Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 115 : First Step
"Thanks to the Grand Duke's detailed consideration, we were able to rest our weary bodies. We are grateful for the hospitality."
"Thank you for the hospitality!"
"Thank you so much."
As the Grand Chief bowed his head toward , words of gratitude burst out from here and there among the Grand Chief's family mbers as well.
"I am rely grateful that you think so."
Smile.
Looking at , who was smiling and sitting opposite them, the single thought that ca to the minds of the Grand Chief's family was this:
'Young!'
They knew that there was so difference in body structure between the mainlanders and themselves.
But even taking that into account, the Grand Duke before their eyes looked far too young.
Was he around twenty years old at most?
"I heard that the Warrior Clan does not like cumberso formalities. So instead of speaking at length, I intend to tell you the reason why I invited the Grand Chief here right away."
"I am also more comfortable with direct talk."
The Grand Chief's Common Tongue showed so awkward parts, but there seed to be no problem with communication.
This was probably proof that he had been preparing quite diligently for trade with the continent.
"By the way, before the Grand Duke speaks, may I ask just one thing?"
"Please go ahead."
"......How on earth does the Grand Duke know that we ca to the land of the mainlanders, no, I an, about the things that happened in the holand?"
Holand.
Perhaps because he was born and raised in Eldrigal, the Grand Chief referred to their island as the holand.
"It seems a bit difficult to tell you that right now. As it belongs to confidential information."
"Hmm......."
"For now, I can only tell you that 'I have quite a few eyes'."
"Understood. Then let us leave it at that. Anyway, prying inquisitively into a benefactor would be an act against etiquette."
The mont he ntioned 'benefactor', a cool light emitted from the Grand Chief's eyes.
However, I just showed a relaxed expression, paying no heed to it.
"Then please speak now. The reason why the Grand Duke saved us and provided a place to rest."
"I want to trade with Eldrigal."
"......Are you saying that you want to trade between Zodiac, the country the Grand Duke belongs to, and Eldrigal?"
"The direct subject of the trade will be a rchant guild, but since that rchant guild will likely be a state-run rchant guild, it wouldn't be too wrong to think so."
"Haha......."
As the Grand Chief burst into a hollow laugh, his abundantly grown blue beard rippled along.
"I apologize. I did not an to laugh at the Grand Duke's words. It's just...... coming from soone who seems to know well what situation we, no, I am placed in, I was a bit flustered to hear such words."
Even while speaking, the Grand Chief's eyes did not neglect to examine my expression.
This young man in front of his eyes, whose inside he could not fathom at all.
Is he saying this knowing the fact that I have been preparing for trade with the continent?
"Although the Grand Chief is currently in a difficult situation, I believe that eventually, everything will return to its natural order."
"Haha, thank you very much for your words, but......."
Looking at those sharp eyes, he doesn't seem to have a particularly optimistic personality, so how can he be so sure that I will regain my seat of power?
"To bring that ti forward, I am willing to lend a helping hand, however insufficient it may be. Of course, only if the Grand Chief desires it."
The mont he heard the word 'help', Tecumseh felt his heart pounding without realizing it.
Of course, mainlanders can exert almost no power in the holand.
But thinking of the 30 knights who subdued 200 warriors so easily a few days ago, he couldn't help but feel expectant.
Grind.
Thinking of the faces of the wicked traitors and the residents suffering from endless hunger, his teeth ground automatically.
If it were up to his heart, he wanted to grab the Grand Duke's hand right away.
However,
"If we assu the Grand Duke helps this person, please tell what price we have to pay."
Since there was a matter that must be confird before that, he couldn't nod rashly.
"Of course, I won't deny that my help is closer to an 'investnt' rather than pure goodwill. But investnt is an action that must be done while considering the risk from the start. And I am not so petty as to bla the other party for the deal just because the result of the investnt didn't turn out as expected."
I gave an answer with a smile that seed to say, 'Right, I wondered why you didn't ask that.'
"Are you saying that even if I reject the proposal after regaining my position with your country's help, you won't force anything particular?"
"Of course. However, when you regain your rightful position in the future, I just hope you seriously consider the proposal I offer once."
A bold investnt where no result could be promised later.
Even though it was clearly a condition more than favorable to him, the wrinkles etched on Tecumseh's brow did not smooth out easily.
"Those are truly grateful words, but wouldn't that be too big a loss for your country? I think our relationship is not yet special enough to shoulder such a one-sided risk......."
"I am certain that the proposal I will offer will be helpful to both Eldrigal and Zodiac. And I think the Grand Chief has the insight to realize that fact."
Having thrown all my cards with this, I waited for the Grand Chief to bite.
"Grand Duke, I say this again, but I am truly grateful for the grace the Grand Duke has bestowed. However...... there is one fact that worried the most while coming here following the Grand Duke's guidance, do you perhaps know what that is?"
"Well."
Of course, I knew well what Tecumseh wanted to say, but I didn't bother saying it with my own mouth.
"If you don't know, I will tell you. That is exactly the fact that our existence becos an excuse for fratricide."
"......."
"Under the pretext of avenging my grudge, putting up as the face to induce large-scale conflict among the residents. That is exactly what I worried about the most."
The reason why Tecumseh couldn't easily accept my proposal lay here.
If he made the wrong choice here, he could be swept away by personal grudges and beco a tyrant who turned the holand into a sea of blood.
"Wouldn't we mainlanders be unable to use any power in Eldrigal?"
"That is true, but for soone who sits here and looks a thousand miles ahead, devising a solution for that might also be possible."
I smiled and observed the Grand Chief and his family, who had tense expressions, for a mont.
"It seems there is one part where the Grand Chief is thinking wrongly."
"Are you saying my worry is excessive?"
"No. The worry the Grand Chief harbors itself is very reasonable. However, what I want to speak about is the issue regarding the thodology. Have you perhaps not thought of this?"
As the conversation progressed, my smile beca a little clearer.
"The thought that if a figurehead was needed, there was no need to insist on the Grand Chief himself."
By the way, what is the reason why my spine is getting colder and colder?
"It is not a preferred thod, but there are quite a few various magics regarding brainwashing or mory manipulation here on the continent."
"......!"
"Of course, since the Grand Chief has cultivated himself deeply, there is no way such sorcery would work. However......."
My gaze reached the Grand Chief's youngest son, who was still young.
At that mont, the Grand Chief's beard stood on end, and his skin, which was close to red, began to be dyed blue.
As the Grand Chief tensed up montarily, his body reacted automatically.
This ti too, I didn't say everything I was thinking.
However,
My intention that 'if I put my mind to it, it is entirely possible to kill you right now, turn your son into a puppet, and head to the island' was conveyed without a single error.
Flinch.
By the ti the skin color of the family mbers who were already adults was also dyed with a blue light.
"Here and now, I swear on my and my family's honor, and the position of Grand Duke that I hold. As long as my heart beats, a situation where I harm the Grand Chief or plot things according to my will without respecting your intent will absolutely never occur."
I declared with a firm voice that I would not walk the heretical path and added one word.
"Because what I want is not one-sided submission, but mutual stability and prosperity."
"......Are those words sincere?"
"Of course."
How much weight he would accept my oath with was sothing even I couldn't know.
But it was sincere that I had no intention of making the Grand Chief's son a puppet.
'Anyway, even if we drive out the priests who try to maintain closed doctrines, that alone is not enough. To form a systematic trade structure, the island's ruling system must be stable, and the residents' favorable reaction must also be drawn out. For that, the existence of the Grand Chief, who possesses both the residents' popularity and dominance over the island, is absolutely necessary.'
Having nodded at the Grand Chief's question, I stood up from my seat just like that.
"Then, since I have nothing more to say, I will take my leave now."
"Grand Duke! This person has not given an answer to the Grand Duke's question yet though......."
"I will give you ti to think slowly. If information about Eldrigal's situation is obtained, I will make sure to deliver it imdiately. So please think sufficiently, and when a conclusion cos out, you can tell then."
"Hmm......."
In fact, even I didn't have a way to resolve Tecumseh's grievance right now.
At least for the ti being, I would have to watch the situation from here.
"Grand Duke, if I say I will leave this place as is, what happens then?"
"I rely gave the order to bring the Grand Chief. If you do not like this place and go to another place, it can't be helped."
"......."
At the words that I had no intention of holding him, the Grand Chief looked at my back with a blank expression.
"But if I may make one request, if you have the intention to leave this place, I hope you leave after securing a safer and more comfortable residence. Because I think my mind would be at ease that way."
Of course, the words 'if you have the ability to do so' did not co out of my mouth this ti either.
Click.
Turning my back, I left the room just like that.
And said to Ismael, who had been guarding my side all along.
"Observe the Grand Chief family's every move carefully, but pay careful attention so that they do not think they are being watched or imprisoned."
"Understood. Your Excellency. By the way...... were those words a mont ago sincere?"
"That I would let them go without complaint if they said they would go to another place? Of course, I an it. You should know that too, and if they want to leave, do not stop them by force."
"Understood."
For Ismael, who answered but had an expression that he couldn't understand at all, I revealed a little more of my inner thoughts.
"Of course, if such a thing happens, I would have to take minimum asures. But I can't force them. Because voluntary cooperation is absolutely necessary to obtain what we ultimately want. Considering their pride, just intimidating them is not a good thod."
"......."
"The only way is to take ti and wait until trust in us builds up. Because voluntary cooperation is possible only after that."
"Thank you for the explanation, Your Excellency."
"Looking at your expression, it seems you think it's very different from my usual thod."
"Actually...... it is."
At my light interrogation, Ismael nodded with an awkward expression.
He must have felt a considerable difference between my usual self, who enjoyed using bold thods to the point of looking violent, and the of today.
"Because it's not like I can do everything as I please."
Having just co out of the main gate, I turned my gaze toward the 3rd floor where the Grand Chief and his family were and said in a low voice.
"And this matter is worth spending ti and effort on."
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