I Favor the Villainess Chapter 91
The world of ăRevolutionă has many medieval elements.
However, I believe I pointed it again and again, as itâs the world of a game made in 21st century Japan, there are Japanese elements in strange places.
While looking at Thompson houseâs ledger, I discovered another Japanese element.
That element is double-entry bookkeeping and financial statements made with it.
Iâll omit detailed explanation, but these are the formats of financial records used in 21st century Japan.
If ledgers in this world were like in the medieval Europe, I probably wouldnât be able to do anything.
But, if there are financial statements and double-entry bookkeeping, Iâll manage somehow.
âHow is it? Have you discovered anything strange?â
Wedge-sama asked me with a composed smile.
When we stopped, we looked at Wedge-sama.
âYeah, we have understood various thingsâ
The one who replied to Wedge-sama wasnât Claire-sama, but me.
â Hou , what did you understand?â
Even though Iâm a special official, it seems he doesnât intend to be polite to a commoner.
Itâd be uncomfortable for me too, so Iâm saved.
âFor example, in recent years the financial situation of Thompson house seems to be poorâ
âThatâs right. There were bad harvests in the barony. Due to that family finances are in dire straitsâ
Itâs troubling , Wedge-sama shook his head.
âCo, considering all that, the furnishings are luxurious, and you have the leeway to buy expensive sweetsâŠ?â
âLily-sama. As a person of the Church you may not understand, but the furniture and sweets affect nobleâs status. Even if family finances are in difficult situation, the drop in quality would affect family statusâ
As Wedge-sama said a believable thing, Lily-sama easily backed down.
Iâll repeat it any number of times, is it okay, as a cardinal.
Now then, from here itâs the crucial moment.
âIs that all? I donât have spare time either. If thatâs all for the investigation, Iâd wish you to withdrawâ
Implicitly he told us to leave immediately.
â⊠Are we really doing thisâŠ?â
With a large sigh, Claire-sama seemed to prepare herself.
âStay still stay still! Remain as you are! Do you not see this family crest!â
As I stood up, I demonstrated a pill case with François houseâs crest and spoke to Wedge-same in a domineering tone.
âWha, what did you sayâŠ?â
âKnow who you are dealing with! The current Prime Ministerâs daughter, Claire François!â
âEei, conceited! Stay still! Remain as you are!â
Wedge-sama seems to be beyond bewildered, he looked at Lily-sama asking for help.
âUmm⊠Does Lily-sama understand anything about this?â
âE, err⊠Apparently, she seems to be playing at Mito Koumon. Lili doesnât understand well eitherâŠâ
Lily-sama was just as bewildered.
âClaire-sama. I wish the jokes were kept in moderationâ
âWell, I also think so, however Rei was insistent on doing this no matter whatâŠâ
Huh, even Claire-sama was bewildered.
âWell, fine. Wedge-sama, you are guilty of fraudulent accounting, right?â
âFraudulent accounting?â
âThings like falsifying ledgers or deliberately reporting bad financial situationâ
In practice there are many types of fraudulent accounting, falsifying ledgers being one of them, but Iâll omit the detailed explanation.
âWhatâs the basis!â
âThese are documents about Thompson barony tax yields that came up in Rod-samaâs investigation. There are large inconsistencies compared to the ledgers in this houseâ
It was bad choice for Wedge-sama to look down on young women.
I wonder if Wedge-samaâs composure was because he looked down on us thinking we couldnât read ledgers.
I believe I explained that I was a corporate slave OL, but more specifically I worked in the inspection section of general trading companyâs financial department.
Examining ledgers is my forte.
Compared to the previous world, this level of ledger embellishment is childâs play.
When Iâd started wishing for a calculator, Lily-sama had turned out useful.
Somehow Lily-sama can do mental arithmetic in a flash.
With Lily-samaâs outstanding mental ability, Iâd examined ledgers one after another.
An angel doesnât need to do such vulgar things.
Although there were various methods of embellishment, generally it was things like underreporting amount sold or tax yields.
âThompson baronial house is evading taxesâ
Lower reported taxes and pocket the rest of the falsified revenue.
Itâs a typical method of filling oneâs pockets.
âThis is roughly the amount of evaded tax in the last ten years. Given that, the amount of additional tax will be like this. Well, itâs a lot. The house will probably collapseâ
When I showed him the concrete amount of money, Wedge-samaâs complexion turned ashen.
âCan you really trust the tax yields on those documents!?â
âShould I bring Rod-sama here?â
Wedge-sama was still trying to resist, but he quieted down upon hearing Rod-samaâs name.
âNow then, Baron Thompson. Do you have any excuses?â
â⊠I have none. I admit it⊠I committed crimesâŠâ
Wedge-sama hung his head dejected.
I recorded Wedge-samaâs confession on the magical tool I received from His Majesty.
âWhat⊠am I supposed to doâŠ?â
âOf course, it will be reported to the Royal Palace and you will be charged with crimes. Be preparedâ
Claire-sama seemed to sentence him to death in a firm voice, but,
âIs what I want to say, however there is a possibility of amnesty, Rei?â
Hearing this, Wedge-sama suddenly raised his downcast face.
âItâs not amnesty, Itâs plea bargain. Claire-samaâ
âYes, yes, thatâs it. In any case depending on conditions the sentence can be reduced, is that right?â
âIâll do anything! Please tell me what to do!â
Without concerning himself about appearances, Wedge-sama clung to Claire-samaâs feet.
âRei, there is something you want to ask, right?â
âYes. Looking at the ledgers I saw unaccounted-for expenses. I believe those are illegal donations to higher class noblesâ
âAnd you want to know the destination of those donations?â
As Claire-sama nodded, she shook Wedge-sama off and looking down on him asked.
âWho did you contribute to?â
âDo you want Thompson baronial house crushed in your lifetime?â
Perhaps having resigned himself, Wedge-sama finally spat out the name.
Not like it matters, but Claire-sama looking down on an adult man kneeling before her and questioning him looks a little improper.
The word Queen came to my mind.
This is the fundamental plan for our investigation.
Investigate the nobles who Rod-sama thoroughly investigated and found evidence against, and acquire information through plea bargains to catch those who donât have evidence against them yet.
Count Yale is a noble superior to Baron Thompson.
With this, weâre one step closer to Dor-sama and Salas-sama.
Of course, It wasnât me who thought it up.
The person who came up with it is truly frightening.
âThank you for cooperation with the investigation. The verdict regarding Thompson house will come from the Royal Palace later. Regarding charges reduction, I will sincerely ask for itâ
âI thank Claire-samaâs generous heartâ
Where did his arrogant attitude from when we came here go.
Wedge-sama is prostrated on the floor in front of Claire-sama.
âWith this the case is closed!â
â⊠Hey, Rei. Could you explain this farce soon?â
Well, obviously Claire-sama wouldnât know of Mito â mon.
âThere are a lot of servants inside the mansion, right?â
âYou canât stop rumors. If I make a fuss about using Claire-samaâs name, the surrounding will get an impression that this person committed wrongdoings, right?â
âIndeed. So it had a meaningâ
No, well, thatâs just a fabricated story, I just wanted to have fun with Claire-sama.