Age of arrogance novel (machine translated with some grammatical edits)

Chapter 38

"What did I say? Count Pervaz is not a person who would embezzle money." 

"Is that even possible?"

Carlisle said, still looking suspicious.

"I know that Asha Pervaz is strangely anxious to rebuild the estate, but even though money is piling up right in front of her, she doesn't touch it? It doesn't make sense. She can steal as much as she wants!"

Sneaking public funds, calling them 'blind money,' was so common that it doesn't surprise anyone. So Carlisle suddenly asked about the budget expense report, from the start upto this point, so that he could have some kind of an advantage over Asha. If the money was stolen, she would definitely be embarrassed and start making excuses, this was the offensive plan to gain an upper hand over Asha. 

"No. I'm sure she would have made a double ledger or something. It seems like she is quite meticulous in preparing in advance, but there will definitely see some loose ends."

Carlisle did not trust Asha until the end.

It wasn't long before Asha appeared, panting and holding two notebooks. She opened the books in front of Carlisle without even catching her breath. She didn't seem to be hiding anything at all.

"First of all, this is a plan to use the materials given in kind. This is a plan for food and seeds, this is a plan for medical center supplies, this is a plan for other supplies, and this is a plan for building a border fence. I was already aware of the situation with the lumber supply......."

Asha, who usually didn't talk much, now seemed excited and didn't stop talking. And Carlisle and Lionel, who were checking her detailed explanations and roughly calculating them as she traced them with her fingers, could see that she was really trying to maximise efficiency without wasting anything.

"This time we plan to use cash."

When Carlisle heard that it was a money-related plan, he frowned and looked at the note as if it were his last 'hope' to find any weakness. Nonetheless, this time too, Asha explained everything without any trouble.

"Of the 1 million Veronas in cash given, 100,000 Veronas will be used to expand treatment centers and purchase medicine, and 200,000 Veronas will be used to build schools. It may seem a bit much, but I can't delay children's education any further. And 500,000 Verona...."

In other words, 100,000 Veronas are for treatment centers, 200,000 Veronas are for the construction of schools, 500,000 Veronas are for the labor costs of war veterans and those who work as daily wage workers, 150,000 Veronas are for supplementing water supply and sewerage facilities, and the remaining 50,000 Veronas are for the territory's administrative building . It would be used to prepare for the resumption of administrative work in the province. All plans were perfectly organized.

As Carlisle listened, he felt like the 1 million Verona given to them in advance was too little.

"The budget looks tight."

"Oh, no! Just this much gives me a sense of relief and allows me to breathe easy."

"But to build a barrier, you'll need workers, and you'll also need salaries for those workers, right?"

"We can't hire the territory's residents as labourers right now. The priority right now is to stabilise life. Then, we will be able to build a stockade by imposing additional labor."

It might take some time, but it was the most realistic plan.

"Umm......The plan is perfect."

"Thank you."