The Former Empress Roughly Hides Her Abilities - Chapter 113

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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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【Chapter 113】

“I paid everything! I did everything you told me to do!”

Yuna shouted almost wailing. Her voice cracked, and her neatly arranged hair became disheveled.

She wanted to maintain the elegant and noble appearance of a Saint as much as possible.

‘Because the shabby and worthless Shin Yuna doesn’t exist here.’

But seeing Rianel and the Tax Bureau people cornering her again with that damn tax issue, she couldn’t stand it anymore.

[You need to resolve all delinquency issues to return without problems after finishing your long rest period.]

Because the Cardinal said that, Yuna spent almost all the money she had. She even sold her treasured items at ridiculously low prices to raise funds.

Meanwhile, other people involved in the incident paid much smaller amounts compared to Yuna. It was practically a situation where Yuna took all the blame alone.

‘That alone was enough to drive me crazy, and now they want me to pay more?’

The response that came back was unexpected.

“Ice sculpture festival?”

“It has been confirmed that the Saint purchased farmland at low prices under the pretext of promoting public interest events, then changed the usage to build commercial facilities and sold them at high prices for profit.”

Farmland originally has low tax rates. The Empire had a trend of decreasing farmers, and farmland laws were created to respond to this.

However, the Saint acquired land as low-tax farmland, then developed it into a commercial district without permission.

This was a clear violation of farmland laws.

“In this process, it was confirmed that acquisition tax and property tax were omitted, so we will collect the corresponding tax amount. Since there was false reporting, additional taxes will also be imposed.”

That wasn’t the end of it.

“Also, it was confirmed that you conducted events on that site for the purpose of commercial revitalization through increased village floating population, and received subsidies accordingly.”

Rianel looked down at the documents and recited calmly.

Yuna blinked several times before finally realizing.

“Th-that has nothing to do with me.”

A few months ago, when her memory was hazy. There was something where she just signed as the Cardinal instructed.

She had completely forgotten about it as incidents occurred one after another.

“I don’t know what problems there were at that event, but it has nothing to do with me! I’m not guilty!”

“But according to the business plan you submitted, the final responsible person is you, Saint.”

Til clicked his tongue.

There’s a reason why they say you shouldn’t lend your name carelessly.

“I-I’m currently devoted to prayer… That’s right! Talk to the Cardinal. He’s coming over there!”

The Tax Bureau people turned their attention to the Cardinal who appeared at an appropriate time.

“Are you Cardinal Oven?”

“I don’t know what’s happening in this quiet prayer room, but causing a disturbance is disrespectful to God and bothersome to other believers who are praying.”

Oven tried to politely dissuade them.

However, he was helpless against the Tax Bureau’s offensive armed with evidence and facts.

“I didn’t expect to meet someone more precious than the Saint.”

Til spoke sarcastically.

He didn’t hide his displeasure at the very fact that he had to show courtesy to a Cardinal of another religion, not the Dachung Sect.

“There’s one thing I want to confirm – was this event actually held?”

This time Wilbrin spoke.

“Why would a believer ask that…”

“I found some questionable points when reviewing the expenditure statement.”

Submitting expenditure statements was mandatory for support projects that received Empire subsidies.

This was because they had to prove where and how the subsidies were used.

“The statement is excessively unclear, and the items are generally lumped together. There are only site purchase details, but if ice was transported to the venue enough for an ice festival, there should naturally be transportation cost details, but there are none at all.”

“Moreover, there’s not even a record of promotional expenses.”

It’s not an assassination festival – where would there be a festival held so secretly?

“Even when combining statements from nearby village residents, no one witnessed events or sculptures in the vicinity.”

The Cardinal’s face contorted.

“Based on circumstances, it’s judged that you fraudulently received subsidies. Not only will the full amount be recovered, but penalty surcharges according to related regulations will be imposed.”

Since they might have to pay up to five times the fraudulent amount, the sum was by no means light.

“You need to reorganize where you used the subsidies according to their intended purpose and submit a new statement… but based on circumstances, you probably used it elsewhere, yes.”

As if it was obvious, Wilbrin clicked her tongue.

“This is judged as fraudulent use of public funds, corresponding to embezzlement and breach of trust of public money.”

Til whistled lightly. The troubles of priests from other religions were just pleasant entertainment for him.

“And…”

When the Tax Bureau people’s heads turned back to Yuna.

“W-wait a moment!”

She also had something to say.

“I really only put my name on it. But why does that become my fault?”

“Even so, you’re the project manager and supervisor, so how could you not be responsible?”

Since the project manager is the person who takes responsibility when things go wrong, they couldn’t be free from joint responsibility.

“If you only listed your name as the responsible person without supervising the project, this constitutes dereliction of duty and professional negligence.”

It was impossible to be forgiven and escape by saying she didn’t know. Yuna’s face turned pale instantly.

“Of course, if you knew about it, it would constitute fraud assistance, so it’s better to claim you didn’t know.”

Til added cheekily. It was unclear whether that advice helped Yuna.

“Most importantly, since it was confirmed that the subsidy was paid through the Saint’s account, the Saint is also judged to be an accomplice and beneficiary of fraudulent subsidy receipt.”

Yuna looked back at the Cardinal.

When a large sum of money suddenly came in. She remembered asking the Cardinal about its source. He said it was donations from believers, so Yuna thought that’s what it was.

‘That was this money?’

The Cardinal said nothing.

“Additionally, 17 more cases of receiving subsidies in a similar manner have been confirmed.”

Only the event names were different, but they falsely reported holding events that weren’t actually held to receive subsidies.

“When habitual fraudulent receipt of subsidies is confirmed like this, you’re designated as a subject for public announcement.”

Already thoroughly disgraced by recent incidents, and now to be known as a fraudulent recipient too?

“That’s ridic-ulous…!”

When she didn’t know when she could resume Saint activities and collect donations, they wanted her to pay money again!

‘I really have no money!’

Yuna collapsed, realizing there was a basement below the bottom.

It was truly miserable.

* * *

Cardinal Oven appeared calm on the outside, but in reality was close to being out of his mind and unable to respond properly.

‘The accomplice is the Emperor.’

Receiving subsidies required approval procedures from upper management, and the final approver was the Emperor. Since the Empire’s highest authority figure was his backer, he had been at ease while receiving subsidies multiple times.

‘But they found this out?’

It was truly enough to make ghosts wail.

“How on earth did you find out?”

“How we found out…”

Til actually didn’t know exactly either. He glanced at Rianel and muttered.

“Well… roughly?”

“?! What do you mean.”

“You believe it since I said so.”

Roughly.

Wilbrin shook her head. That senior was selling ‘roughly’ in another strange place again.

‘But it’s really amazing.’

The moment the word ‘roughly’ is attached to any sentence, everything becomes trivial.

Watching Til enthusiastically chanting ‘roughly’ with his hands clasped together, Administrative Department Team Leader Ban asked.

Ban had attended the Temple as a custom since childhood, but seeing Til who seemed to believe in a different religion sparked his interest. He also didn’t like what the Temple had been doing lately.

“Is that also a religion?”

“The blessing of ‘roughly’ exists everywhere. Believe roughly, believer.”

There will be rewards for those who believe roughly.

“Well, that god does seem like he’d let things slide even without prayers.”

Ban realized the advantages of the Dachung Sect.

“That’s right. Our Dachung God is always generous and forgives you brothers. It means He won’t lead believers to the sulfurous fires of Hell just for skipping Sunday service or not offering donations.”

More precisely, it was a god who lived so carelessly that He lacked the motivation to do such things.

“Ooh.”

Ban was attracted to this religion, especially since his finances were tight these days.

“Heresy!”

The Cardinal shouted. Even if collecting additional taxes was his duty as a civil servant, spreading other religions in someone else’s Temple – what kind of outrageous behavior was this?

But Til came out even more shamelessly.

“Oh, cheap, cheap. Conversion for just 0 gold?”

“?!”

“By the way, the core of our faith is tolerance, so we guarantee free religious life. Therefore, there’s absolutely no coercion! No obligation to attend services, no volunteering, no doctrinal study – just do everything casually as you see fit!”

“Huh, should I really convert?”

Since the doctrine was quite appealing, the people who had gathered around drawn by the commotion began to stir.

‘I haven’t been pleased with what the Temple’s been doing lately.’

There was no way the Cardinal couldn’t notice the people’s hearts moving.

“I say!”

Even Oben’s voice filled with anger was casually drowned out.

Cardinal Oben failed to notice that someone had disappeared, taking advantage of this casual commotion.

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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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