WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Reluctant Imperialist

Chapter 72

──────

After-the-Fact Trial (2)

The trial those palace bastards planned went off the rails from the very start. A flustered prosecutor only mumbled through an outline of the Gigantes terror case, and the judge struck the gavel, saying they would set a new trial date later. Compensation money...

"Truly unfortunate."

"Ha ha... ha ha..."

"Ahem. Even so, Gigantes was destroyed... it is a bit much to put only personal feelings first..."

Most of the palace nobles watched my expression, then slipped away like they were fleeing.

Of course, the palace was not full of only people like that. The ratio was just absurdly high, and normal or exceptional nobles never got greedy for blind money like Gigantes in the first place.

Anyway, the hearing was suspended in a pathetic way, and the security staff who had stood in the defendant's seat approached me hesitantly and bowed.

"We are sorry. Truly sorry, Sir Knight."

They kept apologizing beside their lawyer, so I waved a hand.

"You have no reason to apologize. You were never in that seat to take real responsibility."

"...Pardon?"

The Empire's class system sometimes became my weapon, or the basis for my actions.

"How much responsibility can commoners carry, and up to what point? Saying Gigantes fell only because of people like you is nonsense."

They seemed relieved by my arrogance, their faces finally brightening. After watching them tear up and collapse into their families' arms, I turned away.

Alphonse was standing there.

"Do you really think that? What you said in this trial."

Alphonse looked suspicious. I shrugged.

"...The logic may not be perfect. When people are angry, emotional sophistry comes first. But I still do not believe near-oppressive control and machine-like treatment naturally lead to efficiency."

"That is unexpected. Aren't subjects supposed to be pigs and dogs nobles have to schedule down to toilet time?"

I gave a dry laugh at Alphonse's provocation.

"You look far too happy that Gigantes was destroyed. Hold back a little, or you might actually get thrown in prison."

"..."

Alphonse shoved his camera into his bag and walked off.

He really had guts.

As I walked through the court lobby, I spotted a face I was glad to see.

"Edmund!"

Colonel Edmund Bwindol. He turned to me and raised a hand, his face stiff. He was definitely a man who carried public duty with unusual weight.

"Max. I heard you took heavy losses because of Gigantes too."

"What is gone is gone, so let us not talk about it. More importantly, how are things on your side?"

"Emergency alert. The entire border region."

Right then, someone quietly stepped up next to Edmund. Edmund looked a little uncomfortable and gestured to him.

"Let me introduce Major Goetz. One of our staff officers."

"Loyalty! It is an honor to meet you, Sir Knight!"

Goetz. A name I knew, and a face I knew. Bulging eyes that looked ready to pop out, a gaunt body, and pointlessly well-groomed curls that made him look unbalanced.

A noble-born officer who would later climb to key posts, yet end his life as a particularly vile war criminal.

"I heard so much about Sir Maximilian from the eastern frontier!"

"Yes."

"Please speak freely, sir! Hearing of your achievements from afar stirred me so deeply..."

Goetz poured out sentence after sentence without pause. Decorated on the outside, empty on the inside.

In other words, pure flattery.

I had dealt with people like this for too long already, so now it just exhausted me.

I asked Edmund, "Has the military or the Imperial Household said anything else?"

"Same story. Emergency mode. No matter how problematic Gigantes was, it still handled a huge share of Imperial munitions."

Then I needed to prepare too.

Soon my factory would fill Gigantes's vacancy.

"...That said."

Edmund smiled faintly and tapped my shoulder.

"What you said in court earlier was right. In this case, someone else should bear responsibility."

His plain praise did not feel bad.

"Um, Sir Knight..."

Major Goetz, who had been watching for an opening, cut in.

"If it would not be rude, may I have your communicator number? My insight is limited and lacking, and I hope to seek your advice on various matters going forward..."

Greedy eyes. People obsessed with climbing were tiring. Especially the ones desperate to latch onto someone.

"I will pass you my administrative officer's number. My schedule is too busy to take calls directly."

"Ah... yes. Understood! Even that is an honor!"

Goetz bowed repeatedly, trying to hide his disappointment.

Edmund raised a brow.

"Then go on. You look busy."

"Right. Good work."

I turned away from Edmund.

For a moment, I wondered what he truly felt about Gigantes.

Edmund should be a comrade of the Revolutionary Faction.

Deeper than Thomas Wagner, one of the core leaders.

...

Edmund Bwindol. The man who had grown up beside me on the Ebenholtz estate, almost like a brother, since childhood.

Was he destined to become my enemy one day?

Would I have to cut him down with my own hand one day?

Was that the only possible end?

For now, no one could know.

* * *

Thud!

Inside the Knight Order office, a heavy stack of papers landed on the desk.

They were documents Dieter had brought.

"Why are there this many?"

"Yes. These documents explain our factory's strengths and prove we can replace much of Gigantes's gap."

Dieter continued in a calm voice.

"We already have pre-purchased land in southern Hermes, and we also imported the latest precision machinery from the Kanillan Independent State for mana stone refining. Because this equipment was originally designed to process unstable mana stone, its durability and precision exceed military standards. With minor process adjustments, immediate production of shells, firearm parts, and even tanks is possible. That is the logic."

The justification was perfect. I had even bought many raw-material mines, including iron ore, in advance for this incident.

"Should we go to the palace right now?"

"Yes. The timing should be about right."

I left the office with Dieter.

We went down to the parking area and got into the waiting car. In the passenger seat, Yukia of the Yaken tribe gave a small bow. She seemed aware of how the Yaken were treated, so she had hidden her features behind sunglasses and a suit.

"You are introducing yourself, right?"

At my words, Yukia answered shortly.

"...Executive secretary Yukia."

"Ah, Sir Knight. We are doing job training, but, well... maybe because her Imperial language is weak, we cannot fix how curtly she speaks."

The administrative officer added awkwardly.

"It is fine. Move out."

She was probably doing it on purpose.

"Yes."

On the road from the Knight Order to the Imperial Palace, a giant shadow suddenly fell outside the window.

Rrrrrumble-!

A transport aircraft was taking off with a roar. At the distant landing ground, knights waiting their turn were gathered in clusters, checking their equipment.

Air assault would soon go beyond basic knight competence and become a required core capability in the coming war.

Leaving that scene behind, we arrived at the palace main gate.

"Wait here."

I got out of the car. Guided by palace secretaries, I headed to the grand conference room. It was an emergency meeting called to fill the gap left by Gigantes.

Under glittering chandeliers, senior officials from the military and Ministry of Finance, many palace nobles, and business owners of moderate scale were already gathered.

"Our Elron Industries will secure a production line for new shells as quickly as possible. Please trust us with it."

"This is Kaision Heavy Industries. We can deliver field-grade tank parts immediately."

"We, Emelton, will take responsibility for steel supply. We cannot match Gigantes, but..."

After a long stream of claims from many companies and houses, my turn finally came.

"I am Maximilian Ebenholtz."

People who had looked bored, even yawning, immediately straightened their posture.

That was the weight of the name Ebenholtz.

"I own a factory in the southern Hermes region."

I laid the proposal before them. The latest equipment imported from Kanillan, a stable raw-material supply chain, and immediate production capability.

"This factory is scheduled to adopt Kanillan's newest automation facilities. Since those machines were built for mana stone refining, their durability and precision exceed military standards..."

The palace nobles visibly nodded in approval.

"Compared to Gigantes, the scale is smaller, but efficiency will be far better. What took 100 people in Gigantes, we can handle with 10. I guarantee that level of efficiency."

They were likely feeling some guilt over the loss I took from my Gigantes investment too.

"But, Lord Maximilian."

Still, not everyone here was easy.

Oscar Steiner, a sharp-faced working-level chief from the Ministry of Finance, pushed up his glasses and challenged me.

"You say this is equipment built for mana stone refining, so are you asking for tax support for conversion?"

I had no intention of begging those palace bastards for subsidies. They would obviously use that support as an excuse to meddle with shares and everything else.

"I will cover everything with my private funds. If money runs short, I will proceed even if I must secure loans against my mana stone mines."

Murmurs spread through the room. Oscar looked more puzzled and asked back, "Then what do you want in return?"

"Only manpower and steady orders."

"Manpower?"

"Yes. Select skilled Gigantes workers and supply them to our factory."

No matter how advanced Kanillan automation was, heavy industry like munitions was still human work in the end.

Hands-on technique, know-how, and instinct.

Gigantes had collapsed, but the craftsmen who had handled steel there for decades had survived. I needed them, and the palace also needed to do something with people who had suddenly fallen into unemployment.

"That should count as compensation for the losses I took in Gigantes."

I slowly swept my gaze across the palace nobles.

"This is a chance for no one to be blamed and no one to be cornered over the Gigantes incident. We are wasting our anger by aiming it in the wrong direction or turning our eyes away."

It was a direct point. The target of anger should be the treasonous organization that destroyed Gigantes, so why were they trying to tear each other apart?

"I believe this is the most ideal answer under current conditions."

"...Yes. I understand. But."

Oscar still looked suspicious.

"Transparency in cost ratios and margins must be guaranteed."

"Discuss that with our staff. We will supply at very reasonable unit prices."

Munitions would only become a bigger industry over time anyway, so taking a moderate profit was enough. One percent of a 100 billion project was 1 billion. Even one percent was enormous.

On top of that, I was satisfied that this could weaken the palace foundation while strengthening the Empire's war power.

"Reasonable prices. Can we trust that?"

I smiled at Oscar's question.

"Yes. Of course. I swear on my name."

* * *

Empire Ministry of Finance conference room.

In the silence, only dry pen scratches and paper turns echoed through the room. The bureaucrats led by Director Oscar were dissecting the documents Dieter Schmidt had submitted.

"...Hmm."

Oscar eventually frowned.

To be honest, he found Maximilian's intent suspicious.

From a great house's perspective, Gigantes's destruction could have been an opportunity.

If Maximilian had been the type to lust after taxes, this would have been easier to understand.

Yet the conditions brought by his administrative officer were almost too reasonable.

No, they favored the Empire.

"Administrative Officer Dieter Schmidt."

Oscar spoke to Dieter Schmidt, who was seated with them.

"Documents alone are not enough. I will inspect the factory with my own eyes before deciding."

Dieter nodded.

"Yes. Please do. You are welcome anytime."

"..."

Oscar fell silent for a moment. He stared at Dieter, then spoke.

"Even so, military procurement is paid with the subjects' tax money. So we need a portion of the profit you people will gain..."

He was about to test them and demand additional benefits.

"We are willing to reinvest over 30% of net profit into civilian sectors."

Dieter moved first.

Thirty percent. A massive number. Oscar and the officials looked stunned.

"Why?"

Oscar finally removed his glasses and set them down. His sharp eyes locked on Dieter.

"You look as much of a numbers man as I am, so let us speak plainly. This is not a merchant's math."

"Munitions is an exceptionally large-scale business. If operations continue steadily, great profit will eventually return to us as well."

"I know. You can accept present losses for future gain, if there is a need for it."

The Empire had to fill the Gigantes gap.

That meant urgency.

You could very well be the side holding all the cards.

"But right now, there is no need for that. Then why do it?"

As he arranged his pen, Dieter answered lightly.

"It is the boss's will."

"Sir Maximilian's will?"

"Yes."

He added calmly, "Because Sir Knight is a loyal subject of the Empire."

"...Loyal subject."

Loyal subject. In the stagnant, rotten palace, a word rarely seen, almost fossilized in textbooks.

Oscar blinked blankly, then let out a dry laugh.

"It seems the Director has seen too many fakes and got momentarily confused."

Dieter looked around at everyone in the Ministry of Finance and continued.

"That man serves only the Empire."

"..."

Tick. Tick.

Oscar and the other officials were left speechless, and in that hush only the clock sounded strangely loud.

As if nothing had happened, Dieter lowered his gaze back to the documents.

Tick. Tick.

Through the steady gaps of the second hand,

their conversation was delivered to an unseen somewhere.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried