Helping with Adventurer Party Management - Chapter 140

“Just a little. Then I’ll wait a bit.”

With that, Nicolo spread out some documents and returned to his writing. It seemed he only intended to wait a short while.

He didn’t consider our circumstances at all. There was no choice but to steel myself.

“I understand. I cannot accept this request.”

I rejected the offer, but Nicolo asked without changing his expression.

“May I ask why?”

“I can suggest methods. However, actual success is uncertain. With all due respect, do you fully trust the farmland tax revenue figures presented by the nobles?”

Nicolo raised one eyebrow and responded. “I cannot. Nobles tend to underreport their tax revenues.”

“That’s what I’ve heard. Without reliable figures, no matter how much planning is done on paper, the project is unlikely to succeed. It’s like walking down a tunnel in the dark with no light. Manipulating incorrect numbers only leads to incorrect results.”

Even just evaluating the adventurer guild’s cases required me to secretly use Urbano’s authority to independently design everything. Imagining the chaos that would ensue if such an approach were applied to the entire kingdom is beyond me. In that chaos, my life would be as easily scattered as scraps of paper. Why would I want to jump into such a battlefield?

“Hmm,” Nicolo muttered and continued. “In other words, you say it is premature.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“What would make it possible?” Nicolo asks, 

“A neutral and accurate statistical agency is needed for the kingdom and the noble’s territories. It should be open to scholars and common people, with a culture of broad discussion and opinion incorporation to ensure the validity of the figures. It would take at least ten years of accumulation to build trust in the statistics.” I answered with a slight exaggeration.

What I’m suggesting is to establish a department, like a statistical bureau, to collect and accumulate accurate data from across the kingdom. Without a nationwide organization that accumulates reliable figures independent of politics, a properly centralized nation cannot be managed.

While the church’s bureaucratic organization seems to barely function for current tax and donation calculations, I questioned whether it has the capacity for more complex tasks. Naturally, it would be difficult. Many nations in my original world also struggle with unreliable statistics. In essence, this is my way of getting back at Nicolo for his unreasonable demands.

However, Nicolo continued the discussion, ignoring my subtle objections. “I see. Then, wouldn’t it be possible if it were the lands managed by the church? Since the numbers are handled internally, it would be difficult to manipulate them.”

He expanded the idea broadly, then narrowed it down to push for a concession. Being a priest close to a cardinal in such a large organization as the church implies that Nicolo has undergone a lot of tough negotiations. He skillfully and persistently guided the discussion.

When put that way, I found myself thinking it might be possible.

Seemingly encouraged by my expression, Nicolo pressed on. “Or, if we agree to send surveyors or experts in statistics from the church to examine the accounts and farmland, would it be possible to lend the funds under those conditions?”

“Indeed, it’s possible. I believe it can be done.” I had no choice but to answer that way. 

Essentially, it means lending money for the project on the condition of showing the contents of the wallet first—let’s discuss it afterward.

In more complex terms, it’s suggesting that if the investment can be made in projects that can clear governance and audit issues related to business evaluation, it would be acceptable.

“Are you not interested in handling the systems related to the project? If you become a cleric, it could encompass the church’s entire business. I will request from the cardinal that you become a cleric. It’s a rare opportunity to present national policies to the entire kingdom, which commoners will not usually be able to influence.”

With that, Nicolo once again invited me to become a cleric.

Indeed, a priest close to a cardinal is sharp and tough in negotiations. This was proving to be quite challenging.