Published: January 4, 2026
"What were you doing earlier?"
"Huh?"
I glanced briefly at the desk Jerry had been facing just a moment ago.
There were some documents covered densely with letters and numbers.
Hearing my words and noticing my gaze, Jerry looked unusually embarrassed.
"Um... I was imitating my Lord."
"Imitating me?"
"I'm gathering those down on their luck, enrolling them in the army, and providing for them."
"I see."
"And for those who want it, I also help redeem prostitutes and introduce widows of fallen soldiers to new partners."
"Why go that far?"
I was inwardly amazed.
I already had a guess about the reason, but I deliberately asked Jerry to hear it from him.
"I was like that too, you see. If they can eat and have a household, that's enough to keep them from getting any strange ideas. Those who get involved in 'businesses requiring no capital,' like we did before, are usually people with nothing to lose—either down on their luck or without anything to protect."
"So you give them jobs and families."
I nodded slightly.
The reason was just as I imagined.
I also raised Jerry’s evaluation with Sarah for understanding this and putting it into practice.
"Exactly. Lord, this is really interesting."
"Hmm? What is?"
Unlike before, it was an introduction I could not have anticipated at all.
"I'm arranging remarriages for widows, and both the men and women are very happy about it."
"Oh? Why is that?"
The part about both sides intrigued me.
"First, the widows of those who died in battle receive small compensation for their late husbands."
"Hmm, yes. The empire is a land of warriors, and families of those who perish on the battlefield are properly compensated."
"So they get used to it. They even hope the next husband might die on the battlefield too, secretly wishing for it. Therefore, if the new husband is a soldier, they’re happy about it."
"Hahaha, I see. That’s the kind of on-the-ground insight that never reaches me."
I looked up at the ceiling and laughed loudly.
These kinds of raw stories never make it up to the emperor.
What does reach the emperor are mostly polished, flashy, and pleasant-sounding reports.
That’s why emperors throughout the dynasties, if they have any heart, often go out incognito, and I, following that example, sneak out alone from time to time.
This story was something even my past self could not have known, and something that would never be heard inside the Imperial Capital.
Just hearing Jerry’s story alone made this solo outing worthwhile.
After laughing for a moment, I said to Jerry:
"So, the reason men also welcome it is because—well, the widows have money, right?"
"Exactly, Lord, you’re amazing, that’s exactly right."
Jerry said admiringly.
"Of course, having a rich woman is better than a poor one. Especially since those I arrange for had been down and out until just recently."
"I see. You’re doing well."
"Ah..."
When I praised him after hearing everything, Jerry—despite his rugged face—became bashful.
"I get that, but what were you worrying about? You had a pretty troubled look."
"Oh! Right, right. Well, the main goal is to keep most of them fed and calm, but I hope some like me will emerge from among them. You know, the words you gave me the other day: if even one in a thousand returns, we’re in the black."
"Hmm."
I was a little impressed.
Jerry was already trying to put into practice what I had just said.
"So, I was looking through various battle result tallies. Until now, they counted battle achievements by heads taken, but heads are heavy, and there’s no time to pick them up in the middle of battle. Afterward, when collecting them, there’s often disputes like 'That’s mine!' and 'No, it’s mine!'"
"Is that all?"
"What? 'Is that all'? No, it’s pretty troublesome, you know."
"Why not use ears instead of heads?"
"...Ears?"
"Yes, ears can be quickly cut off, right?"
"...Oh!"
Jerry clapped his hands in admiration.
"Ears, huh! Amazing, Lord, I never thought of that!"
"One would be enough, so the nose could also work, but it’s harder to cut off the nose."