Chapter 7 – 7. The Second Duke to Train the Duke’s Agents

==== Eros Paradise Rule Book Ver. 1.00 ====

Article 7 Section 2. Participants can know the approximate location and health status of their spouse even if they are separated from each other.

Article 7 Section 3. However, the distance at which the location of the spouse can be detected increases or decreases in proportion to the participant’s overall affection.

Article 7 Section 4. All participants will know immediately if their spouse is in critical condition, no matter how far away they are.

Article 7 Section 5. When a threat warning is triggered, all participants can immediately move to their spouse’s location with mutual consent only once during the participation period.

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– One –

“Let’s start the meeting.”

Regal liked practical speech.

She thought that direct speech without rhetoric, metaphor, or analogy was economical.

So, his business conversation was extremely dry.

“How about an experiment that complements the escape prevention measures?”

The head researcher responded immediately.

“Based on Article 7, Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 3, we quantified the correlation between total affection and detection distance.”

The deputy researcher raised the diagram using the projector magic tool.

“Because the degree of affection changes discretely, the detection distance was also calculated discontinuously.”

Regal looked at the diagram for a moment.

“When the overall affection level was 1st, the limit detection distance was 1km.”

“Does affection double exactly every time you go up by one level?”

“That’s right.”

“Available combatants’ ability status during normal times is level 3, so we must control them so that they cannot approach within 4km at all times.”

Researchers shook their heads.

“It is safe to control it so that it cannot approach within 16 km at all times.”

“I see. We’re going to allow up to 2 levels of limit release, so we’ll have to use the 5th level as a standard.”

“That’s right.”

Regal thought for a moment before asking.

“Then where should I keep the safety device?”

Researchers answered.

“It must be a low-traffic area at a distance of at least 16 km from available combatants.”

“At the same time, it should be a place that is not too far from the main house and is easy to manage.”

“Possible sites include the Whisky family enlisted camp’s basement storage, the family mountain’s mausoleum stone chamber, and the single malt reservoir’s underground shelter.”

Regal was troubled.

“Exclude the enlisted training center as it is necessary for training available combatants. Exclude the mausoleum because it must be visited during year-end events. Renovate and use the underground shelter of Single Malt Reservoir. The family has never used it in the past 140 years.”

“All right.”

Regal quenched his throat with water for a moment before asking a question.

“Then how are you going to control Article 7(4) and Article 7(5)?”

“We plan to use the blind spot of the one-time activation.”

“It’s a one-time thing. Any detailed plans?”

The head researcher thought for a moment.

“For convenience, we will refer to the random test subject as A and the spouse as B. Brainwash A and B at the same time. After brainwashing, B is given drugs up to the critical point for triggering Article 7, Paragraph 4. When Article 7, Paragraph 5 is activated, tell A to move. , I order B to agree. When all these procedures are sequentially performed on all test subjects, the risk of escape by the available combatants retrieving the safety device can be eliminated through Article 7, Paragraphs 4 and 5.”

Regal agreed.

“I have a few questions. Can’t B cast Article 7-5 on A after A triggers Article 7-5 on B once?”

“Impossible.”

The researcher immediately replied that it had already been verified.

“I see. Then, is it possible to activate Article 7, Paragraph 4 only with drugs?”

“It triggers when the dose is close to lethal. The experiment was discontinued because it was difficult to control the risk of death of the test subject with other methods.”

Regal was a husband who knew how to actively accept and reflect Chiba’s opinions.

However, if Chiba’s opinion is reasonable.

This time, Chiba’s opinion was very reasonable, so we decided to accept and reflect it.

“How about doing things more efficiently?”

“Do you have any good comments?”

“Sever the limbs of the failsafe.”

“Yes…?”

The duke had initially listened to Chiba’s opinion and reacted the same as the researchers.

Because of this, he generously accepted exceptions no matter how efficient his speech was.

“Wouldn’t it be better if the chance of the test subject’s escape was lowered? And don’t you guys have the ability to manage the test subject so that it doesn’t die even if the risk of death is high?”

Researchers were stunned by Regal’s remarks.

“Proceed with the limb amputation process while connecting the communication of both sides. If there is a concern about the runaway of the available combatants, the transfer will immediately subdue and stun them. Communication is connected, so the enemy will not miss it.”

A researcher spoke in a cold sweat.

“What if the subject dies during the dismemberment process?”

“What. There won’t be any problems with the supply of new test subjects.”

Regal gave a nice smile.

“Okay. I’ll proceed as you said.”

“Then let’s move on to the next item.”

Regal’s day isn’t over yet.

– 2 –

“Head butler, when is the next meeting?”

“I was caught for a fortnight.”

“How is public opinion within the Empire?”

“There is no big backlash as the citizen class, whether sub-race or pure-race, traditionally has a strong stance of pure-bloodism.”

“I see. Since the royal family and nobles also advocate pure-bloodism, public opinion will be quiet. Then, is the commoner class the problem?”

“Yes. They do not particularly insist on pure blood, so commoners of marriageable age usually oppose them.”

“Commoners have no voting or speaking rights, so it doesn’t matter if you ignore them.”

“But there is a movement by the commoner class to collude with the citizen class to launch a political offensive.”

The imperial class is largely divided into royalty, nobles, citizens, commoners, slaves, and slaves.

The role of each level in the Eojeon Meeting is as follows.

The Emperor presides over the Imperial Council.

The imperial family acts as the acting chairperson in the absence of the emperor.

Nobles have the right to vote on the agenda as a member of the royal council.

Citizens, as observers of the previous meeting, have a limited right to speak on the agenda.

Commoners are not allowed to attend the meeting and are only notified of the agenda that has been resolved.

Nobi and slaves cannot attend the royal meeting and cannot receive any notice.

“Are you trying to make a problem with your marriage?”

“That’s right.”

“If I do it, it’s romance. If someone else does it, it’s an affair.”

“I didn’t hear you well.”

“No, I’m just talking to myself. It doesn’t mean that the commoner class has the largest number. But colluding with the citizen class can be problematic.”

“Yes. Because the lords borrowed loans from the burghers of the civic class due to financial deterioration, the civic class’s right to speak has become stronger. Some nobles have no choice but to look at them as their property is heavily subordinated to the civic class.”

“Chief Butler. Do you have statistical data that sums up the asset values ​​of the aristocratic class and the civil class?”

“There is data estimated based on the year before last, but the latest data has not yet been compiled.”

“I don’t need the latest data, so bring me the data you have.”

The head butler called one of the butlers and instructed them to bring the materials Regal requested.

“Is there a reason you need this material?”

“The essence of trading is to give the other person what they want in order to get what I want from the other person. At this time, paying the other person the lowest possible cost and maximizing my profit is a good example of commercial activity.”

The butler was silent for a while, pondering.

“Are you going to propose a tax cut for the citizen class?”

“You guessed right.”

“It is likely to lead to a deterioration in the empire’s finances.”

“I’m thinking of lowering the property tax of the citizen class.”

“Their share of liquid assets in the empire is approximately 70%. Even a small reduction in the tax collection rate is fatal to the empire’s finances.

Just then, the butler brought statistics.

“That’s right. Then why not balance it by imposing more elsewhere?”

“Where can I get finance?”

Regal carefully read the statistics and organized her thoughts.

“If you look at the trend of change in liquid assets between classes until the year before last, the current share of liquid assets of the citizen class is likely to be around 70/30.”

“It could be even higher.”

“That’s right. The citizen class is the class with the highest income, so lowering the income tax would be effective as a trading target, but that would be opposed by the aristocratic class.”

“That’s right. Not only will it lead to a reduction in tax revenue for the nobility right away, but there is a high risk that the phenomenon of subordination to the aristocracy’s property by the citizen class will further accelerate.”

“But the possession tax will be welcomed by all ruling classes and civil classes, except for the imperial family.”

“Instead, the Empire’s financial deterioration is unavoidable.”

“Then is there no way to tax more only the citizen class?”

The butler couldn’t find an answer and was silent.

“What is it that has emperors, royalty, nobles and no citizens?”

“Well… Ah. Is it military authority?”

“That’s right. I’m planning to hold a meeting of the nobility before the meeting to discuss the tax law revision for the royal family and nobles.”

“Then, do you intend to announce that the first amendment to the tax law will be proposed at the House of Representatives to lower the holding tax, and within this year, a second amendment to the tax law will be proposed to increase the defense tax sequentially?”

Regal affirmed the butler’s words.

“Through the tax law amendment and subsequent bills, the tax burden of the aristocratic class will decrease, and the tax burden of the citizen class will increase. However, as a result, the total revenue may be the same as before or even increase. Wouldn’t the aristocratic class definitely agree to the amendment?”

“And if you push for the passage of a bill banning interracial marriage right after you’ve introduced your opinion to lower the property tax, even the aristocrats watching the civil class will vote for it.”

The head butler quenched his throat and asked Regal.

“How are you going to deal with the imperial nobles and saint women’s priests who oppose to the end?”

“If I propose a tax law amendment, I think a majority of the quorum will be more than enough.”

“However, even if the bill is passed, the implementation of the law may be delayed if the imperial faction or the saint woman faction cooperate.”

Regal was silent.

“You overlooked that. If you throw in a few more plans to increase the tax burden on the extreme emperors and citizens, they’ll wag their tails, but the saints are the problem.”

“That’s right. In the first place, the Saint Women Faction is not opposed because of their interests or political purposes. They raise an issue about the immorality of forbidding the children of the Goddess to marry by law, so it is impossible to resolve it through an interest transaction.”

“If I can’t give what the other person wants, the deal itself can’t be established. What should I do?”

Smart smart

“Your Highness. The Duchess has visited.”

“Stop by.”

Chiba went to his office when Regal hadn’t returned long after dinner.

Originally, Regal hated being interrupted in his work.

However, after Chiba gave him some advice, he recognized his value as an advisor to him.

So, despite being in a meeting with the president of the house, he was able to come and go to Regal’s office.

“My husband, you have a worried face. Is there something wrong with you?”

And, as if to prove Regal’s favor, he did not vomit despite Chiba’s rhetoric-filled tone.

Regal summarized the meeting with the head butler and told Chiba.

And he confessed that he was contemplating how to deal with the priests of the Saint Women sect.

Chiba listened intently to his words.

“Can the girl say something?”

“Do it, ma’am.”

“If there is no way to convince the other person and no way to make a deal, I think one way is to exclude the other person.”

“You mean to assassinate the saintess?”

“There’s no need to limit it to assassination. Wouldn’t there be a more moderate course, such as dispelling the opposing faction’s focal point, or creating a bigger problem so that there is no room for dealing with interracial marriage bans?”

“Hmm.”

Regal liked the direction she suggested.

He asked Chiba to come with him at the next meeting with the butler.

Hearing that, Chiba was very happy.