章 44: Last Dance (2)

Having poured something out intensely, Bunge briefly caught his breath and regained his composure.

"But you know what?"

Official's mannerism. Official's sense of futility. He knows it all. Having experienced it countless times until this age, he damn well knows it.

"If you're not one of those common ordinary people, listen well. You third-rank and below secretaries, what was the reaction when you said you were coming to the Far East? Everyone laughed, right? Said you got on the wrong track and were going to civilize dirty yellow people. That you had the wrong superior so you'd never get a good position. And now with Witte's agricultural reform in full swing? Have you all heard them say that while Nikolai Bunge and his subordinates failed at reform, the next Finance Minister succeeded because of his ability?"

"...We've heard it."

"Chairman! It's too unfair. We laid the foundation, resolved the deficit, and set up all the plans!"