This Isn't an E*otic Game?-Chapter 76: All the Companies are Going Bankrupt!!

"This is the Full Account of the Incident."

Returning to the assembly hall with the labor theorists, I recounted in detail everything I had experienced, ensuring that everyone present heard the full story.

As soon as I finished, the factory owners and the mayor of Baias wasted no time pointing at the labor theorists with triumphant expressions.

"Demon worshipers were hiding among the labor theorists, and they suddenly revealed their true colors and attacked the Saint! What more do you need to see? These criminals who have disregarded imperial law and acted recklessly are the true culprits behind this entire crisis!"

"What are you hesitating for? Isn't the Pantheon and the Black Fortress present here? Punish them! Arrest them all and charge them with heresy and crimes!"

At the factory owners' words, I saw the paladins of the White Order, standing behind Iomene, slowly placing their hands on the hilts of their swords.

"Saintess, what shall we do?"

"There is more than enough justification for an investigation."

The inquisitors of the Black Fortress.

The priests of the Silent Order.

The factory owners and various officials from the Imperial Court.

Their gazes towards the labor theorists were anything but kind.

Troublemakers.

Terrorists.

And now, even a group that had been harboring demon worshipers.

There was no room for any goodwill toward them.

"Saint, do you agree?"

Iomene and Almene.

And even Erfa, standing silently in the corner alongside the Tower’s mages, all looked at the labor theorists with similar expressions of disdain.

"Saint, these people tried to kill you. What is there to hesitate about?"

The mayor of Baias outright urged me to have them executed.

Kal Lenaro and the labor theorists, tense and anxious, stared at me alone.

They could try to defend themselves, but whatever they said, whatever justification they presented, it would only be seen as the desperate, filthy excuses of criminals.

So instead, I opened my mouth.

"Punishment, you say. On what charges?"

"They committed illegal acts, and demon worshipers were among them, so heresy is a valid charge as well."

"I understand that demon worshipers were also found among the factory owners. Does that mean all of you should also be investigated for heresy?"

The once-smug expressions of the factory owners twisted uncomfortably at my words.

"We are innocent. Furthermore, didn't the pillar of light that erupted from the Saint’s body forcibly reveal all of Mammon's followers? The fact that we remain means we are innocent."

"Then the same applies to the labor theorists here. They are free of heresy charges. As for illegal acts..."

I turned to look outside the assembly hall.

Although the paladins of the Pantheon and the inquisitors of the Black Fortress had managed to restore order, the city streets were still in chaos due to the general strike I had instigated.

"Is ruining the lives of the majority of the city's citizens not illegal?"

The factory owners’ expressions soured.

The mayor of Baias adjusted his tie and responded.

"Saint, we run our businesses entirely within the bounds of the law. We have produced countless magical metals, and most of the empire's iron is manufactured here in Scrap Yard."

"And in exchange, you drove the city's laborers into economic ruin, which allowed Mammon’s followers to flourish."

"...Saint, your words are excessive."

"Are they? Then take a look at this."

I handed out the confiscated documents detailing Mammon's future plans, obtained by the White Order, to those gathered.

"This is what would have happened had I not intervened. It outlines how Mammon’s followers would have led you all. Read it carefully."

Reluctantly, the factory owners took the documents.

And it didn’t take long before—

"A great depression?!"

"They planned to fuel an endless arms race between us and the labor theorists, keeping people in constant fear?!"

"A prolonged military standoff due to the production of large-scale annihilation magic...? How is this even possible?"

Their reactions were remarkably similar to those ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) of the labor theorists.

Once I was certain they had all read through the documents, I spoke again.

"Let’s think about the root cause of this crisis."

I gestured toward the window of the assembly hall.

Beyond the well-maintained and luxurious streets where the factory owners lived lay the slums.

"Mammon’s plan was to fuel the greed of the capitalists and the hunger for power of the labor theorists, creating an endless cycle of destruction. It may have started in Scrap Yard, but it would have affected the entire empire."

I turned my gaze toward the factory owners and the mayor of Baias.

"Do you even know how the workers of Scrap Yard live? Do you know how dire their conditions are? Why do you think labor theorists keep appearing no matter how many you imprison? Because they are already living in hell."

Slowly, I recounted everything I had seen.

Three-year-old and five-year-old children cleaning chimneys.

Workers discarded without hesitation the moment they were injured.

People starving to the point of throwing themselves into the river, unable to endure any longer.

People whose lives were utterly destroyed, unable to afford proper treatment.

"I will not say that the labor theorists’ actions were justified. Yes, they blew up factories and attempted to assassinate business owners. But at its core, the system itself was broken."

"Are you defending them, Saint?"

The mayor of Baias looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

I shook my head.

"Not defending—I'm asking you to understand their perspective. These people were pushed to the brink. No matter what they did, they would die either way, so they chose to pick up weapons. You should reflect on your role in creating that desperation."

The factory owners stared at me, their faces rigid.

But I had no intention of stopping.

"Mammon’s followers are all dead. That is a relief. But if things continue as they are, another Demon Lord will rise. They will consume the resentment and suffering of these people, growing stronger. Do you want to see another crisis like this unfold?"

Silence.

"Instead of focusing on who to punish, it is time to think about how to ensure a better life for the people outside these walls."

I explained my plan.

The purpose of the Ministry of Labor and how it would function.

How the Grace Order, Karma Company, and the Imperial Family would oversee its operations.

"The exploitation of workers by capitalists must stop. The greed of the wealthy must be restrained. The labor theorists are the most suited to this role. They will spread across the empire to investigate and prevent worker exploitation by capitalists."

The factory owners immediately protested.

"You're letting these terrorists wield power to investigate businesses?!"

"They’ll fabricate excuses to obstruct industry and destroy corporations!"

"It’s obvious how corrupt they’ll become if given power! This is an outrageous proposal!"

I nodded.

"That is why the Ministry of Labor will be under strict surveillance by the Pantheon and the Imperial Court. Their actions will be monitored to prevent abuse. Additionally, priests from the Grace Order will accompany them, ensuring those injured in industrial accidents receive proper treatment. They will never be allowed to seize unchecked power."

Yet, the factory owners still looked dissatisfied.

"This is tyranny! You’re trying to destroy legitimate businesses!"

"Saint, you don’t understand economics! If businesses collapse, the entire empire’s economy will fall apart!"

Watching their continued defiance, my expression darkened.

"If you don’t want the Ministry of Labor interfering, then don’t give them a reason to. Improve working conditions. Take responsibility for workers injured on the job. They have the right to negotiate with you. If they ask for fair wages, it is your duty to consider reasonable demands."

"If we do that, every business will collapse! Saint!!"

"At This Rate, the Entire Empire Will Collapse!"

I raised my voice, and the factory owners momentarily fell silent.

"Are you going to sit back and let demon worshipers and evil god cultists keep feeding on the resentment of suffering workers until they grow powerful again? I'm speaking of the bare minimum! Workers are people! They must be allowed to live like human beings!"

The room remained still for a beat.

"The exploitation of children and teenagers under the age of nineteen must end! They should be receiving an education, not being forced into labor! And at the very least, you must provide proper welfare for your workers! You must ensure they have meals, and their wages must be raised to a level where they can sustain themselves!"

I extended my hand even to the factory owners.

"You don't want another Demon King’s forces to rise by feeding on the resentment of these desperate workers, do you? Haven't we been through this once already? Shouldn't that have been enough? Workers are human beings, just like you. Stop treating them as replaceable cogs in a machine and recognize them as people who deserve to coexist with you."

Silence.

"Provide them with stable jobs that allow them to actually live, rather than exploiting them. I can't do this alone. I need you."

I sincerely hoped they would take my hand.

Just as the labor theorists had.

I wanted them to put aside their stubbornness and reach out in return.

But that did not happen.

The factory owners and the mayor of Baias did not even take a moment to consider, unlike the labor theorists.

"This is utter nonsense, Saint."

The mayor of Baias shook his head in disbelief.

"I understand that you are full of compassion and overflowing with sympathy, and I can see why you would say such things. But business and the economy are inherently cold. If you keep infringing on corporate profits out of sentimentality, there won't be a single functioning enterprise left in the empire!"

The mayor of Baias did not take my hand.

Instead, he and the factory owners rose from their seats.

"We cannot accept the absurd idea of turning criminals into a state institution. Nor can we accept the notion of harming corporate interests under the pretext of rooting out Mammon’s followers."

"......"

"With all due respect, Saint, perhaps you should focus on what you excel at. That is my humble suggestion."

At those words, Iomene, Almene, and Erfa’s expressions turned murderous.

"Mayor Baias, I believe you've crossed the line."

"Not at all, Your Highness. The Saint is proposing to shake the very foundation of the empire’s economy! He wants to place all businesses into the hands of these twisted, wicked people! He is using labor conditions and the presence of Demon King cultists as an excuse to destroy corporations!"

Erfa immediately shot back.

"The Saint’s words make sense. Worker conditions must be improved. If they are not, then it is inevitable that Demon Lord worshipers will rise again."

"And what happens when businesses collapse like a row of dominoes because they’re forced to cater to the whims of these lunatics? A world flooded with unemployed people, where even the meager wages they once had are gone! Wouldn't that world be filled with even more resentment than now?"

The mayor of Baias thumped his chest as if to declare his righteousness.

"Yes, workers live under harsh conditions, but that is a necessary evil! It is an unfortunate but unavoidable choice to prevent the worst-case scenario! Preserving businesses is far more important than improving worker conditions! Why can’t you understand this?!"

Kal Lenaro could no longer hold back his rage. He sprang up from his seat.

"You capitalist pig bastards!!"

"Shut your filthy mouths, you wretched rabble!! You worthless pieces of shit do nothing but spread chaos, feeding off people's misery to incite disorder! How dare you open your mouth here?!"

I waved my hand to calm Kal Lenaro and the labor theorists.

They gritted their teeth and forced themselves to sit back down, though from their expressions, it wouldn't have been surprising if they pulled Molotov cocktails from their coats.

"We will maintain the current system, Saint. Yes, worker conditions must improve. That is undeniable. But businesses are already stretched too thin to handle such changes immediately."

Mayor Baias smoothed out his luxurious suit—one likely paid for with the blood and sweat of countless workers—and spoke with feigned reason.

"Once business profits improve, wages for workers will rise as well. Saint, preserving businesses is the most important thing. If we shake the foundation of the empire’s economy, the suffering and resentment that will emerge will be far worse than what we see now. Please, understand this."

"You just saw the consequences of unchecked greed. Even knowing that, you're still choosing this path?"

Mayor Baias simply shrugged.

"Those were nothing more than fabricated plans concocted by Mammon’s followers to spread fear. I will not be swayed by such nonsense. If I were, I wouldn't have been able to run a business for this long."

I had miscalculated.

The labor theorists had not yet been corrupted.

They were not yet the wardens of forced labor camps, the heads of secret police, or the dictators justifying mass slaughter in the name of workers’ rights.

At this moment, they were still driven by their shared suffering and righteous anger.

That was why, when they saw their possible future, they had chosen to change.

But the factory owners were different.

Their souls were already rotten.

Even after witnessing their future.

Even after being warned that another crisis like this would inevitably occur.

They remained obstinate, unyielding.

I slowly lowered my outstretched hand.

"Your Highness, is this enough for now? I’d like to rest for a moment."

Almene looked at me with sympathy before officially announcing the adjournment of the meeting.

The factory owners and the mayor of Baias, as if they had been waiting for this moment, marched out of the room in unison.

I simply watched them go.

"This is how it ends, isn’t it, Saint? This is how it always ends!!"

Kal Lenaro could no longer suppress his rage.

"I knew those slippery bastards would weasel their way out!! They will never change! Never!! It is impossible to defeat them by following the laws and rules! The system is built to protect capitalists!!"

"Yes, the system is in their favor."

"Then what will you do? Will you let the poor continue to suffer? Tell me you have a plan!"

A plan?

There had always been a plan.

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

Even just moments ago, I could have used absolute hypnosis to turn the factory owners and the mayor of Baias into my puppets.

But I didn’t.

Because that wasn’t how I wanted to resolve this.

I wanted to show the labor theorists and the impoverished of this city that the empire’s laws and order were still on their side.

That the empire was not as corrupt as they believed.

That this world was still worth living in.

I stood up from my seat and approached Erfa.

"Erfa, can you connect a magic transmission for me?"

"Of course, Amayel. Who do you need to contact?"

Yes. The system favored the capitalists.

The mayor of Baias knew that well, which was why he was so brazenly defiant.

But they had overlooked something.

They only knew half the truth.

They didn’t realize that the empire’s greatest capitalist was on my side.

"Connect me to Jonathan Karma."

If I couldn’t beat them with laws and regulations...

Then I would simply crush them with capital.