Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Fox Baron (1)
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The next day.
Following Count Timan's calling card, I visited an old mansion.
"Here we are, Veil. The former Cornell city hall building."
A stately mansion left behind when the city hall relocated.
Its members had renovated it for the Golden Apple's discreet use, or so I heard.
Sure enough, a wide-open roadway and the quiet chirping of birds.
Not to mention the impeccably tended garden.
I couldn't help but wonder if Cornell really had a place this reminiscent of the capital's western districts.
'The perfect spot for the wealthy to gather in secret.'
"Thanks, Margo."
I stepped down from the mercenary band's carriage.
The petite witch gazed down at me with worried eyes.
"You sure you're okay? Should we tag along?"
Rough-looking men clustered around the little witch.
I stared at them blankly before shaking my head.
"Nah, if you guys came with me, they'd think I brought debt collectors."
The mercenaries looked crestfallen at my reply.
'They look tough, but they've got soft hearts.'
"Got it. Call us when you're done."
Margo peered down from the carriage.
She affectionately ruffled the top of my head.
"Ehey... You're messing up my hair."
"You look better suited to our crew than hanging around nobles—"
The witch grumbled as she eyed my neatly tailored suit.
"The princesses are heading back today, right?"
"Yeah, they slipped away one by one on staggered schedules to dodge suspicion."
"Thanks."
I nodded.
Then I straightened my collar and headed alone toward the quiet garden behind the city hall.
"You're here."
Count Timan greeted me at the garden entrance.
The middle-aged man, dressed in a relaxed dress shirt, smiled and fell into step beside me.
"The people you're meeting today are the rulers of the capital outskirts, Cornell included."
"Golden Apple members, so I figured as much."
He nodded at the resolve in my eyes.
Then he pointed toward two figures seated at a table in the distance.
"First off, that 'woman' with the red hair—she's the top guild master in the region."
A long-haired woman lounging in a luxurious chair, her expression sullen.
Arms crossed all by herself, a knife scar traced the edge of one eye.
"She's renowned for her beauty, but the elite mercenaries under her command number nearly two thousand. Biggest outfit in the empire."
Two vicious daggers hung at her waist.
She wore a form-fitting t-shirt that bared her navel, topped with a short jacket.
Perfect getup for assassinations or pursuits.
"Solar tribe."
"What, you know of them?"
'Do I ever.'
A minority ethnic group proverbial in the empire: "Never tangle with redheads, man or woman."
That savage war tribe, the Solars.
"Yes, first time laying eyes on their leader, but I know their kind."
Back during the Day of Purge.
They'd hunted down imperial kin fleeing the capital and sold them off for top coin.
Cold-blooded sorts, drenched in lust for money and power.
'This is before they started dealing with the crown prince, right?'
Maybe we could pull her to our side ahead of time.
"They've handled imperial commissions reliably. Her father even earned a barony for his services."
'If even the lofty Count Timan vouches for her, she's solid.'
"Name's Frey. Hates being called 'miss Frey,' so go with 'Lady Frey.'"
Solar culture put male warriors on a pedestal.
A female warrior like her was touchy about titles to avoid getting sidelined.
"Noted."
Next, the count gestured to the plump man seated across from her.
A young fellow in a hunting cap and sharp suit.
"Merchant lord Burke."
Money oozed from his face.
"He controls every distribution line in the capital outskirts. Snagged a barony with his sheer wealth."
Noble titles weren't something you bought with pocket change under normal circumstances.
Especially not in King Leonhardt's righteous reign.
"He's tight enough with local lords to chair their gatherings. That's got the capital's merchant guilds gunning for him."
'Explains shelling out for the title.'
Still, showing up here meant he hadn't cracked the capital market even with it.
Bound to be plenty salty about that.
"Everyone got here early."
Count Timan approached the round table with his refined smile.
"Wouldn't dream of keeping you waiting, Count."
"Finally carved out some time."
The merchant lord and guild master replied in turn.
"This is Baron Veil Mikhail. A young man recently in His Majesty's good graces."
The count introduced me courteously.
Merchant lord Burke extended a hand first.
"Even I haven't met His Majesty yet... Impressive. Burke here. I run a 'little' trading company."
"Pleasure."
As greetings proceeded.
It came to guild master Frey.
"Frey, head of Solar Guild. Heard you were a tough one, but you're skinnier than I pictured."
"Haha... Honored, Lady Frey."
She smirked at my careful phrasing.
A fierce intensity gleamed from her crimson eyes beneath the cascade of red hair.
'She could go toe-to-toe with Batsu....'
"Take a seat. Everyone's busy, so let's cut to the chase."
The secluded garden.
The heavyweights settled into their chairs.
Merchant lord Burke spoke up first.
"Thanks for the Cornell investment opportunity, Baron Veil."
"The interest-free principal donation stings a tad, but the projected returns make it reasonable."
Frey piled on.
An axe-shaped tattoo on her neck glinted.
"But here's something that really rubs me wrong. Break neutrality and back the princesses? Way too steep."
"Couldn't agree more. Profits are one thing, but not worth putting our necks on the block."
I fixed the cool-headed nobles with a steady gaze.
Then, narrowing my eyes fox-like, I asked.
"What would it take for you to back the princesses?"
Frey fell silent at my question.
Calculating merchant lord Burke spoke up instead.
"We want to know if the princesses are sincere."
Sincere.
Burke, who'd clawed his way into the Golden Apple through backroom deals and connections, set great store by trust.
"Show us the perks and reliability we'd gain from supporting them."
"Yeah, give us reasons to pick the princesses over Crown Prince."
Even guild master Frey, commanding thousands of mercenaries, felt the same.
"Very well."
I played my prepared hand in response.
I'd already clocked their headaches.
Newspapers had spelled it out while I was tied up on the northern front.
"Then allow me to resolve each of your issues right here."
In my past life, I lacked the means.
This time around, things were different.
"Our issues...? How can you pitch that so boldly without knowing what they are?"
"Guts like that, I like."
I'd figured bold warrior Frey would take it well.
Time to win her over first.
"Let me take a stab, Lady Frey—you're hounded by a certain rumor lately, aren't you?"
Rumor.
The red-haired warrior let out a heavy sigh.
"If an outsider like you knows, that says it all. Spot on—petty scandals plaguing me."
Word from the Owl's Nest.
Frey, boss of the region's premier guild Solar, supposedly romancing a civil servant.
"Crown prince backers sicced bards on it, spreading the dirt all the way to the capital."
Her eyes sharpened, teeth practically grinding at the thought.
Didn't strike me as the lovey-dovey type.
"Now they're strong-arming me: join up or the rumors stick."
She looked ready to round up every bard on the street and beat answers out of them.
"It must pain a valiant warrior like you to suffer such base slander. Breaks my heart."
My sympathy left Frey clamping her lips shut for a moment.
Then she murmured to herself.
With the most unexpected response.
"The rumor... isn't a rumor."
Everyone's eyes—including mine—flashed at her embarrassed demeanor.
The guild master looked every inch the blood-soaked killer, yet here was this hidden side.
"Yes...?!"
"Truth is, things with him are serious. I confessed first."
Frey bashfully scratched her scarred cheek.
Then her gaze hardened fierce once more.
"Whatever! Point is, it's jeopardizing my guild head spot. Old custom says women step back after marriage."
She scowled at the outdated notion.
"Truth is, my number two—my brother—is riding this to boot me out and grab the throne."
I propped my chin on my hand.
With a grave expression, I asked her.
"Now that you mention it, shouldn't your brother, as the eldest son, have taken the guild head role to begin with?"
"Hah, that moron's been a drunken disgrace to the family name forever."
Frey slammed the table.
"Even recently, blackout drunk assaulting women in a brothel!"
"What makes a lowlife like that a threat to you over one little scandal?"
Her red eyes blazed at my question.
"He's got bards on payroll. Burying his skeletons, hyping mine to the skies."
An information war.
No matter how skilled you were, bad press could drive you out.
"So, what do you say? Can you fix this for me?"
Frey locked eyes with me, utterly serious.
The intensity had sweat beading on my brow.
"Solve this, and I swear unending support for the princesses."
The plump merchant lord and the count watched me too.
Sizing up my chops, like a test.
I curled my lips in a sly grin.
Scheming retainer style.
"Understood. Consider it handled."
I raised a finger with utter confidence.
Then I drew the portable crystal orb Margo had given me from my pocket.
"R-right now, you say?"
"That's possible?"
The Golden Apple crew gawked in unison.
"Have faith. He's a young man with truly marvelous talents."
Count Timan observed with delight.
He chuckled, admitting he'd worn the same look before getting to know me.
"Pardon the interruption."
I channeled mana into the crystal orb.
In a dignified tone, I made my request.
"Patch me through to the imperial press corps' Victor."
「――――――」
Imperial press exclusive.
The lofty descriptor left Frey and Burke slack-jawed.
Small wonder.
He operated in a whole different orbit from street bards.
「Connected.」
"Oh man—hope you've been well, reporter."
Casual as chatting up an old hometown buddy.
The Golden Apple members winced.
「Baron Veil! Congrats on the promotion!!」
"Hoho, word travels fast, eh? Imperial press lives up to the name."
I flashed a grin like a corrupt official pickled for a century.
Then I launched into the tale of the premium watermelons I'd sent my contacts.
"By the way, how'd that watermelon I sent suit your tastes?"
「Bragged it up to all my colleagues. Ten gold apiece—felt wrong even taking it—」
"You earned it! You lot battle for truth and justice every day!"
Among reporters, a reliable tipster was power incarnate.
The publicly gifted watermelon supercharged Victor's ego.
"Truth is—I got a scoop for you."
「Fire away.」
The local lords gulped hard at Victor's words.
They waited in hushed anticipation for my play.
"There's this guild in my hometown Cornell called 'Solar'—ring a bell?"
「Know it well. Their rise has tongues wagging even here in the capital.」
Frey's lips twitched at the imperial reporter name-dropping her guild.
She looked secretly pleased.
"Its number two... uh, what was the brother's name again?"
I turned leisurely to Frey, who whispered cautiously.
"Jake. Jake Solar."
I signaled assent with a finger.
Then, feigning utter shock, I laid it out for Victor.
"Get this—Jake Solar starts a ruckus in a Cornell brothel??"
「No way—is that for real? A guild head roughing up civilians?」
I bellowed in response to his earnest tone.
"Dead serious! Not as a baron, but as a citizen who loves his hometown. I gotta call out this tyrant's outrages!!"
Utter shame, like my turf had been befouled.
"And he's paying bards to cover his own filth. In this sacred era after His Majesty's awakening—this acceptable?!"
I shot to my feet.
Voice brimming with fervor, I told Victor.
"No one else to turn to... so I'm begging you, my esteemed reporter acquaintance."
「….」
The orb went quiet after my earnest plea.
Then came a voice grave unlike the start.
「Truly deplorable... To think such rot festers beyond the capital....」
I narrowed my eyes and smirked.
The fox-like slyness curved my narrowed gaze.
「Leave it to me. We'll splash this across capital dailies and the provinces.」
"Oh, thank you! You're the people's champion!! The public has a right to know!!"
I pumped my fist.
Then offered heartfelt thanks.
「No army of bards can touch the imperial press.」
"Can't thank you enough. I'll drop by personally next time—"
「Nonsense—from a baron who lives for the empire. I'll come to you next.」
We shared a warm laugh and cut the line.
"Whew..."
I fixed a triumphant gaze on Frey.
Then flashed a bright smile.
"Come tomorrow, Lady Frey—your scandals will vanish clean away. Zero threat to your top seat—"
I swept my palm forcefully, as if wiping the floor.
The female warrior stared at me, dazed like a schoolgirl.
"You... just what are you? A fresh-made baron with pull like that..."
"Ah, I always pay back favors in full—"
Count Timan tsked in amusement at the display.
The methods were unorthodox, sure—but legal, and in the end, a villain got his due. He was thoroughly pleased.
"Now then, merchant lord—your turn."
Burke's puffy eyelids flickered at the five-minute fix.
"W-well then, can you sort out my distribution lines breaking into the capital?"
The plump man straightened from where he'd been reclining against his chair back.
He leaned forward and asked me.
"Hmm. You're tearing your hair out over the merchant alliance's stranglehold on the capital markets, correct?"
I phrased it crisply, drawing from the count's intel.
"Exactly. Wedge in even one product line, and I could expand—but they give no quarter."
Had to be.
With crown prince backers pulling strings.
"But there is a way."
I patted the crystal orb at my belt reassuringly.
"What might that be?"
The rotund merchant lord eyed me, wondering if I'd thought of something even he hadn't.
I met his gaze with a grin.
"Circulate goods not sold anywhere in the empire. Imports, in other words."
"Imports..."
His interest visibly cooled; he chewed his lip.
"I considered it. But absent a top-tier capital noble supplier, who'd deal with the likes of us..."
Even tycoons struggled to elbow past the establishment.
Connections changed the game.
「Patch me to Bacalo.」
I set the crystal orb back on the round table.
Mana gleamed blue in my eyes as I spoke.
「A certain lovely princess will pick up, then.」