Chapter 99 - At Dusk (8)
Winter passed quietly.
Ernest, who used to go out and play with his friends every day, spent most of his time at home.
Robert visited fairly often, though it wasn't just for fun like before.
"My father says it's a bit unstable judging by the prices and flow of capital, but nothing to be alarmed about yet."
The Oliver Company was large enough to read signs of war by tracking the movement of money.
"They must be buying a lot of iron because of the cannons."
Ernest spoke cautiously.
Robert nodded in agreement.
"Right. Iron prices have gone up a lot. But the increase has been within a reasonable range. More companies are buying food in bulk just in case, so food prices are also rising. My father's already stocked up quite a bit. Even so, there hasn't been a major economic impact. The military's only buying enough extra food to match the troop increases. It doesn't look like they're stockpiling in anticipation of full-blown war."
Oliver had assessed the situation carefully and believed war was unlikely in the immediate future.
His judgment, nearly infallible when it came to money, gave Ernest and Robert some reassurance.
Though there were some worrying signs, they were all still within expectations.
"The most important thing is that the Imperial Family doesn't seem to be printing extra money."
"There's been no big change in currency supply?"
"Exactly. They're spending a lot, but it looks like it's all being covered by the Imperial Treasury. That's why prices haven't spiked more than expected."
The Mihahil Empire's currency, the deck, was based on the gold standard. Technically, paper bills were simply exchange certificates to be traded at banks for actual gold. To increase the money supply, banks were supposed to hold enough gold reserves to back it. That's how the amount of money in circulation was regulated.
But if paper bills were printed recklessly without sufficient gold, people would lose trust in the currency and rush to exchange bills for gold at banks. If the banks fulfilled those exchanges, they'd go bankrupt. If they refused, their credibility would collapse, and the bills would become worthless overnight.
Increasing the money supply would devalue the bills. That's inflation. And if it goes too far, the entire financial system collapses.
That's why people who handle large amounts of money through banks are always sensitive to financial movements. Their vast deposits could vanish in an instant.
"Still, you never know."
Haires, who had been silently listening to the conversation between Ernest and Robert, suddenly spoke.
"The situation itself is unstable. Even if war doesn't break out, if the public panics, there's no telling what might happen. Robert, your father surely knows this, but please tell him I think it would be wise to take further precautions."
"Will you be preparing too, Mr. Kruger?"
Moved by Haires' seriousness, Robert asked in a careful tone.
"I already have."
Haires replied calmly.
Even Ernest, who hadn't known, was surprised.
"Thank you for the advice. I'll definitely tell my father."
Robert didn't fully understand Haires, but he had no doubt that he was a prudent, seasoned, and capable man.
And if someone like Haires suggested extra caution, it was probably the right thing to do.
After Robert left, Ernest questioned Haires about the preparations.
"When did you start?"
"Since spring. I've been gradually exchanging money for gold and storing up extra silver."
"Do you really think war will break out?"
To this, Haires slowly shook his head.
"It's not something I can say for certain. But it doesn't hurt to be ready."
Haires had started converting money into tangible assets after meeting the man who had introduced himself as "Martin Kruger" that spring.
More precisely, he began after carrying out a mission for him and overhearing classified information from Central Intelligence agents.
"How much have you exchanged? You didn't convert it all, did you? And is it here in the house?"
Ernest realized he knew almost nothing about the Kruger family's wealth.
As he stared, confused, Haires slowly stood from the sofa.
Without a word, Ernest read the look in his father's eyes and stood as well.
They descended into the basement storage.
It had been immaculately cleaned.
Clink.
Haires moved aside some luggage, slipped a thin knife between the bricks, and removed one from the floor.
"Help me out. My back isn't what it used to be."
"…Okay."
Ernest grabbed a handle beneath the removed brick and pulled.
The vault door was surprisingly light, likely because the safe itself was quite small.
Haires raised a light to illuminate the inside.
It looked empty.
But Ernest instinctively searched for a hidden compartment, noticing the same mechanism as the bag Haires had once given him.
Click.
He lifted a wooden panel and carefully removed it.
Gold gleamed in the lamplight, dazzling. But it wasn't as much as Ernest had expected. Only two thin gold plates, each about the size of a palm.
"These are…"
"Each worth two hundred thousand decks."
"…!"
Ernest gasped.
Two hundred thousand decks was enough to buy a fine mansion in the inner district of Grimman and still have plenty left over.
That such wealth was contained in just two small plates was astounding.
"I've also prepared ten thousand decks' worth in silver and copper."
"…That's two hundred ten thousand decks…"
"There's more hidden outside Grimman—in gold and jewels, worth about four hundred thousand decks."
"…."
"It's a lot of money, but once converted to physical assets, it all fits in a pouch like this."
He held up one of several small pouches stored in the corner. It was only large enough to fit two adult fists.
"…How much money is still left in the bank?"
"Enough to avoid any shortage."
Haires didn't explain the full extent of the Kruger family's wealth.
But Ernest could tell that even what remained in the bank was far more than he had imagined.
The Kruger family wasn't just "not poor"—they were extremely wealthy.
And Haires was far more frugal than Ernest had ever realized.
Strictly speaking, Haires wasn't so much frugal as he was emotionally dry.
Burdened by overwhelming guilt and grief, he had never brought himself to spend the vast wealth he had earned in service to the Empire.
He wouldn't mind dying penniless in the street.
In fact, he might even welcome it.
But now, the reason he had started hiding money and converting it to physical assets was because he believed Ernest would need it.
Haires himself didn't care if he starved—but Ernest, still so young, would surely need a great deal of money in the future.
"I'll tell you the exact locations of the ones hidden outside Grimman later."
He took the panel from Ernest, covered the secret compartment, placed the brick door over it, and concealed the handle with another brick.
Ernest assumed all this preparation must be for war.
But if so, why hadn't Haires warned him?
Why hadn't he said anything to a cadet about to become a fourth-year?
He wanted to ask—but was afraid it would sound like an accusation. In the end, he kept his words to himself.
After thinking it over, he decided he was just being too sensitive.
If war broke out, Ernest would be sent straight to the front.
There was no way Haires didn't know that.
And Haires wasn't the type of man who would let his son be dragged off to war without doing something.
At least, the Haires that Ernest knew wouldn't.
***
Spring came.
Over the winter, Ernest had grown so tall that he was now only about half a hand shorter than Haires when they stood side by side.
"Why do you grow taller every time I see you?"
"Come on, it's not like I sprouted overnight."
"Damn! Professor Robert is shorter than Student Ernest?!"
"Oh dear. Can't hear you from down there. Want to say it from somewhere higher up?"
"Like you're any different from me in front of Ferdinand!"
"You can't use Ferdinand as a benchmark. Besides Commander Hartmann, no one's taller than him."
Robert had tried to keep up with Ernest's height until last year, but over the winter, Ernest had shot up so much that now the difference was obvious.
They looked more like older and younger brothers side by side, even though Robert wasn't short himself.
"Whoa… You've really grown."
Even Jonas, who hadn't seen Ernest in a while, was startled.
He had hoped to tease them by looking down on them, but Ernest had grown too much—now he was in the same position as Robert.
"Well, I did grow, but maybe you both shrank. Oh, sorry. We're still a bit too young to shrink, aren't we?"
"…."
Ernest chuckled mischievously, teasing them like a kid.
Jonas and Robert glared at him, trembling with indignation—but even that glare had to look upward at him.
Finally, Robert couldn't take it anymore.
"Jonas!"
He squatted down as Jonas turned to look.
"Climb on!"
"…What?"
"Get on!"
"…You want me to ride on your back?"
"No! On my shoulders!"
"Are you crazy?"
"I'm not crazy! Someone has to look down on that jerk! From as high up as possible!"
"I… really don't want to…"
"Come on! We don't have time!"
"We have plenty of time…"
Robert wanted to lift Jonas to tower over Ernest, even if it meant humiliating himself.
But noble-born Jonas had no interest in laughing down at someone from a friend's shoulders.
"You really have no shame, Robert…"
"Sometimes a little shame might help…"
"Ernest, you better be careful when you sleep."
"What should I be careful of?"
"Watch your legs."
"You wanna fight? Let's go."
"Damn it! I'll let it slide because I can't beat you!"
Even when they'd been similar in height, Robert couldn't match Ernest.
Now that Ernest outweighed and outsized him, he had no chance.
"Oh look, just when I had nowhere to rest my arms—two perfect armrests right here."
"Get off!"
"Buzz off!"
Ernest threw his arms over their shoulders, only to get elbowed in the ribs.
"Let's stop acting like this. We're fourth-years now. We need dignity. Be role models for the juniors."
He returned to his usual calm, model student demeanor.
"You started it!"
"You're the worst!"
"Calm down. Let's all calm down."
After the commotion, the three walked the streets of Grimman, still cold with the tail of winter.
Only after laughing and messing around like old times did a small sense of relief return to their anxious hearts.
They would be returning to the academy soon, but nothing had changed.
They would still laugh, compete, and graduate together like always.
"I can't believe we're fourth-years."
Robert grumbled.
Ernest gave a small laugh.
"What's so hard to believe? We got older, so we became fourth-years."
"Exactly. We just aged—somehow we're fourth-years."
Ernest had already felt this while being admired by juniors as a training assistant.
He sighed deeply.
"Don't worry. After commissioning, we'll be bottom-rank second lieutenants again."
"Oh no, you're right. We better enjoy our authority as fourth-years while it lasts."
Jonas chuckled.
"What authority?"
"Hmm… uh… yeah, good point."
But when they thought about it, there wasn't much power to enjoy.
It used to be common for seniors to bully or boss around juniors, but since the arrival of "Crazy Kruger" Ernest, such behavior had disappeared from the Imperial Academy.
"Haa… I just want to graduate, buy a hereditary noble title, and retire."
"That's not your goal, you filthy scoundrel."
"Yeah, your goal is to marry a pretty blonde lady, scoundrel."
"That's not filthy—it's honest! Where will you find anyone more pure, honest, and decent than me, you sly creeps?"
Even after being ridiculed, Robert clung to his grand dream—and seemed even more determined.
"You guys must have dreams too, right? I don't mean just wanting a good assignment."
"Hmm… I've only really thought about becoming a beowatcher."
"Knew it. Boring guy."
Robert scowled at Jonas, who hesitated before answering with an awkward laugh.
"It's not really a dream, but… I guess I just want to be cooler."
"Cooler? How?"
"Well, clothes… hair…"
Jonas mumbled.
Ernest suddenly remembered how Jonas had fixed their messy bed hair so skillfully once.
"You can do it, Jonas."
He smiled encouragingly.
"Do what? No matter how much you try, you're no different from me next to the duke's son."
But Robert wasn't having it.
"You always say things in the worst possible way."
"No, but Wilfried is really handsome."
Jonas surprisingly agreed with a smile.
Over the winter, Wilfried Ravid had become so popular in social circles that nobles braved snow-covered roads just to get a glimpse of his face.
"Which is why he's worth surpassing. Whatever his looks, I know I dress better."
"…Jonas, seriously, even rags turn to treasure when Wilfried wears them. That's cheating. You can't win."
"Then live your life giving up. Robert the Defeated Baggage. I'll do it anyway."
Jonas flushed with passion.
"I'll become the most talked-about style icon in society. Unlike Wilfried, whose popularity comes from status and looks, I'll lead the real trends."
"You mean that egg yolk-colored outfit? That was technically Robert's idea."
"Exactly. I'll win purely, no gimmicks."
"You might just end up getting laughed at."
"A man who can't act for fear of others' judgment isn't a man."
"Well said."
Jonas seemed even more resolved.
"So after you become the trendsetter? Woo girls?"
"You think I'm you? Gross."
"You're being really mean…"
The rich son of a noble with a mansion in the inner district, the merchant's son running a vast company, and the wealthy veteran's son walked the streets of the outer district, chattering endlessly, not caring about the time or where they were headed.
Days later, the academy once again bustled with returning cadets.