Chapter 77 (1/2)
Chapter 77
The next day.
The results of everyone’s efforts bore fruit.
Firstly, Irudo and I completed our negotiations with the dwarves.
After working out the finer details in regards to the trade route between Senpu Village and Jiiteias Castle, such as about the tax rates, the Zamuslon [Clan of Rulers] and I signed contracts on both that and the anti-Shadow Demon alliance.
The plan is to first prioritize the expansion of Jiiteias Castle and the construction of the road up to Senpu Village. Once that is done, and after gaining approval from Filsand, then we will begin the work on extending the trade route. While the work on Jiiteias Castle is going on, Dig Dug Worms will continue boring the tunnel through the eastern mountains, and the blueprints for the route expansion will be drawn up.
As for the trade with Filsand, Senpu Village will also dispatch their own negotiator.
Furthermore, a blacksmith and an engineer, as well as their respective a.s.sistants, are going to be deployed to Jiiteias Castle to be garrisoned there. I was given permission to use them as castle staff, for which I am truly thankful.
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Leiha was able to make full use of her master intelligence gathering skills.
She caught absolutely everything, from the Star and s.h.i.+eld Knight Order’s members’ one on one conversations to their mutterings to themselves, and also checked everything in their luggage. All useful information was then conveyed onto Elizabel. Of course, the knights did not notice a thing.
From the information provided by Leiha, Elizabel was then able to guess each of the knights’ circ.u.mstances and personal relations.h.i.+ps, then negotiate with them as needed.
Claura went along with her for protection, so there were no worries on that front.
The conclusion from Leiha and Elizabel’s joint investigation revealed that this time’s mastermind was indeed the second son of the Duke of Filsand, Agbeil. However, the presence or absence of the Duke’s personal involvement remained undetermined.
Furthermore, it came to light that a significant number of the knights in the Order actually feel opposed to the method of a.s.sa.s.sination or to Agbeil himself. From among them, with consideration to their family lineages and peerage rank, their financial state and other factors that determined their relative distance from Agbeil, we were able to get a couple to defect…… no, to cooperate with us.
“I am truly very sorry!”
“From now on, I will swear my loyalty to Hime-sama!”
There are two young knights prostrating themselves before Elizabel.
From here on, they will feed us information from within the Order, and will take her side in case of any emergency.
Our pretext proved sufficient to prevent any hostile actions from the other knights on the journey back to Filsand.
Just in case, we told the Order to stay behind to transport the siege towers in question, and that we would go to Filsand first, so there shouldn’t be any interference on the road or at Filsand.
“Good work, you must be tired.”
“Not really…… Since I could bring out Margils-sama’s name if I ever needed to, everything became very easy.”
Elizabel, who is relaxing in my guest room as a matter of course as my ‘betrothed,’ shrugs her shoulders.
“Despite that, you don’t look very happy.”
&
ldquo;Negotiations conducted while having an absolute power at my back is no more than coercion, right? …... It doesn’t feel good at all.”
“Ahh, I see. And ‘do this if you don’t want that power to be turned towards you’ makes the negotiation sound even more like coercion.”
“Ara? Are you sure I can say that? This is your name we’re talking about, you know.”
In response to the young lady’s seemingly teasing tone, this time it is my turn to shrug.
Though I know it is coa.r.s.e, times when it must be done, it must be done.
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“Oh sprite, please use your secret arts to deliver this postcard to mine intimate friend. [Arcane Postcard]”
At the end of my chant, small grains of light gather above the table in front of me, eventually forming a postcard.
On that postcard, I write a report of our current situation, and also ask after the current situation at Jiiteias Castle. After I finish writing, I pick it up and throw it out the window while bringing Sedam’s face to mind. Immediately, a small sprite appears out of nowhere, catches the postcard, then flies off into the distance.
“...... That’s quite poetic for one of your spells.”
“So far, we’ve only been seeing giants and demons and large worms, so……”
“Oh, leave me alone. Anyways, that postcard should reach Sedam in 2 or 3 days.”
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