806 – Blood Is Eternal – 3
Before the end of the year, a big event occurred when I went to work at the Ministry of Inspector General building.
In fact, I was planning to go to work at the government office soon. While I was running around, a lot of documents that needed the minister’s approval may have piled up. It’s easiest to handle things like that all in one go before the new year.
However, no matter how positively you think about it, you cannot deny that this trip to work is to rob your aunt’s family. No matter how convenient bulk payment is, is it better than pointing a knife at someone’s blood? In the first place, inspection approval documents must have been included in the documents to be approved in bulk.
“See you, Mr. Minister.”
“””Meet your Excellency!”””
Letting out a small sigh, I went straight to where the minister’s secretary was, and the secretary and staff in the secretariat all stood up and bowed.
He was always polite, but the way he looked now was even more rigid and energetic. As if trying to avoid any actions that are even slightly offensive to my eyes.
“Everyone, please sit down.” It may be unfamiliar to see your boss after a long time, but don’t be too nervous.”
It was a situation where I couldn’t help but be nervous, but I said that out of courtesy.
The staff in the secretariat are elites who lead the affairs of the Ministry of Inspector General under the direction of the secretary. This means that the Ministry of Inspector General is aware of all the information obtained, and that it also knows that there has been a disturbance in the Narzen family.
A bizarre situation in which the blood relatives of their highest boss, the minister, are in danger of inspection. A heart-pounding situation where the top boss has put this inspection on hold for a while. So, they are probably watching because they are afraid that I will explode with anger.
“Secretary.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Bring all information related to Narzen.”
Therefore, rather than opening my mouth further, I chose to understand the situation. In this atmosphere, no matter what you say, it has no meaning. Until a clear decision is made, tension will remain throughout the secretariat.
And didn’t you tell your father that you would deal with him fairly and that you would make sure that no one who was wrong comes forward? So, I have to look into this matter myself.
From beginning to end. From the smallest details to crucial clues. From members of Narzen to vassals and servants─everyone related to them came in contact.
“And call the executive director.”
“Can I just call the manager?”
“Huh. It’s a bit weird to mobilize even the conductor.”
People who only know the external image of the Ministry of Inspector General will be afraid of the head of the enforcement department, but people who have been exposed to a certain amount of information will be more frightened by the appearance of the deputy head.
The deputy chief is mainly in charge of assassinations, and the fact that the Ministry of Inspector General mobilizes assassinations means that there is no room for negotiation.
Count Narzen. A bureaucratic noble family that holds the title of earl and is classified as a high-ranking noble, but does not own any fiefdom. A family that has some land or buildings in the name of the family, but no duly granted territory.
In this world where fiefdom is power, nobles without fiefdom are bound to be somewhat pushed back compared to nobles with fiefdom. Being able to freely handle the wealth and manpower coming from the territory. Because this powerful authority is the true power of nobility.
However, Count Narzen’s family was a bureaucratic noble family with no fiefdom, and she and her grandfather had an arranged marriage. No matter how different the status of the current imperial whites was from that of the imperial whites during my grandfather’s time, objectively speaking, the Crasius family is a wealthy family with fiefdoms in the metropolitan area. There is no need to send her daughter to Count Narzen.
However, my grandfather sent my youngest aunt to Narzen. In my grandfather’s view, this means that even though the Narzen family had no fiefdom, it had advantages that outweighed its disadvantages.
‘It was quite prestigious.’
And my grandfather’s judgment was not wrong.
Information about the Narzen family given by the secretary. The information written at the top was the reason why my grandfather chose Count Narzen.
[Head of the Narzen family, Count Jean Narzen of Milkian. Unlikely to be promoted to Supreme Court Justice. ]
[The former head of the family, Heinz Narzen of Milkian, served as Minister of Justice of the Ministry of Justice. He has also been discussed as a possible candidate for Chief Justice of the Empire. ]
[Sogaju Walter Narzen is serving as the head of Department 2 of the Ministry of Justice. ]
These Narzens were a famous family that anyone working in the judicial field could not have known. It is also an incredibly famous family that has always been active as a judicial-related public servant from the time of the first head of the family to the present.
Unfortunately, I was not related to the judicial field, so I did not know about Narzen, a name in the judicial field. My memory ranges from the same administration, to the military branch at best. I don’t know much beyond that.
“Secretary.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“This. Wasn’t entered incorrectly?”
“This is a result that has been confirmed several times by the Ministry of Information.”
Eventually, I sighed once while reading the following content, and sighed twice after hearing the secretary’s confirmation.
“I ate a lot.”
Because the state of Count Narzen’s wealth was quite unusual.
Even considering that these are famous judicial families, it is a figure that can never be achieved considering that they are a non-ownership family with no fiefdom. What if I had saved all the annual salary I received from the imperial family since I was the first head of the family?
But that can’t be true. The Count Narzen family, befitting its name and reputation as a renowned judicial family, is a family that shows aristocratic consumption, as befits the family chosen by their mechanical grandfather. It’s fortunate that you don’t waste your salary rather than saving it.
‘There must have been many ways to get money one way or another.’
If you think about it, there is no position in which it is easier to receive money than a judicial worker. He quietly asked me to please take good care of him before the trial, and asked for help if I needed legal advice. It is enough to make a mountain out of gold coins if you make up your mind and save them.
Even the main customers are aristocrats, not commoners or middle-class people. Moreover, if judicial help is needed, it is most likely a desperate situation, so customers’ wallets will be wide open in proportion to their desperation.
‘…Is this at a normal level?’
In the meantime, my mind became calm just a little bit. The Narzen Count family did not excessively frame a particular family, persecute the people, commit fraud, or dare to dream of reversal.
I simply ate a lot. It has been done so excessively that it is purely worrying for the viewer, and has reached a level that can reach the eyes and ears of the watchdog.
‘Crazy guys.’
In some ways, this is more interesting. Rather than leading corruption, he would be in a position to accept the money given, but he can show this level of corruption just from that limited position. I’m doing something like this with a good head.
“There are no other charges, right?”
“Yes. That’s it.”
When I say that’s all, it seems trivial for no reason. In reality, it’s something that makes you wonder how people can be so corrupt.
‘Ah.’
A good idea occurred to me.
***
The minister came with a pile of documents.
I was a little embarrassed because it was an unexpected situation. Is this a document that requires the emperor’s approval? Did the Minister return to the Ministry of Inspection after vacation without my knowledge?
Confusing. I guess it’s okay for the minister to come bare-body, but what on earth is going on if he comes with documents?
“Your Majesty. I have something important to tell you, so I came to see you at the risk of being rude.”
And with an expression so serious that it makes you uneasy.
“Is there any reason to be rude between Jim and the Minister? Speak in peace.”
“I am so sorry.”
Still, for now, I suppressed my anxiety and discomfort and suggested a seat.
He was teased too much about his canonization during his lifetime to give a blunt response to the minister. For the time being, you should be gentle and gentle with the minister so that he doesn’t roll his eyes.
“Okay, what brought you here?”
“I think I will have to swing my sword at the judiciary and the courts sooner or later.”
I almost sighed at those words.
From the moment the minister brought the documents, I assumed it would not be an ordinary matter, but I never thought he would go out of his way to declare an inspection of the judiciary.
“Give it to me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
That’s why I asked for the documents the minister was holding,
[ Proposal for inspection to address corruption among prominent judicial families, including the Count Narzen family, and to rebuild trust in the judiciary. ]
From the first sentence, I was greeted by something straightforward and grandiose.
Rather, Count Narzen. According to my memory, the Count Narzen family was a bureaucratic family that had been around since the early days of the empire. Because their abilities were outstanding, the government tolerated them bribe taking, and they had a fairly strong relationship with the Crasius family, so they kept quiet.
However, I didn’t know that it would be done like this while I tolerated it. I had no idea that the minister himself would reveal this ugly corruption.
“You made a difficult decision.”
“What is important for the honor of the royal family and the national interest? It is the right thing to do.”
I smiled at the sight of the minister gently lowering his head.
“Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Write it again.”
When I returned the road documents, the minister looked up with a puzzled look.
“Please include a family other than Count Narzen in the title. I’m not saying you should exclude him from inspection, but you can downgrade him from a leading role to a supporting role.”
“Your Majesty. These are truly heartwarming words, but how can you show personal affection in front of a great cause—”
“Anyone can see that the entire judiciary was brought in to share the punishment that Narzen should have shouldered alone, but now that’s not persuasive.”
Then the minister quietly lowered his eyes.
Even at a glance, the corruption of Count Narzen’s family was considerable. No matter how famous the family was, it was not wealth that a family without a territory could accumulate, and no matter how famous the family was, it was not something they could afford alone.
If so, it means that the Count Narzen family is just one of the instigators, and that there are factions entangled like a spider’s web in the judicial world. A faction that was rotting very quietly and very ugly.
‘It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take this opportunity to cut it out.’
If the national interest due to ability is greater than the damage caused by corruption of officials, a small degree of corruption can be overlooked. An empire is not a country that can collapse simply due to the corruption and deviation of individual officials.
However, if we are not satisfied with the generous and merciful acquiescence and go further, if we see corruption that surpasses national interests, we can no longer sit idly by. For the sake of the imperial family and the empire, he must be punished.
Coincidentally, the minister presented his own family as the scapegoat. Even the family to which the Minister of Inspector General is a blood relative is punished, so what family would dare to rebel?
“Also, it is impossible to miss out on other criminals just to catch Narzen.”
“…I will keep this in mind, Your Majesty.”
This means that if you have to beat Narzen five times, find the five families involved in corruption and beat them one by one. The minister also bowed his head again because he understood what I meant.
‘You have to look at this level.’
The minister chose the cause over his flesh and blood and drew his sword. In that case, it is right for me to also take the minister’s decision seriously and give it some consideration.
Even though we can’t make Narzen’s crime go away, there’s no need to make him the only one to see blood. There is no need to let the entire empire curse at Narzen. Isn’t it true that the more pain is shared, the less it is?
‘The end of the year will end on a grand note.’
There will be large-scale personnel changes at the beginning of the year.