700 – The North Also Needs Attention – 1

When Ziz moves food, materials, clothing, and industrial products to the Winter Three Kingdoms, the Winter Three Kingdoms fill Ziz’s back with vodka, chocolate, sable leather, and black pearls.

A transaction that is conducted 100% purely through barter without using currency. It’s strange and makes you feel like you’ve returned to ancient times. From now on, should we call it the Kpelopen Empire and not the Kpelopen Empire?

“Vodka and chocolate are popular among aristocrats these days.”

“Yes?”

And the aftermath of this national barter exchange shook the imperial social world.

It is certain that these are the words of the minister and not someone else. This nobleman is the head of the Ministry of Finance, who can understand the movement of logistics within the empire, and as the head of the count family, he is also involved in the social world.

“It was already famous that Your Majesty enjoyed drinking vodka. However, thanks to a recent treat, vodka was introduced in large quantities. There was enough quantity, so nobles also followed His Majesty’s example.”

“Then what about chocolate?”

“The Crown Princess likes it, so she feeds it to her children too. There’s no reason.”

I nodded my head hesitantly at the really trivial reason.

As expected, I don’t know if I know about social circles. Sometimes, there is a dark world so deep and dark that you might think it’s a place where human babies gather, but in these cases, it’s like a 5-year-old child. What on earth does the social world really look like?

“Well, it’s a good thing from the Ministry of Finance’s perspective. At best, they couldn’t dispose of or neglect items sent by other countries as proof of loyalty, but now they’re in short supply.”

Shrugging his shoulders, the minister took out Lucerne’s chocolate from his pocket and handed one to Peddie, who was in his arms.

“But it’s okay because I have some to give to my pedi as a gift.”

“Wow! I’m wrapping it!”

“Okay. Go and share it with your younger siblings.”

“Yes!”

Pedi escapes from the minister’s arms and runs to the door.

The minister was watching the scene with satisfaction, but when he turned his attention to me again, he had returned with a sour expression.

“Can’t I just smile and look at it too?”

“What are you going to say?”

He kept his mouth shut in response to the minister’s rebuttal.

That’s right. I am also not in a position to laugh at the minister or not.

‘If you see what’s in prison, you’ll be able to laugh heartily.’

Then a question suddenly occurred to me. It’s almost time for that guy’s disciplinary stack to fill up, but why is there no news of him being placed on probation, let alone being detained?

‘Is it because the inspection department is independent?’

If you think about it, most of the reasons for the minister’s disciplinary action were ‘poor management of subordinates’. Just as I was subject to disciplinary action because my managers had accidents, dealing the Minister was also punished for with accidents in the inspection department.

However, the inspection department became independent as the Ministry of Inspection. The minister will no longer have to face disciplinary action.

‘It’s a shame.’

I sincerely regret it. My wish was to see the minister in prison just one more time.

“Oh. Now that I think about it, I came because I had something to ask.”

While feeling bitter about his unfulfilled wish, the minister let out a low sigh.

It was an unexpected statement. Of course I thought you came here to play with Pedi. I didn’t know you came because you had other business.

“Do you remember me as Gerhard?”

“Of course I remember. I’ve known you for three years, but have you already forgotten?”

I immediately nodded at the minister’s words.

Gerhard, a history teacher at the Academy. A person I have known since the first year of my dispatch to the Academy, and with whom I interacted and shared knowledge about the North until the moment I graduated.

He was a nobleman who would be of great help in researching northern history and culture, and we had known each other for three years and had accumulated some knowledge, so we parted ways with some convenience. I will tell the northern great lords in advance, so if you are going on a field trip, go with peace of mind, and contact me at any time if you need my help.

Actually, the only time I’ve been contacted since I graduated was when I got married or had a baby.

“I need your help, but I can’t seem to get the words out.”

And I felt sorry for the next words.

This is Gerhard, who contacted Erich during his wedding to congratulate his family on the happy occasion. It was a while ago, so he must have needed my help back then, but I guess he just groaned before opening his mouth.

‘As expected, it was too much to say comfortably.’

In fact, it is a natural thing. During my time at the Academy, we saw each other often and I also had the title of Academy Inspector, so the psychological distance must have been relatively small.

But now there is no contact between me and Gerhard. From Gerhardt’s point of view, contacting the current minister and Imperial Baek is a burdensome task.

I wonder how Gerhard’s difficulties reached the Minister of Finance’s ears on such a topic, but the Minister’s wife’s nephew is a graduate student who worked under Gerhard. It seems that Gerhard’s lament reached Christina, and Christina spoke to the minister.

“I will have to contact you first soon.”

“No. Don’t contact me directly, but go through several bridges. If I get a call from you, I’ll be scared and beg you.”

I was convinced because it wasn’t really wrong.

Gerhard is so observant that he can’t even bring up business first. He contacted that person at random times and asked, ‘Is there anything you need?’ Saying the same thing, it wouldn’t be surprising if Gerhard suffered a cardiac arrest.

‘I was extremely brave during the academy.’

I miss Gerhardt, who came into the club room and stabbed me in the head.

At that time, we were academic comrades with no pretense. The physical distance made our relationship awkward.

As an honorary teacher of the Empire, this is just deplorable.

Following the minister’s advice, I contacted Gerhardt through several bridges. Since the contact was made through the Deputy Director of Intelligence and Christina, the burden on Gerhardt must have been relatively reduced.

-They say they have something to visit at the moment. If you’re going to talk anyway, how about meeting in person instead of contacting us?

I thought for a moment about the Deputy Director of Information’s suggestion.

I also find it easier to talk face-to-face rather than over the phone, and it’s nice to be able to see acquaintances after a long time, but I don’t know if Gerhardt will accept that.

“Is it okay?”

-What do you think? Seeing as they keep in touch every time there is an event, it seems like conversation is possible. In fact, they may be hesitant because they think it is rude to ask through a communication channel.

I nodded because this was also a valid statement.

To be precise, I was glad that the Deputy Director of Information gave strength to my leaning toward face-to-face meetings. If I summon Gerhard on my own, it would be an abuse of power, but if I combine the advice of the Deputy Director of Information, it becomes an ordinary proposal.

– By the way, Mr. Gerhardt certainly has an unusual personality. If he is studying a non-mainstream field, he tries to find a source of funding, and even with the biggest source of funding at his side, he hesitates.

“He is pure because he is only focused on his field. Rather, it is only when there are people like that that academics develop.”

– No, how much does a preschooler know about academics…

At the words of the Deputy Director of Information, a sneer inadvertently bursts out. Because I am not a preschool adult, but an honorary teacher recognized by the empire.

How could a mere child understand the deep meaning of an honorary teacher?

***

A call from someone who is no longer an advisor to the confectionery club or an inspector, but should be called the Minister of Inspector General or the Earl of Tyglehen.

At first, I hesitated for a moment because it was a call from someone so high up, but it is not polite to refuse a call. Moreover, wasn’t the Minister who I saw at the academy a person who treated me politely and warmly even as a teacher?

I trust my experience. The Minister whom I have watched for three years at the Academy is not someone who would act overbearingly towards me, nor is he someone who would invite me and beg me to do so.

‘You should consider this opportunity to greet you in person.’

In the meantime, I congratulated His Excellency whenever something good happened, but unfortunately I couldn’t congratulate him in person.

Each time, he was in the northern part of the country, and the minister was already surrounded by many high-ranking nobles and high-ranking officials. I thought it was rude for a teacher to get in the middle of it.

However, an opportunity arose to meet face to face. Perhaps it is the mercy of the eternal blue sky that admires scholars studying the north.

‘…Let’s just say hello.’

And I promised myself several times. It’s nice to see you, but let’s just say hello and talk about what’s going on. Let’s not say anything like a favor out loud.

Of course, the Minister will gladly accept my request. However, as someone who has received His Excellency’s consideration and grace, it is also a request that I cannot dare to put into words.

As a teacher, a scholar, and a human being, I cannot be rude to my benefactor who has helped me greatly in my academic development. In that case, it would be better for me to suffer a little more.

I feel like my hair is turning completely white.

“The North is still a foreign region to the people of the Empire. Although it is clearly within the boundaries of the Empire, it is an unknown region where there is more we do not know than we know.”

Since you were invited to this event not as an aristocrat, but as a past acquaintance, Mr. Minister said that you would be treated with the same respect as before.

It was dizzying to be treated with honor by His Excellency, but the words that followed were even more dizzying.

“Therefore, I believed in Mr. Gerhard’s passion and ability and pledged to provide him with every convenience. If a competent scholar like Mr. Gerhard can research the North and inform his subjects of the results, the North will become a familiar area rather than an unknown area. Because it will work out.”

“It’s too much to say.”

“However, I am a little embarrassed because I am not able to help Mr. Gerhardt in his actions.”

I almost closed my eyes at those words.

Although it was packaged as embarrassing, the content was blatant and direct. It’s pressure to obey me because they know I have concerns, and it’s a subtle sign of disappointment as if they’re keeping quiet because they don’t trust me.

This is difficult. I was going to break up after just having a normal conversation, but if Your Excellency speaks directly to me first, there is no way to avoid it.

‘Even at the academy, you weren’t the type to talk back.’

I was foolish. Since I haven’t seen you for a few years, I’ve forgotten your personality for a while.

‘I can’t help it…’

In the end, after much thought, I decided to open my mouth.

“Actually, Your Excellency. Recently, a problem has arisen that is difficult for me to solve on my own.”

“Then I should help you. Aren’t you and me Mr. Gerhardt?”

I inadvertently lowered my head at the consideration of His Excellency, who smiled faintly.

“I was researching the life of Yeok Cheonja and his remains… But the tribes that are currently remaining in the north are those who distanced themselves from Yeokcheonja, so research is not easy.”

Because I ended up driving a nail into the heart of such a considerate person.

***

I was immediately convinced by the sight of Gerhard lowering his head.

For some reason, he seemed to notice me. The subject of your research was Khagan.

‘The more I researched the North, the more I learned about my past.’

I had close friends, and those close friends died in the battle against Khagan.

That’s why you couldn’t ask me questions about Khagan.

‘It’s okay.’

I burst out laughing without realizing it. Khagan doesn’t have very good memories, but she wasn’t traumatized to the point where she was abusive to the scholar she was researching.

If it’s for academics, I need to help as much as I can.