Chapter 64: Baron Romero's Dilemma (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 64: Baron Romero's Dilemma (1)
Time passed.
A month had already flown by since the war with Barco ended.
At the Dmitry family's regular meeting, the vassals stepped forward to report on recent events one by one.
"With the fall of the Barco family, there is no longer any force left to keep Dmitry in check. In the absence of a rival, the pro-Barco factions have been expressing their desire for an alliance with us day after day. Some have even offered to pay a steep price for it. However, as you ordered, My Lord, we have flatly refused to even speak with the factions that sided with Barco and showed excessive hostility toward us. How should we handle them going forward? While Dmitry has established itself as the undisputed power in the Northeast for now, if those factions are pushed to the brink, they could very well grow into a second Barco."
The fall of Barco. It was a windfall, pure and simple.
Even though they had barely lifted a finger, Dmitry—a family that wasn't even a direct participant in the war—had gained the most.
Just as the vassal said, every family in the Northeast was now desperately trying to cling to Dmitry.
In particular, the very mouthpieces who had once loudly championed Barco's cause now visited Dmitry daily, practically begging on their knees in mock repentance. However, the people of Dmitry knew this was far from sincere. If a new rival like Barco were to emerge, those same families would undoubtedly betray Dmitry and latch onto the newcomer instead.
Baron Romero spoke.
"Even if a new hostile force emerges, we have no need to embrace everyone. Joining hands with those who have inflicted unforgettable wounds upon us is not tolerance; it is arrogance. Do not, under any circumstances, permit any cooperation with them. We will use them as a bloody example to show the world what it means to turn one's back on Dmitry."
"Understood."
"I will present the next agenda item."
The second topic was the expansion of their military forces. Although Dmitry already possessed the greatest military power in the Northeast, this recent incident had served as a harsh wake-up call.
"Barco showed us how borrowing external power can introduce unpredictable variables into a war. If Dmitry had fought Barco directly, variables like Flare and Homeros would have posed an immense threat to us as well. Therefore, I propose we expand our troops and secure enough magic weapons to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. Dmitry can no longer be dismissed as a mere provincial family. Since we have become the undisputed power in the Northeast, we need the strength to match if we are to firmly secure our position."
Military power. There was no safety net more reliable than that.
Baron Romero shared this sentiment, and he decided to use this opportunity to invest a significant portion of the budget into bolstering their martial strength.
Furthermore, Dmitry had received some timely good news.
"Young Master Roman was correct. Although installing artifacts throughout the entire mine shaft cost an astronomical sum, the iron mine's production has already increased by thirty percent in a very short period. Since we haven't even expanded our workforce on a large scale yet, we can expect production to increase by over a hundred percent at this rate of growth."
"What about the financial drain from maintaining the artifacts?"
"It is a non-issue. The soaring production alone is more than enough to cover that level of financial expenditure."
Roman had been right. It was a virtuous cycle of investment.
By investing first, they resolved the safety issues, creating an environment where the miners could focus comfortably on their work. It was a remarkable decision. Looking only at the outcome, one might wonder why they hadn't thought of it sooner. But in truth, investing a massive sum based on a predicted outcome that had yet to materialize was no easy feat.
Yet Roman had made it a reality.
Without anyone prompting him, he had volunteered to work in the iron mine to experience the problems firsthand. Through wise judgment, he had devised the most ideal solution to resolve them.
From the process to the result, it was flawless. Roman's reputation, which had been rapidly shifting both inside and outside the family, was completely cemented by this incident.
One vassal spoke up.
"My Lord. How do you plan to handle the matter of succession going forward?"
The succession.
That question alone was proof of Roman's changed reputation. The public believed that the Dmitry family had not yet decided on an heir. However, that was not the case. Although it had never been officially announced, the family had already secretly chosen an heir during their internal meetings.
The vassal continued.
"Three years ago, we selected Young Master Rodwell as the next head of the family. Back then, Young Master Roman's behavior was entirely unsuited for the position of Patriarch, and we judged that the youngest master was too weak-willed to be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility. But the situation is different now. Look at Young Master Roman's actions. He defeated the ranker Homeros in the war with Barco, and now he has resolved the safety issues of the iron mine in the most ideal way. Young Master Roman, whom we once deemed completely lacking in the qualities of a Patriarch, is now displaying the dignity of a true leader."
"Indeed."
"We share the same opinion."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Roman's actions were shockingly impressive. They still couldn't comprehend how Roman Dmitry, a fool who once couldn't even swing a sword properly, had grown into an Aura Knight. But one thing was certain: he was developing at a visibly rapid pace. With his formidable martial might combined with his ability to solve Dmitry's internal problems, the vassals' hearts could not help but sway.
Rodwell Dmitry was also hailed as a genius, but Roman's achievements transcended even the realm of genius.
And so, a proposal was made.
"The selection of the heir has not been officially finalized. Although we pre-selected Young Master Rodwell to prevent internal chaos, now that Young Master Roman has proven his worth, I believe a fair competition is necessary."
Upon the calm waters of Dmitry, a ripple spread.
With the once-certain succession structure thrown into disarray, Baron Romero could not easily bring himself to make a decision.
Roman and Rodwell.
His two sons. Their temperaments were entirely different. While Roman, who had experienced their days as commoners, had collapsed under the sudden weight of their new noble status, Rodwell had fought tooth and nail to transcend the limitations of his birth.
Rodwell's ambition was immense. He harbored such a fierce desire for the succession that he didn't even consider his eldest brother a rival. He was highly unlikely to react favorably to any family decision that suddenly forced a competition.
If, by some chance, a fratricidal war were to break out, it would be disastrous.
Had Roman been only moderately outstanding, the Baron would have stuck to the previous decision. But now, the results right before his eyes were impossible to ignore.
Baron Romero spoke.
"...We still have plenty of time. For now, let us observe the situation and carefully consider what decision to make."
"Understood."
That day's meeting marked the moment Baron Romero's dilemma truly began to deepen.
*
After the meeting concluded, Baron Romero summoned Hans.
Hans was Roman's closest confidant. Having served Roman since the days he was called the Fool of Dmitry, the Baron believed Hans's insight would be helpful regarding the succession issue.
"I greet the Lord." Hans bowed his head.
Baron Romero skipped any tedious pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Hans. What do you think of Roman Dmitry?"
"What do you mean by that, My Lord...?"
"I am asking if Roman Dmitry is fit to be the heir of the Dmitry family."
At the direct question, a brief silence hung in the air. Hans seemed to ponder for a moment, then looked up at Baron Romero and spoke honestly.
"If you had asked me the same question three months ago, I would have answered that he was not fit. Though Young Master Roman had a kind heart, his actions were unsuited for an heir—a fact anyone would have agreed with, not just me. But the Young Master Roman of today is different. I am not simply speaking of his recent achievements. Having watched him closely from his side, I can say that the Young Master has grown into a person truly worthy of being the heir."
"Speak in more detail."
"During the Blood Fang incident, Young Master Roman personally executed the wicked group that was oppressing Dmitry's people. I still remember that day vividly. He held those who disrupted Dmitry accountable to Dmitry's laws, and he even went all the way to Lawrence to completely annihilate them. That incident was a blessing to the citizens of Dmitry. Those who had been suffering under usurious loans broke free from the cycle of evil, and hope finally returned to their lives."
That first incident. The justification had been simple. Baron Romero had ordered him to deal with Blood Fang, and Roman, acting on his own whim, had personally bloodied his hands.
However, from Hans's perspective, it was completely different. He had interpreted Roman's actions in his own overly-idealistic way.
"We can see it from the recent incident at the iron mine as well. Young Master Roman said he worked in the iron mine to understand the reality of Dmitry's people. No one forced him to do so. The Young Master lowered himself of his own accord to understand the hearts of the fief's people, rubbing shoulders with the miners to face Dmitry's reality. And when the collapse occurred, he risked his life. Because they are his people. As someone who carries the name of Dmitry, he believes it is his natural duty to brave danger for them."
Hans's words made it sound as if he were describing the deeds of a legendary hero.
But it was only natural. As someone who had entered Roman's inner circle, Hans knew better than anyone just how incredible it was to be under his protection.
"I see. You may leave."
"Yes, My Lord."
Hans bowed and took his leave.
And Baron Romero fell into an even deeper dilemma. He had hoped Hans's insight would be helpful, but the servant's blind praise only added to his confusion.
Rodwell already considers himself the confirmed heir of Dmitry. Is it truly right to establish a competitive system between the two of them at this point? Roman has proven his worth in a short span of time, but Rodwell has shouldered all the duties expected of Dmitry's heir since he was young. He dedicated himself to swordsmanship, tactics, and political studies. He even learned how to work iron in the forge whenever he had spare time.
Still, he could not be certain. Above all, Roman had no interest in the forge. This was a key difference from Rodwell Dmitry, and because of it, Baron Romero could not bring himself to make a hasty decision.
Ultimately, the succession issue required the consent of key figures:
The vassals.
The master of the iron mine.
And finally, Master Blacksmith Hendrick.
Only if at least these three factions agreed could Baron Romero pit the brothers against each other, even at the risk of internal chaos.
Baron Romero summoned a servant.
"Go to the master of the iron mine right now. Tell him I have questions regarding the recent incident at the mine."
The second hurdle. Now, it was time to hear Jacob's opinion.
Before long, the servant's voice came from outside the door.
"My Lord. The master of the iron mine has arrived."
"Send him in."
Creak.
The door opened.
However, there was more than one guest. Another man stood behind Jacob. Seeing the Baron's questioning look, Jacob spoke cautiously.
"I heard from the servant that you wished to hear about the incident at the iron mine. Therefore, I judged that the man who spoke directly with Young Master Roman at the scene would be more suited for the task than I."
Glancing back, Jacob gave a subtle nod.
At that, the man took a step forward and bowed politely.
"I am Morcan of the iron mine."
Morcan. He was the spokesperson representing the iron mine.