Profession, Merchant Volume 9 Chapter 12 (Patreon)

Finale – The End, II

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“Please rest until you feel better. I’ll get you some water and a wet towel.”


Said the minister’s daughter as she laid me down on the sofa.


I am lying alone in the living room of the mansion, my glass heart shattered by the humiliation of having leaked semen on my panties.


Ahh. Can I still recover and live my life as a man after this?


While I’m drowsy with these thoughts, I hear the doorknob click open.


The young lady must have come back.


“Thank you. Just put the water there…”


“Ah, it’s you. What are you doing?”


Contrary to my expectations, it was a male voice, and I jumped to my feet.


Looking over, I saw the Minister of Finance sitting in a wheelchair by the door, and for some reason, he was staring at me as if I were a demon.


“I didn’t know you had a taste for dressing like that.”


“No, no, no. I don’t dress like this because I want to, but because my memory…”


“Fine, fine. No need to explain. Everyone has their own unique sense of taste. But don’t come near me.”


His eyes never took on a friendly color. Or, to be more precise, there was a hint of ‘fear’ in those eyes.


“Hey, shouldn’t you be in hospital? You’re in critical condition, aren’t you?”


“Normally, you would think so when you hear news about me. And those who want to attack me again must think so too.”


Of course, they would. I thought he was in hospital, too, so it didn’t occur to me that he was at home.


“There is also the fact that the newspapers tend to exaggerate a bit too much. I’m not in a life-threatening condition. The newspapers were just in on the story that the raid had been successful so that they could sell more.”


“But why would they do that? Aren’t they afraid of the backlash once it gets out that you’re faking injuries? I don’t think these guys can be convinced for a measly amount of money. Just tell me the truth.”


“Sharp as ever. Even though you look like that. Of course not, because the real story is much stranger. Or rather, it is they who will get an even bigger backlash if they report the truth. Because the people who attacked me were the ones with connections to the hero.”


“Wait, the hero?”


“Indeed. On the other hand, I can’t deny that the press probably thought they could sell it better if they linked it to my political situation and made a big deal out of it. Well, they aren’t far from the truth as the hero is also supporting the Congress(People’s Party) with his actions and all.”


I see. No wonder. Now the story is starting to make sense.


“But I see no reason for you to gain anything by hiding all this. You were the one who recommended the current hero to the papal court, weren’t you? Perhaps you still have some hope for him?”


“After his thugs have beaten me black and blue? Ha, I’m no idiot. Then again, it’s my fault for not being a good judge of character in the first place. I never expected him to turn out like that.”


The Finance Minister lit a cigarette and puffed a little sadly.


I handed him an ashtray on the table and asked him for a stick, which he gladly gave me.


I lit it and took a puff, and then I felt an involuntary jolt. I became dizzy and was reminded once again that I was unwell and had lost my memory.


“By the way, I’d like to get down to business. Are you sure you can handle the wall thing?”


“…”


“Oi.”


“Honestly, I don’t know. In the first place, the wall thing was just a whim, just a discussion brought up by the Cabinet(State Agents’ Party) and was supported by the authorities of the State Church, and it happened when the Congress(People’s Party) stopped listening to us. Now, with the priestess’ scandal, the Church has decided to banish her from public office and, with it, Andersen’s grounds. But if the Congress(People’s Party) were to overturn that decision and proceed with the execution, it could set off a chain reaction that would end with the Congress(People’s Party) overriding the authority of the Cabinet(State Agents’ Party) and the Church.”


What the Minister probably means is that if they allow the priestess to be executed here, the budget for the construction of the city walls itself will not be approved, let alone the orders for the magic ore – as they no longer have any authority in Andersen, which is also the original reason why I came all the way back here. Of course, he still doesn’t know that I saved the priestess. Or does he?


“By the way, what about the Emperor?”


“I cannot ask His Majesty to do such mundane things.”


What a pain. But this minister is known for his stubbornness in this area.


“By the way, according to my excellent information network, it seems that the priestess was kidnapped by someone before she was executed, so what would happen in this case?”


“You are not the only one who knows that. I have that information, too.”


“What? Um… this is a strange question, but do you have any information about the characteristics of this ‘someone’?”


“I don’t have much except for the fact that she’s a woman, and that her panties are white.”


Only then did I feel relief. If he had received the information that it was a maid, he would have suspected me first, being a minister with a sharp instinct.


“Sigh. If the priestess had just accepted the exile, we could have made it look like the Church had deported her before the Congress made its decision, but the priestess herself accepted the execution, which made all other options moot. Given her stubbornness, even if we took her away, I am sure she would come back herself. No, I’m sure she’ll come back even after this stranger rescues her.”


The minister said, sighing as if he had lost all hope.


Then, it was my turn to speak.


“This is just speculation, but what would happen if the priestess changed her mind and decided not to be executed? Is it still possible to get the budget passed even without her at the office?”


“Of course. It’s still possible to pass the budget, but we’ll need time. There will be discontent for a while, but at least with the priestess’ not choosing to surrender her life to the people, the authority of the State Church will be preserved. In the first place, execution for adultery is too severe a punishment, so people will immediately cool down and realize they are in the wrong.”


I made a thoughtful gesture.


And then, as if an idea had just occurred to me, I opened my mouth again.


“Actually, I have an idea about the woman who took the priestess.”


“What? But even if you do, there’s nothing you can do to change the mind of that stubborn priestess.”


“Yes, I have an idea about that too.”


“If that’s the case, then go for it.”


I somehow couldn’t understand my own reckless behavior in trying to save the priestess in the square earlier, but now that I thought about it, it might be because I subconsciously anticipated this kind of situation, yes.


Maybe it’s because I was a bit, you know, nervous? But there’s no way I saved her because I have feelings for her. Don’t get me wrong, okay?


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