Kill the Emperor

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 111 : I plan to try making some money

“So they eventually came out like that?”

Wind Tail’s Master ‘Kunde Ceciliano’ nodded while putting a veal steak slightly exuding redness into his mouth.

“How are the reactions of other affiliated masters?”

“It is not that there is no agitation at all. They must have believed that our merchant guild’s political position would become even firmer due to the recent matter with Esper Kingdom. But since the ones who were most active among the affiliated merchant guilds ended up like that…….”

The adjutant who came to inform Kunde of the news nodded with a reluctant expression.

Right in front of Kunde’s table were the heads of Dan and Huddle, salted with their tongues pulled out long.

To chew and swallow steak with such a calm expression in front of such a sight.

No matter how many times one sees it, it is a sight one cannot get used to.

“This, my prestige has become unspeakable because of a foolish king of an insignificant kingdom.”

Kunde chewed the meat and drank wine with very relaxed movements and fell into thought.

‘In what way should I let the kitten, who trusts only its own cockiness and runs wild, know that it pulled out a tiger’s whiskers?’

Collusion, blockade of distribution networks, manipulation of prices, etc.

There were many, many ways to paralyze the economy of a small kingdom like Zodiac.

And Kunde was confident.

Except for Akrishima and Maganus, he had the confidence that he could make the finance of any country stagger.

“Father, it is a big problem!”

Then.

‘Yobini Ceciliano’, Kunde’s eldest son and the successor of the merchant guild, opened the door and entered with an urgent expression.

“What is it that you make such a fuss?”

“A civil riot has occurred in the territory of the Mahatdur Tribe. Father must examine the situation quickly.”

“What? Mahatdur did!”

As soon as he heard the name Mahatdur, Kunde’s expression changed urgently.

Mahatdur Territory, received in exchange for offering 49% of Wind Tail Merchant Guild’s shares to Esper Kingdom, was practically a headquarters for achieving his grand plan.

But a large-scale disturbance occurred in that important place?

“Why? For what reason on earth did the tribe bastards rise up again?”

“……They seem to have realized that we assassinated the Tribal Chief.”

“Such moronic bastards! Just how did they handle things that those dull-witted bastards found out!”

One, even if they formally received the territory from Esper Kingdom, there was no way Mahatdur, who had acted as natives of the territory for generations, would meekly accept Wind Tail’s rule.

So Wind Tail carried out various behind-the-scenes maneuvers to soothe the fierce resistance of the tribespeople.

Among them, the one they put the most effort into was assassinating the tribe’s leader.

Kunde exercised clever skills to fabricate it so that Mahatdur’s leader was assassinated by a member of the same tribe.

Due to the sense of loss from losing the leader at the hands of the same tribe rather than an external enemy, Mahatdur’s resistance weakened rapidly.

Using this gap, Kunde persistently carried out conquest work.

Now the occupation work was also in a situation where it was almost finishing!

‘Of all times, for things to turn out this way. If this happens, the resistance of the Mahatdur bastards will become fiercer than in the past…….’

Bang!

Unable to overcome his anger, Kunde flipped the table and asked Yobini while grinding his teeth.

“How did they notice?”

“……It is said that a member of the assassination team who failed to escape the territory was caught, and evidence that was not completely cleaned up was discovered.”

Evidence that this assassination was carried out under Wind Tail’s leadership was something that would naturally disappear if a little more time passed.

So Kunde left the evidence as is without bothering to dig it up.

Because he believed that unless someone ‘informed them of the inside story of the incident’, it was impossible for the dull-witted Mahatdur to find out the truth on their own.

“First send all mobilizable troops to the territory, and convey the order to eliminate the instigators of the civil riot with top priority. Request troop support from the Esper Kingdom as well!”

An emergency situation where the territory obtained after a long wait might be swept away if things go wrong.

There was no leisure to pay attention to other places.

Grind-

Kunde, whose nerves were on edge due to the unexpected problem, pledged while grinding his teeth fiercely enough to wear them down.

‘Just wait a little. You Zodiac bastards, I will slowly deal with you as soon as this matter is finished.’

***

‘Good.’

Looking at the letter secretly delivered through the direct line, I smiled.

It seemed that the civil riot of Mahatdur was proceeding more grandly than expected.

‘Since the situation has become like this, for the time being, they won’t even dare to look this way.’

Regardless of ancient or modern times, what always occurs when people gather in groups is ‘secret schemes’.

Even at this moment, countlessly many secret struggles must be occurring all over the continent.

And if it is a talent for plotting this kind of behind-the-scenes maneuver, I was confident I wouldn’t lose to anyone either.

Because this was one of the tasks Alexar mainly handled to make Gillian the Emperor of the Unified Empire.

With a report encompassing all behind-the-scenes maneuvers that occurred over 30 years before and after the Unification War for more efficient operations.

‘Next time, what method should I use to hit the back of Kunde bastard’s head hard?’

The contents still remained vividly in my head.

Unless this repertoire ran out, the situation would not turn urgently.

Sip.

After leisurely enjoying the afternoon tea time, I moved my steps to the ‘Chief Minister’s Office’ where Sheldrick would be immersed in work with a feeling of vomiting blood today as well.

***

“Since Lord Sang took charge of duties, what was the most difficult point?”

Visiting Sheldrick, I didn’t bother to speak in a roundabout way.

“Haha, since both the Grand Duke and His Majesty trust this lacking person, there is nothing I would say is difficult. Only that my ability is lacking…….”

“In my opinion, there seem to be many difficult points regarding finance. Is that correct?”

Sheldrick tried to observe propriety once, but he had no choice but to nod at my absurdly sharp way of speaking.

“You are still sharp. Of course, thanks to the Grand Duke thoroughly emptying the storehouse of villains, no, enriching the national livelihood and handing over the storehouse key, there are no great difficulties for the time being. However, what I am worried about is…….”

Eventually, Sheldrick trailed off.

Although there were no big problems in procuring finance right now, it was clear there would be difficulties in the long term.

“So you mean that in the long term, it is insufficient to achieve what Lord Sang intends. Actually, thanks to you taking charge of many parts since Sir entered the cabinet, I have gained a little leisure these days.”

My expression had a leisure unbelievable for a person speaking of insufficiency.

“So using the remaining time, I plan to try making some money.”

“Do you mean personally, Your Excellency?”

Although it was not rare for a noble or high-ranking official to manage a merchant guild, Sheldrick was surprised.

Because in his view, I was not a person who suited business at all.

“That is correct. Since I have good business capital, it would be too wasteful to leave it idle.”

“This is…… Batavia Marquis Family’s…….”

“That is correct. It is the commercial rights deed of ‘Batavia Union’ operated by the Batavia Marquis Family.”

The document I took out was the rights deed of the merchant guild operated by the Batavia family, who were purged during the selection process for the successor to the throne.

Although it didn’t receive attention because the wind of the purge blew so fiercely at the time, I had received 80% of the merchant guild’s shares from Mackin Batavia.

And…….

“As of yesterday, I purchased the remaining 20% of shares held by the Batavia family. Perhaps because the family itself received such a huge blow, the share price had fallen as low as it could.”

“Haha…….”

Although he was showing a smile, in fact, Sheldrick was anxious.

Because he couldn’t guess at all what I was thinking.

I tore the envelope containing the share deed, placed half of it on the table, and spoke.

“I will donate 50% of Batavia Union’s shares to the state. And I request that you grant the status of State-run Merchant Guild to Batavia Union.”

“……!”

Eventually, Sheldrick dropped his jaw.

A State-run Merchant Guild?

“Grand Duke, are you serious and not joking?”

“Of course, I am serious. Normally, I understand that in the case of becoming a State-run Merchant Guild, the amount of shares donated to the state does not exceed 45% at most. To protect voting rights. But I intend to donate 50%. In other words, half of the shares. I think this much is sufficient to qualify to apply for a State-run Merchant Guild.”

“Haha, Grand Duke. Honestly speaking, I am very flustered right now.”

Of course, designating a specific merchant guild as a State-run Merchant Guild was Sheldrick’s authority.

Because before receiving the King’s approval, it had to pass the Ministry of Interior meeting first.

And the right to preside over the Ministry of Interior meeting lay with Sheldrick, the Chief Minister.

“Grand Duke, let me ask one thing first. Why do you insist on making Batavia Union a State-run Merchant Guild?”

Surely it wouldn’t be because he holds 50% of the shares.

“It is simple. Because currently, throughout Zodiac, there is no merchant guild that possesses a commercial network as extensive and detailed as Batavia Union.”

“But Grand Duke, as the Batavia Marquis Family fell, I understand that the commercial network became paralyzed…….”

“It is only paralyzed, not closed or destroyed. The paralyzed commercial sphere network can be recovered soon if appropriate stimulation and a capable leader are appointed.”

At Sheldrick’s concern, I shook my head.

“A commercial sphere network formed once with accumulated experience is a massive intangible asset that can never be looked down upon. If only this problem can be solved, at least in Zodiac, there is no merchant guild that can maintain large-scale transactions as stably as Batavia Union.”

“That is true but…….”

My words were true.

Although it is true that Batavia Union engaged in petty transactions for their master, anyway, they were a seasoned merchant guild that traversed the continent for decades.

“If I intended to engage in commercial activities with Zodiac and nearby countries as the stage appropriately, I would have just made a merchant guild. However, to deal with the entire continent, it is difficult unless it is a seasoned merchant guild of Batavia Union’s level.”

“Grand Duke…… So do you mean you intend to operate the merchant guild really earnestly?”

Sheldrick was fed up with my scale discussing the continent.

You plan to do business against the continent in this small country driven to the north?

And with the wreckage of an already ruined merchant guild at that?

If it were the usual Sheldrick, he would have scolded me saying not to talk nonsense.

“If I am going to start something, shouldn’t I start it to that extent so that it is not shameful to the title of Grand Duke of Zodiac?”

But the person saying those words now was none other than Hein Reichart.

Eventually, he fell for my pace.

“Grand Duke, can you tell me at least a rough blueprint? First, where do you plan to go to make business capital to ‘deal with the continent’?”

To Sheldrick’s question, instead of answering, I smiled and unfolded the continent map prepared in advance, pointing to a spot.

The spot my finger touched was the northernmost part of the continent, Reichart Territory.

‘North. You will go to the main camp and procure goods? But there shouldn’t be anything worth trading in Reichart Territory? Huh?’

Reichart Territory was not the end.

My fingertip passed Reichart Territory before he knew it-

‘Sea?’

It continued to pass up to the land boundary line drawn on the map.

The place where that finger finally stopped was an island that looked quite vast.

And the moment he saw the name of that island, Sheldrick unconsciously let out his voice.

“Island of Decline?”