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Chapter 400 – Final Conclusion
「So, did you learn anything?」Hikaru asked Luna.「You came here when you don’t really want to.」
「…It’s not that I don’t want to come here. I just don’t like big houses.」Luna pouted. She was older, but still had a childish side to her.「The men you caught deep in the mountains were capital garrison.」
「Oh, really? How did you find out?」
According to Luna, she delivered the bandits to the guards in the neighboring city and then immediately returned to the imperial capital to report to the Prime Minister, who immediately sent a trusted knight to check on the bandits.
It didn’t take long at all. When the knight saw the bandits, he was convinced that they were members of the capital garrison’s reserve corps. A man who claimed to be a nobleman came and urged the guards to release the bandits. How he found out about the arrest, no one knew.
As it turned out, the man was actually a real noble—a member of the conservative faction.
「In short, the conservatives were sabotaging the supply of kounatsu to the capital to slowly weaken the progressives.」
There was no longer any way to find out which side started this whole mess. No point in studying if the egg or chicken came first.
After learning everything, Kaglai addressed the nobility.
「Let bygones be bygones.」he said.
It wasn’t, in any way, just a slap on the wrist. Later on, Kaglai and his Prime Minister reviewed the important positions and declared that the best person for the job was to be appointed, regardless of whether he was a progressive or a conservative.
If a noble complained about the decision, they would be investigated for his crimes. Indeed, the whole chaos involved almost all of the nobility. In exchange for absolving those involved for their crimes, Kaglai decided to completely tear down the walls that stood between the nobles.
That also meant that the three nobles who tried to kill him were not held accountable for their crimes, which was quite a gutsy move. Of course, the investigation on the origin of the poison and weapon still continued to prevent such a case from happening again.
All of the evidence obtained through Alice’s investigation would be taken into account when appointing someone for an important position from now on.
「…So far, none of the nobles are that opposed to the changes.」Luna said.
「Must be their faith in Kaglai, and also they’re scared of the Margrave. That’s a shame.」
「…A shame?」
「There’s a spell that examines your sins and inflicts divine punishment. I was hoping I got the chance to try it.」
Paula choked on her soup. If some noble tried to feign ignorance, Hikaru was considering using the spell Angel Judgment in place of a lie detector.
「…Hmm. Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if you have any other cards up your sleeve…」Luna said flatly.
Luna has three Heaven-type skills, Hikaru thought. I think I get it now. His Heaven Shot skill that appeared on his Soul Board came to mind. He hadn’t point on it, though.
【Heaven Shot】A Skill that reaches the domain of the god that controls divine providence. Lose a part of what makes one human. Max: 5.
Hikaru hadn’t used this skill because he was worried about the “lose a part of what makes one human” part. His Instinct also told him not to take a step further.
Looking at Luna, Hikaru was convinced that the ‘Heaven’ type skills caused one to lose their emotions.
The only other person who had a ‘Heaven’ type skill was Lawrence. The Captain of Ponsonia’s knights was certainly somewhat inhuman.
Hikaru didn’t have enough sample size before, but with Luna added to it, he thought his hypothesis of losing one’s emotions was correct.
Devoting yourself to your path and you will attain a divine status. Gods transcend man. What makes a human human is the heart…
Hikaru tossed a piece of kounatsu into his mouth. It left a fresh yet bittersweet taste.
Once major positions in the government were announced, noblemen were appointed to their respective posts.
Sakakimiya would keep his position as Prime Minister, the Minister of the Left was moved to the Minister of the Right position, and the vacant Minister of the Left post was given to Margrave Korn, the cornerstone of military affairs. In line with this, Korn relinquished his title of Margrave—the conflict between Ponsonia and Quinbland had died down anyway—and became a regular Count. He became the commander of the national army instead of the border forces.
The former Minister of the Right, on the other hand, remained out of office. He did not say anything nor raised any objections.
In addition to Count Ron, two other noblemen from the progressives were appointed as ministers to join the Imperial Council, but the number of conservatives who dropped out was even greater. Retired nobles were called back to take their places.
「I suppose we can’t leave it to the young’uns just yet, eh?」
「My. What a shame.」
「I have to pee.」
Soon, slobbery old men would be active within the imperial castle.
But this also suggested just how deep the rift was between the nobles, and how cautious Emperor Kaglai was.
「Welcome home, Father!」
Count Zepetta found all his children gathered in his own mansion. There were seven of them in all, including Filino, the oldest of them. His son and daughter, whom he hadn’t entrusted with any store in the capital, also returned—even though they stayed away from the city during the trial.
「You must be exhausted. Please, take your time to rest.」
「I brought my cook with me. I’ll have them fix you up a feast!」
「Would you rather have a drink? I got some expensive but good stuff. Let’s have a drink!」
Count Zepetta’s children approached him with smiles on their faces.
He looked around.「Where’s Nino?」he asked.
「Nino? That mistress’ son is not here.」Tralino said.「I heard he left early in the morning to earn some coins. Never mind him. I got some good news! Last month’s profits exceeded a whopping 9 million gilans!」
「I see.」Zepetta nodded deeply, and addressed his children.「Tralino, how much have you earned on your own?」
「Huh? Like I said, I earned over 9 million gilans!」
「No, you don’t understand a thing. What about you, Filino?」
「Well… m-my store wasn’t doing too well last month. Probably around 100,000 gilans…」
「Only a hundred thousand?! What about you, Grano?」
「Uh, I have no idea…」
Pressing his forehead, Zepetta went quiet.
「Father.」Filino said softly.「I’m sure you’re exhausted. How about you rest for the rest of the day?」
「You fools! I only lent those stores to you! Did you forget what I said?! I told you to learn how to conduct business and eventually start your own! Not only do some of you have low profits, one doesn’t even have any idea how much they earned!」
The Count’s eyes were bloodshot. His children shrank back.「You can have all your profit for this month, but that’s it! Take that money and start your own business! Don’t expect any help from the Zepetta Trading Company!」
「B-But Father, that’s too much…」
「I already made my decision! Now go back to your own stores!」
The Count’s shouts sent his children running. Filino fell down and screamed as Grano stepped on the hem of her long skirt, but no one bothered helping her. Cursing, Filino got up and staggered out of the mansion too.
Breathing heavily, Zepetta ignored the terrified servants and headed to his room, climbing the stairs to the second floor.
「It seems I raised them wrong. Awfully wrong.」
Zepetta recalled the day of the trial where Nino appeared gallantly.
「Please take care, Father.」Nino said as the court was adjourned.
He was about to leave when the Count stopped him.「Wait a minute. Where are you going?」he asked.
「There are goods I have to buy. The capital’s watermelons at this time of year sell for a lot in the north!」
Nino left feeling excited. Zepetta knew already. That Nino wasn’t here.
I must be getting old.
Nino’s eyes reminded him of old times. Zepetta once took watermelons he grew on the outskirts of the capital and sold them to the city near the border with Forestia.
Memories came flashing back. The grass swinging in the wind. The clean air in the forests. Resting his horse by the river. The one-night stand he had with a female merchant.
But they looked pale, as though illuminated by the sunset.
Perhaps because I envy Nino. And I miss him. Zepetta came to a decision. Once he returns, I’ll give him a store to attend to. No, we’ll be business partners.
Just like how the wealthy merchant who discovered Zepetta’s business sense lent him a hand, he would do the same for his son.
He looked up and saw that the window on the landing was open. A refreshing summer breeze blew in. The Count realized then that a new wind would be blowing throughout the Empire too.