*

　In early October, Crono's first tax collection since he became lord of the Marquis of Erakis was completed, thanks in part to a significant tax reduction, and without peasants who could not pay the tax selling their daughters to slavers or inviting rebellion.
　The peasants had a short break before they sowed their winter barley, and the seasonal change in the towns was causing them to prepare for winter.
　The stormy closing procedures at the Marquis of Erakis' mansion had come to an end, and the results of the stormy closing procedures had reached Crono's desk in his office in the form of three reports.
　Although he had read through them all, Crono opened the income report again.
　
　When collecting taxes from the town, it is only necessary to check them against the family register and documents, but when collecting taxes from the rural areas, at least three steps must be taken.
　First, the tax collector must visit each village before the beginning of July to estimate the expected harvest.
　When the tax collectors had finished harvesting, they would return to the villages and take back a pre-determined percentage of the crop, which would then be purchased by the merchants and finally paid to the lord as money.
　Some of the tax collectors were so hard at work that they would report to their lords that the actual harvest was less than estimated.
　Some are doing it to help the plight of farmers who are suffering from a bad harvest, while others are trying to line their own pockets with the difference.
　Crono poked his cheekbones at the desk and looked at Elena, who looked exhausted.

'Elena, keep me posted.
''The Marquis of Erakis' territory has a total revenue of sixty-five thousand gold coins. It was supposed to be a thousand less because the bandits you made under your command complained that the estimate of the harvest was too high, but since the slavers who are making a lot of money thanks to your measures are paying a thousand gold coins in taxes, it was calculated that the amount was reduced to zero.

　Elena frowned in disgust and said in a voice that sounded like she was attacking Crono.

'I suppose I should consider it a serious business.
The bandits?　Or are you talking about the slavers who sold 10,000 slaves worth of gold coins in just one month?
It's Kane and the others.

　Crono replied to Elena, who said deliberately, with a sigh.
　The tax collectors of the Marquis of Erakis territory are Tilia's subordinates, but Crono doesn't trust them fully.
　That's why he had Kane and his men, who were well versed in rural life, monitor them under the guise of an escort.
　

'The paper we sold to the Pics Trading Company was 35,000 sheets of paper in a week, with sales of 17 gold and 10 silver coins ... minus seven gold coins for labour costs, and a profit of 10 gold and 10 silver coins.

　Elena explained, trying to stay ahead of the curve.

'I was worried because we hired ten more people than we planned, but we haven't had any trouble, so I guess we don't have to worry about this amount.

　There are twenty workers working in the paper workshop, all of whom are residents of the poorhouse.
　Crono had thought that ten people would be enough to make paper, but when Goldie checked on the mock line, it turned out that he hadn't even gotten around to procuring materials ... collecting wood and ashes ... He expanded his recruitment quota.

'You're not too pleased, are you?'
We don't have to pay for materials now. We'll only be happy when the trees are grown successfully and the second paper workshop is opened.
That's a very cautious, long-winded story.

　Crono said, and Elena let out a sigh of dismay.
　The cultivation of trees is a preparation against the depletion of resources.
　According to Goldie, the trees used to make paper are native to many parts of the Marquis of Erakis, but if we use five hundred kilograms a day, we won't be able to harvest them in the not too distant future.

If we can't secure a stable supply of the material, we can't make an industry out of it, and if we cut down the trees too much, we'll end up with a mishap somewhere unexpectedly.
Are you really such a worrier?
...sort of.
Yeah, yeah.

　Instead of believing it, Elena looked at Crono with even contempt.

'What, you got a complaint?'
I could go on and on, but I'm not going to say it here.

　Finally, Crono picked up the proposed budget for next year.......next month and beyond.

''As I said before, this year's total income is sixty-five thousand gold coins, the carryover is twenty-one thousand gold coins, and next year's budget will be eighty-one thousand five hundred gold coins.......''

　As if she couldn't memorize everything, Elena walked over to Crono and looked at the budget proposal.

''I can agree with the increase in the hospital's operating expenses and the donation to the 'Yellow Earth Temple', but is it really necessary to repair the citadel and build a new barracks?　In case you're wondering, building a new barracks isn't going to get you any money from the Empire.
I know that much.

　This is still a soldier of the Empire, Crono poked his cheek in the air.
　Imperial soldiers receive a salary and equipment allowance from the state, and are also guaranteed a minimum standard of living in the form of barracks.
　

''I don't mind you flirting with the sub-humans, but isn't it too flirtatious that you're even giving them a new barracks?''

　When Crono smiled thinly, Elena turned bright red and looked down.

''It's not a flirtation, it's part of a public works project. I'm hoping that the taxes the Marquis of Erakis siphoned off will be returned to the lords, and by the way, I hope it will be an additional income for the peasants who are out of work during the winter.''

　Crono let out a sigh and leaned his weight against the back.

'If you say so, I won't say anything else. For now, that's all I have to report.
Good night, you can take the day off.

　When Crono smiled, Elena's lips twitched in frustration.

''That's it?''
That's it.

　Elena looked down at Crono, her face turning red.

'So, so.........!

　The next time Elena opened her mouth, there was a modest knock on the office door.

'You may come in,'
"...excuse me, sir.

　

''Lady Sion and the village chiefs are waiting for you in the conference room.
All right.

　Crono lightly tapped Elena's shoulder as she glared at Alyssa resentfully and whispered softly in her ear.

'Tu, next time you come to my room, heh, heh, come prepared, bah, you're an idiot!　You pervert!　Die!　Really die!

　With Elena's curses at his back, Crono left the office.

'Sir, over here,'

　No guidance was needed, but led by Alyssa, Crono headed to the room where Sion and the village chiefs were waiting.

''Why did they set me as the maid head?''

　Alyssa slowed her pacing a bit and muttered to herself in a muffled voice.
　'If you don't want an answer, you're asking me to ignore it.

'I didn't have anyone with experience as a maid,'
Is that all?

　Alyssa stopped on the stairwell landing and looked over her shoulder at Crono.

'A little sympathy too.'
I'm so relieved.

　Alyssa started walking again, and Crono followed suit.
　Did she think she had an ulterior motive?　And Crono looked at Alyssa's back, wrapped in her apron dress.
　Why did she look so s*xy, even though she was only wearing her hair and tie and apron dress firmly in place?
　As I was thinking about this, Alyssa stopped in front of the door.
　A murmur could be heard through the door.

'Sir, may I have your permission?'
I'm ready for you.

　As Alyssa opened the door, the murmur that had filled the conference room turned to silence.
　Crono took a seat as he met the gaze of Sion and the village chiefs.

''Mr. Sion, where are you going with your explanation?''
'Ha, yes, I just explained that the clover restores the ground strength of the field.
'Oh, I see.'

　When Crono stared at the village chiefs, they all had a frightened look on their faces.
　Perhaps they couldn't believe Theon's words and even complained about it.
　So they are afraid that it will get through to Crono from Sion and cause him displeasure.
　No one wants to offend the lord who cut taxes significantly and had the tax collector's estimates corrected.

'That's why we want them to grow clover on fallow land. Of course, we're not going to do it on all the arable land. We'll start with ten percent of the cultivated land, and if it fails we'll waive the tax on that cultivated land if it's twenty percent less than the average yield of the last five years.

　While hiding his face with his folded hands, Crono looked at the faces of the village chiefs.

''Well it would be great if you could run for office if you could.
Well, we will.

　Saying that, the one who raised his hand was a familiar old man - the elder of the village at the foot of the fort that the bandits had used as their base.

''Then it's settled. We'll buy the clover seeds and don't forget to collect them next year's planting. From here on out, Theon, it's a pleasure to work with you.
Yes, yes, I understand.

　Leaving everything to Sion, Crono watched the progress of the meeting.
　Quite frankly, the agenda this time was about cropping.
　This area has a three-plot farming system where the land is divided into three areas and the villages decide what to grow, but when looking at the territory as a whole, there is a bias in the types of crops.
　The purpose of the meeting is to resolve this bias, solve problems in the villages, and share knowledge.
　Although there were occasional moments where he was at a loss for words, Sion let the meeting proceed without incident.

''Ah, um, Crono-sama I'd like to end the meeting?
Okay Alyssa, get a carriage and have the chiefs take them to the village.
At your service, sir. The village chiefs will wait in the courtyard.

　As Alyssa left the room, the village chiefs also left the conference room.
　Only Crono and Sion remained.

''Ha~ I was nervous,''
Good night.

　Letting out a sigh, Sion rolled his back.

''Well you didn't even listen to me when my father and I were there.

　Theon's lips twitched in a huff as he remembered the old days.

'Looks like you couldn't grow beets,'
I explained that it's a good source of sugar, but you have to dig deep into the soil, and it takes a lot of time to add fertilizer.
I can't wait to produce a lot of sugar.

　Crossing his arms behind his head, Crono looked up at the ceiling.
　Just over three hundred kilograms of beet harvested from Sion's field, from which fifty kilograms of sugar could be refined, but it was too much for trade.

''Well I'm trying to grow trees for paper now, do you want me to increase my manpower and grow beets as well?''
Are you sure you want to do this?

　Theon leaned forward and crowded into Crono.

'But don't sell the harvested beet to anyone but me. You can use the compost you made to grow the trees, and if you need ashes, you can use them if you talk to Goldie. And you can use the sugar extracted from the pressings as fodder, too.
'Oh, thank you!　I think my father will be rewarded for this!

　Theon took Crono's hand and knelt as if in prayer.

*

　Crono walked out of the Marquis' mansion, wondering if he should go check out the slave market.
　The steam of boiling wood bark rose from the new paper workshop, and the sound of hammering, kerning, and hammering, which was becoming a specialty of the Marquis' mansion, could be heard.

'More, bish!　Beep!　And swing the wooden sword down!

　When I looked at the direction of the voice, I saw that Faye was teaching three children swordplay in a corner of the Marquis' mansion. One of the three was a girl and seemed unmotivated.

''Faye, I thought you had the day off today?''
Ha, Master Crono!

　When Crono approached and called out to her, Faye straightened up as if she had been plunged in with a stick.

'I was just brushing my horse, and he asked me to teach these boys some swordplay, so I'm teaching them!
I see.

　Faye even tried to be embraced by Crono, who didn't even love her, for the sake of reestablishing the Murifine family, but apparently she doesn't despise anything else.

''In the future, when the Murifine family is re-established, I will take it up with my vassals!　Until then, I hope that Crono-sama will live and leave behind a solid successor!
So you're no longer interested in having a child?
'Such is the life of a nobleman, sir!

　'It's sad, like a lifetime of salmon,' said Crono, looking up to the heavens.

'I think I'll take a few more tours.
You will not stop pretending, sir!

　Sitting down on a nearby crate, Faye moved next to Crono like a second-in-command.

''Well I've been hearing about your work from Kane.
Is there a problem, sir?
No, he complimented me on how diligent I am about my work.

　The new guy's so serious, he can't even sleep in!　Kane said, but that would be a euphemistic compliment.

'Yo, it's good to see you,'
And I got a letter from my old boss.

　With a start, Faye tensed up for a moment.

''What did it say?
Hmm, same as before.

　It costs no small amount of money to deliver a single letter, but I must say that it's morbid to keep sending them every two weeks.

'What did you do to your former boss?　He tried to choke you to death during training, or beat you to a pulp with a wooden sword during training.
"I simply refused to be his mistress, sir.
It's small-minded.

　By the way, Crono believed the 'I'll go easy on you' and got beaten up, but he couldn't bring himself to defend Fay's former boss.

''I felt it was rude to keep ignoring him too much, so I wrote on the back of the letter, 'Faye is a good, serious girl,' and sent it back.
I am older than Master Crono, sir.

　Crono looked at Faye, who had a mortified expression on her face, saying that maybe she hated him for being too serious.

'I knew you didn't understand, sis.
"I call you Master when you practice swordsmanship, sir!

　When the boy stopped swinging and cowered his shoulders in an exaggerated manner, Fei pointed the cut end of his wooden sword and shouted at him.

''Well you don't understand, Master.
What don't you understand, sir?

　Feeling ridiculous, Fei's willow eyebrows arched up in displeasure.

''Since Crono-sama covered for his master, he should be properly grateful.
'I am older than Master Crono, and I am a knight!　We cannot overlook being called 'chan'!
Crono-sama is not a big sister, she's better than Master, so you have to let things slide. The lower-ranked ones have to pay attention to the higher-ranked ones.

　To Fay, who was spouting a good argument, the boy told him the theory he had developed during his life as a vagrant.

''........''

　As if it had occurred to him, Faye fell silent as the boy spoke.
　For five minutes, the boy talked about his theory.

'Master Crono, would it have been better to let it flow?

　After listening to the story, Faye asked Crono, looking devastated.

'I don't mind, but I'm sure there are people out there who do.
Master Crono told me he didn't care about it.
I knew he didn't get it.

　Faye said triumphantly, and the boy waved his index finger from side to side as he said

'Well, good luck with that.'

　Leaving Faye and the children in their place, Crono took a detour to the commercial district.

*

　The rumor that if you want to hold a slave who is satisfied with his body and a prostitute who isn't sick, go to the Marquess of Erakis is whispered vaguely among gentlemen who want their daily healing.
　Crono poked his cheekbones at the sofa and looked at the slave market, wondering if this kind of thing is also called rumor-mongering.
　The s*x slave girl was walking around the edge of the stage, just as she had been when she bought Elena.
　She was wearing a cleaner rag than she had been then, and any signs of violence were nonexistent.
　The auditorium was packed to capacity, with a standing-room-only crowd.
　The s*x slave girl stands in the center of the stage.

'Wow, my name is Maria. I was born and raised in a rural area, so I wasn't educated, but I learned to read and write simply.

　He gave his guest a nervous look.

I was afraid I wouldn't be coming back.
I don't want to come over too often, but I have to see it for myself.

　Crono flushed Miles's sarcasm and chewed the beans, which had turned into bitter worms, with his back teeth.

'Looks like the slave market is thriving,'
There is even talk of holding a slave market twice a week. Of course, that would inevitably lead to a decline in quality, so we don't do that.
Is teaching letters part of the quality improvement process?
Oh, did you know?

　When Crono said sarcastically with a bitter look on his face, Miles smiled admiringly.

'If the customer wants a healthy slave, and that's the minimum requirement, then you have to add instrumental favors, and if health and instrumental favors are the minimum requirement, then you have to add even more value. It just so happens that it was cultivation this time.
It doesn't take a special talent to learn to write.
"Thirty gold pieces!
Thirty-two cards!
Thirty-five cards!

　Crono watched the girl's price jump and moistened his lips with water.

'Fifty gold coins!'
'Who can put a price on more than fifty pieces?　

　The moderator held the quality assurance certificate in the hands of the s*x slave girl and handed it over to the winning bidder.
　The certificate of quality assurance states the doctor's diagnosis and that she is a virgin.
　This is also part of the service the slavers started to provide to increase sales.
　As a result of Crono's measures, the treatment of slaves has greatly improved, the slave trade has become more active, bringing huge profits to the slavers and the Marquess of Erakis.

''I don't know about the others, but my brothel is steadily increasing its sales thanks to Master Crono. Slightly more, slightly more, though.
I know that too.
Is he having a bad day?

　When I looked up, I saw a woman standing there with a soft smile on her face.
　Her age may or may not reach the age of thirty.
　Her breasts are large and her waist is thin.
　She is wrapped in a short dress with limbs that exude a lustful atmosphere.
　The dress, which opens wide from the chest to the lower abdomen, is as revealing as the cloth worn by a s*x slave, but it seems to cost about a thousand times as much money.

'May I have the pleasure of being here?'
....

　The woman sat down on the sofa without hearing a reply, and then shrugged at Crono.

'Is this one the Marquis of Erakis?　You're just as nice as they say you are.
'I wish you'd stop acting like this and introduce yourself properly.

　Crono blurted out, and the woman took a turn for the better, a guilty look on her face.

'Oh, dear, you know exactly what I mean,'
You don't understand.

　The woman tilted her head in wonderment.

Why are you pretending to get it?
If you come up to me and say you're a nice person, everyone will be wary.

　The woman looked away from Crono as if she was in trouble.......really in trouble....

''You're the one with a low self-esteem?''
'I don't think there's any way I'm going to be wooed by a complete stranger.

　If the woman who had approached her so far didn't have ulterior motives, she could honestly believe it.
　Giggling, the woman let out a small, stealthy laugh.

'You're such an interesting girl.'
Hi, so who is this?
"I am the guildmaster of a prostitutes' guild in the Free City States. Some obnoxious old men sent us to spy on you. Are you surprised?
That's not what I meant. I just wanted to get your name.

　Oh?　And the woman rolled her eyes, as if caught off guard.

'It's Elaine, Elaine Sinner. I don't want you to get the wrong idea, so I'll tell you, I'm just calling myself a nobleman to provide a foil, a commoner, just a commoner.

　The woman ... the guild master of the Whore's Guild, Elaine, smiled charmingly.

'Why did you come to check on me?'
'Well?　Even if you say you're the guild master of the Whore's Guild, you're just an errand boy. I don't know what those old men are thinking.
What are your thoughts, Elaine?

　Crono asked, and Elaine crossed her arms as if she were thinking... no, she crossed her arms to emphasize her chest.

'Look, you're making paper in a way you've never done before and so on... maybe you're just worried because some incomprehensible guy is trying to threaten your interests?　And for the record, the process of making the paper is kept secret.
I see.

　How serious is Mr. Elaine?　Crono tilted his head inwardly.

'Hmmm, you're thinking about it, aren't you?'
'I suppose it would be a little easier if I had someone like Elaine to talk to.

　I'm afraid that if I'm not good at it, he might not just bite my hand, he might bite my arm off.

'I'm expensive,'
Well, how much do I owe you?

　Elaine held up her index finger.

'Ten thousand gold coins - I run my own whorehouse, so I don't need to hire myself out, but would you like to have at least this much?　I've got a lot of connections, so if you're going to do business with me, it's about as cheap as it gets.
Good luck with that.
Yeah, you're welcome.

　Crono continued his tour of the slave market while chatting with Elaine about other things.