17.75 million pell.
They already calculated my fee.
The weekly purification fee from the four countries, including Bavaria, is 3.55 million pell, or 355 million won. Looking at the number, it seems they multiplied it by five weeks.
'They're getting paid weekly, yet they multiplied by five weeks.'
Their intentions are transparent.
"...Wow."
Narke let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.
A student who hadn't grasped the situation looked around at the others and asked.
"What? What does that mean? That he's going to spend all the money he got on cheating?"
"Seems like it? It's weird they'd run a headline like that too..."
The content is obvious even without looking.
It'll be nothing but baseless fabrication.
By the way...
I looked at the magazine cover the student was holding and tossed out a remark.
"Looks like *they're* the ones who need money badly."
"Right? How much are they trying to milk this for? It's 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 Das Lotte? You said you needed it. I'll lend it to you."
"It's fine now. Let's wrap things up here and get going."
* * *
Capital, Das Lotte Headquarters.
"You want to cancel the headline now and postpone it until tomorrow morning?"
The deputy director repeated the question incredulously, looking at the person standing before him.
"Yes."
"Why? If we miss the current wave of attention, we'll be left behind in an instant. You know that..."
"We haven't properly investigated Sir Nikolaus since the reports on the additional purification for three countries came out, Deputy Director."
The deputy director put down his pen, took off his glasses, and burst out laughing.
"Since when have we staked our lives on investigations? It's fine, just run it. We need to hit this week's target."
"I don't think that's the issue either... but I heard the Bavarian Royal Household has arranged a press conference regarding Sir Nikolaus's purification matter."
"Press conference?"
"Yes. I heard they've been in contact with the political desk of the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper since last evening."
Hearing that, the deputy director stroked his chin with his hand.
"Arranged since yesterday... yesterday was the day we ran the Nikolaus top story, right? Probably trying to explain things while they're at it. Just push forward."
"Yes. But there's a risky element, which is why I came to tell you directly. The fact they haven't canceled even after seeing our changed headline suggests they have something to rely on. I heard the Bavarian Royal Household has already convened two emergency meetings just today, and I wonder if there's a connection..."
The deputy director laughed as if it were absurd and shook his head.
"Did you really come all the way here to say that? This isn't our first rodeo, why are you acting like this all of a sudden? The director chose this article too, so just do it."
"..."
As the other person hesitated, clearly choosing their words, the deputy director's face gradually hardened.
"You have to row when the tide comes in. If we back off in advance just because of a couple of royal meetings and one scheduled press conference, how are we supposed to work here? This isn't the Imperial Newspaper."
"Huh? No..."
"Instead of sitting here with your butt glued to the seat saying you found out too late, you should be over there asking as many questions as possible. Is this the time to talk about changing the front page? I wonder if the reporters were even sent properly. Do I have to spell out every little thing?"
"No. I'm sorry. Then I'll go back and..."
The deputy director looked at him with a displeased expression, then softened his tone appropriately and continued.
"Wait a moment."
"Yes?"
"It's not that I'm trying to say anything, I just feel sorry for you. It's obvious how this will turn out. Do you know what his reliance is? If he sits at that press conference, questions will definitely come. What do you think the reason is for not canceling?"
"I... don't really know."
"'I would never use money like that and will definitely give back to society,' that's what he'll say. He probably thinks his image will improve a bit if he explains, even belatedly."
"..."
"Ten out of ten! They all do that. That's actually a self-goal. It only makes people wonder why he's explaining while sitting there. Then our sales go up again. Right? What if our speculation is wrong? Or what is he trying to do by doing this, people will think. Then we just drop the money talk at that point. We can grab onto the affair as the main topic again."
"Yes, I understand. I'll do that."
Seeing he couldn't get through, the man nodded quickly, trying to wrap up the discussion.
The deputy director smiled softly again and encouraged him.
"Just do your best in the moment. Don't overthink things looking too far ahead, there's no need. What do you think our readers will be thinking while reading this right now?"
"..."
"They won't think anything. Our job is done if we just neatly plant one issue in their heads each day. So just hit today's target, okay? It's easy if you just run while watching the numbers go up. Right? And as you know, everything that goes on the front page is approved by the director, so don't even think about touching it."
"Yes. I understand."
"Good. You can go now."
The deputy director watched him leave, lost in thought.
Then, he had his secretary bring today's edition of the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper.
* * *
Lucas Rene Ascanien
Impression: -9.9 [+5.0002513]
It was 2829 two hours ago, so only 300 has been shaved off in two hours.
Considering 30 was shaved off just by blinking during the day, it's a fairly gentle decline.
Once again, I am at the Bavarian press conference venue.
Looking at the now almost familiarly felt venue and broadcast cameras, I prepared for the announcement.
I actually wondered if it would be better to have a proxy sit here instead of me.
Since neither my face nor body are properly visible, it could even be a minus when it comes to conveying human familiarity.
But given the sensitive nature of the issue, they could attack me for dodging when a sensitive topic comes up, so I decided to sit in myself for this issue as well.
The broadcast start signal came in, and unlike last time, I placed both hands on the press conference table and delivered a brief greeting.
No need to drag it out, so I got straight to the point.
"As reported by the Imperial Newspaper and various national newspapers at 6 PM today, I have accepted purification requests from the Kingdom of Württemberg, Hesse, and the Grand Duchy of Baden."
As soon as I finished speaking, a question came.
"I have a question! Previously, Hesse offered double the compensation. Was the actual contract concluded that way?"
"I understand there were more requests. Was there a reason for choosing these three countries, including Württemberg?"
I answered briefly and waited for other questions.
Still, the controversy raised by Das Lotte didn't come up as a question from the start.
After briefly answering three or four more questions, the talk about the controversy finally came up.
"I have a question. At 8 PM, Das Lotte used the term 'purification for affair funds' regarding Sir Nikolaus Ernst's decision. What are your thoughts on this?"
It was a reporter from a reputable newspaper who had fiercely criticized Das Lotte before.
This question wasn't for Das Lotte's benefit, but to criticize them.
There are also reporters from the Bavarian branch of Das Lotte here, but they haven't raised a question yet.
I don't know why they're being so leisurely... but now's the chance.
"I disagree. I am merely bewildered that you speak of imagination as fact without any basis. Contrary to Das Lotte's claims, I have never been in any improper relationship with anyone. Regarding this part, I plan to resolve it legally through the proper procedures."
No matter how much I talk about this, it doesn't serve as material to prove my integrity, so it's better to mention it appropriately and move on.
Only now did I see the Das Lotte reporters raising their hands. I gestured towards them and opened my mouth.
"Now that it's been mentioned, I will state the facts regarding Das Lotte's claim this time."
At those words, a few reporters muttered spells and picked up their cameras.
Although the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper is managing the broadcast, they seem intent on getting their own recording of this scene.
"This morning, I donated the entire three-month service fee I received from four countries, including Bavaria. I originally had no intention of disclosing this, but I do not wish for my intentions to be misconstrued due to insulting claims, so I am revealing it now."
The reporters' eyes changed at those words.
Questions came loudly from here and there.
"This morning? That's different from Das Lotte's claim. What are your thoughts on this?"
"Where did you donate to..."
"Approximately what time, and which institution if it's an organization?"
As I didn't answer, one of the aides Leo had assigned restrained the reporters.
"We will provide a separate Q&A time. Please wait until the statement is completely finished."
"From Bavaria, I received 10.2 million pell for 12 weeks of service. From Württemberg, Hesse, and Baden, I received 12 million, 14.4 million, and 6 million pell respectively. The received fees were donated as-is to each country's Pollution Relief Center and Pleroma Disposal Unit. For detailed information, please refer to the materials attached to the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper."
The sound of pen tips quickly scratching on paper followed.
Das Lotte saw the report on my purification at 6 PM and only changed their headline at 8 PM.
Too late.
I had already donated all the compensation 12 hours ago.
And, it should be about time for the contact to come.
* * *
"So that's what it was..."
The deputy director of Das Lotte, who had been watching the broadcast, threw down the Bavarian Kingdom Newspaper and frowned.
A belated explanation is meaningless.
Even if you hurriedly declare 'this is what I will do' after a controversy is raised, you fundamentally can't start with high credibility.
Unless it's someone famous for a good image, it's even more so for someone like Nikolaus, who hasn't been in the public eye for long and has no data.
'That's what I thought...'
But if he acted contrary to the suspicions we raised from the start, if we stumbled from the very beginning, that's a different story.
We need to change the topic before getting more entangled.
Absolutely.
If a draining situation continues for Das Lotte, we might not be able to use the Nikolaus issue at all.
He tapped the table with his finger and called his secretary.
"It's 10 PM now, right? I'll change the headline and upload it, reconnect the mana."
"Deputy Director, we already used it all up today when we changed the content once."
"Tch, really..."
The deputy director narrowed his brow, crossed his arms, and slumped back in his chair.
The report today didn't get as big a reaction as expected anyway, so maybe it's better to just upload a new one tomorrow morning.
We can recycle this topic for a few days anyway.
It's already late, so uploading it tomorrow morning shouldn't put us too far behind...
As the deputy director was thinking this and that, the secretary spoke again.
"To transfer tomorrow's mana, we need permission from the director. I believe he's at home, I'll go get it now."
"No, no. It's fine."
"Do you intend to leave today's report as is?"
"Yes. Let's upload it early tomorrow morning. It's already late anyway, so it doesn't seem like the results will be that meaningful, and thinking about it, it's a topic we can use until the day after tomorrow..."
Knock knock—
"Co—"
"Deputy Director!"
Before he could answer the knock, the door burst open.
"The Imperial Investigation Bureau... no, the building... Bavaria... no..."
"Speak clearly. What are you saying?"
At the deputy director's words, he caught his breath and spoke.
"The Imperial... The Imperial Investigation Bureau has sealed off our building. The Bavarian branch too."
—-----------
T/N:
Free members get 10 advanced chapters every week.
Want more? Get access to 40 chapters ahead on Patreon:
[email protected]//hiddenmage