The Minister of Finance seemed reserved, as if he felt something was suspicious.
I, who had been silent and observing for so long, made it clear at once:
"You seem to be suggesting that I made a mistake in the balance, but in fact I was looking at some discrepancies in the documents of the Ministry of Finance.
Here, in the section on fees for using magic circles, the fee was calculated at 0.035%, but in fact the fee was reduced to 0.032% five years ago.
Since this was announced via the Records Management Department, the Ministry of Finance could not see it.
In principle, the Ministry of Finance should confirm with us once a year, but it seems that they have not done so in the past 159 years due to the lack of Any changes in fees.”
"What?"
The Finance Minister's face immediately changed color when he heard my response.
Then, quickly regaining his calm, he asked with wide eyes:
“But if there is a change in fees after 159 years of stability, wouldn’t it make sense for us to be informed about it?
Doesn’t that make sense?”
“Of course, that would be logical, but in principle, the confirmation itself is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance.
As a person committed to principles, I am sure you understand that, Minister of Finance.”
Certainly, it was not the Minister of Finance's fault.
He couldn't review all the details himself.
“Okay.
But...”
The Finance Minister studied the documents for a moment before narrowing his eyes.
“The Director of Records Management’s point of view is understandable.
However, if the fee was reduced to 0.032% five years ago, why has the Treasury balance always been exactly the same?”
It seems that he has temporarily decided to put aside his original intention of forcing me to resign.
Indeed, the ministry's priority came first for him.
I smiled a little as I replied:
"Missing fees of 0.003% over the last four years... someone must have been embezzling them.
That's why the balance has always been identical."
The Minister of Finance's face turned white as a blank slate.
‘Awesome.’
I smiled broadly, shrugging my shoulders slightly.
‘This is the end for Baron Rawabi.’
A missing fee of 0.003% may seem small for an entire department.
However, for a single individual, it was of great value, and over the course of four years, it had accumulated into a very large sum.
I discovered this while reviewing Juan's documents.
[Juan?
Regarding Magic Circle usage fees, who is responsible for checking them in our department?]
[I.
I'm also the one who goes to the tower to pay the usage fee.]
[The Tower reduced fees last year.
Fix this.
The calculations have been wrong since last year.]
[Oh, so that's why the Tower brought back some gold coins last year?
What do I do?
I thought they made a mistake and kept the gold for myself.]
[...what?
Are you crazy?]
When I jumped out of my seat in shock, Juan blinked his eyes and said:
[This is amazing.
Just for a few more years, I'll keep taking it.
We can simply say that the fees were reduced before the new person took over.]
[Are you out of your mind?
Embezzlement means disciplinary action.]
[Who even knew that the tower reduced fees?
Don't you remember that your department's employees are not working?
They won't care.
The people of the tower do not go out into the world.
I'm just exploiting a vulnerability in the system.]
[This is ridiculous.
If we don't know, that's okay, but now that we know…]
[If disciplinary action is taken against me, everyone will know that it was you who reported, Namiye.]
Juan continued with a smile full of arrogance:
[Then, you will never know where your father is.]
[You…]
[Don't pretend to be honest.
You really cheated on the test, didn't you?]
[What are you talking about?]
[You are the one who fulfills all my duties.
This is an academic violation.
You're also exploiting loopholes in the system for your father, aren't you?]
In the end, I couldn't answer anything.
But I never forgot.
'He doesn't deserve to be forgotten!'
The Finance Minister was not stupid.
He could easily guess what Juan, who was in charge of this matter, was doing.
“Your Excellency the Minister.”
I said looking at him.
“Don't you want to know how I found out about this important case?”
“…….”
“Ask Juan about his reports over the years.”
Of course, he wouldn't be able to answer any of it.
Then the minister will realize who was the mastermind behind those reports.
Honestly, I wasn't completely innocent.
It was never my intention to attribute those accomplishments to myself.
But…
'I may not be completely innocent, but if I can benefit, why not?'
I looked at the department staff who were shivering outside the minister's office.
'There are many mouths to feed.'
There were nine employees remaining in records management.
No, counting the trainee, they were ten.
I couldn't let them remain ignored.
There was another reason too.
‘If Juan is fired, this will be the end for Baron Rawabi.’
Baron Rawabi was already deeply in debt.
He was relying on his government employee son to defer creditors.
But if Juan is fired?
'Creditors will storm in, demanding full payment.'
Moreover, according to the principles, Juan would have to return three times the amount he had embezzled to the imperial treasury.
'They will have to sell their house.'
As far as I knew, that house was the only property they had left.
A house they bought with the money my father gave them.
'They will end up poor and homeless.'
The Minister of Finance cleared his throat awkwardly, looking confused.
“Anyway,”
I said, bowing to him respectfully:
“According to the principles, the only person subject to disciplinary action is the one who leaked the department’s internal documents.
You know that, right?”
Even if I was the one who wrote the reports on his behalf, I was not the one who leaked anything and therefore I will not be subject to any disciplinary action.
The Finance Minister looked at me for a long time, his gaze tentative.
Then…
"I'll...
I'll talk to you later.
I have to go now."
He said a quick goodbye and quickly left the room.
‘Ah.’
I watched the minister leave the room, and I thought:
'Being a minister is great.'
As a Minister, I could speak directly to the Minister of Finance.
This would have been impossible if I were just a low-ranking employee.
'It's crazy...it's really amazing.'
Even submitting a budget proposal like this, isn't that within the minister's powers?
Without this position, I would not be able to point out such issues through documents.
If I had told a lower-ranking employee at the Treasury Department about my concerns, they likely would have been ignored, or I might have faced negative consequences for simply raising them.
‘Having authority makes things go quickly and efficiently… It's no joke.'
My long-standing feelings of emptiness and pain seemed to temporarily disappear in the face of this sense of power that I now possessed.
With a smile, I turned to Kibun and said:
“Let's go.”
Kibun, who still had a lifeless expression, merely looked at me.
"Shall we go back to work?
We have a review that we haven't finished yet."
✧✧✧✧✧✧
Kyrgios was staring at Namiya with intense concentration.
She was truly a mystifying woman.
The way she interpreted the imperial language was amazing.
The feeling that the language he had spoken all his life was being translated to him again was so strange.
'At the very least, Juan will be expelled.'
Kyrgios had already taken the necessary measures against Baron Rawabi.
The only problem was Juan Ruapi, who was protected by his status as a government employee.
'And now she has succeeded in solving the matter on her own.'
Namiah's eyes were sparkling as she reviewed the documents again.
Kyrgios was watching her closely.
She was a woman who longed for family dinners and normal everyday conversations.
But… she was also someone who sought the power to fill her emptiness with extreme determination.
‘It must have caught the attention of the Minister of Finance.
Maybe he'll come back soon.'
Was this situation something Namiya planned from the beginning?
Kyrgios knew the finance minister well—authoritarian, but extremely competent.
‘And his adopted son… doesn’t he work in this department?’
He looked at the list of records management names.
Namiya had reorganized the structure and appointed him as a team leader.
In addition, I sent an urgent summons request for him during his long overseas assignment.
'Victor Arwin...'
Since he was adopted after becoming a civil servant, Kyrgios had not seen him in social circles.
Pretending to examine the structure of the organization, he suddenly asked:
“By the way, Your Excellency, Team Leader Victor Erwin here has the same last name as the Minister of Finance.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Are they related?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then, I assume Mr.
Victor has a similar strict personality.”
"Hello."
...Wait a minute.
Should the answer be “Oh, yes”?
Namia continued her speech.
“Senor Victor is not strict at all.”
…What?
'Senior?'
Comment and star encourage me?