Chapter 49: The Flour Thief

Count Schultz had taken the first batch, but none of it reached the market.

He’d paid a steep price, so naturally, he’d want equivalent profit.

He’ll probably release it in his main stage, the south.

Whatever way he did business, it didn’t concern me.

Production would only increase over time, anyway.

With Midias’s issues somewhat resolved, it was time to return to my main duties.

Not the court, of course—the governorship in Delriat.

“Suddenly, I really don’t want to go?”

Not just the original goal of 80% recovery, but more than that.

And the target was set so vaguely.

Grow it to the point where tribute wouldn’t be an issue?

It was basically telling me to stay governor until I felt like an emperor.

My head was already spinning.

As a vassal, what choice do I have? If ordered, I obey.

I’m a former civil servant, after all—strict on hierarchy.

Whether I do the work properly is a separate issue.

“A visitor has arrived, Your Grace.”

Cordell McNeil popped out from the shadows and spoke abruptly.

I’d sensed him beforehand, so I wasn’t startled, but most people would’ve fainted.

“How long are you going to keep doing that?”

“As your escort knight, I must stick close to you.”

“You were nowhere to be seen when I fought the fire incarnation.”

“I was meeting with the imperial guards then? A Black Agent has his original duties too.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure.”

I teased lightly as I walked.

Truthfully, Cordell McNeil had his reasons.

He’d been gathering information while escorting me and needed to report it upstairs.

He must’ve been quite busy in many ways.

Plus, he couldn’t have dreamed an incident would erupt in the Carius duchy.

“But who is it that Sir McNeil personally reports? Where are the servants?”

“I didn’t exactly get a report. I just learned it early while scouting the area. I was in the bell tower until moments ago.”

“Otto.”

Look at that.

A truly dedicated man.

As Cordell McNeil said, a servant soon scurried over to announce the visitor.

“Who did they say it was?”

“Judge Colrund Emir.”

“Bring him to the reception room.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

As I turned my steps, a sudden thought hit me.

Isn’t it still working hours?

What could bring him all the way to the Carius duchy?

Even if close to Perias, it takes at least an hour by carriage.

Since a guest is here, should I at least serve tea?

It was a grim world, but it had what it needed.

Nobles often enjoyed tea.

But the handles were too hot to drink right away.

Both cups and pots were made of silver.

They didn’t wrap handles in cloth, either.

They think it looks tacky.

The funny part was that there were separate maids to hold the silver cup handles instead.

Not like checking curling iron temperature or anything.

Making a tea set out of porcelain would be great… Oh ho?

Adam’s products were mostly trays and cups.

Easy to make, so mass-producible.

But sales were starting to dip.

Time for a change.

Having entertained commoners so far, now to satisfy nobles’ desires.

Knock knock!

I was deep in pleasant imagination about a new business idea.

A knock sounded, followed by a familiar voice.

“Pleased to see you, Chief Justice.”

“I’m on leave. Isn’t Judge Emir the acting chief now?”

“Haha! That’s only temporary. How have you been?”

“Yes, well, thanks to your concern. Please sit.”

“Thank you.”

He was a subordinate employee, but still a guest.

Courtesy was due.

I poured strongly brewed tea.

It had cooled enough—no need for a maid to check the silver cup’s temperature.

I didn’t have such a role anyway.

“The aroma is nice. From which region?”

“Weeds growing around the house.”

“Pfft!”

“Just kidding. The butlers grew it, so it’s not entirely wrong.”

Judge Emir, nearly spitting his tea, glared resentfully.

As if asking why a high noble played such pranks.

“Anyway, what brings you here? We aren’t close enough for sudden visits.”

“H-Haha. True, but… a rather troublesome matter arose.”

“Why couldn’t you handle it internally? I delegated most authority, didn’t I?”

“But the parties strongly demand Duke Carius himself.”

“What nonsense is that? Since when do we pick judges?”

The capital court assigns cases randomly.

Judges only have refusal rights—can’t choose to their taste.

Yet parties demanding a specific judge?

Utter madness.

In such cases, just proceed by procedure.

But Judge Emir’s next words made me smack my lips.

“The parties are wailing loudly in front of the court. Lamenting their pitiful circumstances.”

“Not like prostrating in atonement—what kind of behavior is that?”

“Prostr… Pardon?”

“Nothing. And?”

“People pitying them are flooding petitions.”

I furrowed my brow and sank into deep thought.

Accepting would set a bad precedent; ignoring risked public backlash.

Truly a headache.

Whatever choice was near worst.

“Let’s hear what the case is.”

“It’s theft, for now. Stole food because they couldn’t afford to eat.”

Committing crime unable to withstand hunger—like some Jean Valjean.

The more I heard, the more troublesome.

With such a narrative, sympathy was inevitable.

“Fine. I’ll take it.”

“Are you sure?”

“No choice. But we can’t frame it as yielding to their demands.”

“Then…”

“Announce we’ll proceed by original procedure, and I’ll handle it.”

“Ah!”

Colrund Emir nodded with a complicated expression.

Relieved the issue was resolving, but inwardly uncomfortable.

It effectively dumped work on his superior.

I patted Judge Emir’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much. Just buy me a meal next time.”

“Th-Thank you, Chief Justice.”

But right then.

[Strong admiration has arisen in a subordinate employee.]

[Loyalty stat generated for Viscount Colrund Emir.]

[Command over this judge increases.]

<Person Info>

Name: Colrund Emir

Status: Viscount

Position: General Judge, Acting Chief Justice

Loyalty: 20

Condition: Relief from resolved trouble, guilt toward superior, heart like stone

Overall Ability: B

I opened the employee management window and smiled softly.

Now he has to follow me even if he doesn’t want to?

Judge Emir disliked external assignments.

Like when going to Lelbrant territory.

He resisted fiercely despite the supreme judge’s proposal.

Of course, I had no immediate plans to take Colrund.

Without him, the court wouldn’t run as I intended.

Make him my successor while at it?

Naturally impossible.

Appointment rights belonged solely to the emperor.

I closed the info window with a satisfied smile.

Perias was heating up over a unique issue.

Due to the capital court’s announcement of proceeding by principle.

“Duke Carius has a cold side too.”

“Sentencing heavy punishment for stealing flour because they couldn’t eat—skin and bones—isn’t that too much?”

“Actually, it was to feed the kids. He starved himself too.”

“Oh dear! How pitiful.”

People’s reactions were roughly like this.

Voices sympathizing with the defendant burst everywhere.

It was natural.

Things had only recently improved—originally, everyone lived in want.

But opposing opinion wasn’t absent.

“Trial hasn’t even started—where’s this heavy sentence coming from?”

“They said by principle. What’s wrong with that?”

“Better to beg on the streets. If starving that badly.”

“Yeah. Stealing means some strength left, right? Did he even look for work?”

Cold rationalists exist everywhere.

Thanks to criticism, the court could breathe a bit.

After a few days, trial day finally arrived.

“We will now begin the trial for the Raymond Mill flour theft case. Salute to the chief justice.”

Rustle rustle rustle!

I stepped to the bench with a calm expression.

Suddenly, cheers erupted here and there.

“Didn’t they say by procedure? Yet why is Duke Carius appearing?”

“Random draw—he got picked.”

“Come on, with how many judges there are? Clearly here to show mercy!”

“Keuh! We believed in you! Your Graaace!”

Praises echoing through the courtroom.

Not why I’d decided this, but still.

The flood of compliments made my lips curl up involuntarily.

Ah, not the time.

I forced a stern face and slightly raised my right hand.

Amazingly, the hall fell silent instantly.

Proof everyone focused on my every move.

“Begin.”

“Yes, Chief Justice.”

Judge Josef Padiya replied more energetically than usual.

He must be glad I’m back too.

He’d handled so many headaches in my absence.

Couldn’t even join Sierre faction-related trials.

I’d ordered absolute exclusion.

Obvious biased rulings otherwise.

He probably thinks he can return as associate judge.

Not happening.

I’m resolving just this case, then heading to Delriat.

Finally seeing properly now.

To prevent prejudice, but this was excessive.

Only learning details on the day, meeting defendant then.

This case was a bit different, but still.

It greatly hampered judicial judgment.

Needed quick reform, but legislation was the emperor’s right…

Frustrating, but endure.

I flipped through the documents.

Investigated contents were simple.

Stole flour to bake bread for starving children days on end.

That was it.

Defendant’s forehead was bright red from how much he’d kowtowed.

How wronged must he feel.

Pitiful enough for such thoughts.

But duty is duty.

I gazed at the defendant and called his info window.

<Person Info> 

Name: Bassett 

Status: Vagrant 

Position: None 

Relation: No acquaintance 

Condition: Expectation for promised amount, confidence based on outstanding acting, deep malicious intent. 

Skill: Acting 

Overall Ability: B

Yet the hologram contents far exceeded expectations.

Wait, what is this guy?