The Minister of Finance's Legacy

The death of the Minister of Finance cast a pall over the entire Lanning Empire for several days. Finally, the Holy Church issued a decree, delivering its ultimate verdict on the case: the Minister of Finance had been assassinated by agents of the Macallan Empire, Lanning’s greatest rival to the north! This, the decree declared, was a matter of state dispute, and thus the Holy Church would not intervene.

Upon hearing this news, Du Chen nearly split his sides with laughter. These politicians truly had no shame, spouting such blatant falsehoods without a hint of a blush. How the two great empires would handle this ‘political dispute’ was, however, beyond his concern.

Du Chen had originally intended to collect the absolution fee and depart the Saint Sigurd Cain Estate. But with this new development, his absolution fee was in limbo, and the Holy Church’s eyes were now fixed on him. For a while, he truly couldn’t extricate himself.

With Godfather Ferdinand’s backing, Du Chen moved from the tower into a garden loft and received an increased monthly allowance, truly living the life of a young master. Yet, he remained perplexed: who exactly was the Battle God secretly protecting him?

He also inquired about Francis’s past, but found no anomalies. The young master had been born fifteen years ago, while Anges was away on campaign. From birth, he was deemed incapable of cultivating battle qi, leading to constant cold shoulder treatment. When he was three, his mother, Francis’s only source of affection, passed away, and he fully became the shame of the Saint Sigurd Cain family. Were it not for Foye, Madame Anges’s loyal old servant, taking over Francis’s care, the poor child might never have survived to adulthood.

Plagued by endless questions, Du Chen continued his cultivation of the Precious Lotus Scripture.

On this particular day, in the slum district of Saint John City’s southern ward.

Dilapidated, crumbling shacks, like a jumble of cockroach nests, were piled haphazardly together. Cracked roofs and mottled walls proclaimed that their inhabitants were far from wealthy.

Before one such ramshackle hut, Du Chen pointed at an elderly couple and barked, his voice sharp with feigned anger. ‘You dare defy my orders? Are you courting death? Who am I? The Third Young Master of the Saint Sigurd Cain family! Step aside, immediately!’

The recipients of his scolding were none other than Old Matthew and his wife, whom Du Chen had helped just days prior.

Du Chen’s tone was severe, and he clutched a large iron shovel in his hand. Behind him, Aliza glared at Old Matthew, looking utterly menacing.

Yet, the old couple showed no anger, nor any fear. Instead, they offered a wry smile. ‘Young Master Francis, we absolutely will not move!’

‘Aliza, carry them away!’

‘Yes, sir!’ Aliza swayed his massive frame, easily lifting Old Matthew and his wife, one in each hand, and trotted off a dozen meters or so.

‘Young Master, no!’ Matthew cried out in alarm, but Du Chen was already scrambling onto his roof, brandishing the tool in his hand.

‘By Sigurd, the Battle God above! Young Master, you are a Titled Battle God Scion! You cannot do such dirty work as repairing roofs!’

‘Silence, both of you!’ Du Chen commanded. ‘Aliza, go door-to-door and announce: from today on, I will personally repair their roofs. Anyone who dares to object, you pick them up and toss them into the street!’

‘As you command, Young Master!’

Aliza crashed open a nearby door, and without bothering to check if anyone was inside, bellowed at the top of his lungs, ‘Listen up! Young Master Francis is going to fix your house...’

Casting a look of approval at Aliza, Du Chen blissfully continued his ‘good deeds’!

Sometimes, the status of a Third Young Master truly came in handy.

Old Matthew and his wife were moved to tears, unsure how to express themselves. ‘Young Master, you... sigh, when I die, I will surely praise your virtue before all the gods in heaven and implore them to extend your lifespan!’

Du Chen didn’t care about lifespan. He was currently savoring the tingling itch on his backside. Through his recent efforts, his second lotus blossom had unfurled by two or three tenths, and his Lotus Internal Force had advanced considerably.

After repairing three roofs in one go, Du Chen was eagerly heading towards the fourth house when his elder brother, Steve, rushed up to him. ‘Francis, hurry! Come with me to the Palace of Versailles! His Majesty Bargnar wishes to grant you an audience!’

‘His Majesty wants to see me?’ Du Chen paused, startled. His brother, beaming, cried out, ‘Have you forgotten? Frith is dead, but Godfather Ferdinand stated that death does not absolve one of sin! Therefore, a portion of the Minister of Finance’s legacy must be allocated to you as absolution money!’

Steve abruptly pulled Du Chen. ‘Come on, let’s go! The Palace of Versailles is already in an uproar, all over the Minister of Finance’s legacy!’

Du Chen suppressed the excitement stirring within him and asked, ‘How much is his legacy worth? And how much can I get?’

Steve dramatically spread both his arms, gesticulating wildly. ‘It’s countless! That old scoundrel was a corrupt official in life, and his legacy is so vast it makes every minister green with envy. Otherwise, why would the Palace of Versailles be in such a chaotic uproar?’

‘Doesn’t ill-gotten gains need to be turned over to the national treasury?’

‘Heavens, my dear brother, you’re too naive! Everyone in the Imperial Capital knows he was corrupt, but where’s the proof? And even if there were proof, it would be expunged... political matters are beyond your comprehension!’

Du Chen was overjoyed. He waved to Old Matthew and his wife. ‘I’ll go pay my respects to His Majesty first. Once I’ve secured the funds, I’ll treat everyone here to a grand feast!’

‘Praise be to Young Master Francis, your benevolence... sigh, I truly don’t know how to praise you enough! Even the Virtue of Saint John City is insufficient to describe you!’ Old Matthew exclaimed, deeply moved.

As he walked out of the slum district, people constantly greeted Du Chen with smiles. His reputation was soaring; he was universally adored, a sight capable of making flowers bloom in the eyes of the southern ward’s impoverished residents.

‘Young Master Francis, a truly good man!’

As the imperial palace, the Palace of Versailles was naturally magnificent beyond compare. Though the tallest structure in the Imperial Capital was the Saint John Cathedral, the Palace of Versailles compensated for its lack of height with sheer sprawling area. From a distance, it appeared like a colossal, dark azure castle.

After being announced at the main gate, Du Chen traversed a strangely vast plaza, skirted around the statue of Bovin, the Lanning Royal Family’s ancestor, and arrived at the central palace within the Palace of Versailles. Even before stepping through the entrance, he could hear the clamor from within.

‘The warriors of the Imperial Capital’s Saint Bovin Legion haven’t had their armor replaced in ages! I require these gold coins!’ This was an unfamiliar voice.

‘No, my Sigurd Legion faces immense pressure from the northern Macallan Empire! We need to bolster our armaments!’ This was the voice of Duke Anges.

‘But the southern regions of the empire are suffering from floods! His Majesty must consider the victims!’

‘Dear Father King, don’t you think the Palace of Versailles is due for a renovation?’

‘Ahem! Esteemed sirs, a portion of these gold coins must be compensated to Francis. This is decreed by the Holy Church’s canons! I implore you all to await Francis taking his rightful share before disputing this colossal sum further!’ Godfather Ferdinand was also present in the palace.

‘Good heavens,’ Du Chen inwardly exclaimed. ‘Just how vast was the Minister of Finance’s legacy? Could it truly be enough to re-equip an entire legion, or provide relief for an entire flood disaster!?’

At that moment, Steve announced from the palace gates, ‘Your Majesty, I have brought Francis. I humbly request your audience!’

Instantly, silence fell over the grand hall. After a long moment, a benevolent voice echoed, ‘Has the Virtue of Saint John City arrived? Let him enter!’

Du Chen straightened his clothes and adjusted his attire. Steve whispered, ‘Don’t be nervous, dear brother. How many gold coins we can ‘fish out’ today depends entirely on your performance!’