Herscherik (Reincarnated Prince Series)

The moon illuminated the dark night and the interior was brightly illuminated with lighting that glowed with floating magic.

After leaving the orphanage, Hershelik and the others went through the way out and returned to their rooms without any problems. However, the current situation is full of problems, which plagued the head of the triplets.

"Exactly, I need nothing so far to be tough..."

Sitting back on the couch placed at the window, Hershelik shrugs.

In the end, we couldn't get any powerful information from the informant, and even when we went to the orphanage where Oran's fiancée was going, we just reaffirmed our powerlessness, and nothing came of it.

"Sure, it's odd that there's not much to gain from looking so far.

Crowe agrees with the prince's words.

(Information that even Cro can't grasp... Besides, I can't believe there's no physical evidence at all...)

Two years ago, and this time, it is certain that the medicine is involved. But there is no way to follow that record. Something unusual about medicine is that it is not refreshing. There will be the involvement of senior officials, but it is still only within the bounds of speculation.

In the first place, only information about Roland, Oran's father, was found to be related to the drug two years ago and this time. It is information brought about by the coincidence that Oran, who was close to the party two years ago, became the lead knight and that Hershelik and the others encountered the noise in this castle town.

The noise in Castle Town cannot be confirmed because of the ongoing project. Maybe it'll be erased the same way it was two years ago.

"Like nothing really..."

Oran leaks a sigh, Hershelik is also breathed out.

"Nothing..."

Upon reciting Oran's words, Hershelik remembered the words of the informant.

"Beginning and ending, and all and one. That's the tip. '

(Beginning and ending, all and one………………… Ah!

It flashed.

Hershelik jumps off the couch and rushes to the study. From the documents that became retreats and mountains, multiple documents that were the object were taken and compared side by side on the desk of the study.

"…… I knew it.

"Hershey?"

Crowe speaks to Hershelik from beyond the open door.

He couldn't speak to Hershelik, who suddenly moved, and his bellies were waiting across the door.

"Both of you, come here!

Invite the two of them. Hershelik refers to the expanded documents.

There are documents that summarize and list the expenditures of the Kingdom of Gracis by department, for the past five years.

By the way, the year in this country begins in the spring. In previous life, the March financial results began in April.

"Only two years before this department, it spends considerably less.

That was research bureau spending. Certainly 20% less than before and after that.

"But at the budget stage, we have the usual budget. For years other than two years ago, the actual expenditure is as much above budget.

The budget is structured on the basis of the actual figures for the previous financial year. With less spending in the previous year, most of the budget for the following year would be reduced.

Even in previous lives, special features were organized on television shows about the waste of the country every once in a while.

Some local administrations make wasted purchases with extra budgets. Why does that happen? In the end, it seemed like it was an extra budget for the state, because the budget for the following year would be reduced and things would go wrong if we didn't have the money when we needed it and wanted to spend it. So I try to spend as much of my budget as I can.

Even Ryoko's company sometimes wasted money because they didn't want their budget reduced. Although Ryoko promptly reported it to her boss and her manager submitted a final statement and improved it.

Turning back, only the research bureau in question was uncomfortable. Actual expenditure from the budget has increased or decreased in other departments, but the difference between research bureaux is unusually large.

"The only difference between the budget and the actual one is too great for the Research Bureau. I missed it because I checked all my actual spending.

Research is not what you think it is. It's not always a success, and you're more likely to have a deficit than a budget.

In fact, years other than two years ago are more expenditure than budgeted.

(The beginning is the budget to be organized and the end is the actual expenditure cost.

The tip the informant gave me, it did exist.

(But how does that lead to medication? Remaining tips………)

Hershelik fishes for research bureau documents. Research bureau reports almost all fit within the budget. Is that because of the department's efforts, or...

"Bureau of Research Magic and Pharmaceutical Laboratory, this department alone has low international spending.

Retrieve several documents of the department's spending breakdown from spring to summer. Hershelik does not know, but the trade names of the names line up with the technical terms, with unit prices, quantities and amounts written.

In the same way, the expenditure details of the previous fiscal year are compared with the retrieval.

"... the unit price is completely different, is this normal?

Hershelik shows the documents to both of them. Until now, we have been looking at the total amount of the year, so we overlooked it.

"… Impossible.

"The market price is more than double this price.

Oran receives the paperwork and tells him to cross his tongue. Cro nodded as well, peering from the side at the paperwork he had.

In other words, because the cost of research in the Magic Pharmacy Laboratory was so unnaturally low, the spending of the Bureau itself fell within the budget compared to normal years.

As the informer said, there was something wrong with one of the labs called All.

(Chip, I was just too distracted by the case.

Hershelik offends himself inside. Because it was the beginning of the case, I was concerned about the investigation.

Thread found because of tips from the informer. But if I had scrutinized the material more carefully, I might have noticed.

I think Hershelik needs to stay focused. The informant gave me a tip this time. But there is no next time.

Hershelik reflects on the two of them unnoticed and changes his mind. I can't help but think it's over. The question is how to make use of it.

"It's pretty meaningful when you were purchasing at that unit price, isn't it?

Hershelik said to the two people comparing the materials.

The time when it was purchased at a cheap unit price was two years ago, from spring to summer. In other words, it was consistent with when the medicine came out.

"Suppose they had another profit and dared to make it such a cheap unit price......"

(There's a good chance there was some kind of back-trade.

For making a back deal, what would that be? The fact that they are lowering the unit price of expensive herbs compared to normal years means that they are giving their opponents an alternative to that amount of gold or gold.

Thinking that far, Hershelik noticed the worst.

"No way, the source of the drug was the country............?

Pass information on medicines developed in the country to the other party. The counterparty sells the product cheaply in exchange for information on the drug. Of course, the people who set it up would have benefited from money or things, and the efforts of officials to cut the budget would raise the ratings. It's a one-stone, two-bird deal that moisturizes my nose.

Besides, if the country's research project was leaking outside, the Bureau of Research is a bigger problem shaking the country than it was before. If there is pressure from above on the police station to cover it up, the police station will have to complete the investigation as well. It is also satisfactory that the document was in a difficult state.

But he hasn't taken off his speculation yet.

(And then, if there's anything to connect this back deal to the case.

"……… Kro, I want you to go to the Legal Department first.

"What can I look for?

Chro asks Hershelik's exact question. He does not speak primarily of the foolish question of why he goes to the Legal Department.

"Directory of officials two years ago. A list of human beings who worked primarily for the Research Bureau, and also officials from the Finance Bureau at the time.

Human beings who can spill research information on medicines will be limited to the inside of the Bureau of Research. It is possible that a person from the Treasury who gathers documents and reporting connections pretended not to look at it in order to hide the fact.

"Next, at the Finance Bureau, I need all the information on the counterparties involved with the Research Bureau at the time.

"Okay.

Dropping off Crowe leaving the room without a sound, Hershelik then speaks to Oran.

"Oran wants me to remind him two years ago of someone I know or associate with around me or my fiancée. I'm sure there's someone in there who ties this up with two years ago.

"Copy that."

Oran nodded forcefully.

(But…………)

Hershelik thinks as he clears the paperwork he's spread out.

(Something is still caught.

It was as if the small bones of the fish were caught between the teeth.

Hershelik felt he was missing something, but he couldn't wipe that discomfort away by the time Crowe got back.