Chapter 340
(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)
Meticulous Schemes
Translator : PolterGlast
The center of the Istoria
Orthodox Theocracy, the city of Tria, was enveloped in loud cheers.
Because a merchant caravan sent from the Empire's side to support them had just
arrived.
As winter arrived and harvests grew scarce, the
four southern counties of the former Istoria Imperial Kingdom—territory now under the sphere of
influence of the Orthodox Theocracy—began
to be flooded by people traveling down from the north. Having had nearly all of their crops
seized as taxes, these people found themselves struggling to eat once winter
set in. They had come seeking salvation, guided only by rumors. And when
they finally reached Tria, seeing the food brought in one after another
from the Empire by the authority of the new Pope, they raised voices of joy,
shed tears, and thanked God's mercy.
「I
report to Your Holiness the Pope. New cargo has arrived from the Empire again
today, and the people are thankful for God's arrangement and Your Eminence's
authority.」
「I see.
Reward the merchants for their trouble and entertain them. Pay them the
appropriate price and see to it that they strive even harder in their loyal
service to God.」
Castro,
answering magnanimously, made efforts to treat the merchants favorably, backed
by his financial power. Of course, that capital was a substantial sum—wealth
that the Clan of Darkness had been
stockpiling for over five hundred years... Lugner and the others had
left behind things they couldn't carry—like gold coins unusable for the time
being or gold bullion that would leave a trail—at the bases that were attacked
and destroyed. Even so, they had succeeded in bringing out a massive amount of
current gold coins, centering on the most valuable Imperial gold coins.
And to achieve their
long-cherished wish, they first invested it unsparingly in the founding of a
nation by the man (Castro) they had made their subordinate. Because
eventually, when Castro unifies the Imperial Kingdom, it will
effectively become a country ruled by the Clan of Darkness. These are
merely the first steps oward their ambition and ultimate goal, but they were
satisfied to a certain extent with Castro's achievements thus far and
the strategy that used him as its figurehead.
「Yes,
it shall be as Your Eminence commands. On that note, there are two matters I
wish to bring to your attention.」
「Continue.」
「Yes,
around the same time as the arrival of this merchant caravan, a letter arrived
from Duke Harry of the Griffonia Empire. And, the Handler
Trading Company is included among the trading companies that arrived this time.
Regarding that, the Cardinal has a report...」
「Hmm...
then call the Cardinal first.」
※
Perhaps he had
prepared in advance, the Cardinal appeared immediately, bringing along an
attendant.
「Cardinal,
how went the matter? Speak directly.」
「Yes,
the results of the additional investigation also showed them to be clean. Their
brought goods this time as well are 100 genuine swords, and 1,000 cheap swords.
We planted a spy and probed even the source of the materials; the origin was
unmistakably from the Imperial side, and moreover, from the First Prince's
camp.」
「My
word! Then my concern was unfounded anxiety...」
「Regarding
that, there seem to be some circumstances. I have brought along a subordinate
who sneaked into their trading company as a spy and obtained information. If
you please, may I have this fellow report?」
「I do
not mind. Direct answers are permitted. Speak of what you have seen and heard.」
Receiving those
words, the man, who had knelt and kept his head bowed ever since entering the
room, raised his face. That face... belonged to the very same man who had
interrupted Raphael and Reim back at the tavern, while they
were enjoying a lavish bout of drinking and discussing wine and women.
「I
aligned myself with their foolish revelry, caught their fancy, and was hired as
a temporary laborer. In this purchasing run, I accompanied them deep into
Imperial territory and confirmed with my own eyes up to the point of receiving
the diverted swords.」
「I see.
They are somewhat loose with their guard too, huh.」
「Yes,
their supplier is an Imperial noble, the Viscount Kamin house. To begin
with, the Viscount is a person of the First Prince's faction in the Empire.
However, it seems their finances are leaning because they spent too much funds
on the return of the First Prince, and apparently they started an amateur
business.」
「Oh,
does that mean it's going well?」
「No,
the opposite. Perhaps knowing the other party is an amateur, the brat
arrogating the title of Achduke, in exchange for selling genuine swords to the
Viscount, seems to have forced a massive amount of swords unsellable on the
market onto him.」
「What
do you mean by unsellable?」
「The
items forced upon him are cheap ones originally possessed by common soldiers,
and moreover, they are all damaged goods. If the number is small, even a weapon
shop would treat them as bargain items, but when it comes to a bulk quantity,
no one will take them. So to speak, they are treated the same as scrap iron.」
「Can
such things be used?」
「There
are just no takers, but they can be used sufficiently. The ones with scratches
or chipped blades require some repair, but there should be no problem. However,
many merchants seem to think that if they are going to take such trouble, it is
better to handle cheap new items as merchandise.」
「I see,
so the Viscount, poor at business, ended up burdening himself with outrageous
cargo?」
Saying so, Castro
laughed loudly. As if ridiculing that Viscount.
「It
seems so.」
The informant puffed
out his chest, proud of the results of his investigation; however, the reality
was that he was only half right—the other half was nothing more than deceptive
information he had been led to believe.
※
To bring about this
specific outcome, Takuhir had
relayed the following requests to
Viscount Kamin.
·
Aside from regular swords, keep custody of 1,000
swords destined for disposal that the Dukedom side transports.
·
Externally, take the stance that they were
forced upon you.
·
For the storage management of those, assign
someone who is especially untrustworthy.
·
Even if you notice someone is siphoning them off
for illegal sale, leave it alone for the time being.
When he heard this,
at first Viscount Kamin also floated several 『???』s
in his head, but eventually he seemed to catch on. In short, this was a request
to 『intentionally create a situation where goods
would be siphoned off.』
And the Viscount
used a man named Todenz, who had been imprisoned, as an actor suited for
that petty villain. This man, who returned with his salary halved in exchange
for a pardon, splendidly played the role exactly as intended, and maneuvered to
compensate for the lost salary. This was the truth.
※
「Even
so... can such swords be useful?」
「To
speak honestly, I believe it would be tough for experienced soldiers of a
regular army. But for conscripts, it is sufficient. Inexperienced as they are,
they can only 『smash』 rather than 『slash』.
Besides, if we have them sharpen them themselves, even blunt blades will become
somewhat better.」
「I
see... Cardinal, good work. Give a reward to this one who infiltrated as well.」
「By the
way, Your Eminence, what shall we do about them who brought the blunt blades?」
「Fufufu,
for the 100 swords, pay them an amount corresponding to their value. For the
1,000 swords, as previously arranged, alright.」
At those words, the
close aide bowed his head respectfully.
※
After the Cardinal
left, Castro turned his thoughts to another matter.
「I must
hastily send a messenger to Lord Lugner and Lord Azel.」
「A
messenger?」
The aide’s decision to pointedly ask back was a
deliberate move, laced with dissatisfaction toward Castro's words. The aides were deeply disgruntled that the Pope was
treating these mysterious, inscrutable individuals as divine
messengers—granting them great importance and constant consideration.
「That
is right. Those two are not merely the ones who saved my life. They are the
ones who gave the revelation (gold coins) so that this country may be embraced
by God once again. I cannot treat them poorly.」
「Understood.
However, please forgive me for daring to speak bitterly. I have been watching
their demeanor ever since Your Eminence returned to this country. I feel
neither respect toward God (the Pope) nor sincere faith from them.」
「Archbishop,
your words are correct and valuable. Is that why you, an excellent person who
preaches the correct path, were forced to eat cold rice as a Bishop in the four
southern counties under the old regime?」
「I am
deeply ashamed. That I am here today, and that I can practice the correct
teachings, is entirely due to the Pope's patronage.」
「Right
now is a crucial time for building a nation. If so, every tool will be
necessary. Even hard-to-handle tools that accompany some danger, I will dare to
use them while they are necessary.」
「Then,
when they are no longer necessary?」
「As is
God's will... that is what it means.」
At those words, the close aide—who had been
addressed as Archbishop—finally smoothed his harsh expression and prostrated
himself.
「To
think you had considered it that far, I can only be ashamed of my own shallow
thinking.」
「Do not
mind it. I appreciate your loyal advice. Everyone, keep what I just said hidden
in your hearts, and never show it outwardly.」
「Yes,
understood. All of us swear to follow your will.」
「Hmm...
so what are they doing right now?」
Castro was certainly quick to change his
tune. Once he had revealed his true feelings, his attitude toward them shifted
quite overtly—at least, when they weren't around.
「The
two divine messengers
are currently executing maneuvers both materially and psychologically against
three of the adjacent four central counties, excluding the Royal Capital. From
several churches scattered across the three counties, we have received contact
saying they will embrace the correct path by spring.」
「I see,
they are diligent. However, since there are also Lord Harry's
intentions, send a messenger quickly. I must have them work for their original
purpose. Because they are pieces for that purpose.」
「Yes!」
Receiving the Pope's
order, the close aide immediately left his seat and began arrangements to send
a messenger. Castro, who saw him off floating a cold smile, had neither
respect nor even gratitude toward the two called divine messengers. Because the one he
respected and worshipped, calling him 『Master』, was
neither Azel nor Lugner.
The truth remained a mystery, but Azel was originally one who followed
him under the orders of the Old Master and had been a low-ranking existence
within Imperial Kingdom. The one who saved his life was Serpens,
who served as Azel's successor, not them. He heard that he too, whom he
should thank, was struck down by a traitor. Lugner is merely the son of
a ruined Viscount, a man who has neither a peerage nor any achievements of his
own. Towards this
arrogant man overflowing with baseless confidence, he felt not even respect,
and secretly despised him.
And Castro
also knew. That these two were merely using him as a sacrificial pawn to
fulfill their ambitions. Therefore, he himself also intended to use them as
pawns without hesitation, and cut them off once their usefulness was over.
「Judging
from this situation, the initial plan will finally become reality. In order for
everyone to realize their ambitions, they will likely entrust themselves to the
raging torrent of upheaval engulfing the neighboring nations. Now then... I
wonder who exactly will be the one to survive until the end.」
In the cathedral where everyone else had left, Castro laughed alone and looked up at the altar where God is enshrined. In his eyes, a light filled with ambition dwelled strongly.
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