Chapter 31 - Volume 2 (1/2)
It wasn’t long until Mazelan was on the screen. Isaac couldn’t even finish his cigarette he had lit to pa.s.s his time.
-You b.a.s.t.a.r.d! What lies did you spout about me!
Mazelan peered through the screen with unmatched anger, almost as if he was ready to shatter it. Isaac replied to Mazelan with his typical leisurely tone.
“You shouldn’t have made me wait after calling me over. That’s poor manners. I’m a busy man too, you know.”
Those words from Isaac put everyone at a loss for words, even the operators in the room. Shouldn’t it be the other way around, where the subordinate waits if his superior asks for it?
Mazelan beat his chest to vent out his frustration.
-Dear me! I was a fool! To look after a crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d like you!
Mazelan regretfully let out those words when a man appeared behind Mazelan in the screen, carefully approaching him with shaking voice.
-Um… Vice Commissioner.
-What!
-I have a message from your family. They are asking you to visit them immediately after work. They would like to know the story behind the rumours….
The blood in Mazelan’s face drained from his face after hearing the man’s message. Mazelan faltered as if he was about to faint, then quickly grabbed on to the monitor and shook it wildly as if he was holding on to Isaac himself.
-You, b.a.s.t.a.r.d! What have you done! The rumours have spread already!
“What are you so worried about. Just tell them it was a misunderstanding.”
-Do you think those words will be enough to convince anyone!
“You will suffer from the rumours for some time, but I’m sure it will die down eventually.”
-Do you have any idea how many people are trying to topple me over… I wouldn’t even be this mad if I’d actually done it.
Frustrated, Mazelan sighed deeply. He was quite famous within the social network of the aristocrats in the Empire. There was his family line, status as Vice Commissioner at such a young age with the guarantee of becoming the future Commissioner, and most important of all, his single status. A pedigree like that was enough to make any parent dream of him as their son-in-law for their daughters. Plus, his actions have shown his slightly workaholic but gentlemanlike nature.
Mazelan’s mother recently found a hobby of looking through the list of women whom a middleman would bring in hopes of marrying Mazelan. She would flick through the list, comparing and judging the girl’s history and abilities. But if a rumour such as this was to spread now…
Mazelan’s body shook when he imagined the scolding and questioning that was awaiting him once he got back home.
“Hey, at least you’ve learnt a lesson.”
-What lesson?
“Um, don’t make someone wait after you bring them over?”
People in the Communicator room could feel the anger from Mazelan whenever his body twitched. Mazelan’s eyes flickered with wrath as if he were considering how to beat Isaac to the ground, yet Isaac pressed Mazelan unemotionally to ask why he was called.
“So what’s the deal for me to talk to you personally? I doubt it’s for some casual catch-up session.”
How is this catch-up session? It was an accusation made of false information!
The operators began to see Isaac in a new light. Just the fact that he had a close tie with the Vice Commissioner of the Department of Supplies through a Sunbae-Hubae relations.h.i.+p was enough to make Isaac formidable to his subordinates.
-Sigh. I give up. It’s my fault for trying to pull a prank on you.
Mazelan dropped his shoulder weakly but quickly s.h.i.+fted the expression on his face to a serious one. Play time was over now.
-Is there anyone who can overhear our conversation?
Isaac scanned his surrounding, and he could see all the operators swiftly turn their faces to avoid his eyes.
“There’s about twenty of them.”
-Why is there so many? Aren’t you in a private room?
“They told me all of the private rooms were occupied and gave me a Communicator shoved in the corner of the room. My screen is open for everyone to see.”
-Hm. That’s amusing. I’m aware that Port City receives a high number of calls, but higher-ranking officials should be given priority with the Communicators in the city hall. Switch me over to the Communicator overseer.
Before Mazelan even finished his words, the overseer quickly ran over to Isaac as drops of cold sweat formed on his face.
“G, greetings your majesty. I am the overseer of….”
-Shut it. Did you receive the official doc.u.ment stating that due to delays regarding complete installation of Communicators in the Empire, all private-use Communicators should be prioritised in accordance to rank and the importance of the work? Have you read it?
“I, I have read it.’
-Then why is an Administrator using a Communicator intended for office use?
“I, it’s because… All of the private rooms are occupied…”
-Are you making false reports now? You said you’ve read the doc.u.ment right? Don’t you understand the phrase ‘prioritised in accordance to rank’?
“I, I do understand.”
-There should be at least ten private rooms installed in Port City. Even if all of the rooms are occupied right now, how many official ranks are above the Administrator of a city?
“T, that would be the mayor.”
-So you’re saying all of the rooms are taken by mayors and Administrators, now? Or is it because the Administrator of New Port City is a talentless, powerless, ambitionless sc.u.m of the earth who looks down on his Sunbae like a dog and would only visit whenever he is in need, and is shunned by the rest of the world, that you thought you could just throw him with the rest?
Mazelan pressured the Overseer close to his breaking point, but it was Isaac who saved him.
“Can you stop with the pa.s.sive-aggressive insults and get to the point?”
-I’ll be watching you.
“T, thank you. I will immediately lead him to one of the private rooms.”
The Overseer looked to Isaac as if he had just saved his life. He repeatedly thanked Isaac and tried to lead him to the private rooms, but Isaac refused with an annoyed face.
“I don’t know what this is about, but if the word is going to spread eventually, then just say it here.”
Mazelan pondered for a moment, then sighed as he replied.
-Well. I guess everyone important already knows, so I guess it shouldn’t matter. You know that Port City is in conflict with the Seven Grand Merchant Guilds because they are trying to establish a merchant guild of their own, right?
“I think I remember hearing about it.”
-Long story short, the conflict from Port City’s attempt at creating their own merchant guild isn’t just a problem in the merchant world, but a smaller version of the political battles within the Empire’s government. If Port City manages to form their own guild, it may force some of the Seven Grand Merchant Guilds into bankruptcy. The problem is that many people are involved with the Seven Grand Merchant Guilds.
“I thought that’s the reason Port City can’t make a merchant guild?”
-That’s right. Even if Port City was to spend a fortune lobbying, the Seven Grand Merchant Guilds have connections of their own.
“Then what’s the problem?”
-Count Milros’s family has stepped in.
“Kainen’s mother’s family?”
-That’s right. Count Milros’ family has agreed to a.s.sist the formation of the guild if Port City were to help eliminate you.
“Do they really want to kill me that badly?”
-Removing you is just an added benefit. What they really want is a significant portion of the Port City Merchant Guild’s shares. The profits it would entail are guaranteed as long as it is established.
“But wouldn’t there be significant opposition against them?”
-That’s why you are so important. Unless a n.o.ble family served in the business world, the Empire’s law states that n.o.bles with the rank of Count and above cannot invest or a.s.sist in forming merchant guilds. It’d be too easy for n.o.bles with such power to go against the fair trade laws if they were to intervene. As the Taxation Branch of Department of Administration always says, wherever there is profit, there is a nasty fight underneath it.
“Hm, it’s my first time hearing that.”
-Well, that’s why such powerful n.o.ble families try to get around the law by using their lesser va.s.sal families, who are their relatives. But even that has been heavily restricted by law, so there aren’t many families who succeed.
“So how does that relate to why I’m so important?”
-Count Milros’s family have made many attempts to spread their influence into business just like Port City, and Baron Rondart has already managed to achieve half of the desired effect.
“And I’m the other half.”
-That’s right. Once you’re gone, Count Milros will be able to start his business with a significant portion of Port City’s shares. Well, other factions are well aware of this too, and that is why they will do everything to protect you. As long as you, the official heir to Rondart Family who has no ambitions, live, Count Milros will never obtain the Rondart Family.
The conclusion was that no matter how much Isaac struggled, Count Milros wanted him dead. That was the simplest solution without any future worries.
“Then shouldn’t you have prevented this from happening in the first place?”
-That’s the reason why Count Milros brought Port City into the conflict. Port City had been investing heavily into lobbying, but there hasn’t been any progress. So the people who had been receiving the money are starting to feel guilty. But when Count Milros brought Port City in, he also mentioned you.
“Hm, wasn’t it them who sent me to New Port City? What can they do at this point?”
-I’ve got good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?
“Let’s hear the good news.”
-You will receive an official decree soon. Once you’ve received it, Administrator Isaac Rondart, Rank 1 Knight, will have the power of authority which matches that of a Lord. New Port City will also be designated as a special financial district.
“…”
Isaac frowned at Mazelan’s words while all of the operators in the room dropped their jaw in awe. They could only look at Isaac in shock; it was almost as if they’d been hit in the head.
“What’s the bad news?”
-You have 3 years to reduce the unemployment rate or the crime rate to below 1% or raise the average earnings of the citizens to the Empire’s average. If you fail to achieve this, you will lose all of your ranks, rights, and fortune along with your status as a graduate of the College. You will also be summoned back to your home.
“Hm, so basically you’re telling me that I’m dead in 3 years, so enjoy that time living like a king.”
-That’s not what it… Hm, is that what it means?