to tour the National Hall myself and organize my thoughts.

Then suddenly an odd sound reached me.

Tap tap! Tap tap tap!

When I turned my head, something pure white was knocking on the window.

Its identity was Feltron.

—Boss! Big news! Big news!

Clunk!

I quickly let him in and asked with a face full of expectation.

“What is it?”

—The senior is playing on the mountain slope!

“Hm?”

—It is true! He is just lying there rolling around! This is definitely something that needs scolding, right?

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

I had told him to monitor the key figures, yet he had apparently attached a subordinate to Shugl unnecessarily.

I slapped my forehead and squeezed my eyes shut.

It seemed this guy needed a good beating to come to his senses.

“I sent him. To check if there is something on the mountain.”

—Ah, was that it?

“If the news you brought is only that, you had better prepare yourself.”

There is more!

“Let me hear it.”

—I got everything the old senators were whispering about.

Feltron twitched his wings.

He probably wanted to look cool, but it was an adorably small gesture.

Then a crow perched on the windowsill and began mimicking voices like last time.

One person playing two roles.

“Caw! You say you have a clever plan to bring that guy down? Interesting. Please continue, Senator Keho.”

“Caw! You know, the thing buried in the lake? If we secretly move it to the villa……”

Oh? This was quite useful information.

I would have to overlook the nonsense he spouted first upon arriving.

I smiled meaningfully and immersed myself in the crow’s story.

After listening for a while, I felt like I knew where to start digging.

The Senate of the Crawford Principality.

The conference room here was unusually noisy for the first time in a while.

The reason was that senators who normally did not even come to work had flocked in droves.

Senate Chairman Brahan Soltri was a gentleman with a dignified appearance.

A face that must have made quite a few women cry in his youth, with neatly combed white hair.

Combined with a stylish tunic and fur coat, it created a mysterious atmosphere.

“How did the operation go?”

When he spoke, one senator immediately stood up.

It was Stephen Keho, the loyal subordinate of Senate Chairman Brahan Soltri.

“I sent a few agents under my personal command. They will probably move the items to that man’s villa tonight.”

“Heh heh! I see. Who will handle the next plan?”

When he asked with a sly smile, someone sauntered to their feet.

It was the law officer who had been sleeping the entire work hours, Benny Mitchell.

A bear-like build and a scar across his face.

Anyone would inevitably feel tremendous pressure.

“I plan to burst in without warning. He may have made a name for himself in the empire, but he is still just a youngster. The moment he faces me, it is over.”

“You are indeed reliable.”

With this, all preparations were complete.

The money hidden in the lake was part of the Crawford Principality’s budget.

It would be disguised as something the Seri who had contacted Duke Carius in advance had secretly siphoned off.

That person would be easily released in exchange for a testimony of goodwill.

The chancellor position would become vacant again.

Prince Peilly III’s plan to invite an outside expert to change the country would turn to foam.

Everything had fit perfectly up to this point.

Until a bureaucrat from the Crawford National Hall came running in a panic.

Bang!

“Huff! Huff!”

“We are in the middle of a Senate meeting! Who are you?!”

“Ch-Chairman!”

“If it is urgent, report it quickly; otherwise get out!”

“Chancellor, Your Excellency has fished up an immense amount of gold and silver treasures!”

“……Where from?”

“They say he fished them while fishing in the lake?”

It seemed something had gone terribly wrong.

Everyone stared at one another with dazed expressions.

Then Senate Chairman Brahan Soltri was the first to kick his chair and stand.

“L-let us go see for now.”

The senators followed in a fluster, not even knowing what kind of future awaited them ahead.