Severing the Rot
Just like that, we cut them loose, and the next morning, our territory was in an uproar for all sorts of reasons.
"My lord! There's blood...!"
"Ah, it's fine. That's not my blood. Sorry about the maids, though."
"That's not the issue right now!"
"I said it's fine."
In the process of wiping out all the criminals and tying up loose ends, I'd forgotten to change my clothes. I'd even made a final check on Iana's group.
That should be enough to show Iana.
My fighting style wasn't the one true way. Even I didn't think that. I'd just shown her one possible path. How she absorbed it and made it her own was up to her.
"What happened in the middle of the night this time...?"
"Just caught some criminals. Turns out these bastards were bribing officials and doing all sorts of shit."
"Bribing...?"
I explained to Tavi about the criminal organization and what they'd been up to. Including how some officials had been taking kickbacks and cooperating.
"H-how dare those who draw a salary from you, my lord, betray you and turn a blind eye to crime?"
"Here's their ledger and the list of bribes they took."
Tavi's hands trembled with rage as she read the papers. Having worked here so long, she probably knew many of them personally.
"People who should set the example above all others, pulling this crap while everyone's struggling with the Gates..."
"I'll hand over full authority to the soldiers. Can you strip them all bare?"
"Of course. I'll shake down those bastards until their servants' underwear is inside out."
Our Tavi was damn good at her job, as always.
Before long, the corrupt officials were dragged before me. Some were even people I'd chatted with face-to-face about work.
"W-we're innocent, my lord!"
"How can you listen to criminals and act like this tyrant?"
"We've been the ones running this territory all along! You can't treat us like this!"
The officials wailed their grievances. I picked my ear lazily and shoved the evidence I'd gathered in their faces.
"The criminals' ledgers, witness testimonies, the loot from your houses, servant statements—it all lines up perfectly. Still innocent?"
Ironclad evidence, cross-verified multiple times with no escape. The officials who'd been shouting their innocence went mute as clams.
"I was gonna let minor graft slide given the times. But colluding with murderers? No way."
"Sp-spare us, my lord!"
"I never wanted to! That bitch talked me into it...!"
"When did I? My lord, I've only ever served this territory...!"
"Enough. Drag 'em away."
The soldiers hauled the officials off to the dungeons.
Refreshing as it was to excise the territory's tumors, Tavi's face looked grim.
"...I'm sorry, my lord. I handle the territory's affairs, yet I missed this."
"Why should you apologize? How could you spot deliberate backroom deals?"
Tavi already had a mountain of work. Exaggerating a bit, the territory ran on her efforts alone. Naturally, she had thick trust among the staff. I hadn't picked her as my top choice to dump the territory on for nothing.
"Still, I take responsibility. I trusted them because they'd served longer than me."
"Just fill the spots with decent people from now on. More importantly, let's move fast."
"Pardon? On what...?"
"Might as well root out every last corrupt official while we're at it."
Not all corrupt officials were tied to the crime ring. There were plenty of ways to skim off the top.
"Thanks to the criminals, it'll look pretty when we link 'em up now that it's all surfaced."
The possessed reader's privilege from knowing the original story, plus my instincts—finding those guys was a breeze.
"How dare you, my lord! This is an insult to me!"
An old official snarled at the house we raided.
"I've devoted my life to this territory since before you were born! No one's contributed more! To accuse me of corruption out of nowhere like this!"
The old man's face shone with righteous indignation, without a shred of shame.
Tavi, gauging the mood, whispered advice.
"He's worked here for decades. Investigating without evidence could backfire."
"Hmm."
He wasn't just an employee—he was practically territory royalty.
"I've supported this land since your father was young! To suspect me like this and force a sham investigation! The injustice brings tears to this old man's eyes! What was my life for?!"
The old man even shed real tears. Impressive acting—I was almost impressed.
I knocked on one wall in front of him.
Thud! Thud!
"Huh. This spot sounds hollow. Like there's space and stuff behind it?"
"......"
"If I smash it and something comes out, I'll stake my hand on it. What're you wagering?"
"...Just spare me."
Hollywood acting was no match for the possessed reader's edge.
Smashing it revealed his hidden fortune and ledgers. Flipping through, it linked merchants to petty nobles in a neat chain.
Tight-knit territory means everything connects. Makes my job easier.
I rounded them all up. With rumors flying that officials took bribes from murderers, arrests were smooth.
"I-I never took money from criminals!"
"So what? Makes taking bribes okay?"
Process didn't matter—results did. To outsiders, even the mere bribe-takers looked like accomplices to killers.
"Whew! Finally, the territory's clean."
"What about the bribe-takers? Excluding the small fry, some handled big sums."
"Cut 'em. Confiscate all assets."
I slashed my hand across my throat. Tavi's eyes widened in shock.
"C-cut them? You're serious?"
"Why not?"
They'd gorged for years—firing was lenient. Confiscate assets, permanent exile: tidy enough.
"Any legal issues?"
"No. They committed corruption even after the late lord's death and the Gate disaster. Wartime conditions justify harsh penalties."
"Good enough."
Couldn't leave tumors festering. Better to slice clean and replace.
"Gates popping up is bad enough, but Father's absurd death on top. Gotta handle it right."
"Ah..."
Tavi nodded firmly, as if resolving something.
"Understood. I'll process them swiftly."
The bribe-takers were publicly executed as examples.
Seeing their severed heads reported, I blinked.
Ah... I didn't mean literally cut them.
Did Tavi have noble-killer blood? Anyway, it worked out.
The lord values integrity and shows no mercy to criminals—good rumors spread.
"Anyway, backlog cleared. Now just make money easy."
Training hunters, crushing criminals. Build business for slush funds—perfect.
After her shower, Tavi muttered while drying off.
"...The late lord's death must still weigh heavy on him."
She wasn't talking about Ian. It was the previous lord—Ian's father—who was gone now.
Ian's expressions and reactions. The subtle anger and disillusionment on his face. Even after executing the corrupt nobles and officials, Tavi couldn't stop dwelling on it.
It makes sense. Not just gone—murdered. At such a young age.
She'd forgotten amid his competence. The lord had lost his father recently.
To betrayal by a noble he'd trusted.
He hides it, but it must wound him deeply.
And then trusted officials colluding with criminals. Ian's sense of betrayal and loss must dwarf hers.
Maybe that's why the extreme measures.
Of course, she thought it necessary.
Letting corrupt ones slide would've bred backlash.
Ian's handling made it look fine, but the territory had teetered on ruin.
What if a second Gate surged? How many dead?
Not just Armeyna—gates unending plunged the kingdom into peril and chaos.
What was needed: decisive, charismatic leaders like Ian.
This peace held thanks to his wisdom.
But...
"Can't let the lord shoulder it all forever."
Ian sometimes gave off a strange vibe. Like he'd vanish to another world anytime.
That loneliness—she, still feeling inadequate, couldn't reach out.
He needed someone reliable now. Unwavering loyalty, a comrade to lead the territory.
I'll stand by him.
Tavi resolved alone in bed that night. Sharing the load was her role as aide.
Next day, she worked hard, gathered data, and reported to Ian.
"My lord, here's the list of adventurers who applied. I've compiled their missions and basic skills."
"Yeah. Good work."
What the territory needed: hires going forward. Especially Hunters to guard against Gates.
Talent selection time.
Not bad at all!
She'd gathered solid ones. Adventurers who'd handled minor territory jobs. Proven skills and backgrounds.
Some gaps, but they'd surely help.
And—
"All F-grade."
Ian scanned the list and decided neatly.