As Ian, who had taken the position of Tax Director, put his legs on the table and stared at Viscount Steel, the Viscount cautiously took a pouch out of his bosom.
“Your Highness, our tax collectors have prepared this with sincerity.”
Both Viscount Helington and Viscount Steel always prepared gold coins whenever they saw Ian, which made it hard not to praise the original Ian. After all, the more emergency funds, the better.
Receiving the quite heavy pouch and confirming its contents, Ian did not hide his rising smile. As tax office employees began to come in one by one and pile tax receipts on the table where Ian was seated, Viscount Steel spoke in a subtle voice.
“Your Highness, you must be tired from visiting the tax office today, and reviewing these documents might be exhausting. How about moving to another place to relieve your fatigue first?”
Not even touching the incoming tax receipts, Ian continued to fiddle with the gold coins in the pouch given by Viscount Steel, who began to feel relieved. Of course, Ian had no intention of ending it here.
“Viscount, it’s disappointing that this is all your sincerity amounts to.”
“Y-Your Highness?”
“I will proceed with my duties as an inspector. I will conduct one-on-one interviews with the tax collectors, so it would be better if you excused yourself.”
Thinking Ian was appeased by the gold coins, Viscount Steel looked visibly confused by the obvious dismissal.
“Y-Your Highness…?”
Ignoring Viscount Steel, Ian spoke loudly to the tax collectors outside.
“Come in one by one to the Director’s office. Anyone who tries to flee or lies in front of me will be reported directly to His Majesty the Emperor and beheaded for corruption.”
At the mention of corruption, the faces of not only Viscount Steel inside but also the tax collectors outside turned pale.
While Viscount Steel waited anxiously outside, Ian conducted interviews with the tax collectors but found no evidence of what he sought. Embezzlement involving money is often unknown to the employees; they just follow orders without questioning the rightness of them.
After interviewing all the tax collectors, it was finally Viscount Steel’s turn. He entered the room with a tense expression.
“Viscount Steel, I noticed one person missing from the personnel list.”
“Ah, he took a sudden leave today.”
“Hmm… I see. And now, we can finally be alone.”
At the word ‘alone,’ Viscount Steel couldn’t hide the tension on his face and responded.
“Yes, Your Highness, please speak.”
“Surely, what I’m holding isn’t the extent of your sincerity, right?”
Seeing Ian not asking about any corruption but wanting a greater display of sincerity, Viscount Steel felt relieved. He knew dealing with greed was much easier than handling someone with an ambiguous sense of justice.
Just like the inspectors he had manipulated in the past, Viscount Steel started envisioning the rewards he could get from Duke Blake by managing the Third Prince effectively with money.
“Of course, Your Highness. If you relocate, I will prepare what you desire additionally.”
“But I’m here as the tax inspector appointed directly by His Majesty. If I were to leave and play around, rumors might spread, and I could face reprimand from His Majesty.”
“Then how about meeting separately at night? You can perform your inspection duties diligently during the day and rest well at night. I can arrange for someone to come discreetly.”
At Viscount Steel’s suggestion, Ian spoke words that would make him let down his guard even more.
“I was rude earlier with so many eyes around. To think you prepared this much for me. I must apologize.”
Surprised by the sudden apology from the Third Prince, Viscount Steel waved his hands and said.
“Your Highness, why are you doing this? Serving the noble royal family is my duty and a glorious opportunity for a noble of the Empire. Your apology is completely unnecessary.”
“As expected, you have a heart as generous as this heavy pouch.”
Hearing Ian’s compliment, Viscount Steel’s doubts completely dissipated. He reaffirmed to himself that the Third Prince was just a 15-year-old child. The prince’s earlier performance was surely to display authority to the tax collectors.
“Your Highness, could you tell me what you wish to achieve through this inspection? I will do my utmost to assist you.”
At Viscount Steel’s subtle question, Ian answered with a broad smile.
“Viscount, where do you think the most money flows in the Empire?”
“Of course, in the capital of the Empire.”
“Exactly. Then where in the capital does the most money flow?”
“Isn’t it our Tax Office?”
Seeing Viscount Steel understand his words, Ian got even more into his act.
“This is the first time I’m saying this to you, but I couldn’t understand why His Majesty appointed a scoundrel like me as a tax inspector.”
“Could it be that His Majesty expects results from Your Highness akin to a ‘detector’ in tax matters?”
“I consider ‘detector’ as a stroke of luck. There are days like that, aren’t there? When a brilliant idea strikes once in a lifetime.”
Seeing Ian confide in him, Viscount Steel thought today was such a day for himself.
“And wouldn’t there be no big problem with someone like you managing the Tax Office?”
“How should I assist Your Highness?”
“I want to make a big haul but also avoid my father’s wrath.”
Emphasizing the word ‘wrath,’ Ian made his true intentions clear to Viscount Steel. If Ian was given just a small issue to make some achievement, this inspection could end successfully.
“Your Highness, if you put it that way, how could I not help you? Having this private conversation with me was indeed a wise choice.”
‘He’s hooked.’
“Thank you for understanding my heart. Still, as a tax inspector, if I said such things in front of other tax collectors, what would become of my dignity?”
“You did well. Leave the rest to me. I’ll handle things so that strange rumors don’t spread among the subordinates.”
At Viscount Steel’s words, Ian smiled and asked in a deliberately subtle voice.
“Could you tell me what preparations have been made for tonight?”
At Ian’s question, Viscount Steel answered in a sticky voice.
“Your Highness, a man of your stature naturally deserves to be close to alcohol and women. I believe you suit such a demeanor more than anyone.”
“Since the moment you handed me that heavy pouch of gold, I’ve been liking you more and more. But besides alcohol and women, isn’t there something that can make a big haul?”
After briefly pondering Ian’s words, Viscount Steel made a decision and spoke in a very quiet voice.
“Your Highness, have you heard of the Rose Inn?”
At the mention of ‘Rose Inn,’ Ian momentarily flinched, but Viscount Steel didn’t notice.
“This is my first time hearing of it.”
“We’ve shown a bit of leniency towards the goods coming in through the Rose Inn.”
“By leniency, you mean?”
When Ian asked, Viscount Steel made a money gesture with his fingers.
“What else could leniency in the Tax Office mean other than money? If this inspection concludes well, I can ensure you receive several times the amount of this pouch.”
Viscount Steel couldn’t hide his bursting laughter at the thought of involving the Third Prince in this matter. After the inspector passed, if a scandal broke out, who would the blame fall on?
“Several times, you say? I feel like I should call you my brother.”
“Brother, Your Highness, I am forever your loyal servant.”
“Shall we conclude today’s inspection here then?”
“Thank you for your boundless grace, Your Highness.”
“Viscount, however, I must keep up appearances for His Majesty and the Chancellor, so I’ll have the tax receipts moved to my palace.”
“A wise decision.”
After the meeting, both Ian and Viscount Steel returned to their residences with satisfied expressions. Viscount Steel felt the sunlight unusually bright on him.
The following night.
Ian successfully sneaked out of the inner palace through a secret passage prepared by Tom.
“Your Highness, I don’t think this is a good idea. I should accompany you.”
Despite Tom’s worried tone, Ian shook his head.
“If you’re not at the palace and someone visits at night, no one will be there to handle it. Do you understand?”
“Sigh… I understand.”
As Tom sighed and disappeared, Ian started walking towards the pleasure district. Even at night, it was easy to identify the pleasure district due to its unusually bright streets.
After walking for about an hour, Ian realized that the palace and the pleasure district were not that far apart. This heightened his suspicion that the Rose Inn might be involved in something shady.
When Ian entered the inn with a rose emblem openly displayed on its sign, a clerk greeted him.
“Welcome.”
“Is this the Rose Inn?”
“Yes, it is. Are you here to stay or use the tavern on the first floor?”
“I’ll wait on the first floor.”
Entering a tavern for the first time in this world, Ian felt it was similar to the pubs of his previous life. The boisterous noise from people who looked like mercenaries and those quietly sipping beer were familiar scenes to anyone who had read fantasy novels.
“Are you a guest staying here?”
“No, I’m meeting someone.”
“In that case, the basic rule is one drink per person.”
Perhaps because his features were covered by a hood and cloak, the clerk insisted on advance payment to prevent Ian from running off.
“How much?”
“3 silver.”
Ian checked his pouch and looked troubled.
‘I should have brought some small change.’
With no other choice, Ian handed over a gold coin, instantly changing the clerk’s suspicious gaze to one of respect.
“I’ll bring your change immediately, sir.”
Not wanting to reveal his initial suspicion, the clerk hurriedly fetched Ian’s change.
When Ian tipped 2 silver coins, the clerk bowed deeply and withdrew. This action not only impressed the clerk but also caught the attention of others in the tavern.
“Hey, pal, why don’t you share some of that with us too?”
Crack.
When Ian ignored their threats, the thugs grabbed their weapons and approached him.
“Come on, hand it over nicely, will ya?”
“Don’t ignore us!”
As one thug took advantage of Ian’s hesitation and pulled off his cloak, revealing ruby-red eyes contrasting with blue hair, the gang leader gasped.
“B-Boss!”
Seeing their boss address Ian as ‘boss,’ the other gang members froze in place.
Cliche Novel 