Riento stared into Dominic's eyes, as he replied honestly. "I firmly believe that everyone should get a fair chance, that includes the people of the slums, but their environment doesn't allow that. The previous person in control before me only focused on the lower class, middle class, and the higher class.
"Ignoring the commoners in the slums, is the equivalent of further setting them back from gaining the chance they deserve. I want them to experience the same education and opportunities the lower and middle class get.
"The first step to that is by allocating more budget to reforming the rundown slums of the city, to better their environment and learning opportunities. They keep buying and eating non-nutritional food which is bound to shackle their physical and biological growth." He firmly stood his ground, expressing his opinion with confidence.
Dominic stared at Riento with his tired eyes, waiting to see if he had anything more to say. A few seconds passed, as Dominic was sure Riento had nothing more to say.
His lips curled up to form a smile, as he said in a warm tone. "Looks like I taught you well, boy. You passed this test.
"But where in the world did you find that word biological? What does it even mean?" Dominic asked, raising an eyebrow at the unfamiliar word he just heard.
Sweat dripped down Riento's face, as he explained hurriedly. "Ah... it means the body's natural development."
"Hm... biological growth..." Dominic rubbed his chin. "Strange word."
Dominic stared at Riento, chuckling as he continued. "Well, you did exactly like I taught you, the slums do indeed need reformation. I cannot fathom why the previous governor of St. Senturion wouldn't reform it." Dominic let out a sigh, as he continued rambling on.
"As a governor of the church kingdom, he should have started with the poor. But he decided to help the rich, hm. He does not deserve that position, thankfully you were born, Saint." He laughed along with the other members of the finance department.
"He is telling the truth, Saint. Thankfully you were born and were sent to rule over the capital. This city would have been going down a path to doom without you, had it gone on. Maybe this city would have become the nutrients for a ritual." Laurel held her cheek with her palm, as she sighed.
Dominic nodded, before turning to face Riento once more, as he asked in a questioning manner. "Saint, where will we get more funds for the reformation of the slums then?"
Another test? More funds... Riento stared down, as he began thinking carefully. Increasing taxes? No no, the taxes are already taking a heavy toll on the lower classes. We need not burden them further, in fact. We should even lower the tax rate. They already worry about their daily food, on top of paying a tithe and taxes... Hm, the nobles? Maybe, merchants? No, they also give out relief goods, they do not deserve a tax increase...
This is hard, how do even leaders do this? Riento raised his head to look at Dominic, as he firmly decided. "The nobles. They have enough money, we should investigate if they have kept taxes from us, if they do. They are liable to have their noble titles taken away, their wealth and land confiscated, and 15 years of hard labor in the mines, along with their entire living bloodline from tax evasion according to the rules and regulations.
"That should very well get us enough ducats and sanctums to allow us to reform the slums effectively, and if we used it conservatively, we can even stock up on money to use in the future." He smiled, as he explained his answer to Dominic.
Dominic who held his smile, stared at Riento waiting to see if he had anything more to add before he laughed.
He spoke in an acknowledging tone. "Yes! That's right, even I couldn't have thought of that! That is indeed the most plausible answer, Saint.
"Right, Disbursement Officer Laurel, contact the Information and Knowledge Department to investigate the list of nobles in this city currently for tax evasion." Dominic ordered the member with the most free time.
"Yes, Sir." Laurel stood up, bowing before leaving the room.
The door closed behind her, as everyone returned to their work except Dominic.
"You have great character, Saint." He commented, smiling slightly as he continued. "It's getting quite late Saint, you should go now."
"Yes, Sir Dominic." Riento nodded, as he bowed.
He greeted the others goodbye, as he left the room, gently closing the door behind him as he saw the Servant Matthias waiting.
"Oh? You're still here Matthias? you should go now, you didn't have to wait for me."
"Then I'll get going, Saint." He replied, bowing. As he quickly left.
Riento stared at the servant's back, as he instinctively smiled and recalled back on his life before transmigration. Matthias, you are really similar to my younger brother Matthew, heh. I miss that little guy, I've just been so busy with my life here that I can't even contemplate and figure out a way to return home.
Turning around, Riento walked towards the stairs once more as he pondered. Why couldn't mages here make teleportation magic between floors? That could have saved me some time...
Turning his head, he looked outside the window. The sun had already set, paving the way for darkness to emerge.
A faint smile touched his lips. He looked wistful, staring at the vast expanse of the night sky full of flickering and bright stars.
The encounter he had experienced earlier stirred the emotions he had buried ever since coming to this world.
Just what is my purpose here?
———
He opened the door to his room, walking inside, closing the door behind him.
His eyes darted around the room, looking for something. Something he picked up because of the assassin from before.
Turning away, he walked towards his cluttered desk, full to the brim with stationery items.
"When did my desk become this cluttered?" Asking himself, Riento began to organize the items on the desk, as he pulled out the two notebooks.
Opening a drawer, Riento put his diary inside closing it right after.
Riento sat down in front of the desk, opening the other notebook as he grabbed a fountain pen from the stationery holder. Hm, didn't this holder have another name? Ah, right. Pen Holder...
I wonder who invented and introduced these words to mean the same thing in this world. Most likely a senior from a long time ago... Riento rested his head on his palm, tapping the pen on the desk.
As he began to hypothesize and think. Spy, how do I catch that spy?
I'm no detective, and I'm not that smart... Investigate who was on duty the time I wasn't in my room? The Chief of Security Thomas should know the schedule of that day... I need to isolate the people that know of this plan first, Who should I pick?
The Head of the Knights Robert, Librarian Luke, Head Maid Lyra, My Personal Maid Emily, and the Chief of Security Thomas... That's all I should call, I think...
He grunted in annoyance, as he began to write down his plans.
"Whoever is on duty on the first to third floor, and the eleventh floor that day are hereby suspected, and should be thoroughly investigated. Of course, those in-between those floors should also be investigated, and those who are part of the Security Department should also be investigated.
"That is all." He wrote down, before ripping the page off, as he folded it neatly.
He closed the notebook right after.
The paper with the plans written was tucked into the inner pockets of Riento's jacket.
"Not that complex... Would it work though that's the question..."
With a sigh, he let his head fall onto the desk.
Suddenly, he straightened his back, and asked himself again in a tired tone. "Would such a simple plan really work to catch a spy that infiltrated such a secure place?"
"No... There's no way it'll be that easy..." Rubbing his temples, Riento grunted, and reluctantly decided to make a new plan. Urgh... Fine, I'll make another one...
Riento grabbed his notebook and pen once more. If one plan wasn't enough, then he'd make another... And another if he had to.
Even then, he wasn't confident any of the plans would succeed.
And thus, he spent the rest of his time sketching, writing, explaining things all night long inside the notebook, taking over 20 pages just for it.
———
Somewhere Far Away...
The wind roared, powerful waves rammed against the hull relentlessly like hungry lions.
The ship creaked and bobbed with unnatural force, the men on the ship hurried, as the man behind the wheel shouted with urgency. "PULL THE SHEETS!"
"WE'RE TRYING BOSS!" A man exclaimed, as another chimed in, almost tumbling. "THE WIND IS TOO STRONG!"
Six men pulled the ropes, trying to haul the sails on the Main Mast.
Water splashed onto the deck, thunder roared in the distance.
Scree!
"TIE THE ROPES! BRACE YOURSELVES! WE ARE GOING STARBOARD!" The man shouted once more, turning the wheel with obvious resistance against it.
The six men hurried even more, barely managing to tie the ropes, and held on for dear life.
As the ship turned dangerously right, water continuously splashed and rammed against the hull.
"HOLD ON!" The man shouted, trying to stay upright as he turned the wheel to port.
His eyes widened, a massive wave that wasn't there before suddenly appeared before their eyes, the man immediately shouted. "BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
One of the crew members clutched a sun-emblem necklace in his palm, squeezing tight and silently prayed, while holding on.
Another closed his eyes out of fear.
The ship's bow rammed against the tall wave, gliding across its surface. The wooden ship creaked.
In just a few seconds, they got over the wave, before crashing back down almost sinking the ship.
The ship tilted left and right.
"AGH! I KNEW GOING TO THE OCEAN OF DEATH WASN'T RIGHT!" A crew member complained, before another one followed right behind him with remarks of his own. "IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SHIP BEING EXPENSIVE WE WOULD HAVE SUNK!"
"WELL WHAT CAN WE DO IN THIS WEATHER?!" The man behind the wheel complained. "WE HAVE TO SHOUT TO EVEN HEAR EACH OTHER!"
"THEN THANK THE MANUFACTURER WHEN WE GET BACK SAFELY!" A crew member joked, still holding on as the ship rocked up and down.
The ship forced itself forward through the vast and dangerous weather.
The Helmsman squinted, his eyes couldn't believe the sight in front of him, in this weather?
The other crew members had the same reaction, their mouths dropped wide open...
"Even if this is the Ocean of Death, that couldn't be real right?" The Helmsman chuckled to himself, before snapping back as he quickly turned starboard.
"BRACE YOURSELVES!" He shouted.
In the eyes of one of the members, laid the reflection of something burning.
A crew member scoffed, barely containing his chuckle, he couldn't believe his eyes. "What in the world is that?"
"Not even a luminary from the Acolyte mandate can do that..." He muttered to himself.
As the Helmsman turned the ship starboard, he still stared at the supernatural phenomenon in front of him.
"How in the world does that even happen naturally?" His brows tightened.
As a crew member muttered. "A blazing cyclone in the middle of the sea... "
———
Back in St. Senturion Capital...
A hooded figure, about 1.71m tall, walked through the dimly lit streets, pulling the hood lower over their eyes.
Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone pavement.
They quickly slipped into a nearby alley.
Silence.
The hooded figure cautiously peeked around the corner.
A carriage rolled past in the distance, its wheels clattering against the road. The ever-lasting lamps illuminated the empty streets, while the starry night sky shimmered above, countless stars forming familiar constellations.
No one.
Only after making sure they weren't being followed did the hooded figure continue deeper into the narrow alley.
At the very end stood a worn wooden door.
Beside it, another hooded figure silently waited, holding a burning torch. The orange flames danced gently, casting long shadows across the alley walls.
The approaching figure finally lowered their hood.
Long midnight-black hair flowed over their shoulders, illuminated by the torchlight.
The hooded figure by the door remained unmoved.
"What's the password?" they asked in a low voice.
The woman stepped closer and whispered the answer.
The hooded figure remained silent for a few seconds before giving a slight nod.
"Correct. You may enter."
They stepped aside, pushing the heavy wooden door open.
Without another word, the woman walked inside.
The door slowly creaked shut behind her.
Clack.
The alley fell silent once more.
———
Back in the Palace...
Thud!
Riento collapsed onto the desk.
His notebook remained wide open, pages filled with plans, sketches, crossed-out ideas, and hurried notes. The fountain pen was still loosely held in his hand.
"...Zzz..."
Unable to fight off his exhaustion any longer, he had fallen asleep while writing.
Outside the window, the moonlight quietly poured into the room, illuminating the cluttered desk and the stack of filled notebooks beside him.
Creak...
The door slowly opened.
Emily carefully stepped inside, holding a small tray with a cup of warm tea and a light meal.
She was about to call out to him, but paused.
Her eyes landed on the sleeping Riento.
A small smile formed on her lips.
"...You really overworked yourself again, Saint," she softly muttered.
She quietly placed the tray on a nearby table before walking over to him, careful not to make too much noise.
The notebook caught her attention for a brief moment.
Page after page was covered in writing.
"..."
Without reading any further, she looked away.
She reached for a folded blanket resting on the nearby chair and gently draped it over his shoulders.
Riento stirred slightly in his sleep before becoming still once more.
Emily let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Good night, Saint."
She picked the tray back up, leaving the untouched meal for tomorrow morning instead.
Taking one last glance at the peacefully sleeping Riento, she smiled.
Then she quietly stepped outside.
Click.
The door gently closed behind her.