I Reincarnated But Will Try To Live Without Using My Cheat Ability - CH 293

Chapter 293 – Political Humans are not Humans

It was the day after I finished my break.

I am negotiating an arrangement regarding the dungeon with Cesar Salignac.

This time there are legal and policing issues, so the Minister of Justice, Abraham, and the Minister of Police, Touko, are present.

The discussion on taxes and other issues was easily resolved.

The problem is what to do when an adventurer commits a crime.

Cesar may have a weak manner, but he represents the guild’s position.

He won’t say yes to everything.

“We have no objection to following the laws of Ravenna when it comes to crimes committed by adventurers, if they are arrested. As for the treatment of adventurers who have escaped, I cannot give you a simple answer.”

In particular, the treatment of fugitives is a point of contention.

“If they are exonerated if they flee outside Ravenna, it is impossible to accept adventurers.”

For the most part, adventurers are supposed to be handled by the Adventurers’ Guild once they escape from the territory.

The guild pays the feudal lord an apology and that’s it.

I rejected that theory.

The deterioration of public safety caused by the escape of criminals.

When I calculated the losses that would result, the blood was drained from Cesar’s face.

“But 500 gold coins per murder is an impossible price to pay for an apology…”

In other territories, the apology would not be a single silver coin if the person killed was a poor man.

In return, they end up working for the guild for free.

I guess they thought my offer was too insane.

No matter what ideals they advocate, a feudal lord who cannot guarantee food and security is worthless.

I don’t want them to take it as lightly as they do with other territories.

I was partly blowing it as a warning.

In the worst-case scenario, when a thuggish adventurer escapes, I will have him arrested or executed, even if I have to hire an ace adventurer to do it.

“Really? Considering the increased military spending and reduced economic activity that has accompanied the worsening security situation, I don’t see it as much of a blowout.”

Cesar wiped his cold sweat with a handkerchief.

“For a single person’s crime to affect the entire territory…”

“I will do so. I am proud to say that the security situation in Ravenna is quite good. As a result, we expect to reduce military spending and grow our economy. It is too late to prevent crimes after the security situation has worsened. And as the feudal lord, I will do everything in my power to protect one citizen. I don’t want people to think that my words are just words…”

Cesar looked to the Escorter Silvana, who was present, for help.

The Escorter Silvana shrugged her shoulders at the sight of him.

“Al, you’ll give us permission, won’t you? As long as he assures that the fugitives are not a problem.”

“Yes. We don’t want the adventurers to think that it is OK if they escape. Or that after they escape, they can just give us a pittance and pretend it never happened. I will never allow anyone to get away with a crime in my territory.”

“Why don’t you just allow people to come and go in and out of certain towns? We should build a town for adventurers near the dungeon. This would make policing much easier. It would also make it harder for them to escape. It’ll be hard on the remaining adventurers would after all.”

I look at Touko.

Touko meets my gaze and ponders.

“Surely that would make security easier. The question is, who is going to build the town?”

That’s right. It’s one thing to build a town for adventurers.

But for us to build one for them seems out of place.

We are not asking them to come, after all.

The Escorter Silvana folds her arms and ponders.

“The dungeon is a hit, but… I don’t know if it’s a super hit. If it’s a super hit, the guild will build a town with autonomy without being told to, as a preemptive investment.”

Cesar nodded in agreement.

“Yes… Therefore, the guild will not be able to raise enough money to build a town…”

Let me ask him a nasty question.

“You mean you want us to build a town and manage it all?”

Cesar clammed up.

The Escorter Silvana glares at me with a stern look.

“Al, you’re being mean. How about paying for the town’s building costs in installments at a higher tax rate?”

Can the guild accept that? It’s a safe point, though.

“What about the guild?”

Cesar is sweating, as if he is about to dry out.

“Then I think I can manage to get the HQ’s approval. Just to make sure, if there is an adventurer who has committed a crime and escaped, am I correct in assuming that the guild will be exempted from responsibility?”

Why would they be exempt?

I’m not going to accept that the guild is irrelevant because you made it easier to crack down on them.

“No, we will do our best to apprehend them, but if they escape with the help of their friends or others, the guild will be responsible for their heads or extradition. The guild itself can just submit a request for capture. We will raise the tax rate until the matter is resolved. Once it’s resolved, we’ll return the extra.”

I give Abraham a look.

Abraham gave a small nod in response.

“I think that’s about right. It would be easier if the guilds created a town, gave us autonomy, and prohibited anyone from entering the town except for us.”

That would be easy and nice.

If citizens don’t get too involved, it will deter the deterioration of public safety.

“For now, Ms. Silvana’s idea is fine. By the way, can adventurers wait until the town is ready? It will take time because it’s not the top priority, after all.”

The Escorter Silvana grinned.

“We’ll need the help of the adventurers we’re hiring now. If you’re short on labor, could you hire additional workers through the guild?”

“Will that be enough labor?”

“We can do the bare minimum in no time. The rest can be built later.”

I guess we had to pay for it after all.

That’s the limit around here.

Adventurers are basically allowed to operate without restrictions.

I looked at Touko and Abraham.

They both nodded their heads.

“I understand, let’s go with that. Is that all right with you, Mr. Salignac?”

Cesar was blatantly relieved that the goal seemed to be in sight.

“Ah, yes. That’s fine.”

After that, we officially signed the contract.

The Escorter Silvana smiled at me.

“Then let’s hurry up and get ready.”

As soon as she said that, she started to run.

How energetic!

I returned to my office and found Ardelheid, the Minister of Public Health, waiting for me.

She looked very serious.

“Ms. Ardelheid, is something wrong?”

For a minute or so, Ardelheid repeated the motion of saying something and then mumbling.

It made me imagine the seriousness of the situation.

Finally, she looked at me straight in the eye, but she was shaking a little.

“Yes, it’s about Professor Fabio.”

I had the medical team take a look at him before.

His symptoms seem pretty bad.

But it really took you a long time to report it.

There seems to be a lot going on…

“Is it worse than you thought?”

Ardelheid was staring blankly.

“He told me not to tell you… But I can’t not report it to Lord Alfred. Today…he finally agreed. He has been vomiting blood for some time, and it is already too late.”

The room froze for a moment.

I was at a loss for words, too.

What happened to Teacher was not Ardelheid’s fault.

But an unintentional remark would have hurt Arderheid needlessly.

If anyone was responsible, it would be me.

“Why didn’t the Teacher tell me before?”

“He said he wants to talk about it later, in person. But… just one point. “It’s not your fault, Lord Alfred. It was my own choice”. That’s what I was told to tell you.”

“Does he have no intention of recuperating?”

Ardelheid shook her head, without effort.

“Professor Fabio told me, “If it’s not long, let me do what I want”. I think it’s better to let him do what he wants.”

So there’s nothing we can do about it.

He’s been living a life of drinking after all…

Would it be fine if he had stopped drinking years ago?

No, I don’t think he’ll ever stop.

“All right, I’ll go to him.”

Ardelheid shook her head slowly.

“Professor Fabio is moving normally at the moment. And from his own side, he said, “I want you to treat me normally until I die”.”

Then let’s give priority to Teacher’s wishes.

“Then, call Teacher, please.”

Adelheid nodded and exited.

I couldn’t help but sigh.

He didn’t want me to blame myself.

I wonder what I should do in a situation like this.

Even before my reincarnation, I was so indifferent to the death of a close relative that I thought I was abnormal.

I mourned the death, but that was all.

I never cried when someone died.

I could not cry.

And I am still indifferent.

I find myself feeling envious of Mil and Kiara, who are upset and sad.

Because I naturally thought about what would happen after the teacher’s death.

The form of Antium’s governance will inevitably need to be reworked.

My mind is occupied with future measures, etc.

Usually, grief occupies the mind of a normal person, and from there, they gradually start walking toward what they need to do.

That is healthy.

I, who thought about what I should do first, was right as the feudal lord, but as a person, I must be disqualified.

Political people are not human.

Even if they are called human beings, they are different creatures.

All I could do was mock myself.