Chapter 167 ·Count of Mediolanum (2)

To ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍rule without a support base, Shatien had no choice but to join hands with the Holy See, and simultaneously, he needed the help of the Holy See’s clergymen for governance since he had to continuously leave his territory for the battlefield.

Shatien ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was well aware of the Holy See’s designs and the situation he faced.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍also knew that if he continued as things were, he would be dragged around by the Holy See.

However, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍those were problems that only arose when one moved according to what the Holy See, or rather, the general public, thought.

‘Why ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍should I?’

Was ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there a need to do that?

That he had to directly rule the fief? Thinking about it, this city was a place that had been operated autonomously all this time. If he stood over them now, reigning with the intent to rule directly, the city would naturally rebel.

In fact, if he thought about it well, Shatien knew nothing about this region in the first place. The more he stepped forward to try and rule something, the greater the possibility that things would become a mess.

Therefore, the conclusion Shatien reached was only one.

‘I boldly give up.’

They just needed to properly offer him the fixed taxes. Simultaneously, he just needed to have his sovereignty over the region firmly recognized.

Thus, having finished his thoughts, Shatien immediately proclaimed this to the entire Mediolanum region.

-Summon the members of the council, the heads of each guild, and the city nobles. I shall respect the traditions of the city and the rights you enjoy. This summons is intended to have a discussion on how to respect those traditions.

“????????”

It was a moment when all the people of the city, who were extremely tensed about how the new ruler would act, were flustered.

Oh, of course.

“Sir Shatien! No, Your Excellency Count Shatien! How can you make such a decision!?!?”

The clergymen dispatched from the Holy See were equally horrified.

In any case, this proclamation by the new Count brought enormous shock and simultaneously great interest to the people of the city.

-The new Count says he will guarantee all of our rights.

-Unlike the country bumpkins from elsewhere, the Count seems to know well that the city has its own rules, right?

-He is a ruler one can talk to! This is an opportunity. An opportunity to make our rights more firm!

Some felt enormous favor and expectation toward the new Count who presented pro city policies.

-Will the Count really keep his word?

-The Emperor also guaranteed our rights in words, but did he not frequently dispatch governors to rule directly?

-Is it not just to settle the backlash right now? Even more so when the Holy See is behind him, would he not do that?”

Others mentioned the relationship with the Holy See and shouted for caution, calling it a camouflage tactic.

The city nobles were not naive enough to unconditionally trust the sweet words of aristocrats, and they had suffered far too much in the past.

However, their doubts and expectations all vanished not long after. The envoy of the Holy See, after going in and out of the palace where Shatien stayed several times, suddenly made a proclamation.

“The Holy See entirely respects the decision of Count Shatien. We shall soon dispatch theologians and legal scholars from the Holy See to help properly legislate and codify the traditions of the city mentioned by Count Shatien.”

“??????????”

It was truly an unbelievable proclamation.

* * *

The new palace of Mediolanum.

Shatien was inside the palace with Mage Agphiel, diligently rummaging through documents.

While he was wrestling with the documents for a long while.

“Just how on earth did you persuade the Holy See?”

Mage Agphiel, who had been quiet, asked as if he could no longer endure it.

Shatien scratched his cheek while looking at Mage Agphiel.

“Well, hm…. I utilized the reputation given to me as it was.”

“Hmm? Reputation? Could it be the Knight of Miracles?”

What did reputation matter all of a sudden. Mage Agphiel’s expression scowled. Then Shatien hurriedly continued his words.

“Would a Knight of Miracles not be faithful? If one is faithful, one would follow the doctrines of the Holy See very well.”

“That is true. But what about it?”

“I utilized those doctrines to the maximum. I said that since all things are equal before God, any being with qualifications can willingly claim their own rights. Are all the people of the city not freemen? I said that as they can all claim and carry out their rights according to the will of God who created all things, it is only right that I, as the sword of the Holy See, respect the city’s traditions following God’s will.”

“…….”

Mage Agphiel’s expression as he listened to the story distorted even further. No, it was now at the level of making a grotesque face.

“Ah! Of course, I did not just claim that. Ahem. I am not a complete madman, am I? Naturally, I emphasized the role of the Holy See in the County and said I would fill part of the internal governing committee with nominees from the Holy See. Haha.”

“…….”

“Wait, why have you been looking at me with such a bizarre expression since earlier?”

“…Just. Because I think you are quite significantly crazy.”

To think he would utilize the reputation given to him in such a way. Perhaps the envoy dispatched from the Holy See was as dumbfounded as he was and could not even offer a reply.

When he said he would rule according to the teachings spoken by the Holy See, what envoy would dare to nitpick those words.

Of course, it was highly likely that the Holy See supported this proclamation of Shatien because of the sweet carrot behind it, but even so, he was truly a madman.

“Ugh…. So why on earth are you looking at these materials? If you decided to delegate the governance anyway, you could just leave them to do such things on their own, could you not?”

Mage Agphiel spoke while tapping a pile of documents. Shatien had called him since early morning saying he urgently needed help, and had made him review documents all day.

Looking at the content of the documents, they were all the overall income and expenditure status of Mediolanum City and various ledgers.

If he was delegating everything as Shatien said, it was a task that did not need to be done.

Then Shatien asked back, tilting his head as if asking what he was talking about.

“Leave them be? Naturally, I must look through each and every one first. I plan to call Branch Manager Marhen later and receive help from the merchants of the association.”

“Huh. Look through each and every one? Why?”

“That is to perform an audit, of course. Well…. Even if I don't rule, should I not clearly check how those bastards spend the taxes and how they operate?”

“???”

“My my. Mage Agphiel. Naturally, it is mine, so should I not monitor it? Even if I don't rule, I should keep those bastards in check. For your information, I intend to utilize the clergymen of the Holy See as much as possible for these positions. Perhaps the city council, or rather the autonomous committee, will think that everything controlling them is the influence of the Holy See. Hehehe.”

Audit naturally existed to find faults, and there was no one who would be happy about having faults found.

If he set it up like this, the autonomous committee of the city would harbor hostility toward the Holy See, and they were certain to cling to Shatien himself, asking him to mediate.

‘It is truly a way to rule comfortably behind the curtain without taking the insults.’

Why do everything personally.

Was it not the one in power who held the final decision making authority and determined the direction. Arduous and annoying chores were for subordinates to do on their own.

Of course, it was a thought he would absolutely not have had if he were born of ordinary nobility, but Shatien was originally a mercenary, and on top of that, he was a being who had been educated by his master Joachim in the theory of governance and political history of the ancient imperial era.

In short, he was a person who completely lacked the habit of those born of nobility who tried to control every single thing.

This was precisely what the Holy See and the people around him missed.

‘And simultaneously, it is likely one of the big reasons why I have interest in this young knight. No, Count.’

If it were ordinary nobles, everything was roughly predictable. Because their behavior was always the same. There was only the difference of whether they were more greedy or not. However, Shatien was different. Therefore, the fun of watching from the side was quite good.

It was a truly appropriate interest at a moment when he was gradually becoming bored with his repetitive daily life.

“Now, now. So please help me. Mage Agphiel. There is still a whole bundle to see. We should first know how the city rolls to try and do something, right?”

“…….”

Mage Agphiel remained silent for a moment at the sight of Shatien shamelessly thrusting a pile of documents toward him.

Then he soon nodded his head.

‘Hehe. Well, it won’t be bad I suppose.’

Since he was watching an interesting struggle on the spot, and right next to it, could he not even help this much.

“Fine. Instead, it is only until this evening for today. I want to rest a bit too.”

“Ahem. I understand. Do not worry. If necessary, I will drag my master and Branch Manager Marhen here to do it together. Hahahaha.”

* * *

“It is an honor to meet you. Your Excellency Count Shatien. I shall faithfully help you under the command of His Holiness the Pope.”

“They are those who studied the law code of the ancient imperial era along with theology. They will be of much help.”

Not long after, theologians and legal scholars sent by the Holy See arrived in the city. Thanks to them, the system for Mediolanum’s governing structure, which the representatives of the city had been discussing, began to take shape rapidly.

In the first place, the ancient empire itself started from a republic, and even when it transitioned into an empire, that framework was maintained as it was. The legal scholars of the Holy See, who possessed the legacy of the ancient empire, were at the highest level of understanding regarding this system.

The state religion, various separation of powers and check structures, and even the civil rights of the affiliated subjects. Truly, the work of codification went off without a hitch.

Of course, every time those things took concrete shape, Shatien…

“Hmm. Is there a need to limit the scope to just Mediolanum City?”

He added a word here and there.

“Expand it to include all the satellite cities under Mediolanum. Oh, and as for the qualification, let us set it as registered citizens who pay taxes within my territory.”

Especially when it sensitively affected the power structure of the autonomous committee like this.

“Hmm? How can taxes be used without limit? All expenses used within the city and fief shall be audited by the Audit Bureau. And the structure of that Audit Bureau shall be limited to faithful believers who receive a recommendation from the Holy See.”

While he devised check structures that subtly tightened their autonomy.

Since these provisions put forward by Shatien did not stray far from the autonomy the city’s political forces wanted, there was no great repulsion, but.

‘Dammit. This is clearly the work of the Holy See.’

‘It was not enough to make us receive recommendations from the Holy See for autonomous members, so they inserted the Holy See’s influence into the Audit Bureau?’

‘Did they not even establish new parishes in all the satellite cities this time to strengthen the Holy See’s influence?’

Unknowingly, hostility toward the Holy See rose rapidly.

For them, they did not think that a mercenary turned Count, who just received his title, would have made such a sinister design.

The Holy See in the background.

It was certain that those bastards were manipulating things from behind. Since on the surface, all the profit was going to the Holy See.

“???????????????”

Of course, as for the Holy See, they were in a position where they were about to go crazy from being wronged.