by Ryota Hori
“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.
Chapter 5: The Oppressed
“Ooh, so she tried to test you, milord... That woman is indeed wise enough to lead a company on her own at such a young age.” Gennou narrowed his eyes upon hearing Ryoma’s account of his meeting with Simone. “And yet, to think she could look into you that thoroughly... We shouldn’t make light of her intelligence network. She would make for a problematic enemy.”
Gennou had a positive impression of her abilities upon seeing she had looked into his master. This was proof he wasn’t serving Ryoma out of blind loyalty. A more blind follower might have taken issue with the fact she had tested Ryoma, but none of Ryoma’s companions reacted that way.
“I don’t think we need to worry about her turning on us for the time being. She needs me for as long as she chooses to remain in Epirus,” Ryoma said. “Me, with my right to rule over the Wortenia Peninsula... Though, who’s to say when the situation might change. Stay cautious if nothing else, Gennou.”
Ryoma didn’t think Simone would turn against him of her own volition, but it all depended on the situation. For example, one terrible possibility was her father being taken hostage. She would have no choice but to oppose him.
“Understood, milord... But her intelligence network is quite impressive... She likely used the merchants.”
“Looks like it. Even if her company’s in decline, they’re a long running company. They probably have connections with other large companies. They likely still exchange information via carrier pigeons every now and then.”
“The strength of a long running company, is it... They use that information to send people out to investigate rumors.”
“Yeah, at the same time they send their caravans out to trade... I’ll have them working in tandem with you, Gennou. From what I hear, they have some combat specialists accompanying their caravans for self-defense.”
“Then I shall support you from the shadows with them, milord.”
Simone’s group was better suited for mass information gathering with a large number of people. Gennou was better suited to burglary, torture, and subterfuge. The difference between them is that Simone’s group was able to gather information on a larger scale but on a superficial level, while Gennou was able to gather a lot of information regarding a pinpointed target.
They were both adept at information gathering, but the way they went about their work was essentially opposite of each other. Both had their merits, and if they were to work together, they would form a formidable intelligence network.
Gennou seemed relieved that his value hadn’t decreased in Ryoma’s eyes. His normally cold, unchanging expression melted into a soft smile.
“Well, whatever happened, it all ended well, yeah? We hooked up with a powerful intelligence organization without even planning for it, and we know we can trust in the Christof Company for supplies, right, boy?” Lione asked.
“No... The Christof Company isn’t going to start selling to us immediately.” Ryoma shook his head.
“Huh? The hell?!” Lione exclaimed in shock. “Weren’t this talk all about us buying supplies from them? If we can’t get what we need from them, where’re we gonna get it from?!”
Her surprise was understandable. They needed a supplier that wasn’t influenced by Count Salzberg, and that was the Christof Company. The company even agreed to cooperate with them. And yet, Ryoma had just said the company wouldn’t deal with them. There were only ten large companies in Epirus,
but the other nine were all under Count Salzberg’s thumb.
Ryoma anticipated her question, though.
“Well, the Mystel Company, of course... Or, well, that’s what I decided with Simone... At this point, it would be bad if the Christof Company allied itself with us publicly. It’d just serve to provoke Count Salzberg, you see?”
Those words made that realization dawn upon everyone present. Allying with the Christof Company, whom the count had seen as his opposition, would make Count Salzberg sense that he was in danger. Why would they deal with that company? He would assume Ryoma might be planning to oppose him. This wasn’t a good turn of events for Ryoma and his group.
And so, when Ryoma and Simone discussed things after agreeing to a partnership, they decided it would be best for Ryoma to work with the Mystel Company as if nothing had happened. At least until they had some leverage against the count.
In the meanwhile, Ryoma would leak information from Count Salzberg’s side to the Christof Company, while Simone prepared for when the count would try to pressure Ryoma in the near future. And if Count Salzberg did look down on Ryoma and thought he was a mere upstart, he would likely act in Ryoma’s favor for as long as Ryoma continued to keep his head down and beg for help.
After all, Count Salzberg had a major weakness hanging over his head — his possession of the halite vein.
“I see... Yeah, that would be safer...”
“Indeed.”
Gennou and Boltz nodded in understanding.
“Well, that’s the kind of plan you’d hatch, boy. Especially the part where you use up the count for all he’s worth,” Lione remarked teasingly.
Throw the enemy off his guard and finish him off with a single blow. A plan that stressed efficiency and cared little for appearances or dignity. A person who would unflinchingly do things that might be considered cowardly or unfair in this world.
From Lione’s perspective, Ryoma was the type of person who would make for the most terrifying enemy imaginable.
“But Master Ryoma... wouldn’t Count Salzberg know that we visited the Christof Company before we went to the Mystel Company?” Sara asked anxiously.
“Well, from what Simone says, the Christof Company’s building always has people watching it... We can’t hide the fact I met her,” Ryoma admitted.
“Then what will we do?”
“I’ll be honest. Tell them I asked the Christof Company to sell me supplies, and they refused... Which is why I came back crying to Count Salzberg and asked him to introduce me to the Mystel Company.”
And the reason he didn’t ask the count to begin with would be because Ryoma felt too reserved to bother him. He only chose the Christof Company because the place seemed less crowded, but he was declined. Upon learning of the power balance in Epirus, Ryoma would panic and ask the count for help. He didn’t intend to deal with the Christof Company in particular, and had no intention of opposing him...
Or at least, that would be Ryoma’s story.
Simone’s and Gennou’s descriptions of the count’s character matched with the unease Ryoma felt toward the man. The warm welcome he showed toward Ryoma a few days ago was an act. Count Salzberg was arrogant, entitled, and looked down on other people. Considering his personality, Ryoma throwing himself at his mercy would stroke his superiority complex and lower his guard. He wouldn’t assume Ryoma was only fooling him...
“Hmmm... So you took the count’s personality into account,” Gennou remarked.
“As impressive as ever, lad...” Boltz sighed in a mix of exasperation and admiration.
“A good lie is one that has a bit of truth mixed in...” Ryoma said, a cold smile on his lips. “This would lull the Count into a false sense of security, and convince him to give us the help we need. We’ll be able to leech off of him until we don’t need him anymore.”
They would fool him, which would enable them to defeat him later on...
“Well, now we know where we’re going to find supplies... But what about the citizens?” Gennou asked with a hint of concern to his voice.
They’d been able to settle on their future policies when it came to hiring mercenaries and gaining supplies. The only remaining question was where they’d get residents to populate the peninsula.
“Yeah, about that... Does anyone have any good ideas?”
Ryoma had to admit this was a headache-inducing issue. Getting people to migrate was difficult enough. Even if they were to put up notices in the nearby villages and settlements, no one would want to migrate to an undeveloped land like Wortenia. It was crawling with powerful monsters, demi-human settlements, and pirate lairs.
If the land was at least somewhat developed, they may have been able to convince some people to come, but not when the land was essentially untouched. Even promises of favorable taxation wouldn’t be helpful here.
And there was another major problem. Those lands were ruled over by nobles. Normally they only saw their citizens as cattle for producing taxes. But what would they do if their citizens were to migrate to another territory? Every person who left their land would mean less tax income for these nobles.
They would complain to Queen Lupis, or choose to resort to force on their own. No matter which path they’d choose, Ryoma would be finished. Perhaps in the future he’d be more powerful, but currently he was weaker than even the youngest, most insignificant noble in the country.
Everyone fell silent at Ryoma’s question as they tried to think of a solution. Ryoma’s travels had taught him to think creatively in ways that ignored this Earth’s logic. That would be key in solving this dilemma.
“I have one idea... But it will be expensive,” Laura said, upon which everyone’s gazes converged on her. “But it will increase our permanent residents... And I don’t think the other nobles would be opposed to this method.”
Those words seemed convenient... Too convenient for Ryoma’s ears. The fact money could solve this issue meant they could resolve it at their leisure and gain citizens whenever they wanted and as much as their funds would allow.
Did such an easy method really exist? Ryoma had to eye her with doubt.
“There are several slave merchants conducting business in this city’s back alleys. Perhaps we could acquire labor slaves from them? That would only cost us the fee of buying the slaves. A normal citizen wouldn’t have access to thaumaturgy, so we would need to teach them how to do it. In which case, perhaps it would be safer to forgo drawing people from the other nobles’ territories and simply buy slaves.”
Everyone swiftly weighed the pros and cons of Laura’s suggestion.
“It’s not a bad idea...” Gennou was the first to break the silence. “Purchasing slaves would avoid friction with the nobles, and would allow us to increase our population as much as our funds allow. My only problem with this suggestion is that the slaves we purchase might revolt against milord...”
Boltz, who sat next to Gennou, tilted his head.
“I think Gennou’s concerns are well-founded. And there’s also the question of if we can truly afford this. Weren’t we pressed for funds?”
“I believe labor slaves, and especially ones that haven’t matured yet, wouldn’t cost that much... And they often offer discounts to clients who buy a large number of them. I believe it’s financially feasible.”
“I see... In that case, that does sound like a good idea.”
Buying many slaves at once would allow them to bargain on the price per head. If they were to promise to periodically purchase more slaves, the slave merchants wouldn’t be prone to refuse them. It was a plausible idea.
“But what about them revolting?” Lione asked. “The Wortenia Peninsula really is a hellhole. Money might not be a problem here, but can we really make those slaves into residents of this land?”
“Hmm. I wonder.” Boltz cocked his head at her question.
A person who hadn’t lived as a slave couldn’t hope to answer that question. They knew a slave’s life was a cruel one, but even
still, living in Wortenia was a dangerous prospect. It was hard to imagine them willingly choosing to live there.
“Wouldn’t promising to free them from their status as slaves in exchange be enough?” Sara proposed.
“Huh?” Lione turned a suspicious glance in her direction. “You’re saying we should spend money on those slaves and then free them?”
“Yes. Laura and I were originally war slaves... But Master Ryoma freed us. We devote ourselves to him out of absolute loyalty, but if we were still slaves...”
They wouldn’t harbor that kind of loyalty toward him. Sara left those words unsaid, but everyone realized what she meant. No slave was truly loyal to their master. They might serve out of fear of the whip, but hatred would certainly be swirling in their hearts. Enough to prompt them to try and kill their master at the first sign of weakness.
“I see... So that’s how you two met him,” Lione whispered to herself, seemingly convinced.
Lione and Boltz always wondered why the two of them were so loyal to Ryoma.
Right... Slaves are considered living objects. So if anyone were to give them the right to be human again, they’d feel indebted...
Lione understood just how hard and shameful life as a slave must have been. She was born a commoner, and commoners honestly weren’t much different from slaves. They were forced to pay taxes and fight during wartime, and on top of that, a commoner could very easily be sold off as a slave. And what waited beyond that was a cruel fate and the trampling of one’s human dignity.
“Hmm, so freeing the slaves would solidify their fealty towards milord and wouldn’t incur the other nobles’ ire... A fine idea,” Gennou concluded.
What mattered was that the slaves were loyal to Ryoma. Put another way, one might call it patriotism, in a way. That was something an upstart noble like Ryoma wouldn’t normally obtain. But so long as Ryoma didn’t do anything foolish enough to make them revolt, the liberated slaves wouldn’t turn against him.
It’d be manipulating their emotions... But I don’t have much of a choice.
