The Doomed Fief’s Dying Lord (2)

“I don’t know much about soldiery, but I know how money flows. This is a simple math problem.”

“Huh… Are we being called fools who can’t even do arithmetic?”

Such a voice came softly.

Ronari shook her head.

“No. I understand your position. Denabi’s financial situation is dire. Because of that, supplies couldn’t be plentiful. So you’ve been sending only amounts that match the monthly loss rate.”

“If you know that, why are you dragging this out with all these words?”

At the aide’s question, Ronari sighed.

She spoke firmly.

“Because by cutting and matching increases to the loss rate, the money that could have been saved amounts to nearly 50 billion.”

50 billion.

When that absurd number popped out, the officers were taken aback.

They probably wanted to say this.

‘What kind of nonsense is this?’

A brief murmur passed.

One officer expressed ‘What kind of nonsense is this?’ in the most polite terms he could.

“Impossible. We review last year’s losses every year and revise supply plans. If it had accumulated that much, we would surely have noticed and reviewed it.”

“No. Please look closely at the documents.”

“What exactly are you asking us to look at in these documents…?”

That question was answered soon enough.

The documents Ronari brought were excessively thick.

“This is… from fifteen years ago?”

An officer who flipped to the very back of the material said.

Ronari nodded.

“Yes. The young master and I read the initial deployments, losses, and supplies over the past fifteen years and compiled statistics.”

A deep shadow fell over our faces because of that.

‘It was a novel experience. I’m always the one demanding overnight work….’

This time, an employee asked me to stay up late.

But when an S-rank says do it, you do it.

What else could I do.

Anyway, at Ronari’s request we dug through fifteen years of records together.

And we drew the following conclusion.

“Of course, if you’d only reviewed the previous year’s records you wouldn’t have found a 50 billion loss. But look.”

The table Ronari had compiled.

It contained indicators organized from fifteen years of statistics.

Funds excessively lost due to initial underfunding of military funds,

The sufficient amount that should have been supplied,

Chronic financial instability from cumulative losses.

The officers all pounced on the documents, but there were no errors in the statistics.

Because they themselves had made those records.

So the conclusion couldn’t be wrong either.

Numbers don’t lie.

The more they examined the data, the firmer that truth became.

Thus the silence in the conference room grew heavier with a different mood.

“Well then…”

A sigh mixed with chagrin escaped.

But Ronari didn’t press them further.

“Finding this error is thanks to all of you who diligently kept records. That’s how the young master and I could compile fifteen years of statistics.”

I agreed with her.

This error wasn’t Ronari’s alone to find; it was everyone’s discovery.

Because they had built up these fifteen years of records.

It would be unreasonable to criticize them.

“On the contrary, I think we should be grateful to you. But regardless, the supply plan must be reexamined.”

“…“

To the speechless group, Ronari brought the debate to a close like this.

“May I help with that?”

Now there was no aide who could refuse.

Alejandro reached a quick conclusion.

“Good. Quartermasters will begin reexamining with Ronari Administrator as soon as the meeting ends. I’ll consider changing the Administrator’s post and new title.”

“Change of post?”

Ronari said, seemingly surprised.

But in fact this topic had already been discussed.

I exchanged a glance with Alejandro.

I had asked him to let me bring Ronari to the meeting and give her a chance to speak.

But I hadn’t expected him to mention a change of post.

‘Oh oh, father. Shane’s father….’

I thanked my father once again for his favor.

I said as I left the conference room.

“That was impressive, Ronari.”

Addressing supply issues on two fronts was a major achievement.

“When have I not?”

Ronari replied casually.

But her hand was trembling slightly.

‘She spoke so boldly on a sensitive subject in front of seasoned officers. It’s natural she’s shaking.’

Rather, I felt relieved by that aspect of Ronari.

She had to go through many changes in a short time.

Recognition of new talents,

Differentiated duties,

And even a change of post.

Growing pains were inevitable.

But by overcoming that pain, she would become much stronger.

I firmly believed that.

Because she is S-rank.
And I will surely find a position worthy of an S-rank for her.

“Let’s clear this domain sim easy mode with talent power!”

Talent, after all, is something you cultivate.

If things stayed like this, the plan’s success would also…

’…I thought it wouldn’t be difficult.’

But it turned out like this.

Now, let’s go back a few episodes.

In terms of time, it’s a few days later.

What had happened in the meantime?

“The elder young master is returning in ten days!”

…that was the piece of news.

My first thought then was ‘We’re screwed’,
and maybe as fourth came ‘What about Ronari?’

‘At the very moment I decide to grow talent, does this make any sense!?’

This piece-of-crap worldview.

If I were back in reality, I’d sue for something.

‘This is supposed to be a domain story—does this kind of development make sense?’

Damn ten days? Ten days!?

Just as I was setting posts and trying to foster growth, what is this?

“Argh, I’m furious. I’m furious…”

I lay face down and banged the table.

Ronari asked.

“Are you okay?”

“I’ve had many fights with ‘okay.’ I don’t want to see it again. Reconciliation seems unlikely.”

“What’s the matter?”

What’s the matter.

‘Just seeing you makes me cry blood.’

She was talent who had just spread her wings and was about to fly.

Just now I had finally given her the right post.

Time I could give her was already limited.

And now even that was gone.

‘Because this annoyingly inescapable problem has arisen.’

I told her.

“Ronari. You bring 150, I bring 50. With a combined IQ of 200 we must devise a perfect plan.”

“I…Q?”

We had to leave for Limone immediately.

To persuade the Lord of Limone.

It was obvious Ludovica would probe our tactical plan.

If we couldn’t answer there, there’d be no reinforcements!

The staff were put on alert as well.

“We must come up with a strategy to persuade the Lord of Limone immediately, but we’re far from ready. We don’t even know how many troops Limone will send.”

“I may have to go personally and ask.”

Alejandro even said that much.

Various discussions took place.

But there was no clear answer.

Everyone knew there was no time to waste.

So they hurried to respond, and for that reason the meeting was in a fog.

Izak shouted.

“The Dungeon’s danger rating is grade 3. We need at least 200 men. But we can mobilize only about 70 elite soldiers. So it’s decided. Ask for them. 130 men.”

“Izak, you see, you need to provide grounds for requesting 130 men, don’t you?”

Another officer echoed Pietro’s words.

“Right. And if 130 troops are dispatched, that’s twice our force, isn’t it? With our main force completely away from the castle, who knows what they’d do?”

Izak’s rebuttal was sarcastic.

“Ha. Then we could just ask for 70 men and all crawl into the Dungeon together. It would be a grand mutual suicide. That would be a sight.”

I interjected then.

“You needn’t worry about Limone betraying us. I have a way. Even if 130 are dispatched, it won’t be a problem.”

“What’s that method?”

“…That’s something I can explain later. For now, the important thing is how to persuade Limone, isn’t it?“

“Alright. Let’s assume we trust the young master’s words. Then do you have a way to persuade Limone?”

Ha ha.

Why are you asking me that?

I’m not a soldier, nor a tactician, and certainly not S-rank.

‘I’m an E-rank nobody who doesn’t even know my own aptitude!’

What I’m aiming for is clearing the domain story using talent power.

I gave up easy mode recently, but since I’m lacking in ability, the point is to ride on talented people.

I immediately handed the baton to that talent.

“Ronari, are you ready?”

She gestured with the pen, indicating to wait.

Of course.

When an S-rank tells you to wait, you wait.

When I stayed silent, the meeting returned to heated debate.

I watched the entranced meeting and waited for Ronari.

Soon a signal came.

She nudged me.

She asked.

“Has anything been progressed?”

“No. Ronari Administrator… no, Ronari strategy analyst should say a word.”

Strategy analyst.

That was Ronari’s new title.

For reference, I recommended that job title.

If it sounds familiar, you’re mistaken.

In any case, since the strategy analyst post didn’t exist before, it had several advantages.

You can intervene anywhere and be intervened by no one.

So it had no authority, but who cares.

‘Authority is something Alejandro and I can grant as we please.’

“So, are you ready? Strategy analyst?”

“I have a plan, though it needs refining while we move. And please stop calling me ‘strategy analyst’? It makes me cringe.”

“But that’s your title—what do you want me to do?”

“…“

Ronari’s cheeks puffed.

I ignored her glare.

After a few hollow coughs, I put Ronari in front.

The noisy conference room began to focus on Ronari and me.

And time arrives at the present.

The Lord of Limone Castle,

Ludovica Leviner.

She asked,

“How many troops do you intend to request from us? What’s the concrete strategy? Now, son of Alejandro, if you truly want to save your domain, you must be able to answer.”

It was exactly the question we had prepared for over the past few days.

I answered immediately.

“That will be explained by our regiment’s strategy analyst. Ronari?”

At my cue, she bowed her head to Ludovica.

“I am Ronari Arenta, strategy analyst of the Denabi regiment. May I answer the respected Lord of Limone’s question on behalf of the young master?”

“Of course.”

Ludovica nodded calmly.

Ronari seemed a bit nervous.

But I didn’t think she would fail.

‘Knowing the enemy and knowing ourselves—how could we lose?’

After a deep breath.

At last Ronari began to speak.

“Our target is a grade-3 Dungeon. From Denabi Castle, roughly a total of about 100 personnel will be deployed, including 59 standing troops and 33 conscripts.”

Ludovica stroked her chin.

“Hmm. Grade 3, huh. About 200 men could take it without much trouble. It should be done in three days. We would only need to spare 100 men. Am I right?”

“No.”

Ronari shook her head.

Ludovica showed interest.

“Oh. Then how many do you want? 120, or 150?”

And Ronari answered without the slightest hesitation.

“Denabi requests 300 relief troops from Limone for this operation.”