The Prince Wants To Retire

30. Kariel’s Dangerous Plan

Around the time the port was being developed, the revolutionaries finally began to move east one by one.

However, the number reported was far from enough.

“I have a lot of ideas in my head, but there are too few talented people.”

Kariel frowned and grumbled.

His motto is to do it right if he is going to do it, but the problem is that he has returned.

Because he had gone through the technologies of the future and the higher politics and administrative system that had blossomed with difficulty in the midst of a crisis, he kept getting greedy.

“if… … It will be a big deal.”

Kariel muttered with a serious expression.

It was as if a great change was taking place in the Empire just by bringing in revolutionaries.

The empire was in a crisis situation, and it was tolerated because Kariel’s status itself had risen.

But what about doing more?

I didn’t know how much the nobles would react.

“There is a shortage of talent.”

There was a shortage of administrators, but there was also a shortage of troops.

The amount of funds was also gradually decreasing as the empire was trying to force itself.

Kariel’s plans to develop quickly and bounce back were being delayed. After falling into a business hell and lamenting every day, the merchants in the South finally moved.

Luckily, it was a shot made at a time when the southern kingdoms thought the Empire’s response was lukewarm, so they pulled funds to support the small power coalition more.

「Southern Merchants Union. I made the courageous decision to cut off a deal with the Sang-saeng who was involved in this matter!”

Rumors of a secret agreement between the small countries and the southern kingdoms suddenly circulated, and the merchants of the empire suddenly began to cut off the deal.

Originally, merchants are a tribe that sucks honey until the end unless the government bans it.

Merchants in the southern part of the empire were money-mad enough to commit crimes, but they suddenly took their own losses and cut off the deal.

In addition, the situation worsened as they informed the inspection department of the smuggling route they knew and the place presumed to be a meeting point between the small country and the southern kingdoms.

Even though this alone is crazy, another evil has struck them.

“Lowering! The first sword of Talos and the knights directly under the kingdom are said to have fallen behind.”

When Tharion delivered the urgent news, Kariel nodded slightly.

Now that the Confederacy of the Confederate merchants moved, it was the pirates’ turn.

I wish I had waited a little longer and hit him, but that was enough. Talos can no longer afford to care about the Empire.

It was the same with Roteon.

“Sungguk?”

“The Northern Frontier is holding it in check. I think the Eastern Army will assist.”

At Tarion’s report, Kariel nodded with satisfaction.

What he had planned was progressing step by step.

It was only this far that Kariel could do for the Empire. All that’s left is to get this damn port back on track.

“What about the revolutionaries?”

“I think it will arrive within a week.”

“Why is it taking so long? If you come by train, it’s right there.”

At Kariel’s question, Tarion said with a wry smile.

“Because it is run by rich people or nobles… … . As you know, revolutionaries are mostly poor.”

“Um… … .”

Nobles would not hire people with impure thoughts.

Can I get to the top? It was impossible because most of them were invested by nobles.

Because of that, everyone had no choice but to live a poor life.

“Are you coming anyway?”

“Yes.”

“great. Let’s hold on a little longer.”

Having said that, Kariel sighed and was buried in the pile of work again.

As I worked frantically, it was always night, and it was late at night.

“eww… … I will die.”

“Take it slow. You are too busy these days.”

“You know how late it will be if you don’t deal with this now.”

There were too many documents that had to be processed now.

So even if Kariel didn’t want to overdo it, he had no choice but to do it.

The problem is the bureaucrats below.

Is there anyone who thinks that the boss is working hard but has the cheeky idea of leaving work first? Even the first prince of the empire works?

Of course, everyone at the bottom had no choice but to work overtime.

“If you go a little slower, no one will say anything.”

At Tarion’s words, Kariel let out a small sigh.

As he said, it could have been done a little slower.

However, the problem was that his temperament was a caution to play after all work was done.

“Just finish this.”

Even that day, Kariel chooses to work overtime until late at night.

Eventually, Tarion, who failed to persuade, went outside and shook his head, and the haggard bureaucrats lowered their heads with a gloomy expression.

“Hold on for a while, people will come soon.”

“… … Yes.”

The officials muttered while crying at Tarion’s persuasion.

In the end, I worked overtime that day, and the hellish schedule continued the next day and the day after that.

And finally, the long-awaited revolutionaries entered the city.

* * *

“Meet the degradation. Call me Marx Weber.”

“nice to meet.”

Cariel smiles as she sees Weber, who greets the gathered revolutionaries.

“I guess everyone came here after hearing the rumors?”

“It is.”

“great. Then it won’t take long. Tell Tarion what each of you are good at.”

Everyone widened their eyes when I said that I would hire them right away.

“Before that, I have something to tell you.”

At Weber’s words, Kariel tilted her head and said.

“What?”

“bump… … May I ask how many hours you work a day?”

“An average of 14 hours. Some do more than that.”

The faces of the revolutionaries including Weber hardened at Tarion’s answer next to him.

I came here with hope, but in the end, this place was also a lie.

“Lord, I have seen the faces of the workers while coming here. They must have all suffered from overwork.”

“It was their choice.”

“You think it’s not to me, but it can be forced upon those below.”

“Well… … Bureaucrats might not know, but workers probably aren’t.”

Saying that, Kariel looked back. Then, doubt came to Weber’s face.

These so-called high-ranking officials looked more haggard than the workers.

On top of that, looking closely, Kariel didn’t look very well either.

“You work better than them.”

“… … Any more?”

“And the rumors you heard are true. Everyone just works voluntarily to get a reward.”

At Tarion’s comment, Weber’s expression began to harden.

“All of this is because there are not enough people. Do you want to alleviate their suffering? Then come and do the work. Bring more people.”

At Cariel’s words, the expressions of Weber and the revolutionaries changed strangely.

Feeling like something is wrong.

But it was too late to know that. Because they couldn’t get out of the trap.

* * *

A few days later, the revolutionaries who had tasted hell looked like they were about to die.

But I couldn’t escape.

He seduced her by offering sweet rewards, and if that didn’t work, she threatened her by citing Kariel, and later made her spit up a huge amount of money according to the treaty if she quit.

In the end, Marx Weber personally found Kariel.

“Lowering.”

“If you want to quit, then no.”

Webber lowered his head towards Kariel, who spoke firmly.

“… … I have people to bring.”

“Who are you going to bring? If there were such people, you should have said it right away.”

“Their status is a problem.”

“Even commoners don’t care.”

Many of the bureaucrats were already commoners. In addition, most of those who manage the workers are commoners, so what’s the problem?

“… … They are criminals.”

“… … Could it be that those you bring now are public slaves?”

“Their descendants.”

Those who, by law, made treason criminals similar to slaves.

Even if they were not officially enslaved, they were given the nickname because they were living a life worse than that of a slave.

Descendants of traitors or those who have committed terrible crimes similar thereto.

Most of them made villages in the area and lived there, and they did not leave the area until they died.

“I don’t want to bring them all. Just let some of them stay here.”

“… … .”

Weber wants to get young people out of there and make them dream of the future.

But I couldn’t easily give an answer. No matter how Kariel is, if you bring them carelessly, it will inevitably become a problem.

Because the crimes committed in the past were so serious, they are punished from generation to generation. There were cases where the emperor would forgive sins after several decades or more, but that was only possible when there was something big enough to win a major victory in a war.

Above all, there was a reason not to.

“Some of their villages were haunts of warlocks.”

Like black magicians who target the weakest, they recruited them into their own forces by targeting only those places where there would be dissatisfaction with the empire.

Criminal dens, criminal groups, and fallen nobles are the main targets of black magicians.

Of course, it was the same where the public slaves lived.

“… … Please give me one chance. Many of them are clever.”

“As much as you?”

“Yes.”

As they were high-ranking nobles in the past, there was a high possibility that their skills had been passed down from generation to generation.

The reason I didn’t think to use them in my previous life was because the rebels had already seduced them, and the remaining ones died without enduring the man-horse war and the monster wave.

But what if there are many useful ones among them?

“Are there really many people as smart as you?”

“Yes, there are many people who cannot compare to me.”

Cariel was troubled by Weber’s confident words.

After struggling for a while, Kariel sighed and said.

“great. Bring it.”

“Are you all right?”

“That’s none of your concern. If you have anyone else to bring, bring them.”

Weber’s eyes widened at Kariel’s words.

“Let’s start by living with us.”

Having said that, Kariel bit Weber.

A desire that had been suppressed because of the resistance of the aristocrats.

I couldn’t stand it anymore.

‘I’m going to do this, at least more than I’ve achieved in my previous life!’

Cariel made that determination and started writing down the things he had only kept in his head in a notebook.

Things that were difficult in a class-based society.

If it were limited to this city, I thought it might be possible somehow.

‘Make this city an independent system.’

Cariel made a firm decision and set out his own plans one by one.

‘It could be possible only in this city.’

With that in mind, Kariel diligently organizes his plans.

I was planning to carry out the plans I had in my previous life one by one by recruiting revolutionaries.

* * *

The very day after meeting Weber, Kariel began posting reports about how he would use them, along with letters wanting to bring slaves to the center.

At the same time, a plan to build a basic academy for commoners was also sent.

It was a plan to nurture professional talent, not just teaching writing or simple arithmetic.

A plan that would inevitably cause resistance, even if it was Kariel.

In the end, due to the resistance of the nobles, an order came down to Kariel.

“Are you here in the end?”

Kariel said with a bitter expression and lifted her coat.

Tarion looked at him worriedly.

“Lowering.”

“it’s okay. Because I knew this.”

The emperor himself gave the order to return to the capital.

It was about coming to the Imperial Palace and attending the Daejeon meeting.

It was because the content contained dangerous ideology despite the fact that he had made great achievements and had the status of the first prince.

Kariel headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

* * *

Meanwhile, the emperor who directly summoned Kariel, who had a dangerous plan.

In his palace, the martyrs and high-ranking nobles now secretly gathered.

“… … Is that really what you want?”

The martyrs had their heads bowed.

Then the emperor looked at the two dukes, the heads of the nobles.

The two dukes bowed their heads as they watched the emperor ask the dukes who were pushing them.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It is.”

In response to the two dukes, the emperor nodded hard.

“If your will is so… … like that.”