Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: To the Killburn Baron's Territory
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The Killburn Baron's territory of Logos lay about half a day's ride from Burgos.
Roughly within twenty kilometers, which made it remarkably close neighbors by this world's standards.
Of course, even if it was nearby, the roads were a complete mess, and threats from wild beasts, monsters, and bandits abounded, so Burgos Administrator Schwartz brought along some twenty guards, including the captain, as escorts.
Considering that the total number of Burgos guards didn't even reach a hundred, it was clear the administrator was showing considerable courtesy to Sion.
"I appreciate the administrator's kindness. That said, I hope my presence isn't causing any issues with Burgos's public safety."
"Oh, no worries. We have a deputy administrator, and if I may say so myself, no one in Burgos dares ignore my family's influence, Sir Seilun."
Seilun was the middle name of Sion's late wife Stella, and also the name of her grandmother, who had been a princess of the Obla Kingdom.
It was one of the surnames bestowed upon the royal collaterals in the Obla Kingdom, fairly well-known, making it useful in situations like this.
"Then I'm relieved. In any case, thank you."
"Haha! No need for such words. Hahaha!"
At Sion's flattery, smiles bloomed endlessly on the administrator's face.
Even if he was a collateral excluded from the line of succession, he was still a member of the royal family.
Riding side by side with such a figure and chatting amiably filled the administrator with an intoxicating thrill.
And having early on spotted the administrator's vanity from his habit of wearing a monocle with zero practicality around his neck, Sion kept feeding that thrill.
"...Oh? Is that so? Impressive insight from the administrator. Even among the capital's nobles, few possess such discernment."
"Oh, come now! Haha! You're too kind, too kind. Hahaha...."
Subtly, naturally praising the man mid-conversation was child's play for Sion.
Moreover, Sion wasn't the type to stop at mere words.
"By the way, that Information Guild Burgos branch chief, Jenna, seems quite capable. Do you know her?"
"Ah, you mean Jenna Allot. I've heard she's got some real talent."
He'd only seen her in passing a few times and didn't know her personally, but since Sion had praised her first, the administrator chimed in agreement.
"I've gone ahead and made a personal contract with her. Or rather, an investment."
"An investment?"
"Indeed. Roughly a million dien."
"A million dien!?"
The administrator's eyes bulged.
Even for a local notable like him, a million dien was half his entire fortune—a massive sum.
Investing that much in a mere branch chief of the Information Guild?
Was it because she was quite the looker and he was trying to woo her with money?
But not foolish enough to blurt that out to royalty, the administrator asked cautiously.
"M-May I ask... do you have a prior connection with Branch Chief Allot?"
"No. First time meeting her today."
"Uh... f-forgive my impertinence, but what convinced you to invest such an amount...?"
Thinking it must be about seduction after all, the administrator stammered, but Sion merely cocked his head.
"Hm? Do you need to overthink investing that much?"
"...."
Sion flashed a grin at the slack-jawed administrator.
"Of course, it's not without thought. For one, I trust my own eyes. Plus, isn't Burgos governed by Administrator Schwartz? With solid laws and systems in place, and a capable, responsible man like yourself at the helm, why would the branch chief dare stray?"
"Of course. Ha, haha...."
"In any case, I've found a solid investment, and gotten to know an outstanding fellow like the administrator. I'm starting to like Burgos more and more."
"Th-That's wonderful."
"If I can just recover my horses without issue, it'll be even better. Might even see it as a lucky place and feel like investing more."
"Pardon? More investments...?"
Sion smiled brightly at the expectant Schwartz.
"If there's someone solid endorsed by the insightful Administrator Schwartz—who's already brought me luck—then naturally I'd invest. Another five hundred thousand dien or so would be no big deal."
"!!!"
Five hundred thousand dien.
More than the entire fortune of Schwartz, a local notable in his own right.
And "no big deal"? To someone he recommended?
"Ah?"
In that instant, a halo bloomed behind Sion's head in the administrator's eyes, wings unfurling from his back.
Cherubic angels with wings descended, circling him and blowing trumpets.
"Sir Seilun."
"Yes? What is it?"
"I will absolutely recover your beloved steeds for you."
Just as the administrator saw halos and wings behind Sion, Sion saw flames roaring across the administrator's entire body.
"I have no doubt."
Sion smiled contentedly at the administrator, wreathed in what he considered modest(?) flames of ambition.
* * *
"I hope he's alright."
Muttering to herself, Jenna paused while sorting the haphazardly gathered reports, pipe in mouth, staring blankly for a moment.
"Who? And seriously, do you not need sleep? Think about your age."
One guild member clicked his tongue at Jenna's dark circles drooping to her cheeks.
"Pulling one all-nighter won't kill me. And you little shit—what's my age got to do with it?"
"Just saying. But when will this end? Can't we just do this year's? No one'll notice if we half-ass it."
Thwack!
"Ow!"
Jenna smacked the guild member's crown with her pipe and glared as she lit up.
"Trying to cut corners on our first orders from the client—no, from that lord? You mad bastard. Brew some tea. No booze, just tea."
"Got it."
As the guild member slunk out pouting, Jenna scanned the file cabinets organized by date and type, filled with hundreds of reports, murmuring to herself.
"I only gave him the bare essentials in a rush. Hope that's really okay...."
Her shock at Sion's return to the branch under the Burgos guard captain's escort had been brief.
Sion had requested info on Burgos Administrator Schwartz, and Jenna had compiled and submitted a concise report of everything she knew.
Of course, Schwartz wasn't some big shot the Information Guild tailed, but having been in Burgos long enough, she naturally had assorted intel on him and other local powers.
"Clueless about his station. Greedy, vain fool—wonder how the lord plans to use him."
Jenna tsked, her opinion of Schwartz far from favorable.
But now, as a servant of the immortal lord and living legend before being a branch chief, Sion's orders were absolute to her.
Hoping the info proved useful to her master, Jenna ended her brief break and dove back into the task Sion had assigned.
* * *
"Logos Territory is just ahead. We cross that stream, Sir Seilun."
"Mm."
Sion nodded lightly at the administrator, who reported as deferentially as a personal secretary.
Jenna Allot's intel had been useful.
Using it, he'd gauged the administrator's personality through conversation, and with nearly a century-honed silver tongue, the old monster had conquered him.
Sion had always been quick on the uptake.
For a child abandoned by parents and raised in an orphanage, perceptiveness was as essential as a seatbelt in a car.
That instinct had sharpened further in this world—through days where life truly hung by a thread, life with masters of varying statuses, comrades from the Demon Dragon War, and decades as a lord.
Given even basic info on someone, winning their favor or bending them to his will was merely a matter of time, not difficulty.
'Once I invest in spots the administrator recommends and have Jenna grease his underlings with cash, it's done.'
Half the investments would likely go to the administrator himself or his kin anyway—no matter.
Either way, his money flowed into Burgos, and investments backed by power were invincible.
What if the administrator changed before players arrived?
Half the investment would surely be distributed among other local notables.
The very fact that Burgos families rotated the administrator role without issue proved it.
If not, Jenna could make it so.
Then the new administrator, seeing his predecessor's gains, would serve him even better.
And his successor, and the one after.
'Thus, the potentially crucial quest zone falls under my influence.'
Losing two beloved horses so absurdly had turned into great fortune.
Of course, for perfect fortune, he'd need to recover Blackie and Yellowie.
"By the way, any guess which of the Killburn Baron's whelps sold them off?"
Sion nodded toward the innkeeper, trussed up and trailing behind on a rope.
"Yes. As I said earlier, with seven children, there's no telling which one."
"Quite a brood."
It wasn't novel that folks in this world had many kids, but seven 'surviving' meant at least ten born.
With infant mortality at fifty percent, countless children died before eight or nine.
'Jenna doesn't have much detailed on the Killburns either.'
He hadn't diligently tracked neighboring territories lacking standout presence despite decent basics.
In the end, only direct confrontation would reveal Baron Killburn's temperament, which of the seven kids bought the horses, and if he could recover them smoothly.
* * *
Logos Territory was fairly large.
Not comparable to Duke Sion's domain, but with population and area in the tens of thousands, hardly dismissible.
Even the village with the lord's castle had hundreds of buildings, its central district boasting a larger market and shop district than Burgos.
'The folk look well-off, market's bustling. The lord's no ordinary sort.'
To Sion, who'd wandered countless regions over long years, Logos ranked as a very fine territory.
Before seeking the Dragon Wasteland, this world brimmed with domains where folk barely scraped by or starved outright.
Derchios had wasted seven years, but dramatic change in that span was unlikely.
Thus, Baron Killburn ruling Logos was a rare, exceptionally capable lord.
'Things might go smoothly.'
Far better than a greedy, incompetent wrecker of domains.
More likely to listen to reason.
But Sion's hopes crumbled in under ten minutes upon entering the lord's castle.
"We'll return them for the horses' value plus one hundred thousand dien in compensation."
That was Baron Killburn's response, even after Sion revealed his (forged) identity, paraded the bound innkeeper, and had the administrator explain.
"No, what kind of law is that? Sir Seilun is the clear victim. Demanding compensation from the victim? No, what compensation even—"
Administrator Schwartz argued vehemently on his behalf, but alas, Sion paid no heed to the earnest pleas.
Sion's attention fixed entirely on Baron Killburn's face, seen for the first time.
'Looks familiar somehow?'
After over eighty years in this world, meeting and parting countless folk, anyone etched in Sion's memory was likely major—good or ill.
'Killburn, Killburn...'
Rifling memories with the face as key, the old monster's eyes suddenly widened slightly.
'Killburn! Adrian Killburn Litner!?'
The middle name and ages since last sight made recall tricky.
The stern Baron Killburn before him resembled the bandit-like noble who'd seduced and eloped with Sion's pampered youngest daughter.
(To be continued)