The Frog Fiasco
When you become the highest-ranking person in an organization, one of the notable perks is that you get to use the plush leather chair all by yourself. The so-called chairman's seat.
Askal leaned back lazily in it and reviewed documents once again today.
Most of the matters had already been neatly handled about ninety percent of the way, so all that remained was to stamp them with his seal. As a result, unless something special came up, the head of the Evaluation Department's work was usually finished by morning. After all, a superior's position was one of responsibility, not of doing the actual labor.
‘Now I finally understand why all those high-ranking people used to hover around their subordinates with nothing better to do.’
Former department head, I see it now.
Recently, Askal had three worries on his mind.
The first was that his job was so comfortable that his determination to defect from the empire was growing weaker. Just like a fox that had grown used to humans.
‘I need to get a grip. Askal Devre.’
The moment he renewed his resolve, Askal felt his willpower surge back to full strength.
And his second worry was…
“Department Head. Do you have a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss.”
“Sorry, but I’m busy with matters that need handling.”
The fact that Ria kept requesting private meetings. Ever since the duke’s party that day, Ria had been fidgeting restlessly like someone who had a confession to make.
‘Anything but the princess coming out. Anything but that.’
Askal desperately fixed his gaze on the documents and pretended to be swamped with work. Ria opened her mouth to say something, then bit her lip hard before returning to her seat.
Askal secretly wiped away cold sweat.
‘Please, someone save me. Father, Mother.’
His neck had gone stiff from the tension. At times like this, he desperately craved a massage from the Myomyo tribe. Askal headed to the break room to kill some time as well.
He decided to ignore the way Ria’s gaze bored into his back.
“Welcome, Askal.”
The moment he entered the break room, his third worry appeared.
The crown prince was there.
Kane, with both hands resting under his chin, wearing only a robe that left his upper body exposed, greeted Askal with a delighted look the instant he saw him. He looked completely at home, like he owned the place.
The Myomyo masseuse was sweating profusely again today, afraid of damaging the imperial body, and was diligently kneading away with utmost care. Askal half gave up and lay down on the massage bed beside the crown prince. Soon, gentle hands began working on his back.
“Is this really all right? Coming to the office this often. Aren’t your official duties demanding?”
“Taking a short break like this causes no trouble at all. Besides, taking care of one’s body is part of public service, wouldn’t you say? Hah!”
The crown prince’s expression melted along with the blissful touch that loosened the tight muscles in his waist and glutes, which had grown stiff from horseback riding.
“Actually, I came today with a favor to ask.”
“It’s a misunderstanding. We don’t keep any horses at our house. We already sent them to a large ranch for adoption so they could run freely.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. Though that part is technically true as well.”
Thankfully, not many people had seen Askal during the Pegasus incident. Kane, who had been on the lower floor, had not witnessed the Pegasus.
If he had seen it back then, he probably would have gone far beyond simply pestering Askal to show him a horse and might have even mobilized his personal authority.
“Do you know Count Dvar?”
“Yes. I understand he’s quite the talkative fellow.”
“Haha. Talkative doesn’t even begin to cover it. He’s probably responsible for spreading half the rumors in the entire empire.”
Count Dvar.
Even though Askal had only met him once at a party, the impression of the count had been burned deeply into his mind.
There were people who loved to meddle in everything and spread gossip. Count Dvar was practically the poster child for that type.
“Recently, there have been talks that Count Dvar isn’t properly reporting his taxes.”
Kane said meaningfully.
“The empire works tirelessly day and night to feed its citizens, yet if there’s a shameless bastard lining his own pockets, what would you do?”
“Well…”
He always seemed so affable that it was easy to forget, but Kane was still the crown prince of the empire.
There was clearly an intention behind those words.
‘It’s awkward for me to handle him directly, so why don’t you go rough up Count Dvar in my place?’
Having finished interpreting the request, Askal pondered. Between the crown prince and Count Dvar, whose side to take? Without question, the crown prince.
No matter how much the crown prince seemed to love horses and appear frivolous, it was all just an act.
If he owed the prince a favor now, there would surely come a moment when it would prove useful.
Probably.
“If there is someone harboring such wicked intentions, then we must forcibly return the illegally accumulated wealth to the national treasury, wouldn’t you agree?”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking! As expected, Askal, I knew you would understand!”
But just what had Count Dvar done to earn the crown prince’s displeasure?
“It’s absolutely not because I hold a grudge after he spread rumors about me getting injured while enjoying horseback riding and frequently visiting the office for massages. Everything is for the sake of the empire.”
“……”
Askal simply nodded vaguely.
Today the sun shines brightly and the weather is warm. It is the perfect day to enjoy a stroll. If you are amenable, would you care to join me for a small tea gathering this evening to savor this beautiful weather? From Serena Barba.
Merely imagining how exhausting it must be to serve our empire so diligently makes me dizzy. I know of a hidden gem within our kingdom, a place where one’s fatigue melts away at the mere sight of it. A tranquil lakeside spot where moonlight sparkles on the water and the sweet fragrance of night-blooming jasmine fills the air. If you are interested, I would be delighted to show you this peaceful sanctuary. I await your reply. From Serena Barba.
“In addition, three more letters have arrived from Her Highness Princess Serena.”
Just reading the letters was enough to make one’s mind go blank. Ria read the letters addressed to the Second Princess in a calm voice.
“Shall I continue?”
“No. That’s enough.”
“Will you send a reply?”
“Please do.”
Ria sat down and began drafting a polite refusal. The content was written so perfectly that anyone reading it would think he genuinely wanted to attend but simply couldn’t due to overwhelming official duties.
It was a flawless rejection that would not offend the Second Princess’s feelings.
Except for the fact that the person who wrote it was her younger sister, acting as his proxy.
While Ria wrote the letter, Askal finished preparing for his business trip.
The empire required nobles to pay taxes as well.
However, there wasn’t a single noble who paid them completely honestly. Everyone skimmed a little here and there. The empire tolerated it to a certain extent, but when it involved offending an important figure like this case, the story changed.
That was when carefully selected imperial tax collectors set out to strip the household’s assets bare.
“Are you ready, Kane, Devan?”
“Ready.”
“We’ve completed preparations to thoroughly evaluate even a single plate and a single hair from Count Dvar.”
Section 1 Chief, Kane. Section 3 Chief, Devan.
They were both talents of the Evaluation Department whom Askal personally acknowledged. Even if Askal simply breathed, they would uncover everything down to the single piece of ham that Count Dvar had hidden away.
Count Dvar’s territory was about two hours away by carriage. It wasn’t the capital, but it was conveniently located so one could reach the capital whenever desired.
There were two types of tax collection.
The first was the very gentle kind where the date was announced in advance, one visited slowly, enjoyed some refreshments, exchanged pleasantries, and left with a token amount of money as a formality.
The second was like today—showing up at the territory without warning and forcibly extracting the taxes. This was tax collection in its truest sense.
“You’ve come such a long way. Come, come. Don’t be shy—have a warm cup of tea first. One mustn’t let the body grow cold or illness will follow.”
The moment Count Dvar saw Askal arrive at his estate, his face stiffened instantly. But he quickly put on a friendly smile and guided them to the reception room.
As expected of someone with quick wits, he had already grasped the situation.
“We appreciate the offer, but we are here to carry out official duties. Please confirm this warrant, and would you please stop the servants who seem to have been hiding something since earlier?”
Kane answered coldly. As reliable as ever. Count Dvar had tried to buy time like a slippery eel to hide his most expensive items, but Kane had already seen through the intention and blocked it in advance.
“Hmm… This is a vase engraved with the traditional patterns of the Subarda Kingdom. Judging by its state of preservation, I estimate its value at five gold. If you have any objections to the assessed amount, please prepare separate documents and send them to the Evaluation Department.”
“Th-this is a replica. It’s definitely not authentic.”
“Oh? For a replica, the traces inside the vase match the year of the Subarda Kingdom exactly. Objection denied.”
Kane used the evaluation magic tool to meticulously inspect Count Dvar’s prized possessions.
Devan searched every corner of the mansion to find the valuable items the count had hidden, and Kane assessed them using the magic tool.
Askal simply sat with a heavy presence, setting the mood.
All he had to do was jot down the assessed values of the items Kane had finished inspecting onto the documents.
It was a perfect division of labor.
“This is a jewel frog. So you were raising one of these.”
Count Dvar’s face turned deathly pale.
“Th-that one is…”
“It’s a pet frog treated as a precious item among collectors. However, raising one for breeding purposes requires reporting it to the empire, doesn’t it? We will confiscate it.”
Ribbit. The frog inside the breeding container let out a sorrowful croak. Its jewel-like beautiful patterns shimmered.
“The assessed value is one silver.”
“Sob… Seros. Forgive your unworthy master.”
The moment Askal tried to write down the jewel frog’s assessed value on the document, the frog, sensing its fate, leaped with all its might.
“Whoa!”
“Catch it!”
Fortunately, the frog’s escape was quickly suppressed.
However, because of the commotion, Askal’s quill pen had slid straight across the paper. What should have been one silver accidentally gained an extra stroke and became four silver.
“It seems we’ve assessed everything that can be valued. We will send the tax notice as soon as possible.”
“Then we’ll be on our way, Count.”
Leaving behind the completely soul-drained Count Dvar, the tax collectors departed without mercy. Their work had been flawless.
Except for one single thing.
Askal closed the newspaper. This much could still be considered a minor mistake. Since the crown prince seemed satisfied with how the matter had been handled, it didn’t matter. On the contrary, a small slip like this might even help lower his own reputation.
Actually, this was good.
“W-wait a second…”
And the next day, the jewel frog skyrocketed even further to 20 silver.
Askal, who had experience from his previous life, instinctively realized that this was developing into an uncontrollable situation.