Chapter 357 – Sparrows Can’t Just Walk Past the Mill.
“You must have heard from Trisian about the circumstances of the Denebalves, right?
“Yes. I heard about Tricker, the eldest son, and a group of retainers who support him. He said he was at enmity with the lord…”
“Whoops…”
Count Verolder smiled bitterly at my answer.
“There cannot be two suns under the sky. I have to live up to my father’s expectations.”
“It is a position with great responsibility.”
“Yes, I have an obligation to make my land more developed and richer than when my father reigned. However, it seems that my older brother and his vassals are dissatisfied with my father’s decision. You’re sabotaging every single thing I’m about to do, and openly insulting my authority as lord. With the intention of demonstrating to my father that making me the lord was a wrong choice.”
If what Tricker covets is the lord’s seat, if he wants to get the lord’s seat, the method he must take is fixed.
Since the former lord who handed over the lordship to Count Verolder is still alive, he has to reverse this decision.
To do so, Count Verolder must be an incompetent man.
In fact, the administrator, the former chief of the guard, and the knights were supporting Tricker, so the practical foundation would have been stronger than Count Verolder.
If so, it wouldn’t have been difficult to interfere with the duties of Count Verolder, who had just taken the seat of lord.
As the manor is in disarray, Count Verolder’s abilities are questioned and Tricker’s voice gains strength.
Indeed, Tricker had the ability to do so.
Until the former captain of the guard died and was handed over to Trisian.
“The ledger you handed over was a great help. Because I was able to steal the main force of the guard from my brother.”
“It’s an overstatement.”
To be honest, I never imagined that the manipulated ledger would bring about such a big butterfly effect.
“A dragon race, and a woman with unknown powers. And many more… The atmosphere around the estate is so chaotic.”
Listening to Count Verolder speak, I was relieved to think that Trician hadn’t said anything about the homunculus in relation to Hana.
Because to explain the homunculus, I have no choice but to talk about the old man.
You should think that Trisian took care of this.
“The outside is in such a chaotic situation, but the ground I stand on is unstable. At this rate, if someone pushes you from behind, you will fall helplessly down the cliff.”
“Managing the house is important to respond to problems that arise outside.”
After answering with a nod of his head, Count Verolder again raised his cup of tea, quenched his thirst, and continued his speech.
“You can see the sky only when the ground under your feet is firmly and stable. I lack the strength to be a stepping stone.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I must have already conveyed my intentions through Trisian. I want you guys to be my hands and feet.”
“Can you understand it as meaning to become a servant of the lord?”
“It will be similar.”
“…”
Think carefully and answer.
If you ask me to become a subject, you will try to pamper me and my women.
No matter how much helping Count Verolder is helping Trician, that’s a specification.
Proper tightrope walking is one of the secrets to quickly raising your ransom.
At times like this, rather than saying I don’t like it, I have to appeal that I can’t help it.
“But, would that be possible? We are only mercenaries, but even if we become the lord’s servants…”
“Of course, I’m not talking about asking you to come under me immediately. Even though you guys did a great job in defeating Drake and the dragon race, if you issue too unconventional personnel appointments, your brother might end up biting you.”
“That word… ?”
“I need you guys to do a few things ‘as mercenaries’.”
“Are you talking about a nomination request?”
“Yes, there may be times when you don’t go through the mercenary guild.”
The story of not going through the mercenary guild would mean that it would be difficult if there was a record on paper.
It is a world where the power that comes from the class is stronger than the law.
Is being eaten in the end an unavoidable fate?
“Trician will be in charge of contacting you in the future. I’ll tell you what’s needed through Trissian.”
“… All right.”
“If you guys take care of things well, I can help the Black Moon a lot.”
It may be somewhat poured out, but it is quite merit to see the back of the black moon.
“Um, yes… Come to think of it, did you say that you entered the textile industry this time?”
“Ah yes.”
I didn’t know that the story would suddenly go that way, so I nodded my head in confusion, a little flustered.
“As expected, the slave business alone is unstable, right? Like the supply and demand of slaves.”
“… That’s right. Isn’t the fact that the supply of criminals is constant also a problem for the city’s security?”
Basically, slaves are petty criminals. The constant occurrence of such criminals is not a pleasant sound for the lord who manages the city.
“Yes, the supply and demand of slaves in the Black Moon has been unusually good so far. It is to be welcomed that you have realized the limitations of the slave business and have entered into a new business that is perfectly sound. Especially in areas related to city security.”
“…”
“The contents of the ledgers you handed over are surprising, but to think that one person was leading all those crimes. It must be a very mysterious thing.”
Count Verolder must be aware that the crimes the Black Moon has committed so far are the work of the entire Black Moon.
Well, it’s strange that the criminal activities of the Black Moon do not reach the ears of the lord.
Nevertheless, the reason why the black moon was able to survive must be because of the entanglement with the former chief of the guard.
From a larger perspective, it is a story that Tricker, who had greater power than Count Verolder, could be involved.
The story could be that after Hergel died and the Black Moon passed over to Germi, he unintentionally changed the line from Tricker to Count Verolder.
Wouldn’t Tricker look down on those traitors?
Count Verolder smiled subtlely as if he had noticed my concern.
“Well, don’t worry. Hasn’t the real culprit already been caught? The former head of the guard, who committed corruption, also disappeared with the dew of the executioner. It seems that the corruption of the former guard chief is something that even my older brother is not familiar with.”
“Okay…”
I let out a small sigh at Count Verolder’s words.
I hate to admit it, but it feels like playing in the palm of Count Verolder.
“Don’t tell the story again. You know that the mansion is busy preparing for the winter, right?”
“Yes. I remember what I heard at the luncheon earlier.”
Like preparing firewood. He nodded as he recalled what he had heard.
“As if the time to replace the futons used in the mansion is approaching. I’m going to take this opportunity to buy blankets for the winter in bulk.”
“What do you mean?”
Are you willing to buy blankets from us in bulk?
Suggesting a deal that comes with a fair amount of money can be thought of as an advance payment for a request that cannot go through the mercenary guild I mentioned earlier.
“But the purchase of furnishings in the mansion is the work of the magistrate, Baron Simir Jack. It would be disrespectful to him to decide on my own without consulting him.”
A lord with great power would be able to decide what to wear as he pleases. But Count Verolder is a powerless lord. It was to the point where it was difficult for him to get involved in his vassal’s affairs without permission.
“I need a reason to meddle in his affairs.”
“It is a justification… ?”
In response to my question, Count Verolder sipped tea as if pretending not to.
“Well, if the magistrate’s business is disrupted and he has no choice but to report it to me, I can get involved.”
“You mean you need a cause.”
No matter how powerless he is, a lord is a lord. That is a truth that even the Tricker gang cannot ignore.
“It’s a problem that could arise in the supply of futons for winter preparation…”
“I will tell you the information of the merchants who deal with the administrator. Even if he is a senior in the textile industry, he is a good merchant. How about taking a field trip?”
“Is it a field trip?”
“Okay. Excursions.”
Watching Count Verolder savoring the tea with his eyes gently closed, I can tell for sure.
Count Verolder is as sinister as I am. All the while, he was just crouching down because he was weak.
Since he is such a person, the former lord must have placed him in the lord’s seat.
“The weather has been dry these days.”
“Because winter is coming.”
“At this time of year, the risk of fire is particularly high.”
“If you are a tradesman who makes blankets for winter, you must be especially exposed to the danger of fire.”
“Okay. They say that cotton wool burns very well.”
It is already an open fact that the Black Moon is a criminal organization disguised as a merchant.
It is certain that Count Verolder intends to entrust such dirty work entirely to us.
For now… I can’t help but get along
“The guards will be busy with training plans for a while. I am very worried that it will be difficult to find it easily even if there is a fire in a shopping mall on the outskirts of the city.”
“This is so… I don’t know who the merchant is, but if you’re experienced, you’ll be prepared for that much risk. For now… All right. Now that we have entered the textile industry, we need to see how experienced merchants prepare for fire hazards.”
“Yes, I enjoyed our conversation today.”
