A Treacherous Courtier Manages the Empire Well

58 – Are You Watching Fantasy Football?

I was lying on the bed, staring at the signet ring made of platinum.

Elond Changebaek. He is a Marquis, to begin with.

Unlike ordinary nobles with limited administrative authority, he has the power to exercise absolute administrative authority that even the imperial family cannot interfere with in his territory.

Moreover, if an incident occurs within his territory, judicial proceedings can take place prior to the capital’s supreme court.

In addition, he holds a powerful position that allows him to directly demand legislative budgets from the emperor.

“Changebaek.”

It goes without saying that it is a position that one can never hold unless they have the powerful trust of the current emperor. It was a moment where I realized how much I had deviated from the original story. As I gazed at the signet proving that I am Changebaek with a moved expression, Karia, who was lying next to me, carefully kissed my cheek and rested her head on my chest.

“Do you like it that much, Randor?”

“Yes. It’s evidence that I am continuing to receive the trust of His Majesty the Emperor.”

Karia smiled happily at my words. I stared blankly at her smile for a while.

To witness this character smiling like this was truly a touching moment for me as a fan of the original novel.

“My relationship with my father was not that deep. In fact, everyone, including my sister and brother, was the same.”

“I agree.”

The relationship between the former emperor and Adran, Karia, and Selene, the three siblings, was not good at all. It was described in great detail in the original novel.

“But I’ve never seen that father make such a relaxed expression. It’s thanks to Randor. Randor is someone deserving of that signet.”

“It must be a great happiness. To be acknowledged. The empire is gradually stabilizing. Of course, there is still much to be done.”

I explained to Karia while shaking her hand.

“It will take some time for the automobile business to be completed. The petroleum chemical industry needs to be completed, and there are many related industries and technologies that take time to develop. But it will happen someday. And the broadcasting industry and sports business will also thrive.”

“Randor.”

“We will create new jobs and culture. Through the sports industry, we will reduce the psychological distance with Karamba and at the same time provide an opportunity for the Sui people within Ailam to establish themselves more firmly. And through the broadcasting industry, we will open a new chapter in entertainment and also conduct real-time news. This will create a stronger unity within the empire…”

Karia grabbed my cheek and kissed me. My words were cut off.

“Why are you so workaholic? Focus on me when you’re with me.”

The feeling of a woman’s naked body pressed against my skin left an indescribable sensual sensation.

I held Karia tightly.

“I am impatient. Your Highness. I am impatient. I am afraid that if I make even a slight mistake or pause, the empire will once again become unhappy.”

With the emperor’s death and my inauguration as Changebaek, the already twisted original story was heading in a completely different direction. Now, relying solely on the knowledge of the original work was no longer enough to solve everything.

I didn’t know what situation would arise, and I may have had an anxious heart because I didn’t know if the fate of this wretched novel would strike back again. Karia smiled at my words.

“You are trying to do it alone. Randor. Trying to do it alone. Let’s do it together. If you don’t try to carry everything on your own but work with everyone, you can overcome it. Isn’t that right?”

Karia was right. I looked at her quietly, then leaned in and kissed her first.

“…Was that a seduction?”

“It was because you were cute.”

“Does it seem like I’m seducing you?”

Karia looks at me with a flushed expression.

It was simply a gesture of gratitude for her comfort, but Karia seemed to interpret it differently.

“Stand up, Landor.”

“What’s this about? Your Highness? Stand up?”

“Do it one more time.”

My plea, already repeated three times, went unheard by her.

Embarrassing as it is, the strength of Karia, the dragon’s avatar, was so overpowering that even as a man, I couldn’t resist.

What could I do?

That day, I had to be squeezed until I was on the verge of becoming an octopus.

A few days later in Dagamba, Rashd and I met once again.

“I heard a new emperor has been born? Congratulations. Surprisingly, power transition happened quietly without any power struggles?”

“Unlike over there, in Aylam, the power succession structure is so clear-cut.”

At my words, Prince Rashd let out a bitter laugh.

“Quite the comparison with you. But that’s not why we gathered today.”

“You obtained the Sultan’s permission?”

“It felt like dancing on the tip of a sword, but I thought it was a wiser decision for the Empire. I went on strike and was swallowed up. Now, I hold full authority over the businesses in Dagamba and throughout the Empire. The Sultan hasn’t completely let go of his ambitions, but there won’t be any more underground battles at the same level as before.”

“Is that so? Then our discussion should be swift. Let’s talk about what we can exchange.”

Finally.

The moment had come where we could trade openly without pondering the Sultan’s ulterior motives.

Rashd’s initial request was, in fact, expected.

“I wish to learn about your factory production system. And related technologies.”

“It’s too precious for us to simply hand it over. It seems like a rather inadequate trade, especially since it would only make you strong competitors. But perhaps exchanging herbs and rare minerals might be more suitable.”

“Let your people learn our magic.”

“That sounds more like it.”

I smiled slyly, thinking I had finally coaxed out what they desired.

“I’ve done my homework quite meticulously through the merchants. So, I’ve picked up a few things about magic. It turned out to be quite intriguing.”

Aylam’s magic was a scholarly discipline focused on manipulating the mana of the natural world through mental exertion to externally combine and alter it, unlike traditional sorcery.

But magic was different.

It was a system of magic that stored the mana internally, ready for instantaneous release, more akin to incantations.

A system close to vocal magic.

Due to this unique feature, while Aylam’s magic struggled with large-scale engineering and scientific integration, it excelled in areas beyond the reach of Aylam’s magic.

The technology of alchemy, turning ordinary materials into substances inexplicable by science, was one such area. While Aylam’s alchemy was somewhat close, compared to Karamba’s sorcery, it seemed like child’s play.

And due to the need to store magic within the body, their mastery of interpreting the human body magically, in the field of anatomy, was unmatched.

“I want to learn about alchemy and anatomy.”

“Is that your way of saying you’ll be sending students to our side?”

“Exactly. If you learn our magic, we must also learn your sorcery.”

Alchemy.

If one could interpret this magically, it could open doors beyond just producing steel, allowing for the refining and mass production of rare special metals like adamantium, mithril, orichalcum.

Anatomy.

With its advancement, not only could medical technology progress, but it could also be applied to soldiers, enhancing their combat prowess significantly.

“You don’t even consider the idea of losing.”

“Isn’t that natural? If you’re a merchant, and we’re merchants, you should have expected this level of discussion.”

Rasheed smiles.

“Accept it. It’s a deal where you won’t lose from this side.”

“I thought you’d accept. Let’s leave the discussion about the student studying abroad at this point. The investment you mentioned. Do you remember?”

“I remember. In which field do you want to invest?”

“I am thinking of building a large-scale oil factory in Malta. Since the distance is far, unlike the golden plains, I want to procure local workers. Of course, they will be selected by Prince Rasheed himself.”

“Try to find trustworthy individuals. Anything else?”

“A railway will probably be built as well. With transportation made easier, I want to try a large-scale meat business. As you know, the goal is to transport meat as fresh as possible, right?”

Until now, most of the meat from the western continent was either salted or dried tightly to ensure it did not spoil when traveling long distances. However, what I wanted was to import fresh meat in large quantities.

“I am considering operating trains equipped with large refrigerators. If nomads have animals they want to sell, they can come near the train station, slaughter them on the spot, and load them onto the train immediately. Considering the transport capacity and speed of the train, it is entirely feasible.”

“Our thoughts align. When I saw the railway tracks being laid, I thought that by doing so, we could transport meat much more efficiently.”

“From the nomads’ perspective, they don’t have to take their livestock all the way to Dangamba, which shortens the time and is beneficial. From our perspective, it enables us to import fresh meat in large quantities. It will be a mutually beneficial deal.”

“We’ll need to lay a few more railroads. It will pass through the western prairies. I will proceed with the business we discussed. How much will the investment be?”

“We will provide all the railroad construction materials in the western prairies. Additionally, we will cover 40% of the labor costs.”

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“And in return?”

“60% of the profits from the meat business.”

“You are quite ambitious. But in the long run, having the railroad laid in the western prairies should not be a bad thing. Moreover, considering that the satisfaction of the tribal chiefs of the Grand Grasslands will increase, it is not a bad deal. Let’s do it.”

Indeed, Rasheed.

Being fellow merchants, he is frank. I firmly shook hands with him, and he reciprocated my handshake.

“Is there anything else left?”

“Let me mention two more things. To engage in the broadcasting industry, we need high-rise teleport towers. One in the Golden Plains, one in Dangamba, and about three in Crescent Trijunction and the Grand Grasslands. Will you authorize the installation of a total of six towers? Of course, due to the need to prevent technology leakage, only individuals of the Aylam Empire will be allowed to work at the teleport towers.”

“It shouldn’t be difficult, right? It falls under my jurisdiction. What else?”

“It seems that a common ball game is developed in both Karamba and Aylam.”

Ball games.

Children in Karamba played by inflating the bladder of the animals they raised and bouncing them around like a ball, while children in Aylam, where agricultural culture thrived, made balls by gathering straw and played with them.

What kind of sports business should I venture into? After pondering with the members of the Merchant Guild and Karl Hansen for a few days, I came up with the conclusion.

“Shall I introduce an interesting ball game? It is very simple and can be enjoyed by anyone with just one ball, so it will spread quickly.”

“What kind of ball game is it?”

I showed Prince Rasheed the drawing I had prepared in advance.

A ball game familiar to anyone who has lived on Earth beyond Koreans.

It was football.

“It is a game where the goal is to kick the ball with your foot and put it in the opponent’s goal. It is a game where eleven players from each team play.”

I briefly explained football, and Prince Rasheed listened with interest.

“… It looks interesting, but why are you suddenly talking about this?”

“I am thinking of professionalizing this as a sports business. Creating people who play football professionally for money.”

I explained about the professional league, and after hearing all the explanations, Prince Rasheed burst into laughter.

“Randor. Considering what you said about the broadcasting industry, it seems that there will be quite a spectacle if popularity grows. However, there is a problem.”

“What is it?”

“Can merfolk participate in this professional sport as well?”

“Of course.”

“Then there will be no place for humans. If there are no human players, the number of teams available for participation will decrease, naturally leading to a lack of entertainment, and if that happens, it will be difficult to monetize.”

It was a valid argument. And I had a perfect response ready for it.

“Humans have magic, don’t they?”

“…….What?”

“For humans, it allows them to enhance themselves with magic and sorcery. It pits them against the merfolk team. The clash between these two teams. Who would be stronger, humans enhanced with magic and sorcery, or the physical abilities of the merfolk?”

Rasheed gave a puzzled look at my words.

He must have found it extremely interesting even just up to this point.

“We should build a stadium. This could be commercially viable.”

“It’s inevitable.”

Just the idea of humans enhanced with magic and sorcery competing in soccer against fantasy beings like merfolk was intriguing.

It was a setup that couldn’t fail to draw high viewership.