I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 197
197 – 201
“Tsk, you’re worried, aren’t you?”
Theodora says with a soft smile, and I clear my throat.
“Ahem… Let’s talk about that later.”
I sit next to Theodora and ask the prosecutor.
“So, where is the smuggled platinum? And have you arrested a person named Yom?”
The prosecutor replies to my question.
“Yom is currently detained, and all the platinum has been recovered.”
I nod at that.
“When is the related trial? Once this trial is over, send the investigation records to the Grand Duke’s office.”
My heart races at the fact that we’ve secured the platinum.
The small amounts of platinum we’ve purchased so far will be helpful for fertilizers or other technological developments.
“Yes, Your Grace, as you command.”
Then the judge speaks up.
“Let’s proceed with the trial then.”
And so, the tedious legal battle continues.
“The prosecution claims that the defense is undermining the empire’s homes and order. How could a son defy his father?”
“The defense is currently making claims that ignore the sacred laws of the empire. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury! The law must be equal before all. But now, you must not heed the defense’s disregard for the law.”
The main issue shifts to whether Lucius had to defy his father’s orders.
“The law of the empire is equal before all. However, ethics and human decency exist, and so does God. The scriptures teach us to honor our fathers. So, should we make the defendant a disloyal son who leaves his father to suffer his whole life? I ask the prosecution. Is that truly the sacred law? Respected members of the jury, think of your own families and judge accordingly.”
Bang!
Grind!
The prosecutor is so angry that he slams the desk and grinds his teeth.
“That is all.”
Legally, Lucius has committed a serious crime that could lead to his execution.
Perhaps a story that anyone with a bit of knowledge of the law can empathize with.
But the empire has long adopted the jury system.
Back when Rome was just a small city.
A deep-rooted institution created by the first emperor’s judicial system.
It’s said to have been established with the intent that no matter how excellent the law is, it cannot be above universal perception…
But that’s only possible if everyone possesses a strong sense of civic duty.
Here, where the public education system is not yet established, people value their family and community over the law.
“Then, let’s proceed with preparing the jury’s verdict.”
As the judge says this, the jurors rise from their seats and head to the jury waiting room.
“What do you think will happen?”
Theodora asks quietly beside me, and I nod, replying,
“Lucius will be acquitted, won’t he?”
Looking at the jurors, most seem to be farmers, merchants, or blacksmiths, with the exception of a priest or a young man, none appear to be particularly educated.
“Really? For such a serious crime?”
“Maybe? At least, if not acquitted, he’ll receive a light sentence.”
I’m convinced that he’ll avoid the death penalty the prosecution has demanded.
The mood suggests either acquittal or a light punishment, but the death penalty seems unlikely.
Theodora stares intently with her red eyes.
“Hehe… Do you know something?”
“Huh? What?”
She smiles brightly.
“You’re incredibly cute.”
I feel a sense of embarrassment at her words.
“Huh? Cute? Me?”
At my words, Theodora nods.
“Yes, you make one want to help in any way possible. Not for justice, not for the majority, but because you’re worried, isn’t that why you came?”
At that, I turn my head slightly away.
“That’s… not it.”
“Ah? Are you embarrassed now?”
She teases, poking my cheek with her finger.
Holding her delicate hand, I speak.
“Don’t be shy, and you’re past the age of being cute.”
“Ugh… Got it. Shall we go eat now?”
It takes a while for the verdict to come out, so I nod in agreement.
“Yeah, let’s grab a meal since we’re out.”
After lunch, we return to the courtroom.
-Bang!
“The verdict for the defendant is declared. This court announces the defendant not guilty with 3 votes for guilty, 1 abstention, and 5 in favor. Furthermore, the defendant is ordered to be reinstated to their former position in the Grand Duke’s office.”
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
As the not guilty verdict is confirmed, Mueller nods as if it was expected and approaches Lucius to exchange a few words.
“Huh? Mueller is more impressive than I thought, overturning this.”
“He’s just cunning.”
Mueller’s achievement, making good use of the jury system, might seem commendable, but it’s not a favorable outcome for the rulers.
There will be those who will use this verdict to their advantage in the future.
“So, will you accept the verdict?”
“What choice do I have? The court has acquitted, and it would be difficult for me to overturn it.”
I could veto it, but there’s no reason to.
I watch as the guards from the Ministry of Justice release Lucius from his shackles, then I rise from my seat.
“Leaving already?”
From noble mtl dot come
Theodora grabs my sleeve and asks.
“No, I’m going to meet with the platinum smuggler while I’m here.”
At my words, Theodora chuckles and says,
“You’re incorrigible. Well, I’ll head back to the palace first.”
I nod at her words.
***
“Are you Yom?”
The man in his fifties in front of me nods.
“Yes, I am Yom.”
“I hear you’ve been smuggling platinum?”
“That’s correct.”
With a haggard voice, the man speaks as I flip through the documents.
“Have you received the report about smuggling platinum to forge counterfeit coins… Is that correct?”
I ponder as Yom nods slightly in response to my question.
Since we’ve recovered all the platinum before it could be turned into counterfeit coins, there’s no major issue.
This matter could be quietly buried if Theodora and I agree.
Indeed, counterfeiting coins is a serious crime, but the origin of the platinum is what’s crucial now.
“Well, putting that aside. Where did you get the platinum?”
Unlike during Lucius’s time, platinum is now a metal too vital for the empire.
“Half was mined in the New Continent, and the other half in the Mondik Mountains… There’s a platinum mine there. That’s where it was extracted from.”
“What?”
The Mondik Mountains are a range to the north of Roman, within the territory of Theodora’s maternal grandfather, Duke Yans, in Lombardy.
“Is it true that platinum comes from there?”
Yom nods again at my question.
“Yes, it’s true.”
“It’s hard to believe. The Mondik Mountains aren’t far from Roman, and it’s a domain ruled by His Majesty’s maternal grandfather. I’ve never heard of it.”
I’ve heard of mithril mines in the Mondik Mountains.
But a platinum mine?
I’ve searched all the empire’s mines for a platinum vein but couldn’t find even a trace.
“My guess is, perhaps Duke Yans is aware, but… since platinum is used in the production of counterfeit currency… he might be keeping silent to avoid complications.”
I stroke my chin, lost in thought at his words.
If indeed the platinum mines are in the Mondik Mountains…
“Hmm… But how was the platinum smuggled out of the New Continent? It wouldn’t have been easy?”
In reality, platinum is strictly managed by the United Kingdom and sunk to the bottom of the sea.
That’s why even I find it difficult to obtain the metal.
I could buy expensive aluminum or mithril with money, but platinum is hard to purchase.
Given platinum’s notorious reputation,
If rumors spread that I’m buying platinum, suspicions of coin forgery would likely follow.
“A friend of mine operates a mining business in the New Continent. He says there’s a lot of platinum as an impurity. So, he brought it over to create the counterfeit coins.”
Platinum as an impurity… Aluminum as a costly rare metal…
It’s an absurd situation by modern standards, but that’s not what’s important right now.
The excitement of a situation where platinum could be won if played right is palpable.
All the essentials for fertilizer production have recently been secured.
Despite the rapid development of theory and technology allowing for mass production, it has been postponed due to a shortage of platinum.
Moreover, the theories and papers submitted by companies that have received funds from the technology investment fund prove the high versatility of platinum.
Of course, it’s confidential information, not known to those uninvolved.
Nonetheless, finding a way to procure a large amount of platinum has lifted my spirits.
Developing mines takes a long time.
So, for now, I consider bringing platinum from the new continent and developing the mining method.
With that thought, I look at Yom.
Yom’s investigation records show he is a person of high repute.
The petition for his salvation reveals many names of celebrities and dignitaries involved in commerce.
“From what I’ve heard, he lost his entire fortune because of his prodigal son, didn’t he?”
At my words, Yom nods slightly.
I would understand if he had made counterfeit gold coins, but I know the guards stormed in before he could do so.
I don’t know where his family is or what they’re doing now, but I can guess it’s not a good situation.
His reputation isn’t bad, but can he really be trusted?
If rumors spread that the Archduke governing the empire is secretly acquiring platinum, it would have a tremendous negative impact on the empire’s economy.
There are only two reasons why the empire’s gold coins are accepted in the market.
One is that they contain a fixed amount of gold.
And the other is the empire’s credit and honor guaranteeing this.
But if I were to hoard a large amount here, the credit of the empire’s gold coins would obviously drop.
In other words…
The moment Yom mentions anywhere that I am collecting platinum, it could cause significant turmoil in the empire’s economy.
Moreover, restoring lost credit is not an easy task.
I ponder whether to join hands with Yom.