Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: 39. Corrupt City (2)
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"Hmm..."
Something was starting to take shape. But it was still too early to jump to conclusions.
Yuri nodded.
"Got it for now. Anyway, how much money did they skim off with those taxes in total?"
Yuri had instructed Ace to check the number of Allied Forces veterans in Yuges and the amounts they'd been forced to pay. Ace had immediately sent a subordinate to look into it.
"We don't have anyone good with numbers..."
"Don't worry. An expert's coming to handle the money side of things."
"An expert?"
"Someone from Ireine Merchant Company. Just leave it to him."
"You have ties to Ireine Merchant Company?"
"It just sort of happened."
Ace grabbed Yuri's hand.
"Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, Your Highness, I'd be dead on some battlefield. And now here, too..."
Yuri chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"I'm alive thanks to you guys."
"Your Highness..."
"Pull yourself together. Now's the time to stay strong."
"Yes, sir."
Yuri rubbed his chin.
"Getting the money back won't be hard."
Once it came out that the Allied Forces veterans' condolence fund was actually a gift from the third prince, all those bogus taxes would vanish.
The real issue was what came after.
"We need to make sure this doesn't happen again."
Yuri's trip to Yuges in person was a kind of inspection.
While helping the veterans' association, he wanted to gauge Brioll's public sentiment and check for any other corruption.
Yuri tapped the table.
"There are Allied Forces guys who can't find their footing and are wandering, right?"
"Yeah, there are."
"Right. Make a list of them too. We need to build people up. If we don't train them properly now, they'll turn to banditry later."
"Come on, no way."
"No way, my ass. They really will."
Yuri had seen proof of that just before arriving in Yuges.
"We should at least give them vocational training."
"You're going that far?"
"That's what the Allied Forces Veterans' Association is for."
As they chatted back and forth, Yuri suddenly grew curious about Raymond's reputation.
He thought highly of the man personally, but he wanted to know what others thought.
"What do you think of Raymond?"
"He's a fine knight."
"Everyone follows him?"
"Of course."
"I see."
Yuri nodded.
It was the answer he'd hoped for.
The veterans' association still had a long way to go. To run an organization like this, they needed a chairman with solid character first and foremost.
"There are fewer decent people in this world than you think."
"You're right."
"And Raymond's one of the few."
Yuri decided to appoint Raymond as the association's chairman.
The discussion wrapped up.
Yuri grinned at Ace, who was sitting there blankly.
"Ace."
"Yes."
"Looks like we're done here..."
Yuri rubbed his fingers together and shot him a sly look.
"How about showing off your skills? It's been a while."
"Ah, right. Haha, you got it."
Ace immediately pulled a deck of cards from a drawer and started shuffling them with practiced ease.
"I was dying to play this..."
Yuri snatched the entire deck.
"You little punk, this won't do."
"Your Highness?"
"Didn't you quit?"
"Huh? Oh, I, I really did wash my hands of it."
"Then why's there cards?"
"Just for old times' sake..."
"I was testing you again this time."
"I figured, so I thought just one game..."
"You little..."
Yuri stood and called toward the door.
"Hey, ma'am. Your husband's..."
"No!"
Morning broke.
Yuri sat in the inn's first-floor dining hall, eating breakfast while waiting for someone.
The door opened, and a kid came in clutching a bundle, looking around.
Yuri jingled some coins.
"Here."
The kid handed it over, pocketed the money, and bolted out.
Yuri sipped his coffee as he unwrapped the bundle.
It was stuffed with documents Asana had looted from Genad's castle.
"Hmm..."
Yuri got the general picture.
There were signs that Genad had persuaded other nobles to levy money from Allied Forces veterans.
Just as he'd suspected, it was Genad's scheme.
But he still didn't know why Genad had started this—or his real motive.
"Was he jealous of me?"
Yuri finished eating, wiped his mouth, and stood.
As he headed out, he left a message with the innkeeper for Rolang and Jared, who were still asleep.
"If my companions show up, tell them I went out alone to have some fun."
"Yes, sir. Will do. Have a good day."
The place was pricey, so the owner was polite. Yuri tipped him and stepped into the street.
Cool morning air greeted him.
"Where was it again..."
He headed for the Yuges branch of Uncle's Loans, near the market.
A rundown gambling den soon came into view.
These guys always set up in similar spots.
Even at this hour, it was packed—probably addicts who'd pulled all-nighters.
Yuri pushed through the noisy interior and knocked on the loan office door.
A burly man opened it and eyed him.
"Here to borrow money?"
"Nope."
"Then scram."
"Nah."
There was a brief scuffle, but it ended quickly.
The manager rushed in to find a boy perched atop a pile of crumpled gang members.
Yuri waved.
"Hey."
"Whoa, Your Highness?"
"Made something of yourself, huh?"
Yuri recognized the manager from the royal castle. He'd worked directly under Gorio.
"Lucky for you. Was worried you might not know me."
Only Gorio's higher-ups knew about his connection to Yuri.
Yuri recalled the man's name.
"Atman, right?"
"Yes."
"Long time no see."
Atman was missing a finger.
He'd always seemed terrified of Gorio, but years of loyalty had earned him a branch.
"How's Gorio doing?"
"Fine. Complains a lot, though."
"The empire's like that. Country's too damn big."
"Haha..."
"Got some questions."
"Y-yes, sir."
Atman found Yuri intimidating. This was the prince who effectively bossed around the fearsome Gorio.
"Just say the word."
"You guys aren't behind the beggars, right?"
"Beggars?"
Atman shook his head.
"No, sir. That's third-rate mob stuff. We run a proper business."
"Good. Get rid of all the beggars quick."
"Pardon?"
"Send the kids to orphanages."
"Ah, got it."
"If the orphanages say it's too much, tell me which ones. I'll donate."
"Yes, sir."
Atman nodded, grasping the situation. He'd been an upstanding young man before falling into Gorio's debt, so he understood Yuri's intent.
"Understood. We'll handle it."
"And hey—any idea why Genad suddenly started harassing Allied Forces vets?"
"That matter..."
Atman pondered. He wanted to be useful and impress Yuri, but nothing came to mind.
"Sorry, nothing..."
Mid-sentence, he recalled Gorio's methods.
The man was ruthless but sharp, always connecting unrelated dots.
"Hm..."
Atman spoke haltingly.
"Probably unrelated, but something's been bugging me..."
"Spit it out."
"We have a Crystal Pavilion branch in Yuges. Local officials drop by often."
Crystal Pavilion was Gorio's brothel operation.
"And?"
"A noble from the empire showed up recently."
"Empire noble?"
"Yes. One of Genad's men was with him. He introduced the place. Several imperials came along."
"When was this?"
"Around when the Allied Forces disbanded and things got rowdy."
"Ho..."
Yuri rubbed his chin. The empire keyword put him on edge.
In his past life, Genad had cozied up to the empire right after Brioll fell, keeping his noble status.
It had been too smooth, raising suspicions. Was the connection starting already?
Yuri's mind raced.
"Um, excuse me..."
One of the burly guys under Yuri raised a hand.
"What?"
"L-listening made me think of something..."
"Want me to move?"
"No, it's f-fine."
"Nah, I'll shift. Gorio must've whipped you all into such a frenzy..."
Yuri stood, and the three piled bodies rolled aside one by one.
The bottom guy sprang up and bowed.
"Sorry for not recognizing you earlier."
"No big deal. Sorry for clocking you."
"N-no, sir."
"Anyway, what is it?"
"Someone came asking if I could do a job."
"Job?"
"Luring folks into gambling or running up debts. I turned it down—we don't do that anymore—but it stuck with me."
"Who?"
"Don't know. Hooded guy..."
The brute licked his lips and continued stiffly.
"But the target was an Allied Forces vet."
"Allied Forces?"
"Yeah. Ace, the card shark. Wanted me to drag him back into gambling..."
"Tell me more."
The brute didn't remember much—just that a shady figure had made the request.
Yuri nodded.
"Got it."
At this point, it was clear someone was deliberately sabotaging the veterans' association.
"Anything else?"
"Nope. Good work."
Yuri left the den.
He inhaled the crisp air deeply, cleansing the stale gambling stench from his lungs.
Time to meet Genad face-to-face.
"That bastard Genad..."
In his past life, Yuri had been close to Genad.
The duke had sweet-talked him into all sorts of dirty deeds, and Yuri had fallen for it, seeing him as a loyal retainer.
A pathetic bond, but a bond nonetheless.
"Can't even let it slide."
Yuri stopped at a fruit stand near the den, wiped an apple on his sleeve, and took a bite.
"How much?"
"One copper."
"Here."
Yuri handed over a copper coin.
"Opening early."
"Gotta eat."
"Any fun news lately?"
"Banana prices are up. Some blight going around."
"That's rough."
"Heard eastern fruits might import soon. Wonder what they'll taste like."
"Sounds exciting."
The owner was a middle-aged woman, chattering away while arranging fruit.
Yuri asked,
"Eastern fruits coming? Gotta thank the Allied Forces for that, right?"
"Sure. Say, you new in town?"
"Yeah, from the capital."
"Figured."
She teasingly put a finger to her lips at Yuri.
"Watch yourself, lad. The lord here doesn't like Allied Forces much."
"Why's that?"
"Who knows? Cranky guy's full of whims. Us little folk just keep our heads down."
"Makes sense. Hope someone gives that lord a good scolding."
She burst out laughing.
"Yeah. That famous third prince dropping by would be nice."
Yuri smiled warmly. His reputation had spread here.
"Heard that kind-hearted knight's up for trial soon. Hope the real third prince shows."
"Who?"
"Raymond, the fine knight. No idea what he did, but trial's coming. Yuges is getting stingier."
"No way..."
Considering Genad's temperament, Yuri had expected quick action on Raymond.
Playing dumb, Yuri asked,
"I should check it out. When's the trial?"
"Tomorrow? Day after? Not sure."
"If enough citizens show, maybe the judge'll go easy out of nerves?"
"He only fears the lord."
"Jerk."
The apple was pretty good. Yuri bought a basketful, paid, and said,
"Just in case, go watch the trial. Who knows? That handsome third prince might pop up and chew out the rotten judge and lord."
"Love that. Take an extra banana."
"Thanks."