I Became The Leader Of A Revolution In A Romance Fantasy

< Chapter 27: Parabellum – 4 >

As Visenya’s ‘requirements’ continued, the expressions of the Royalist congressmen shifted from shock to exhilaration.

No wonder, for although their faction had finally produced an idol gaining nationwide support, something had felt lukewarm about it.

– No matter how much devotion does not expect a reward (※that’s a lie), does Her Highness the Princess even intend to be our representative?

But at last.

At last, the princess began to offer them something!

And it wasn’t just any something; it was an awe-inspiring power, the very essence of authority that made their hearts burn just hearing about it!

“……”

And as I listened to this, even though it was something I had previously agreed upon, I couldn’t help but tremble in fear.

‘Is this really right?’

If there was a time to pull the plug, it was now.

What was I thinking that day?

Among the great responsibilities of a hero who trips to a more primitive world is to prevent the repetition of the mistakes humanity made in the 21st century.

In that sense, I was betraying that great responsibility right now.

‘Is it really right to create such a thing? Even if it’s essential to sort out failing companies and banks, isn’t there another way?’

Life had been so smooth without ‘that demon,’ and business had been so amiable.

But the day had come when I would summon the demon that would destroy all this peace with my own hands.

I spoke in a trembling voice.

“So… you mean the Financial Supervisory Service, the Labor Supervisory Service, and the National Tax Service?”

In genre rules, an unholy terror tends to appear when its name is called.

I had finally unleashed the army of demons into this pure world.

Including an insane demon like the Labor Supervisory Service, which didn’t even exist in 21st-century Korea.

###

National crises tend to come with almost extralegal powers.

Moreover, the Royalists and Revolutionaries had joined forces.

– We have no choice. This time, it’s a temporary alliance!

– We haven’t forgiven you yet!

In such cases, even troublesome duos are born, as is a common genre rule.

Of course, reality isn’t a manga, so when two fools combine, you usually get a super fool, but let’s not forget this is a romance fantasy world.

Here, genre rules are science.

(Except for the truly extreme ones lurking outside,) when the idiots on both ends of the Republic joined hands, the guaranteed deadly effect began to spread across the country.

“Kuhuhu, at last, the day has come for us to wear the armband.”

For a year, these red and green armband-wearing maniacs had been kicking down the doors of others’ houses.

(Of course, the newly born green ones would raise their eyebrows at the old aristocrats who blamed them for a year’s worth of the reds’ karma, but to those on the receiving end, a bully is a bully, whether in the third grade or the first grade.)

At last, the Royalists and old aristocrats also gained the right to participate in the games popular in the Republic.

With the authority granted by Her Highness the Princess, they donned white armbands on their forearms.

It had a heart-stirring effect.

#

“Open up!”

Normally, when someone demands a door to be opened, the rule is to wait until the person inside responds, ‘I’ll open it!’

But the ‘white armbands,’ who had endured a year of disgraceful times, had no such intention.

They kicked down the door immediately.

“Ack!”

The person who had rushed to open the door was hit by the breaking door and clutched his nose.

“Uh…?”

A tiny voice of conscience emerged.

– You hurt someone!

But this white armband was of noble origin.

Though they had attempted resocialization for the past year, within their lifelong entrenched class mindset, the logic automatically emerged as:

1. A commoner was hit during a noble’s passage.

2. Then it’s the fault of the one who blocked the way, right?

3. Catch that person and beat them thoroughly.

Having rationalized, the white armband pulled out documents with a clear conscience.

“Everyone freeze! We’re from the Financial Supervisory Service! This bank is suspended from business until the audit is over!”

The cry, indistinguishable whether it was from the Financial Supervisory Service, the prosecution, or just some thug, shook the bank’s headquarters.

“Wait, hold on! What kind of law is this!”

A middle-aged man, a symbol of the new era’s petite bourgeoisie, who was at the manager’s desk, jumped up.

He wore clothes that were the prototype of modern suits, symbolizing the middle class.

And that made him an object of hatred and loathing to the old aristocrats.

“An immediate business suspension! Who’s going to compensate our clients for their losses?”

From his desperate cry, one might think the bank truly cared about its clients.

Innocent and naïve citizens might have agreed, ‘That’s right, that’s right,’ but unfortunately, the white armbands present were mostly from the old aristocracy or those who had loyally served them and reaped the rewards.

They were the original hypocrites who had fervently pursued self-interest under the pretext of serving the kingdom.

Naturally, the manager’s plea fell on deaf ears.

The white armband, harboring a slight sense of victimization from the past year, scoffed.

And then he began to recite what he had been drilled on during the training period.

“It is harmful for failing banks and vicious banks, which pass on losses from reckless investments to ordinary victims, to continue existing!”

The manager staggered.

When the treatment of aristocrats was decided after the revolution, memories of passionately shouting, ‘The nobles who ruined the country must disappear!’ ‘Come forth to the king! Impeach! Abdicate!’ slowly surfaced.

The white armband grinned.

And then he declared to the political thugs he had brought along… No, now they were officially government officials.

“Turn everything upside down.”

“Yes, sir!”

From all directions, cries like “Wait a moment!” and “If you take that, how are we supposed to work?” echoed.

The manager gathered his wits.

He thought it would be the end if he faltered in this chaos.

He tightened his belly and shouted.

“So, what exactly are you going to do with this so-called audit? And what do you mean by saying it’s harmful to let us continue existing? Are you going to shut down our bank?!”

“If it’s deemed a failing bank, we have to shut it down.”

“!”

A heavy silence followed the white armband’s leisurely words.

All the bankers inside stared at the white armband as if they had been struck by lightning.

The armband laughed.

The beautiful tradition of the Republic, where everyone put a knife to each other’s throats, had come full circle, and now it was time to strike at the bourgeoisie.

The white armband was willing to be the sword of the regime.

###

The Financial Supervisory Service, the Labor Supervisory Service (though it wasn’t quite that), and the National Tax Service started swinging their swords madly.

Inspired by the spirit of the White House superhero Wheelchair Man, their ‘New Deal, Our Way’ was taking shape, albeit with clubs and torches making frequent appearances…

Hmm, hmm, hmmm…

In this romance fantasy world, where you could get stabbed while dating, this could be considered a relatively good performance.

It’s not my fault that these people’s customs are so primitive.

“Phew.”

I turned over each page of the reports from those three rabid dogs, who seemed determined to audit the entire country.

“I’m concerned that too much power has fallen into the hands of the Royalists.”

Lize murmured.

There’s a reason for that.

Although it was necessary, it was burdensome for me to handle directly.

Because touching even one of the trinity of the Financial Supervisory Service, the Labor Supervisory Service, and the National Tax Service would guarantee lifelong enmity with the capitalist class.

Borrow a knife to kill (借刀殺人).

It was necessary to place a finely honed knife in someone else’s hand.

‘Besides, if they mess up, it’s easy to blame the Royalists.’

Again, while the ‘New Deal’ succeeded, no one knew how our ‘New Deal, Our Way’ would turn out.

Risk distribution isn’t an option; it’s a necessity.

Lize summarized the contents as I turned the pages beside her.

“The National Tax Service has established corporate and wealth taxes. Especially since they have the authority to investigate and sanction tax evasion independently, capitalists are in a panic.”

“It will help the finances. Without wealth and corporate taxes, the country just becomes a paradise for the rich. We can’t let that happen.”

“…But wouldn’t the wealthy and businesses move abroad…”

I silently fidgeted with my lips.

The purpose of this drastic measure is not only to achieve short-term stability while attempting structural reforms but also to swiftly eliminate doomed companies.

Several special provisions have been loosely put in place, and any company that doesn’t meet even one of these should just collapse now.

As I’ve said repeatedly, we’re in a state of oversupply.

I’ll use the government’s ‘highly visible hand’ to steer things in the direction I want, managing the damage that companies are supposed to endure.

This way, it will help save as many necessary companies as possible.

Reducing the government’s burden in the process.

And for those wealthy individuals who try to hide or transfer their assets, or flee abroad… some unknown patriots will likely pay them a very polite visit and attempt to persuade them.

If anything needs to be done, I’ll make sure Frank stays out of it.

‘A one-legged man stands out too much.’

However, I can’t share all this with Lize.

After the bombing incident in the conference room, I thought long and hard about why Lize had become so sensitive.

…There was only one answer.

‘Ambition.’

Reflecting on her usual behavior, it’s nothing short of madness that she refuses to go home even when told, insisting, “I want to stay by your side, Congressman,” and working overtime.

But am I afraid of her? No, I’m not.

Fear comes from ignorance.

I am very familiar with her type, so I have no reason to be afraid.

Ambitious monsters.

A type that swarmed Yeouido endlessly.

Realizing this, Lize’s strange loyalty, which can’t be explained by mere expectations of a nomination, made perfect sense.

‘If something happened to me, it would blemish her record.’

Her terrifying willpower to work overtime and play the role of a court lady just to keep her political career spotless is truly admirable.

Such a person is deserving of the role of an assistant.

And that’s precisely why I can’t reveal everything.

If I were Lize, the moment I found a flaw, I’d take it straight to the Royalists and sell it.

“Let’s think of a way. Next.”

“The Financial Supervisory Service has summarized the financial status of various companies acquired during the liquidation of failing banks. This includes the top 1, 2, and 3 companies in the sectors you mentioned…”

“Oh, great.”

This was what I had been waiting for.

With a satisfied expression, I took the ‘legally acquired’ audit data in hand.

Lize tilted her head in curiosity beside me.

She must be wondering what I intended to use it for.

‘With this, I can easily identify the weaknesses of companies.’

It’s practically a strategy guide.

It’s like having a cheat that shows the enemy’s status screen.

Knowing which companies are worth acquiring makes it much easier to pierce and take them over.

“And the Labor Supervisory Service has also imposed sanctions on companies that do not pay minimum wage…”

Let me clarify, this is not for my personal gain.

Unlike the mighty government of Great America, the Republic is weak and feeble, and if the government tries to take on too much, it will collapse.

By cleaning up failing banks, we can increase overall trust in the financial sector and, at the same time, enjoy the secondary effect of clearing out toxic assets and eliminating failing companies.

(※The largest toxic asset currently in circulation in the Republic is my patriot bonds.)

Anyway, we have to optimize the economy by cutting away the dead weight.

Moreover, this aligns with our revolutionary ideals.

There was a great paradigm shift that opposed the notion of “I am the state” and claimed “The people are the state.”

I had the honor of leading that exhilarating revolutionary morning and still carry the revolutionary spirit in my soul.

And I am also one of the people.

‘Me = The people = The state.’

So, doesn’t that mean what belongs to the state belongs to the people (= me)?

…What?

Aren’t the people I’m trying to crush also citizens?

Hmm, hmm…

Well, here’s the thing.

This is a common misconception, but rights are not guaranteed just because you have them.

Vigilantibus non dormientibus subvenit lex.

To put it in a more familiar context for Korean society, “The law does not protect those who sleep on their rights.”

‘In other words, one must take care of their own rights.’

Sure, they’re citizens too.

So, let them find their own rights! Shouldn’t I just focus on finding my own rights?

…

Up until that point.

‘These idiots and fools once ruined the country.’

There’s no need to point out a specific culprit.

Of course, politicians are obvious, but do you think entrepreneurs and citizens are innocent?

If you had read the synopsis of the original work’s second part like I did, you wouldn’t say that.

Everyone is guilty.

Everyone stood by with their hands tied while the country was collapsing.

‘Preventing ruin is the duty of the one who transmigrated.’

As a hero in another world and a transmigrator who knows the future,

Should I be agonizing over modern morals, saying, ‘Even so, the methods must be moral,’ knowing full well that the country is doomed?

I don’t think so.

Just 2%.

I’ll take a mere 2% as a fee, and later, I’ll clear out this whole damn circus.

In Hell Joseon, selling even a pair of jeans online incurs over 20% in fees; isn’t this a real bargain?

Saving a doomed country (with a 10% chance) for just a 2% fee?

Wow, if it were me, I’d go all in.

I haven’t asked the citizens of the Republic, but I’m sure they feel the same way I do!

And I’ll even retire quietly when it’s all over.

I can already see myself enjoying a peaceful retirement on some island in the southern sea, inspired by the warm Mediterranean.

I have no intention of becoming a mustache-twirling dictator.

So, just until then.

Until the Great Depression ends and we survive the Great War.

These idiots and fools should just fasten their seatbelts. Barking uselessly won’t help anyway.

To prevent the impending doom,

I have no choice but to control everything as the only variable in this world.

Yes. Only I can change the future.