Chapter 0366 Holy Sword
-x-X-x-
That day, Roberto Pirlo, the head of the Union Delegation, had visited the neighboring Kingdom Delegation quarters early in the morning, which was quite unusual.
He met directly with Hugh, the head of the Kingdom Delegation, to discuss some matters, including the matter of the covert surveillance.
Groen, the captain of Roberto Pirlo's guards, was outside the Kingdom quarters.
Going back and forth between the adjacent Union quarters and the Kingdom quarters.
It was completely by chance that the three from 'Room 10' witnessed the scene.
A single knight getting attacked by four men dressed in black.
Moreover, the knight looked familiar to them.
"The captain of that former King's guards?"
"Groen, I believe he's called."
"I've seen him practicing, he's quite skilled with the sword."
Niels, Etho, and Amon were running toward Groen as they said that.
However, Groen, who was so skilled with the sword that Amon admired him, was struck down in an instant.
The four men who had struck him down took Groen's sword and tried to run away.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.
Etho fired a series of arrows from the rapid-fire crossbow attached to his left arm as they ran.
Piercing the left hamstring of one of the men.
And pierced the back of another.
The other two arrows missed.
The accuracy of the arrows was quite good, even though they were fired in motion.
The man who was hit in the left leg fell over.
And Niels kicked the man in the head as he passed him, knocking him out.
Perhaps they saw the scene of Groen being attacked.
Several Kingdom guards were chasing after the three as well.
They appeared to be members of the C-rank party 'Tenzan'.
They left the capture of the one knocked out cold to them.
The three members of 'Room 10' followed the three men in black without slowing down.
Turning through several alleys.
The three of them noticed that the roads were getting narrower and narrower with each turn.
That was not a good sign.
If the road gets narrower, a simple obstacle could block the way….
And sure enough….
Rattle.
Several planks that were leaning against each other were knocked down, obstructing the three of them.
But in that moment.
Etho stopped momentarily, and in a single breath, aimed and fired an arrow that shot through the arm of the man holding the bag containing Groen's sword.
On top of that….
Bang.
It contained gunpowder.
The man's arm didn't get blown off, but as expected, the bag containing the sword fell to the ground on impact.
The men hurriedly tried to pick up the bag.
The men prioritized retrieving the sword over escaping….
"The sword is that important, huh."
The man who was about to retrieve it was startled by the voice.
They ought to have left the three pursuers behind on the other side of the collapsed planks, but one of them, an agile-looking swordsman, was on their side of the collapsed planks.
It was Amon.
He had dodged the planks by doing a wall run and landed on the spot with movements reminiscent of an acrobat.
"
Whoosh.
Amon sliced through the
In concert with the magic, another of the black-clad assailants came at Amon with a dagger he had taken out of his pocket.
Amon dodged the dagger's side sweep with fine footwork.
Keeping a reasonably safe distance.
And not simply dodging by a hair's breadth.
Because assailants like them probably have poison coated on their daggers.
Amon, too, had gained experience and was able to determine when to evade with just a paper-thin margin or evade by a comfortable amount.
However, the wider the distance, the later the timing for a counterattack.
That couldn't be helped.
And there was no need to rush.
Time was on his side.
The three men in black were now in a hurry because they were running out of time.
They were anxious to retrieve the bag containing Groen's sword lying on the ground as soon as possible and make their escape.
Because the more time that passes, the greater the possibility of pursuers coming after them….
First, after scattering the planks that blocked the way, Niels joined the fray.
"Good job holding out, Amon."
"Please. Blowing through all those planks, that's amazing too."
Niels praised him and Amon returned the praise.
"It's also to make it easier for those making their way here."
Niels realized it as well.
The more time passes, the more advantageous it was for them.
A momentary stalemate ensued.
The first to make a move was, as expected, the men in black.
"
Three consecutive shots of fireballs.
One shot each at Niels, Amon, and Etho.
Niels and Amon both slashed theirs, and Etho repelled his with
The attack was not intended to inflict damage.
The moment they were fired, another of the men in black leaped at the bag that was lying on the ground.
Swoosh.
An arrow pierced the man's neck.
Etho was aiming for that.
He knew there was a chance they planned to distract them with a diversionary attack and then pick it up while at it.
"Guess the thought to retreat never crossed their minds."
Etho muttered.
"Fireba…"
The other man in black couldn't finish his chant.
Amon jumped in and slit his throat.
At the same time, Niels also slashed at the other man.
Niels wields a heavy sword.
Each blow is remarkably heavy.
Of course, that doesn't mean that his sword pace is slow.
He's a B-rank swordsman.
With room for growth.
At the third successive strike, the man in black must have already realized that he couldn't hold on much longer.
At the fourth successive strike, his dagger was sent flying, and as he was about to receive the fifth strike, he closed his eyes.
He had accepted death.
However….
At the last minute, Niels twisted his wrist and struck the back of the man's head with the flat side of his sword instead of lopping his head right off.
The man in black passed out.
"I hope we get something out of him."
Niels said as he sheathed his sword.
"And me and Etho ended up killing two of them…"
Amon said, scratching his head.
"We knocked one of them out just now, so we got two of them alive, that's good enough, right?"
Though Etho is a priest….
As the three were having that discussion, those trailing behind caught up.
In the lead was Groen, the owner of the sword.
"It's in that bag."
Etho said, and Groen scrambled after it and pulled the sword out of the bag.
"Phew…"
His words leaked out unintentionally, and he embraced it with tears streaming down his face.
It seemed to be a very precious sword.
After hugging it for a moment, he stood up and bowed his head deeply.
"Thank you for getting it back. I got careless and was caught off guard…"
"Don't mention it, we only caught a glimpse of them from afar, but… there were four of them so it's understandable. They were quite skilled in martial arts."
Niels comforted him.
"It's a sword I inherited from my now deceased Lord. I'm so relieved…"
Groen said and hugged the sword again.
Both Niels and Amon could understand how much he cherished his beloved sword.
The two of them looked on with smiles on their faces.
"So you're telling me that Groen's sword was the target of the surveillance on us for the past few days."
"It appears so."
Commander Hugh's room in the Kingdom Delegation quarters.
And as might be expected, it was fitted with a conference room where meetings of a dozen or more people could be held.
There were eight people gathered there, including Hugh, former king Roberto Pirlo, Guard Captain Groen, the three from Room 10, Gladys, the negotiator from the Ministry of Military Affairs, and her deputy, Ashley.
Incidentally, Ryo had not yet returned from the Papal Palace….
"Well, it's a good thing they didn't kill him and take it. Since the easiest way to obtain the holy sword is to kill the owner."
"So, they went directly after the holy sword instead of killing to get it…. Now, why did they do that?"
Roberto Pirlo and Hugh were talking about the case.
"Groen's sword is indeed a holy sword, but… not one that is worth that much…"
"Your Majesty, with all due respect, it is very valuable to me!"
Groen rebutted Roberto Pirlo's words, leaning forward unusually.
"I-I know that. I know you value it a lot. It is the sword that Baron Luke Rochecaux passed down to you, is it not? But if put on the market, I don't think it's a sword that could go for more than, say…"
"I will not sell it!"
Groen further refuted Roberto Pirlo's explanation.
The sword was a memento of the late baron, whom he once served.
"Well, generally speaking, holy swords aren't put up for sale. A sword that can't be used unless it approves of the wielder… is not fit to be merchandise. A magic sword would fare better."
"Agreed."
Roberto Pirlo nodded at Hugh's words.
Gladys, the military negotiator, who had been quietly listening to these conversations, spoke.
"What kind of ability does Mr. Groen's sword possess?"
Holy swords and magic swords each have their characteristics.
Hugh's holy sword Galahad, for example, blocks the ability to regenerate.
In general, the characteristics of holy swords are all usually unorthodox….
"My sword annihilates spiritual bodies, so I've heard. However, I have never experienced using that effect before…"
"I dare say… that's one characteristic that limits the range of its use."
Groen answered, Gladys nodded and said in response, and then continued.
"My holy sword Kurikara is also said to be the Evil Crushing Sword, but… not sure in what situations exactly it comes in handy…"
Honestly… their abilities are all quite unorthodox….
"Now then, what to do?"
Roberto Pirlo's muttering also represented the feelings of everyone present….
Meanwhile, Ryo left the Papal Palace after informing Graham of his discussions with three of the Pope's four bishops.
That took quite a while.
After Ryo left, a knock sounded in Graham's room.
"Come in."
Graham said, and the door opened and a woman entered.
"It's been a while, Cardinal Graham."
"Indeed, Archbishop Stefania."
She looked to be in her mid-twenties.
But her composure was not one that someone in their mid-twenties could possibly possess.
In fact, Graham knew the real age of the woman in front of him.
Because she was once his subordinate.
And now she was in the position he once occupied.
"Now this is quite unusual, for the head of the Inquisition to pay me a visit."
Graham, former head of the Inquisition.
Stefania, the current head of the Inquisition.
When Graham joined the Hero Party, he recommended her as his successor and the Church approved.
Six years have passed since then.
The Inquisition, as the name implies, is an institution that inquires into 'heresy'.
However, the Inquisition does not currently use the torturous methods of the Inquisition in Earth's history.
They did at a time, but not anymore….
Nowadays, the Inquisition is conducted in a much smarter manner… with the use of medicine, magic, and alchemy.
The Inquisition building stands adjacent to the west side of the Papal Palace, connected to it by a corridor… but people seldom pass through it.
No one goes there from the Papal Palace, and no one comes from the Inquisition.
For any clergyman, the Inquisition is like a haunted mansion they're not particularly keen on approaching.
The head of such a place.
"So? Why are you here today?"
Graham asked, reaching for the coffee in front of him.
"I'm here to talk to you about a man named Ryo, an adventurer from the Kingdom, who has been visiting you."
"Ohh…"
Stefania said, and Graham responded softly.
"He could turn on the Church. I would like to bring him before the Inquisition."
"Hmm…. Of course, he is an adventurer from the Central Countries, so he is a heretic in the eyes of the Church?"
"You know quite well. That, that's not what I meant."
Graham teased her a little, and Stefania replied with a frown.
"So basically, you want to extract the information that Ryo-san has. And possibly erase his memories… or manipulate him at will… is that what you mean?"
"Yes."
Graham explained and Stefania nodded.
It was one of the Inquisition's favorite method.
"No one can prevent the Inquisition from wanting to bring a case before the Inquisition. Not even a cardinal like me, of course. But you had better think about it."
Graham's tone didn't change.
Nor did his expression.
The only thing that changed was the look in his eyes.
"Because he's an adventurer from the Kingdom you mean. Sorry, but that's not enough to change our stance on the matter. It will certainly put a strain on the negotiations. I understand that. But faith takes precedence over everything else."
Stefania insisted.
Hearing that, Graham shook his head slightly.
"You got me all wrong. Sure, he's an adventurer from the Kingdom, and if you touch him, it'll surely put pressure on the negotiations. Or rather, it will break down totally. But that's not what I'm talking about."
"Then what do you mean?"
"If you touch him, the Church will collapse."
Graham said without changing his expression or tone.
Hearing this, Stefania tilted her head.
She did not seem to understand.
"Master Graham, are you saying that you will turn against us and that the Church will split up?"
"No…"
Graham shook his head again.
Then he felt a sense of hopelessness.
How to go about conveying something she won't understand even if he told her.
"Stefania…"
Graham called out, sounding distressed for the first time.
She was about to make a terrible mistake… but there was nothing he could do to stop her.
"As you know, the Inquisition is under no restriction from anyone. Therefore, I am bringing the Kingdom Adventurer, Ryo, before the Inquisition."
After saying that, Stefania got up and left.
"No restriction from anyone also means no protection from anyone, you know… Stefania."
Graham muttered sadly.
-x-X-x-
When Ryo returned to the quarters, the receptionist asked him to go immediately to the Commander's room.
And when he entered the Commander's room, he saw many different faces.
Hugh, former king Roberto Pirlo, his Guard Captain Groen, Niels, Etho, Amon, and Gladys, the negotiator from the Ministry of Military Affairs, and her deputy, Ashley.
According to them, the holy sword that Groen was carrying was targeted.
The three from Room 10 who happened to be watching, prevented it.
"Ooohhh~"
Ryo was frankly impressed.
Then he looked at the three of them and said.
"Must have gotten yourselves an awesome reward then!"
"…"
No one said anything.
"…Hm?"
Ryo's comment might have been too forward.
Then he looked around flustered.
"O-Of course. The Union Delegation will be sure to reward them with a lot of gold."
Roberto Pirlo said hurriedly.
Perchance… if Ryo hadn't said that, they wouldn't have received anything….
While they were talking about that, a loud voice echoed from outside.
Soon, they could hear the sound of someone coming up the stairs.
The door was violently opened and DeLong, the leader of 'Coffee Maker', rushed in.
"Mr. Hugh, the Church's Inquisition or whatever they're called wants us to hand Ryo over to them."
"What?"
"Me?"
As they descended into the lobby, they found themselves in a situation that could truly be described as a powder keg.
Members of the church in black robes were trying to advance past the lobby, but the Kingdom adventurers were blocking their way and stopping them with their bodies.
Then, Hugh intervened.
"I'm Hugh McGrath, head of the Kingdom Delegation. Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?"
His voice overwhelmed the entire space.
A voice that seemed to be accompanied by physical pressure.
But the woman who emerged from among the church members in black vestments did not flinch at all.
"I am Archbishop Stefania, head of the Inquisition. I am bringing the Kingdom Adventurer Ryo before the Inquisition. Please hand him over immediately."
The woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties, unlike Hugh, said in a calm and quiet voice.
"What are you talking about? You do realize we're a delegation from the Kingdom, right? And you want to put one of our escort adventurers through the Inquisition? Do you think you can get away with such a thing!"
"There's nothing to get away with. No one can interfere with the Inquisition."
"Does Cardinal Graham, our point of contact on your side know about this? He even used to be the head of the Inquisition."
"Cardinal Graham also has no authority to interfere with the Inquisition."
"The hell…"
Stefania's words infuriated Hugh, causing his face to turn red.
But then a voice interrupted them.
"Although I have no authority to interfere, I did share my concerns."
Cardinal Graham emerged from behind the black-robed Inquisition officers.
At the sound of his voice, the Inquisition officers who had been blocking the way quickly split apart, clearing the way.
Six years after leaving his post as head of the Inquisition, it seemed that even now his prestige remains intact.
"Graham! What the hell is this?"
Hugh yelled.
"I'm so sorry, Master McGrath. Stefania is right, no one can interfere with the Inquisition. Not even me, a Cardinal."
"You gotta be kidding me…"
"But I did mention that if they insist on bringing Ryo-san before the Inquisition, negotiations with the delegation will break down, and that is something they really should consider. Stefania, if you are going to back down, this is your last chance, okay?"
But Stefania completely ignored Graham's words.
"I will have you hand over the adventurer Ryo."
"Screw you!"
Hugh yelled. At that moment.
"Silence."
The voice was neither loud nor sharp.
But it reached the ears of everyone in the lobby.
The Kingdom adventurers, hearing the voice behind them, immediately turned and made way.
They didn't know why exactly.
But they all understood that it was the right thing to do.
Quietly.
And slowly.
A magician in robes emerged through the path the adventurers made.
Meanwhile, no one uttered a word.
Neither Stefania nor Hugh.
They felt… that they must not speak.
Then the magician arrived before Graham.
Graham stood there without a change in his expression.
But that was a kind of bluff.
As he was under pressure that he didn't quite understand.
(What's going on here…. Ryo-san… yeah, it's Ryo-san alright, but… unlike his usual self. What tremendous pressure…. Just like the one I felt from the former Pope… no, more than that.)
"You want to put me before the Inquisition?"
Ryo said, turning to Stefania.
(Me? He always speaks informally though…)
Hugh was curious about the change in his speech pattern.
Stefania couldn't answer Ryo's question.
"You want to put me before the Inquisition?"
Ryo asked Stefania again.
"Y-Yes."
Stefania's voice was weak.
The composure she had earlier was completely gone.
Her lips and fingertips were trembling and she broke out in cold sweat.
"Do you know what will happen if you bring me before the Inquisition?"
Ryo asked. As before, in a very gentle tone.
A gentle tone, but… a frightening one.
"Negotiations… will break down."
Stefania replied.
"Ahahahaha. Nah, not quite."
Ryo laughed.
But the next moment.
His expression went stale.
"I'll put the Holy Capital, everything, on ice."
And then he chanted.
"
For a moment, just a moment, the lobby froze.
The lobby and the entire Inquisition froze.
But only for a moment.
And then reverted to normal.
But the Inquisitors understood.
They were indeed entrapped in ice just now.
And so did Stefania, the head of the Inquisition.
"I will freeze the Holy Capital, forever. And if that's not enough, the whole goddamn Theocracy. Since you're thinking about bringing me before the Inquisition, that's about as much blowback as you can expect, don't you agree?"
Ryo informed Stefania, keeping his expression blank.
Stefania couldn't reply.
"If you want to talk, we can talk another day in the lounge over there. But I refuse to go along with your Inquisition. Since you will use smoke to loosen my mouth into confessing and tamper with my memory, right?"
Ryo said, glancing at Graham.
Graham's lips curled slightly.
Then, finally, Ryo undid the 'pressure'.
"So, feel free to come back again. And next time, please make a proper appointment before you come."
The Inquisitors, led by Stefania, in their black vestments left.
"Wow, nicely done. It's not easy to learn how to exert that kind of 'pressure'. Even royalty, brought up in such an environment from an early age, often fail to acquire it…."
Former king Roberto Pirlo, who was watching in the background, praised Ryo.
Ryo smiled wryly at the praise.
The training was actually done in Rondo Forest.
By a neighbor who comes to his house from time to time… the Dragon King himself instructed him.
Pressure, or aura, or you could call it charisma… but they might be a little different….
Of course, there are those on Earth who can exert it too.
It may very well be one of the inherent traits in humans… but since most people have no use for it, by the time they're adults, it becomes pretty much nonexistent.
It's very sad.
"I hope that was okay…"
Ryo said with a wry smile.
In fact, he wasn't sure himself.
"It was perfect. As expected of the Premier Duke."
Roberto Pirlo said the second half really softly. All the while smiling.
"Ryo…"
Hugh McGrath approached and called out to him.
"Mr. Hugh, sorry for the inconvenience."
Ryo bowed.
"No, it's not your fault, Ryo. I feel like it all started when I sent you to the Republic…"
Hugh scratched his head as he said that.
Even though he had no other choice at the time, seeing how it led up to this point and in this way, it made him keenly aware of his poor judgment.
What a complicated world….
((And so, Mr. Hugh bought me cake and coffee.))
((Oh, I know… or rather, I was linked up with 'Soul Resonance' then, too.))
((Oh, I see.))
((You know, those Inquisition officers are priests, right? You said before that you can't freeze someone who uses magic or something, but I see you can now.))
((Yeah….
After everything had settled, Ryo was in the lounge drinking coffee and reporting to His Majesty the King.
However, Abel didn't seem to understand it well.
It can't be helped.
The abyss of magic is quite deep.
((…Well, I know very well know how scary Ryo can be when you're angry.))
((Me? I wasn't angry? I was just trying to scare them by exerting a little pressure.))
((Eh…))
((You see, I learned how to exert pressure from the dragons living in the Rondo Forest, so I just thought I'd put it into practice. I feel like if I really get angry and lose my cool, on the contrary, I won't be able to do it. Abel was a prince, so you could do that kind of thing naturally, right? I really envy that.))
Ryo said so honestly.
Members of the royal family were constantly exposed to tangible and intangible pressures from an early age.
That's a kind of extraordinary situation for people.
Since it's an extraordinary situation, he believes that those who endure it will obtain something out of the ordinary.
Be it good or bad, of course.
Ryo thinks that the reason Abel can handle being suddenly covered in paperwork may be the accumulation of such experiences since he was a child.
Sometimes he feels sorry for him, but he also thinks he's amazing.
With all that said, Ryo has a lot of respect for Abel.
((Abel is really amazing.))
((Whoa, where's that coming from?))
((Just know that I'm always rooting for you, Abel! ))
((S-Sure…))
Then, Abel seemed to remember something.
((Ryo, just to let you know, I'm going on an inspection tour of the northern part of the country tomorrow.))
((Inspection?))
((Yeah. After that, I will go around to the east and then return to the royal capital. It should take about 50 days.))
((So paperwork in the meantime…))
((Oh? W-Well, that's… for Marquis Heinlein to do, isn't it?))
Ryo sighed deeply.
He was just impressed earlier.
((I said I was rooting for Abel, but I take it back.))
((Eh?))
((Traveling for fifty days, how extravagant!))
((Yeah, but it was Ryo and others who recommended the inspection.))
((…I don't think I did, not that I recall that I did, nor do I remember when I did or feel like I did.))
((Well you did! Though, before then, Marquis Heinlein recommended the same thing to me.))
((Oh, really? That's good then. Good luck with your inspection.))
((What's… with the difference between your assessment of me and Marquis Heinlein…))
((Accomplishments, I suppose.))
((I see…))
((Good luck Abel, and do your best in racking up some accomplishments.))
((Sure, I'm super hyped…))
For some reason, it was Ryo who said that in a superior and pompous manner.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0368 Intermission – King Abel's Northern Tour Part 1
-x-X-x-
Abel was riding in the royal carriage.
He had left the royal capital for the northern part of the Kingdom.
Along the way, he stopped at several towns and met with the subjects and lords on the way to his destination, Carlisle.
Carlisle was the capital of the then Flitwick Dukedom before the Kingdom's liberation war.
The Flitwick Dukedom was founded by Prince Raymond, and Carlisle was the second-largest city in the north.
Raymond, the king's brother, rebelled against the royal family.
Almost all the nobles in the north joined in.
The Empire also lent its support, and the Kingdom was divided.
In the end, Abel, who became king, led the allied forces in the south and west, defeated Raymond's and the Empire's forces, and reunited the Kingdom.
Naturally, the Flitwick Dukedom was crushed, as were almost all the northern nobles who had joined the rebellion.
After the entire north was placed under royal control, the lands in the north were given to those who had played an active role in the liberation war, according to merit.
Some places became enclaves of the southern and western nobles, while others were taken over by newly appointed nobles and became fiefdoms in the north.
However, it's only been three years since the liberation war.
The north was not yet completely stable.
For this reason, Abel's trip to the north was accompanied by the Royal Knights as his escort.
And the Captain, Dontan himself, led the Royal Knights.
Although Abel complained about it being an overkill.
"It is our job to protect His Majesty."
Abel could not do anything about it once Dontan made it clear and Marquis Heinlein, the former captain of the Royal Knights, who was listening next to him, nodded his head.
"The Valkyrie Knights will protect Queen Rihya and Prince Noah at all costs."
The Valkyrie Knight Captain, Imogen, also stated strongly, and Abel had no choice but to accept.
"I would have preferred a more carefree journey…"
Abel's muttering disappeared into the ceiling of his office without reaching anyone's ears…
The Flitwick Dukedom, which had held Carlisle, was destroyed after the liberation war.
After the Flitwick Dukedom was dissolved, the Rondo Dukedom was then established.
With Ryo as the head of the house.
His territory is, of course, the Rondo Forest.
Therefore, what to do with Carlisle was quite a headache.
After all, it was the former capital territory of the rebel Raymond.
Moreover, it was the second largest city in the north.
It's not far from the royal capital, and the surrounding area is one of the largest wheat-producing areas in the Kingdom….
So, it was only natural that the whole Kingdom would be interested in who would rule over the city.
Abel's answer was to establish a new house, the Carlisle County, and install a new head.
The size of the fiefdom is about half the size of the Flitwick Dukedom.
Even so, it was still an excessive amount of territory for a newly established County to hold.
Many opinions flew around, but these noises were quickly put to rest when the head of Carlisle County and his wife were announced.
This was because many knew that they were the people King Abel trusted the most.
Carlisle mansion, audience room.
"Long time no see, Warren, Rin."
"Greetings to you too, Your Majesty Abel…"
Abel greeted, Rin answered, and Warren smiled.
Warren, Count of Carlisle, and Rin, Countess of Carlisle.
Needless to say, the two were both members of the 'Crimson Sword', of which Abel was the leader.
Originally, both Warren and Rin came from noble families.
Warren is the eldest son of the Barony of Harome, which has produced generations of the 'King's Shield'.
Rin is the second daughter of Count Shook.
Warren is the only male member of the Barony of Harome, so he is both the current head of Carlisle County and the next head of the Barony of Harome.
That area will probably be revisited sometime later, but for now, it remains as is.
In the Kingdom, the direct male line… is not necessarily the one to inherit the family. There are also quite a few female lords.
In most cases, the current head of the family decides who will inherit the house.
The Shook County has six children, including Rin, so someone other than Rin will probably take over the family….
Both the Barony of Harome and the Shook County have estates in the suburbs of the royal capital, so even though Carlisle is in the north, they are not that far from home.
So they came and went as they pleased…
King Abel's arrival into Carlisle was held in an audience chamber, albeit informally.
It was necessary to show the nobles and people of the north that the king cared about them.
Governing a country often requires such performances….
In the last three years, Abel understood that.
After the audience with Rin and Warren, the northern nobles who had gathered met with Abel one after another.
That was also a necessary… formality, so to speak.
Moreover, these new northern nobles were almost all newly given their territories by Abel.
They are, so to speak, nobles who are Abel's protegees.
Those who feel indebted to King Abel and will become his allies should something happen.
However, since many of them are newly promoted nobles, many of them are barons and viscounts.
The number of counts and above, who are considered senior nobles, could be counted on one hand, even if Warren and the others were included.
(It can't be helped.)
Abel also understood.
They would be a new dynamic.
That would play a central role in the reconstruction of the north and become a strong bulwark against the Empire.
That was his expectation.
That evening.
"I wish Rihya was here."
"It can't be helped. For the King, Queen, and even Prince Noah, to come to the north… it needs to have stabilized somewhat."
Abel said regretfully, Rin thought it couldn't be helped, and Warren nodded repeatedly.
These three, plus the current Queen Rihya, were the four former members of the former A-rank party 'Crimson Sword'.
The bond that they have forged through their many adventures together is stronger than anything else.
"But I didn't know… that Abel was dying."
Rin said, sighing.
Able finally explained that he had cancer and that his life was hanging by a thread.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you…. I had to make sure no one knew."
Abel scratched his head and chuckled.
"If you had died like that, it would have been a disaster for Noah and Rihya, but of course, this northern part of the country would become unstable all over again, so keep that in mind!"
"Yeah… sorry."
That was the Countess and His Majesty the King.
Warren, the Count, shook his head slightly.
Was it to the Countess or to His Majesty the King…?
Suddenly, the corridor became noisy.
Abel reflexively drew out his beloved sword.
That part of him didn't change even after becoming king….
Then came a strong knock on the door.
"Come in."
Rin said in a sharp voice.
By the strength of the knock, she knew something was wrong.
Not only Rin, but also Warren and, of course, Abel.
"There's been a problem! Semington, the capital of Baron Avon, was just attacked."
"Attacked? You don't mean by the 'Black Wolf'?"
"Yes, ma'am! Baron Avon has returned in a hurry!"
Rin frowned at the reporter's words.
"The Barony of Avon is the adjacent territory to the north, correct?"
"Yeah. The 'Black Wolf' is a large bandit group. They have appeared several times in the Baron Avon's territory, but… when did they become powerful enough to attack the capital?"
Rin explained with a frown.
At that moment, Warren stood up.
And looked at Rin.
Rin also looked at Warren, nodded, and said:
"Well, we can't leave them alone either way."
"Are you sending reinforcements?"
"Yeah. We have the largest force around here. So, it's only natural that we help."
Rin answered Abel's question, and Warren nodded.
"A-Abel?"
After getting their gear ready, Warren and Rin were about to mount when they found something totally unexpected.
A figure of His Majesty the King about to go into battle.
"Isn't it natural for the king to go out to help the people and nobles of the Kingdom?"
"Yeah sure, but…"
Abel's reply made Rin wince.
"If I make a move, the Royal Knights who are accompanying me as escort can be deployed to the front line. But if I stay here, the Royal Knights will have no choice but to stay put as well. Wouldn't that be a waste of military capability?"
Abel said this as if it were a matter of course, and glanced toward Captain Dontan, who was waiting behind him.
And Dontan nodded emphatically.
The Royal Knights are the knights that protect the king, but they are also knights that protect the people of the Kingdom.
Warren tapped Rin on the shoulder and smiled.
Rin sighed heavily and conceded.
"Fine. To be honest, we're grateful for the additional fighting force."
Rin nodded and turned around.
"As usual, Carlisle's protection is in your hands, Cohn."
"Yes, leave it to me."
The man bowing reverently was the one called Cohn.
"Cohn? That adventurer who used to work for Gecko?"
Abel asked, recalling his memories.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Cohn answered with a wry smile.
"Don't worry, Cohn is very good. Alright, let's get going! "
Rin said while on her horse, and the cavalry of Carlisle County forces departed.
The Royal Knights followed suit.
Speed was of most importance this time, so the forces were all cavalry.
It takes less than one hour from Carlisle to Semington, the capital of the Barony of Avon, on horseback.
The report came in immediately after the attack took place.
Utilizing the alchemy communication network constructed by Viscount Kenneth Hayward of the Royal Alchemy Workshop.
If they could reach the target destination in a little over an hour after the raid, even including preparation time….
Semington's defenses are not weak.
Since it was nighttime, the city gates were pretty much closed.
Rather, a band of thieves attacking the city in such conditions was… quite odd.
Abel let his horse gallop away with that thought in mind.
-x-X-x-
Outside the walls of Semington, the capital of Baron Avon.
"Dammit."
A man muttered.
(Everything about this is totally unplanned for… I mean, bandits engaging in a siege battle? Is that not messed up?)
Thinking of that, the head of the bandits watched his men attack the castle.
(The guard working with us to grab the gold was supposed to open the castle gates. How come he didn't? We were supposed to break in as fast as possible and steal the valuables… keeping everything for ourselves… and our role was to stay in Semington for an hour. At this rate we will be the ones losing out.)
But the man was reluctant to pull out of the agreement and retreat.
Because he knew that if he did that, he would be killed immediately.
(For f*ck sake, will you get on with it… almighty Empire.)
The first to set out from Carlisle to Semington was Gus Hyde, Baron of Avon.
He was followed only by four of his men.
(I've been careful… but I never thought they would attack Semington. When did they become so strong? I have beaten them down several times, but they keep coming back each time which I thought was kind of uncanny. But how did they come to possess that kind of strength…)
Now in his mid-twenties. Gus Hyde's achievements in the Kingdom Liberation War allowed him to own a fiefdom in the north.
Even though he comes from a family of knights, he could never have hoped for a baron title.
However, his success in the war earned him a baron rank in the eyes of His Majesty the King!
As a baron in the northern part of the country, which is still in turmoil, his domain was larger than that of barons in other parts of the Kingdom.
Normally, a baron only has a manor or two.
Gus worked hard.
He tried his best to govern his fief with sincerity.
But now his fief was under attack.
Gus was riding his horse occupied with these thoughts.
That was probably why he did not notice the attack until it was too late.
"Ugh-ha!"
The guard riding just to the left of Gus was hit by a fire-attribute magic attack and fell.
In addition, Gus's horse was hit by the wind magic
"Ughh."
Gus was thrown off his horse.
And soon surrounded.
The men who surrounded him were wearing leather armor, but they had the aura of… formally trained men.
They were not bandits.
The northern part of the country borders the Empire just to the north.
However, the Emperor has been replaced, and they currently have a delegation which they sent alongside the Kingdom's, to the Western Countries.
Under such circumstances, could it be that…?
(Shit, I'm dead…)
Gus closed his eyes involuntarily.
However….
"That which formed the earth, that which made the world, the ancestor of all beings, lend me your power,
As the fast-paced chant echoed, hundreds of stones and gravels of suppressive fire struck the men surrounding Gus.
In addition, a swordsman, scout, and spear-wielder jumped in.
It only took a moment.
All ten of the men surrounding Gus were knocked out cold.
Even Gus, who was watching with his eyes open halfway through, could not grasp what had happened.
The only thing he could understand was that the three of them were, in retrospect, quite skilled….
"Are you alright?"
The swordsman asked.
Following the swordsman, came a magician and a priest.
Then the female scout said:
"That's all of them around here. But there are hundreds more laying in ambush to the south."
"Ambush…. You don't mean against Sir Warren and His Majesty Abel!"
Gus shouted.
"Warren? His Majesty Abel?"
The swordsman inquired in surprise.
"Yeah. Sir Warren may be following after us with reinforcements. And His Majesty… knowing him, he probably won't sit still and just wait in Carlisle."
Gus explained briefly.
His status and his territory were under attack.
That perhaps Count Carlisle and His Majesty the King might be trailing after him to help.
But that may be a trap….
"Ah… now I understand. Their real target is His Majesty."
The swordsman shook his head as Gus explained.
"What are we going to do, Hector?"
"If the attack on the city itself is a trap to lure out His Majesty, then His Majesty and the reinforcements may encounter some difficulties. As I'm sure the enemy must have a fairly good amount of forces on their side. As royal citizens, we ought to assist His Majesty, don't you agree… so shall we head out?"
At the call of the swordsman called Hector, the scout, spear-wielder, magician, and priest nodded.
"…An ambush, huh? These guys are no bandits."
"Yeah, looks like it. With the three powers on a joint mission to the Western Countries, though a little absurd… I'm pretty sure this is the Empire's handiwork."
"The new emperor, Helmut VIII, uh. Ryo told me to watch out for the newly enthroned bunch because they can do some crazy things to show they are as good as their predecessors… I guess he was right."
"I wish he would do these crazy things in his own country."
Abel recalled Ryo's words, and Rin agreed, sighing.
Warren was already standing in front of Abel, repelling arrows and magic attacks with his large shield.
Count Carlisle's army and the Royal Knights had suffered a heavy blow in the beginning of the attack, but they had regrouped and were now in a defensive formation.
The army and knights numbered a total of two hundred.
The number of ambushers was about the same.
However, the ambushers were attacking from high ground, making it difficult for the army and the Knights to counterattack.
"Lady Rin, the Magician Order is ready to fire."
"Okay, stand by."
The territorial Magician Order, led by Rin had finished casting and all that remained was to chant the trigger word.
It would also serve as the signal to turn the tables on their enemy holding the high ground… but for that to happen, they needed to seize an opening.
"The Knights will charge in the moment magician order begins their bombardment… but what about the timing?"
It was the moment Abel muttered that.
Screams and angry shouts rose from behind the ambushers.
Something unexpected had happened.
That was the trigger.
"Open fire!"
Under Rin's command, the offensive magic of her territory's Magician Order… only magic spells like
With that blow, the front of the ambush force was almost completely annihilated.
"Knights, charge!"
Abel gave the order and led the charge.
Warren was right behind him.
Followed by the Royal Knights and the Carlisle County's army.
They ran up the hill at once and reached the elevation where the ambush forces were hiding.
They charged and cut down the ambushers as they passed them.
Abel's gaze caught a glimpse of the confusion among the ambushers.
A Swordsman, spear-wielder, and scout were defeating the ambushers in melee combat.
Furthermore, judging from the stone lances flying around, there seemed to be an earth-attribute magician among them as well.
"Thanks for your help!"
Abel yelled and jumped off his horse, cutting into the ambushers.
Warren followed close behind, blasting away at the ambusher with shield bashes.
From there, it became one-sided.
"You're… Hector, isn't it? Which means, you guys are members of 'Morning Star' huh, wow, it's been a long time."
"Abel, oh, sorry, Your Majesty Abel, it's been a while."
Abel laughed at Hector's paraphrasing.
With his subordinates present, he couldn't exactly ask to be addressed the same way he used to.
'Morning Star', a C-rank party that formerly operated out of the royal capital.
The party has a reasonably deep relationship with Abel.
They were also known as the party that was part of the resistance in the royal capital under Raymond during the Kingdom Liberation War.
Presumably, they were now working under Marquis Heinlein….
"I didn't expect to find you guys here in the North, or in this manner for that matter."
"Yeah. Well, we were acting under Marquis Heinlein's orders as usual."
Responding to Abel's question, Hector chuckled and the other four smiled.
"Oh right, we've got to head to Semington. What about you guys, 'Morning Star'?"
Abel asked the five of them.
"We'll take our time making our way to Carlisle."
Hector said, and Oriana, the scout, nodded.
"All right. Be careful on your way… though I suppose that's a needless worry. I appreciate the help. I should be back in Carlisle tomorrow, so stop by the castle."
"Got it."
Abel said, and Hector nodded.
Thirty minutes later….
The Royal Knights and the Carlisle County army had cleaned out the 'Black Wolf', a group of bandits attacking the castle gates, by cornering them against the castle gates.
The basement of Semington Castle.
The captured assailants and the key players of the bandit group 'Black Wolf' were being held there.
Their gruesome torture… before it was even carried out, the 'Black Wolf' executives fessed up.
It turned out that the assailants were indeed pawns used by the Empire.
The assailants were then eventually forced to give up whatever information they had….
"So it was the Empire after all…"
Abel frowned and sighed deeply.
"What are we going to do about it? Though, we don't have much in the way of evidence, except… testimony."
Rin asked, sipping her coffee.
Warren was silent as usual, looking at Abel.
"Even if you ask me that…. But we now know how that bandit group could keep resurfacing no matter how many times they were crushed. Because the Empire was funding them. But that's far from being enough justification to go after the Empire. So we'll need to dig a little deeper."
"Well, we've Marquis Heinlein, so we'll find out sooner or later, won't we?"
"That's right. I'll make it his top priority."
And so Abel's northern journey came to a tumultuous end….
-x-X-x-
Volume 2, Part 6, Back to the Republic
Chapter 0370 Ryo's Determination
-x-X-x-
The lounge on the first floor of the Kingdom Delegation quarters in the Holy Capital.
A strawberry tart and dark coffee were placed in front of Ryo.
But, strangely enough, they were untouched.
The reason being….
"Le me ask you again. When you were watching the battle between the golems in the Republic, you did not offer your assistance, is that correct?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Ryo nodded and answered the question of Stefania, the head of the Inquisition.
"Then, did you do anything to the destroyed golems after that?"
"I took a look at the parts, trying to understand how they worked."
"So, it's possible that in doing so, you may have come across something classified.
"I merely took a look at garbage that had been destroyed and thrown out. If it's something you don't want people to see, I don't think you should put it out there. If it's classified, then you should probably refrain from sending it out of the country."
Because of such exchanges… Ryo has not been able to take a bite of the cake.
How unfortunate.
By the way, only coffee was placed in front of Stefania.
Of course, that hadn't been touched either.
Ryo and Stefania were the only two people present.
Other inquisitors and the Kingdom adventurers were watching from afar, but….
They were not allowed to approach.
That was the arrangement.
However, many of the Inquisitors were relieved when they heard about it.
They were afraid of Ryo's instant freezing ability.
At that time, when Ryo said, "We can talk anytime in the lounge over there", he was more or less just going with the flow, but Stefania took him seriously, made an appointment and there they were.
"One more thing about the golems. Were you the only one who examined the damaged golems?"
"No, Mr. Neil, Mr. Neil Andersen did too."
Seeing Stefania digging specifically into that event, Ryo decided to ask.
"I saw Mr. Neil Andersen in the Papal Palace the other day. Wonder where he was headed?"
"Someone who may have uncovered classified materials of the Church, in the Papal Palace? Are you serious? You sure you didn't mistake him for someone else?"
"No, I am positive. I saw him walking in the courtyard, surrounded by four monks."
Ryo stated clearly.
He didn't want to say that he got no response even after probing with
He thought he could find out something from Stefania's reaction.
"Hmm…. I haven't received any reports on that."
Ryo asked at Stefania's muttering.
"Isn't that strange, for such information to not be reported to the Archbishop, the head of the Inquisition? Oh, and the reason I met with Mr. Neil Andersen in the first place was because of a request to deliver a letter sent by a Cardinal here, you know?"
"…Eh?"
Upon hearing Ryo's words, Stefania's expression changed, albeit only slightly.
Perhaps from mentioning the letter.
"I believe… I heard that it was a letter from Cardinal Sacharias."
"Is that true?"
Stefania leaned forward a little at Ryo's words.
"According to Mr. Neil. But he said that he had received many invitation letters in the past, and was surprised as to why now again after all this time. And then the same person who said that was suddenly in the Papal Palace Isn't that odd?"
"…"
Ryo said, and Stefania fell silent.
She seemed to be thinking about something.
"Cardinal Sacharias? Really?"
Stefania's muttering was barely audible to Ryo.
Though her reason for being doubtful was lost on Ryo.
"That's all for today. Thank you for your cooperation. We may have to trouble you again, so thank you in advance."
With that, Inquisition Chief Stefania and the Inquisitors left.
In their wake were two cups of untouched dark coffee….
Ryo drank it all at once.
His own cake and coffee included, of course.
"What a waste…"
He muttered to himself.
A man sat down in front of Ryo.
"Mr. Ignis?"
It was Ignis, the chief negotiator of the Kingdom Delegation.
The expression on his face was of peak exhaustion and bitterness.
"Mr. Ryo, I have a favor to ask you. There's something I would like to consult with His Majesty the King."
((Yeah. Ignis is right, the massive trade ship will be completed in two years. And certainly, it is not a ship built for long-distance sailing.))
When he told Ignis Abel's answer, Ignis sighed more deeply than ever.
Seeing Ignis like that, Ryo felt pity for him.
((Abel, can't you do something about it?))
((I don't know what to say…. I mean, if you're asking me to provide a ship that can sail long distances, especially between the Central and Western Countries at the drop of a hat… then I'm afraid that's impossible. Rather, can't you just procure one in the Western Countries over there? Money is no object.))
Not many people can say "Money is no object", one of the lines he would like to say someday, in real life.
Ryo, feeling a little envious, conveyed Abel's words to Ignis.
"Yeah…. I also thought of that and approached the church, the Theocracy, and of course countries in the vicinity of the Theocracy, but… none had ships they were willing to sell."
Naturally.
Ships that can travel long distances and are used for trades are built to order.
They are built on commission.
Hence already built ships are hardly found on sale….
But… he didn't see why they needed a ship now in the first place….
"The idea was to send out one ship each from both the Theocracy and the Central Delegation to survey the shipping lanes. If this goes well, the trade negotiations will be almost complete…"
"So you're saying the negotiations are at a standstill because we don't have a ship."
"Yeah…. Of the three Central Powers, our Kingdom is without a doubt the one that excels in shipping. Whitnash can even be called an international trade port. So, there is pressure from the Empire and the Union for the Kingdom to provide the ship…"
"I see…"
The Empire and the Union are potentially hostile nations, though they are working together as a delegation.
The other day King Roberto Pirlo was kind, but when negotiations between countries are involved, some things go beyond personal friendship.
That is inevitable.
The Theocracy may be thinking, "If they can't provide such basic requirements, conducting a joint survey of the route is out of the question".
They were feeling them out.
Even the 'Theocracy' was not exactly united….
Some may want to proceed with trade negotiations, while others may not want to.
Ryo thought.
He wanted to lend a hand to Mr. Ignis in front of him somehow.
However, procuring a ship was no walk in the park….
"Ah…"
The sudden flash of inspiration may have came from the mention of Neil Andersen with Stefania, who had just been there.
"Though there's no guarantee, but…"
Ryo told Ignis about the possibility he came up with.
"Ryo… seriously?"
Hugh, as expected, couldn't help but ask.
"You had no luck with the Theocracy and the neighboring countries. And even the Papacy has reached out to many countries, but they couldn't procure it from anywhere, right?"
"Yeah."
Ryo asked, and Ignis nodded.
"Then I think our only option is to go somewhere that's not allied with the Theocracy."
"So you think we should try the Republic? The last time you were there, you got dragged into so much shit that even after you came back, people from the Inquisition came after you… even after all that?"
"Yeah…"
Even Ryo wouldn't go if he didn't have to.
But, they had a decent chance there.
First of all, the Republic is one of the leading maritime nations in the Western Countries.
Moreover, Ryo personally has connections with the Franzoni Shipping Company, which is said to be one of the most technologically advanced companies in the Republic.
As to whether or not they would be welcomed was another matter….
"I will go alone this time too. I don't want to take Niels and the others with me and get them involved in another weird drama."
"I see…"
Ryo said determinedly, and Hugh nodded in agreement.
An hour later.
"We've got a letter of credit from the Kingdom. The payment is guaranteed by the Kingdom of Knightley itself."
"And… how much does it cover…"
"Five hundred billion Florins."
"F-Five hundred billion…"
The Rainshooter cost 370 billion Florins to build….
"We need to secure the ship as quickly as possible after all. And it has to be one that can sail long distances. I'm sure it won't be easy. In short, buyout one that's even been spoken for if you have to…"
"Oh… you mean entice them with money and swoop in from nowhere."
"Yeah."
Negotiations are not always done fair.
Moreover, as time is not always on your side, you sometimes need to adopt extraordinary measures.
So, Ryo carried the letter of credit, the holy seal that he had been borrowing, and his status as the premier duke of the Kingdom.
He must use all of that to obtain a ship.
And there was a deadline.
In a month, the inauguration of the Pope would finally take place.
He had to be back before then…
Author's note:
In large organizations, information is not completely shared.
That is a problem.
Therefore, there may be only a limited number of people in the Church who know that Ryo is the head duke of the Kingdom.
Cardinal Graham seems to know, judging from his answers to Monk Carle's questions.
Who else knows…
Archbishop Stefania seems not to have been informed.
Does it have something to do with him not being protected?
There are various factions, I'm sure.
Well, it will probably appear in the story eventually.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0371 Second time in the Republic~ The Slight Complication in Procuring a Ship
-x-X-x-
((Abel, I was given a letter of credit for 500 billion Florins))
((Yeah. I gave it to Gramas to use just in case. I left the decision to him.))
((In that respect, Abel has such a big heart, and I honestly admire that about you…))
((…Really?))
Abel was perhaps feeling shy… Ryo could tell!
((Well, the success or failure of the negotiations rests on whether or not we could secure a ship now, I suppose? So, a letter of credit of 500 billion Florins doesn't seem as ludicrous.))
((By the way…how much is 500 billion Florins worth?))
((How much is it worth? I don't understand what you mean?))
((Let's see… for example, how much is the average annual income of the Kingdom's citizens?))
((Oh…. I don't know about the Kingdom as a whole, but for the people in the royal capital, it should be around 1 million to 1.5 million florins.))
((I-I see…))
Converted into Japanese yen at the beginning of the 21st century, 500 billion Florins was about one trillion yen. (TLN: About 6.7 billion USD)
Ryo's fingers trembled just a little.
((I will consider anyone who approaches me as a thief and beat them to a pulp!))
((No, please don't.))
Money drives people crazy….
It took Ryo six days to reach the border of the Republic of Mafalda from the Holy Capital Marlomar.
Yup, 'six days'.
The last time, it took five days.
There was, of course, a reason why it took so long despite the hurry.
And that, too, was an unavoidable circumstance.
Incidentally, he stopped at the West Dungeon of the Holy City on the way…. (TLN: This will be talked about in a future chapter, look forward to it!)
And then, the border of the Republic of Mafalda.
Same as the last time, the border security was very strict.
After waiting for a while, it was Ryo's turn for border inspection.
The coachman disembarked, went through some formalities, and then there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
"Excuse me."
Ryo said, and the door opened, and a guard opened the door and entered.
"Pardon me, but this is a mandatory check. Do you have a Republic-issued border crossing pass or identification?"
As before, the question was extremely polite.
Of course, Ryo did not have a border pass issued by the Republic this time either.
Except….
"How about this."
Ryo handed him the identification plate that was hanging around his neck like a necklace.
"Okay. Oh, a nobleman. One moment, please."
The guard said, heading outside.
"Bring me the inquiry board."
"The Premier Duke of the Kingdom of Knightley in the Central Countries has re-entered the country."
"The Premier Duke of the Kingdom of Knightley, Duke Rondo, I believe."
Conversation between Head of State Columbano della Russo, and Supreme Advisor Lord Burley.
Office of the Head of State, the official residence of the Head of State of the Republic of Mafalda.
"The last time he was here, he brought a letter to Sir Andersen. However, Sir Andersen has left the Republic and is no longer here. This time, I wonder what his purpose is…"
"Well… surveillance might… uh nah, best not. May not be so lucky this time…"
Lord Burley pondered, and so did Head of State Columbano.
"Mm-hmm. Last time, there were people from the Secret Services Agency who were saved by the Duke of Rondo. Let's send those two to meet with the Duke. Then we can find out what he wants."
Columbano immediately contacted Bonifacio Franzoni, the Bureau Chief of the Secret Services Agency.
Two days after crossing the border, Ryo entered Mussolente, the capital of the Republic of Mafalda.
The carriage stopped in front of a seemingly high-end inn close to the city center but nevertheless had fairly large grounds.
Immediately, employees from the inn came out and began to bring the luggage in the carriage into the inn.
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
Not a moment's delay, not a modicum of stress.
It was truly first-class.
Ryo passed through the gate of the inn in good spirits.
A huge lobby.
The three-story atrium was very bright, with plenty of glass.
Even though it was his second visit, he was still overwhelmed.
"Welcome to Doge Pietro. Duke Rondo."
The lady at the reception desk was the same person he saw last time.
She seemed to remember Ryo's face.
"Hello. For now, I would like to get a room for seven nights."
Ryo's job this time was to procure a ship.
He thought that seven nights might be too short, but for the time being….
"Also, I would like to visit the Franzoni Shipping Company tomorrow morning, so could you arrange an appointment with them?"
"Certainly."
A first-class inn could take care of that kind of matters.
Ryo was satisfied and went to the lounge.
Ryo did not go to the lounge just to rest, either.
Of course, not to say that he didn't care for this month's cake special on the blackboard….
It was by no means the only reason.
Then, five minutes after entering the lounge, something happened as expected.
"Excuse me sir. People from the Secret Services Agency are here to see you, Duke Rondo."
"Oh. Please send them here."
Captain Bangan and Vice Captain Amalia arrived.
"It has been a while, Your Excellency."
Bangan bowed his head firmly as he said that.
Likewise, Amalia, next to him, also bowed her head.
This time, the two were visiting by special order from the official residence of the head of state, which is even higher up than the Secret Services Agency.
Which got them all the more fired up.
"Hello, Captain Bangan and Vice Captain Amalia. Well, please, have a seat."
Ryo indicated the sofa across from him and they sat down.
"The cakes here are very good. Why don't you order some?"
"Oh, in that case…"
"Hey!"
Ryo recommended, and Amalia was about to order when Bangan scolded her.
"Eh~. It's Doge Pietro's lounge, you know, You get that right, Captain? That distant, dreamy place that we can't even get close to, let alone enter on our salary. And now the Duke himself is generously offering us a treat from that very place, if nothing it would be rude to refuse, wouldn't it?"
Amalia insisted on her theory.
Not eating a delicious cake succulently sitting in front of you is nothing but torture.
With that analogy, Ryo nodded gravely and backed Amalia.
"Captain Bangan, I believe it would be easier to extract information if you order a cake and build a friendly atmosphere."
"R-Really? In that case…"
"Yay!"
Bangan caved in, and Amalia gave a mini fist pump gesture.
Now Ryo could have his second round of cake without any worries….
((The agreement was no more than one cake a day.))
The voice of a certain king haunted him out of nowhere….
((This is part of the negotiation. If I pull out now, I won't be able to win the hearts of these two. I really don't have a choice.))
((…)))
The king seemed to have agreed.
He felt an atmosphere of dissatisfaction wafting from the other side of the 'Soul Resonance', but he must be imagining it.
"So, I take it that the two of you came here today to find out the purpose of my visit, right?"
Ryo's blunt question caught both of them by surprise.
"Yes. You're right…"
Captain Bangan said stiffly.
Ryo nodded and continued.
"The reason I came here this time is to get a ship."
"A ship?"
Amalia asked, tilting her head.
"Yeah. A reasonably large vessel… big enough to sail long distances. One that can easily go from here to the Central Countries."
"The Central Countries…"
"Okay, but how far away is that exactly…?"
Ryo explained, Amalia exclaimed, and Bangan was astonished.
"Well, I understand that it's quite difficult. But that's my sole reason for coming here. This time, I am officially here as a representative of the Kingdom of Knightley. Could you please inform His Excellency the Head of State and the Bureau Chief of that as well?"
"G-Got it…"
-x-X-x-
The next day.
Appetizing dinner, comfortable sleep, delicious breakfast.
It was perfect, still.
The inn did not disappoint one bit.
After breakfast, Ryo did some light stretching and then went down to the reception.
"Your carriage is ready, Duke Rondo."
"Thank you."
He had already received a report that an appointment for a meeting had been arranged for that day at nine o'clock.
This time, as the representative of the Kingdom, the Premier Duke, and possibly a guest, he decided to properly ride in a carriage.
However, he was wearing his usual robe.
Well, his robe was always clean, as it does not get dirty at all, so it shouldn't be a problem….
At exactly nine o'clock, he passed through the gates of the Franzoni Shipping Company.
About ten people stood in the driveway to greet Ryo's carriage.
"We have been expecting you, Your Excellency Duke Rondo."
The man who welcomed Ryo's carriage was Girolamo Franzoni, chairman of the Franzoni Shipping Company.
The chairman himself came to the driveway to welcome him.
It was the highest level of hospitality.
"Hello, Mr. Girolamo, it's been a while. I apologize for this unexpected visit."
"No problem. You are always welcome. Please come this way."
As before, he was ushered into the chairman's office.
Coffee from the Dark Continent was served aptly.
"So… may I ask why you are here today, Your Excellency?"
Girolamo asked.
"Actually, I'm here to buy a ship that can sail long distances."
"I see…"
Upon hearing Ryo's words, Girolamo trailed off.
But from his expression, even Ryo could tell.
He already knew that.
Girolamo's brother is Bonifacio Franzoni, Bureau Chief of the Secret Services Agency.
Captain Bangan and Vice Captain Amalia, who came to Ryo yesterday, must have reported the information to their superior, Chief Bonifacio.
It would not be surprising if the information was then passed on to Chairman Girolamo.
Of course, it was no problem even if the information was passed on.
It didn't change anything for Ryo.
"Do you have any vessels for sale right away?"
Ryo asked point-blank.
"My apologies, sir. When it comes to ships that can sail long distances, we only build them upon commission. We don't retain finished products of those…"
Girolamo's response was as expected.
Now came the negotiations.
"I would like to buy off the one you currently have under construction."
"That's a bit…"
Girolamo refused Ryo without changing his expression.
It was only natural.
Every ship under construction has a commissioner.
The schedule for completion and delivery to the client has also been decided….
If they gave it away to Ryo unilaterally, it would become a matter of credibility for the Company.
"We are prepared to pay the commissioner handsomely for their troubles."
"I see."
Ryo dived back in and Girolamo nodded.
As far as Franzoni Shipping Company is concerned, they're okay with it as long as the client agrees.
If the commissioner shook hands on the amount Ryo was offering and relinquished the ship, then they're cool with it.
Or….
"You can also recommend vessels that have already been launched but have yet to set out to the waters."
Basically, vessels used for shipping are always busy going back and forth.
Some may even have ports of call scheduled for several months or even a year in some cases.
Otherwise, they won't be able to determine their overall cargo.
In other words, even if one were to go to a port and say, "Please sell me this ship", it would be futile.
Since the ship is already scheduled to be in operation for the next few months.
However, there is only one instance in which the schedule is open.
When the ship is undergoing maintenance.
A ship is dry docked, undergoes repairs of the draft and cleaning over several months.
With a ship like that, it's not necessarily impossible… to strike a deal to buy one.
But Chairman Girolamo, with a small shake of his head, told Ryo the tragic truth.
"Your Excellency. There is a law that once a ship is registered in the Republic, it cannot be sold to another country."
"What…"
As expected, that was not listed in the 'Travel Guide'.
"You mean I have no choice but to get a ship that's under construction… and not yet registered?"
"Yes, most likely."
Ryo said reluctantly, and Girolamo replied with a frown.
The hurdle for procuring the ship had just been raised significantly.
The Franzoni Shipping Company builds ships but also trades using its vessels.
And it's one of the largest in the Republic…
"Even our company has only three vessels that can sail long distances."
In other words, not many clients have placed orders for shipbuilding.
"At present, we have only one ship under contract."
"One ship…"
"If it's a ship that can go from the coast to the Dark Continent, we always have close to ten ships under contract…. But for ones that can sail long distances…. And even that one vessel…"
"That one vessel…?"
"Was commissioned by the government of the Republic."
"Argh…"
And the most powerful hand of money was thus blocked.
His remaining cards were the holy seal that he has been borrowing, and his status as the premier duke of the Kingdom.
But the holy seal would prove counterproductive in the Republic.
Leaving him with his status as the premier duke of the Kingdom… only.
"This is way too cruel."
As expected, Ryo shook his head repeatedly.
After leaving Franzoni Shipping Company, Ryo's carriage headed for the inn Doge Pietro.
Where he politely asked the receptionist.
"Could you please arrange an appointment for me to meet with the head of state at the official residence tomorrow?"
"Certainly sir."
Though he made the request, he wasn't expecting that it would be accepted, but… his request was received as usual.
Would a first-class inn even be able to arrange a meeting with the top brass of the official residence of the head of state…?
First-class inns are not to be underestimated.
Next, Ryo headed to the headquarters of the Secret Services Agency.
While waiting at the reception, Captain Bangan and Vice Captain Amalia called out to him.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Your Excellency."
Bangan and Amalia hurriedly ran over and bowed before Ryo.
"Oh, not at all, sorry for dropping in unannounced. I was wondering if you could help me out with a certain part of the laws of the Republic."
"The laws of the Republic?"
"Help you out?"
Upon hearing Ryo's words, both Bangan and Amalia tilted their heads.
"Ah, this is it. Article 200 of the Law of the Sea."
Repository of the Secret Services Agency.
That was where all of the Republic's laws, ordinances, bureau chief's notices, were kept.
In any country, secret services, or intelligence agencies, are amazingly law-savvy.
Because they also need to know how shielded or vulnerable they are before they act unlawfully.
Without an understanding of the grey areas, they can't conduct proper espionage.
In the repository of the Secret Services Agency, Captain Bangan and Vice Captain Amalia were showing Ryo the pertinent parts of the law.
"Mm… I guess there's really no way around acquiring a ship that's already been registered in the Republic uh…"
"Looks like it. It is not possible to change the registration record of a ship to any other country other than the Republic. As a matter of fact, it is also not possible for non-Republican to own one…"
Ryo was dejected, and Bangan also shook his head slightly.
"According to Article 333 of the Regulations for Enforcement of the Law of the Sea, the registration of the ship takes place when the vessel is delivered from the shipyard, so I believe only vessels that are under construction or have yet to begin at all… can be obtained by the Kingdom."
Amalia also checked to see if there were any holes in terms of the period of ship registration, but no such luck as it turned out….
"Now, where do I go from here…"
Ryo was at his wit's end….
The next day.
"Duke Rondo, we are preparing a carriage."
"Thank you."
Doge Pietro had properly arranged the appointment to meet with the bigwig at the official residence of the Head of State.
On top of that….
"Thank you for making the time to see me, Your Excellency."
"Of course, Your Excellency the Duke."
Ryo thanked him, and the one-eyed Head of State Columbano, replied.
Doge Pietro arranged a meeting with the Head of State….
Though Ryo is the premier duke of the Kingdom… first-class inns are not to be underestimated indeed.
Head of State Columbano is an imposing figure, standing at a height of one hundred and ninety centimeters and weighing ninety kilograms.
He is in his late forties, with a dark skin tone and short-cropped… dark-brown hair that has already begun to blend with white.
And the most distinctive feature is his left eye covered by an eye patch.
Perhaps it was more fitting to call him a pirate boss than the head of the Republic….
Columbano, is, by nature, a man of the sea.
"Actually, I have a pretty good idea why you're here, Duke."
Head of State Columbano is not good at embellishing his words.
And therefore direct in his speech.
"Ah, that makes things much easier."
So is Ryo, like two peas in a pod.
"You need a ship that can sail long distances. But in the Republic, once a ship is registered in the Republic, it cannot be sold to another country. So, you thought about getting a ship that is under construction and can sail long distances. But currently, the only long-distance vessel under construction at Franzoni Shipping Company is the one commissioned by the government of the Republic. And you want it."
"Yes, that is absolutely correct."
Columbano's explanation was perfectly accurate.
"Incidentally, there are several shipyards in the Republic besides the Franzoni Shipping Company, but… none of them are currently building long-distance vessels that are nearing completion."
"Oh dear…"
"In other words, your only option is the ship commissioned by the government of the Republic, but unfortunately…"
"Unfortunately…?"
"I'm sorry, we can't give it away."
"…Is that so?"
He half-expected that.
If this was commissioned by an individual or a trading company, it might have been manageable using the power of money and friendship.
But a government, it immediately became impossible.
It is no one's fault, that's just how it is with countries.
It's like asking some high-ranking government official or top bureaucrat to sell off what belongs to the nation without permission, right?
Can't fault him.
National assets are the assets of the entire nation.
Even if the government is entrusted with their management, it is not allowed to dispose of them arbitrarily.
Of course, it would be fine if the disposal was following the law, but this was not the case.
The government selling a ship under construction to another country….
It is obvious that the congress would witch-hunt him later.
Might even serve as justification for the impeachment of the Head of State if he was not careful.
It was never an option to begin with….
Ryo then went to the Franzoni Shipping Company.
He didn't have an appointment, but Chairman Girolamo met with him.
"Sadly, I've run out of options."
Ryo nodded and told him so.
"I see…"
Chairman Girolamo replied with a sad expression.
Standing in their way was the law of the land.
And the assets of the state.
Certainly not some trivialities that could be resolved by an individual or a chamber of commerce….
"Ah, Your Excellency. Would you like to see the ship that the government of the Republic commissioned?"
Chairman Girolamo must have extended the invitation to Ryo because he looked so depressed.
Probably thought it wouldn't be a good idea to turn him away looking so.
"Sure…. Thank you."
Ryo's answer was also really lackluster….
The second shipyard of the Franzoni Shipping Company.
There, a huge ship was being built.
"Ooohhh~"
Even Ryo, who had been depressed, could not help but gawk and exclaim.
It was truly majestic.
By Earth's sailing ship standards, it would be somewhere between a Ship of the Line and a Frigate.
"Huh? A Ship of the Line? Nah, it doesn't have cannons yet… right…?"
Ryo's muttering was heard by Girolamo, but he didn't seem to understand it.
"Uh… this vessel is a combat ship, right? How does it mount an offense…"
"The small window on the side of the ship opens, and the magicians fire through it."
"I-I see…"
Not artillery bombardment, but magicians' bombardment….
Technology develops differently depending on the region.
"Would've loved to have it…"
Ryo gazed at the majesty of the battleship and muttered.
Of course, it doesn't have to be a battleship.
Ryo went ahead and asked what he suddenly noticed.
"Chairman Girolamo, you called this place the second shipyard, right? What about the first…?"
"Oh…. It's right next to here. There's a ship under construction but currently suspended there, would you like to take a look?"
"Currently suspended? Uh sure, I'd love to see it."
The first shipyard appeared to be larger than the second shipyard.
Stepping inside….
"A clipper…"
Although the battleship he saw earlier was majestic, this one was elegant.
When it came to elegant ships, the Rain Shooter he saw in Whitnash was the first thing that came to mind, but this was different.
No, like totally different.
That was a Trimaran.
But the one right before his eyes now was, by the looks of it, a genuine sailing vessel.
On Earth, this type of vessel would be called a clipper ship.
Three huge masts for multiple sails.
A graceful hull, long and narrow front to back, to minimize water resistance.
It was unmistakably a clipper ship, that even Ryo seemed to be familiar with.
Like the sailing ship Nippon Maru, it was no exaggeration to say that is the pinnacle of beauty.
The ultimate structural beauty possible for a sailing vessel.
That's the clipper ship… Ryo concluded unilaterally.
Considering that most of the ships in the Central Countries were still galleons, this clipper ship had also achieved an extraordinary evolution.
But, as Chairman Girolamo said earlier:
"The construction of the ship is currently suspended".
How come?
"How could the construction of a ship as beautiful and wonderful as this be put on hold…?"
"Yeah. Truth is, this ship doesn't move."
"Eh?"
The mast was there.
So was the rudder.
The exterior looked good.
All that was left was to set the sails and she should be good to go, right?
"This ship, as it is, has poor stability and will topple sideways the moment it is hit by a side wave. We made some modifications to address this problem, but the calculations showed that this in turn would cause a significant drop in speed. Originally, the ship can be propelled not only by wind-attribute magic, but also as a pure sailing ship that does not need any magic at all…. That's where the problem came in. So, alchemy was supposed to solve the problem of stability, but…"
"But…? Wait, d-don't tell me, Mr. Neil?"
Girolamo's explanation solved the puzzle for Ryo.
"Yeah. Sir Andersen was supposed to solve the problem, but he left the country…. And since the government of the Republic was responsible for it, they of course, promised that the problem of this ship would be solved by the alchemists in the service of the government. But as you can see… they couldn't."
"I see."
Finally… really, at long last, strength returned to Ryo's eyes.
"Excuse me, could you show me the blueprints of this ship for a moment?"