How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 45

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Family (45)

17.75 million fel.

They’ve already calculated my salary.

The weekly purification fee from the four countries including Bavaria is 3.55 million fel, 355 million won.

Looking at the numbers, it seems they multiplied by 5 weeks.

‘They receive it weekly but deliberately multiplied by 5 weeks.’

It’s obvious what kind of picture they want to paint.

“…Wow.”

Narke let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.

A student who didn’t understand the situation looked around at the other students and asked.

“What? What does that mean? He’s going to spend all the money he received on affairs?”

“Seems like it? It’s amazing how they came up with that title…”

I don’t need to read the content to know what it says.

It’s probably a pile of ridiculous fabrications.

Anyway…

I looked at the magazine cover the student was holding and casually remarked.

“You guys must need a lot of money.”

“Exactly. How much are they trying to squeeze out? This is just ridiculous now.”

Another student answered my comment without much thought.

I checked my watch and said with a smile.

“Well, we’re already out of time for today.”

“What about Dasrote? You said you needed it. I’ll lend it to you.”

“It’s fine now. Let’s wrap up here and get going.”

* * *

Capital, Dasrote Headquarters.

“You want to cancel the title now and postpone it until tomorrow morning?”

The Deputy Director looked at the person standing before him and asked incredulously.

“Yes.”

“Why? If we don’t catch the buzz now, we’ll fall behind in an instant. You should know that…”

“Since the additional purification report from the three countries, we haven’t properly investigated Count Nicolaus, Deputy Director.”

The Deputy Director put down his pen, took off his glasses, and burst into laughter.

“Since when have we staked our lives on investigation? It’s fine, so just use it. We need to meet this week’s target.”

“I don’t think that part is a problem either, but… the Bavarian Royal Family has arranged a press conference regarding Count Nicolaus’s purification matter.”

“A press conference?”

“Yes. They said they’ve been contacting the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper Political Department since yesterday evening.”

At those words, the Deputy Director stroked his chin with his hand.

“It was scheduled since yesterday… Yesterday was the day we ran Nicolaus as the top story, right? They’re probably trying to clarify things while they’re at it. Just push forward.”

“Yes. But there’s a risky part, which is why I came to tell you directly. Looking at how they’re not canceling even after seeing the changed title, they seem to have something they’re confident about. I heard there have already been two emergency meetings at the Bavarian Royal Family today, so there might be a connection…”

At those words, the Deputy Director laughed incredulously and shook his head.

“You really came all the way here to say that? This isn’t something new, so why are you suddenly acting like this? This article was also chosen by the Chief Editor, so just go with it.”

“…”

As the other person didn’t answer clearly and was choosing their words, the Deputy Director’s face gradually hardened.

“We should be rowing when the tide comes in like this. If you back down in advance just because of one or two royal meetings and a press conference, how do you plan to work here? This isn’t the Imperial Newspaper.”

“What? No…”

“Instead of sitting here with your butt glued to the chair after finding out late, you should be there asking one more question. Is this the time to talk about changing the front page? I don’t know if the reporters were sent properly. Do I have to explain every single thing like this?”

“No. I’m sorry. Then I’ll go back and…”

The Deputy Director looked at him with a displeased face, then softened his tone somewhat and continued.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“I’m not trying to scold you, I’m just feeling sorry for you. It’s obvious how this will turn out. Do you know what he’s confident about? There’s definitely going to be questions at that press conference, so why isn’t he canceling?”

“I… don’t really know.”

“He’s going to say ‘I would never spend money like that and will definitely give back to society.’ He thinks clarifying things late like that will improve his image.”

“…”

“Ten out of ten! They all do that. That’s actually shooting themselves in the foot. It just makes people wonder why they’re sitting there making explanations. Then our sales go up again. Right? What if our speculation is wrong? Then what are you going to do, that’s what they’ll think. Then we just remove the money talk and go back to the affair as the main story.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll do that.”

When communication wasn’t working, he quickly nodded to wrap up the topic.

The Deputy Director smiled gently again and encouraged him.

“Just do your best in the moment. You don’t need to worry and think too far ahead. What do you think our customers will think when they read this right now?”

“…”

“They won’t think anything. We just need to make sure one issue sticks in their heads each day, and our job is done. So set today’s target clearly, okay? It’s easy if you run while watching the numbers go up. Right? And as you know, everything on the front page was approved by the Chief Editor, so don’t think about touching it.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“Good. Now go.”

The Deputy Director watched him leave and fell into thought.

Then, he had his secretary bring today’s Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper.

* * *

Lucas Rene Ascanien

Reputation: -9.9 [+5.0002513]

It was 2829 two hours ago, so the amount that decreased in two hours was only 300.

Considering that 30 was cut when I blinked during the day, this was quite a gentle decline.

Again, I’m at Bavaria’s conference hall.

I looked at the conference hall and broadcast cameras that now felt almost familiar and prepared for the announcement.

Actually, I thought it might be better to have a representative sit here instead of me.

Since neither my face nor body comes out properly, it could actually be a minus in conveying human familiarity.

But since this is such a sensitive matter, they could attack me for running away when sensitive issues come up, so I decided to sit here myself until this issue passes.

The broadcast start signal came in, and unlike last time, I placed both hands on the conference table and gave a brief greeting.

There was no need to drag it out, so I went straight to the main point.

“As reported through the Imperial Newspaper and newspapers of each country at 6 o’clock today, I have accepted purification requests from the Kingdom of Württemberg, Hesse, and the Grand Duchy of Baden.”

As soon as I finished speaking, questions came in.

“I have a question! Previously, Hesse offered double the fee, did you actually sign the contract that way?”

“I understand there were more requests. Is there a reason you chose these three countries including Württemberg?”

I answered briefly and waited for other questions.

At least the controversy raised by Dasrote didn’t come up as questions from the start.

After briefly answering three or four questions, the story about the controversy finally came up.

“I have a question. At 8 PM, Dasrote used the phrase ‘purification for affair funds’ regarding Count Nicolaus Ernst’s decision. What do you think about this?”

This was a reporter from a serious newspaper that had previously criticized Dasrote fiercely.

This question wasn’t for Dasrote, but to criticize them.

There were also reporters from Dastrote Bavaria Branch at this venue, but they hadn’t asked questions yet.

I don’t know why they’re being so leisurely, but… now is the opportunity.

“I disagree. I’m bewildered that they speak of imagination as if it were fact without any evidence whatsoever. Contrary to what Dasrote claims, I have never had an improper relationship with anyone. I plan to resolve this matter legally through proper procedures.”

No matter how much I talk about this, it won’t serve as evidence of my innocence, so it’s better to mention it appropriately and move on.

Now I could see the Dasrote reporters raising their hands. I gestured toward them and opened my mouth.

“Since it’s come up, let me tell you the facts about Dasrote’s claim this time.”

At those words, several reporters muttered spells and picked up their cameras.

Although the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper was in charge of the broadcast, they seemed to plan on recording this scene directly.

“This morning, I donated the entire amount of three months’ service fees received from four countries including Bavaria. I originally didn’t plan to reveal this, but I don’t want my intentions to be misinterpreted by insulting claims, so I’m revealing it now.”

At those words, the reporters’ eyes completely changed.

Questions came loudly from here and there.

“This morning? That’s different from Dasrote’s claim, what do you think about this?”

“Where did you donate it to…”

“Exactly what time, and which institution?”

When I didn’t answer, one of the advisors Leo had assigned to me restrained the reporters.

“We’ll provide a separate time for questions. Please wait until the statement is completely finished.”

“From Bavaria, we received 10.2 million fel as service fees for 12 weeks, and from Württemberg, Hesse, and Baden, we received 12 million, 14.4 million, and 6 million fel respectively. The fees received were donated in full to each country’s Pollution Remediation Center and Pleroma Processing Unit. For detailed information, please refer to the materials attached to the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper.”

The sound of pen nibs scratching rapidly across paper continued.

Daslotte saw my purification report that came out at 6 PM in the evening, and only changed their title at 8 o’clock.

Too late.

I had already donated the entire compensation 12 hours earlier.

And by now, it should be about time for contact to come.

* * *

“So this was it….”

Daslotte’s Deputy Director, who had been watching the broadcast, threw down the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper and frowned.

Post-facto explanations are meaningless.

Even if you hastily declare ‘this is what we’ll do going forward’ only after controversy has been raised, you fundamentally can’t build on very high trust.

It might be different for someone previously famous for their virtuous image, but even more so for someone like Nicolaus who hasn’t shown his face publicly for long and lacks data.

‘That’s what I thought, but….’

If he had acted opposite to the suspicions we raised from the beginning, if our side had been barking up the wrong tree from the start, then it’s a different story.

We need to change the subject before getting more entangled.

Absolutely.

If this wasteful situation continues for Daslotte, we might not be able to use the Nicolaus case at all.

He tapped the table with his fingers and called his secretary.

“It’s 10 o’clock now. I’m going to change the title and post it, so reconnect the mana.”

“Deputy Director, we’ve already used up everything for today’s edition when we changed the content once.”

“Hah, really….”

The Deputy Director narrowed his brow, crossed his arms, and leaned back deeply in his chair.

Since today’s report didn’t get as much reaction as expected anyway, maybe it would be better to post something completely new tomorrow morning.

This topic can be recycled for several days anyway.

It’s getting late too, so even if we post it tomorrow morning, it won’t be significantly delayed….

While the Deputy Director was having these various thoughts, the secretary spoke up again.

“To transfer tomorrow’s mana allocation, I need permission from the Chief Editor. I believe he’s at home, so I’ll go there now.”

“No, no. Never mind.”

“Are you planning to leave today’s report as is?”

“Yes. Let’s post it at dawn tomorrow. It’s already too late anyway, so I don’t think it’ll produce meaningfully significant results, and thinking about it, this is a topic we can keep using until the day after tomorrow….”

Knock knock―

“Come….”

“Deputy Director!”

Before he could even respond to the knocking, the door burst open.

“The Imperial Investigative Bureau…. No, the building…. Bavaria… no….”

“Speak properly. What are you saying?”

At the Deputy Director’s words, he caught his breath and spoke.

“The Imperial… the Imperial Investigative Bureau has sealed our building. The Bavaria branch too.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————