A Power Craved Minister

Following the hoodlums, I found a fat man at the restaurant area with about four nasty looking guys standing behind him, gobbling up greasy food.

The fat old man looked so pig-like that he could have been mistaken for an Orc. I hid in the shadow of a table on the floor to avoid detection.

The leader greeted the minister, “Thanks for coming. Welcome, Minister Shihtzu.”

The man talked messily while shoving things in his mouth. It was uncomfortable to look at, one of the Imperial Ministers. Shihtzu.

Shihtzu said “I’ve heard rumors. I’m sure. Seems you got the crowd pretty excited. You see. This is one of your virtues. You see.”

The hoodlum leader replied, “Much Thanks”

Shihtzu continued, “The working girls too, they don’t seem to be selling their bodies or getting sick and worn out like they used to, everyone is always healthy and doing well.”

Sitting in the chair opposite Shihtzu, and the leader gave a bitter laugh. 

Shihtzu then changed a little in tone, “It’s just… some customers are a little disgruntled. See.”

“Yes?”

At that time, Shihtzu was smiling at first, but although the smile was on his mouth, only the glint in his eyes became sharp. “I’m certain they’re having fun, but the old days were more enthusiastic and exciting. It was. That it was.”

The hoodlum leader said, “In the old days, you mean the days when you could do with the women as you please. If you ask a merchant, you could get anything, endless gambling and Duel Monsters, a banquet with no rules, right?”

Shihtzu confirmed, “That’s right. For the wealthy, using money to break the law gives them a sense of immorality and excitement. You see. For a wholesome gathering like this, you didn’t have to hide your face and play incognito to come to this town. It was. That it was.”

The conversation suddenly became suspicious for some reason. What is this guy up to?

Bro also answered without losing a step with a serious expression as his smile disappeared. “I don’t care what the customer thinks, the priority is to follow the basic rules. We’ll keep our eyes open to protect this town. Isn’t that our mission, as given by you?”

Then, as if he had been waiting for those words, Shihtzu had a nasty smile on his face. “That’s right. Follow the rules but it’s the same for you. You see.”

“What?”

Saying that, Shihtzu threw a bunch of paper at the table. “Have a look. See."

Shihtzu explained, “Information I came across. According to the original rules, merchants and trade associations that bring in auction items are always supposed to come to me to intervene and mediate. They do. There is also a need to conduct a credit check on the merchants. That it is.”

“Sure. That’s why we.”

Shihtzu continued, “But a merchant, whom I didn’t hear of, has been in and out of here and sold items at auction. That it is. In addition, we didn’t have a margin when it came to the sales. That it is.”

Upon hearing those words, the hoodlum leader took a piece of paper and looked at it, astonished.

The drunken bro was definitely not intoxicated at the moment, “Nah, that’s ridiculous. We only let in the merchants who properly brokered with you. Besides, you guys get the proceeds from the auction sales as a commission. I know we don’t do such direct management… Hey, auction management…”

At that time, the leader swiftly looked back at his lieutenant which was thick headed baguette haircut man.

Then, baguette haircut turned pale and immediately began to panic.

“Hey”

“Oh, Bro, um I. um…”

“Oh, you. no way”

Does baguette haircut does not have any idea, rather than just happening to know.

The lieutenant said, “It, it’s not like that! I just… the merchant geezer, who is always taking care of me, asked me to add his friend’s products. He needed a lump sum of money right away, and it would take him a long time to be vetted by the Empire. Just because you can trust him. No, I refused at first, but I just couldn’t.”

The hoodlum leader just shut his eyes and smacked his head upon the table the baguette haircut excuses.

Then the leader asked, “You didn’t declare it, did you? You received a stipend, right?”

Baguette haircut was shaking his head in a panic at Bro’s question whether he got a reward for that. “Eh, n-no way… I, I didn’t receive any.”

He hid a violation of the established rules. But it’s clear from his demeanor.

While watching the situation, Shihtzu announced. “This merchant is in close contact with a dark organization on a different continent. In other words, they are affiliated with the Anti-Imperialist. See.”

“Anti-Imperialist!?”

Anti-Imperialist is an anti-imperial state organization. Similar to a Mafia or rebellion faction.

Shihtzu explained, “What does this mean when His Majesty the Emperor takes the initiative to sever ties between the Empire and the Anti-Imperialist, eradicate the Anti-Imperialist, and cleanse the country?” You see?”

Baguette haircut man replied, “That’s, I never knew it was the Anti-Imperialist at all.”

Shihtzu chuckled, “Fufufu. Now, if you receive money from the Anti-Imperialist, it will be even more problematic. That it would”

At Shihtzu's words, baguette haircut whole body was trembling and sweating. He seems to understand the gravity of what he has done.

The leader asked “you took it?”

The lieutenant replied, “B-Bro… I…”

“You took it, didn’t you?”

To leader’s serious question as if he were sure of everything, baguette head resigned himself and gave a feeble nod.

“Sorry, Bro. Oh, I… I was suddenly handed the money. Even if I knew it’s no good, it’s just pocket money, so I’m told that it’s okay. So…”

The leader sighed as he slipped down, resting his body on the back of the chair. “Ah~… ah~. geez.”

Then he lifted his face and asked the Minister. “So, what do you want me to do? Fire him, I doubt that’s what you’re here to say.”

To answer the question, Shihtzu stopped eating and leaned forward. “Certainly, if this were to be revealed to his Majesty, this gambling house will be done for, and your place will be gone. Right.”

Leader nodded, “That’s right”

Rather than punishing the hoodlum who broke the rule, Shihtzu was trying to do something about it.  “But I don’t want you crushed here, and most of all, I consider you to be family. Isn’t it. You are delinquent and mischievous kids, but I cannot bear to have the adults steal away this garden for that single mistake. Isn’t it. So, as a parent, I’ll take care of it. See.”

However, I don’t feel any warmth in Shihtzu’s use of the word family. Rather, there is a pungently nasty smell floating in the air.

Shihtzu said, “But since I, as a father, will go through a lot of trouble to forgive your wrongdoing, I want you all to listen to my little request as a parent. That I do.”

The condition that Chitsue brought out. “I would like to loosen some of the rules on this gambling house. That I do. To be precise, concerning the auction and Duel Monster. See.”

At those words, The leader hung his head with a dejected expression that said “I knew it”.

And it was then. Broadcaster started talking with an echo magic projecting his voice.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen! The first part of today’s Duel Monster is over. Before we commence the second half, we’ll finally start the long-awaited auction!”

In front of the cage where beasts were fighting in the center of the gambling den, when a hoodlum raised his voice, the nobles cheered all at once.

“If you’re excited about the battle between monsters, you can’t be satisfied with that alone. Not just the spectacle. To become the master of monsters, make your monsters fight, raise them up and strengthen them, and go on the road to become a Duel Kings. All for you… the monster auction will start!”

Monster Auction.

“If you’ve purchased a monster this time, or if you already own a monster, you can add your monster to the latter part of today’s Duel Monster and fight! To the man who aims to be a Duel King. if you’re here, come on down!”

It was exactly what I expected when I heard the old man’s story. To become the master of monsters. In other words, an auction to buy monsters.

“Up first, we have a ferocious carnivore sporting a powerful jaw, as strong as any of the Dragon-kin, that could crunch anything. Can exert its power on both land and water and has a stylish mustache, the Demon Realm Crocodile. I give you, Randy Croc! Now, the minimum bid starts at 5 million!”

A monster was brought in while being restrained by a collar and a muzzle. The excited nobles stood up all at once, raised their hands, and tried to throw their bid.

Yes, this is what the auction was all about. Shihtzu’s request was to revise the rules of the current auction. He rambled “As a matter of fact, in the Imperial Grand Prison that houses criminals. There are many criminal demons who have sinned on the Surface. Ogres. Dark elves. Devil-kin. Cyclops, minotaurs, vampires, and so on. I want those intelligent demons to be eligible for Duel Monster and auctions. That I do.”

Shihtzu said, with a smirk and sleazy grin on his face. “In addition, it might be interesting to auction female demons as tools for sexual gratification. Why not!”

Enuma scoffed, "Hmm… My oh my."

Though Enuma, who was beside me, did not change his expression, there was anger in the emotions which clearly overflowed from his body.

Shihtzu continued, “Not prisoners of war, but criminals who were arrested for crimes. Originally, they are beings that should be subject to the death penalty, yet taxpayers’ money is invested to maintain the facility they are simply being held in. See. It’s ridiculous. You know.”

Suddenly the hoodlum leader spoke up, “That’s too bad. But I can’t accept your request.”

Shihtzu was not expecting the refual and continued, “Gufufufufu, look forward to it. I’m sure the customers will love it … eh? hey, huh?”

Shihtzu began to boil in anger, “Fracking idiot! Do you understand what you’re saying, do you?”

Hoodlum leader said, “I can’t forget your gratitude. I’m grateful to you. That’s why I’m going to make sure you don’t get any fatter and make your health worse.”

Saying that, Shihtzu raised his hand and signaled to all the guards with him, “All these miscreants who stand in my way will be removed toge――”

From the room at the back of the gambling hall, one of the escorts, covered in the blood, came out crawling. “He-heiii! H-help. save, me.”

Both Enuma and I looked at each other, but neither of us knew what was going on.