Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 6 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Negotiations 

That night, Ryoma Mikoshiba walked down the main street of the citadel city of Epirus, without any of his companions to accompany him. He was heading for Count Salzberg’s estate, built near Epirus’s city center. 

However, his appearance couldn’t be more different than how he looked when he visited the estate last time. He was wearing a sooty cloak and had his face covered with a hood. He was the very image of an adventurer or mercenary. No one would suspect Ryoma might be a Baron, or indeed be in any way related to the nobility. 

But of course, this outfit wasn’t appropriate for a visit at the Count’s estate. Ryoma knew this perfectly well. But he couldn’t afford to let anyone learn of the negotiations he was about to enter into. 

All right... The question now is how Count Salzberg will react... 

This bargaining was a play that could very well turn the tables and put Ryoma in a winning position. If all went well, Count Salzberg would turn from a bothersome enemy to a dependable sponsor to Ryoma. But there were reasons to be concerned, of course. 

Ryoma had somewhat of a grasp on Count Salzberg’s nature and character, but that wasn’t to say he understood everything about the man. The self-importance and feeling of superiority nobles typically had was one thing Ryoma was especially unfamiliar with. That much was perhaps to be expected. Ryoma came from a world where the class system was an antiquated relic of the past. 

I guess I just have to hope he bites... 

If these negotiations were to fail, Ryoma’s only remaining option would be to resort to brute force. After all, Ryoma was about to head out into an ominous no man’s land. He couldn’t afford to leave behind someone who might stab him in the back. But resorting to those extremes was very much a gamble. 

Those kids are trying their hardest, but the really harsh part of their training is about to begin now. It’ll take a while before I can rely on them as an army... 

A faint smile surfaced on Ryoma’s lips as his mind wandered back to the slave children he collected. They were given proper meals and trained to build up their stamina. Right now, they were being taught basic arithmetic, as well as how to read and write. This also gave the children time to rest from their taxing training. 

Thanks to the prolonged training they were put through over the last month, the children’s bony, thin limbs had gained muscle. Indeed, once people were no longer tormented and backed against the wall, they were capable of exhibiting great strength. The same held true for young children. The speed with which they soaked up information was astonishing. 

No, maybe it was exactly because they were young that they clung to life this desperately. No one wanted or needed these children until Ryoma reached out to them. It felt as if they were training and learning so intensely out of fear and desperation. 

Unfortunately, a few of the children failed to keep up with the rest and had to retire, but things were going essentially as planned. It would still take some time for them to reach the standard Ryoma sought from his soldiers, though. 

“I guess I should hurry, then.” 

The moon was already at its zenith, and starlight poured down from the heavens as Ryoma quickened his pace. 

“Ah, Lord Mikoshiba. A pleasure to see you again.” 

A maid girl led Ryoma into a room, where Count Salzberg and Lady Yulia awaited him. Upon noticing Ryoma, the pair rose from the sofa to greet him. They weren’t quite as well-dressed as they were the other day. Their clothes were still fair, but they carried little in the way of ornamentation. Those were likely the clothes they wore while at home. 

In the nobility’s terms, this meant they were greeting him less as a guest, and more like a close friend or acquaintance. Ryoma wasn’t bothered by this, though. They didn’t greet him at the entrance like before, but they still seemed to be just as welcoming as last time. 

Most people would be fooled into believing Count Salzberg might be fond of them, but Ryoma wasn’t foolish enough to take the man’s kindness at face value. Especially given that he knew what they wanted from him. 

Ever the double-faced bastard, aren’t you. Both you and your serpent of a wife... 

Hiding that thought in his heart, Ryoma bowed with all the honor he could display. 

“Come, come, take a seat.” Lady Yulia ushered him to the sofa. 

“Well? I hear you’ve purchased quite a few young slaves. I trust your preparations to develop the Wortenia peninsula are going well?” As Ryoma sat opposite of him, Count Salzberg asked him casually. 

“Not at all... For now I’m only just managing to get by...” Ryoma muttered a faultless answer. 

It appeared those words caught Count Salzberg by surprise, though. He cocked an eyebrow and chuckled as if amused. 

“Oh, barely managing to get by, you say... Hmm, I suppose, if you say so, Lord Mikoshiba...” 

“Are you implying something?” Ryoma directed a probing gaze at the man. 

“Not at all, I think taking unsold slaves isn’t a bad idea at all. But it might be a bit insufficient if you’re to develop that peninsula from nothing. They may be dexterous and shrewd, but in the end those are just children. You’d be better off buying horses or oxen if a labor force is what you need. Though I suppose your choice does have its merits. They can understand complex orders and a taste of the whip would make them obedient... Hmm.” Count Salzberg concluded his words and directed a questioning gaze at Ryoma. “Honestly speaking, I can’t help but feel they wouldn’t be good for much more than acting as food for the peninsula’s monsters...?” 

He was, indeed, the governor of Epirus and the leader of the ten houses of the north. He already had a strong grasp on Ryoma’s actions. But before Ryoma could reply, Lady Yulia cut into the conversation. 

“Now, now, beloved... You can’t ask the good baron a question like that all of a sudden... My apologies, Baron Mikoshiba. My husband is a bit of a hasty man at times... Don’t you think we’d be better off leaving this talk until after we’ve had tea?” 

Lady Yulia chided her husband softly and reached for the tea set prepared at the corner of the room. She poured some tea into a porcelain cup herself and handed it over to Ryoma. The faint steam rising from the cup carried with it a rich aroma that tickled Ryoma’s nostrils. The exact same scent Ryoma remembered from when he was served tea at the Christof Company just the other day, in fact. 

“Go on, try it,” Lady Yulia prompted Ryoma to drink. “These are some exquisite leaves we had brought in from Qwiltantia.” 

Is this a coincidence...? 

Eyeing her questioningly, Ryoma brought the cup to his lips. Lady Yulia watched him with a smile that didn’t seem to harbor any ill-will. If she served him this tea while knowing of his meeting with Simone, she would have shown some sign that would have alarmed Ryoma. And yet, there was nothing. 

But the fact Lady Yulia poured him this tea herself must have had some kind of significance to it. Ryoma turned a casual glance at the woman, who directed a meaningful smile back to him. If nothing else, she didn’t seem to have any intention of openly blaming him for meeting with Simone. 

So this is a warning... I see. Thankfully, we won’t be making any real dealings with Simone until much later down the line. It’s probably fine even if Lady Yulia knows something. Still, they caught wind of what I was doing... I’ll have to be careful going forward. 

Apparently, making it seem as if the Mystel Company was his main business partner was a bad idea. At least, for now... 

Qwiltantian tea again, though... I should look into it later. 

Nobles had a preference for Qwiltantian tea, it seemed. And indeed, Ryoma could tell the leaves were of exquisite quality. Ryoma was hoping to make his country thrive on trade in the future, and something like this may very well become a source of funds one day. 

Oh, but we’re in the middle of negotiations right now... Almost slipped my mind. 

What mattered at the moment was not dreams of the distant future, but the conversation at hand. 

“It tastes wonderful. The smell is amazing, of course, but the flavor is simply remarkable. I hope you don’t take offense to this, Lady Yulia, but I never expected you to be knowledgeable about serving tea.” 

Ryoma openly praised the tea, and there was no falsehood to those words. Even regardless of the leaves, there is such a thing as a correct way of pouring and serving tea. And in that regard, Lady Yulia’s tea was perfect. She used soft water at the right temperature, heated up the cup before pouring the water into it, used a circular teapot meant to prevent convection, minded the time it took the tea to be prepared... 

If nothing else, Ryoma doubted he’d taste tea of this quality anywhere outside of a special coffee shop that specialized in tea brewing. 

“My, you flatter me... Now, you try it too, beloved.” Lady Yulia urged Count Salzberg to try it, too. 

“Hmm, my apologies...” Count Salzberg tipped his cup and heaved a deep sigh. “Her Majesty has sent quite a few emissaries, you see... It’s done a bit of a number on my nerves. Do forgive me.” 

Count Salzberg lowered his head and stroked down his hair. They truly were husband and wife — they seemed to be perfectly in sync. 

“Oh, I don’t mind,” Ryoma said. “But you mentioned emissaries from the queen?” 

“Yes. Put frankly, they were sent to check on how you were doing, Lord Mikoshiba.” 

“They came to check on me...?” Ryoma tilted his head in surprise. 

Of course, Ryoma understood Lupis’s doubts regarding him. But what truly surprised him was that the emissaries openly admitted this. While they both saw each other as enemies, Lupis Rhoadserians was lord of the country, and Ryoma was, at least as far as appearances go, one of her vassals. 

“Yes, apparently Her Majesty is quite anxious about this affair. I suspect she’s quite concerned over letting you handle the frontier lands of the peninsula. Of course, Her Majesty made the choice to bestow it upon you out of consideration of your abilities, but she naturally has an interest in seeing how things unfold. I myself am quite interested in seeing where your endeavors will take things, as I’m sure any noble of Rhoadseria would be.” 

Salzberg concluded his words and looked at Ryoma expectantly. Those words were, in a manner of speaking, honest. Even if it stemmed from the Count’s own personal necessities. 

Now’s my chance... 

Judging that this was the opportune moment he’d been waiting for, Ryoma finally encroached on the main topic. 

“Right... Actually, I came here tonight at such short notice to discuss my future territory at the Wortenia peninsula... Sir.” Ryoma said, eyeing Count Salzberg with the most distressed expression he could fabricate. 

“Oh, so you are in trouble, after all...” Count Salzberg said. “I assumed as much since I received your message yesterday. It’s about the slaves, isn’t it? You’ve bought too many young slaves and you’re not sure as to what to do with them, perhaps? I could put in a good word for you, if you need it. I’m not sure I’ll be able to get back the full sum, but I do believe I can convince the slavers to refund most of it.” 

Count Salzberg regarded Ryoma with a bright smile. It seemed he really wanted to have Ryoma owe him a favor. He didn’t even ask for the details and simply assumed Ryoma came to him for help because he didn’t know how to put his slaves to use. 

Child slaves must really be undesirable... I mean, even mature slaves aren’t sold for that much in this world... And between this and how they know about my talking to Simone, they must be keeping a tight watch on me... Only question is, are they doing it for their ends or under Lupis’s orders? 

Ryoma didn’t come to Count Salzberg’s estate with the intent of having him take slaves off his hands, but to sell him something else. Count Salzberg’s attitude was simply too patronizing, though. He was probably desperate to have Ryoma in his favor. 

I guess that makes sense, given he’s embezzling off an illegal mine... 

Possessing an illegal mine in another noble’s territory was a severe violation of the law. That was true even when it was a lower ranking noble like Ryoma. Count Salzberg only had one thing in mind; to have Ryoma enter the Wortenia peninsula as quickly as possible. And he would lend his aid to some extent if it meant making that happen faster. 

So far so good... My people do good work. 

Holding back a sneer at how Count Salzberg jumped to the wrong conclusion, Ryoma detailed his request while still feigning distress. 

“Yes... I’m actually in a spot of trouble...” 

“Regarding the slaves?” Count Salzberg asked. 

Ryoma shook his head wordlessly. He took his time since buying them off the slaver. The children had completed their stamina training and were about to begin basic combat training. Ryoma had no intention of selling the children off at this point. 

“What could it be, then?” Lady Yulia asked upon seeing Ryoma’s denial. “House Salzberg was ordered by Her Majesty to provide you with aid, should you require it. Feel free to state what you need. I’m sure we’ll be able to be of assistance to you. Isn’t that right, beloved?” 

Those words made a cold shiver of fright slither down Ryoma’s spine. She said it casually, but Lady Yulia’s words implied a certain fact. 

Ordered to provide me with aid, huh...? So they were told to keep an eye on me... That rotten bitch... She wasn’t going to leave me out of sight, and ordered Salzberg to do it... Whatever. That affords me some flexibility in its own way... 

Lupis was wary of Ryoma and wouldn’t leave him unattended. Indeed, she had Count Salzberg watch his movements. Ryoma wasn’t gullible enough to believe she only told them to lend Ryoma their aid. 

“I see...” 

Perhaps their lavish welcome the other day was influenced by the Queen’s orders, too. But still, the two of them weren’t Lupis’s lapdogs. They claimed to be faithful on one hand, while embezzling resources away from the royal house’s gaze with the other. 

Yeah, they’d do anything if it’ll profit them... That means there’s room to negotiate... I could sell them the rights to the deposit in exchange for them to falsify my reports to Lupis... It all depends on my acting, though... If I end up rousing their suspicions, it’ll all be over. 

He’d have to wait for the perfect timing to name his conditions... 

“Yes, indeed. So feel free to consult us, Lord Mikoshiba... So, if it isn’t about the slaves, what is it you require?” Salzberg looked at him questioningly. 

He seemed very interested in what Ryoma was trying to do. 

Guess he really wants me to get out of his hair as soon as possible... He really doesn’t like me, huh. 

Count Salzberg was convincingly feigning kindness, but Ryoma knew his true intentions and could only see it as comical. 

“Actually, I wanted to consult you about a salt vein in the peninsula... I believe you know of it, Count Salzberg...” 

The moment Ryoma said those words, the temperature in the room physically became several degrees lower. 

“What are you saying? How do you know that? Did you look into it yourself?” The smile disappeared from Count Salzberg’s face, and he spoke with a suppressed voice that seemed to echo up from the bottoms of the earth. 

He was glaring daggers at Ryoma. His gaze was full of suspicion, envy and bloodlust. Count Salzberg didn’t try to pretend he didn’t know what Ryoma was saying — likely because he knew he wouldn’t be able to talk his way out of this. 

How does he know about the vein? The Mystel Company should be keeping a tight hold on the place... Did he understand something during the dinner party after all? Should I kill him? No, even if I do end up killing him, I’ll have to confirm a few things first... 

Inexplicable bloodlust surged up in Count Salzberg’s heart. He felt as if a starved insect was running amok in his garden. But despite this, his intellect suppressed that anger. At worst he’d simply have to kill Ryoma. They were Baron and Count — both were nobles, but their ranks differed. 

And most of all, they were in Count Salzberg’s estate — far and away from the capital’s gaze. He could concoct whatever excuse to kill Ryoma. But before he made that choice, he needed to get some information out of Ryoma first. 

And as if manipulating the Count’s judgment and emotions like a puppeteer, Ryoma presented the ace he’d prepared beforehand to the Salzbergs. 

“Well, you see... I recently came across this...” 

“What?! Hand it over!” 

Ryoma held out a letter. It was made of ordinary paper and ink bought from a shop in town, and was scribbled over haphazardly, which made it impossible to discern the handwriting. It looked very much like a common letter. Count Salzberg quickly skimmed over the letter before handing it over to Lady Yulia and falling silent. 

Who wrote this unnecessary garbage...? 

The letter’s contents were quite simple. It was an incriminating letter, speaking of how House Salzberg possessed an illegal halite vein. One could simply shrug it off as slander, but the problem was that the note detailed the vein’s exact location. Count Salzberg calmed his raging heart and mulled over Ryoma’s words carefully. 

Damn it... What idiot informed him of this? Was it Christof’s girl...? Yes, it must be. She’s a shrewd little minx, so she probably has a handle on what we’re up to... 

Few people would oppose Count Salzberg and Lady Yulia in Epirus. Among the few who would was the Christof Company, who had the position of union head stolen from them. It was currently led by Simone Christof — and Count Salzberg saw her as his most potentially dangerous rival. 

Count Salzberg, as the governor, backed the Mystel Company. And thanks to that, Epirus’s economy was moving with the Mystel Company at its center. It was very much at the peak of its momentum at the moment. By comparison, the Christof Company was at the lowest it had ever been. Count Salzberg’s pressure made them lose many clients, reducing the scale of their business. 

But the Christof Company had served as head of the trade union, and that long history gave them some breathing room. Count Salzberg knew they weren’t to be looked down upon even now. 

It’s been three years since Mystel became the head of the union. In just a few more years we’d be able to squeeze the life out of Christof’s girl, but... No, that’s actually exactly why... 

Up until now the Christof Company could only struggle to survive the Count’s pressure, but now they made an attempt to counterattack. That seemed like the most probable option. 

So if the one to leak that information to him was the Christof girl... The question is why did he come to me about it? And what was she trying to achieve with this? 

The fact Simone Christof was able to find out about the halite vein was understandable. She could have noticed something was wrong with House Salzberg’s revenue and the amount of their transactions and looked into it. It was possible given the girl’s business sense. She looked young, but was able to keep that crumbling business together. This proved how good her business sense was. But the real problem was with what she did with that information. 

If she knew about the vein, why didn’t she do something about it? Why go to him? 

The best way of using the information would be to report the fact Count Salzberg possessed an illegal halite vein on the Wortenia peninsula to the royal family. Right now the peninsula belonged to Ryoma, but things were different a few months ago. 

While they did nothing in terms of actually governing the land, the royal family held the rights over Wortenia before it was granted to Ryoma. House Salzberg had been embezzling the salt for over five years. No excuse would lighten the fact they were misappropriating resources from territory that belonged to the royal family. 

If that information were to be made public, Count Salzberg and his entire family would be finished. The crime of embezzling resources from the royal family would result in his entire clan and associates being executed. So why give that information to this upstart noble? Count Salzberg couldn’t see the meaning behind that choice. 

But it’s fine... Everything’s fine... There’s no need to panic... I can just hear what this boy has to say... We’re in the middle of my territory, after all... 

Count Salzberg’s gaze grew sharper and more vicious, glinting coldly. He was about to bare the fangs he’d kept hidden so far. The same fangs he once used to bite his own father dead... 

Ever since the Kingdom of Rhoadseria was established, House Salzberg had dominion over the lands that bordered the Kingdom of Xarooda. It had been driven to near bankruptcy due to having to repeatedly increase its military funding. 

They had to increase the number of soldiers. Acquire new equipment to arm those soldiers. Build fortresses. Once one began counting the expenses there seemed to be no end to how much money they had to squander over defending the border. 

And yet, the royal family did nothing. 

They left the matters of managing House Salzberg’s territory entirely up to the Counts’ discretion. And that was an implicit way of saying that while they wouldn’t interfere in his affairs, they wouldn’t aid him financially, either. 

However, since it was a matter of national defense, the royal house couldn’t afford to not augment the military. But at the same time, augmenting the military didn’t mean House Salzberg could neglect the land’s internal affairs. 

Their taxation was already much more severe than other territories’. They weren’t keen on coddling their commoners, but pressuring them so hard that open rebellion breaks out wasn’t wise. A rebellion could be quelled using military might, but the frustration would just build up and eventually erupt again. And so, to prevent that, they granted the commoners some preferential treatment that served as a venting device of sorts. 

The former heads of House Salzberg tackled that issue by cutting down on their own personal convenience. They economized time and again, living off more frugal meals, cutting down on clothing and the management of their estate... They cut down costs wherever was possible. And of course, it was hard to express just how difficult of a road that was. 

House Salzberg struggled to retain its appearance as a noble house until the day Thomas Salzberg became Count. They lived a life of such destitute poverty one could mistake them for commoners. They held no lavish dinner parties, and their estate wasn’t furnished by famous artisans from the capital. 

They cut into their very living flesh in the name of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. But despite giving everything they had to protect the country, the only emotion others regarded House Salzberg with was scorn. Many of the nobles living in the capital mocked House Salzberg, calling them country bumpkins. The only ones to show them sympathy were the other members of the ten houses of the north. 

And despite this, House Salzberg had withstood that shame for generations out of loyalty for Rhoadseria. For years they grit their teeth in frustration, tolerating the shame. But those attempts would eventually fail. 

The current governor, Thomas Salzberg, was different from his predecessors. He was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to use anything if it would satisfy his desires. Perhaps it was a matter of his very nature as a human being. Or perhaps some incident in his youth distorted his heart. Whichever it was, the end result was the same. 

Thomas Salzberg learned of the existence of a halite vein in the lands of the Wortenia peninsula — which at the time belonged to the Rhoadserian royal house and now belonged to Ryoma — some five years ago. It existed on a mountain range to the northeast of Epirus, a mere day’s walk away. 

The Wortenia peninsula didn’t originally have any residents, as it was a land populated by dangerous monsters and savage demi-humans. But that didn’t mean that no one lived there at all. There may not have been any residents inhabiting the peninsula, but there were certainly people there. There were criminals, exiles and other undesirables sent out into that land, as well as people employed in a certain profession. 

Adventurers and mercenaries. The kind of people that made combat their tool of the trade. 

To them, Wortenia was a battlefield to hone their skills in true combat and a place that allowed them to earn money. After all, it was a breeding ground for powerful monsters whose fangs and furs sold for a pretty sum. So long as you had the skill, this land offered a chance to put one’s life on the line for a chance to make a small fortune quickly. 

In truth, the halite vein was discovered in one corner of this land by coincidence. A group of adventurers entered Wortenia, their hearts full of ambition and hope, and they happened upon the deposit. But that wasn’t to say they could use the vein on their own. Salt was a necessity for life, there was no doubting that, but it didn’t make for much profit unless it was mined out in large amounts. 

The adventures knew this, and didn’t see it as much of a chance to make money. But when they brought back their spoils from the peninsula to the guild, they accidentally let slip that they discovered a vein. Normally, that report wouldn’t elicit much attention, but Count Salzberg caught wind of it. 

It was hard to tell if it was a good thing or not that he learned of it. But for House Salzberg, who had been tormented by needing to increase the military funding yet again, the whole affair was a godsend. At the very least, this was a golden chance for one young Thomas Salzberg. 

At the time, Thomas was only the legitimate first son and heir of the family. He desperately implored his father, the then-Count, to go forward with this idea, claiming it was their family’s last chance to turn their financial troubles around. 

They’d just learned there was treasure buried within arm’s reach of them, after all. No one would be able to restrain themselves in the face of such an opportunity. Of course, had the vein been deeper into the peninsula, Thomas would have hesitated. Only the highest ranking adventurers and mercenaries would brave the deeper areas of Wortenia, and even they weren’t guaranteed to return alive from that danger zone. 

Dispatching any miners that deep into the peninsula would accomplish nothing, save for providing additional food to the monsters roosting there. And the longer the distance they’d have to go, the greater the chance they’d be detected by unwanted eyes. 

But the vein was a stone’s throw away from Epirus. It was still in that cursed no man’s land creeping with monsters, but it was only the very entrance of it. The risk of being attacked was much lower. 

But Thomas’s father, the former Count Salzberg, ignored his proposal. No, he didn’t just ignore him — he regarded him with outright disdain. From his father’s perspective, this was obvious. He was proud to have defended the border with Xarooda for many years. His loyalty to the royal family was unwavering. 

The vein may have been as close as it was, but the Wortenia peninsula was without a doubt the territory of the royal family. Adventurers and mercenaries came and went freely, but that was something the royal family ignored as a minor inconvenience. 

But if a respectable noble family were to enter the territory uninvited, they wouldn’t tolerate it tacitly. Thomas’s desire to use the halite vein to reorganize their finances was effectively the same as stealing resources from the royal family. 

Thomas’s father knew perfectly well how bad House Salzberg’s financial standing was, and realized Thomas’s plan was meant to turn their position around. But his loyalty and pride toward the royal house drove him to firmly and cruelly reject his son’s proposal. He told his son of the pride and devotion House Salzberg harbored for generations. He believed his son would walk down the same way. 

But those words did nothing to move Thomas’s heart. In his eyes, the Rhoadserian royal house was the reason behind his frugal, destitute childhood and life. He saw no value to be had in harboring pride or loyalty to them. 

House Salzberg’s territory was a border zone distant from the capital, and the royal family knew little of what went on there. They were indifferent to the point of neglect. They would send reinforcements if Xarooda were to attempt a full blown invasion, of course, but handling small skirmishes fell entirely to House Salzberg and the surrounding nobles. 

His father regarded this as a source of pride — proof that the capital trusted him, but Thomas saw it differently. In his eyes it was an absurd demand that was not worth the price in any way. It was a situation that brought them nothing but losses. 

Thomas cared little for intangible things like trust and pride — the only thing he abided by was tangible profit. Namely, money, resources and privileges. And so, his discussions with his father took place on entirely parallel lines. As it were, neither of them were willing to compromise on their respective principles. 

Profit versus pride. The two could coexist for as long as they didn’t clash, but at that time one had to be chosen over the other. 

And the end result of that was Thomas Salzberg’s act of patricide. That was his only method of seeing his aspirations come to fruition. 

The crime of killing one’s parents was as severe on this Earth as it was in Ryoma’s world. No, given that this Earth still operated on a system of patriarchal inheritance, it was perhaps even graver of a sin than it was in Rearth. 

I won’t let anyone get in my way... Count Salzberg whispered in his heart. 

He couldn’t let go of the life he led now. Not when he had to slay his own father to obtain it... 

“You... What are you after?” Count Salzberg said slowly after a long, glaring silence. 

He had no intention of keeping up the facade of noble dignity. Count Salzberg’s tone was one that talked down to Ryoma as if he was some kind of lesser human being. He’d completely discarded the mask of friendliness and all notion of suspicion and caution. 

He could imagine who leaked the information about the vein to Ryoma, but he had no idea why Simone Christof did that instead of acting on it herself. The information was more than enough to set up Count Salzberg on its own, but she instead handed it over to someone else. And that someone came not to the royal house — but to him. 

With all that in mind, Count Salzberg came up with a possibility. 

Is he trying to blackmail me? 

Lowly commoners often resorted to that when they came upon information that might be worth good money. And the man sitting before him now was presently a noble, but was originally a commoner. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if he came here to extort money out of him. 

Idiot... You really think I’d pay for this? No, even if I do pay, what do you think will come after that? 

If he wanted to blackmail Count Salzberg, Ryoma shouldn’t have come to meet him directly. The one making the threat earns nothing by exposing themselves. Helena Steiner was a good example. When her beloved daughter was abducted, she only accepted their demands because she didn’t know who the kidnapper was. Had she been more convinced that General Albrecht was the one behind it, she may have taken other measures. 

But Ryoma went on to say something that defied Count Salzberg’s expectations. 

“Well... I actually wanted you to buy something, sir.” 

A long, lengthy silence settled over the room. Ryoma didn’t flinch at being exposed to Count Salzberg’s glare. He met his gaze directly. 

“Buy something? What would you have us buy? I was under the impression you came here to blackmail us.” Lady Yulia regarded Ryoma with a suspicious glare. 

The way he said the word ‘buy’ could have been taken to hold the implication of blackmail, but Count Salzberg could only perceive Ryoma’s words at face value. The same held true for Lady Yulia. The suspicious looks they directed at Ryoma were proof they understood his words properly. 

“Blackmail you...? I’ll admit I considered it, but that isn’t my intent here. After all, if I do that, you wouldn’t hesitate to dispose of me and my entourage.” 

Count Salzberg’s lips contorted into a smile at Ryoma’s shameless words. He was absolutely right. A person who’s being extorted would never leave the ones blackmailing them to their own devices. Who was to say the culprit wouldn’t try to extort them again in the future? Even if they were to swear to God they wouldn’t try again, who would believe them? 

Danger past and God forgotten, as the saying goes. The culprit may easily try to extort them a second or third time. And Ryoma could try to blackmail Count Salzberg time and again before driving him to ruin. Count Salzberg knew this and would never let anyone who would try to blackmail him walk away alive. He might pay the money once, but it would only buy the time needed to have them killed. 

“I see... So you realize where blackmailing me would land you. Considering you’re a commoner, you’re clever enough.” 

In the few years since Count Salzberg began embezzling the halite vein, there were a few people that learned of its existence despite his attempts to hide it. And yet the royal house hadn’t learned of it so far. That was because Count Salzberg ruthlessly and thoroughly had those people eliminated. The Count knew full well just how thin the ice he was treading on was, and knew to be both cautious and merciless. 

“Beloved... I’m interested in hearing what the Baron is trying to sell us.” Lady Yulia said, her eyes flashing with a dangerous, bewitching glint. 

“Yes, of course...” Count Salzberg met her gaze with a slight nod. “Very well. What are you hoping to sell us?” 

His tone was still condescending, but it wasn’t as oppressive and full of scorn for Ryoma’s humble origins. Right now, Count Salzberg was curious. What did Ryoma, who apparently had such a strong grasp on his personality, want to sell him? 

“Look at this, if you will.” Ryoma slid a document toward the couple. 

“This is...” 

“A contract, yes?” Lady Yulia asked. 

She was indeed a merchant’s daughter — she keenly recognized the document. 

“A contract for transferring ownership of the halite vein.” Ryoma explained. 

The couple quickly checked the contents. 

“Yes, it really is...” 

“But, this doesn’t make sense. The contract doesn’t specify a price.” 

Their confusion was understandable. How could he sell something without mentioning how much it would cost? 

“I came to sell the vein, but I don’t want to give it away for money.” 

The couple regarded Ryoma’s statement with puzzled gazes. 

“Then what are you selling it for?” 

“I want you to function as my sponsor, sir.” 

“What? What do you mean, ‘sponsor’?” Count Salzberg asked. “I already told you I would be of assistance to you last time we met.” 

Ryoma shook his head. That gesture alone made the two guess at his intent. True, Count Salzberg and Lady Yulia welcomed Ryoma warmly during that dinner party and promised to help him. But those promises weren’t honest ones. Queen Lupis ordered the Count to keep an eye on Ryoma, and he himself was wary of the young Baron because of the halite vein. 

His promise of help was very much an empty one. He had no real intention of helping Ryoma. At least, until now... 

I see... He wants a real promise of assistance. 

Count Salzberg accurately grasped Ryoma’s intention. 

Hmm, helping him isn’t such a bad idea... If nothing else, he knows more about honor than that stupid woman sitting back in the capital and barking orders at me... And for a commoner, he’s got wits... He’s no fool. And the fact he didn’t demand any money is especially interesting... 

Ryoma smiled softly, watching the tension drain from Count Salzberg’s expression. 

It was a good thing I chose to ask for cooperation and not money... I mean, he is occupied enough with earning money that he’d embezzle resources from the royal family... He wouldn’t pay me a dime. And the Count already has effective control of the vein. I might be the rightful owner of that land, but he wouldn’t pay me for something he already controls. 

Count Salzberg embezzled the halite vein out of a need for money. No matter how justified Ryoma’s claim to the vein might be, the Count wouldn’t be inclined to pay for it. Ryoma concluded the Count was a man who was obstinate when it came to money. And he was right to think so — Count Salzberg’s face made that clear. 

“Baron Mikoshiba?” Lady Yulia asked. “I don’t understand the value of this document. Could you kindly explain?” 

Having been raised in a house of merchants, Lady Yulia was quite the skilled politician. She married Thomas Salzberg so as to help rebuild House Salzberg, and she certainly contributed to its resurgence. From her discerning eye, the contract was worth a thousand gold pieces. But she feigned ignorance as she asked Ryoma for an explanation. 

There were two reasons for that. The first was to ensure he wouldn’t size up the cost, and the second was that she suspected there might have been some kind of wire puller behind this entire affair. 

“Do I really need to explain that much?” Ryoma answered her question with a smile and an unwavering gaze. “You’re famous for being an expert on the topic. I truly and honestly wish for the Count’s assistance and cooperation. After all, I made you two displeased just the other day because I didn’t know much about this town... You can think of this as my apology for that.” 

A silence settled over Ryoma and the couple. 

So that’s his angle... It does make sense. And those unwavering eyes of his... He’s not just making this up on the spot. He really believes that. 

The intuition she’d fostered over many years told Lady Yulia the man smiling before her eyes had planned this out ahead of time. 

“Very well... I admit there is value to your proposal, Baron,” Lady Yulia concluded. “But we will need some time. I wish to talk this over with my husband.” 

“Understood,” Ryoma nodded and rose from his seat. “Then I will be off for today... I’ll come again once you send your response.” 

His expression didn’t have a trace of disappointment. He likely didn’t assume the discussion would be decided right there and then to begin with. 

Makes sense. I imagine Count Salzberg would want to add some conditions of his own, too. I’d actually be a bit scared if he signed it on the spot today... Wouldn’t want him to change his attitude towards me later. 

Ryoma scattered his bait, and caught Count Salzberg’s interest. All that remained was to wait for him to bite. And Ryoma preferred to be patient and wait quietly. 

Take your time and mull this over... Yes... Take all the time you need... 

“Yes... We apologize for the bother, Baron. Some other day, then.” 

Ryoma bowed at Lady Yulia’s parting words and left the estate, escorted by a maid waiting near the door. 

“So he’s gone... Are you sure we should have let him go, though?” Count Salzberg asked Lady Yulia, as he rose from the sofa and watched Ryoma walk away through the window. 

“Yes, he probably planned everything that happened today...” Lady Yulia shrugged. “Though he could have been acting. In which case, he’s a very talented liar.” 

She had absolute confidence in her ability to discern other people’s nature. Both when she helped manage the Mystel Company in her youth and after she married into House Salzberg, she was always surrounded by sly, devious people. She had to acquire that insight if she was to contend with those types of people. 

“Hmm... I think we should take Mikoshiba up on his offer... Yulia, what do you think?” Count Salzberg sat back down next to Yulia and shared his opinion. 

But while the Count was the one to give the final say, he spoke to Lady Yulia with a hint of reservation in his voice. That was perhaps to be expected, since Count Salzberg was more akin to a warrior. He had an assertive, ruthless personality, but he knew he wasn’t flawless and infallible. There were some matters where he was average at best, namely diplomacy and strategy. 

For that reason, he placed a great deal of trust on Lady Yulia’s opinion. She was his tool for ensuring his prosperity. Having spent years facing off against men enslaved to money made her into the ideal, most dependable partner in Count Salzberg’s eyes. 

“There are still a few points I’m apprehensive about, but I agree, we should accept his offer. If nothing else, having that contract would only do us good...” 

Rhoadseria’s laws weren’t as meticulously regulated as Japan’s. In a way, contracts were prioritized over everything and anything else. If that contract were to be signed and handed over, the halite vein would officially belong to House Salzberg. It wouldn’t undo the embezzling they committed in the past, but any evidence of that could be made to appear hazy and unreliable. 

If they would end up going to trial over this matter, they could get away with a small fine. They could bribe the judge and have him rule them innocent over insufficient basis for reasonable suspicion. After all, they’d be able to claim the vein was presently theirs. 

Even the royal family would find it hard to judge them over the question of when they began harvesting resources from land that was rightfully theirs. Not when their reign was still unfounded. And the more time that passed, the colder the trail of evidence and testimonies would grow, and the less suspicious Count Salzberg would seem. 

Of course, Count Salzberg could only achieve this thanks to the finances and authority he already possessed, but that one sheet of paper would still be a powerful ace in his hands. As such, Lady Yulia believed they ought to accept Ryoma’s offer. But there were still a few issues that prevented her from giving her immediate consent. 

“Apprehensive...? You mean Christof’s girl?” Count Salzberg asked. 

To her, she was the most concerning point. The Christof Company had its position as the head of the trade union stolen away. With it, it lost its claim to having command over all of Epirus’s economy. Normally, the Company would have completely collapsed by now, but they were somehow able to cling to life, albeit on a very diminished scale. However... 

“Not quite...” Lady Yulia shook her head. “What bothers me is that man’s true intentions.” 

“Mikoshiba’s? I agree, it’s hard to get a grasp on him... He’s sharp. I have to admit I probably underestimated him, but did you see something else in him?” 

Lady Yulia heaved a small sigh. 

“No, I’m in the same boat as you. I don’t think there’s a catch to this offer, but...” 

Lady Yulia’s words trailed off. Count Salzberg eyed her with surprise in his eyes. 

“But what? What’s on your mind?” 

“I can’t shake the feeling that man might come to crush us sooner or later...” She uttered. 

It was only a bit of vague, nondescript anxiety. She couldn’t attribute it to any clear reason. But her intuition as a merchant was ringing like an alarm bell, alerting her to danger. And she couldn’t bring herself to ignore it. 

Count Salzberg, however, seemed to feel differently about this. 

“Pfft! Ahahaha! Yulia, I owe your wisdom a great deal, and that’s why I’ve always trusted what you have to say. But don’t you think this is a bit much?” Count Salzberg burst out into laughter at Yulia’s confession. “You do realize how major of a gap exists between Mikoshiba and me, yes? Maybe given a century he’d be able to cover that gap, but even a decade or two wouldn’t be enough.” 

He didn’t believe it was possible, and Lady Yulia couldn’t very well argue against his opinion. The difference in power between Ryoma and Count Salzberg was clear. In all fields that were relevant to ruling over territory — economics, political influence, diplomatic power and military might — Count Salzberg had the upper hand. 

And the biggest difference was the territories they possessed. True, House Salzberg’s land was along a border zone, but it had plentiful trade, coupled with the halite vein. By contrast, House Mikoshiba had the Wortenia Peninsula, which not only lacked any citizens to populate it, but was also crawling with monsters and demi-humans. 

There could be no comparing the two houses. Like Count Salzberg said, this was a gap that would take not decades, but centuries to truly overcome. 

“Yes, you’re... you’re right.” The more she thought about this logically, the more reasonable her husband’s words felt. 

“Yes, Yulia, you’re worrying about it too much. I swear, woman... Heheh... Well, no matter. If you’re that worried, we can send that maid from last time as one of our conditions for the contract and have her leak information for us. We did prepare her for this, and I doubt Mikoshiba will complain. Will that curb your fears, darling?” 

Lady Yulia nodded. She did acknowledge the truth behind his words. And that was why she decided to stop worrying about it. The human intellect couldn’t fathom just how high the price that decision would go on to cost them was. 

“Yes, that’s fine. Let’s do that... Then, I’ll add a few clauses and sign it. Once we legally own the vein, we should be safe.” 

“Mmhmm. I’ll leave handling that to you. Heh, didn’t imagine I’d hear you say something like that, though... That man’s future is something to look forward to.” 

He spoke with the arrogance of a man in power looking down on the weak. But those words would go on to seal House Salzberg’s fate. And several days later, the two of them officially sealed the contract. Count Salzberg gained possession of the vein without paying a single coin, and Ryoma gave it up for free. 

And yet, no one could accurately say which one of them truly profited from this transaction. Not until the day the two of them locked blades, at least...