Mage? Magic Engineer!-Chapter 104 - 101: Empire Court Conference

In his hotel room, Rorschach opened the *Marlin News*. Aside from reports on the reduced grain harvest, a significant portion of the paper was dedicated to news about the Empire Council:

A few days ago, there were public announcements about the follow-up investigation into the attacks on the Imperial Palace and the Parliament Building. Now, the focus had shifted to the Empire’s financial audit for the previous year and the budget for the current one.

This year’s budget was originally scheduled for release in late November of last year, but because the council members from the various States couldn’t reach an agreement, the esteemed gentlemen were still coming to blows in the Parliament Building... that is, intensely exchanging opinions. In fact, the new year had already begun.

Generally speaking, the former Marlin Kingdom—now the Imperial Capital’s Core Area—and the other eastern and northern States of the Empire were demanding a significant budget increase, while council members from the commercially and industrially developed western and southern regions were strongly opposed.

According to the *Marlin News*, the proposed budget increase was primarily for establishing a more comprehensive welfare system, supporting a series of newly passed bills like the Employer Insurance Law, and, military expenditures.

It appeared that the opponents of this budget had become the stumbling block to the Empire’s welfare system.

But the *Marlin News* was playing a bit of a word game:

The increase in welfare spending within the budget was, in fact, proposed by the Southwest State and other southern States, just as they had spearheaded the series of insurance bills. The eastern and northern regions demanding the large budget increase were actually aiming to boost military spending.

Increasing military funds for external expansion was a consistent demand of the military nobility, whose origins and fiefs were in the Empire’s north, within the sphere of influence of the former Marlin Kingdom. The commercial States, on the other hand, believed they would have to bear a heavier tax burden and suffer trade losses due to war.

In the past, the Marlin Kingdom and its allies in the council held the majority, but this time, the opposition was strong. And subtly, the true master of the Empire—His Majesty the Emperor—had not yet revealed his leanings. He remained uncharacteristically quiet, seated in the Imperial Palace, waiting for the esteemed gentlemen to hammer out a result, causing some of the more politically astute council members to waver.

The silence from the Imperial Palace also sparked speculation. Newspaper commentators, choosing their words carefully, cautiously and euphemistically speculated whether His Majesty was expressing his dissatisfaction with the Empire’s military nobility.

’They’re still in the arguing stage, so that’s good.’ If the budget didn’t pass, the money wouldn’t be there, and a war couldn’t be fought. Or, to put it another way, as long as they were still arguing about it openly, a war wouldn’t break out.

Rorschach turned to the business section. He skipped over the lengthy advertisements, investment solicitations, and indecent posters to find the column for commodity trading prices.

Rorschach spread out a piece of paper and a pen, copying and comparing the figures.

"Grain prices... a noticeable increase. Cloth, no change. Steel prices, a slight rise. Coal, a relatively clear increase." Rorschach noted that besides grain rising due to the poor harvest and coal rising seasonally, the prices of other major commodities related to military affairs were stable.

’The Empire isn’t actually preparing for war.’

After calming himself, Rorschach’s thoughts cleared, and he felt a sense of relief. ’Worst case, I can just use a Teleportation Array to get away. I don’t believe my esteemed Master Kano would just leave me to die. I could even leave the Holy Kingdom and head to Istani to lay low for a while.’

As a transcontinental power, the Magic Guild and the Magic Towers had long abided by the principle of "Magic without borders." They staunchly protected Mages persecuted by the Church or secular authorities and required that members of the Aurora Elder Council pledge no allegiance to any King or Emperor.

This was precisely why Grand Master Granor’s previous actions—fawning over the Royal Family, offering land to the Holy Kingdom, and begging for a noble title—were so despised by his peers.

Yes, especially Master Kano, who had all but worn his disgust on his face when they attended a banquet together. From that day on, Kano never again uttered the name "Master Granor," instead using only the exaggerated title "Count Granor."

’Escaping should be smooth sailing then...’ Putting his things away, Rorschach decided to board a flight back to the Tower of Stars.

Buying a ticket, checking in, boarding the Airship—Rorschach was now quite familiar with the whole process.

The Giant Beast slowly lifted its bow from the platform and plunged into the clouds, heading toward the Holy Kingdom in the south.

...

A classical castle stood on the eastern face of a hill. Although it was designed and built primarily for military purposes, the fortress’s interior was made to be as comfortable as possible for its inhabitants.

For it was the Emperor’s winter residence.

Just as Lionel Kano had said at the banquet, the ruler of the Empire was exceptionally imposing. Even in front of a warm, roaring fireplace, his posture was as meticulous as his hair and handlebar mustache.

The other gentleman before the hearth, however, was not sitting so rigidly; he leaned back, relaxed, against his seat cushion. He had that privilege—the privilege of the Empire Prime Minister. Standing beside them, straight and tall, were two other men: His Majesty the Emperor’s Empire Army Marshal, and the Prime Minister’s own Secretary of Military Affairs.

This was an informal Court Conference.

Within the Empire’s power structure, it was generally understood that the smaller the meeting, the more significant the matters to be decided.

"The young lads with blood on their hands are clamoring again, especially the ones with military honors, the ones without, and the second sons who have received land and now want more. Your Majesty, I believe the time is coming. In another year, the first batch of manors granted for military service will be subject to normal taxation."

The Prime Minister had always been concerned about the excessive zeal of the Empire Army. The Emperor and the Empire needed soldiers who yearned for war, but he and the Marshal needed to ensure that this yearning could be converted into controllable combat effectiveness.

Controllable. That was crucial, especially now that the Empire Council had been established and the number of council members with military backgrounds was on the rise. The Empire Army could not be allowed to have a second brain.

For some council members to start advocating for war before His Majesty the Emperor had given the order was a dangerous sign.

"Otto," the Emperor said, using the Prime Minister’s name. "The Empire’s finances are in good condition right now, thanks in no small part to you. What I mean is, the Empire can afford to extend the tax exemptions. We shouldn’t treat these loyal soldiers poorly."

"Your Majesty..."

The Emperor waved his hand, cutting the Prime Minister off. "I have already suppressed the calls for a budget increase, as you suggested. What I’m concerned about now is the progress of that plan."

The Prime Minister had no choice but to have the Secretary of Military Affairs step forward and read the report:

"The ’Finality Edict’ project is proceeding smoothly. We have completed three theoretical verification experiments and one prototype operational test. It also successfully suppressed the operation of all Magic Power throughout the city for twenty-seven seconds during an unexpected crisis involving special powers.

We anticipate achieving high-power, long-duration operation by the beginning of this year, as per the project schedule..."

"Is that how the Prime Minister taught you to report to me?" The Emperor was displeased. "A Military Secretary should be more direct! Can it reliably suppress Magic and Divine Arts?"

"Yes, sir!" The secretary was a newly appointed Civil Servant, but he answered with a military-like vigor he wasn’t even aware of.

"When can it be deployed for warfare?"

"..." The secretary quickly scanned further down the report, then answered, "If the project proceeds smoothly, miniaturized deployment can be completed by the second half of this year, and mobile deployment can be attempted by the beginning of next year."

The Emperor tapped on the oak armrest, thinking for a long moment. "Otto, convey this to the council members from the Core Area and to the Duke of Fortenburg: this year’s budget will be a bit tight. However, funding for the project must be accelerated to ensure its progress.

The Empire Army, particularly the southern forces, must complete its restructuring. My military and Magic Academies should be ready to bear fruit, no? Have those fine young men fill the command chain and purge the influence of the Southern Duchy...

Oh, and the grain. The issue my subjects are most concerned about. You must maintain stable grain prices." As the Emperor spoke, the Prime Minister and the Military Secretary were both scribbling furiously. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

To deal with the reduced harvest, the Prime Minister was already implementing emergency measures, and he had subsequent actions prepared as well. "Your Majesty, here is my proposal. We can import flour from Istani and levy grain from the northern manors and some of the Southern States in lieu of taxes..."

"Approved." The Emperor only gave the proposal from the Prime Minister a cursory glance before confidently signing his name.

"As you will, Your Majesty." The Prime Minister rose, leading the other two subjects in their departure.