Chapter 72: CH 67.4

Short Story 2

Mia Gains a Bosom Buddy Through a Mutual Misunderstanding Part 2

Goodness… These people are not really thinking…

Ludwig was rubbing his temples because of a headache since coming back to his office in the Golden Moon Ministry.

If they know they are going to get caught, why commit fraud? They might as well as just not do it in the first place… If only all nobles are as wise as Her Highness, my job would be a lot more easier.

He sighed while shaking his head.

Well, I guess it will only be a dream.

“Hey! Are those new wrinkles or you are just happy to see me?”

Ludwig was startled and looked up to see a man standing before his door. The man had a thick blond hair with a trimmed beard. His intelligent brown eyes match his charming smile. Ludwig smiled upon seeing this man.

“Oh! Balthazar. It has been a long time. When did you come back to the capital?”

“I just arrived this afternoon. I heard you were looking for me, so I came here directly.”

This man was Balthazar Brandt who was an old friend of Ludwig and works at Scarlet Moon Ministry. He was born into a comfortable life as the third son of a count. Even with his luxurious upbringing, his talent continued to bloom. He wanted to test his limits and so he went to the capital to study under the most prestigious scholar. It was there that he met Ludwig. After passing the Scarlet Moon Ministry exam, he started making a name for himself as a young and capable official.

“I did not think that we would meet again so soon… It looks luck is on my side.”

Ludwig said while sighing with relief. He did not request a meeting with him just to reminisce their olden days. Even now that he has the backing of the Princess of Tearmoon, he is still just a public servant. In the Golden Moon Ministry where he worked, he was quite vocal about abolishing policies that tend to favor only the nobility, and he made sure that taxes were collected fairly and impartially.

There were always people like Baron Radnor whose deep connections always scare his fellow workers. With those kinds of persons, he gives them a personal visit. Because of this, he is often in conflict with the factions of the Four Dukes and was known to be thorn in the side by the nobles.

However, that was the extent of his accomplishments. There was a limit on what he can do as he is just an official of Golden Moon Ministry whose job only covers taxation and financial matters. He was only a small entity against the whole Empire. If he wants to fix the Empire, he needed friends. Friends who share in his vision and will rally under the same cause.

—

Ludwig and Balthazar went to a familiar restaurant and sat down in a private room. Balthazar immediately asked…

“So, what is happening? Did you just call me to show off your new wrinkles?”

“Will you please stop it with my wrinkles! Well, it is true that I have been busy lately. I can feel the fatigue catching up with me…”

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Ludwig stifled a yawn and shook himself to keep himself awake.

“From what I hear, you have been stepping on toes lately. You really are seriously cracking down on those nobles.”

Balthazar came from the upper crust of nobility, so it wasn’t surprising that he has heard rumors.

“My parents back at home have been talking about you, you know. But don’t get the wrong idea. They would never be involved in any suspicious activities.”

“I know.”

Ludwig gave a mocking smile, to which Balthazar replied with a cynical smile of his own.

“Of course, feel free to punish them if you catch them doing something shady. Don’t go easy on them on account of me. All these tax evasions can bring the empire to its knees that is why we should always be watchful of forces that plan to corrupt the moral fiber of the Empire.”

Balthazar was a patriot and a rationalist. It would not be surprising if he would not spare even his own family if he caught them with wrongdoing. It is this absolutism that Ludwig liked about him most.

“You are absolutely right, but there is something more concerning than tax fraud. It is the discrimination within the Empire that is firmly rooted.”

“Discrimination huh?”

While talking, the server arrived with their drinks. Balthazar took a small drink and faced Ludwig to challenge him on his claim.

“I admit that there is discrimination toward some minor tribes in remote regions, but is it really a big problem to be concerned with? The way things are right now, they seem fine…”

“Are you just playing dumb? I actually proposed this to Baron Radnor if he is willing to open his land to cultivation. His barony may not be that big, but it is flat and has rivers. It is perfect for growing crops. I even offered him subsidies. Want to guess his reply?”

Ludwig sighed…

“… it was like talking to a wall.”

Balthazar folded his arms and nodded.

“Yeah, that is not surprising. I don’t think there would be a lot of nobles who are willing to turn their lands into farms.”

The farmers and agriculture in general are all looked down by the nobles. Because of this, the empire is hardly self-sufficient, and they have to spend a lot of money just for the import of food. It is this issue that keeps Ludwig up at night.

“Unless we can find a solution to this problem, I am afraid that there is no future for the Empire.”

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