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Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 5 - Chapter 4




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Chapter 4: The Christof Company 

“Right... So, next up is Gennou’s report.” Ryoma turned his gaze to Gennou. 

It was two days after Ryoma visited Count Salzberg’s estate. That morning, they held a meeting to report all the information they gathered over the last few days. Half of the people involved had already given their reports. 

All that’s left is the twins and Gennou... But it looks like something’s up. 

On the surface, Gennou was simply listening to the other reports with his eyes closed and his arms folded, as he always was. But it was clear that a ninja wouldn’t let his emotions rise to the surface. The only ones who hadn’t given their reports were the Malfist sisters and Gennou, but a feeling of dread spurred Ryoma to leave his report for last. 

The sisters’ report was regarding a company they could purchase food from. There shouldn’t have been any particular problems to mention in regards to that. 

At Ryoma’s words, Gennou shook his head. 

“No... I think I should speak last... Let Laura and Sara go first.” 

Apparently, he had something in mind. 

“Hmm... I suppose you have your own reasons.” Ryoma nodded suspiciously, and turned to the Malfist sisters. “Right. Laura, Sara, tell us about that company.” 

“Very well.” Laura and Sara nodded and began giving their report. 

What it said, however, would knock Ryoma’s optimism down to the bottom of the abyss. 

“Our conclusion is that most of the companies in Epirus have strong ties to Count Salzberg.” 

“Strong ties?” Ryoma tilted his head. 

Their words implied the aforesaid ties were stronger than a company’s normal connection to a governor. 

“Yes. They have extremely close, intimate connections with him,” Sara said, and spread a map over the table. 

“Is that... a map of Epirus?” 

“Yes. The red dots are the companies working in this city.” Sara’s finger pointed to one red point on the map. 

There were ten points overall on the map. Those were all the large, influential trade companies existing in Epirus. 

“The Mystel Company... The Rafael Company...” Sara moved from point to point, reading the respective names of the companies. “These ten companies form a union that has the economy of the citadel city of Epirus in the palm of its hand... The problem is that the count’s wife, Lady Yulia Salzberg, is the lone daughter of the union’s representative and the Mystel Company’s owner.” 

“Is that true...?” All the color drained from Ryoma’s face. 

His shock was understandable, as they had no means of providing food in the Wortenia Peninsula. They had no farmers, of course, and even if they did have people to settle into the peninsula, they would only produce any kind of crops within six months to a year. At least so long as there were no kind of unusual plants that grew within days of being planted, they had no choice but to rely on supplies from Epirus until they became self-sufficient. 

They couldn’t hunt monsters down for food, after all. Some monsters may have been edible, but the large majority of them weren’t. Maybe it would have been possible to feed several dozen people through monster hunting, but it wasn’t realistically possible to feed hundreds that way. 

Food and water weren’t things he could ask people to abstain from. They were absolutely necessary for survival. Maybe being able to use water thaumaturgy could solve that problem, but they had nothing to do when it came to food. 

“Yes... If we want to purchase supplies, we’d have to work with one of those ten companies... But the countess being the daughter of the union’s leader means...” 

Laura cut off her words there. Everyone else present understood what she was trying to say. Trading with a company was very much their lifeline. They didn’t want to imagine a future where that lifeline was subject to the countess’s whims. 

Right now things were still fine, since Ryoma was still outwardly cordial with Count Salzberg. But things could very well change. It could be any conflict of interests, or even something as simple as the count having a bad mood. 

The moment Count Salzberg might feel inclined to tighten the noose around the necks of Ryoma and his group, it would all be over. All he’d have to do would be apply pressure on the companies under his wing. They would never be able to ignore Count Salzberg’s intentions. 

“Apparently, the Mystel Company’s representative is quite the ambitious man... The original representative of the union was the Christof Company, but his daughter marrying Count Salzberg allowed him to snatch away the position...” 

As she said that, Ryoma clicked his tongue sharply. 

“I get it... They married their daughter off to a noble, and used his authority to increase their influence... It’s not unheard of...” 

It was certainly common enough, and it even happened in Japan. 

“Still... I’m surprised a noble married a merchant’s daughter.” 

Within the class system, a merchant was considered a commoner, and that wouldn’t change no matter how much money they accumulated. But she was the Count’s wife — not a concubine, but his legal wife. Ryoma couldn’t help but be surprised. 

“I looked into that as well, but... Apparently, House Salzberg has been in a bad financial state ever since the previous head’s time...” 

“Hmm... So they lured him in with money? What hurt their finances in the first place? Military expenditures?” 

Count Salzberg was pressed enough for money that he had to marry a merchant’s daughter... The fact a noble chose practicality over dignity was proof the count was probably quite cornered. The question was what made him so pressed for money to begin with. 

“Yes... Between protecting the border and defending from monster attacks coming from within Wortenia, House Salzberg has had to divert a great deal of their budget to military funds...” 

Everyone nodded at Laura’s words. Armies had a way of sucking up money. A military was like a starved monster that consumed supplies but produced nothing in exchange. That was how the army worked. 

And to top it all off, this monster needed to be fed with large amounts of the finest goods possible. Soldiers needed to have their wages paid, as well as be provided with armor and weapons. Horses needed to be bred, food and provisions delivered... The army consumed many resources, even in peacetime. And when the time came for war, the rate at which it devoured funds would skyrocket. It was like a bottomless pit. No matter how much money one poured into it, it would never be enough. 

And yet countries still had to fund their armies. It was essential to protect one’s country, one’s people, one’s territory... To protect what mattered most. And for a noble in charge of keeping a wary vigil over a neighboring country, this responsibility was that much heavier. It was only natural that Count Salzberg’s finances were in dire straits. 

“Figures, I guess...” Ryoma said pensively. “He’s not just watching over Myest’s and Xarooda’s borders, he’s pushing back against the monsters invading from the peninsula.” 

“From the documents I looked into...” Boltz said, “Roughly once every decade, the monsters in Wortenia stage a large attack. The ten families of the north must deploy their troops together whenever that happens.” 

“Well, damn... That’s basically the same as going to war.” Lione nodded. 

“Allow me to supplement by pointing out this land isn’t suited for farming,” Gennou chimed in. “This region has no crops worth mentioning. They produce enough to be self-sufficient, but it’s far from an abundant land.” 

“How about salt?” Ryoma asked suspiciously. “I heard a little something during my visit at the count’s place. Apparently they discovered a halite vein.” 

At least judging by the count and his wife’s appearance the other day, they didn’t seem to be in financial trouble. A noble may spend quite a bit to keep up airs and maintain their honor, but even that had its limits. 

From their clothes to the meal provided, it was clear that the count wasn’t wanting for money. His table was stacked with more food than one could possibly eat, all garnished with precious spices. That wouldn’t be possible if they were in financial trouble. 

But the truly suspicious part was the matter of the halite vein. Salt was a necessity, and while it wasn’t worth as much as precious metals, it was in constant demand. If House Salzberg did come into possession of a source of rock salt, it would be perfectly possible for them to rebuild their finances. 

However, Gennou shook his head at Ryoma’s question. 

“No... No halite veins exist in the count’s territory.” 

The way he worded it was significant. The moment he heard those words, Ryoma’s heart was gripped with a great sense of unease. 

What the hell...? If they don’t have any veins, how did they rebuild their wealth? Did they come up with some other industry? 

Ryoma’s mind explored the possibilities. 

If they found some other source of funds, why did the countess lie about the vein? Why mention salt of all things? 

A good lie was one that had a hint of truth mixed into it. Fabricating a web of lies and making it convincing is exceedingly difficult, as falsehood that wasn’t consistent with reality would just make the whole story fall apart. 

“Ah! Maybe they...” Sara then raised her voice with surprise. 

“What, Sara? Did you think of something?” Laura asked, to which Sara nodded and turned her eyes to Gennou. 

“Maybe Count Salzberg has a vein outside of their territory... within the Wortenia Peninsula?” 

“““Aah!””” Everyone raised their voices in surprise. 

Gennou regarded Sara with a composed smile. 

“Keenly observed, miss. Indeed, the count has a vein in the Wortenia Peninsula’s land, one that is kept secret from the rest of the kingdom.” 

It wasn’t an unexpected revelation, but coming from Gennou it was even more convincing. 

“Wait just a second,” Lione said, visibly shocked. “Yer sayin’ Count Salzberg owns a vein in the peninsula? Without the kingdom’s approval? I mean, it’s an abandoned land, sure, but that takes balls... If that gets exposed, his whole family’s gonna get hauled off to the gallows.” 

Before it was given to Ryoma, the nobles that were in charge of Wortenia were technically the Rhoadserian royal family. And while the peninsula was undeveloped land, that didn’t mean extracting natural resources from that land was legal. If the royal house were to learn of that, the count’s entire bloodline would die in large scale executions, even down to distant relatives and close associates. 

“He takes his greed so far I almost feel like admiring him for the sheer pluck of it...” Boltz sighed, praising Count Salzberg for his courage. 

He was very much treading on thin ice. 

“Gennou... Do you know where the vein is?” Ryoma asked. 

Gennou pointed to a location on the map that wasn’t too far from Epirus. A mountainous region ran along the base of the peninsula like a breakwater, and the spot he pointed at was on Epirus’s side of the mountains. 

“Oh, I see... Shit! No wonder they were so friendly and nice. The bastards wanted to push me into the peninsula as fast as possible.” 

Technically, the vein was on Wortenia’s side of the border, but it was a stone throw’s away from Epirus. It was on such a vague border line that even if the royal house were to learn about it, Count Salzberg could just play dumb. 

Ryoma was the legal governor of Wortenia now, but with that position he would never investigate the vein unless he knew of it ahead of time. After all, from within Wortenia, it was on the opposite side of the mountain. The bits and pieces in Ryoma’s mind all clicked into place, and Count Salzberg’s plot became clear. 

“He didn’t kill me right off the bat because he didn’t want to make a big deal out of this... If I were to die, people from the kingdom might come in to investigate the place.” 

“Yes, milord, I suspect he only welcomed you so you would enter the peninsula unaware...” Gennou nodded. “And if you were to learn about that secret...” 

“He’d just have the monsters eat me...” Ryoma said, narrowing his eyes sharply. 

“What shall you do, milord? Sakuya and I can claim the Count’s head,” Gennou proposed. 

“I don’t know about that. I feel like that might do us more harm than good right now.” Sara opposed the idea. 

“Oh? You’re against it, are you...? May I hear your reasoning?” 

“I agree that assassinating Count Salzberg will halt his plot against us, but our objective is establishing a territory in the peninsula. To that end, Epirus has to remain stable. If the assassination works we may escape the count’s grasp, but there’s no telling who might come to control this land later. At worst, it could be someone under Queen Lupis’s command...” 

They’d be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Given how cautious Queen Lupis was when it came to Ryoma, there was no telling what kind of harassment could be in store for them. Sara’s claims made sense. 

“Hmm... Your doubts are well-founded, Miss Sara. I may have suggested it a bit too lightly.” Gennou nodded at Sara’s words. 

“What do we do about the halite ore, then?” Laura asked. “Isn’t stealing it from Count Salzberg a possibility?” 

Ryoma placed a finger on his chin in a contemplative gesture. 

“I don’t know about that,” Gennou remarked. “I can’t imagine a man such as the count letting go of a source of income that easily. At worst he could even try to stop us by force.” 

“Yeah...” Ryoma nodded. “And even if we do take over the ore, we don’t have a way of selling that salt to anyone right now. It’s not something worth souring our relationship with him over, at least for now...” 

“Yeah... It’s a good source of income to have handy, but even if we do take over it, no one in Epirus will trade with us.” 

“Sounds about right. The count and the trade union are too closely connected. It’s obvious that he can pressure them into refusing to trade with us.” 

Even if they did steal the mine away from Count Salzberg, they wouldn’t have a way of converting its salt into money. It would have been a different story if they could sell it off in another city, but since they’d have to go through Epirus to get anywhere, they had no possible logistic route to do so. They could use sea trade in the future, but at present they couldn’t do anything. 

“Then how about we just let Count Salzberg handle it for now?” Laura proposed. 

“Are you saying we should let him do what he wants?” Ryoma asked, his expression stiff. 

No governor would be happy about letting someone else do as they please in their territory, even if they were an impromptu governor like Ryoma. 

“We mustn’t let the Rhoadserian royal house learn of this, though, or the count would certainly be culled. That would be no different from us assassinating him.” 

“I... suppose.” 

That was their biggest problem. Killing the count was fine. Be it a direct assassination from their hands or by leaking the information to the royal house... There were enough ways to see to it that the count died. But that would allow Queen Lupis to interfere. 

“We could simply relinquish the vein to Count Salzberg, and have him promise to aid us in exchange. And in the meanwhile, we prepare... Prepare to crush him. What do you think?” 

Laura’s proposal wasn’t ideal, but it was realistically feasible. The question was whether the count would agree to it. 

“I agree with Miss Laura’s proposal,” Gennou said. 

“Yeah, same... That’s probably the most realistic solution we have. Though letting Count Salzberg use us to his ends doesn’t sit well with me.” Lione agreed as well, though with some reservations. 

“I agree, Sis, there are a few parts to this plan I’m not quite pleased with... But it’s not a bad idea.” Boltz nodded. 

It really isn’t a bad idea... It would buy us time and let us prepare. The question is whether Count Salzberg will agree to cooperate with me... No, he shouldn’t be able to take that option. He doesn’t want to draw the royal house’s attention. If he has my... the legal lord of the land’s approval, he wouldn’t need to fear anything. That’d be a pretty big boon for him. It’s pretty likely he’ll go along with this... And since we can’t convert that salt into money, I guess we shouldn’t be that fixated on the vein... 

Ryoma was prepared. They’d need to gain more power than Count Salzberg first. And that didn’t mean just pure military might. Economic power, political power... 

“All right... I think this’ll buy us the time we need. We just need to use that time well to build up our strength,” Ryoma told them. 

Everyone nodded in agreement. 

“So, now that we’ve decided that we’ll be negotiating with him, what will we need to do that?” Ryoma asked. 

“I think we should look for a trustworthy trade partner to work with, aside from the people we’ll be negotiating with,” Laura proposed. “We’ll need to get provisions, and possibly trade with them for the salt in the future. I think the Christof Company might be the right people here... After all, the Mystel Company did snatch away their position.” 

“I agree with Laura,” Sara chimed in. “The other eight companies are all under the Mystel Company’s umbrella. Any dealings we make with them would be leaked to the Count. The Christof Company is the only company in the union that’s detached from him. If we want to negotiate with anyone, it would have to be them.” 

The twins were, after all, the ones to look into the trade companies. They had a good grasp on the topic. Ryoma couldn’t help but be grateful for how resourceful his companions were. They were doing their all to save Ryoma, swearing their loyalty to a young man like him. This alone was a treasure that was worth more than a fortune. 

Count Salzberg... You may have the upper hand right now, but I’ll be having the last laugh! 

That emotion surged up in Ryoma’s heart, only making his determination that much stronger. He couldn’t afford to lose — because his defeat would mean the death of those that followed him. 

 

The following day, Ryoma walked roughly one kilometer across Epirus’s main street, coming face to face with a tall wall. It exceeded ten meters in height, rivaling even the capital’s ramparts. This made it abundantly clear how important it was. 

Of course, trade was flourishing. The street’s width was roughly twenty meters, and it was built in a leisurely fashion. The road was paved by flagstones, allowing for a large traffic of people and carriages. All of the shops built along the road were large and respectable, with quite a few people going in and out of them. 

It was just before three in the afternoon. The sunlight was soft, making it an ideal time to shop, and indeed the people were swarming about the stores. But among them, the building Ryoma looked up at stood alone and isolated from the tumult. 

It was significantly larger than the nearby shops, a sturdy building made of stone. It had a respectable sign made of oak. It was very much a structure that exuded tradition and social status. 

All of that rang hollow, however, due to the utter lack of customers. It had a dignified exterior that was carefully maintained, but something of a filthy shadow seemed to cling to the place. 

“So this is the place... Yeah, it does look like everyone’s treating them like an enemy...” 

Ryoma compared the building to the other nearby stores. The Christof Company seemed completely detached from the tumult around it, and no one seemed to approach the place. It was as if an invisible wall separated it from the rest of the street. 

It stood opposite the main street and near the eastern gate. One would normally expect trade carts loaded with wares to be near the building. Reality didn’t quite conform with those expectations, though. And given its location, the whole affair felt extremely unnatural. It was as if someone’s enmity had tainted this business, forcing people to ignore it. 

“Yes. The Mystel Company’s been harassing the place, and the business’s administration has been on the back foot since,” Laura said. “The customers couldn’t bear Mystel’s pressure either and have been avoiding the store.” 

“Laura and I looked into the place, and apparently they’ve lost nearly all their high-paying clients... The company’s been hanging on one way or another since, owing mostly to the business talents of the company president’s daughter, Simone Christof.” 

The Malfist sisters had a grasp on the Christof Company’s situation due to their prior investigations. 

“Hmm... A shrewd woman, eh.” Ryoma ruminated. 

“Yes.” Laura nodded. “She’s been managing the company ever since her father became bedridden.” 

“Bedridden? From disease?” Ryoma asked. 

Laura shook her head. 

“From what Sara’s picked up from the people around them, he had lost his wits and grown senile after having the position of union head snatched away from him.” 

It wasn’t unheard of among people who work vigorously and upfront. The pressure of working as the union leader disappearing likely made him lose his edge. But it was still just a rumor, and he’d have to learn the truth from the people involved now. 

Whatever the reason was, the father collapsed, and his daughter, Simone, had to take over management of the business. 

“I see... Mystel hates her business and her father can’t be depended on... Yeah, I can see why she might be open for negotiations...” Ryoma whispered with a cold smile on his lips. 

He was in need of a pawn he could use. He was at a staggering disadvantage, and so he didn’t have the leisure to mind the methods with which he worked. Even if it was something as low as taking advantage of Simone’s weaknesses. 

“Very well, Master Ryoma. We’re almost at the appointed time,” Sara said, and opened the store’s door. 

Ryoma entered the Christof Company’s building, followed by the Malfist sisters. 

 

Ryoma was greeted by a large entrance hall. A soft red carpet was spread over the floor. It was called a store but the building itself was likely only used for business negotiations. It was well-furnished and wasn’t much inferior to Count Salzberg’s estate. 

If anything set the two places apart, it was that the furnishings seemed to be more uniform and consistent. It wasn’t a matter of one place looking more expensive than the other. The way the furnishings were arranged was more classy and brought out their age. While Count Salzberg’s estate was by no means ostentatious, it did pale in comparison to this place. 

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Baron Ryoma Mikoshiba.” A middle-aged man standing at the bottom of a staircase greeted Ryoma. “Our acting company president, Lady Simone, is currently occupied. I apologize, but could you wait in the guest room until she’s ready to see you?” 

The man looked to be in his mid-forties. His skin was dark and tanned, and he wore a white suit. He seemed mild and amicable, but the glint in his eyes set him apart from the rest. And for some reason, a thick salty aroma wafted up from his body. 

“All right. We’ll wait, then... Could you show us the way?” 

Ryoma stepped forward, but the man suddenly stopped him. 

“My apologies, Sir Baron, but could you leave your weapon here? And I would also ask that your escorts do the same as well.” 

His eyes had an intensity that made it impossible to say no. 

“Are you telling him to leave our swords behind?!” Laura exclaimed. 


The two sisters grabbed hold of their weapons. The man’s request was a rude one. A merchant asking a noble to disarm themselves was extremely unusual. 

“These are our company’s regulations... I’m afraid that if you wish to meet the acting president, you will have to oblige...” 

The man conducted himself politely, but his body seemed to be full of unwavering conviction. This was about more than just company regulations. 

He’s got something in mind... Right, he’s wary of an assassination... They don’t trust us either... I guess that makes sense. From her perspective, it looks like one of the Count’s allies is visiting her... 

Outwardly, Ryoma seemed to be affiliated with Count Salzberg. The fact he actually wasn’t didn’t matter here; the only thing that did was that Simone thought he was. 

“Understood... Laura! Sara!” 

At Ryoma’s order, the Malfist sisters drew their swords from their scabbards and handed them over to the man. They were equally anxious to meet a person they had no reason to trust while unarmed, but their master’s orders took precedence. 

“Right... And these are pretty dangerous, too. I’ll leave them in your care.” Ryoma handed his katana over to the man, and then also gave him the small leather pouch dangling from his belt. 

“Oh... Why, this is quite impressive...” the man exclaimed, peering into the pouch. 

The pouch contained Ryoma’s chakrams. They were quite lethal projectile weapons, but they certainly weren’t something a noble would normally be walking around with. 

The man’s gaze bored into Ryoma and the sisters. It only lasted a few seconds, after which he looked away and politely bowed his head before stepping onto the staircase. 

“Please come this way. The guest room is on the second floor.” 

Apparently, the fact Ryoma voluntarily handed over his chakrams left a good impression on the man. Ryoma nodded slightly and followed the man up the stairs. 

“Please wait here. The acting president will be with you shortly.” 

The man led them into the room closest to the stairs before lowering his head again and leaving. 

“What do you think?” Ryoma whispered to the sisters quietly. 

He had no way of knowing what tricks were set in this room. The room could very well have been tapped in some way. 

“He’s quite skilled... But what really strikes me as odd was how tanned he was...” Sara said, to which Laura nodded in approval. 

All three of them were wary of that man. The glint in his eyes and the way he carried himself didn’t look like the way a merchant might act. Instead, it came across as the way a man skilled in combat might behave. 

“And he smelled like salt for some reason... Even though Count Salzberg’s territory doesn’t have any access to the sea...” 

“Yeah, you’re right. I noticed it, too... I don’t know if he just drifted here from another town or if there’s some kind of other reason for it...” 

There were a few possible options, but... 

“No point brooding over it now... We need to focus on speaking to Simone, first.” 

And as if in response to Ryoma’s words, there was a modest knock on the door. 

“May I?” a young woman’s voice asked. 

It was a serene voice, but at the same time seemed to harbor a certain inner strength. 

“Go ahead.” 

With Ryoma’s permission, the door opened and a woman walked into the room and bowed before them politely. Her chestnut-colored hair was tied up neatly and fixed into place with a silver hair ornament. The silk dress she wore was dyed in a faint blue, granting her a refined, cool-looking image. 

“Yes, pardon me... Thank you for waiting. You are Baron Ryoma Mikoshiba, yes? A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Simone Christof, and I currently serve as the Christof Company’s acting president.” 

While the company had fallen on hard times, she was still the daughter of the man who once served as the head of the trade union. Her introduction and apology were perfectly polite. Her flowing body motions had a distinct grace to them. 

Hmm... She gives the countess a run for her money. 

Ryoma compared Simone to the countess, Lady Yulia, whom he met mere days ago. They were both fair, attractive women, but the beauties they boasted seemed to be almost opposite of each other. 

Lady Yulia was, in a word, dazzling. She had a calculated beauty that put even the fairest gemstones to shame. She asserted herself in a powerful, almost violent way. But Simone, by comparison, came across as pure. Her pale skin was almost transparent, her sleek hair was clearly well cared for and she wore the bare minimum of ornaments. She came across as reserved and docile. 

It was like the difference between a rose and a lily. 

But Ryoma keenly picked up on the animalistic ferocity hidden beneath that meek appearance. The fact she came to this room alone was suspicious, to begin with. Ryoma expected her to have bodyguards, like that man from earlier. 

This... might not go the way I expected. 

“Hmm... Did I offend you in some way...?” Simone asked reservedly, eyeing Ryoma as he fell silent in contemplation. 

“Ah... Not at all, pardon me.” Ryoma came to and apologized politely. “Yes, I am Ryoma Mikoshiba. My apologies for requesting this meeting on such short notice.” 

“Oh, no, don’t let that bother you, Baron... You’re a prospective client, after all.” 

Ryoma only made the appointment for this meeting earlier that afternoon. It was far from polite, but Simone’s expression didn’t betray any signs of displeasure. She merely smiled at Ryoma pleasantly. 

“I’m very glad to hear that... It means this visit will likely be a worthwhile one,” Ryoma said after waiting for Simone to take a seat opposite of him. 

“My! That’s good to hear... Although, our company is rather busy as of late. I don’t know to what extent we can meet your expectations, Baron... You may not be aware of this yet, but my father, the company president Louis Christof, is currently ravaged by illness and is in a catatonic state. I am now serving as acting president in his stead, inexperienced though I may be.” 

“Oh, I see... A catatonic state... The rumor I’ve heard is that he lost his wits upon having his position as head of the trade union taken away by the Mystel Company.” 

Ryoma intentionally worded himself crudely, so as to provoke her. He wanted to see how she’d react. 

“So you did hear of it... I’m surprised, to be honest... You only arrived in Epirus a few days ago, Baron. You must have good people working for you,” Simone said, elegantly cocking her head to the side. “Though I suppose you would, given your accomplishments... Your strategies in toppling Heraklion make it clear that you know the importance of information and intelligence. Even an amateur warrior such as myself could tell how creative and novel your tactics were... Your ingenuity in coming up with them is a thing to be feared.” 

And despite her words, she didn’t seem to be holding back her anger. Quite the opposite, in fact, as her words put Ryoma in a position that necessitated that he riposte. 

“Oh... So you’ve heard of Heraklion... Maybe you even predicted I’d pay you a visit.” Ryoma regarded Simone with a complacent smile, probing for her intentions. 

This world had limited means of circulating information. There was no television, radio, or internet in this world. Sending letters and carrier pigeons were the only ways of gaining information that wasn’t based on hearsay. That was why information was so precious. 

And Simone knew about how Ryoma manipulated information in Heraklion. It went deeper than simply knowing that he helped Queen Lupis win. This was something she couldn’t have known without investigating the smaller details. Knowing that much was proof that Simone was more than just a rich man’s daughter. 

“Hmm... I’d say I was half sure and half in doubt about that. I did assume someone of your wit would see through Count Salzberg’s intentions... But I didn’t expect you to seek me out a mere few days after arriving in Epirus. At worst I thought I may have to approach you myself.” 

“Did you, now... In that case, are you aware of the situation I’m in?” Ryoma asked. 

Simone’s expression didn’t change one bit, even in the face of that question. 

“Of course, Baron. I know about how Queen Lupis’s scheming landed you in this situation, and about Count Salzberg... Ah, I can’t believe myself! I didn’t even offer you any tea, did I? Someone! Could you come in?” 

Simone clapped, to which a maid entered the room. Simone requested she bring them tea. It was almost as if she was about to hold a tea party along with her friends. The maid walked into the room before long, carrying a teapot. 

But the moment Ryoma saw the maid prepare the tea, his eyes narrowed. She poured the hot water from above directly into the teapot in a method called jumping. The water’s temperature seemed to be just right, and a pleasant aroma wafted from the room as soon as the water filled the pot. 

“Please, help yourselves. These leaves are a Qwiltantian specialty,” Simone said, bringing her cup to her lips. 

This was likely to show off that it wasn’t poisoned. Ryoma took a sip after her. The first thing he felt was the rich aroma. It was vivid, and had a way of exciting the heart. Eventually, a moderate lingering bitterness remained on his tongue. He naturally reached out to the cookies placed in front of him. They had a fragrant scent and appropriate sweetness. 

“Hmm... This is good! The tea leaves are high quality, and even the way it was served was perfect! And the cookies fit the tea just right... Whoever made this is a master at serving tea.” 

High-quality tea leaves that were perfectly prepared, and teacakes that had just the right degree of sweetness. Whoever served this went about their job like a master craftsman. 

Ryoma didn’t assume himself to be some kind of gourmand, but his tongue was more sensitive than most. Possibly because his grandfather, Kouichirou, had absolutely no taste when it came to teas and alcohol. But even that aside, good food would be seen as such even by those who weren’t connoisseurs. 

As proof, the Malfist sisters, who were sipping tea at his side, had their eyes open wide and round with surprise. The two of them were daughters of a noble house from the central continent, even if it had since fallen into ruin. Nothing but the finest quality would elicit surprise out of them. 

“Oh! You can tell? You’re quite the refined man, Baron.” Simone smiled with praise. 

“Refined? Uh, I can just tell what tastes good from what doesn’t, that’s all.” 

Honestly, Ryoma never really pursued delicacies out of the intention to be some kind of connoisseur. He just happened to have been graced with the chance to taste a wide range of food. 

“I suppose so...” Simone shook her head slowly. “Rearth must be blessed with many types of cuisine. I’ll admit I’m quite envious of you.” 

Those words made Ryoma’s pulse hasten in his chest. 

This woman... How much does she know? 

Ryoma quickly restrained his agitated emotions. He couldn’t afford to affirm Simone’s words here. 

“What do you mean?” Ryoma asked, not letting his expression change any. 

“There’s no need to hide it... Anyone might come to this conclusion, given enough thought,” Simone said as if the whole matter wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. “Your wit and intellect, Baron. They’re something no commoner could ever hope to achieve. That meant you must have been a noble, but when I looked into your past, I found nothing. Absolutely nothing dating further than six months ago, when you registered with the guild. That should not even be possible... I may not find any definitive information, but my intelligence network is quite expansive. If it could turn up no information about your past, Baron... The only explanation is that you must have appeared in this world suddenly. I did know you were summoned in the O’ltormea Empire capital city. Roughly around that time, O’ltormea’s court thaumaturgist, Gaius Valkland, disappeared mysteriously in the middle of his work. I concluded, then, that he must have fallen by your hand.” 

Her conjecture was perfect. 

“Right... Well, if you figured out that much, there’s no point to me playing dumb,” Ryoma said, a resigned expression on his face. 

Her knowing he was from Rearth wasn’t that fatal of an issue, but the same couldn’t be said for his involvement in Gaius Valkland’s murder. 

Shit... Depending on how she goes about it, I might have to shut her up... Killing a woman doesn’t really sit with me, but... 

Ryoma wasn’t pretentious enough to claim he was some kind of gentleman who indulges women, but he wasn’t sick enough of a man to derive joy from killing them, either. 

Still, that intelligence network of hers is impressive... 

Nothing turned up when she tried looking into his past, and so she concluded he must have been an otherworlder. That showed she had absolute trust in her intelligence network. 

“Yes... Though truth be told, I didn’t quite believe you were an otherworlder. I thought it was likely... But normally, otherworlders are immediately bound by thaumaturgy, which ensures they wouldn’t be able to escape.” 

“Right... So, what’ll you do? Do you intend to oppose me?” Ryoma asked, bloodlust radiating from his body. 

This was a threat, of course. If Ryoma was truly keen on killing her, he would have wordlessly crushed her throat with a brandish of his hand. Simone understood this as well, and didn’t so much as stir despite being exposed to Ryoma’s seemingly seething bloodlust. 

“No... I have no intention of doing that. To tell the truth, I agreed to this meeting for two reasons. The first was to confirm my intelligence network’s findings, and the other was to prove that I don’t intend to make an enemy out of you, Baron.” 

True, no person who would openly share their information source to the other party could be considered hostile. If Simone did intend to oppose him, she wouldn’t have told Ryoma about this. 

“Right... I guess we should lay all our cards on the table this time,” Ryoma said, allowing his bloodlust to recede. 

“I’ll admit you’re as strong as they say... The pressure was so great, I couldn’t even budge...” 

“You looked pretty composed to me.” 

“Only because I knew that wasn’t truly your intent...” Simone’s expression changed to a whimsical, alluring smile. 

“Yeah... Though the people hiding in the walls don’t seem to think that way... I can sense them, you know.” 

“Do not blame us for it. Mystel’s subordinates are always plotting against us... My people were merely worried for my well-being. Please overlook it, out of respect for me.” Simone bowed her head in apology. 

With that, the thick murderous intent Ryoma felt from the walls died down. 

“Was that the man who showed us to this room?” 

“Yes. He is my secretary and bodyguard... And oh, yes, my apologies for his having to ask you to leave your weapons behind.” 

“That’s fine. Let’s just say I feel more confident about teaming up with a person who knows how to keep herself safe.” 

Simone regarded Ryoma’s words with a bitter smile and sat back down on the sofa. 

“Then let’s begin the negotiations. We already have an understanding of your demands, Baron. You’re seeking to ensure you have a source of provisions in Epirus for the time period until you can turn the Wortenia Peninsula into a self-sufficient land, correct?” 

Simone’s expression was still friendly, but upon entering into negotiations, the air around her changed. She regarded Ryoma with an aura that felt like a vivid, sharp blade. 

“Yeah... And in the future, I intend to build ports in the peninsula and trade with other continents. We want the Christof Company to provide goods exclusively to us, so we may sell them as trade commodities.” 

Simone likely didn’t plan that far ahead. Those words made her expression stir. 

“My... You plan on a very grand scale... If that were to become a reality, the Wortenia Peninsula would become an extraordinary source of profit. And a permanent, self-sufficient source of profit, at that... And you wish for me to help you with that?” 

There was a shiver in Simone’s voice. Understandably enough; if Ryoma’s intentions were to become reality, the Christof Company would be granted a great deal of wealth and privilege for helping him — the sort of wealth and privilege other companies wouldn’t be entitled to. 

A powerless merchant would scoff at this plan and write it off as impossible. But Simone’s mind could envision the port that would be made in the Wortenia Peninsula. 

“But making that happen would take a long time and require a great deal of funds... And once you’re in on it, there’s no getting off halfway through. In other words, if you help fund this, you’re with us whether we sink or swim.” 

Ryoma’s words were only a promise for what may come. To get there, they’d need to build cities on the peninsula and secure trade routes. It was an endeavor that would take years. Simone choosing to help them would be equivalent to placing the fate of the Christof Company in Ryoma’s hands. 

But Simone had already made her choice. She’d intended to offer them funds even if Ryoma hadn’t said anything. 

“It is fine... This was my intent to begin with. Though I didn’t imagine your plans extended that far...” 

“I get it...” Ryoma said, picking up on the meaning behind her words. “You’re hanging by a thread, aren’t you?” 

Ryoma turned a probing glance at Simone. The Christofs’ business was well-maintained and they had expensive furnishings passed down through the ages. In terms of appearance alone, one wouldn’t be able to tell the Christof Company was in financial trouble. 

But that wasn’t the case. They’d lost all their clients, and they weren’t able to form new business connections. A company like that had no future. 

“Yes... The company has some funds left, so we won’t go under immediately. But the way things are going, we have three years left, at best. We need to make a choice by then. We either leave Epirus behind and seek our luck in new lands, or fight back against Count Salzberg and the Mystel Company to the best of our ability...” 

“I see. I guess we’ll need to talk this through a bit more,” Ryoma said. 

“Yes.” Simone nodded. “We should get to know each other a bit better.” 

Ryoma described his plans and future outlook, and then went on to explain why they were more than just a pipe dream. And to prove it, Ryoma would need to exhibit his power. 

“By the way, how did you get those tea leaves from Qwiltantia?” Ryoma mentioned a concern that nudged at the back of his mind since Simone revealed the Christof Company’s troubles. “They’re one of the largest powers on the continent. Isn’t it going to take days to get there, be it through a sea route or land?” 

Goods brought from afar were expensive, as transport costs were reflected in the price. The Christof Company expressly chose to use expensive tea leaves. And Qwiltantian ones, at that. That made Ryoma think there might have been some hidden agenda there. 

“You noticed... We ordered those leaves from Pherzaad the other day.” 

Simone took a map of the western continent out of a cabinet and spread it over the table. It wasn’t as detailed as a Mercator projection, but it was probably quite accurate, since it seemed similar to the one they saw in Pireas. 

“Do you know of Pherzaad, a trade city in the Kingdom of Myest?” 

“Yeah, I’ve been there before.” 

Simone nodded at Ryoma’s words and pointed at the left side of the map next. 

“The tea leaves we served you were of the highest class even in the Holy Empire of Qwiltantia. They cost quite a bit even in other countries... They’re produced here, in the northwestern regions of Qwiltantia.” She pointed at a mountain town located a short distance away from the coastline. “The tea leaves produced here are delivered to the trade city of Lorcana, where they’re then shipped to the east by ship.” 

She dragged her finger along the map, drawing a line from Lorcana, around to the south and to Pherzaad. Lorcana was located on the northwestern tip of Qwiltantia - the sea route they used was clearly a roundabout one that circled two-thirds of the way around the western continent. Ryoma directed a suspicious gaze at Simone. 

“So you noticed...” 

“Why are they taking such a detour...? Wait, no! I get it, it’s the Wortenia Peninsula!” 

“Precisely. The reason they have to take a roundabout route is the Wortenia Peninsula... There’s no supply port in this region. That’s the greatest reason the northern sea routes aren’t in use.” 

The seafarers had been avoiding the northern sea routes ever since the peninsula became a haunt for pirates. 

And the reason for that was quite simple — no people lived in Wortenia, and so there was no supply port. Meaning that ships passing through the north couldn’t expect any rescue or resupply in case of emergency. 

There was no telling what might happen at sea. Even in a coastal region, there were monsters that inhabited the sea, and storms were always a possibility. The rudder breaking for whatever reason was also not improbable. And if any of those things were to happen, landing in the peninsula for repairs or rescue wasn’t possible. 

An ordinary ship would require seven to ten days to cross the peninsula. Given the dangers that might arise during that time period, it was only natural sailors would refuse to take the northern route. 

And yet, companies had still used a few trade ships to cross through the northern route. 

“Now that the peninsula is a roost for pirates, the northern route had to be abandoned completely... However.” 

Ryoma jolted with surprise and excitement. 

“If you were to spin it the other way, hypothetically, building a port on the Wortenia Peninsula and dealing with the pirates... There’s profit to be made there. Simone, did you serve that Qwiltantian tea so you could bring this up? Because you wanted to see a port established there?” 

“Yes... With a port there, we’ll be able to trade with Qwiltantia directly, and not just them. Helnesgoula and the other continents would also be open to trade... The peninsula is effectively a trove of treasures.” 

Simone’s eyes lit up bewitchingly. She was very much gambling on Ryoma’s wit and ingenuity. 

“I see... So I wasn’t the one testing you. You were testing me.” 

This entire meeting was a test to see if he would realize her plan and be able to help her. And had Ryoma turned out to be a fool, she was prepared to leave Epirus behind. 

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be this keen when it came to business, Baron. I didn’t imagine you’d come up with the same idea... However, with this, I and the Christof Company are willing to put our faith in you.” 

“So I passed?” Ryoma asked. 

Simone reached her right hand out to Ryoma. 

“Of course. Please, lend the Christof Company your strength.” 

“In that case, call me by my name.” Ryoma asked. “Being called ‘Baron’ doesn’t sit well with me.” 

Simone laughed out loud for the first time. 

“Oh, I couldn’t do anything that rude. And considering what’s to come, I think you should get used to this,” she said playfully. “But if you insist, Baron, I could consider it a favor to a comrade and call you Mikoshiba when in private.” 

“That would be better. I hope we have good business going forward.” 

“Yes. You can count on me,” Simone said, her smile austere and fair. 

Her face was that of a proud warrior, resolved to step into battle. 



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