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Translator: Kazumi
Editor: Kabur & Silavin
While Floria was in her office, working hard on her political affairs, Alec, the Prime Minister, came to her.
“Queen Floria, there has been movement in the north.”
Even though he is her own father, she is in the middle of her official duties.
He tries to keep a tight rein under the watchful eyes of those around him.
“What? In the north?”
Tilting her head, Floria received the report from Alec.
What Alec brings is not behind-the-scenes information brought by the Defrayer Clan, but outward information brought by the civilian officials.
Unlike when Alec was a deputy, the Defrayer Clan’s information was passed directly to Floria, who took over the role.
Floria looked over the report and squinted.
“There is a proposal to join our country, huh?”
Floria’s muttering caused the civil servants working around her to look up.
She was talking to herself, but she was intentionally whispering so that they could hear her.
Floria is not so naive as to go out of her way to say out loud information that should not be said.
Alec, who brought the report, also knew what was in it, which is why he brought it out for all to see.
In the first place, information that should not be disclosed would not be brought out in such a manner.
Understanding that the eyes of the people around him were on him, Alec began to discuss information that was not in the report.
“It’s still unofficial, though I heard it took the form of a consultation.”
“I see. In a manner of speaking, you think you are taking care of the continent over there, don’t you?”
Up to now, no northern city has ever approached Razequa Amamiya about becoming a part of their organization.
Razequa Amamiya is naturally aware that there are ten churches on the northern continent behind the northern cities.
Moreover, it would have been better if the resources and specialties of the northern continent could be purchased through the northern cities.
From Razequa Amamiya’s perspective, the northern city was perceived as a good bulwark against the power of the northern continent.
They knew that the Ten Churches had been hostile, if not outright hostile, to Razequa Amamiya, and they did not want to go out of their way to beat around the bush.
That is why they had not actively approached Razequa Amamiya about joining their northern affiliate.
“I don’t have any information to back this up yet, but it appears that the aid has been reduced,” Alec said.
At Alec’s words, Floria’s eyebrows twitched.
“What?!”
It is an open secret that the northern city receives aid from the Ten Churches.
The Ten Churches had no intention of hiding it, or even denying the story.
Razequa Amamiya has no problem as long as the northern town can continue to exist through such connections.
But if that aid is reduced, it is a different story.
“…I see. So that’s why you approached me.”
“That’s the reason.”
“After all this time, I doubt that the city over there couldn’t have done better.”
“That can’t be helped. It’s terrible for business.”
Floria laughed at Alec’s frank impression.
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Considering its location in the north, a town of the current scale could have been maintained normally, if not developed, without relying on aid, if it had behaved better.
Moreover, the population could have been increased with the help of the ten churches, but the northern town seems to have been accustomed to receiving aid for a long time, and did not even try to create any distinctive features.
However, the northern town seems to have been used to receiving aid from the government for a long time and did not even try to create any distinctive features.
However, Floria is not so foolish as to say such a thing on this occasion.
It is also true that Razequa Amamiya had left the northern city in such a state.
Of course, this is also because they expected the aid from the northern continent to be cut off at some point.
They were hoping that the city would either wait until it became smaller, or like other cities in the east, west, and south, it would be incorporated into Razequa Amamiya.
It was also possible that the city could be fully incorporated into the northern continental power, but it was predicted that this would be moderately difficult.
If it were that easy to incorporate into the sphere of influence, it would have done so long ago.
The reason why this is not possible is that even with the development of ship transportation, distance is still a major issue.
“Commerce is one of the most important elements of a nation.”
One of his entourages lamented, and his colleagues around him nodded.
“Well, they’ve gotten so used to aid that they haven’t done much to foster industry.”
Their words said it all about the northern city.
There are industries that provide the infrastructure for people to make a living, but there are very few industries that are unique to the city.
Even if new industries were to emerge, they would be taxed so heavily by the government that it would be a dream come true for new industries to develop.
Or, the merchants are giving the politicians a hand up their sleeves and receiving a handout.
In such a situation, there is no way for proper engineers to grow, and the city has not developed the industries necessary for its growth.
In contrast, the cities of the East, West, and Southwest, which have grown steadily over the past decade, have temporarily lost revenue as a result of being incorporated into Razequa Amamiya.
This is because the incorporation into the state has created a tax base for the state to govern.
However, after five years, the town was able to collect more taxes than it had before it was incorporated.
Naturally, the total amount of taxes paid to Razequa Amamiya had also increased.
The increase in taxes naturally means an increase in the exchange of money, and as a result, the population has grown steadily.
As if dragged along by this increase, the surrounding towns and villages have also grown.
The fifth-tier town that serves as the capital is growing even faster than that.
The northern towns that have come to Razequa Amamiya hoping to enter the market are naturally hoping to be part of this trend.
“Well, we don’t want them to continue with their current structure, so naturally our demands will be more stringent.”
Only at this point, Floria is also laughing with an evil look on her face.
In response, the civil servants either only chuckle or have the same look as Floria.
They have not even come close to us for the past ten years, and now we are not going to let them slip by us.
Fortunately, a decade of experience has proven that Razequa Amamiya is sufficient without the city to the north.
There is no need to have a city that will become a burden.
They intend to use this as a shield to push for demands to improve their current structure.
In some cases, they may even replace the entire upper management.
However, Floria did not intend to go that far because there would be too much backlash if she did so.
However, she does not want them to think that they can continue to suck their sweet juices as they have in the past.
If they were to incorporate the northern cities into the project in earnest, it would be difficult to find the right balance between the two.
To put it bluntly, if they can show that they don’t want a city that might slow us down, they expect that they will accept our demands to a certain extent.
“We will work out the details from now on, but for now, we have to decide on our demands.”
Alec looked at the civil servants and nodded in agreement.
“We have something that we have previously discussed, so we will show you after we have adjusted it.”
“Please. Please, hurry as much as you can.”
At Alec’s words, the civil servants began to move hurriedly.
As she watched them off, Floria thought that a major turning point for Razequa Amamiya was about to arrive.
