Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Modest Demands
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Humans have a tendency to freeze up momentarily when they hear something utterly unexpected.
"...Uh, um. Something like this happened last time too, but... surely I didn't mishear him?"
Just like Marquis Midas right now.
"Yes, you heard correctly."
I confirmed it once more in response to the marquis's stunned question.
"So what you're saying is... you'll pass on the 'complete' Philador farming method and provide iron ore from Nile whenever I need it. That's everything?"
Marquis Midas tilted his head, as if he couldn't fathom my intentions at all.
"Well, it's not like I'm the one asking for help here, so it feels odd saying it myself. But a kingdom's farming technique and some iron ore? Is that really all you're after?"
'It's not unreasonable for him to think that way.'
The marquis's lukewarm reaction had its reasons.
The Philador farming method.
It was an innovative technique developed by the Philador Kingdom—known as the continent's breadbasket—blending magic into agriculture. It dramatically boosted both yield and quality from the same plot of land compared to conventional methods.
Some might dismiss it as "just" a farming technique since it's called a secret art.
But for kings and nobles ruling nations or territories, it was a foundation that could massively increase tax revenue—its value rivaling even aura cultivation methods.
Yet the reason Marquis Midas called it "just" that stemmed from the Philador method's clear limitation.
'The soil's fertility has to be ridiculously high.'
It wasn't that allied nations didn't covet the Philador method.
No matter how airtight the security, maintaining it at a national level was never easy.
Countless spies had tried to steal it, but every kingdom eventually abandoned the effort—not because they couldn't steal the full method, though the Philador royals did fragment and compartmentalize it fiercely.
Even when fragments were pieced together and inferred...
Implementing the Philador method required soil as fertile as the kingdom's own.
Most territories across the continent had inferior land, and to Marquis Midas, Banten territory must seem among the harshest.
So he figured even a perfect method would be useless.
"And what's this about iron ore? There's Zawun, the mining city near Banten. Why ship it from Nile?"
The marquis eyed me sharply, determined to uncover my scheme.
But.
'No way he could figure it out.'
Those terms I'd offered weren't for Banten—they were for Olivia, and I'd dangled them with that in mind.
My receiving Olivia territory was top-secret even within the Ikenia Kingdom.
With barely anyone in the kingdom knowing, a foreign noble like Marquis Midas couldn't possibly guess.
"Are you suspicious even if I set light terms? Should I ask for, say, ten crates of pure mithril and three territories instead?"
At my words, the marquis's merchant instincts kicked in—he hated looking like he was losing the deal—and he immediately backed down.
"No, no, it's not that... It's just so strange, that's all."
No need to mention Olivia here, so I drew a line to dispel his doubts.
"I can see why it seems strange. Our house isn't providing massive aid this time, so demanding too much would risk losing your trust, Marquis. I want to keep a good relationship with you long-term."
"Huh? Not massive aid?"
Marquis Midas feigned surprise, as if the thought had never crossed his mind.
"Come on. You know full well our house's forces can't march in openly."
"Hmph! So what can House Carviot do for me, then?"
"What we can do is take down the outer walls of Berti and open the gates for you. After that, handle the rest before the royal guard notices the revolt."
"Isn't that a bit half-hearted?"
The marquis voiced his displeasure—or pretended to.
'Acting to haggle down the price even now? That's really pushing it.'
In a way, it was genuinely impressive.
"You know full well your advance would have a much higher chance of failure without us opening those gates. That's all you want from me anyway, right? So I'm keeping my terms light."
Perhaps I looked fed up after holding back, because he finally dropped the haggling.
"Tch, you're tough—no blood even if I stab you. Sometimes you seem more merchant than me."
"Marquis, enough already. Look at the terms I brought. Aren't they good?"
Yeah.
Boosting a revolt's success odds with a high-bar farming method and some(?) iron ore? On the surface, it was a sweet deal.
Who knows what it'd be worth after I took Olivia in the future, but for now, sure.
"Fine, fine. One more joke like that and I'll smack you. But are you confident about the gates? Our kingdom's knights may lack anyone on the throne, but they're not so sloppy as to let a young lord like you breach them."
To me, who'd escaped the grasp of the one already on the throne, the Philador royal guard was nothing.
But no need to tell the marquis that.
"Fewer is better for clearing the wall guards. The knight who came with me isn't lacking, so don't worry."
"I get it in my head, but why does it still feel uneasy?"
Once he confirmed there'd be no further support from House Carviot, the marquis's worries didn't fade.
"If this op fails, even a foreign VIP like me won't keep my head. I wouldn't say it without confidence."
After a few more rounds of fine-tuning and convincing, the marquis finally nodded.
"...Alright. It's done anyway, and we're in this together. I'll trust you."
Smooth.
The marquis extended his hand to me.
Gripping it firmly, I replied.
"Don't worry—just stick to the plan. As I said, I want a long, good relationship with you."
"Got it. House Midas haggles, but we don't lie. Once it's done, I'll fulfill your demands to the letter."
With the secret pact sealed, I quietly left the underground prison.
I had to head to the capital Berti before dawn broke.
The early dawn air hadn't yet warmed under the sun's gentle heat.
As Miron and I tried to leave the marquis's estate without a word to him, a small scuffle broke out at the gates.
"Y-Young Lord, leaving so suddenly will leave His Excellency flustered when he wakes. Please, stay and speak with him more."
We'd deliberately skipped the farewell, but the clueless servants panicked and tried to stop me.
"Nothing more to discuss. He told us to scram at dawn, so we're scraming."
Even after repeated pleas, when I wouldn't budge, the head butler stepped in to persuade me.
"B-But young lord..."
"Sorry, but we have urgent business in Berti. Hya!"
Even as Jerome's group became specks on horseback, Jerome never once looked back toward Nile territory.
"Hah... How badly did the young lord clash with His Excellency to act like that? He surely knows this isn't proper etiquette."
"Oh no, this is bad. The knights will have our heads... Sigh."
"Tch! Everyone, play it safe today—read the mood."
The servants, anticipating a sour mood in the estate once the marquis rose, decided to lay low.
But one person reacted differently.
'He really left.'
The maid, Vivian.
After chatting briefly with the other servants in small groups, Vivian slipped into a secluded spot.
She carefully checked for anyone around, and once sure she was alone, whispered a code phrase.
"Overly generous gifts must return to their rightful owner."
Swoosh.
A masked man appeared before her again.
"...How'd it go?"
"I've confirmed: Young Lord Jerome left this morning. No need to suspect ties to House Carviot. The marquis hasn't left his room since last night either."
"...Still, stay vigilant to the end. That sly fox Midas might be play-acting."
"Don't wor— Gurk!"
Vivian suddenly gasped, air leaking from her mouth.
No—actually, the air was escaping elsewhere.
Through her throat, pierced by an arrow.
"Found you, you rat bastards."
"?!"
The man spun in horror at the sudden voice behind him, yanking a dagger from his bosom and slashing wildly.
Clang!
"Useless, you trash."
The knight easily parried the dagger and swung again.
Slash!
"Gah!"
His dagger hand severed, the man clutched the stump and scrambled back.
He glanced at the walls and alleys on both sides, checking escape routes.
"I told you—useless."
The knight who'd cut his wrist—Mark—sneered coldly.
Knights had appeared out of nowhere, sealing every exit.
"From today, finally no more pretending that revolting slop from this wench tastes good."
Mark ground his heel into Vivian's head, now a cold corpse on the ground, and spoke icily.
Starting with Mark, the encircling knights tightened the net.
"...How... did you know?"
"Oh, that?"
Mark casually picked his ear at the man's question.
"This is the problem with Philador royals. Since we always wag our tails like dogs, every noble thinks we're beneath them."
Foo!
Mark flicked earwax away, his lips curling up.
"We left you rats alone not because we didn't know who you were. Our lord just didn't want friction with the Philador royals."
Grip!
Mark's sword hand clenched visibly with power as he continued.
"But this time... you crossed the line. Now it's Philador's turn to feel it. What happens when the dog you raised gets mad."
"Tha—!"
The man tried to speak, but Mark's blade was faster.
Spurt!
A red line bloomed on the man's throat, his head soon tumbling to the ground.
One of the encircling knights removed the man's mask.
"It's Jack from the kitchens. We can strike another off the list."
Mark nodded at the report.
Faint screams echoed distantly.
Probably similar scenes unfolding elsewhere.
"Exterminate the rat pack before they scatter everywhere from their beds."
"Yes, sir!"
The knights bowed briefly to Mark and dispersed in all directions.
'This'll be a long day.'
After ordering his men, Mark glanced at Vivian's corpse at his feet, then leaped away like the others.
To eradicate every last rat the Philador royals had planted in the marquis's house.