I Became an Officer in Another World in Just 5 Minutes - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 40

 

“My goal is to push those guys to the edge of a cliff. To do that, I first need to have a friendship with the feudal lord, and that relationship has been established, right?”

 

“Of course we have that friendship since our family has been doing business with the Oclo Trading Guild for three generations.”

 

“Then please ask the feudal lord to raid them. Just lightly touching the tax side should be enough.”

 

Was this a method he had never expected at all?

 

It took almost over a minute to hear Haiell’s response.

 

“Using such a method could severely damage the trading company.”

 

“It doesn’t matter. What I want isn’t the Alonso Trading Company’s system, but the contracts they have.”

 

“Isn’t there a clause in the military contract that activates when there’s a problem with the trading company?”

 

“I’ve already checked everything, and there are no problems at all, so you don’t need to worry.”

 

Perhaps to escape when problems arose, there were many loopholes in the contract.

 

‘Thanks to that, I can attempt such an aggressive attack, so it’s fair to say it’s a self-defeating move.’

 

This is why you must be careful when writing contracts.

 

“Very… bold of you. You didn’t seem like this kind of person originally.”

 

“After experiencing several life-threatening crises, a person changes. Anyway, you’ll do as I’ve requested, right?”

 

“Yes. This much is within legal bounds, so I think I can help you right away without the family head’s permission.”

 

The best answer among what I had been thinking came from his mouth.

 

“Thank you so much.”

 

“It’s something that must naturally be done. And by any chance, how are you planning to operate after the absorption?”

 

“Since I’m busy right now, I’m thinking of entrusting it to the Oclo Trading Guild. It’s better for experts to handle such matters.”

 

“I’ll prepare excellent talent.”

 

“I’ll trust and wait for the branch manager.”

 

Since I’ve set the stage, now it’s his turn to take action.

 

“Haha, you’re putting too much burden on this old man. I’ll try my best not to disappoint you.”

 

Though his tone was modest, his eyes were shining as if he had discovered an interesting toy.

 

‘Was it Alonso? You guys are really in big trouble.’

 

This is Haiell, who has worked for decades at the Oclo Trading Guild where only ruthless people survive.

 

He would be more ruthless than me, if anything, never less.

 

“It’s almost dinner time, would you like to have a meal together?”

 

“Today seems difficult. I’ll make time in the near future.”

 

It was certainly an opportunity to eat something delicious, but unfortunately the timing was too awkward.

 

“I’ll be waiting for your contact.”

 

“You can contact me first too. There’s a lot I need to learn.”

 

I maintained a humble attitude as I left the building.

 

“At least it’s fortunate that he’s friendly. I was worried he might be on my brothers’ side.”

 

No matter how much Father has chosen me as his successor, my two older brothers.

 

Especially Tems Oclo’s influence within the trading company is still strong.

 

“Now it’s the waiting phase.”

 

Since none other than Haiell has taken on the job, it won’t take very long.

 

“Actually, the bigger problem is… today’s overtime is confirmed again.”

 

The reality of having to return despite knowing it’s hell couldn’t be more cruel.

 

*    *    *

 

“Guild Master, I’ve delivered today’s supplies and returned!”

 

Colbet, who had entered the military camp and returned, gave a brief report to Alonso.

 

“There weren’t any unusual movements, right?”

 

“No. It’s as quiet as a dead mouse. It seems he’s belatedly realized his place.”

 

“Right? I got scared for nothing and even reduced the margin, but starting next week, return it to normal.”

 

“Understood!”

 

Colbet nodded and answered as if he had been waiting for this.

 

“He should have been obedient from the start. Then it would have been good for both of us. Don’t you think?”

 

“Haha! That’s right! If you just listen to the Guild Master, everything gets done comfortably, so there’s no way to be more foolish.”

 

Alonso’s lips curved up at Colbet’s skillful flattery.

 

“Right, when I was a major, the current Division Commander was a captain. Challenging me means challenging the military’s rank order system…”

 

Bang!

 

“Guild Master!!!”

 

When Alonso was about to boast about his various achievements, suddenly an employee burst through the door.

 

“Without even knocking, now…”

 

Colbet was about to say something about the employee’s behavior, but there’s always a reason for urgent visits.

 

“Right now tax collectors from the Feudal Lord’s Castle are ransacking the office! This is really serious trouble.”

 

“What?!”

 

“Why would tax collectors suddenly come here? There was no notice. Move aside!”

 

Alonso pushed the employee aside and went straight down to the first floor where the office was located.

 

“Gather up all the ledgers here.”

 

“Chief, the numbers in these ledgers are strange. If they bought this much, the sales should definitely be twice this amount.”

 

“There must be more hidden ledgers. Search thoroughly!”

 

More than ten tax collectors were going through every piece of paper in the office.

 

“What are you doing here without my permission!”

 

Alonso, his face red with anger, shouted in a booming voice, but that wasn’t a very good choice.

 

“Perfect timing. Alonso, Guild Master, come here and give us an explanation.”

 

Tax Chief Delren called Alonso over as if he had been waiting.

 

“What am I supposed to explain right now! More importantly, barging into someone else’s trading company without notice!”

 

“There was a report. That this trading company evaded taxes worth over 50,000 gold. Looking at it now, it seems to be true, so you’d better explain well.”

 

“Tax… tax evasion, what do you mean.”

 

“If you feel wronged, just clarify. Then I’ll take responsibility and punish the informant. Sit down for now.”

 

At Delren’s signal, a tax collector brought a chair.

 

“First, is it correct that the trading company’s main source of income is military food supply delivery?”

 

“That’s right! We’re always working hard for the soldiers’ meals, but this kind of forceful investigation…”

 

“Quiet, last year’s reported sales differ from reality by more than double. What’s going on?”

 

“That’s completely ridiculous.”

 

“The informant sent us your trading company’s estimated sales. Looking at it, it was very reasonable.”

 

Delren placed a paper with various numbers written on it on the desk.

 

“15 silver per soldier, 18 silver for officers. Just calculating this a little shows your reported sales don’t make sense.”

 

“How did they get this…”

 

“And you received tax benefits on the condition of only delivering meat produced by ranches in the territory, but you made a 300,000 gold contract with a large ranch in Kier Barony.”

 

Thud!

 

Contract documents that should never have been discovered were placed on the desk.

 

“How did they get this…”

 

“Scum like you all hide things in the same places and do the same things. If you want to live, try making some excuse.”

 

An attitude as if waiting to hear his final words.

 

In the end, Alonso had no choice but to close his eyes tightly and kneel down.

 

“Just once… couldn’t you overlook this just once? I’ll live cleanly from now on.”

 

“You call that words now.”

 

“I’ll… I’ll show as much sincerity as you want. Please!”

 

Alonso grabbed his legs and pleaded.

 

Even though he offered to give a huge amount of money, Delren’s expression didn’t waver at all.

 

“Tsk tsk, normally I might consider it, but you’ve gotten on the wrong side of someone high up, though I don’t know who.”

 

“What…? Me?”

 

“The feudal lord personally ordered me to raid you. There’s no way he’d know about such a small trading company, so someone must have asked him.”

 

As soon as Delren finished speaking, only one person’s face came to mind in Alonso’s head.

 

‘Paran Oclo…! You’re screwing me over in this way?!’

 

Anger boiled up inside him, but with a blade at his throat, there was nothing he could do.

 

“Tsk tsk, if you’re going to run things this dirty, you shouldn’t make enemies. Given the possibility of flight and the severity of the crimes, arrest him.”

 

“Yes sir!!”

 

The guards that Delren brought seized Alonso by both arms.

 

“Wait… please wait just a moment! I know people in the castle, so if we could just talk.”

 

“That makes it even better. You can have a comfortable conversation in the underground prison. Take him away.”

 

Reserve Colonel Alonso was helplessly loaded into a transport carriage and locked in the underground prison.

 

And late that evening, a man came to the prison to see Alonso.

 

“What on earth happened here.”

 

A middle-aged man with a sturdy build.

 

This was Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Belkero, the knight commander of this Bern Viscount Territory and Alonso’s Training Camp classmate.

 

“I messed with the wrong youngest son of the Oclo Family. Who would have thought they’d drag in the feudal lord to screw me over in such a sordid way.”

 

“Even if you were going to mess with someone, why such a big shot.”

 

“I thought since he was kicked out to the military, he’d have no power at all. I was wrong. Damn it!”

 

Thud!

 

Alonso struck the iron bars with his fist.

 

“Since the lord ordered your guild to be searched without missing a speck of dust, it’ll be hard to get through this easily.”

 

“Then… then what happens to me?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Belkero hesitated before reluctantly opening his mouth with difficulty.

 

“It’s a sad story, but you and your wife will have a hard time surviving.”

 

“What the hell are you saying right now!”

 

“Calm down. Still, I’ll try to save David somehow.”

 

“That’s nonsense! I’ll give you as much money as you want, so bribe the guards and secretly get me out. It’s not that difficult, is it!”

 

Faced with the unimaginable future of death, Alonso’s voice became agitated.

 

“I’d like to do that too, but getting a prisoner out of the underground prison is impossible.”

 

The underground prison where only the most vicious criminals are gathered.

 

Even as knight commander, this place was untouchable.

 

Especially if that criminal was Alonso, who currently had the feudal lord’s attention.

 

“Do you think if I die, I’ll just go quietly by myself?!”

 

Belkero had also been receiving large sums of money in exchange for backing Alonso.

 

And if this fact became known to the feudal lord, it definitely wouldn’t end well.

 

“That’s why I said I’d at least protect David’s life, so why can’t you understand my feelings!”

 

Belkero’s voice also became agitated as he realized he too could be in trouble.

 

“Get me out of here.”

 

“Then you should have been more careful from the beginning! What do you think will change by telling me now?! Get a grip!”

 

.

 

.

 

Endless arguing.

 

Their perspectives were too different to reach any agreement.

 

“I’ll come again tomorrow, so calm down for now and look at the situation objectively.”

 

Belkero calmed his reddened face, turned around, and left the underground prison.

 

And the next morning.

 

Paran, who had imprisoned Alonso here but could now be his savior, visited the underground prison.

 

*    *    *

 

“You look terrible. I thought it’s only been a day.”

 

Drip! Drip!

 

The Feudal Lord’s Castle underground prison I visited after using my morning half-day pass.

 

The facilities were much worse than I expected.

 

‘That thing that just passed by was a rat, right?’

 

The humidity was considerable too, making it an optimal environment for bugs and other disgusting creatures to live.

 

“You bastard!!!”

 

Alonso, who had been sleeping, opened his bloodshot eyes wide and lunged forward.

 

“You’ve got good strength.”

 

If I had been closer, I would have almost been grabbed by the collar by his hands reaching through the iron bars.

 

“You damn bastard! Once I get out of here…”

 

“You still haven’t come to your senses. I came to save your life, but your reaction is pretty lackluster. Should I just go back?”

 

“What… what did you say?”

 

Did he see even a glimmer of hope in what I just said?

 

Alonso’s voice softened in an instant.

 

“They say if things continue like this, you’ll definitely get the death penalty. That’s unfair. Having to die just for embezzling some money.”

 

Actually, looking at South Korea, the death penalty for tax evasion would be an absurd punishment.

 

‘Even if you embezzle several trillion, you get out quickly.’

 

There really is no country as good as South Korea.

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