Among the nobles, Viscount Steel, in particular, watched Ian’s lips with a tense expression.
“After reviewing the tax accounts of the Taxation Bureau for the past year, I discovered that about 5 percent of the Empire’s taxes are being embezzled.”
Ian emphasized the word ’embezzled,’ leaving the nobles in a state of shock, all wearing dumbfounded expressions.
Duke Blake noticed that neither the Emperor’s nor the Chancellor’s expressions changed at Ian’s statement, sensing something unusual in the atmosphere.
The Emperor asked Ian in a calm voice,
“Five percent of the taxes? The Third Prince must take responsibility for his claims.”
“As the Tax Inspector appointed by Your Majesty, if there is any falsehood in my statement, I will resign from my position immediately.”
Earl Liam glanced at Viscount Steel, who turned red and glared at Ian as he finished speaking.
“His Highness the Third Prince is saying something unbelievable. Who would dare embezzle the Empire’s taxes?”
Ian smiled, seeing Viscount Steel unable to control his emotions even in front of the Emperor.
“Exactly. Even I wouldn’t have known about this if I hadn’t investigated the Taxation Bureau under His Majesty’s orders. Since Viscount Steel, the head of the Taxation Bureau, is here, I’d like to hear his explanation.”
Earl Liam, worried about Viscount Steel getting drawn into Ian’s provocation, tried to hold him back. However, feeling a strong sense of betrayal after handing over everything from the space pouch to slush funds to Ian, Viscount Steel spoke in an agitated voice.
“Are you disregarding the work of the Taxation Bureau? Do you not realize how meticulously we handle the tax accounts day and night? Reviewing a year’s worth of tax accounts in just a few days is impossible. Do you even know how many tax accounts are processed daily?”
“About 450 to 500 a day.”
“What?”
Viscount Steel looked momentarily dumbfounded as Ian accurately stated the number of daily tax accounts.
“And this conclusion comes after reviewing a year’s worth of documents from the Taxation Bureau.”
The nobles’ murmuring didn’t cease. If Ian’s words were true, it meant he reviewed at least 160,000 documents in just a few days.
“Your Highness, this is too much. We are discussing important matters of the Empire in the ‘Internal Affairs Meeting’.”
Earl Liam pointed out the absurdity of Ian’s claim based on common sense.
“Indeed. Even if all the Taxation Bureau staff worked together, it would take at least six months to properly review and organize a year’s worth of documents.”
Viscount Steel added, and the nobles who had experience dealing with tax accounts agreed. It took considerable time to organize tax accounts for their territories, so how could the reckless Third Prince review a year’s worth of documents?
“What will you take responsibility for if my words are true, Viscount Steel?”
“Although it is highly unlikely, I will relinquish my position as head of the Taxation Bureau.”
Ian shook his head at Viscount Steel’s response.
“I don’t want Viscount Steel to take responsibility for this incident.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I believe every noble involved in this embezzlement should be held accountable. All past records are preserved.”
Ian’s chilling threat made the nobles shudder involuntarily.
“Does it make sense to end this with just a small fry? The gravity of embezzling the Empire’s taxes must be felt directly.”
“S-small fry?”
Despite Viscount Steel’s outburst, Ian didn’t look at him but fixed his gaze on Duke Blake.
‘This seems like quite a good gift, don’t you think, Duke?’
Ian didn’t avoid the intense hostility in Duke Blake’s eyes. It was necessary to make it clear he wasn’t an easy target.
Meanwhile, Adrian, with silver hair like the Emperor’s, looked deeply shocked. He felt a sense of despair at his youngest brother’s disregard for his advice.
On the other hand, Kyle, wearing a satisfied smile, supported Ian’s words.
“Your Majesty, I agree with Ian’s opinion.”
When Kyle suddenly supported Ian, Duke Blake and Earl Liam looked at him in surprise.
“What do you mean by that, Your Highness the First Prince?”
Earl Liam asked, trying to understand the First Prince’s intentions.
“Earl, isn’t it obvious? Embezzling taxes is a serious crime against the laws of the Empire.”
Kyle answered Liam and then looked directly at the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, please allow me to personally verify the truth of what my younger brother has discovered. If there are guilty parties, let me punish them myself.”
‘Interesting.’
Ian thought, seeing Kyle stepping in at the perfect timing. The protagonist of the original story wasn’t to be underestimated.
However, Ian didn’t need to be too greedy. He could take things slowly and acquire them one by one.
It might not work on Duke Blake, but if it caused even a slight rift in the relationships between the other nobles and the First Prince, granting him the right to punish was acceptable. After all, everyone struggles when faced with death.
“I would be grateful if Your Highness the First Prince would step in. After all, aren’t you known for being ‘fair’ in your duties for the Empire?”
Ian emphasized the word ‘fair’, causing Kyle to chuckle before turning an emotionless face to Ian.
“However, if the Third Prince’s words are false, I hope I can also mete out the appropriate punishment. Your Majesty.”
‘As expected of the two-faced Crown Prince. But I already have the Emperor and the Chancellor on my side.’
“Yes, let’s do that.”
At Ian’s calm reply, the Emperor looked around the room with interest.
“Viscount Steel, do you swear you are completely innocent in this matter?”
“Your Majesty, how could I lie before you?”
“I see. But you know, if your words are false, this will not end with you merely stepping down from your position.”
At the Emperor’s cold voice, Viscount Steel turned pale. He instinctively glanced at Duke Blake.
[Do you wish to die?]
Hearing Duke Blake’s voice in his head, Viscount Steel didn’t dare turn his head.
[Just answer the Emperor. If things go wrong, I will ensure your family is spared.]
At Duke Blake’s offer, Viscount Steel answered the Emperor in a trembling voice.
“I am innocent, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor looked at Ian.
“Ian, now prove how you managed to review all those documents in such a short time and find evidence of embezzlement.”
Grateful for the Emperor’s support, Ian addressed the nobles.
“The only reason you doubt my claim is because you believe it’s impossible to review a year’s worth of documents in such a short time.”
Knowing his life was at stake, Viscount Steel interjected.
“How could His Highness the Third Prince, who had no interest in taxes, understand and review a year’s worth of documents in less than a week? Besides, except for the first day you came to the Taxation Bureau, you never visited or spoke with any of the Bureau’s officials!”
“Viscount Steel’s point is valid. So, shall I prove my words? If you remember ‘Detector,’ think of these as similar devices.”
Ian pulled out a scanner and a tablet from his coat.
“This is called a scanner and this a tablet. Rather than explaining, it would be faster to show you.”
Seeing the nobles’ curious eyes fixed on the ‘scanner’ and ‘tablet,’ Ian made a proposal to Viscount Steel.
“To avoid accusations of manipulation, could you provide a few tax accounts from your possession?”
Viscount Steel accepted the proposal, thinking he had nothing to lose.
“I always carry a few tax accounts. Let’s do that.”
Viscount Steel instructed his attendant to fetch the recently written tax accounts from his bag. Shortly after, the attendant returned, panting, with a stack of documents. Viscount Steel carefully checked them and handed them to Ian.
“I trust that Viscount Steel has these documents memorized. I appreciate you bringing not just one day’s worth, but a week’s worth.”
Despite Ian’s seemingly mocking words, Viscount Steel didn’t respond, realizing that arguing further would only make him more entangled.
“Please focus here for a moment.”
At Ian’s request, all the nobles focused on the tax accounts in Ian’s left hand and the scanner in his right hand.
“I will place these documents, of which I know nothing, on this device.”
Ian placed the stack of papers on the scanner and pressed the scan button. The papers fed through the scanner one by one.
“What is that device doing?”
“It seems to be scanning something, as the name suggests….”
The nobles speculated as they watched the scanner in action.
When the scanning was complete, Ian pointed to the tablet.
“After the scanner finishes, the content of the papers is neatly organized and displayed on this tablet.”
Ian showed the tablet to the nobles, who were astonished.
Even though they couldn’t verify if the numbers matched the tax accounts given by Viscount Steel, the data on the tablet was clearly well-organized and easy to understand.
Ian approached the Emperor with the tablet and the stack of tax accounts.
“Your Majesty, please have a look.”
The Emperor nodded slowly, and Ian handed over the tablet and documents.
Although the Chancellor had mentioned it, seeing the device’s function in action for the first time, the Emperor was slightly surprised.
‘So my youngest has other talents.’
“Hmm.”
While the other nobles couldn’t see, Ian clearly noticed the Emperor’s widened pupils, indicating his astonishment at the device.
The Emperor looked at his youngest son, who had created such a device. Previously, he had thought Ian unsuitable for the throne due to his lack of talent in swordsmanship and magic.
But recently, seeing Ian’s efforts, he began to think Ian might have a talent for one of the most important qualities of an emperor: internal governance.
“Viscount Steel should also verify this.”
At the Emperor’s calm voice, Viscount Steel felt not just unease but sheer terror.
“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”
Viscount Steel carefully compared the tablet with the tax accounts he had submitted, his voice hollow as he spoke.
“Is this even possible?”
Desperate to deny reality, Viscount Steel double-checked the tablet’s contents and fainted.
Thud!
Ian quickly caught the tablet before it hit the ground.
‘Whew, I only have one prototype. It would be troublesome if it broke.’
Meanwhile, Viscount Steel, who didn’t receive Ian’s saving hand, collapsed on the floor of the internal affairs meeting room.
Silence filled the room.
Cliche Novel 