The Prince Wants to Retire

---

The Crown Prince Wishes to Retire

29. Unusual Winds Starting from a Small Port

In the history of the Ignit Empire, the Eastern Port had existed for a mere fraction of time.

Yet, at last, the Eastern Port has been resurrected.

The East Continent is the area with the highest trade volume from the West Continent.

Trade does occur in the South’s New Continent and the West’s unexplored lands, but it still accounts for only a fraction, not even one-tenth compared to the East Continent.

Thus, the Empire desperately desired a port located in the East.

That longing had finally come true.

“How lively.”

The first sight Kariel beheld upon arriving in Salem was a throng of Empire Citizens and locals engaged in large-scale construction.

Buildings were rising in various places, and the port, which could barely accommodate small ships, was expanding, igniting excitement about what this place might become.

The issue, however, was that it was Kariel who was expected to satisfy that anticipation.

“…This is maddening.”

Kariel scrunched up his face, running his fingers through his hair.

It seemed as if the central authority had resolved to develop this port, pouring in substantial budgets despite the chaos and rebellions erupting everywhere.

“I greet you, Your Highness.”

A bureaucrat, temporarily overseeing the port, hurriedly emerged and bowed.

Although he held an official role in a conflict area, nobody thought of him as the person responsible; everyone knew that Kariel was the unofficial decision-maker.

Finally, the unofficial title of Commander of the Conflict Area had formally passed to Kariel.

“Here’s the appointment letter from the central authority.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing the high-ranking bureaucrat bow and respectfully present the letter made Kariel swallow hard.

It was the appointment letter he had delayed accepting until now.

He had intentionally neglected to receive this letter while lounging at the resort.

Thus, it was merely in the bureaucrat’s possession as a ‘temporary’ holder.

Now it would return to the rightful recipient.

“Haah…”

Kariel exhaled deeply, staring intently at the appointment letter.

The moment he accepted it, there would be no turning back.

But once he had made up his mind, hesitating would be foolish.

With a serious expression, Kariel took the letter.

“Kariel Friedrich von Blazer! I accept the Emperor’s command.”

Kneeling on one knee, Kariel received the Emperor’s appointment letter, immediately rising to issue commands.

“Tell all bureaucrats to assemble within three hours.”

“Yes!”

Had he not accepted the position, it would have been one thing, but since he had, doing it properly was Kariel’s nature.

“Talion.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Cease pressure on Talos and recall the troops. Bring the deputy commander back as well.”

“Yes!”

Issuing commands to Talion, Kariel then headed to his office.

There, he changed clothes and moved to the administration to await the arrival of all the bureaucrats.

Finally, when all the high-ranking bureaucrats scattered throughout the city gathered, Kariel spoke.

“I am Kariel, now in charge here. To alleviate your first concerns, I won’t interfere much with how you conduct your work.”

A few bureaucrats began to murmur at Kariel’s words.

They found it hard to believe, knowing his notorious reputation in the capital.

“I don’t plan to meddle as long as you achieve results, of course excluding criminal offenses?”

As Kariel scanned the room with a cold expression, some bureaucrats flinched.

They had thought about exploiting laborers but felt a pang of conscience.

“Secondly, if you lack resources, say anything. I will fight with the central authority for funding, as long as it’s reasonable.”

Excitement lit up the faces of the bureaucrats at Kariel’s words.

Many projects had been stalled due to a lack of funding, materials, and labor.

“Thirdly, I’ll double the performance bonuses. Also, if you deliver results, vacation days are guaranteed.”

The bureaucrats’ expressions glowed with eagerness at Kariel’s declaration.

“Want more money? Then work harder. Want a vacation? Then bring results.”

“Are you really granting vacation days?”

One bureaucrat, with a worn expression, asked incredulously.

Quite pleased with his astonished face, Kariel replied in a friendly tone.

“Of course! The top 50% will receive paid vacation. The top 10% will even get additional vacation funds. Lastly, the one with the highest performance will earn a chance for special services at my villa.”

At this, the high-ranking bureaucrats began to cheer loudly.

“Ah! Of course, this isn’t just for high-ranking bureaucrats. This applies to all bureaucrats present, including those in the military.”

Those who thought they would compete merely among themselves began to panic.

Competition had suddenly intensified.

Just then, a young bureaucrat raised his hand and spoke.

“Are only bureaucrats receiving rewards?”

“No. Naturally, the laborers should receive rewards too.”

Kariel smiled brightly at the young bureaucrat, who had been filled with discontent.

Young intellectuals or dissatisfied societal members started to murmur at Kariel’s words.

Until now, there hadn’t been anyone among the nobles or bureaucrats who particularly cared about the laborers.

Even though Kariel had taken a stand against corruption, he had seldom shown concern or offered special benefits to the laborers.

Thus, no one had held high expectations.

‘These guys have a revolutionary spirit.’

Kariel chuckled as he glanced at the young intellectuals.

From the Empire’s perspective, they were incredibly dangerous individuals.

But that also meant they were smart.

Kariel, lacking talented individuals in his previous life, had once coerced intellectuals who opposed the Empire into serving him.

Good people were simply hard to come by back then.

“I’ll separately determine the laborers to reward.”

“…Separately?”

“Of course. Competing with the bureaucrats would disadvantage the laborers. So I’ll come up with a separate reward plan.”

Skepticism glinted in the eyes of the young intellectuals at Kariel’s statement.

They thought he would merely present a superficially appealing reward plan like the other bureaucrats.

Yet—

“Five thousand gold. The total amount for performance bonuses to be given to the laborers.”

“Gah!”

As the specific amount was revealed, the young intellectuals stared wide-eyed, their skepticism melting away.

“Are you worried this amount will be misappropriated? Then check it yourself.”

“C-Can we do that?”

“Sure.”

At Kariel’s reply, the young intellectuals’ eyes began to tremble.

“Don’t just complain; take initiative to solve the problems yourselves. I’m giving you a chance.”

Having said that, Kariel set concrete goals for them.

“Devise a plan to correctly distribute the laborers’ performance bonuses. Also, you have to ensure they aren’t overloaded with work. Lastly, investigate any issues occurring in the city, prioritizing them one by one to tackle.”

At Kariel’s directives, the young intellectuals hurriedly grabbed pens and paper to take notes.

A high-ranking bureaucrat, observing this, exclaimed in distress, “Your Highness! For those who haven’t even taken the formal bureaucrat exam…!”

“I’ll hire them as mercenaries. Got a problem with that?”

Affirming them as mercenaries silenced the high-ranking bureaucrat, Kariel then addressed the young intellectuals.

“If you’re unhappy about not being formal bureaucrats, then pass the exam. I’ll hire you right on the spot.”

Having said this, Kariel turned to the laborers who had been watching from a distance.

“You all heard that, right? Spread the word widely. As long as I’m here, I will provide an environment free of discrimination.”

Then he turned and left.

*

As Kariel, having made such shocking statements, departed, those who had been listening quickly began to spread the news.

Watching this scene from the window of his office, Kariel smiled broadly.

Performance bonuses and vacation days.

He had presented two of the things employees desired most, and the bureaucrats and laborers began to buzz with excitement.

Now they would labor day and night on their own.

Those mad about money would fixate on the performance bonuses, while those wishing for vacations would work diligently to earn them.

The chance to receive exclusive services at the villa once inhabited by the First Prince.

Even if not that, they would grind hard just to secure separate vacation funds or even paid leave.

“…Your expression looks a little sinister right now.”

“Sinister? I’m just amazed watching the laborers work hard.”

Trembling in fear at Kariel’s eerie smile, Talion recalled how hard he had worked in the capital.

‘This feels even more intense than when we were in the palace.’

Back then, it had only been forced labor with a mere performance bonus thrown in. Now, he was churning out willing slaves.

As Talion was terrified of Kariel’s methods, Kariel himself sought even higher-level slaves.

‘Where could that fellow be now?’

He thought of the young intellectual who had participated in protests during his previous life after ascending to the throne as Emperor.

In the end, he had managed to charm him into working diligently.

After all, he would have likely continued to work hard as a Chancellor during Miriel’s era after his death.

“Want a revolution? But what’s the matter? Your power is so trivial.”

“…”

“Do you want to change the world? Then don’t stand out there and talk; come inside and change it yourself.”

“The Empire is rotten.”

“Then I’m telling you to change that rottenness yourself. Don’t you have the guts?”

“…”

“Were you merely a coward shouting for a revolution? Or are you too intimidated to actually give it a try?”

Teasingly poking at his ego, he awaited the genius who would soon be caught and inducted into the bureaucratic system.

Revolutionaries are generally prideful individuals.

Once you stroke their egos just right, they’ll crawl in and work like devoted dogs.

If you can recruit not just one but a whole bunch and create a platform for them to attempt something, they will all work with fierce determination.

That’s how the Empire could barely begin its reconstruction.

“Talion.”

“Yes.”

“Doesn’t it seem like there’s a shortage of talented individuals here?”

“Umm… It does seem that way.”

Even if things seemed to barely function now, considering the future with more people flocking in and expanding the city’s scale, it was glaringly insufficient.

“Let’s spread some rumors in the Empire.”

“Rumors…? You mean?”

“Yeah, let the word out that the First Prince is hiring those discontented with the current regime. Hint at giving them a chance to change things.”

At Kariel’s suggestion, Talion frowned.

“Those dangerous fellows? Why would we want them…?”

“All the useful ones have already been taken by the central authority. So we might as well make use of these guys.”

In the current chaotic Empire, where problems erupted all around, they were scraping the bottom of the barrel, getting even those they wouldn’t have glanced at under normal circumstances to work.

Thus, only those branded as ideologically impure or downright crazy remained.

Desperate individuals whom the Empire wouldn’t even dare to recruit.

Kariel intended to gather precisely those kinds of people.