SWNOVELXO Chapter 209
On the day I secured my position as Chief of Staff, I immediately had a meeting with the Minister of Maritime Affairs.
“Congratulations, Your Excellency the Duke. You’ve managed to retain your position as Chief of Staff,” he said.
“Uh… Yes. Thank you, Minister.”
To them, it must seem impressive to hold on to a position that others would expect to last for years. They probably envy the Emperor’s substantial trust in me without even imagining how desperately I want to resign.
“However, I was surprised you suddenly wanted to see me.”
“I’m already scheduled to have meetings with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs starting next week. Just thinking about it makes my head hurt already.”
“Hahaha. Meeting with the Minister of Finance is quite a daunting task for me as well.”
So, that’s how it is. They congratulate me for holding onto my position, while a vague, uncontrollable anger simmered within me. The Minister of Maritime Affairs in front of me is clearly innocent in this regard.
“I received information earlier from the Foreign Affairs Ministry regarding the situation in the Southern Kingdom.”
“From the Foreign Affairs Ministry to the General Staff, you say?”
“Yes. It seems that pirates have been rampant in the Southern Kingdoms for quite some time.”
“Ah, is that what it is? I’ve heard some things from the southern coastal cities as well. If even the Chief of Staff is interested, the issue must be quite serious.”
The pirates weren’t completely foolish, it seems. They never touched Imperial ships. Instead, they busily plundered vessels belonging to the Southern Kingdoms, growing in strength. If the Foreign Affairs Ministry has heard about this, it suggests significant damage has already been done.
“Right now, they’re frightened of the Empire and are keeping their distance. But how long can that last? Humans are creatures cursed with the blessing of forgetfulness. In about a year, they’ll have forgotten everything.”
It’s quite obvious. Currently, those pirate scoundrels are merely keeping their heads down. But as time passes, they’ll start thinking, ‘Ah, the Empire is just watching.’
Moreover, they might even think, ‘Oh! The Empire’s naval power isn’t much, so they can’t catch us!’
Whether it’s a misunderstanding or nonsense, it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that someone thinks that way, leading to damages occurring.
It’s best to handle this before things escalate. Waiting is definitely not my style. Besides, they’re pirates, beings that shouldn’t coexist, so there’s no need for concern.
“Hm. I find your words quite reasonable, Chief of Staff,” the Minister acknowledged.
“Now is the time to act. We must swing the iron fist while there is still fear of the Empire. For now, we can justify our actions by saying we are stepping forward to ‘protect peace,’ but as time goes on, people are likely to say we are hastily taking military action.”
Actions are taken when there’s a justification, and timing is always crucial for justification.
Even the war with Dedorant didn’t simply start because they acted out of line. It was for DeGale and Ross Tanika. Benito stirred up chaos in the southern continent.
These reasons piled up to form a justification, ultimately creating the massive wave of war.
The same goes for wiping out the pirates. It has just been a year since the war ended. While parts of that time are certainly forgotten, the Empire hasn’t forgotten everything just yet.
There’s confidence in using military options, and they still remember the sweetness from it.
“But will it really be alright? There are more problems to deal with than just one or two. Even though the Empire hasn’t been attacked directly, the fact that we are intervening could present a problem, and moving the navy might consume even more resources than the army.”
“There’s no need to worry. I’ll be mobilizing the General Staff, and the Ministry of War will support the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. Moreover, persuading the Ministry of Finance isn’t impossible either.”
Other than that, persuading the Ministry of Finance has become my specialty.
As much as I hate to admit it—and sadly so—half of my work consists of that.
Whenever there are huge expenses during a war, I would rush to the Ministry of Finance to explain and plead.
“This needs to be done this way, and while it might cost a bit of military expenses, it’s not wasteful.”
The Ministry of Finance must have been frustrated. Taxpayer money was getting squandered.
Whenever they tried to cut back, I would pounce on them, saying, “Ah, let’s spend a bit more on military resources!”
They probably want to refuse. But the problem is my reputation and authority are so high that they can’t.
This is why the Ministry of Finance needs me, and I need them. We both understand each other’s needs and discomforts.
Yet, a major conflict doesn’t arise. After all, both of us act for the sake of the Empire.
And this time too, the task of dealing with the pirates will undoubtedly end with the same result.
*
The Empire’s Ministry of Finance. A place burdened with the duty of wisely distributing all taxes that flow into the national treasury.
In a nation where taxes are life and power, its administrative rank ranks just below the Ministry of the Palace.
The minister’s secretary, in accordance with her direct superior’s request, brought two cups of coffee.
“Phew.”
In reality, she had only joined as a secretary not long ago.
Every little thing makes her nervous, especially since a bigshot was visiting.
‘Today, the distinguished visitor is Duke of Neomes,’ she reminded herself.
Although he was nearly the same age as her, his fame was something that couldn’t even be compared.
Considering it, she was also a talent in government for being a minister’s secretary at only in her twenties.
But in front of the Chief of Staff, she felt like a firefly in front of a full moon. That seemed most apt.
Adding to that, her father was in the military, which only amplified the influence she sensed.
That Chief of Staff had visited the Ministry of Finance. He was currently with the Minister of Finance.
How could she not be curious? What kind of person could he be?
Perhaps in there, in-depth discussions about the future of the Empire were taking place—
“Please, Chief of Staff. It’s only been a year since the war ended and stability has barely returned. And now suddenly mobilizing the navy? While you understand, the navy, due to its specificity, may not match even one Imperial Legion in numbers, but the costs are several times that, several times!”
“I know, Minister of Finance. Of course, I do. But if we miss this opportunity, a problem solvable for a few times the amount could become one we’d have to tackle for several dozens of times! Trust me and follow through this time!”
“…?”
In that moment, the secretary thought she must have seen wrong. She had to tilt her head in confusion.
This was because the Minister of Finance was shocked while the Chief of Staff seemed determined to hold onto his pants.
“Direct reports of damage to the Empire are nonexistent! But if we go forward like this, the just image of our Empire that we’ve built up could vanish and we could gain an image that seeks control over the entirety of the continent! No, and even if I let go of this sleeve…!”
“No! Instead, we will gain justification as protectors of order and peace on the continent! The efforts made to ensure that the cries and pains of the wronged do not occur in what takes place across the continent. Just with this, the benefits the Empire can reap in the future will be plentiful! So please, draft the budget again just like last time!”
“Chief of Staff, please! Additional budget preparation isn’t as easy as it sounds…!”
“Please! I beg you! The Imperial Navy needs more funds!!”
The one who wanted to decline any additional military provision insisted on it, desperately begging for funds.
Watching that scene, the secretary thought, ‘Ah, how terrifying the government can be!’
*
In the end, my tearful persuasion managed to sway the Minister of Finance.
The immediate benefits to trade that would come from wiping out the pirates and stabilizing the sea routes.
The risk of pirates turning brazen and looking down upon the Imperial Navy if they get too cocky.
And crucially, the subtle warning regarding what the Ministry of Finance would have to face in front of the Emperor, if they denied my prior insistence that we prepare in advance only to deal with the repercussions once things escalated.
It was only natural that the Minister of Finance eventually kneeled before my cunning scheme.
“Phew. Please remember, Chief of Staff. This is as far as our Ministry of Finance can assist. Beyond this point, you must understand it’s truly impossible.”
“Will this be alright? This kind of emergency budget preparation will greatly alleviate burdens for both the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Ministry of War.”
“I’m just curious why you suddenly became fixated on wiping out the pirates. Were they really that troubling to you, Chief of Staff?”
Nodding my head at the Minister of Finance’s words was a signal that left no room for further discussion.
The pirates aren’t targeting us right now; they are only doing so because they fear the Empire.
If we don’t intervene, they’ll start testing the waters and take a poke at us several times.
And when they feel it’s feasible, they will go on a rampage.
Momentum is always crucial. It must never be given up.
Before even the thought of “Can this work?” arises, we need to show them that “Ah, if you try, you’ll die.”
Only then can there be no second pirate nor a second Dedorant.
“But really, I wonder if this will be effective. Since pirates usually choose this way for a reason, I doubt persuasion will work on them.”
“There are those who choose that life, but also those who don’t. Poking at that point might cause larger fissures than we expect.”
The pirates’ main stage is the seas of the Southern Kingdoms, not the Southern coast of the Empire.
Information is lacking, and there is no certainty about the sea routes. Local experts are necessary.
And in both past lives, obtaining such local experts was quite simple.
[ Those pirates who surrender to the Empire will be rewarded accordingly. ]
There’s nothing money can’t do. If there is, it’s simply a lack of funds.