The Tyrant Empress is Obsessed with Me

32 – Arrested

“What comes to your mind when you think of a frog?”

“Four legs, big eyes?”

“Correct. But you’ve left out one important thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Frogs are known for their hopping. Leap! The front seat of the jewel frog is empty! The back seat is empty! Hopping hopping, it’s now 1 gold!”

‘Crazy bastards…’

As Ascal passed through the square and saw the gemstone frog advocates, he pulled his hat down low and hurried away.

Ever since he had accidentally marked the gemstone frog appraisal price from 1 silver to 4 silver, the situation had spiraled out of control.

Just yesterday morning, it was trading at 20 silver, but now it was at 25 silver.

How would he know?

■ Notice Board – Gemstone Frog Market Price

Currently (25 silver).

Because the merchant association explicitly set up a booth and started selling the gemstone frogs.

The gemstone frogs trapped in the booth seemed to be weeping pitifully.

“Oh, customer. It looks like you came to buy a gemstone frog. An excellent choice. With this little fella, you can…”

At that moment, someone approached the merchant and whispered something to him. The merchant’s expression changed.

“One moment, please.”

The merchant went to the notice board.

■ Notice Board – Gemstone Frog Market Price

Currently (30 silver).

“The price has changed a bit, customer.”

What kind of nonsense is this?

Ascal, seeing the greedy merchant’s eyes, couldn’t help but speak out in disbelief.

“Isn’t this illegal? I heard that raising gemstone frogs is only allowed with the nation’s permission.”

The merchant clicked his tongue.

“Sometimes, customers who’ve heard the wrong things say that.”

Then the merchant pointed to the bottom of the notice board.

■ These gemstone frogs are sold for consumption and strictly comply with imperial regulations. Responsibility after purchase lies with the buyer.

It was written in very small letters.

So small that someone with poor eyesight couldn’t even read it.

“If you’re not going to buy it, don’t disrupt the business and go away. There are plenty of people who want to buy over there.”

Ascal felt a burning gaze on his back.

Suddenly, a crowd had gathered to buy the gemstone frogs.

“Give me one!”

“I want two!”

“Give me all you have!”

“hehehe. You can only purchase up to two per person. Please wait your turn.”

The buyers were either wealthy-looking merchants or middle-aged people who seemed to have money.

Though it was not entirely understood, it still fell within the range of a peculiar trend.

There was a chance that it would eventually die down.

A similar speculative frenzy in their past life had been somewhat exaggerated as well.

The next day.

“Boss, look at this. It’s a jewel frog, which is trending these days. Isn’t it cute?”

Suzy, who was clearly from the ‘wealthy class,’ proudly placed the frog on her palm.

The frog croaked quietly, as if it had been tamed. Or perhaps it was desperately trying to maintain its balance, not wanting to fall off her hand.

“Suzy, how much did you buy this for?”

“They were selling it for 20 silver?”

Thankfully.

The price had dropped as expected.

There were quite a few sensible people in the empire. It didn’t make sense for a frog with a slightly unique pattern to be worth 30 silver.

But even the current trading price of 20 silver was too high. The appropriate conclusion would be for the price to return to its original value of 1 silver.

Ascal opened the newspaper.

◆Imperial Magazine – Is the Jewel Frog an Illusion?

From No ble mt L dot c om

If there is a creature that has become the talk of the empire, it is the jewel frog. How did an innocent jewel frog, which was merely a part of the ecosystem, end up being plucked from its stream and turned into an object of speculation?

We have no choice but to point the blame at one person. Chief of the Imperial Appraisal Bureau, Ascal Devler. It’s him.

It is now time to awaken from this illusion and return the jewel frog to nature.

– Magazine Editor, J.S

“Well-written.”

Indeed.

It seemed like they understood the reason why the price suddenly dropped.

It was thanks to the editor of the Imperial Magazine, J.S., who criticized the jewel frog speculations with a cool-headed perspective.

Although they didn’t know who he was, he seemed to be a respectable person with a sense of justice and reason.

“Now, let’s return the jewel frog back to nature, Suzy.”

“Huh? But I’ve already spent half of my allowance this month?”

“How can an official who enforces the laws of the empire commit an unlawful act? Raising a jewel frog without permission is illegal.”

Upon Ascal’s persuasion, Sushia reluctantly took the gem frog to the window.

“You must live well in the wild too, Sapphire.”

The gem frog’s back sparkled in the sunlight.

‘Sapphire?’

Usually, the back of a gem frog was a glittering green color, reminiscent of an emerald when seen up close. However, the gem frog that Sushia raised had the color of a blue sapphire.

The gem frog hopped towards the tree in front of it.

‘Well, there are variants as well. It shouldn’t make much difference.’

Ascal filed away the remaining documents and prepared to leave work. Today, he would stop by the square and make do with a simple sandwich for dinner.

■ Bulletin Board – Gem Frog Price

Currently (50 silver).

What happened in between?

Ascal’s eyes widened in shock.

“What do you mean the gem frog, which was only worth 20 silver this morning, is now 50 silver? Is this not a scam?”

“No, it’s that annoying customer again. The one who doesn’t even buy anything but keeps coming back?”

The merchant clicked his tongue.

“Look closely.”

The merchant pointed to the frogs trapped in the cage with his finger.

“This is the original gem frog. 30 silver. A lot of people search for this because of its harmless color and it’s commonly known as the Emerald Frog.”

“And this is a newly discovered variant of the gem frog. It’s also called a Sapphire Frog. 40 silver.”

“This frog is truly special. Its beautiful obsidian-like luster is truly magnificent, isn’t it? This Obsidian Frog is 50 silver.”

Ascal replied incredulously.

“Aren’t they all just the same frog in the end?”

“Ah, tsk tsk tsk. This is why I say you shouldn’t be a noob. If you’re not buying, then go.”

Once again, he felt the sharp stares.

When Ascal turned around, he was greatly surprised.

This time, there was a diverse range of ages and occupations among those who came to buy the frogs. Earlier, it was only wealthy elderly people, but now there were women with parasols and young men and women.

Even an old man with a cane had come to purchase a gem frog.

“Get out of the way, you rascal.”

“Yes, elder.”

Ascal politely stepped aside.

The prediction was completely wrong.

The jewel frog craze, which was thought to be fading, had entered a new phase with the discovery of a new variant.

“Breaking news! A diamond frog has been discovered!”

“I’ll buy it now! 60 silver!”

“65 silver!”

“70 silver!”

Ascal closed his eyes tightly.

◆Imperial Magazine – The madness of the gem frog crisis

Recently, a series of unbelievable events have been happening.

The price of the gem frog has exceeded 70 silver. It’s more expensive than a horse just because of its different patterns.

The empire’s economy is in chaos.

The person responsible for this situation, Ascal Devre, must be condemned, take responsibility in front of the imperial citizens, and publicly apologize and resign from his managerial position.

– Magazine editor, J.S

“Is he really a great writer?”

An incisive commentary based on well-reasoned arguments. J.S. was a true critic that the empire could not live without.

Especially the part where it says, ‘Ascal Devre must be condemned and resign from his managerial duties’ deeply touched Ascal’s heart.

“If there were more critics like that, the empire wouldn’t have walked the path of destruction…”

Ascal wiped away a tear with the back of his hand.

‘Wait a minute.’

At that moment, a lightning-like thought crossed Ascal’s mind.

‘I have to take responsibility for this situation?’

Ascal picked up his quill.

The Empire Magazine had a section where people with social status and reputation could express their opinions. And Ascal had more than enough qualifications for that.

Without any hindrance, Ascal began to write a smooth piece.

‘J.S., you’re great, but I’m also a prodigy who was called a genius by my parents when I was young. I’ll show you my writing skills properly.’

◆The gem frog has something invisible to it.

-Imperial Evaluation Department Chief, Ascal Devre

Ascal’s submitted article was published in the Empire Magazine.

It was a piece defending the gem frog.

Upon closer inspection, the content was actually full of empty rhetoric and exaggeration, but Ascal knew an important truth.

People don’t read carefully anyway.

The important thing was not what was written, but who wrote it.

Things started to flow as Ascal had expected.

Ascal went out to the square, pushing down his hat and feeling the atmosphere.

■Bulletin Board – Gem Frog Market Price

Currently (80 silver).

‘So far, everything is going as planned.’

Indeed, the price of gem frogs skyrocketed without knowing the sky.

There’s no such thing as an eternal bubble. It didn’t take long before the bubble would burst in this trend.

■Bulletin Board – Gem Frog Market Price

Currently (99 silver).

The next day, Ascal went out to the square and witnessed a strange sight.

People started to take walks with ropes tied to the body of a gem frog. The frog, in pain, jumped but couldn’t get out of the ropes.

‘I’m sorry, frog. But this madness will end soon.’

And a week later.

■We will no longer sell gem frogs. That’s right. We went bankrupt.

“It finally burst!!!!!”

Ascal couldn’t contain his joy and screamed in the square.

Finally, the bubble had burst.

Ascal found the latest issue of the Empire Magazine at the panel and smiled as he bought the newspaper.

◆Empire Magazine – Gem Frog, downfall

It’s an intuitive and excellent title.

Ascal began to read the newspaper, savoring every character.

Sure enough, the editor wrote condemning himself as expected. He particularly liked the part that said he must take responsibility.

“Are you Ascal Debre, director of the Empire Evaluation Department?”

“……Yes, indeed.”

As Ascal was reading the newspaper, the empire guards with swords approached him.

Ascal spoke calmly.

“So the moment has finally come. Am I going to be dismissed from management now?”

However, the atmosphere was oddly turning.

The Empire’s guards tied Ascal’s hands behind his back and forced him to kneel.

“Ascal Devre, you are under arrest for manipulation of market prices.”

Hold on.

‘According to the Empire’s law, the minimum penalty for market price manipulation is imprisonment…’

The maximum was the death penalty.

He had been too carried away by excitement.

The next day, Ascal woke up in prison.