A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

188 – When You Think It’s Too Late, It’s Too Late (4)

How can we prevent corruption?

Gather the Quislings together, condemn St. Geo Nostrum, and offer to go to the empire with me.

Morgania also said that she had decided to join the cause, so I could either recruit all the people with economic power in the country and make them on my side.

Naria Geo Nostrum claims ‘justifiable treason’ and Gibraltar will be the vanguard heading to the royal capital, so follow him.

I secretly let it out that I wanted to become friends with my maternal grandfather, Balzac Lembourg Gunther, and made him drool and snoop around to see if he could find anything.

I had planned such things in various ways-

‘The emperor’s halo is stronger than I thought.’

There are many different ways, but right now I don’t have many options.

‘The battlefield was tilted beyond its degree and exploded.’

I have been trying to walk a tightrope between an incompetent king and an emperor since ancient times, but the emperor is showing off more affection than I thought for me.

Because of that, I now enjoy almost the same power as the ‘Crown Prince’.

There is no real power, but with Astasia’s halo and the light of the Imperial Emperor behind it, many traitors are approaching, kneeling on all fours and sticking out their tongues.

In times like this, it is not easy to commit corruption through Lemberi.

Above all-

From noble mtl dot come

“I hope Gray doesn’t get criticized too much…”

If that’s what Astasia wants, I have no choice but to follow it.

So, instead of taking action directly, I had to act secretly behind the scenes.

Lemburi is a well-prepared food.

And I don’t want everyone to enjoy this food, I just want everyone to have an upset stomach after eating spoiled food.

I would like to spray a poison that will lead to urinary stones with a 99% chance of developing urinary stones after 5 years, but that is not our purpose.

Public opinion.

Public resentment.

People who come expecting a delicious food called Lemberi suffer from food poisoning and suffer from stomachaches, and that pain and anger is directed towards those who prepared the food.

In this way, when Naria ascended to the throne in the future, there was an excuse not to use them.

-Your Highness Naria! Why are you trying to kick us out!

-You gave me food poisoning.

-Well, like that…! That’s just a minor problem…!

-Take it with you.

I will organize it to the extent of creating such a situation.

As far as –

‘On the outside.’

Astasia demanded.

I hope it goes in a direction where I don’t get criticized.

In that case, all you have to do is stop me from getting criticized.

Yes.

“Don’t let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.”

As long as you don’t get caught, that’s it.

Even those who commit corruption do not commit it with the intention of getting caught.

* * *

Faculty meeting.

Many professors gathered in the conference room, including President Winchester and Vice President Bathory.

“Ugh…”

Several people who were not professors also attended the conference room as stakeholders.

Like last time, I am an audience member sitting in a separate chair as a guest and budget official, and they are the direct participants of the meeting.

They all glance at me.

Some have seen it before, while others just pretend not to know.

Some people are seeing it for the first time.

According to records and data, there are people who saw it as a portrait.

There are people who are showing intense hostility towards me.

And the person I least want to meet, the traitor I must meet to become a traitor, but the person Astasia is reluctant to meet is also sitting proudly over there.

‘How did my mother come out from that venomous face?’

A hooked nose and thin mustache growing from side to side.

The wrinkles are small and hard to see, but the eyes are very small and narrow, as if the eyes are almost closed.

What makes him unique is that he has a physique that is larger than the average for Nostrum, and has strong bones for an old man.

Balzac Lembourg Gunther.

Normally he wouldn’t have come here, but he came here so to speak, ‘to see the liver.’

“Thank you all for gathering. The faculty meeting will now begin.”

Viscount Hex Romana began the meeting, looking more nervous than ever.

“Let’s cut it short and get straight to the point. Today, we will decide the location of the first semester field experience learning.”

Currently, mid-March.

And the field experience learning is at the end of May.

There may be some who think that if you prepare thoroughly, it can be done in about a month, or something like that…

“Queen Carmen threatened to cancel all budget allocations if a location is not selected and reported by today.”

In the name of ‘budget’, the expressions of the professor and the participating nobles harden.

“I have a question, Viscount Romana.”

The person who could be said to have come from the furthest distance, Count Sirene, spoke without even raising his hand.

“…I still have something to say.”

“Tell me. They are probably more familiar with the noble council than the professor council. Yes, tell me.”

The ‘Grand Duke’ of Winchester, who received a glance from Viscount Hex, immediately asserted his authority and began leading the meeting.

“What do you want to know, Count Sirene?”

“Is it really not possible to get past today?”

Didn’t you just say that?

There are some people who look at me with that expression, but I understand Count Sirene.

‘If you decide right now, there’s a low chance that it will be you.’

Candidate Site 1. County of [Syrene].

It is close to the empire, convenient for large-scale movement by magic automatic ship, and there are many places suitable for camping training.

The problem is that he joined this work too late.

“We must make a decision today. At least three candidates must be selected at the faculty meeting.”

President Winchester pointed to those sitting next to the Count of Sirene.

“There are five candidates here, including the count.”

1. Gamos, [Seville] Barony.

2. Edwin, County of [Syrene].

3. Zeros, Marquis of [Barcel].

4. Hastings, Marquis of [Roland].

5. Balzac, [Lembourg Gunther] Viscounty.

These are familiar names.

Even if their names are unfamiliar, their characteristics are evident from their surnames.

‘I filtered everything out before I came here in the first place.’

Could it be that those who participated in the final decision day were just half-hearted people?

They had already exchanged some correspondence with me before I came, and other than that, I didn’t call them at all.

“Originally there were four candidates, but the Count of Sirene made such an earnest request.”

“Thank you, thank you!”

And even though insults like this – to put it politely, if you say them out loud – are frowned upon, there are people like the Count of Sirene who somehow tried to get here.

Desperate without notice?

There is too much at stake for that to happen.

Budget, 100 billion.

About 100 million thalers in imperial money.

“Alright, let’s all talk for 5 minutes each. Why do 600 students in our territory have to go on camp training for a week?”

When the Grand Duke pressed down with authority like a council of nobles, each nobleman began to give his own reasons.

‘Everything has already been discussed.’

Several meetings have already been held, and the pros and cons have been sorted out to some extent among the professors.

[Seville].

(+1) It is close to polluted land, so there are many actual campsites and, if possible, practical training is possible.

(+2) You can travel to Gibraltar by taking the Magical Automobile Ship, and it is easy to supply supplies in the empire through the land route.

(+3) In the name of military training, it is the most suitable location.

(-1) It is questionable whether Baron Garmoth, who has only been a Baron for a few years, will be able to properly execute the budget.

[Roland].

(+1) It is suitable for extreme experiences as it is close to the northern snowy area, and since it is Marquis territory, you can travel there in one go by magic automatic ship.

(+2) Because the weather is cold, food does not spoil easily, and even in May, you can feel the cold like winter.

(+3) There is also a suitable place for military training.

(-1) But it is a little, very cold. I know this because I have been there, but before I returned, Astasia asked if I could go back home that very day.

‘Actually, this is a ‘normal’ choice.’

If it were not Orosol Academy but a regular academy, or just an ordinary experiential learning experience, the final decision would have been made between these two.

But it’s different now.

[Barcel].

(-1) The king’s influence is big.

(-2) Our great King is currently staying in the Marquisate of Barcels.

(-3) There is no advantage at all, but what does it mean that Zeros Barcel came in person? It’s political pressure.

[Syrene].

(+1) Close to the sea.

The end.

“…Lastly, Viscount Balzac Lembourg Gunther.”

And now, it is the turn of Viscount Balzac Lembourg Gunther.

“In our territory…”

There was no need to listen.

* * *

After a brief lull.

“Opinions seem to be sharply divided, so I will come to a conclusion on how to select a candidate.”

The president opened his mouth.

“In the end, those who do experiential activities are students, not professors.”

This is a prepared message.

“And this is Orosol Academy, a place of harmony and peace where students pursue their own holistic growth.”

Seeing that the words are rather long, people look at me as if I’m trying to say something strange.

“So, I decided to seek help.”

That’s right.

“In effect, you are entrusted with the decision-making power.”

“No!”

The Count of Sirene stands up, banging the table.

“If the Grand Duke does not decide, who will he?”

Suddenly, the Archduke glanced at me.

“What… ?!”

“…That’s nonsense.”

Immediately the Marquis de Jerros Barcelle’s face heats up.

I saw.

Balzac Lembourg Gunther, my maternal grandfather.

“…”

I still can’t even see the pupils, but the pupils reflected in the magic fluorescent lights hanging on the ceiling are glaring at me precisely.

“Everyone.”

I slowly got up, leaning on my cane.

“Academy, who do you think is the owner of the school?”

“…No way.”

“Yes. Right away-“

“Chairman, you won’t say it’s me!”

“…”

I shook my head at Count Seirene and pointed outside.

“The owners of the academy are the students.”

Squeak.

“Students experience it, but they have to decide.”

The door opens.

“I will ask the owner of the academy and the representative of the students.”

Owner.

“Which would be better?”

“Hmm.”

I, Ria Zionostrum, stood proudly at the door and raised my hand.

“If I were to decide on one thing right here, right now.”

And he pointed his finger at the Count of Sirene, who was sitting in the first place.

“Up.”

Immediately, he moved his finger to the next candidate.

“Large.”

“…Huh?”

“Han, ji, oh, no, s, t, rum, ii, se, wu, shin.”

“…!!”

That’s something everyone in Nostrum knows.

“Let my north rum of gold and the sun shine brightly.”

National Anthem.

“Yong.I.Su.Ho.Ha.Sa.”

The end.

“A thousand years. Ten thousand years. Light. I. Li. La. Me’s North St. Rum.”

“…”

“Let’s make it Viscount Balzac Lembourg Gunther. That’s it.”

It was already decided.