59

A brief commotion passed, and the presentation began in earnest.

“To make things clear, I’ll start with a simple question. Do you know what methods nobles use to hide assets?”

They themselves were nobles, so of course they knew. I pointed at Mr. Bull, who sat closest, with the fan I’d prepared. He blinked and answered.

“There is collusion with the clergy and temples. They can store illegally obtained assets in safes under a cleric’s name. Temples have religious immunity, so oversight is harder than in other areas.”

It was a neat answer befitting someone who graduated top of the academy. When Sean from the Foreign Ministry raised his hand, I nodded to indicate permission.

“There is smuggling through merchant houses, a kind of money laundering. They manipulate the prices of goods with foreign houses to create ‘false trades’ and store the difference abroad. Without close cooperation from other countries, tracking that is quite difficult.”

Naturally, the last speaker came from the Ministry of Finance.

“The most commonly used method is to disperse assets under retainers’ names. They use trusted household knights or servants’ names to hide vast unreported assets.”

They weren’t half-baked central bureaucrats, it seemed. I nodded in thanks for the answers and continued my explanation.

“Our honorable Chancellery’s former Chancellor Marcus and former First Secretary Dorian used the retainer-name method which was just mentioned. They dispersed assets under retainer names and then made those retainers flee overseas. We are currently tracking those retainers.”

I wrote ‘Noble Asset Registration System’ on the board and briefly listed the concealment methods mentioned so far.

“The proposal I’m suggesting is designed to block all three of these concealment crimes not only through our four departments but also with the cooperation of the Magic Tower.”

I smiled meaningfully.

Welcome, kids. First time doing a group project, right?

I won’t allow any department to free-ride, you know?

“Then let’s go in.”

“See you tomorrow.”

The remaining people from the concealment department stared dumbfounded at the backs of the Chancellery officials as they disappeared, hair ruffling. In truth, they were exhausted from the long meeting. Even the Chief Justice sat at his desk, staring blankly.

“They are frightening bureaucrats. Cornelia, the secretary…!”

Diplomat Sean panted as if he’d sprinted a hundred meters and spoke.

“She even thought about the roles each department should play in her proposal.”

Finance officer Abel shook his head as if taken aback. Vespera, who had been sitting quietly, didn’t show it outwardly but agreed as he recalled the meeting.

“There are departmental roles for the smooth implementation of the Noble Asset Registration System. It’s the work you’re responsible for, so there shouldn’t be difficulties. First, the Ministry of Finance records assets declared by nobles and tracks their flows. The Foreign Ministry establishes investigative agreements with other countries in case assets are illegally moved overseas. Of course, if we offer an agreement promising cooperation if foreign assets illegally enter the Empire, there’s no reason they wouldn’t help. And the biggest condition for this to proceed smoothly is the Magic Tower.”

“Magic Tower?”

“The Magic Tower would cast a guarantee spell on nobles’ asset declarations to verify the authenticity of assets and make overseas tracking easier. The Magic Tower belongs to no power, so it’s even more trustworthy. Finally, once the Ministry of Justice organizes the above roles, it will codify them into law, and the Chancellery will coordinate each department’s duties and proclaim the administrative order so it can be enforced.”

“She even perfectly answered our questions.”

Illya, the Supreme Justice’s aide, added as if surprised.

“What if a noble declares someone else’s assets as their own?”

When Simon asked, Cornelia answered smoothly.

“Of course, we’d first accept the declaration and then start verification procedures. They would have to prove it’s their asset. We’d investigate whether contracts are forged or if there are transaction records. With the Magic Tower’s cooperation it would be easier.”

“Yes, this seems like the biggest issue. How on earth will you get the Magic Tower’s cooperation?”

Finance officer Reyra asked sharply. But I had an answer ready for that too.

“This proposal has a clear justification: preventing illegal asset concealment, that is, stopping crimes. So it wouldn’t be something the Magic Tower would oppose from a mage’s standpoint. Some measured engagement with central bureaucrats wouldn’t be bad either. There’s a possibility worth proposing.”

“I heard Cornelia used to be an aide to the Aurelius marquis family’s young lady.”

“What? The Aurelius marquis family — their son is the next heir to the Magic Tower’s lord, isn’t he? Does she have connections?”

“At the very least, we could talk through the marquis’s daughter. They say the siblings are on good terms.”

Diplomat Simon leaned back heavily in his chair.

“I see why she was promoted so fast.”

Everyone tacitly agreed.

“Then you can’t really scold her for leaving on time.”

“When she left with the scribe earlier, I wasn’t even angry. I couldn’t say anything, really.”

“She crushed us with skill, so what can I even say?”

Coarse language began to come from Reyra, a First-grade finance officer. Abel, a Second-grade finance officer, stopped her in surprise.

“Ha, tone it down. If you’re going to swear, do it in the Ministry of Finance.”

“Our superiors just got humiliated — are we supposed to sit quietly? A newcomer who’s been here only a few months brought a far better alternative than mine.”

In fact, everyone in the central ministries except the recently hired Cornelia knew of her coarse tongue. With a calm, chilly voice using vulgar words, she’d made several new finance hires cry.

“Looking at it this way, leaving on time seems pointless. From now on I’ll leave when I have the time.”

When Sean sighed and said that, Simon stopped him.

“Oh, but leaving exactly the moment it’s time feels a bit cold-hearted.”

Abel sided with Sean.

“Cornelia, who left on time after doing her work, brought a better solution, so hassling her to work overtime is pointless. Honestly, if she says she finished her tasks and is leaving, we have no reason to object.”

“What would the higher-ups think if all the central ministries’ lights were off?”

“The lights are always on, but the achievements people carry away are minimal. The Ministry of Finance works overtime because there’s work to do, not to put on a show. Maybe you just don’t like us leaving early?”

“What?!”

As Simon stood up abruptly, Reyra added one more comment.

“Honestly, there’s nothing much to do, and it’s true people just stay. Simon?”

“Reyra, finance officer!”

“Enough.”

As voices rose, the Supreme Justice Vespera, who had been sitting silently, finally spoke up.

“I’m leaving first.”

He picked up his bag and strode out of the office. The slam echoed as if scolding the concealment department. The remaining staff flinched.

“Oh—there’s the Supreme Justice here too, I made a mistake. He must be very angry.”

“He’s been quiet lately; I’m worried we may have poked the sleeping lion for no reason.”

Vespera’s aide Illya nervously bit his lip.

Reyra leaned back to the edge of her chair, stared at the ceiling, and muttered.

“By the way, the Noble Asset Registration System—it’s going to cause an uproar.”

I never thought I’d see that boss I saw earlier again in just a few hours.

“What’s up today, Little Lamb?”

He was Little Lamb, who had risen as another VIP client of the sacred side business Those Who Can’t Resign after Mr. Bull. He told me he was surprised by my opinion at today’s meeting. It was awkward hearing him pretend to be a third party while listening to my story.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect a good idea from someone who leaves on time. I thought they had no interest in work and only went home.”

…I felt like I should admit he was right.

“I suppose I must admit I was wrong. Working long hours doesn’t necessarily produce good results.”

“That employee probably concentrates during the allotted time. If they’re leaving early, they can’t have left without finishing their work. Who really wants to stay at the office longer than necessary?”

“Is that so? I don’t really care.”

“Really? That’s odd—”

“What matters is handling the work well. If you’re at your desk you should fulfill the obligations that come with it. Leaving time isn’t that significant.”

Having only seen people like Marcus or the pompous fellow, it felt strange to see a noble uphold duties and propriety. Is this the Empire’s top catch? I still warned him to take it easy or he’d burn out.

“I heard something puzzling today. People habitually do overtime at work; even when there’s nothing to do, they stay because of peer pressure. Is that true?”

“No, that’s—”

I was about to answer as if it were obvious, but I stopped. His eyes behind the mask were so pure.

“You really didn’t know?”

Seeing my reaction, his pupils trembled violently.

“I’m shocked…”

The adorable Little Lamb nodded sadly in his guise. My head started to throb.

‘He claims to be the Empire’s top catch. With this, his social awareness is abysmal.’