Chapter 86 – Inflation

The momentum of the two was tightly matched.

One was the head leading the cabinet.

The other was the influential figure of the Imperial Family.

Those watching saved their words, trying to show as little bias as possible.

They seemed careful even with their breathing.

“Your Majesty, what do you think about the Council?”

The Prime Minister asked again.

If they could not overcome this crisis, a thousand years of history would collapse.

And he would be recorded as the dishonorable last Prime Minister.

To prevent this, he leaned on the young Emperor, but he was not an existence he could lean on in the first place.

“Yennifer…”

Just like a cornered lamb hiding behind its mother.

As everyone expected, the young Emperor sought his sister, the Imperial Princess, first.

“Is the Council out of the question?”

Her expression was fixed without wavering.

It was a complete resolve not to compromise with anything.

“Your Majesty, have you already forgotten that day? If we revive the Council, the number of those who insult Your Majesty and the Imperial Family will only steadily increase. If Your Majesty is the Empire itself, the Council must not be allowed to exist. Forget about the Council completely.”

Whether the memory of that day had come to mind.

The Emperor’s mood sank in an instant.

“The Council… cannot be. It insulted me, the Emperor.”

Where on earth did the Emperor go, who had overwhelmed everyone with just his gaze and blood control?

Excluding the two members of the Imperial Family, the rest felt miserable at the Emperor’s naivety.

“Your Majesty…”

In the end, there was nothing to lean on from a nominal Emperor.

The Prime Minister turned his gaze to her, who was practically no different from the Emperor.

“Then what will you do? To manage the military, we ultimately need the Guild Federation’s support. But there is practically no way to persuade them other than the Council.”

She also had something in mind.

Of course, she knew that choice would be toxic, but to protect the imperial power, there was no other way.

“Issue more government bonds. Or you can print more currency. If not that, there is also the method of raising taxes further.”

The Prime Minister saved his words, and the cabinet members and several nobles began to stir.

When the clamor subsided slightly, the Prime Minister stepped forward on behalf of everyone.

“If printing money makes wealth, we could print it indefinitely. But we cannot touch government bonds anymore. If we issue any more than this, the nobles right here will start dumping their bonds. If government bonds become scrap paper, that will be a disaster.”

“If we have any leeway, it would be on the side of currency, which is nothing but scraps of paper. However, we have already printed as much currency as we could. Do you know how much the price of bread has risen over the past few years? There is no such thing as a free lunch. And taxes… taxes are also already at their limit. If we raise them further, the country will be overturned by the angry public, not the Golden Age Party.”

The Prime Minister continued speaking.

“If the matter could be resolved by such an easy method, would we have relied on the Guild Federation?”

The Imperial Princess did not know any less, but to protect the imperial power, there was no retreat from battle.

Sacrifices were naturally a portion that had to be endured.

“If it is difficult to touch government bonds, print more currency than now, and raise taxes further. And taxes must be received solely in imperial currency. This should make things a bit better.”

At that, the expressions of the two cabinet members in charge of economy and finance stiffened slightly.

The two saved their words, and sure enough, it was the Prime Minister who spoke.

“Your Highness, that is not a fundamental solution.”

“I know. But we must put out the immediate fire first. First, pay the back salaries in that manner and appease the military’s dissatisfaction.”

“It is like freezing to death while trying to warm oneself. If we do as you said, we might get by for now, but I do not know about the aftermath. The moment they realize they cannot even buy bread with the salary they received, the military will choose to part ways with us without regret.”

The Imperial Princess stated firmly.

“No such thing will ever happen.”

Everyone cast doubtful glances.

With what kind of confidence was she saying such things without fear?

“So you just need to do as I said.”

She struggled to suppress the rising power of authority.

Although it was hard to bear, because he was there, she desperately suppressed that power.

The Prime Minister closed his eyes for a moment and envisioned the future of the Empire.

The future that had at least been visible before was now not visible at all.

Opening his eyes, the Prime Minister sought the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, please decide. In the end, the final decision-maker is Your Majesty, not Her Highness.”

With a gaze that was a sigh itself, he requested the final approval from the Emperor.

The Emperor, only reading everyone’s expressions, asked.

“Is it possible to print things like money too?”

“Yes, it is possible. Usually it is printed with gold as collateral, but that has already lost its meaning.”

“Lost its meaning?”

“It means the gold collateral is meaningless. Since people only trade with currency and do not bother to exchange it for gold. So it is possible to print currency while ignoring gold.”

“Then isn’t that a good thing?”

The Prime Minister answered instead with a faint smile.

“Didn’t you say there is no money? Then we can just print it wildly…”

The cabinet members saved their words.

Since there was nothing to expect.

The Emperor’s gaze, landing last, was on the Imperial Princess who shared the same bloodline, as expected.

“Yennifer…”

The Imperial Princess only nodded her head with a firm gaze.

Since she was willing to endure any sacrifice to protect the imperial power.

For the young Emperor, the only one he could trust was his sister who shared the same blood.

“Print the money. That should do it, right?”

His approval fell.

Everyone, not bothering to voice opposition, chimed in in unison.

“Vestra Maiestas.”

After the state affairs meeting.

Coming out of the meeting hall, the Prime Minister saw his aide following him.

Then, thinking of something, he suddenly asked him.

“Did you say someone from the military visited before?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Conscious of the people around him, the Prime Minister said as he moved his steps.

“Let’s move to a different place.”

Having left the meeting hall, the Prime Minister asked his aide immediately in a deserted spot.

“Exactly where did you say he was from?”

“He introduced himself to me as an adjutant serving Commander Leon Stout.”

“Leon Stout?”

He was a three-star general whose name alone carried weight.

He won victory after victory in the Grey Morning, spreading his fame, and for his merits, he was now the commander overseeing the western border adjacent to the allied nations.

“I remember him faintly. He was a general with extraordinary grace.”

He was a key figure in the military.

His position was that solid, and because of his fame, there were quite a lot of followers.

That such a person secretly contacted him carried several meanings.

“Tell him. I will meet him.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

* * *

Under the Imperial Order.

The imperial currency, multiplied several times over, was scattered in the streets.

When money that hadn’t existed began to circulate, a brief vitality returned to the streets, but that vitality did not last very long.

Due to the price of bread soaring day by day, the citizens on the streets had considerable complaints, and those complaints naturally had no choice but to deteriorate into supporting a certain political party shouting for the overthrow of the Imperial Family.

“Everyone! Do you know how much bread costs these days?”

A political rally held surprise-style on the street.

A person wearing an armband with the Golden Age Party’s symbol drawn on his upper arm led the rally proactively.

“Because it changes every day, we do not even know how much it is now! It will rise again tomorrow, and it will rise again the day after tomorrow!”

He continued his passionate speech while crumpling the paper currency he pulled out of his jacket pocket like trash.

“With this kind of trash, it is hard to even buy and eat bread now.”

The citizens on the street, who had accidentally gotten swept into the rally while walking, sent enthusiastic support.

“That’s right! You can’t buy anything anymore with that kind of paper trash!”

“It’s all the fault of the incompetent Emperor and the vampire nobles! Those bastards are ruining this Empire.”

“Correct!”

As if responding to this.

The leader of the rally clenched his fist and punched the air with all his might.

“This is all the fault of the incompetent Imperial Family and the vampires who suck the blood of the Empire! How long must we be persecuted by this kind of heterogeneous race? Let’s all shout together! Overthrow the Imperial Family! Incompetent Emperor, step down!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

When the leader of the rally beat the drum he had brought, several drum sounds echoed from here and there as if in response.

“Revolution to the Heart!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

“Revolution to the Heart!”

Before they knew it, the sound of the drum was being imprinted in people’s minds as a signal representing the symbol of the Golden Age Party, the overthrow of the Imperial Family, and the revolution.

“It is quite chaotic.”

She, who had followed Rashid, said from the seat next to him.

Outside the official car, it was quite noisy due to the drumbeats echoing from here and there and the shouts of citizens calling for the overthrow of the Imperial Family.

She wore a lifeless, dry expression as usual, but seemed to care slightly about the matters outside.

Bang! Bang bang!

Surprised by the sudden gunshots, the sound of the drums quickly vanished, and the surprise rally that had been held also quickly dispersed.

Glancing at the people fleeing in panic through the car window, Rashid turned his gaze to the newspaper in front of him.

[Internal Cracks Exposed in Magic Tower, Dharma Division and Purgatory Coven Conflict Intensifies —Sky Island Newspaper—]

The situation outside was serious, but the newspaper article naturally raised the corners of his mouth.

“It is quiet even though they took the Immortal Heart. One side is busy keeping political forces in check, and the other side has fallen into a family feud before we know it.”

To think the Magic Tower factions would fight each other.

It was certainly a good piece of news.

Because if things went like this, setbacks would be inevitable for Zodiac’s moves as he ordered the Dharma Division around like his hands and feet.

‘With this, I have bought some time regarding Zodiac. If it’s to this degree in the newspaper, it means that side has been completely turned upside down.’

Since there was no need to look into the details of the article.

Folding the newspaper, he continued speaking.

“Did contact not come from the Imperial Court?”

“Yes, not yet. As you said, they seem quite busy. Just looking at the matters here right now, I doubt they have the leisure to care about things like treasure.”

“They might have forgotten about it before they knew it, merely believing the words that it would be returned.”

“Still, they will come looking.”

“No matter who comes, hand them over to me. Since I am holding onto it anyway.”

Pushing up the glasses she was wearing, she suddenly shifted the topic.

“By any chance, why did we come here? I thought there would be a reason, but I don’t particularly see one.”

“Nothing much. Just to get some fresh air.”

To be precise, it was to observe the currently progressing situation between the Imperial Court and the Golden Age Party.

“Why did you follow?”

“For me, of course…”

When she, omitting the rest of her words, looked at him strangely instead, Rashid suddenly spoke as if recalling something.

“There is one strange thing, you see.”

Rashid continued speaking while observing her reaction.

“In the sponsored house, there was a caretaker I didn’t know about. There was also a cleaner I had never hired. Dig into their backgrounds. They might have been placed by the fellows of the Magic Tower.”

She spoke flatly.

“There is no need. I verified all of them.”

“You verified them?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you do that?”

“Because it is my duty, of course.”

Just as about two question marks formed on Rashid’s face, she continued speaking as if it were natural.

“Would I miss such things? When they are the ones managing my superior’s residence.”

Since the doubt still had not left his face, she offered additional explanation.

“And the caretaker and cleaner are usually a package.”

“A package?”

“Originally, a mansion naturally comes with a caretaker or cleaner to manage the residence. You aren’t going to manage the building yourself, are you?”

Doubt was not free.

“But who is taking care of their salary? Unless they are doing volunteer work, it means someone is paying them, doesn’t it?”

“That would be the sponsor, wouldn’t it?”

The world he possessed.

While he knew the villains he had to crush inside out, he did not know the society in general.

“The employed cleaners were a bit excessive compared to the size of the mansion. They were quite serious about cleaning. Just like someone.”

“I’ll tell you in advance so you don’t misunderstand. It is not me.”

“I suppose so. Why on earth would you sponsor me unless you were crazy.”

Rashid tried to recall who would care that much about him.

There were some, but not a particular person came to mind.

“Were the caretaker and cleaner really fine?”

She showed her displeasure without filtering it.

“I believe I told you before. They are all fine people. I do not tolerate mistakes in my work.”

Knowing her personality, Rashid decided not to ask any further.

Dissatisfaction with the situational discomfort.

This matter also occurred because of his lack of financial leeway.

Had there been leeway, he would have left that strange house long ago.

Thinking about various things, Rashid spat out a faint complaint.

“A pity. When it is an opportunity to make a fortune.”

Unlike usual, a bit of life returned to her expression.

“A fortune, what do you mean?”

“Just take it as a joke. There is an old saying: ‘When a nation rises, the newly rich are born, and when a nation falls, the merchant of war is born.’”

Glancing at her, Rashid continued speaking.

“If I only had a lump sum of money at this time, I would have become filthy rich. I wouldn’t have relied on that kind of house either.”

“At a time like this?”

Rashid smirked.

“You don’t know how to make money.”