Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Archaic Power
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There exist several 'Great Merchant Houses' within the Empire.
Great Merchant Houses.
As the name openly includes the word 'Great,' it was clear that these houses belonged to the so-called 'Grand Nobles.'
Grand Nobles.
Great nobles who possessed traditional and tangible power—tradition, prestige, face, authority—to rule and manage this world.
Even in an era where the authority of nobles was no longer as 'sacred' as in the old days,
those called Grand Nobles held an authority incomparable to ordinary noble houses.
For example, House Riddle wielded immense 'financial power' unmatched by any other house.
It wasn't just about having a lot of money.
In managing that wealth and exercising property rights,
House Riddle held the most powerful and efficient 'control over the markets' of any house.
That financial power was enshrined at the head of the house,
making the head of House Riddle synonymous with gold,
and the family head merely a tool to serve that golden leader.
It was an authority maintained solely through ability.
On the other hand, there were Great Merchant Houses that had risen to the ranks of Grand Nobles by relying on even greater authority.
"The Golden Ear of the Riddles made such a proposal?"
"Yes. In exchange for sharing some of the reconstruction project profits, they want full rights to the slave trade."
"Hand over the entire slave business... If the price is right, there's nothing we can't sell."
House Parkinson.
A house that had grown in size and prestige by thoroughly clinging to imperial authority,
known as the imperial family's favored merchants.
If the Riddles' authority stemmed from ability,
the Parkinsons' came from imperial favor.
Most of their businesses couldn't be maintained without the imperial family's tacit approval and permission.
They could earn vast sums with little investment,
but they were also in a precarious position where falling out of imperial favor meant losing everything in an instant.
Thus, while profiting from imperial favor,
House Parkinson was striving to build business foundations that could be sustained without it.
But little was succeeding.
Frankly, it was because the head of House Parkinson lacked ability.
"The slave trade is a headache in many ways anyway. Maintenance and investment costs are too high, and profits are uncertain. With slaves as merchandise, you never know when they might break, catch a disease, or cause losses. And if a slave revolt breaks out on a ship, it sinks everything else too."
"Indeed. I think we should accept this proposal."
"But seeing House Riddle dominate the 'slave dispatch business' market, it feels like there's real potential there, which makes it regrettable."
"That's only possible because the Riddles control distribution and plantations across the Empire. We couldn't replicate it."
"Tch... It's a business we've nurtured since my father's generation, so handing it over just feels like a waste."
"It's not 'just' handing it over. Honestly, who knows when we'd get another chance to sell it at such a high price."
"I know. I get it. What more can I say?"
Even a close look at just the slave trade
revealed how haphazardly House Parkinson had been running their operations.
Great ambition but no ability.
High ideals but indecisiveness.
Easily swayed by immediate gains.
That was the head of House Parkinson.
His only merit
was that he had some imperial collateral bloodline mixed in.
And that 'bloodline' was the most essential ability for managing House Parkinson.
Unlike House Riddle, which would bring in even a foster son if capable
and meticulously 'designed' even their aides from childhood,
the head of House Parkinson was 'complete' simply by being born.
"Your Excellency, please decide."
"Urgh... Fine. Whatever. It's just a headache to hold onto anyway."
"Then we'll accept it."
"Ah, report to the imperial family first. Since it's a business contracted with them, we can't just hand it over recklessly and risk offending them."
"Understood."
A house that moved according to vertical, archaic authority.
By all rights, it should have failed to adapt to the rapidly changing times and fallen into ruin... but at this moment, the fate of House Parkinson shifted as well.
The sound of fate's wheel turning once echoed.
.
.
.
.
"Parkinson is trying to sell the slave business to the Riddles?"
"Yes."
"If they're taking over the existing contracts and operations as-is, is there nothing more for the imperial side to coordinate?"
"That's correct."
"Then tell them to do as they please. It doesn't really matter who they contract with."
"Understood, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
The Empire's imperial family.
Having declared 'humanity's war' against the demon race,
reigning above the assembly,
checking nobles with stratagems and intrigues,
and wielding the sword in decisive moments to purge nobles and safeguard their authority—an authoritarian absolute monarchy.
"Nobles are all such a hassle."
...In truth, they had no particular thoughts on the matter.
"Well, that's what makes watching them entertaining."
The imperial family had handed most authority to the assembly and become a 'reigning' entity.
The Empire's everything still belonged to the imperial family,
but it was managed in practice by the nobles brawling it out in the assembly, not the imperial house.
In other words, borrowing the possessor's expression,
they adhered to the principle of 'separation of ownership and management.'
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the assembly has proposed a law restricting the imperial family's right to dissolve it."
"As always, tell them to fuck off."
"Understood."
Of course, since the imperial family's authority was inviolable,
no matter how much they preached 'separation of ownership and management,' all final decisions remained in the imperial family's grasp.
If the imperial family exercised veto power, no law could pass the assembly,
and if they reclaimed the authority 'lent' to the assembly to manage it themselves, there might be noble backlash, but 'in principle,' nothing could block it.
But why would the imperial family bother?
They had no intention of managing the Empire.
As long as taxes were paid promptly
and the imperial prestige wasn't infringed upon, that was enough.
"Don't those assembly bastards ever get tired?"
"Well, creating periodic opportunities to exercise veto power like this is a kind of custom. The imperial family can demonstrate authority and bolster prestige, while the assembly shows they still revere it as loyal subjects."
"Those damn customs, customs, customs. My ears are going numb. What kind of history is this deep anyway."
"Humanity's history is the Empire's history. Thus, every step the imperial family takes must bear the weight of that history—"
"Shut up."
"Yes, sir."
However, the imperial family having no thoughts
didn't mean they did nothing.
The imperial family lacked a brain... but
instead had numerous 'traditions' and 'customs' to serve as one.
In other words, countless precedents and examples automatically moved the imperial family.
"By the way, what happened to those usurers' assets?"
"We replaced the top executives with imperial bureaucrats and increased dividends to the owners. With their currency issuance rights copying massive cash, it'll greatly aid in maintaining imperial dignity. Most will go to the military, though."
"Thanks to that, we can breathe easy."
The imperial family swallowing the treasurer's assets fell into the same context.
The modern imperial family, having ceded power to the assembly, held no particular grudge against mere treasurers,
but the 'history of the imperial family'—which had fought endlessly to seize absolute power—
moved according to various political mechanics, producing the terrifying outcome of 'swallowing the treasurers' assets in one gulp.'
After all, beating usurers whenever money was needed was an imperial tradition.
The Great Purge, divide and rule,
even actions to uphold imperial prestige and save face—
all stemmed from such customs.
A political machine operating on algorithms.
That was the identity of the imperial family as 'rulers.'
"Come to think of it, House Riddle was the one who exposed those usurers' treason. Their name keeps coming up lately."
"The family head is said to be exceptionally capable. Rumor has it he was born with the 'Winter's Blessing.'"
"Ah, a blessing holder? Just some pattern on the skin that's nothing but a hassle—why call it a blessing? Feels more like a brand mark, doesn't it?"
"......"
"Still, being a blessing holder makes him feel somewhat亲近."
A child of blessing holders didn't necessarily inherit the 'blessing,'
but imperial royals were different.
All imperial royals were born with blessings.
Thus, a faintly glowing 'scales' pattern adorned beneath the crown prince's left eye.
"Does that fellow pay his taxes well?"
"House Riddle paid the highest taxes this year."
"I'm liking him more and more. Is he married?"
"Pardon? Do you have such tastes?"
"......Shut up."
"Yes, sir."
"If he's unmarried, arranging my sister for him wouldn't be bad."
"Ah, I believe he has a fiancée."
"A fiancée is probably just some noble anyway. If she receives imperial selection, it'd boost their prestige and be honorable."
"True enough."
"My sister's at the age to find a match anyway. How old is she now?"
"This year... she's just over eighty."
"We can hold her coming-of-age in twenty years and marry her right then."
"Isn't that a bit early?"
"Can't be helped if it's a noble marriage. Anyway, the most important thing is their feelings. Sound out his intentions carefully first, then proceed slowly with the arrangements."
"Understood."