NOVPUB[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
Chapter 219: Letter from Lusatia
I summoned my retainers as soon as I returned.
"...An agent of the Shadow Division."
Olivier had been listening with a grave expression the entire time.
"Indeed, it's extremely dangerous."
"But if you think about it carefully, it's not that bad," I said.
"Sharing my father's secrets means that I've earned his trust."
"...You're right. No ruler would reveal secrets to someone they don't trust."
"However," Olivier expressed his concern, "approaching 'the hidden truth behind the revealed truth' in earnest means accepting risks of an entirely different magnitude than before."
"That's true."
I'm not the type of man who dismisses the worries of my loyal retainers.
"But I've willingly plunged into Grunewald's underworld even when I was much weaker than I am now. It shouldn't be difficult for me to take care of myself, whatever happens."
"...That's true, but..."
In reality, my strength had already far surpassed that of Jeffrey and Olivier.
"Besides, Father proved to be a man who understands proper courtesy."
"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Jeffrey asked.
"He gave me this as my ducal allowance."
I took out gold bars, jewels, and spirit medicines from my spatial pouch.
"...!"
Olivier's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"Y-Young Master, what is this?"
"As you can see, they're gold bars. Want to bite one to check?"
"No, thank you."
Olivier recoiled in shock.
"Huh. To think he would give such large gold bars."
"Impressive, isn't it?"
I caressed the gold bars fondly.
"Look at these beautiful, brilliant gold bars. Something this size would easily exceed the annual budget of a remote fief with plenty to spare."
"It's too much money to decline on the grounds of danger."
"Exactly."
It might seem obvious, but Father governs the continent's greatest port city. This much ducal allowance must be pocket change to him.
"Peter, you'll catch flies with your mouth open like that."
"Ah! I apologize."
Peter promptly shut his mouth.
"So, Young Master, what do you plan to do with this allowance?"
"I'll recruit a private army."
"A private army?"
"Father has permitted it. I intend to organize a personal guard under the name of 'Allenvert Grunewald, Fourth Young Master.'"
I pointed at Jeffrey.
"The squad leader my forces will naturally be our squad leader Jeffrey."
"!"
Jeffrey's eyes widened in surprise.
"Have I... been promoted?"
"In a manner of speaking."
I turned to Olivier.
"We have plenty of money, so ensure they receive the best compensation in the duchy."
"Understood. How many men should we..."
"Thirty. Special Operations Division, royal guards, knighthood, even security guards, I don't care. Select them strictly based on skill, loyalty, and clean background.
"Understood."
"Advertise that the chosen guards will be specially equipped with arms and armor crafted by Baldun."
"Wow, with that offer, the competition will be fierce!" Peter exclaimed.
"Can we recruit people from our squad first?"
"If they lack skill, there will be no mercy."
"Damn, I'll have to train them rigorously starting today."
"I'll give bonus points for equal skills, so train hard."
"Understood."
Jeffrey smiled as if pleased with the arrangement.
"With the Young Master's reputation already resonating throughout the duchy, offering top-tier salaries and equipment from a renowned craftsman will attract brilliant talents," Olivier remarked.
Peter agreed, "Of course. You're also one of the two closest to becoming the next Duke."
"Flattery won't get you any bonuses, so tone it down."
I snorted.
"Still, it's cool. The Young Master's personal guard."
"I think so too."
I nodded and looked at Jeffrey.
"Jeffrey, you'll need to train much more rigorously if you don't want to be outshone by the newcomers."
"Of course. I have no intention of being displaced by latecomers."
"Good. But I can't just demand you become stronger without giving you something in return."
I picked up a few jewels and handed them to Olivier.
"There should still be money left from capturing Nepherus. Use it to quickly obtain high-grade spirit medicines for both of you."
"...!"
Olivier accepted the jewels with surprise.
"Young Master, high-grade spirit medicines are extremely expensive. To offer them so readily."
"I need both of you to become stronger than you are now. Especially our squad leader Jeffrey, who must take to the field."
Besides, haven't I already bestowed many favors on Zizek? Now it was these two's turn.
"Young Master, I'm quite touched."
Jeffrey grinned and nudged Olivier's side.
"Butler, what are you waiting for? Take the jewels and look into those spirit medicines."
"Ahem."
Olivier accepted the jewels, pretending to be reluctant.
"I thought as much."
I've never met a warrior who disliked spirit medicines.
"By the way, hmm."
I rubbed my chin and looked at Peter.
"What is it, Young Master?"
"I have nothing to give our Peter. Should I buy you a set of clothes?"
"..."
* * *
Nagan, the new leader of the Bisakino Brotherhood and recognized as the young Godfather, chose Zizek as one of his new executives to assist him.
This also meant that Zizek's gang had been promoted to a fourth rate organization.
"Now that our organization has grown, we need to recruit new people, get them new clothes, and come up with a cool new name."
Zizek counted on his fingers as he addressed Gareth and Rob.
"We also need to find new business ventures befitting our scale. Boss, and Rob, share any good ideas you have."
"How about cheaply acquiring the businesses that have become vacant?" Rob suggested.
"My thoughts are similar to Rob's, boss."
"Hmm. That would be ideal, but..."
Zizek folded his arms.
"Gambling dens and taverns aren't really my preference. They're annoying to manage and bad for street safety."
"That's true."
"In my opinion, wherever alcohol is involved, the number of idiots increases."
"What about port stevedoring?"
Zizek slapped his knee at Gareth's suggestion.
"Oh! Boss, that's a great idea!"
Rob agreed with them.
"The organization that had a tight grip on that sector got swept away after siding with the Huten faction, didn't they?"
"Exactly. Come to think of it, Boss Karzan also mentioned port stevedoring before."
Karzan had once said that "ultimately, those who unload goods at the port and get involved in smuggling make the most money."
"The more I think about it, the more it smells like money."
This was an insight from Karzan's years of experience in Flanders's underworld.
"We should get in there before other organizations start drooling over it."
With even Gareth saying this, Zizek's mind was firmly made up.
"Smuggling, smuggling. The more I think about it, the more beautiful it sounds."
A honey pot awaited Zizek's gang, one that could secure money, information, and even strong, promising young men.
Knock, knock.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"What is it?"
"Um, boss."
Moritz peeked his head through the door crack and reported.
"A visitor has arrived."
"Visitor? Who?"
"It's information broker Damien, sir."
"What!"
A name that couldn't be refused.
"Bring him in quickly."
.
.
.
"Hey, Zizek. Long time no see."
Information broker Damien extended his hand to Zizek, showing off his characteristically burly muscles.
Grip!
It was a grip strength unbelievable for a merchant, but Zizek's physique was also uncommonly exceptional.
The two men released their hands, secretly impressed with each other's strength.
"Zizek, I hear you performed admirably this time."
"Oh, I just followed the Boss around, nothing more."
"Haha! So modest!"
Damien shook his head as if he knew better.
"Many people are surprised to learn you possess martial prowess far beyond what's publicly known."
"Well, that's..."
"Above all, many merchants want to establish connections with you, thanks to the story that you're a direct subordinate of the famous Karzan."
"Is that so? Though I'm just a figurehead, really."
Zizek scratched his head embarrassedly.
"Not many young bosses lead a fourth rate organization at such a young age and have such solid backing. You could be called a rising star, a promising talent."
"Flattery won't get you anything."
"Haha! That's disappointing."
After lightening the mood with casual banter, Damien abruptly got to the point.
"So, how do you plan to grow your organization going forward?"
"Well, many businesses have lost their owners after recent events. Among them, suitable interests."
"What about trying port stevedoring?"
"!"
Zizek looked at Damien with surprised eyes. After all, Damien was a magnate in the smuggling industry and a renowned information broker.
"Why that expression? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"No, it's not that, but your suggestion is so timely."
"I see you've been thinking along the same lines? Hehe, I knew you were no ordinary man."
Damien suggested that it was perfect timing.
"What do you think? If your organization secures the port stevedoring business, our smuggling operations will become much smoother. Wouldn't it be convenient for you to have a supplier of 'goods to sell'?"
"That's certainly true."
Zizek asked.
"Are you planning to expand business beyond Grunewald?"
"A proper businessman should dream of endless expansion."
Damien nodded.
"Besides, if things go well, we could even sell the famous medicinal herbs of the mountain people outside of Grunewald."
"An attractive proposal."
Zizek nodded.
"But the decision-making authority lies with boss Karzan, not me, so I can't give you a definitive answer."
"Of course! Today I came just to convince you, so please relay the message well."
"In that case, understood."
Zizek nodded willingly, responding to Damien's appropriate rhetoric that didn't pressure his counterpart.
"And this is a small token of my sincerity..."
"Hey! You shouldn't have!"
That day, Zizek learned the taste of pocket money slipped discreetly into one's pocket.
* * *
After finishing his conversation with Damien, Zizek leaned back against his chair.
"Phew, now I can take a breather."
Just then, there was another knock at the door.
"What now!"
"A-Another visitor, boss."
"A visitor??"
Just as he was about to rest, what was this now? Zizek couldn't help feeling slightly irritated.
"Damn it, who is it this time?"
"It's me."
"Gasp!"
The one who opened the door and entered was none other than Rudgarda.
"Oh, wait a moment."
Zizek rose in surprise.
Of course, he didn't know Rudgarda's true identity and only recognized her as ‘the Young Master Allenvert's collaborator who is incredibly strong.’
"W-Welcome. Would you like some water?"
Zizek, who had boldly confronted her before, became exceedingly polite.
"No need. Sit down."
"Yes."
Zizek quickly sat down, and Rudgarda removed her cloak and mask, revealing her face.
"!"
Zizek was astonished at the sight.
"Y-You're a woman?"
"Yes."
"Wow, I had no idea."
Indeed, Rudgarda had a well-trained physique and relatively tall stature, so when cloaked, she appeared as a medium-height man.
"That was the purpose of the disguise."
Rudgarda replied with a stony face.
"...Then why did you cast off your disguise yourself?"
"We're no longer strangers, but comrades in the same boat."
Rudgarda stated matter-of-factly.
"Any objections?"
"Oh no, not at all."
"You're being more submissive than before."
"Ahem."
Zizek cleared his throat and gauged Rudgarda's reaction.
"Um, at that time, I was being disrespectful due to my overconfidence."
"Don't worry about it. Rather, it was because of that I came to trust you."
"Oh, is that so?"
Of course, Rudgarda didn't reveal her real name or that she was the 6th Commander of the Special Operations Division.
"So, what brings you here this time...?"
Zizek swallowed the question of whether she had come in place of Karzan and observed Rudgarda's expression.
"Naturally, I have something to deliver."
Rudgarda took out a letter from her breast pocket.
"Oh? Is that-"
"A handwritten letter from Duchess Lusatia Grunewald."
Finally, it was the moment when family members, long separated, reached out to each other.
[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
