Chapter: 700
As Jeez transports food, materials, clothing, and products to the winter kingdoms, the winter realms fill Jeez’s back with vodka, chocolate, sable pelts, and black pearls.
It’s pure, 100% barter trading without the use of currency. It feels eerily like we’ve returned to ancient times. Should we start calling the empire “Kefellofen Great Tribe” instead of “Kefellofen Empire”?
“Vodka and chocolate are all the rage among nobles these days.”
“Really?”
This national-level barter has shaken the imperial social scene.
When the Minister speaks, you can bet it’s true. This guy is not only the head of the Ministry of Finance, capable of grasping logistics within the Empire, but he also walks the social circles as the head of a count family.
“It’s already well-known that Your Majesty enjoys vodka. Recently, due to the treaty we signed, a large quantity of vodka has been coming in. With such ample supply, the nobility started following Your Majesty’s lead.”
“And what about chocolate?”
“Crown Princess loves it, so they give it to their kids. No special reason.”
I nodded, feeling it’s a rather trivial reason.
The social scene is truly confusing. Sometimes it resembles a deep, dark underworld full of shady dealings, and other times, it feels like a gathering of five-year-olds sporting their latest trends. What could possibly be the true essence of society?
“Well, from the Ministry’s perspective, this is good news. We can’t just let the goods sent as proof of loyalty from other nations go to waste; now we have enough supply.”
The Minister shrugged, pulling out some Lucen chocolate from his pocket and handing one to Pedi, who was nestled up against him.
“Well, luckily, we have enough to give Pedi as a gift.”
“Wow! Thank you!”
“Go share with your siblings.”
“Yes!”
Pedi darted off towards the door, excited.
The Minister watched with a satisfied smile, but when he turned his gaze back to me, his expression was slightly deflated.
“Couldn’t you smile a bit while watching?”
“Is that something you can say?”
With his retort, I promptly shut my mouth.
Well, fair enough. I’m not exactly in a position to tell the Minister to smile.
‘If only he were behind bars, then it would be genuine joy.’
Then a thought struck me. It’s around the time for him to be racking up disciplinary actions, so why hasn’t there been news of any detainment or even a reprimand?
‘Is it because the Inspection Department has become independent?’
Thinking back, most of the Minister’s disciplinary reasons were due to “poor management of subordinates.” Just like how my second managers got in trouble for the mishaps caused by their subordinates, the Minister lived a life full of disciplinary actions due to the Inspection Department’s blunders.
But that Inspection Department has now become independent. He shouldn’t be facing any disciplinary actions anymore.
‘That’s a real bummer.’
I genuinely feel deprived. My wish was to see him behind bars just once more.
“Oh, I actually came to ask you something.”
As I mulled over that regrettable wish, the Minister let out a small sigh.
This was unexpected. I assumed he came just to play with Pedi. Who would’ve thought he had some other business to discuss?
“Do you remember Gerhardt?”
“Of course I do! We’ve known each other for three years; would I forget that?”
I nodded right away at the Minister’s words.
Gerhardt, the history teacher at the academy. I’ve known him since the first year of his dispatch to the academy, and we shared knowledge about the northern realm until graduation.
He was a significant help in studying northern history and culture, and after getting to know him over three years, I sent him off with comforting words, promising to inform the northern lords ahead of time as well. I told him he could visit freely for field research and reach out if he ever needed help.
In reality, the only times I’ve heard from him since graduation were during my marriage and childbirth.
“It seems like he needs your help, but he’s hesitant to speak up.”
My heart sank at his following words.
It was Gerhardt who reached out to congratulate me on the family event at Erich’s wedding. That means he must have been in need of my help during that recent contact, but had been struggling to speak up.
‘Well, I guess it was unreasonable to expect him to be at ease.’
It’s only natural, really. Back in the academy, we were often in contact, and with my title as the academy’s inspector, the psychological distance was relatively close.
However, now there are no points of contact between Gerhardt and me. For him, contacting a sitting Minister and Imperial Count like me must be incredibly daunting.
Still, I wonder how the Minister caught wind of Gerhardt’s troubles, considering his niece is a graduate student under Gerhardt’s guidance. Gerhardt’s sigh probably reached Christina, who then mentioned it to the Minister.
“I should reach out to him soon.”
“No. Don’t contact him directly; use a few intermediary channels. If you reach out directly, he’ll freak out.”
That statement made perfect sense, so I accepted it.
He’s the type to hesitate so much he can’t even voice his needs. If I call out of the blue saying something like, “Is there anything you need?” it wouldn’t be surprising if Gerhardt were to faint from the shock.
‘He was so bold back in the academy, though.’
I miss him bursting into the club room and smashing his head against the table.
Back then, we were scholarly comrades without any pretense. Now, physical distance has made our relationship awkward.
As an honorary teacher of the Empire, I find this quite lamentable.
*
A summons from the Minister of the Inspection Department, no longer just the advisor to the pastry club or the inspector, but now His Excellency Count Tailglehen.
At first, I hesitated slightly, since it’s a call from someone so much higher up, but it would be rude to decline. Besides, the Minister has always treated me with kindness and warmth back when he was just a teacher at the academy.
I trust my experiences. The Minister is not someone who would act overbearing toward me or scold me.
‘Let’s just view this as a chance to greet him in person.’
Though I’ve sent congratulatory wishes every time something good happened to him, it’s a pity I’ve never been able to offer those congratulations in person.
Each time, it just happened to be especially busy in the north, and the Minister was surrounded by several high-ranking nobles or officials. It seemed a faux pas for an ordinary teacher to intrude in that setting.
But here I am, getting the chance to meet him face to face. It’s likely a mercy from the divine gift of the eternal blue sky, who must see value in a scholar studying the northern regions.
‘…Just a greeting, that’s all.’
I kept reassuring myself. While it’s great to meet the Minister, I should only speak greetings and pleasantries. I must refrain from voicing any requests.
Of course, as a Minister, he’d likely agree to my requests without hesitation. But as someone who has benefited from the Minister’s kindness and grace, it feels brazen to even consider asking for something.
As a teacher and academic, I can’t be rude to someone who has significantly contributed to the advancement of knowledge. It’s better for me to struggle a bit than to overstep my bounds.
*
My head feels like it’s spinning white.
“It’s true that the north is still an unfamiliar region for the Empire. While it has entered the Empire’s fold, there’s still a lot unknown compared to what is known.”
This wasn’t an invitation as a noble, but rather as an old acquaintance who knew me from back in the day, as the Minister would treat me accordingly.
Hearing the Minister’s respectful words was dizzying, but what followed was even more disorienting.
“Thus, I promise to provide all conveniences I can for you, trusting in your passion and abilities. If a capable scholar like you studies the north and enlightens our citizens about it, the north will become a familiar region rather than an unknown one.”
“I’m flattered.”
“However, I feel a bit embarrassed that I can’t offer you the assistance you need.”
Hearing that made me close my eyes tightly.
While he wrapped it in the words “embarrassed,” the meaning was explicit and straightforward. Knowing I have concerns, he’s clearly pressuring me to speak out rather than hinting at whether I’m possibly holding back due to distrust in him.
This is a predicament. I intended to just have a casual conversation and say my goodbyes, but with the Minister bringing up an uncomfortable topic, I had no means of escaping.
‘I was a fool to forget his nature after not seeing him for a few years.’
I’d been foolish. I had momentarily forgotten the Minister’s straightforwardness due to the time apart.
‘Guess there’s no helping it…’
Ultimately, after much internal deliberation, I decided to speak up.
“Actually, Your Excellency. Recently, I’ve encountered a challenge that I can’t solve by myself.”
“Then I should help you. After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?”
The Minister’s gentle smile caught me off guard, and I instinctively bowed my head.
“I’ve been researching the lives and remains of the Fallen Ancestor… but it’s proving difficult since the tribes remaining in the north are those distancing themselves from the Ancestor.”
I just nailed a stake into the kind heart of someone so considerate.
*
I immediately understood Gerhardt’s bowed head.
It’s no wonder he was watching me like that. The subject of my research was Kagan.
‘The more he studies the north, the more he’ll glean from my past.’
I had close friends who perished in battles against Kagan.
So he couldn’t bear to ask me a thing about Kagan.
‘It’s all right.’
I unconsciously chuckled to myself. I don’t hold particularly good memories of Kagan, but it’s not a trauma severe enough to make me snap at someone doing scholarly research.
If it’s for the sake of academia, I’ll absolutely help.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.