A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

11 – Is this damn traitor trustworthy?

There were three reasons why this groundbreaking technology developed by Leoric had been buried for so long.

First. When Leoric initially submitted this technology as a thesis to the Matop, there was no mass production technique available for this technology.

Second. Fertilizer development was a topic relative to teleportation technology and Ma-jeong-seok processing methods, which garnered the attention of all scientists, alchemists, and wizards. Thus, it was a field that inevitably got buried in obscurity.

Third. As a result, Leoric’s research lacked popularity and consequently, he couldn’t secure funding. Due to that, he didn’t have any colleagues or assistants to help him, resulting in slower research progress.

“If mass production is not possible, then making fertilizer is merely an experiment in the laboratory. So, what is the point of conducting this research?” I heard this from the Matopju. Listening to it, I realized that his words were correct. Without funding and lacking popularity, there was no one to assist him in his research. However, after continuing his research for ten years, he discovered the mass production method a few months ago. He said he could use iron catalysts instead of osmium.”

In response to my question of why he didn’t reveal this research sooner, Leoric awkwardly smiled and replied so. He said he had planned to refine the thesis a bit more before making it public, so my early arrival was unexpected.

In real history, although Fritz Haber did discover the process of synthesizing ammonia, its impact on reality came after Dr. Carl Bosch discovered the mass production method.

Leoric was the person who achieved both of those in a single thesis.

After hearing all the explanations, I immediately looked at Princess Selene without any hesitation.

“I want to take Leoric with me. I will establish a fertilizer mass production plant. I will supply the entire Golden Meadow and still have some left.”

“Please do so.”

Princess Selene nodded her head while being perplexed by my enthusiastic response. Leoric seemed surprised by my words.

“Me, my research?”

“Yes! Leoric!! Your research!!”

I explained to Leoric what my plans were and how his fertilizer production technology could be useful. Hearing that, Leoric was overjoyed like a child.

“Unbelievable!! My parents were farmers, so I started this research wondering if it would be helpful… But now I realize that it can help so many people!! I’m so happy!!”

“That’s not all you should be happy about, right? From today, you will be in charge of the fertilizer production plant under the Merchant Guild. And I will provide you with royalties for using your research every year. You won’t be too far off from becoming the scientist who earns the most money in the world after working so hard to develop this technology. You should receive such rewards, shouldn’t you?”

“That, that’s… Thank you!!!”

Leoric’s voice choked as he lowered his head emotionally. I embraced him tightly, and after telling him to quickly pack his belongings and prepare to set up the plant, I met with Princess Selene again.

“At present, the Merchant Guild’s reserve funds amount to about 50 million gold. After deducting taxes, the net profit is that much. I will give you 10 million gold, Your Highness.”

Upon hearing my words, Princess Selene frowned.

“Are you trying to bribe me right now?”

“Of course, it’s an investment.”

“Investment?”

I gaze up at the towering mausoleum in the center of the imperial palace. It symbolizes the Empire’s magical engineering prowess, a place that houses all knowledge and disciplines. It’s the dream stage for scientists, alchemists, and wizards.

“With that money, you can do whatever you want. Don’t worry about the budget and invest freely in promising technologies and scholars. If various technologies for the empire are further developed, it will be beneficial for me as well. I believe that you, Your Highness, can achieve great things.”

“………”

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“And if you have control over the money, your influence over the mausoleum will increase even more. You are the Empire’s greatest intellect. I have no doubt that with that money and wisdom, you will bring great progress to the Empire. As for me, well, I have nothing but money, so I will support you financially.”

The princess, who had been looking at me with a perplexed expression, suddenly raised her voice.

“What on earth do you want by doing this?”

I smile warmly at her words.

Well…….

Although she only sees me as a treacherous scoundrel with an evil grin.

“I hope for a world where the people of the Empire can laugh and be happy.”

I spoke sincerely.

I quietly kept the remark that says, “So that I don’t get torn to pieces in the square.”

“I will take my leave now.”

I bid farewell calmly and left Princess Selene.

She couldn’t hide her confused face until I disappeared.

But if she had heard where I went next, she would have been even more surprised.

I went to Adran, the Golden City.

Adran’s expression was far more astonished than Selene’s, who was blessed with grace.

“….Do you want to entrust the administration of the Porto Commercial District and the Eldon Marquisate to my bureaucrats?”

“Yes. To be honest, the Eldon Marquisate and the Porto Commercial City are too large to be governed by the concept of a typical territory. It’s too much administrative work for a lord alone. And it will only increase in the future.”

I calmly informed him that the exhausted farmers who suffered from the looting by nobles all over the Empire were flocking to the Eldon Territory and the Porto Commercial City in search of new jobs and homes.

“A tremendous amount of administrative work is pouring into the Merchant Guild every day. It’s still manageable with merchants for now, since it’s still the early stages. But if time passes, it will reach a level that they can’t handle. We need administrative experts and fair law enforcement. It would be even better if we had someone who understands the value of the two cities and can propose policies related to them.”

“What is your purpose in doing this?”

A sharp voice returns. It’s understandable. The Eldon Marquisate and the Porto Commercial City were the hottest potatoes in the Empire right now. If the Lendor that he knew had tried to monopolize their advantages and make evil deeds by inflating money after finding me, it would be unsurprising for him to be dumbfounded when I asked him to basically supervise me.

“It’s simple. I have never seen someone who handles administration and law as well as you.”

Adran of the Golden Kingdom was destined to become the greatest leader. He enforced fair laws, examined the current situation, introduced new bills, and abolished old ones. He simplified and enhanced administrative procedures, making the capital city prosper.

However, although the capital prospered, in the original work, it was the Marquis of Fellings and his faction, the Vin Yard Party, and Lendor’s mischief that prevented his efforts from seeing the light, ultimately leading to the downfall of the empire.

“The two cities need you, Your Highness. For the empire to become stronger, both cities must function properly. I believe you already know that. Please help.”

Once again, I set aside my pride and bowed my head.

Honestly, just by looking at the amount of administrative documents being handled by the merchant guild, it was enough to make one nauseous.

Even though it was currently at a bearable level, if Adran didn’t help, it was evident that some merchants would die from exhaustion within three months while carrying out administrative tasks.

“I will monitor you.”

“Please do.”

“I will thoroughly execute tax inspections to see if your merchant guild is paying its dues properly.”

“Please do so.”

“I will also investigate whether you are plundering the peasants and citizens.”

“Please do so.”

“The 7.5 million gold that the Marquis of Fellings failed to uncover will also be collected as national revenue.”

“Ah, please add it as a penalty in the next quarter’s taxes. To be honest, the merchant guild can earn about 7.5 million gold in just two days.”

“……..”

“Please collect taxes as fairly as possible based on the law. Let’s make the national treasury burst once. Your Highness.”

After hearing my words, the prince stared at me for a long time before finally unable to bear it any longer and asked a question.

“Who are you?”

“I am Lendor.”

“The name and face match Lendor. However, you are not the Lendor I know. Who are you actually……..who are you?”

It was a difficult question to answer.

And every time it happened, there was a line from the exclusive patent I used to escape that situation.

“Is that important right now? It is much more important to extend Your Highness’s influence to the two wealthiest cities in the empire, which will become even wealthier in the future. Please come and collect as much tax as possible. Carry out the taxes as Your Highness desires. In fact, isn’t most of the administrative work entrusted to Your Highness by His Majesty the Emperor?”

“……..That’s true.”

“Let’s make the empire stronger, Your Highness. Let’s create a country where people can smile without worrying about being oppressed or plundered.”

I said that and extended my hand.

“Will you help?”

The prince stared at my hand for a long time. While I silently extended my hand, he seemed to be contorting himself, considering various scenarios and possibilities, to the point of being agonizing. Finally, he closed his eyes tightly and took my hand.

“I will be watching. Lendor.”

“It is an honor.”

After seeing Adran and Shobu like that, I immediately ran to Sujeonggul. I had to deliver the good news to Karl Hansen.

“I’ve passed off all the administrative work!”

“I want to give you a kiss!! Lord Randor!!”

“I don’t want your kiss.”

“Yes, of course. I don’t actually plan on doing it. It’s just a saying.”

Karl Hansen was speechless. It was a timely measure while he was burdened with administrative paperwork and exhausted from work, unable to perform his duties as a merchant.

“We’ve found a way to turn the Golden Prairie into farmland. We will soon build a fertilizer factory. Think of it as an extremely efficient nutrient.”

Karl Hansen’s eyes widened and he nodded, as if he understood.

“I thought Celene, the Graceful Serene, would possess that kind of wisdom. Hiyah. Indeed, the princess is amazing.”

“Yes, but that’s not the end. Karl, did you carry out what I told you last time?”

“What… Ah, you mean gathering singers, theater troupes, and circus groups?”

“Yes, that. Did you do it?”

“I have them gathered in the Porto Commercial District. They are currently residing there under a 5-year long-term contract. The residents there are delighted to have something to see. But why is that?”

“Build a large performance hall and a concert house.”

“A performance hall and a concert house? Are you planning to create a place where singers and theater troupes can professionally perform?”

I chuckled at his words.

“That’s one part of it, but I have something even bigger in mind.”

“What is it?”

I recalled a passage from the original novel.

After witnessing the brutal rebellion massacre that triggers a vile war, Serene of Grace plans the assassination of her father, the Emperor, and Randor.

To stop Randor and the Dragon Knights from preventing the Emperor’s assassination, she creates illusions made from Magic Stone, which is crafted from the essence of an enchanted stone, and deceives the Dragon Knights and Karia’s Iron Blood Corps, successfully assassinating the Emperor and attempting to kill Randor.

But as you know, that failed, and Serene of Grace is publicly executed.

What is worth mentioning here is the passage about the Magic Stone.

According to the description in the novel, it was an item that could store various images and play them back.

“Karl Hansen, have you ever heard of a thing called a movie?”