Translated by Tianic, edited by Grammarly
“[dropcap]W[/dropcap]HAT?!” I bounced off the bed, “Who did that? He’s got a death wish?” “That damn fatty!” Jack said, “The treasurer!”
“Mother FUCKER!” I began pulling my shoes, “Son of a BITCH!”
A man’s finger stroke my head, I looked up and saw my dad’s eyes.
“Language!” He said, “The treasure is rather a nobleman than the soldiers you fought at the capital gate.”
“DAD!” I yelled, “He took my money!”
“I know.” My father said without anger, “His Majesty knows too.”
“Yeah?”
“Think about it. If His Majesty wants to give you money, then why didn’t he just give you?” He said, “Instead he spent the trouble and ordered a transfer.”
“What does he want?” I pondered, “Are you saying that the King wants me to fix this guy?”
“Precisely, good boy!” My father put on his hilarious face unlike usual, “His Majesty intends to make the best use of your talent.”
“I knew it’s not easy money…” I said, “What should I do? And, why me?”
“Because the treasurer was drawn to Luhrmann’s side, and he has been hindering the King’s plans. This man himself is an airtight person who never lets anyone find out about his dirty deeds. We had no choice but to invoke you, the younger. If things screw up, your age will be a perfect excuse for the King to just let it go. Not even the Minister is able to accuse you of anything.” Father said, “Do it like the last time, make trouble, make it big! It’s even better if you drag Luhrmann into the mess. Do whatever you want at your own discretion as long as you don’t accidentally kill someone.
“Alright!” I got dressed, “On my way now!”
“Hold it there!” He stopped me, “Is your detention due yet?”
As I rode leisurely on the road, the upset feeling about my dad’s plan kept going through my head. Although the thick arches of trees have lightened the burning sunlight while a faint trace of breeze has brought me some easiness, I sighed, “I was sold by my old man this time.
“Cicadas…” I thought, “are annoying!”
As I carelessly beckoned backward, Jack approached. He’s already flattered himself as deputy chief of guards, has been hanging with Maiza all the time.
“Boss!” He asked, “What’s next?”
”Let’s try the peaceful way first.” I peeked at him, “Tell them to keep their smile before I hit him!”
“Roger!”
No one was allowed to race a horse in DC except for the King. Thus we slowly paced down to the Treasury Department, parked our horses, then walked in.
“Boss, here!” Jack exclaimed, “How splendid, this place!”
“Splendid?” I sniffed. The building was an average structure with some gothic genre added to, “Why don’t I think so.”
“Huh, sure that! To you, the youngest and most promising viceroy within the empire, it’s just a building.” A welcoming, middle-aged man who stood on the main building stairs said with a smile.
“Who are you?” I gazed at him and noticed gracious garment and confidence in his manner.
“Boss.” Jack came over and whispered, “That’s him, the filthy swine!”
“Watch your language,” I said quickly.
“Welcome, Your Excellency!” Fatty said, “I am the Treasurer.”
“Are you? How did you know who I am,” I found a spot and sat down, “instead of anyone else?”
“The sigil of your house and bandage on your hand have revealed your identity.” The Treasurer answered, “In the capital, a nobility with a wounded right hand could only be you, Viceroy Kheda, the one who involved in a fistfight at the city gate a few days ago.”
“Your power of observation serves you well.” I said, “Such a talent, it would be unworthy for you to only be a Treasurer.”
“Haha, I was appointed by His Majesty.” He smiled, “I cannot let him down.”
The Treasurer seemed to be a hard bone to catch. I decided to not waste time on chitchat.
“Since that,” I presented the papers, “Let’s get into the business here!”
“As you wish.” The Treasurer took over the paper with both hands, “Please follow me.”
His straightforward attitude surprised me, and I looked at Jack. Jack slightly shook his head to remind me that this was not what it looked like.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!” The Treasurer lifted his eyes from a pile of books, “Do you want the 250,000 on your Dark City account immediately?”
“How much?” I stared at his eyes, “I didn’t catch that.”
“Two hundred and fifty thousand.” The Treasurer appeared without any panic as if he didn’t know the amount was cut by half.
“Look at me.” I walked and sat on the chair in front of his desk, “Do I look like a man you can mess up with?”
“On the contrary” The Treasurer was calm, “Do you have a question?”
“What’s the amount of the approval?”
“Five hundred thousand.”
“How much are you giving me?”
“Two hundred and fifty thousand.”
“What’s your position?”
“I am the Treasurer.”
“BANG!” I slammed on the desk, the force kicked things off the desk.
“Where is the other half!” I said, “Spit it out!”
“Your Excellency, calm down.” The Treasure looked unhurried and said, “Let me explain myself.”
“Look,” He saw me nodded then continued, “This fund that His Majesty has approved is for building and construction, am I right?”
“Correct!”
“That’s it.” The Treasurer continued, “Despite your Dark City, there are many more other construction projects needed within the whole empire; thus it is reasonable to make proper adjustments between funds. This is part of my job, I’m doing this indifferently to you, or to others. The rest of your fund, 250,000 in gold, will be put into the city and the Prime Minister’s Maison renovation project. Please understand, the Minister is an empire official of high importance. His Maison status is directly connected to Swabia’s image and reputation, which is linked to, well, I’ve already compromised considering it’s your first time building a city.”
“Compromise?” I grabbed his collar and pulled him over the desk, “You took half of my money to mend the minister’s house, and you said you are compromising? Why the fuck do I care about his well-being?”
“Please let me go. What do you want?” The Treasurer acted calm and said, “I’m not an everyday soldier.”
“Sure, you are not.” I gazed at him, “Do you wanna reconsider and give me my money?”
“250,000.” He gazed back, “Nothing more.”
“You are pushing me.” I said, “Your body is not forged in steel, how many punches do you think you can handle?”
“You can’t. I am the Treasurer, a ranked nobility!”
I let off him and rest my hands and tidied his collar, then talked with a smile, “Yes, indeed you are, but please don’t bet on my temper.”
Then and there was a sound of slapping, loud and clear. The Treasurer covered his face and looked at me with an unbelievable face.
“You…” He said trembly, “You slapped me!?”
“Oh yeah! How could I slap you? I am so sorry!” I laughed, “Sorry I let you down, I should have punched you.”
“Ahhhhh… HELP!!!” A high-pitched 120 dB cry for help went out of his office.
“Your Highness! What’s wrong?” A man rushed in before he was stopped by Jack and my guards.
“The Treasurer was doing business with our Viceroy, please do not disturb them!”
“But His Highness is crying for help!” The Treasurer’s guards said and tried to force in, “There’s might be an assault!”
“There’s no sound from our Viceroy, how come the assassin?” Jack said, “He might be doing exercise.”
“Are you kidding me? My lord’s routine exercise is making donkey sound in bed!” This guard might be low on IQ.
“Ah, so…” Jack said, “Maybe he wanna try something new today!”
“Get away!”
“No can do!”
While they were arguing, came a loud sound, “Presenting the Prime Minister!”