I, The Janitor! Chapter 1062: Night Talk in the Palace - Novel Cool

Chapter 1062: Night Talk in the Palace

Chapter 1062: Night Talk in the Palace

"I think... they might have a bit of a misunderstanding about me."

Leaning against the silk-covered cushion at the head of the bed, Leon recalled the meeting at Taurus Palace earlier and couldn't help but frown slightly, feeling a bit unhappy as he said:

"When I do things, I'm usually quite cautious, right? I try to consider everything before taking action, don't I?"

"Hmm, that's true."

Queen Veronica nodded slightly, a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead, her hair slightly disheveled. She arched her body upward, lazily leaning against Leon's shoulder, and closed her eyes as she replied:

"My man is very meticulous~ He always prepares thoroughly before doing anything… Speaking of which, where’s Miss Lila, the one who always rides that Warhound? Why didn’t she come today?"

"To prevent her from causing trouble, I asked the director to give her a mission before I came to see you. She’s probably out of the country by now… Why did you bring her up? I’m trying to talk about something important."

"Mm-hmm~"

Perhaps due to the severe physical exertion, the queen, who usually rises early and works tirelessly, dragging her ladies-in-waiting to work late every night, was now too lazy to even open her eyes. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum as she responded:

"Then let’s continue with the important stuff… Where were we?"

"We were talking about whether Lord Taurus and the others have a misunderstanding about me."

Wrapping his arms around Queen Veronica's smooth, slightly cool waist and tucking the blanket around her, Leon felt his mind unusually clear as he frowned and said:

"I feel that while they don’t doubt my intelligence, they seem to have a certain stereotype about me. They think I always use the most extreme methods to solve problems, as if I can’t tolerate any sand in my eyes and must fix everything that irritates me."

"Is that true?"

"Of course not."

Leon replied, sounding somewhat displeased:

"Take the current kingdom, for example. There are many things I don’t like, but I haven’t taken action, right?"

"Like what?"

"For instance, the House of Commons, which still controls the road and agriculture departments, the Commercial Federation that’s always haggling with you over working hours and wages, and those old nobles who are demanding exorbitant prices for the plantations and mines… I find them all very irritating, but I haven’t interfered, have I?"

"So… you’re not planning to do anything about them?"

"That’s because I have you!"

After hearing Queen Veronica’s question, Leon’s mind began to wander, and he said matter-of-factly:

"I don’t understand agriculture or road management, let alone commerce and the buyout process. If I were to handle them, I’d probably have to resort to force, which would likely lead to long-term chaos even if the problems were eventually resolved.

You, on the other hand, are a born politician. You excel at dividing and conquering, trading favors, playing mind games, stirring up trouble, and cutting ties when necessary… You’re much more skilled at these things than I am.

While it might take you longer to deal with those bastards, the process would be much smoother, with the least impact on ordinary people… Hey, why are you pinching me?"

"Why?"

After twisting her fingers slightly, Queen Veronica opened her eyes, her moist gaze tinged with a hint of resentment as she said:

"I understand you’re complimenting me, but could you use nicer words? What do you mean by ‘cutting ties when necessary’? I can’t possibly notify the old nobles in advance when I’m forcing them to dissolve their plantations under the pretext of reorganizing their fiefs, can I?"

"Uh…"

"‘Cutting ties when necessary’ sounds even worse. I have a good relationship with the Commercial Federation and have supported them with policies, but that doesn’t mean I’m their ally.

They’ve created a more efficient and prosperous market, so I naturally support them. However, when they refuse to ensure fair working hours and minimum wages, and try to secure permanent patent rights through bribery, is it really ‘cutting ties when necessary’ to sanction them?"

"Um…"

"Besides, it’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to see each other. Are you going to keep talking about this?"

Her fingertip lightly traced a small circle on Leon’s chest, and her slightly flushed body pressed against him again. In the moonlight streaming through the window, Queen Veronica’s eyes shimmered as she whispered:

"There’s still over an hour until dawn. What if we…?"

"Maybe we should talk more about the Twelve Kingdoms assembly?"

"???"

"Well… the board members of our bureau are all decent people, but they’re also quite rigid. Convincing them is no easy task."

Catching the soft hand that suddenly tightened around his waist, Leon squeezed it gently and cleared his throat:

"Veronica, this assembly of the Twelve Kingdoms is a very rare opportunity for both you and me, as well as for the Clean-up Bureau and the Twelve Kingdoms. If I mess it up this time, it might be years before I can persuade them again, so…"

"So you think I understand the Twelve Kingdoms better and you want me to help you?"

"Um…"

"…"

You really have me beat…

Sighing helplessly, Queen Veronica closed her eyes again, turned her head to bury her face in Leon’s shoulder, and mumbled:

"Fine… what do you hope to achieve with this assembly?"

"Mutual aid and the reduction of wars."

Leon, who had already set his goals, said earnestly:

"My ultimate goal isn’t fully achievable yet and might take several generations, but these two smaller goals are possible."

"These aren’t small goals at all~"

Queen Veronica hummed, rubbing her chin against Leon’s shoulder, and then closed her eyes:

"Mutual aid is relatively easy, but reducing wars is extremely difficult. Territory, resources, population, historical grievances, religion, customs… there are so many factors that can cause conflicts and lead to wars. Even with the support of the Clean-up Bureau, it’s not easy to achieve."

"Even if we can’t achieve it fully, eighty percent would be good enough."

Leon, who didn’t expect to achieve it completely, said:

"Resource issues can be resolved through distribution. Territorial and historical grievances can be addressed by the Clean-up Bureau, while population and cultural differences can be coordinated. Religious issues can be handled by targeting the corresponding true gods…

In short, my idea is to bring the Twelve Kingdoms together and create more opportunities for communication before their conflicts become too intense to resolve. Even if we can’t completely eliminate conflicts, with the Clean-up Bureau’s intervention, the intensity and scope of wars can be relatively controlled."

"That shouldn’t be too much of a problem."

After considering Leon’s goals, Queen Veronica nodded slightly:

"Your goal is quite ‘realistic.’ If we can ensure a significant reduction and relative control, it should be feasible given the current situation… Is the same true for mutual aid?"

"Yes."

Leon nodded:

"I don’t plan to completely overhaul the existing systems of the Twelve Kingdoms and forcibly establish a comprehensive resource distribution system. For mutual aid, my expectations are similar to reducing wars—just making things better than before.

The first assembly of the Twelve Kingdoms will focus on discussions, aiming to exchange surplus resources without causing the collapse of the existing systems in each kingdom, thereby improving the resource issues faced by the various kingdoms."

"But this mutual aid is still a form of trade, and in any trade, there will always be winners and losers."

Queen Veronica opened her eyes, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and reminded him:

Especially in large-scale national transactions, the extraction difficulties, demand volumes, scarcity levels, and transportation challenges on both sides can vary greatly, making it impossible to achieve perfect balance.

For example, the food transportation from the Verdant Realm, the mining of the Molnar Kingdom, the storage of meat and fur products in the Northern Realm, the research and development costs of medicines and medical technologies in the Perti Kingdom, and the maintenance and upgrading of our industrial goods.

In such transactions, the advantaged party would naturally be a thousand times willing, but the disadvantaged party would likely be very resistant, even strongly opposed. For instance, the transactions between the Verdant Realm and the Perti and Molnar Kingdoms have significant issues.

The Verdant Realm's Oleson, due to its location and wars with neighboring countries, has always sold its grain only to nearby kingdoms because the grain prices are so low that vast tracts of land are left fallow. Exchanging their surplus grain for the scarce minerals and medicines they need is naturally a win-win situation.

However, the Perti and Molnar Kingdoms are different. Both the production of medicines and the extraction of minerals come with considerable costs. Although they have grain shortages, they also control mineral and pharmaceutical resources, allowing them to command high premiums. Exchanging these for grain would be a loss.

These relatively wealthy kingdoms do not lack channels to obtain grain. The resources they truly need are in the hands of the Sea Cliff Nation across the sea.

Even if the Verdant Realm could use grain for trade, the vast distance and the multiple kingdoms in between make long-distance transportation extremely challenging. Who would bear the significant losses from this transportation is an even bigger issue.

Even if you could solve this problem through the Clean-up Bureau, it would severely impact the shipping industry of the Sail Sea Nation, which, besides piracy, also handles large-scale trade between the Sea Cliff Nation and the Perti Kingdom.

Stop, Master, please stop!

Just hearing a few of Queen Veronica's points, Leon's exceptionally clear mind in Sage Mode turned back into a muddled mess. He couldn't help but look up at the ceiling and sigh inwardly.

There are so many issues just at a glance. Thankfully, I didn't rush into it. While I could force the issue, that would only address the symptoms. The only way to truly solve the problem is to find the right "balance."

I have to admit, while my mind is decent, I'm not equipped to handle such complex issues. Fortunately, I have a trump card!

"What if we do this!"

After considering his "Hidden Ace", Leon tentatively suggested:

"Those kingdoms that are at a disadvantage in the transactions, as well as those that make concessions in resolving the war, I can represent the Clean-up Bureau and offer them special compensation?"

"Special compensation?"

"Like what I did in the Traveling Thrush Kingdom and the Northern Realm—undertaking engineering projects that are difficult for other kingdoms to handle."

Raising his hand to form an illusory map, Leon gestured:

"For example, extracting hard-to-reach minerals to the surface, moving mountains that block moisture to alleviate droughts, redirecting frequently changing major rivers, or creating a pass through a mountain range that obstructs transportation... Why are you pinching me again?"

I don't know, maybe my hand itches.

Queen Veronica huffed, knowing the conditions for the "Soft Meal" badge to activate, and then suppressed the sour feeling in her heart before reminding him:

"Leon, if you plan to use this as 'compensation,' you can ask for more, especially from the Thunderstorm Realm and the Refractive Kingdom, which are prone to disasters. If you can truly solve their disaster problems, your previous goals would only be considered minor ones.

No kingdom will willingly accept a disadvantage in trade, but if they can get major engineering projects that would otherwise require the entire nation's effort in exchange for a slight disadvantage in trade, they will fight for it.

Additionally, instead of giving all the 'compensation' at once, you should do it in parts to control the kingdoms. I also suggest involving the entire Clean-up Bureau in this."

"Together? Doing what?"

"A slightly 'selfish' change."

Queen Veronica blinked, hinting:

"Don't you think the Clean-up Bureau's work can actually be 'charged' for?"

"???"

"If the Clean-up Bureau is the 'protector' of humanity, then handling abnormal events, protecting ordinary people from anomalies, and safeguarding the royal families of the kingdoms should naturally be unpaid.

But as you said to the board members, the Clean-up Bureau's greatest arrogance is not considering itself part of humanity. As part of humanity, the work you do can be 'paid' for."

"I have actually considered this."

Leon nodded:

"The Clean-up Bureau established a Netherworld branch in the Dead Realm, where cleaners who die on missions can be quickly resurrected, extend their family's lifespans, and even receive benefits after death..."

"That's not what I mean by 'paid.'"

Veronica chuckled:

"What you mentioned is compensation the Clean-up Bureau pays to cleaners. What I mean is that you should require the Twelve Kingdoms to pay the Clean-up Bureau compensation."

The Twelve Kingdoms paying the Clean-up Bureau... Wow!

Hearing Veronica's words, Leon was suddenly enlightened.

Right! The most difficult part of the issues I want to solve is that any change will inevitably touch the interests of the Twelve Kingdoms. My previous idea was to use the "Soft Meal" badge's ability as compensation to make the Twelve Kingdoms accept the disadvantage, but that would only be a temporary fix.

Trade between the kingdoms will continue, and no one can accept a disadvantage forever. Over time, the benefits of the changes I make to the landscape will be taken for granted, and new complaints will arise. However, the Clean-up Bureau's protection will continue.

So, if I follow Veronica's method, the Clean-up Bureau and I don't need to make any changes. We just need to turn the previously unpaid protection into 'paid' protection, which will be enough to make the kingdoms consistently make concessions. And we can do even more, even...

"Brilliant!"

Excitedly hugging Veronica and giving her a passionate kiss, Leon clenched his fist:

"Your method will definitely solve more than 90% of the problems! Plus, the Clean-up Bureau already needs to strengthen communication with the Twelve Kingdoms. Besides providing protection, we can also address other needs like disaster relief! It's perfect!"

"If it feels perfect, then pay up."

"Ah?"

"I didn't say I'd solve your problems for free~"

"Uh... What do you want..."

"Isn't it obvious?"

Shifting slightly, Veronica's slightly warm hand pressed firmly on Leon's shoulder, her cheeks flushed as she softly hummed:

"Physical compensation!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end

Report