A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

67 – Memorial Service for the Beast (3)

Until people experience a new world, they think of their own world as the most superior and greatest.

The kingdom was like that.

500 years ago, it was more innovative and greater than any other country, but Nostrum had no development for 500 years.

Ah.

Of course, there was progress.

How can I be more formal and focus on etiquette?

How can we increase the authority of nobles?

Tradition, discipline, etiquette.

While the empire was fighting with numerous small kingdoms across the canyon, the kingdom could only maintain the status quo.

In a way, it was the same as me before regression.

A person who did nothing.

From the kingdom’s point of view, it can be said that he is a person who keeps and preserves traditions well.

From the perspective of an empire where wheeled machines moved people faster and farther than horses, the kingdom was just a conservative country trapped in tradition.

It wouldn’t have been surprising if it had collapsed long ago, but the kingdom managed to hold on for 500 years.

At the forefront was Gibraltar, and there were many other heroes of national salvation.

-To rule a kingdom, you cannot just overwhelm it with military power.

The Habsburg Emperor once said so.

-Politics, religion, diplomacy, science, culture, economy. We need to apply pressure from all directions. I was looking forward to 20, 30 years… Until I became an old man and died of old age.

As the kingdom began to accept the empire’s culture little by little, it became impossible to live without the empire’s advanced civilization.

That is when the empire takes over the kingdom and creates a unified empire.

-But ‘love’ overturned all of that. I am very happy.

A plan that took decades to develop ended with just ‘open the canyon’.

However, even after that, the empire continued to introduce its own culture into the kingdom.

I was the one who accepted the change quite quickly.

However, he simply pursued the convenience of change and did not make efforts to actively change others like others.

-Grey Gibraltar. The kingdom must accept the things of the empire. Only then can you survive.

During her time at the academy, the princess of the fallen country knew more than anyone else the dangers of the empire’s culture.

-No matter how much we refine the martial arts and magic of the knights, the people will eventually become intoxicated by the convenience brought in by the empire and raise their hands against the empire.

That was indeed the case.

Because he himself actively used the empire’s cultural relics.

-Someone says. The empire’s cultural relics should never be brought into this land.

During the academy days, when many people were wary of the empire’s cultural relics brought by students studying abroad.

-But I am different. We need to make sure everyone in the kingdom can accept it, and slowly let it into their daily lives, with as little shock as possible.

Only Princess Naria and I accepted the empire’s culture.

But back then, I was different from Princess Naria.

-Whether the imperial culture comes in or not, do we really need to control and control it?

-What?

-Whether capital is eroded, culturally subordinated, or effectively becomes a colony.

Yes.

-A country that would not have been surprised if it collapsed eventually collapsed after 500 years. That’s not all.

At that time, I thought so.

-What is the kingdom, not what am I?

At that time, I thought that was right.

‘Not now.’

St. Geo’s nostrum is cheap even if it fails.

But it is not a nostrum after St. Geo.

Whether or not the Kingdom of Nostrum falls and a republic like that said to have existed on the western continent is established.

Whether or not it becomes a vassal of the empire and Naria Geo Nostrum becomes the governor of the Nostrum territory.

‘I can’t stay still.’

The emperor of that empire should not be this Habsburg von Tersian.

Therefore.

The proposal from the point of view of the crown prince-

“Please accept it.”

Accept, but control.

“The currency of the empire.”

Never.

It’s not just because I’m more familiar with thaler calculations than gold.

* * *

Needing time to think about the Crown Prince’s proposal, Queen Carmen requested a short break.

“What about the crown prince?”

“He headed to the banquet hall. He was probably exchanging greetings with nobles.”

After leaving the drawing room, the crown prince began coming and going to the count’s mansion as if it were his own home.

“Count Sirene will be by the crown prince’s side.”

The purpose is probably to have conversations with those who attended the banquet and get to know them.

“Okay. Then, everyone goes out.”

When Carmen gave the order to banish guests, the knights in her room she came out all at once.

I tried to follow him, but-

“You should stay.”

Carmen grabbed my wrist and pulled me.

Squeak.

“Haa… That crazy person…!”

As soon as the door closed, Carmen downed her drink in one gulp as if her throat was burning.

“There are only you, me, and the Archduke here. There is no one else but the people of Morgania.”

The Archduke also did not go out.

As Carmen said, we are the only ones here.

“What is your intention in asking us to accept the empire’s currency?”

“I mean it literally.”

When the crown prince proposed.

I whispered very quietly into Carmen’s ear

“It means accepting the imperial currency.”

“If you are trying to give the political impression that I am being swayed by a young boy…”

“That can’t be right.”

“Then you don’t know the dangers of accepting imperial currency? Do I need to educate you on economics in this urgent situation?”

“No. I understand it well. The encroachment of capital. The erosion of national sovereignty. The loss of economic sovereignty.”

“…”

“It may feel the same, but would people immediately use the currency when it changes? It’s not like they’re going to the empire.”

I took out gold, the gold coin used in the kingdom, from my pocket.

“Until now, the kingdom has produced gold coins like this: 1 gold, 10 gold, and 100 gold.”

The sizes of the gold coins are all different, and the numbers on the front of the gold coins are also different.

“Fortunately, starting from 10,000 gold, the unit of ten thousand was inserted. The size was quite large. If ten thousand had not been inserted, you would have seen 10,000 engraved on the gold coin.”

“…”

“Currently, the highest amount is 100 million gold.”

The diameter is about 9cm.

I don’t have it right now, but the phrase ‘100 million’ is proudly engraved on the front of the gold coin.

“Why did it become like this?”

“Are you asking me instead?”

“This is an important part.”

“…Because on the other side, the great people of Nostrum exist.”

“Yes. Each has a face on it to commemorate Nostrum’s ancestors who prevented its destruction.”

Currency is basically a means for economic activities, but it is also a means to inspire national pride.

“Behind 1 Gold like this, the King of Nostrum is looking solemnly to the side.”

“…By the time, after 100 million gold… Haha.”

Queen Carmen covered her face with her hands.

“I’m not here, but I don’t even want to think about it.”

“His Majesty Saint Geo Nostrum is giving a thumbs up.”

St. Geo Nostrum.

After ascending the throne, he decided to produce 100 million gold.

Have your upper body engraved on the back of the gold coin, even nude.

Of course, the actual amount that is mainly used is less than 100,000 gold.

The unit above 1 million gold is actually a symbolic means, and the actual quantity of 100 million gold produced may be less than 300.

‘But it’s a shame that something like this even exists.’

If I saw it at the Imperial Bank, I wouldn’t be able to laugh so hard that my blood pressure would rise and I’d faint.

If it was an attempt to assassinate the imperial bankers due to high blood pressure and stress, the incompetent king’s production of 100 million gold could certainly be said to be an effective tactic.

“Mother. If you introduce imperial currency, people will definitely start using imperial currency. Very slowly.”

“…”

“This is an uncontrollable flow. Since we have decided to begin exchanges with the empire, we must accept the empire’s currency. Not barter, but currency.”

“Gray Gibraltar.”

The Duke of Winchester called me with a serious look.

“There may also be a form of bartering. A method in which only items of equivalent value are exchanged.”

“We can do that for about three years, but the need for currency will be felt urgently in the field.”

“Do you want the imperial currency to be used as the kingdom’s currency? Seriously? We don’t even have the authority to print imperial currency?”

“Even if you don’t have the right to mint, it’s enough to secure an overwhelming amount of imperial currency. The amount of Thaler released on the market is limited, and you just need to secure as much of it as possible. More than the Empire.”

The two people’s expressions hardened.

“For example, more Thaler than the Imperial Central Bank has.”

“What crazy things are you talking about?”

“It sounds crazy, but it’s not impossible.”

There is a plan.

The problem is that in order to execute it, many conditions are required.

“There is one major premise in this plan. This is only possible when not only sea trade is carried out through Sirene, but also when 10,000 people… Or more, can travel between the two countries every day.”

“…Are you serious?”

Carmen adjusted her posture and sat down with a sour face.

“It could be an excessive burden on the Count. Something like that…”

“For peace. What better cause can there be than this?”

In order to accept the imperial currency, many people who use the imperial currency need to enter the kingdom.

“We will open the gates of Gibraltar.”

“…”

“Have you forgotten? The Gates of Gibraltar can be opened by the blood of Gibraltar, but they are also magic gates that can be forced to close those that are already open.”

You can always keep it closed.

You can open it at any time.

“If someone is going to forcefully stop an open door from closing, they would have to be at least the level of a legendary dragon.”

Even if a master-level being were to hold the door, he would eventually be caught between the doors, kneeling before the magical power that boasts the kingdom’s long history.

“In order to collect the empire’s currency, you will have to use things that exist only in the kingdom and not in the empire.”

“It seems like you already know the answer and have even made a plan for it all. …So, what is it?”

“First of all, there are many things.”

I spoke very softly to the two people.

“…”

As soon as she said those words, Carmen jumped up from her seat.

“Father.”

“Queen.”

“Be patient. Gray is 13 years old.”

He spread his arms and stood in front of the Duke of Winchester, who had veins on his forehead.

“Because he is 13 years old, he should be dealt with early for daring to talk nonsense like this.”

The Duke of Winchester, who was truly ‘infuriated’, glared at me with the intent of tearing me to death.

“Are you now trying to throw the kingdom’s legends and traditions into something like a money game?”

This is the thoughts of ordinary kingdom people.

“Before you are Gibraltar, you are Nostrum!”

“Yes. The country in which he was born is Nostrum, but the king he serves is not Saint Geo Nostrum.”

“What… !”

“I will do whatever it takes. In many ways.”

I got up from my seat and stepped in front of Carmen.

“I would like to ask the Grand Duke of Winchester for your cooperation regarding the progress of this project. If successful, it will be the best resource to absorb the Empire’s Thalers at once.”

“…”

“Archduke. Let’s try a different analogy for a moment. A thaler is, after all, a war material owned by the empire. It is a weapon in the form of currency.”

If you look at currency from the perspective of a weapon for invasion, it is a weapon of war.

“And I have a secret plan in my head to make the enemy donate his own war weapons and military supplies.”

“…”

“I think that if you capture the enemy’s resources and secure more war materials than the enemy, this is an important tactic that can give you a strategic advantage over the enemy.”

“…Are you planning on going to war with money?”

“I am not a merchant, but if you ask merchants, they will all give you the same answer.”

Commerce is always a war wagered with money.

“Let’s allow the use of imperial currency in the Sirene territory. The Empire will provide all kinds of goods to the people of the Sirene territory to prove the value of the imperial currency.”

“To encourage people to use Thaler, not gold.”

“Yes.”

While the Empire is working hard on the distribution of Thaler in the Sirene territory.

“After the existence of Thaler spreads throughout Nostrum, we will sweep out the Empire’s Thaler in Gibraltar. Testing is already underway.”

“Test… ?”

“To apply a method that is familiar to the Empire but does not exist in the Empire.”

I lightly put my index finger to my lips.

“When I gather children at an orphanage, I don’t mean to do charity work.”

* * *

At that time, the County of Gibraltar. Nursery school ‘Angel’s Canyon’.

“Hmm… “

“Are you worried about Gray?”

“I’m worried that you came out like this. Ruby, too.”

Crimson Baek, who came out to the nursery after a long time, put his hand on the shoulder of Lady Charlotte, who was holding her child in her arms.

“Grey will take care of it. Look at this. Thanks to the play Gray made, the children are having so much fun right now, aren’t they?”

“Are you having fun…?”

“Yes, of course.”

The Margrave looked at the classroom at the orphanage and smiled bitterly.

“It looks like a gambling table to me.”

“Oh my, gambling? What kind of scary words are you talking about? The only thing you’re betting on is…”

“3 Somnus in 3!!”

“Add 5 somnus to number 4–!!”

The orphanage children sitting in the stands waved their own somnus flowers and cheered at those standing on the track in the wide open space.

“Maybe it’s because it was detailed in the Imperial Newspaper, but Gray really knows about this.”

“What is the name of this game? No, before that.”

“Hey!! Number 2!! I bet you 10 Somnus ㅡㅡ!!”

When Charlotte smiled and tried to explain in detail despite the noise, the Margrave pointed to the children standing on the track with a serious look.

“Why is one person carrying the other?”

The children were in groups of two, one of whom was the leg and the other was behind him, moving his arms around.

Holding a wooden shield in one hand and a long bat that looks like it was made of woven cotton in the other.

“Because the person riding on top is a rider, and the person riding below is a horseman?”

“Horseback…?”

“Ah, no. Gray said that. This is a simple game created for children who dream of becoming knights one day, and especially those who dream of becoming proud of our kingdom.”

Charlotte’s eyes sparkled and she waved her hand at the children standing on the track.

“The dragoon race, it’s called the [Dragoon race].”

* * *

Nostrum piece of common sense.

“Your Highness.” Let’s use the pride of our kingdom, the dragoons.”

The main force of the kingdom is the dragoons, and the knights fly through the sky on drakes, wyverns, and griffons.

“Whether you are a child or an adult, isn’t it the same in the end to be fascinated by play? It’s not fun to bet, but money… The difference is that you are the thaler of the empire.”

Let me give you a spoiler.

“Not even the crown prince can tolerate this.”

Dragoon race and light dragon were one of the first imperial cultures I introduced to Gibraltar as soon as I became margrave.

“In imperial parlance, this is not gambling, it’s ‘sport’.”

There are horses in the empire, but there are no light dragons.

“Would you trust me?”

At one time.

It was temporary, and several factors overlapped.

“This is not gambling.”

The County of Gibraltar’s thaler holdings once exceeded the Terscian Central Bank.

“It is an investment.”