Chapter 166 (1/2)
Territory Pioneering 1
“…I see. So, one way or another, you’re going to be a slave or a baron.”
Gonzalez nodded after I finished speaking.
No one had touched the drinks set out on the table. The atmosphere has been tense ever since the invasion of the lolis. Honestly, I’ve been holding off from being the first one to take a drink. The delicious smell is still tickling my nose. I want to try a taste.
“Yes.”
“The Lord seems to have put you in an awkward position.”
“T-That’s, umm…y-yes, it’s all my fault.”
The lolibitch was acting like her usual self.
But I don’t blame her. In fact, it’s thanks to her that I, while still being a middle-aged busamen, have the chance at forming my own harem. I should just face this challenge head-on in order to reach my dream.
Just like Gonzalez and his Loli Land, I too have an opportunity to reach the promised land. It was right there in front of me. Seeing my dream become reality gave me the motivation I needed to push forward.
“Fifty gold sounds like an unreasonable amount for anyone to earn from the Radius Grasslands.”
“That may be so but I won’t give up.”
“Oh? It’s never simple with you, is it? Well, I’d be lying if I said I’m not interested.”
Gon-chan finally reached out for his glass before drinking it all in one gulp.
Yes, I can finally try it.
I reached out for my glass and followed Gonzalez in drinking it all in one big gulp. It was a delicious alcohol that gave me a pleasant burn in my throat as it went down. The taste reminded me of whiskey.
“…you can handle your drink well.”
“Yeah, well.”
“Once everything is settled here we should go out for a proper drink.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Well, whatever happens, if you do end up becoming a slave, the Twilight Company will be sure to purchase you. Whatever the price.”
“W-Wait, y-you can’t do that! Someone else is already buying him!”
“That’s too bad. I missed out on such a good chance.”
Gonzalez pretended to act dismayed as Ester-chan seriously objected to him jokingly say he would buy me. Ester-chan was so blinded by her obsession that she didn’t realize he was pretending.
“By any chance, a-a-are you…interested in men?”
“Oi, oi, give me a break. I had nothing but pure thoughts in mind when I said I’d buy Tanaka. There may be some men in our clan that feel that way, but I’m only interested in women.”
“…really? Then it’s fine.”
Are there really people like that in his clan?
I decided at that moment that I’d never join.
My love is only meant for girls.
“There’s one thing I’d like to ask if that’s okay with you.”
“What is it?”
“If possible, can you tell me just how large the Twilight Company is…?”
“In total? There are about four hundred active members, but some of them have people that work for them and there are others that aren’t openly involved with our clan. The number is probably a little higher than that but it’s impossible for me to give you a hard number.”
“I see.”
Four hundred.
A potential strong ally.
“Thank you. Now, I’ll just get straight to the point.”
“Sure. How do you think I can help you?”
“Gonzalez, I need to borrow the help of roughly half of the Twilight Company. I will give them the title of knights within my territory. I can’t offer much, but I will pay them for their service.”
“You want us to form an order of knights?”
“Yes. For two hundred people I can pay one hundred gold coins for a month of their service.”
“Oi, oi, don’t you need to be saving money right now?”
Gon-chan was surprised but he didn’t seem to doubt me.
“I know you don’t trust the nobility, and I realize just how impossible this all may sound, but I still ask for your cooperation.”
My last desperate appeal to him as I was getting closer to the edge.
If I can’t gain his support now, the chances of me ending up as a slave will skyrocket.
“I can offer you most of the gold in advance.”
“Are you serious?”
“Gold won’t matter to me if I become a slave.”
“T-That’s true.”
One gold coin is worth one hundred silver and I will need to earn fifty gold coins per month from my territory. I’ve been able to determine that one silver coin is worth around ten thousand yen, which means I need to earn a monthly income of five hundred thousand yen. I won’t know if this is an impossible amount until I start earning money, but as of right now, it seems unreachable.
“My plan is territory pioneering.”
“Are you seriously planning on building a town from scratch?”
“I’m not sure if I could build a town in such a short time, but I do plan on building certain facilities that people can use to generate the income I need. I need people to help me build these facilities, and, of course, I’ll be directly involved with the work myself.”
“….”
Gonzalez was weighing the pros and cons of offering me his men.
His decision will affect the lives of hundreds of people. It’s not one he can make lightly.
“Is it really just pioneering? You don’t need protection from the neighbouring country?”
“Yes, it’s just pioneering. Ester-san’s father helped end the conflict between the two countries and I am also acquainted with the Pussy lord that rules over the territory that directly borders my own. There should be no issue of any conflict with the neighbouring lords.”
“…I see.”
“So, will you lend me your men?”
What’s he going to do?
Ah, you’re making my heart race, Gon-chan.
“….”
“Even a hundred people, no, I could even make fifty work.”
I hoped reducing the number would get him to acquiesce.
As long as it’s above thirty people….
“…fine.”
“Really?”
“Yes. For one month, I will lend a company of my men to you, Baron Tanaka. I feel like we all owe you at least that much. Without you, most of them wouldn’t even be alive.”
“Thank you very much.”
Gonzalez really is a nice guy.
He’s such a reliable macho man.
I rummaged through my pouch until I found my bag of gold.
“Here is the advance I promised you. Please, take it.”
It’s half of all of my gold.
I’ll need the other half in order to get things started.
“Keep it.”
“Eh…?”