Chapter 80

This story is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictitious and have no connection to any real entities.

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075＿Minister of Finance

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In a room of the annex of the duke's mansion, I am having my head rested on Annelise's lap to calm my mind.

Annelise doesn't say anything but offers her lap to me. Such thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.

Does Annelise want to know why she was cursed? It might be better for her to believe it was the dungeon's curse. Living with resentment can be exhausting for the heart.

Still, I have to ask her if she wants to know the reason for the curse.

"Annelise"

"Yes"

Emerald eyes look at me from behind her twin peaks. No matter the angle, Annelise's face is a work of artistic beauty.

"Do you want to know why you were cursed?"

Annelise, with a slightly puzzled expression, answered, "No."

"If I hadn't been cursed, I wouldn't have met Lord Toyi. So, it's fine."

"I see..."

Even though she should have been living in fear of dying from old age at any moment, she is moving forward. Annelise, who has overcome such a past, must be strong.

Then I won't say anything. Instead, I will clear her grievances. I will definitely do it.

I was summoned by the duke.

"The matter has been accepted."

It seems the princess has given the go-ahead for Yamato and Kanzaki.

"Is that so?"

"However, there is a condition."

A condition?

"I want you to hunt more than 1,000 monsters on the 10th floor of the capital dungeon."

"Does that mean thinning out the monsters?"

"Yes."

Is he making me do what the heroes were summoned for? Well, it's fine. I was planning to level up anyway, so entering the deeper levels of the dungeon is what I want.

"It will take some time."

I don't intend to take too long, but we've only cleared the 7th floor so far.

"I understand, but I can't wait 10 or 20 years."

"I don't plan to take that long."

"Good."

For the duke, having the two summoned people live in his territory will be troublesome. His silence on this matter might mean he's paying off a debt.

"Do you know Baron Elbasil?"

"I know Baron Elbasil. He is a hereditary noble."

I don't know what that means in the previous world, but in this world, hereditary nobles are nobles who serve the royal family but do not have their own territories.

Zaigen, for example, is a noble without a territory but serves the ducal family. Such nobles are not called hereditary nobles. Only nobles who serve the royal family are called hereditary nobles.

"Let me ask you directly, what kind of person is he?"

"Is something the matter?"

The duke looks at me suspiciously.

"I had a bit of a run-in with his son."

"…Baron Elbasil is a financial noble. Think of him as the third in command at the Ministry of Finance. As for his character… he's a俗物 (vulgar person)."

He said it with a stern face, clearly disliking him.

"If you have evidence to bring him down, show it. I'll take care of him immediately."

"I don't have it."

"Then get it."

"Don't be unreasonable."

I will get it, though.

"Fine. I'll wait with expectation."

"Shouldn't you wait without expectation?"

Even Zaigen nods. It seems Baron Elbasil is quite disliked.

Grissom has a long criminal record, including murder and rape. While some crimes don't get recorded on the Record Card, murder and rape are always recorded.

If his Record Card is checked, he's finished, but his father is influential, so officials can't easily take action.

Multiple illegal slaves are being held captive in Grissom's mansion. This alone is enough for an arrest, but it's not strong enough. His father, the baron, could crush the case.

I need stronger evidence, but I can't find it. No other illegal activities were found besides the slaves.

He's not supposed to be smart. If he were, he wouldn't keep illegal slaves in his mansion. It's just that no evidence has been left. For example, if you kill someone in the dungeon, the body disappears. In the boss room, only the body disappears, leaving the equipment, but outside the boss room, everything is absorbed by the dungeon. If there are no witnesses, a perfect crime can be committed.

"If that's the case, I need to change my approach."

I got permission from the duke to enter the castle and palace freely.

Fortunately, with the issues involving Yamato and Kanzaki, and the trouble caused by Akaba and others, the country was considerate and granted permission immediately.

"I need your cooperation."

"Sounds interesting! I'm in."

Yamato agreed immediately.

"I'll help if it's to punish someone who did something so terrible."

Kanzaki also promised to cooperate.

While I investigate Baron Elbasil, I asked them to pretend to meet with me. It's an alibi.

"But there are scum in this world too. I need to be careful."

Yamato shook his head.

"Human desire knows no bounds…"

"Controlling desire with reason is what makes us human, Kanzaki."

"Yes, you're right."

Kanzaki, looking sad, is truly kind-hearted.

The palace (the royal family calls it the harem) is where the royal family lives. The castle is for administration and military affairs.

Baron Elbasil, the third in command at the Ministry of Finance, works in the castle. I need to find him.

I don't know who is who, so I perform detailed appraisals as I find people. What I learned is that many hereditary nobles are scum. Bribery and embezzlement are common. One in five has committed some crime. Quite a few have the job of thief.

"One in five is a criminal, and the country still stands. Impressive."

I don't know if this number is high or low, but in Japan, politicians often resign over money-related issues, so it's manageable. Visible crimes are probably just a small fraction in both worlds.

But are the nobles' Record Cards not checked? The country should do this, but why don't they?

Fortunately, the officials (non-nobles) are better. They are not completely clean, but they are much fewer.

I note the names of the worst offenders, but now I need to find Baron Elbasil.

In the back of the castle, in a busy office-like area, is where the Ministry of Finance is located.

Non-noble officials are busy processing documents.

An official with a stack of documents heads to the back. I follow and enter a private room.

The official hands the documents to a superior and leaves. This superior is not Baron Elbasil but has a criminal record. However, the crimes are minor, so he's a small fry.

I check other private rooms. There are too many. I wish there were fewer.

The rooms gradually become larger and more luxurious. I should be getting close…

"How is the matter progressing?"

"I have siphoned off 40% of the budget for the Nardia River construction project. No problem."

"Good."

This is not Baron Elbasil but the Minister of Finance. If the Minister of Finance is like this, the Ministry of Finance's self-purification is hopeless. But 40%? Is that a lot or a little…

This subordinate is a small fry but holds a significant position in the Ministry of Finance. He's like a lackey to the Minister of Finance.

The subordinate leaves, and the Minister of Finance is alone.

He throws the documents aside and takes out a wine bottle and glass. Drinking on the job, what a life.

He pours a full glass of wine and drinks it in one gulp. This guy is a borderline alcoholic. He hasn't shown significant impairment at work yet, but he might screw up soon.

The Minister of Finance takes out a document from a drawer, glances at it for a few seconds, and crumples it. What was written on it?

"Galdoland is a problem. Handing over the alchemists and item producers to that Footsickle? Ridiculous."

He's talking about me. By the way, Galdoland refers to the duke.

"Galdoland finds it uninteresting that I profit from selling the items they create."

No, that's not it. And you do that too? How dirty.

"Those foolish heroes are useless for a while, and the large expenses were in vain."

All he cares about is money.

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