第１６４３堀：厄介なのが分かってしまう (Part2)
"The worst-case scenario would be Sia and Sona, but fundamentally, the police are the preferred choice. They are, after all, equipped to handle monsters, and that sort of security falls under their jurisdiction. If it were a sudden, large-scale monster incursion, that would be a job for the military, but..."
"True. As you say, if it happens every single day, the costs of mobilizing the military would be... wait, speaking of which, how are the operational costs for the navy being handled? Surely you aren't..."
I felt the blood drain from my face as I realized what my husband was implying.
The reason we keep the military and police separate goes beyond just their roles.
While I mentioned "operational costs," the way those expenses are incurred differs vastly.
The military exists, quite literally, to crush the enemy; their armaments are lavish, and their budget is substantial.
Of course, the police have a budget too, but their operations rely heavily on human labor.
You don't exactly suppress criminals with main battle tanks.
In other words, the cost per deployment is on an entirely different scale.
"I’m not using expensive munitions for simple coastal patrol. Unlike back on Earth, we have personnel here perfectly suited for maritime security."
"Ah, that’s right."
At my husband’s words, I recalled the monsters, led by Shera and her kin, who excel at underwater operations.
But...
"Wait a moment. It may be better than using high-cost ammunition, but these are specialized forces for surface and underwater combat, aren't they? Doesn't that incur its own significant costs?"
"Qual is right. Because they are a specialized force, the costs are indeed higher than recruiting and training ordinary people. Still, it’s better than having to outfit standard personnel with specialized gear just to keep them afloat."
"I see. So you’ve thought that through."
"I wouldn't run this place at a deficit. Operating an aircraft carrier alone costs an astronomical sum. Eris and Prol remind me of that constantly."
"That is correct. Lady Eris and I are keeping a close watch, so please do not worry."
"Phew, that’s a relief. If it were my husband, he might say something foolish like covering the shortfall out of his own pocket."
"Wait, that's your concern? You aren't going to mention the strain on the national treasury?"
She was, as always, missing the point.
Fiora and the others seemed to agree, nodding in unison.
"He is quite capable of doing that. In fact, I have never once seen Yuki-sama purchase something for his own personal use."
"That’s true, isn't it? He buys us food and sweets all the time, though."
"As Rushi says. Yuki-sama often speaks of the necessity of consumption, but surely it would be fine for him to buy something for himself with his own money?"
"Exactly! He always says it’s problematic to rely solely on DP for his hobbies."
"I understand that local goods have their own charm, but couldn't you find something here to enjoy?"
It’s true. As Fiora and the others pointed out, my husband uses his "dig-here-doggy" ability to conjure whatever he wants, so the money he earns is almost entirely spent on his subordinates or donated.
Well, since it’s tax revenue, it’s an ideal way to spend it, but it’s still skewed.
Even I collect swords from time to time, after all.
"We can think about that later. Right now, the focus is on the command structure and the reinforcement of the sea monsters."
Oh, right. The conversation had drifted.
"True. Regarding the command structure, I believe we are all in agreement that it should fall to the police?"
I looked at my husband, then at Qual, Steve, and Fiora. Everyone nodded.
"Yes, I believe that is correct, Your Majesty. However, that raises the question of how many personnel will be assigned, and whether we will be borrowing a military port as a base."
"Indeed. We can't pull everyone away, or their original duties will suffer. How many were you thinking of, anyway?"
"That depends on Dressa’s judgment. It also comes down to how much Aslin can train and guide them. All we can do is decide who holds the command authority and grant the authorization. It was under a different department to begin with, after all."
True. If we brought this up as it stands, we’d just be tossed back and forth between departments.
I suppose this is why we needed to gather everyone and hash it out.
"Understood. I will convey this to Dressa’s navy and the police. The rest is a matter for the heads of those departments to resolve. Steve, make sure you plan for the naval reinforcements and these new additions separately."
"Understood. Though, it’s going to be tough on Princess Aslin."
"Well, I’ve told her not to push herself too hard, so we’ll just have to wait and see."
"True. But that goes for everyone—not just Aslin. Make sure they respect their working hours, maintain a regular lifestyle, and keep their health in check."
I concluded the discussion with that.
It’s strange to say that things get "slow" when my husband enters the workspace, but it’s more that it becomes impossible to work with any real composure.
You know how it is.
When someone like him shows up, you just know that something troublesome is about to happen.