Chapter 21: The Matriarch's High-Stakes Gamble
Mathilda Nagumo, the matriarch of the great Nagumo merchant house, arrived before Vil at the Governor's Office, harboring grand ambitions.
The grand showdown of her life—as a merchant woman facing off against nobility—was about to begin.
A gloomy morning dawned.
I was in no mood for radio calisthenics.
Today was the day I had to meet the lady of the great Nagumo merchant house.
My dick was blatantly reflecting my mental state.
"Young Master, you're not looking so lively this morning."
Linda poked at my limp cock, probably itching to suck it.
"Ah, yeah. It's that day today."
"Eh? Does Young Master get his period too?"
"As if. I gotta meet that matriarch today."
"Ah, right."
"That's why even my dick's all depressed and wilted."
"Hmm. But didn't you hear she was a stunning beauty?"
"So what?"
"I figured you'd be rock-hard with excitement."
"And you were planning to suck that rock-hard dick dry?"
"Yes. Keeping bad bugs away from you is part of my duty as your guard."
"What about Miku?"
"Miku's my little sister. She doesn't count as a bad bug."
"Just the other day, you were treating her like one."
"Who knows? Young Master, you must be mistaken."
"Jeez, Linda."
Well, this tsundere side of hers had its own charm, I guess.
And so, the appointed hour for my meeting with the Nagumo matriarch arrived.
Mathilda Nagumo swept into the Governor's Office reception hall, clad in a striking crimson dress with a bold slit that revealed her figure, exposing her shoulders and ample cleavage.
"I am Victor von Togo, Provisional Governor of the Halzy Archipelago."
"It is my utmost honor to behold Your Excellency. I am Mathilda Nagumo, head of the Nagumo house."
Mathilda curtsied before me. The glimpse of her shapely legs through the slit and the deep valley of her breasts were undeniably sexy. She was top-tier, no doubt.
"Indeed, Lady Mathilda. I'm pleased to meet you."
"On this occasion, due to my own shortcomings and inexperience, I have caused inconvenience to Grand Marshal and all esteemed parties. I am deeply ashamed."
"Oh? You call it a shortcoming?"
What a bold-faced lie.
"Yes. I never imagined the Halzy Party would prove so unreliable."
"How insolent!"
A military officer barked.
I could see why—he might interpret it as implying Togo forces weren't that strong either.
"Enough."
I reined in the officer.
"Yet that contradicts our intelligence. We've heard you abandoned the Halzy Party long ago."
"Yes, that's true. But I still believe they have some pirate pride left. No contradiction there, in my humble opinion."
"I see. No inconsistency, perhaps. But we've also heard you're passionate about revitalizing the archipelago's industries. A prolonged war of attrition out of pirate pride would devastate the islands—that can't be your intent. Moreover, by the time our forces began the conquest, you had already left the archipelago."
"I cannot fathom Your Excellency's implication."
Playing dumb, you sly vixen.
"Very well, then I'll be direct."
Uncle Robert and the Togo civilian and military officials turned their attention to me.
"In truth, weren't you hoping for our swift victory? Didn't you want us to crush the Halzy Party quickly?"
This was, in a way, laying my cards on the table.
"Ufufu."
"Woman, what's so funny!?"
"Stand down!"
I snapped at the officer.
"Well played, Your Excellency. Precisely. My desire was for the Halzy Party to fall as soon as possible. They had become nothing but parasites on the archipelago."
As expected. She'd said she saw no future with the Halzy Party. But there was more to it.
Her real aim went further. Time to play my final card. Game on, vixen.
"But is that all you wanted? I sense you have an even greater ambition."
"! ...What do you mean?"
For a split second, Mathilda's expression froze. I didn't miss it.
Unbelievable. In this world ruled by nobles, she was gambling big-time.
"How about this? Let's shift to a private discussion between you and me. You understand what that means, I trust?"
Anything more was too risky for an official setting.
Mathilda stared straight into my eyes.
"Yes, by all means, Your Excellency."
Back in the waiting room, Uncle pounced without missing a beat.
"Vil, what was that about?"
"Uncle, mind if I have some tea first?"
"Uh, sure."
I downed the chilled tea in one go.
"Young Master, if I may ask again—what's going on?"
"Just as I suspected. That woman's scheming something outrageous."
"Vil, explain properly."
"Right. Her goal is merchant domination of this archipelago—not nobles, merchants."
"But Togo house is occupying it now."
"Two approaches. One: accept Togo rule for now, then hollow it out later. Two: if Togo drags its feet on governance, negotiate cleverly for merchant autonomy. And right now, she's aiming for the latter."
"Why the latter?"
"Info from the East Island docks. The workers testified she ditched the Halzy Party, right?"
"Yes."
"She probably did, but that was bait."
"What?"
"It's info planted to see how Togo Earl house reacts. Getting it from the archipelago's second-largest docks was a masterstroke—we had nothing like it before. And it was East Island, not the main one. Get the significance?"
"Not yet..."
"That intel wasn't stumbled upon—it was deliberately prepped there. Grandpa hesitated on forced seizure, weighing the risks of taking over a major merchant facility without thought."
"To force that judgment?"
"No, either outcome worked."
"Huh?"
"Seizure means the hollowing-out plan. Hesitation opens negotiation for autonomy. In short, she tested us—her."
BAM!
Uncle slammed the table with both hands.
"Uncle, she was one hell of a player."
"Vil, do we have to let her scheme play out?"
Leaning on the table, he eyed me sidelong.
"No. We can save face. I'll explain how—but brace yourself; it's unprecedented."
In the end, my proposal aimed to neuter merchant dominance while pretending otherwise. I laid it out for Uncle and the rest.
In the Provisional Governor's Office courtyard gazebo, Mathilda Nagumo and I sat across a table.
Tea was poured into our cups.
"Yes, you may withdraw."
The maid curtsied and left.
Now it was truly private—no attendants on either side.
I took a sip of tea before broaching the topic.
"You've really run me ragged."
"Oh? Has Vicount Victor seen through my aims?"
"You exploited the war between Togo Earl house and the Halzy Party."
"Ufufu. No denials at this stage. Spot on."
"We initially thought you were weighing Togo against Halzy. That was our blind spot."
"Ufufu. Getting you to think that was my goal."
"Togo wins? Fine. Halzy wins? Fine. Either way, merchants seize real power in the Halzy Archipelago. That was the true aim."
"...Brilliant, Vicount Victor. But I did expect Togo's early victory—just not this fast. I panicked a bit."
"I see. Still, we've seen through it now, albeit at the last second. We have our pride too."
"Naturally."
"But turning a sharp mind like yours into an enemy long-term? Exhausting. We've got the west to worry about besides."
"Ufufu. I'm flattered by your high regard, Vicount Victor."
"Premise one: we accept autonomy."
"Really?"
"Which is why enmity isn't ideal. First, show me your autonomy plan—how far we can yield."
"...Very well. We establish an autonomy council of leading merchants. They lead internal affairs and diplomacy. Togo Earl house handles archipelago defense, funded by the council. That's the core concept."
"Unfortunately, that won't sustain long-term autonomy."
"Oh? Then share your thoughts, Vicount Victor."
"Having the council handle both legislation and administration is tricky. And limiting it to top merchants ignores the archipelago's future. Thus: install a Governor's Office as the executive branch. We'll staff it with Togo personnel, plus locals. Governor from Togo—a suitable one. Autonomy council: 2 from main island, 1 each from East, South, North—5 elected by residents—plus 5 top merchants they nominate. Total 10. Governor breaks ties only. Diplomacy via Governor's Office, per council policy. Defense as you propose. For internal security: a local security force under Governor's Office, staffed by islanders. This ensures lasting autonomy."
"Won't Togo's influence dominate?"
"Governor's Office and council are equals. Governor's just a figurehead. Council sets policy; office executes."
"Residents on the council?"
"Doesn't that align with your industry revival goals?"
"Indeed. But a noble proposing it? Surprising."
"For autonomy, residents—not nobles—should check merchant overreach."
"Ufufu. Understood. I accept your plan fully, Vicount Victor. Leave the convincing to others to me."
"Grateful."
"So, who for governor?"
"Father's call as head—but likely a senior civilian official."
"Pity. I'd prefer you continuing."
"That's if negotiations succeed. That'll be the real hassle."
"True. It'll take time, but I'll make it happen."
Unified Calendar 589, February 8th.
At this moment, the first resident-led autonomy in North-South Arl continent history was born.
In a world where magic-wielding nobles reigned supreme, this delivered a massive—nay, earth-shattering—shock.
Vil saw through Mathilda's scheme.
Togo Earl house had been sized up.
Determined not to be puppets of merchants, Vil played his card:
the continent's first resident autonomy.
The mainland's history turns another page lol