Chapter 134
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Royalist Purge Plan
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The next day.
I summoned the employees of the finance department as soon as I arrived at work.
Perhaps because of Martin’s recent dismissal for accepting bribes, everyone was on their best behavior.
“Starting next week, we will be conducting a special audit. I’ll be distributing a list of names. I want you to investigate everything, from their dummy accounts and hidden cash to any bribes they’ve received.”
I said, waving the client list I had obtained from Gremory.
Everyone looked at me with tense expressions. I opened the file and began to read the names of the nobles.
“Marquis of Cologne, Count of Düsseldorf, Viscount of Hanover, Viscount of Mannheim…”
While some of the names were unfamiliar, the list of those who had frequented Club Melusine included many key figures of the Royalist faction.
When you didn't know who was connected to whom, the best method was to investigate everyone.
The number of noble clients was less than a few hundred.
Proving their connections would be a piece of cake for the seasoned employees of the finance department.
“By the way, this is confidential. If this information leaks, I’ll know it came from one of you. And I’ll use hypnosis to find out who it was. So, be careful.”
““Yes, sir!””
Having made sure my employees understood the gravity of the situation, I sat down at my desk and thought.
First, I’ll collect all the unpaid taxes and throw them in jail for insulting the Governor-General… then, how should I deal with the Royalist faction?
While insulting the Governor-General was a serious crime, punishable by death, I needed concrete evidence to secure a conviction.
While I had a record of their visits to the succubus brothel, I had no direct evidence of their insults. They would likely be released without charge.
So, my plan was to throw them in jail and then collect their unpaid taxes.
With them in prison, there would be no one to stop us from seizing their assets.
That was plan A. Plan B was to find evidence that they were supporting the resistance.
With that, I could charge them with treason, a much more serious crime.
It would be irrefutable evidence.
The best-case scenario would be to get my hands on the petition my master had mentioned. With that, I could decipher the encrypted names and wipe out the entire Royalist faction.
They were the ones who had been constantly resisting the progressive policies of the Ozma Governorate, clinging to the glory of the old days. I had no qualms about getting rid of them.
As I pondered the situation, a plan began to form in my mind.
If word gets out that I’m targeting only the Royalist faction, most of them will go into hiding…
While a complete sweep would be ideal, the cunning old foxes would surely have a few tricks up their sleeves.
I was trying to figure out how to catch them all at once when Agnes, who had come to submit a report, interrupted my thoughts.
“Agnes, is there a party this week that the key figures of the Royalist faction will be attending?”
Agnes tilted her head.
“I believe I gave you the invitation yesterday.”
My gaze fell upon the trash can under my desk.
I had thrown it away, having had no intention of going. But now, I needed it.
I rummaged through the trash can.
Thankfully, it hadn't been emptied yet, and the invitation was still there.
I broke the seal and opened the letter.
It was written in a flowery, cursive script, with a lot of unnecessary embellishments, but the main point was this:
“On May 12th, you and your partner are cordially invited to the debutante ball of Countess Sophia von Glorious.”
So, it was a ball.
Realizing I needed a partner, I asked Agnes,
“Would you like to go with me?”
Agnes shook her head.
“While I may be the Deputy Financial Officer, I’m still a commoner. If I were to attend as your partner, I would be ridiculed by the nobles. You should go with someone of your own standing.”
She was right. In high society, your partner was just as important as you were.
Bringing someone of a lower social standing would only lead to embarrassment.
Thinking of a partner, Dorothea, who was lazing around at home, came to mind. But her title as a former Four Heavenly King wouldn't carry much weight among humans.
And she was so foul-mouthed that I’d be lucky if she didn't start cursing at the first person she met.
Seeing my troubled expression, Agnes asked,
“Wouldn’t it be better to go with Princess Ozma?”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“You think she’d wear a dress?”
She always wore pants.
I had never seen her in a dress, even at the Demon Lord’s castle. She wouldn't wear one just because I asked her to.
But Agnes looked at me with a pitying expression.
“Chief Financial Officer, you know nothing about a woman’s heart.”
“What? I was a real lady-killer in my day.”
“…While I admit you’re popular, knowing a woman’s heart is a different matter.”
Agnes said, then declared,
“A woman always wants to look beautiful in front of the man she likes. Even Princess Ozma, who doesn’t usually care about her appearance, will change her mind if you ask her. Probably.”
“…You’re not sure either.”
“I haven’t been inside her mind, so I can’t say for sure.”
Well, her advice was plausible. I decided to give it a try.
It was worth a shot.
***
“What? You want me to go to a ball with you?”
“Yes. I have no one else to ask.”
I asked, my voice serious, and Ozma, after a moment of stunned silence, blushed and turned away.
“There are plenty of prettier girls than me. You should go with one of them.”
Ozma said, gesturing towards Dorothea, Vanessa, and Camilla.
I gently stroked her cheek.
“No, you’re beautiful. So, be more confident, Ozma.”
Ozma’s face turned as red as a tomato.
“Well… if you say so…”
“Really? That’s great. The ball is this weekend. Are you free?”
Ozma nodded.
“I’m the Demon Lord’s daughter. I know the basic etiquette and how to dance. So, you don’t have to worry.”
“No, I meant your schedule. You’ve been busy lately.”
“…I can finish my work during the week. I can’t refuse a request from you.”
“Thank you so much.”
I hugged her tightly, and she awkwardly wrapped her arms around my back.
Dorothea, who had been playing chess with Camilla, said,
“Ugh, are you two a teenage couple or something?”
“Shut up, housewife.”
“What did you say, you bastard? Want to go a round?”
***
The day of the ball.
Ozma had finished all her work during the week and had gone to a boutique yesterday to have a new dress made.
Before leaving for the Glorious family’s mansion, she had gone upstairs with Camilla to get her makeup done. I, dressed in a suit, was waiting in the living room. When Ozma came down the stairs, I was mesmerized.
“So… how do I look?”
Ozma, with full makeup and voluminous hair, asked shyly.
“…Perfect.”
While a flood of compliments came to mind, I was so stunned that I could only manage that one word.
Ozma, who usually wore a black uniform like a knight, was a completely different person in a dress.
A beautiful, off-the-shoulder dress with abundant frills, in a shade of lavender that matched her hair.
The red lipstick on her lips was captivating.
Ozma blushed at my answer and, with Camilla’s help, descended the stairs. She then shyly extended her white-gloved hand to me.
“I’m not used to this, so you’ll have to lead.”
“Of course.”
I bowed and kissed the back of her hand, then held it tightly.
I could feel her warmth through the glove.
I led her to the carriage that was waiting outside.
Vanessa, as her bodyguard, and Camilla, as her maid, also got in, and the carriage was soon full.
Ozma, who seemed uncomfortable in her dress, kept fidgeting.
As I watched her, I felt a strange warmth in my heart, even though we were on a mission.
Was this what it felt like to be in love?