Yes, Madam Prime Minister

Ronan spoke with such righteous indignation that for a moment he seemed possessed by a leftist.

There's no way around it; as someone with a flexible moral compass, Ronan's skill in making a living is to dodge and weave in different directions.

When higher-ups want to reform, it's like a revolutionary brick; you move it wherever it's needed.

If superiors want to be conservative, they are considered reactionary and will kill anyone who disobeys.

When you're an official, you have to have everything, but you can't have your pride.

"You really are someone who's always thinking about seizing power." Dinia sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. "If you could, then never mind, I won't say anything more."

Ronan chuckled and replied, "What's mine is yours, and what's yours is still yours. The power is in my hands, which is the same as yours. As for making suggestions, that's just fulfilling my duty."

"That's enough, stop it," Dinia called out.

“Yes, ma’am,” Ronan replied reflexively.

Mrs. Antari watched Ronan from the side, saying nothing and not intending to speak.

Although she was essentially Dinia's advisor, she believed that she should remain silent at certain times. For example, right now, Dinia was seemingly blaming Ronan with dissatisfaction, but in reality, she was showing extraordinary trust.

She was curious about what the two of them had gone through that made Dinya, who clearly disliked such cunning officials, develop such great trust in Ronan, a typical cunning official.

Princess Ambrina, too, after that incident, disliked people who could lie the most, and Ronan was clearly a person who was good at lying, but this princess had a great liking for him.

"I'll take my leave now. The internal exam was scheduled to take place soon, and now with the expansion, it looks like I'll have to work overtime for the next week or two."

After Ronan finished speaking, he left the office.

Then they left the city hall.

He had to deal with matters concerning two other paratroopers.

The former military officer Adrian, who is about to become the head of the Agriculture Bureau, and Melard, the future head of the Tax Bureau, arrived three days ago, but Ronan has been leaving them waiting in the hotel in Wright City, ignoring them.

It's time to go see them.

At the hotel, Ronan met the two men. Adrian was a little over 1.7 meters tall, not particularly strong, and had a handsome face, even a bit effeminate. But when he stood there, he didn't have a trace of effeminacy; he had the aura of a resolute soldier.

Moreover, he is clearly a proper mage.

Merard, this merchant, was as thin as a bamboo pole, even taller than Ronan. He had a thin face, long arms and legs, and was so thin that he could only be described as slightly better than skin and bones. With such a physical condition, he could not possibly be a magician.

After a brief greeting and introduction, Ronan said, "Please follow me, we're going to a place that's very important for agriculture and taxation."

Ronan brought Adrian and Merad to the experimental field.

In the experimental field, wheat and soybeans were planted. Although Adrian and Merard were not very knowledgeable about crops, they could still tell that the wheat and soybeans in this field were different from ordinary wheat and soybeans. The ears of wheat and the beans were much larger and very plump than usual.

"Not only are the individual quality of these wheat and soybeans better, but their overall yield is also more than double that of wheat and soybeans in the current kingdom."

Ronan explained.

To be honest, he was a little skeptical at first, because it would be difficult to achieve a breakthrough in yield without the support of fertilizer, even with excellent seeds. But the facts are there.

Ronan was somewhat suspicious that this high-yield crop might be an over-product of the "author's" research on enchanted plants, capable of converting a certain amount of magic into its own nutrients.

"With this, agriculture here can prosper. Wheat is a staple food, which can be supplied to the surrounding cities to make a profit. Soybeans can be pressed for oil and used as animal feed to support local animal husbandry. Of course, the real contributors to tax revenue will be the seed company. Only the priests of the Haidi people here have mastered the breeding methods for these seeds. After we have planted them here for a few years and ensured that there are no problems, the whole country will need these seeds and then buy them."

Ronan said.

How much are grain crops worth? But you can make money selling grain crop seeds.

“This money may not be easy to earn,” Merard said. Food is the foundation of a nation and cannot be allowed to be controlled by individuals.

Ronan smiled slightly, "There's no need to worry about that. Princess Ambrina will own the majority of the shares in the seed company."

“Oh, I have a friend who happens to be a grain merchant. I wonder if there’s an opportunity to invest in him? He can contribute his sales channels,” Merard said with a smile.

“I have a friend who is too,” Adrian added curtly.

Ronan put on a reluctant expression and spoke in a persuasive tone, "The seed company is definitely a patriotic enterprise, aiming to ensure that more people in the kingdom have bread and oil. They never evade taxes and don't make too much money. I hope your friends will consider this carefully."

“Patriotism, huh? That’s big business,” Merard said with a forced smile. “I think my friend is definitely patriotic.”

Adrian didn't respond this time. He didn't like Ronan, and he especially disliked the man beside him who turned patriotism into a business.

"This is not something I can decide on my own; it requires the approval of the Mayor and Her Highness the Princess."

Ronan dismissed the matter with a single sentence.

Anyway, the stuff is right here. If you're so capable, go find Dinia or Ambrina.

Moreover, Ronan genuinely wanted the kingdom's commoners to have enough to eat and didn't want certain people, especially the group represented by the skinny Merard, to get involved.

A large-scale sampling survey has shown that about one percent of people have magical talent, but the population of the Kingdom of Fas is nearly 20 million, and the total number of magicians is only a little over 20,000.

In other words, many people who had the opportunity to become magicians did not become magicians.

The reason is quite simple: the Kingdom of Phos is already the most agriculturally developed country on the entire continent, but 80% of its population is still below the poverty line.

With food scarce, how can one find the time and money to learn magic?

Once people no longer have to worry about food, some will inevitably choose to read books and learn magic.

If more people are educated and possess magical abilities, society will progress. As society progresses, there will be more aspects that need to be managed, and thus, more civil servants will be needed.

Ronan's dream was to have many civil officials.

This country, no, this world, should be governed by professionals like them. What king? Just be a mascot. And those feudal remnants like members of parliament should all die.

Chapter Ninety-Seven: Eat More Vegetables, Drink Less Alcohol, Friends

That evening, Ronan invited Adrian, who was about to take office as head of the Agriculture Bureau, to drinks, but not Melard.

There are three reasons.

First of all, Adrian will be considered half a subordinate of Ronan, the Secretary General, because Ronan's actual rank is the same as his.

If Mayor Dinia is equivalent to a department head, then Secretary Ronan is equivalent to a division chief, and Adrian, the head of agriculture, is also a division chief. However, his work reports must be relayed to Dinia through Ronan, and Mayor Dinia's instructions must also be conveyed to him by Ronan.

Is there anything wrong with Ronan having a lesbian relationship with half of his subordinates? No, there's nothing wrong with it.

Merard and Ronan had no subordinate relationship whatsoever. Every normal administrative unit in the kingdom, from the smallest village to the largest state, was subordinate to the central government. Although in reality they were basically in cahoots with the local authorities, deceiving their superiors and subordinates, in name, the local authorities had no control over them.

Inviting him to dinner was really inappropriate.

Secondly, Dinah had a feud with the Queen's faction.

Dinia's enmity with them is equivalent to Ronan's enmity with them, and this is something that cannot be changed by Ronan's individual will.

Finally, the Queen's faction was clearly on the side of the nobility. If these feudal bastards came to power, they would inevitably increase the power of the extremely reactionary parliament, and they were not on Ronan's side.

During dinner, after having some wine, Adrian, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

“Although it’s only our first meeting, I think Mr. Ronan is someone who is inclined towards reform,” Adrian said, delivering a rather explosive statement.

Ronan calmly poured a drink for Adrian, saying, "This little guy from a remote place has, after all, listened to the mayor's teachings, and his perspective has improved a bit."

“No.” Adrian was truly speaking his mind. “Lady Dinia grew up in an ivory tower. In her childhood, all she did was study—learn basic knowledge, learn to use magic, learn to be loyal to the monarch. After joining the mage order, she was a pure soldier. Defending the country and annihilating the enemy were the only things she needed to consider. She is the kind of person we admire most.”

"It wasn't until she turned twenty, when she was forced to leave the mage guild due to endless slander and rumors, that she began to see what this country was really like."

"She wanted to change the country, but she didn't actually know how to change it, or even what it should be changed to."

“If it weren’t for that, I don’t think she would have been so easily fooled by you, Mr. Ronan.”

After saying this, Adrian froze, his eyes fixed on Ronan.

"Haha, you're this drunk after just three drinks? Come on, have some food. This cold whelk salad is pretty good." Ronan said with a laugh, handing Adrian a wooden toothpick.

Adrian didn't take Ronan's claim that he was drunk seriously and continued, "If I had known that there would be an oversight and evaluation department, I wouldn't have become the head of agriculture."

Upon hearing this, Ronan stopped joking and became more serious. "Your Excellency Adrian, do you think that supervision and assessment can solve the problem?"

“No, but we can periodically remove problematic people,” Adrian stated bluntly. “Your Excellency Ronan, aging is both physical and mental.”

"The same problem applies to the aging of a country. For a country, the physical body is its finances, and the managers are its spirit. As long as these two aspects are not in trouble, the error correction mechanism can be activated. Every country has designed an error correction mechanism, but when there is no money and no people, nothing can be carried out."

"As for the upper class acting recklessly, the middle class being corrupt, and the lower class being exploited, these are all problems brought about by society, which cannot be solved and there is no need to solve them."

Adrian said.

“Oh.” Ronan showed little interest in Adrian’s words. “Then, I’m curious, what are your plans for the future of this country, Your Excellency Adrian?”

“Abolish the parliament, establish an empire, completely centralize power, and then begin the reforms.” Adrian was as outspoken as ever. “Unfortunately, Princess Ambrina lacks the courage and ability.”

"A real emperor?" Ronan laughed. "Does Adrian know what the biggest problem with the imperial system is?"

Adrian was taken aback.

"The biggest problem with the imperial system is that the descendants of an autocratic monarch cannot be assessed or selected. Once a useless person appears, the damage to the country is immeasurable. However, it is theoretically impossible not to have a useless person. To be honest, both Princess Ambrina and Princess Isabel are quite useless. But I guarantee that under the imperial system, there will be an even more useless successor than them."

Ronan simply told the truth.

"Can the king's heir be chosen?" Adrian retorted.

“No, but there is still a prime minister and a chief secretary. The prime minister must have served as a governor, and the chief secretary was promoted from among civil servants selected through examinations. The king still needs to consider their opinions; he is not a dictator yet.” Ronan said, his eyes becoming resolute. “Dictatorship is not the problem; the problem is the dictator.”

"Now is a critical moment that requires change. We can think about the future later. Right now, the country needs an emperor."

Adrian said.

“Ha, I don’t think so. The current situation is capable of bringing about change.” Ronan disagreed with Adrian’s statement.

“Princess Ambrina is too cowardly,” Adrian said.

“I disagree with that,” Ronan objected again.

“It seems we can’t reach a consensus.” Adrian sighed.

Ronan leisurely picked at the meat in the whelk with a toothpick. "There's no point in reaching a consensus. I'm just a nobody, and you're no big shot either. Talking about this kind of topic is like two farmers sitting on the edge of a field, chewing on straw and talking about how His Majesty the King used a golden knife to spread butter on bread slices without sawdust. It's really boring."

Adrian took a sip of his drink, shook his head and sighed, "Perhaps so, but sometimes a country needs someone to step forward, even if he is not in a high position."

Ronan, realizing that Adrian was truly "drunk," got up, paid for the drinks, and left the tavern.

If you can't drink, then drink less.

On his way home, Ronan unexpectedly ran into Melard, this skinny guy.

It was late at night, and on the same road, so it was clearly not a chance encounter.

"Is there something you need, Your Excellency Merard?" Ronan asked directly.

“I have a friend who is a hotel businessman and is preparing to build a new hotel. I heard that the architectural complex in Harbor was designed by Mr. Ronan. If possible, my friend would definitely be willing to accept Mr. Ronan’s consulting services. I guarantee that the service fee will not be less.”

Melard replied.

Ronan smiled. "Oh, then, if I were to trouble Mr. Merard to introduce me to such an opportunity, what kind of sincerity would I need to offer?"

“There’s no need to talk about those things between friends. Just offer a little help when the time is right,” Melard said.

What he meant was that he would give you money, but you wouldn't have to do anything right away.

"I prefer one-off deals with clear prices; I'd rather forget about friendships." Ronan doesn't accept "friendships" that are tied up in a relationship.

Chapter Ninety-Eight: Coercion, Bribery, and a Surprise

Seeing that money couldn't sway Ronan, the skinny Merard wasn't in a hurry. "I have a friend who heard that the secretary-general of the Loire State Secretariat recently fell ill and might have to retire due to illness."

Since Ronan isn't buying it, let's lure him with an official position and transfer him away. Once he's gone, I'm sure the new guy won't be greedy for money.

"Really? What a pity. I have a problem. If I don't eat our local seafood for a day, it feels like ants are crawling all over my body. And alcohol too. If I drink alcohol from other places, I cough."

Ronan wore a pretentious expression of regret, and was also slightly drunk.

Although Dinia might not see it that way, Ronan considers himself Dinia's leg now, and messing with him is like cutting off his leg.

Can I cut off his leg? No.

As he spoke, Ronan began to walk into a side alley.

Melard followed slowly.

"You are truly a good official with an honest and upright style. As the chief tax official, I have a great responsibility to learn from you. Once I take office, I will definitely investigate the tax issues of certain consulting companies."

Melard then added.

The same old trick: if bribery doesn't work, they resort to coercion.

"Aren't we friends?" Ronan asked.

Melard smiled and countered, "What do you say, Mr. Ronan?"

"Sigh, maybe I should go get some sea breeze and sober up," Ronan said, continuing on his way.

Melard shook his head and chuckled, then followed.