Chapter 57

The Duke, after hearing my words, exclaimed in shock.

“Five thousand standing troops… How on earth can a mere baron maintain such a number of soldiers? Adding to that, making it to ten thousand? This is ridiculous…”

No matter how much money I made by selling sugar, salt, and surplus food in Hamburg, the current situation of our territory does not allow me to maintain more than five thousand standing troops.

When you consider the costs for food and drinks, salaries, equipment, training costs, and the road improvements needed for transport capabilities, the expense for the standing army alone exceeds… twenty thousand gold coins.

In a year, that would amount to two hundred forty thousand gold coins. With a bit of exaggeration, this amount could paralyze the entire economy of Count Nante’s territory through monopolistic purchases like the character Huh Sang-cheon from a novel.

The Duke, seemingly escaping reality, laughed loudly.

“Well, well… You may not know how large your territory is, but even a decent count cannot sustain that much of an army. At best, three thousand is the limit, right? Of course, even that three thousand is quite impressive. If you were trying to make me laugh, you completely failed. How unfortunate.”

“Do you still not trust me?”

The Duke clicked his tongue at my words and replied.

“Of course not. Naturally, you have succeeded. You’ve squeezed your territory to organize a standing army of three thousand, resulting in handing over Count Helzman’s territory to your lord.”

Thus, to continue the negotiations as I desired, I decided to lay all my cards on the table.

In poker terms, it was a nearly winning hand where just one card was needed for a royal straight flush.

“Your Majesty, sugar has become easier to obtain lately, hasn’t it?”

At my sudden question, the Duke responded incredulously.

“Indeed, thanks to the sugar coming in from Hamburg, the price of sugar has dropped a bit, and my butler seems pleased about it. They say there are more shops using sugar in our duchy now… Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

Now, it was time to reveal all my cards.

“Aren’t you curious where that sugar comes from?”

“Not particularly.”

“No, you should be curious. Because…”

I paused and whispered to the Duke, who stood beyond the wall.

“That sugar comes entirely from Croilet. Nowadays, we are even selling sugar to the Northern Alliance to make more money. Oh, and salt and surplus food as well. With such business operations, maintaining a standing army of five thousand is not burdensome at all. In fact, since His Majesty the Emperor has passed away, to prepare for those unfaithful taking advantage of this situation… it seems there would be no problem in increasing the standing troops to ten thousand.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a loud crash was heard from beyond the door.

The Duke likely fainted in shock while still seated, but I hoped he wasn’t injured.

No matter how secret this confessional may be, should someone of his standing get hurt, it would bring about an investigation without sanctuary…

However, shortly after, thankfully, the same shocked voice from the Duke could be heard again.

“You’re selling sugar and salt and food? I thought only the damned Spania could make sugar in certain regions!! No wonder sugar has been cheap lately; I’ve noticed that poor barons always have sugary snacks at their feasts. So it was you behind it!!!”

“I am ashamed.”

“Please, don’t pretend to be humble. SIEL von Croilet. When I look at you, my loyal subordinates, whom I thought were capable, all seem like incompetent fools!”

I would gain nothing further by provoking the Duke’s feelings.

In that case, it seemed time to gradually move on to the ‘main subject.’

“Yes, I understand. Your Excellency, then I have a favor to ask…”

“What is it? I could even give you my daughter if you’re asking for one.”

If he was jokingly saying he would give away ‘a daughter obtained from his lawful wife,’ it meant he would provide ample time for me to convince him about any proposal…

Now, it was time to weigh what I desired on the scales of negotiation.

“I want the title of Count Nante.”

“Repeat that.”

“SIEL von Croilet, the lawful lord of Croilet, desires the title of Count Nante. Your Majesty.”

A moment of silence fell between us before the Duke spoke.

“The title of Count Nante… Are you out of your mind? No matter how powerful you’ve become, taking the title of ‘lord’ from your sovereign in Elaline is impossible.”

“In a typical situation, that would be true. However, if you hear the circumstances that led me to think this way, I believe you will understand.”

Throughout the negotiations, if I had stated, ‘I can do such crazy things, so please consider this!!,’ the Duke would have responded, ‘So what do you want? First, put that gun down,’ as the situation stood.

However, now that I had introduced the ultimate taboo of the nobility, ‘usurping the title from my lord,’ the Duke of Brussels had shifted from being a ‘hostage’ to ‘baring blades at each other.’

Committing this taboo is akin to a child killing their own parent.

Because of this, he spoke with a voice filled with confidence, curiosity, and hostility born from his nobility, far different from just moments ago.

“Speak, SIEL von Croilet.”

“Firstly, in the first battle, despite receiving a declaration of war, Your Excellency, Count Nante failed to fulfill the obligation of protection towards your vassal, so I had to fight alone on the Esleon Plains. Fortunately, in this battle, I led three thousand standing troops and defeated two barons under Duke Maxburg’s command, securing Blue Port and the salt mines.”

The Duke, upon hearing my words, responded with a voice filled with shock similar to someone encountering an ‘unimaginable hacking knight.’

“That’s impossible!! You, who defeated Helzman, could have fought and won against two barons, but how could a sovereign let their vassal fight alone with a declaration of war? Is that what people do?”

“My story is not over yet.”

“Continue with your tale. It’s astonishing to hear that such a piece of human trash exists.”

“It’s only the beginning.”

Then I paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and exhaled before continuing.

“However, to protect myself, they say that in the war I fought alone, I entered into peace negotiations solely with Duke Maxburg. As a result, I received five thousand gold coins as compensation and am willing to donate three thousand of that to atone for my sins.”

“Is that what a person would do?”

Unlike the fiercely reacting Duke, I continued my account calmly.

“Is that all? The previous war with Count Helzman arose because of my courtship towards Count Gent’s daughter, which I was turned down for, correct?”

“I am well aware, as the ball where Count Nante sought the hand of Count Gent was one I hosted.”

“The conduct shown by Count Nante during that war was truly a spectacle. Excluding other minor details… when it came time for battle, he wanted to be at the forefront of the lance charge like the knights from chivalric literature, and even though he positioned himself in the vanguard, he astonishingly ran away from the front!”

After I finished speaking, a long silence fell between us.

Then, the Duke, though this story was not his own, seemed to feel anger just from listening as sounds of things crashing against the wall echoed from beyond.

Crash, crack, thud. When that cacophony finally ceased, the Duke responded in a slightly breathless voice.

“That’s absurd… Any noble from the Empire would take the lead and charge once they have stepped up. No matter the circumstances… How could he run away from there? I’d rather those non-believing heathens who don’t trust Deus are better than that. To usurp a vow with one’s vassal, to take the lead, yet run away… Is that something a person would do?”

“It’s all true, Your Majesty. You could investigate Count Nante and find out immediately.”

Hearing my words, the Duke replied in a horrified voice.

“No, no matter how wicked you are, you couldn’t possibly concoct such a dreadful tale before me.”

“Then, can I assume you now have a better understanding of why I intend to take down Count Nante?”

“I understand. But this will always be viewed through the lens of a personal knight. As the Duke of Brussels, were there to be a succession war and a civil war arise, one must eliminate the imbecile who killed their lord and became the Count of Nante, seizing that land as well. Isn’t that right?”

Having more is better; during a civil war, the more territory and population, the better.

This is because a larger territory can generate more food for soldiers to eat, and a larger population enables the conscription of more soldiers.

Moreover, civil wars due to succession can be likened to expanding power through enemy player kills in an online game.

With the justification of, ‘They are a traitor who does not support the heir I serve!’, it creates a cause to conquer nobles who do not hold a bond of lord and vassal.

Thus, my current objective is not about justifying my mission or cause, but rather, after I seize Nante, I must provide the Duke here with ‘reasons why he must not invade.’

“That’s true. However, even if I conquer Nante, if Your Majesty were to gain my territory, it would only become a headache for you. My territory is a blessed land with sugar, salt, and ports, and the wealth of Count Nante’s territory stretches far into the ends of the Northern Alliance… Wouldn’t Duke Maxburg be targeting Nante? If you take Nante, you’d have to face nobles supporting you, all those heirs, along with Duke Maxburg.”

What I just said is something that the Duke likely already knew, but there was a reason for us to discuss it.

It was to establish what each of us desired.

And finally, from the Duke’s mouth, the question I had been waiting for poured out.

“Then what terms will you put forth? You will not participate in this succession war?”

“Yes, I have no interest in that war at all. My territory is in the far corner of Elaline; how could I bring a successor to occupy the capital? Therefore, once I take Nante, I will devote my utmost efforts to stabilize Nante. I will not cast a single glance towards Elysium.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the iron wall separating the Duke and me was lifted, and through the gap, two copies of a contract were presented.

The contract stated, “I hereby permit the claim of my territory as Count Nante under the condition of mutual non-aggression.”

Seeing the Duke’s seal ring already stamped on it, it was a proposal to solidify a probable ‘secret deal.’

Thus, I raised my seal ring, affixed my mark to both copies of the contract, and handed one to the Duke.

The Duke quickly took the contract, then spoke in an annoyed tone.

“When you said you desired the title of Count Nante, I had some expectations. I thought you would lack justification, and I would provide you with that justification to let you have Nante while keeping the reins myself. You managed to escape that by a stroke of luck.”

To this, I replied with mock innocence.

“Your Majesty, I had to become a cunning rabbit to survive, being fragile as I am. Thus, to survive, I dug three holes and, fortunately, escaped through one of them.”