I’ve been reborn as a villainous lord, so I’m going to defeat the mastermind with a group of characters who are good at just one skill

"And could you please deliver it?"

　Kurt, being a child, seemed not to doubt Klaus' words at all and even thanked him.

　Klaus, who was secretly chuckling at how well it had worked out, accepted the offer with pleasure.

　Raising the tax rate to 80% seemed like an attempt to collapse the territory, no matter how one looked at it.

　It would be easy to fool a person who is willing to talk without even understanding it.

--I was so foolish not to realize that so much money was being used for personal expenses. And he trusted me just by bringing up the Grand Duke's name. But it's a good thing that I can put that much money in my pocket.

　Klaus smiled wryly.

　But such a pleasant time did not last for long.

　Having once returned to the royal capital, Klaus went on his way to the residence of the Grand Duke Kasteen.

　He wanted to get the near-perfect results of this trip to the Grand Duke's ears as soon as possible.

　However, when the Grand Duke Kasteen saw the letter from Kurt, his face turned red and he threw the letter away.

'Hey, what's this all mean!"

'Was the 80% tax rate excessive?"

　Klaus had thought that he should use up at least the Antonor territory and discard it at random, but surprisingly, the Grand Duke might think differently.

　But that was not what the Grand Duke was angry about.

"Just read ......!"

　The Grand Duke looks at the discarded letter.

　Klaus unfolds the letter, which is rolled up in a ball, and his eyes go wide in surprise.

"Hey, what the hell is this?"

　The letter revealed that Klaus was trying illegally to fill his own pockets.

'Since he is doing this to me, a person who has yet to earn my trust, he may be doing it to the Grand Duke of Kasteen as well,' . I would suggest you investigate it carefully".

"You are mistaken!　I would never do anything illegal. Do you believe Viscount Antoner?"

　The Grand Duke Kasteen's eyes narrow as he looks at Klaus, who is in a panic.

　It certainly doesn't mean that Viscount Antoner is telling the truth.

　Still, it was no good for the Grand Duke Kasteen to raise suspicions on his own.

"I can't just let him go off on his own. Besides, I cannot be concerned only about Baron Antoner. I will apologize to him."

"I am sorry for my lack of ability. ......"

Klaus bit his lip and bowed his head regretfully.

'Well, good. I'm sure there are many others who have come into Viscount Antoner's territory besides you. Let us take it slowly."

　The Grand Duke Kasteen smiled wryly.

◇◇◇

In the letter I had Klaus deliver I wrote outright that he was corrupt.

　Of course, he would not believe anything that Kurt, a mere baron, would say.

　But the mastermind, the Grand Duke Kasteen, is a very doubtful man.

　He would not do such a thing as to send the same person without any modification after having received suspicion.

"Um ......, I knew it was a wet dream to raise the tax rate to 40% ......."

　The maid asks worriedly, since Klaus has been pressing for a tax increase.

'No, I'll start on this immediately. But first I need to wipe out everyone who lives in this mansion."

How does the tax rate relate to the people in the mansion?'

"Because it doesn't matter how many tax cuts I call for, if the people in the mansion are the cutters, it won't do any good."

"How can you be so sure ......

"How can you be so sure?"

　The maid choke on Kurt's words.

　Certainly the current head maid would do something like that.

　She is the kind of person who lives only to abuse other maids, . Of course, she never shows such an attitude to the masters , so they may never notice it.

I don't ...... know."

"You don't have to cover for someone who has caused you that much trouble."

　Kurt throws out some papers on the table.

　Kurt tossed out some papers on the table. Written on them was the amount of salary paid to the maids.

"Well, what are these numbers?"

'The amount of salary that should have been paid to the maids.　Ten large silver coins. That's a fair amount if considering them to be house maids".

　One large silver coin is worth about 10,000 yen.

　If that amount of money can be received in addition to guaranteed food, clothing, and shelter, then it is sufficient in this day and age.

　However, the maid's mouth was wide open.

"Oh, um, I only received one silver coin. ......"

　It was the level of a child's allowance.

　So how could they do their job with no riots?

　No, it is precisely because of that that job cutting is widespread.

"That's why. Therefore, I thoroughly identify and eliminate those who are corrupt. By doing so, I will guarantee those who should have been paid."

Can you really do that?" "E

Even if I can't, I'll do it. And besides,......, . No, it's nothing."

--Perhaps the people on the mastermind's side are proudly cutting out the middle man, if I consider Klaus's case.

　It is hard to imagine that the wary Grand Duke Kasteen has sent Klaus alone.

　Kurt thought that there were at least a few.

That's why. Call the house servants!"

"Yes, I'll get them!"

　The maid rushes to call the servants in the mansion.