"Why...are there so many people in the throne room?" Jin asked the mage and he proceeded to say that most of them were the ministers' lackeys. To help them take things, take notes, answer for them...which bewildered Jin.
"Then what does the Minister do?" He questioned and the mage proceeded to say that their positions were most hereditary. "So, it's not based on meritocracy?"
"What's that about?" The mage asked and Jin explained that it was based on the merit of the person to take that position. "If you put it that way, their forefathers from 2000 years ago had done that. The children are now reaping the rewards."
"Now I can understand why this kingdom is still so stagnant. Do other kingdoms do the same thing as well?" He asked and the mage shook his head and asked whether the King wished to go to the first floor where his throne awaited him since they were staring at the crowd from the second floor.
None of them noticed him at the moment and those who looked up only thought that there were some conversations done between fellow mages and did not bother.
"It is not my place to say too much. You can get the official reports from the ministers and their...employees." The mage said then Jin looked at him with a stern face.
"I order you." Those three words. Simple as that. it was more than enough to get the Mage to open his mouth.
"What do you wish to know, my Lord?"
"Are there any kingdoms that are currently at war with this kingdom?" Jin asked and he nodded his head. "How many?" and the mage raised up his hand to show all five of his fingers.
"Five Kingdoms?" Jin asked and he shook his head.
"Not exactly. 4 Kingdoms and 1 Alliance of Nations." The mage said and Jin suddenly realised that the dungeon summoning skill that he had was not because of him, but might be for the kingdom's sake.
"Why so many? And why is the place still so choke full of lousy people?" Jin asked and the mage explained that these Wars were declared but no movements were made from either side. "Wait what?"
"The Magical Kingdom of Ress had declared war against these five but neither side made any moves because Ress who was the initiator of these declarations did not send a single troop to the battlefields. Trades are also as usual but there were a lot of sanctions from both sides.
"Why would they do that? Why not call off the war alarm?"
"This is the so called brilliant idea of the finance and war minister. The War Minister did this, drafting more levies and getting people to work below average wages while also utilising the prisoners to work harder and for free. The mage soldiers as well.
"Not exactly. The North is where most of the demons are coming from. In fact, a few kingdoms fell while trying to fight against the demons, and their refugees were incorporated into the bordering nations of the North. It so happened that the Kingdom of Ress is now the borderline before the stranded north."
"Huh, then why declare war on each other when you guys have a common enemy?"
"Because by doing so, I believe the War Minister can take those refugees as prisoners of war too. It will lessen the demand for labour... and make them productive. And by being at war with the other nations, the Kingdom of Ress does not need to take in additional refugees from them. There was no pressure."
"This is national politics gone so fucking wrong. What the hell is the Foreign Minister even thinking if there is one." Jin said and Linus shook his head, stating that there was no such post. "Much figures." Jin sighed.
"Then what are the Ministries aside from War and Finance?"
"Your Majesty, even if I tell you, you might not have the power to defy them. The rules for the Kingdom of Ress is that the King is at the bidding of the Ministers. Whatever the Ministers said, the king has to follow the Ministers' law as their word is ironclad."
"So that is what happened to the previous kings and queens as well?"
"Yes, a few of them die in battle against the demons," Linus said.
"Therefore, I am a soldier with a glorified title? I bet the War Ministers use this summoning as a way to get free specialised troops to do their bidding, no? I worried for the so called Queens."
"Huh? There are no Queens that had been summoned before."
"Oh...okay. That's great to know." Jin wondered how the ladies would be summoned and might possibly be abused by these 'ironclad' ministers. It was a terrible thought but seeing how their politics were distasteful to begin with, Jin did not hesitate to consider such a possibility.
"But your Majesty, if you are able to wield the power of the celestial relic, things might be different for you," Linus reported with respect.
"Hmm. Hmm. Then perhaps, this might be a show that is worth going into." Jin suddenly has very naughty thoughts on how to bully the ministers. Perhaps, Kraft had taught him too many devilish tricks that Jin always tries to find and apply them to such scenarios.
At the same time, the supposed Moon King successor also realised that as long as he can make something out of a molehill, the System that resides in him will provide him with additional achievements.
It was a way to exploit the System to give him more stats and that way, it will better prepare him for the upcoming 5 year invasion of the angels.