Apparently, this area was reserved for the Nobles. Many of the people here were dressed in glittering clothes. There were two men in the restaurant that I recognized.
(Carnell and the Royal Messenger, they are here too?)
The two of them were sitting comfortably on a sofa, drinking what looked like expensive alcohol. Chappy flew close by and decided to stop by to listen to their conversation. For a moment, Viscount Carnell looked at Chappy, but since Chappy quickly disappeared from his sight, he didnât seem to mind.
âAnd yet, His Majesty is in trouble, isnât he? He nominated an Academy teacher for the Minister of Justice position.â
âYes, sir.â
(Hmm? The Academy?)
âThat seat was originally supposed to be ours. The Deputy Minister of Justice should be our Minister.â
The Royal Messenger was complaining to Viscount Carnell in a very drunken state. I donât know what they are talking about because I started listening to the conversation in the middle of it. I listened and tried to understand the content of their conversation.
It seems that the position of Minister of Justice will be vacant next year. It turns out that a Noble from a faction called the Academy will take the post. They were talking about court politics.
âAnd yet, the thought of that Lord Granvelleâs face makes me drink.â
âYes, well, he seems to be on a roll now that Mithril is available. Itâs the job of the Royal Messenger to put the lower nobility in their place.â
From talking about court politics, Viscount Carnell changed the subject to the Baron.
âThank you for your help this time. Thank you so much for your help in getting this deal done.â
âItâs only natural. But still, how could White Dragon move at this important time? We need money for the Ministerâs recommendation.â
âYes, Iâm sorry about that.â
Viscount Carnell apologized profusely.
This seems to be the motive for what Viscount Carnell has done this time.
(Well, Viscount Carnellâs territory has been mining Mithril for about a hundred years after all.)
As the conversation between Viscount Carnell and the Royal Messenger continued, Allen understood that: with the help of money earned from Mithril mines, for over a hundred years, generation after generation, the Viscount Carnellâs family had been cozying up to and talking to officials and Nobles in the Royal castle.
âIs this really okay though? Not everyone in the Castle is our ally. It would be troublesome if the Baron goes to the Royal Castle and makes noise. This contract must be signed.â
The Royal Messenger confirmed with the Viscount.
âOf course, sir. Thatâs why I kidnapped his daughter. The Baron is very fond of his daughter. Iâve included a letter to make sure he doesnât do anything rash.â
Apparently, when we were kidnapped from the mansion, the bandits left a letter telling Baron to go to the Royal Capital. Now that I think about it, the Royal Messengerâs attitude worsened when the Baron mentioned going to the Royal Capital.
âYeah, well, anything to make sure he signs it.â
The Royal Messenger said that he didnât care about the rest as long as the Viscount could get the Baron to sign the contract.
âYes, sir. If he doesnât sign the contract, I will send him one of his daughterâs arms and that would be enough.â
âAnd when Zenov invades, you want the assassin to take care of it?â
âThatâs what Iâm thinking. However, we donât want Dagraha to lose and have Zenov run amok in our territory.â
âOh, well, thatâs all right. If the Knight-errant crosses the territory, we can condemn Lord Granvelle for it. The crime of sedition is a serious crime. Thank you for coming all this way.â
âWell, thatâs just great.â
âBut you know? Iâve done so much for you.â
âI know what youâre talking about. Itâs the mining rights, isnât it? Iâll do as promised.â
The Royal Messenger said, âDonât forget to thank me.â
(The Baron canât do anything unless Cecile is brought back. If I donât bring Cecile back, the Baron canât do anything. But still, the Viscount attacked the Baronâs house and kidnapped his daughter for Mithril rights?)
It seemed that enough money was involved to justify the death of a person, and it was at that moment that I was about to hear a valuable story from both of them for future reference.
âMmm!!!â
(Oh no, Cecileâs awake.)
Cecile, who had been sleeping next to me, woke up.
âHey, little girl, youâre awake, but you need to behave yourself.â
âMm-hmm!!!â
When Cecile woke up, she was angry at being tied up and protested with her whole body. However, since her mouth, arms and legs were tied up, she couldnât say anything nor move.
Then Cecile noticed me tied up in front of her.
âMm-hmm!!!â
(Oh, donât kick me. Youâre pretty dexterous even though your hands and legs are tied up.)
Cecile tried to wake me, who she thinks is still unconscious. However, I, who was sleeping like a log, showed no reaction to Cecileâs kicks.
âBe quiet for a moment. Your servant is sleeping off his medication. Weâre about to reach the city of Carnell.â
(Is this magic ship heading for Carnell City? Well, Carnell is on it, so itâs natural. Iâm sure Carnell can do whatever he wants over there. I have to do something before we reach there. It hurts.)
This situation is very bad because we are heading to Viscount Carnellâs place. While I was thinking about this, Cecile moved her body like a shrimp and kicked me from behind.
âHey, Helgei, shut her up.â
Marcus, the bandit who was punched in the stomach, wanted Cecile to be quiet.
âWell, thatâs just the way it is. If you donât want to be beaten up, stay quiet.â
âMm-hmm!!!â
Cecile continued kicking me. She might have thought that if I woke up, things might get better.
(Mmm, Iâve got to do something about this. My cards are correct. Iâd better get to it.)
âI think I have to beat you otherwise you wonât understand.â
Saying this, Helgei started moving over to Cecile. Cecile stared at Helgei in horror. Just when Helgei raised one of his handsâŠ
(Put him to sleep, Swallowtail!)
âWhat the hell?â
As the bandits were startled, a nearly meter-long butterfly-shaped E-rank Insect Swallowtail appeared, flapping its wings and spreading yellow scales. The room was filled with yellow scales.
(Okay, oneâs asleep. Itâs working.)
The dagger user of the group collapsed and fell asleep as if his batteries had run out, but Swallowtail was immediately smashed by Helgei with his sword and turned into a glowing bubble.
I tore off the ropes I was tied up in by force. I canât be tied up with this level of rope.
Helgei reacted to my move. The D-rank Bear appeared in front of Helgei.
âWhat the hell is this?â
âGuaaaah!â
Bear used itâs special skill [Crunch] and attacked Helgei. However, Helgei calmly dodged and slammed Bear into the ground. Although he was not able to kill it with a single blow, Helgei was faster than the Bear, and Bear could not catch him. The Bear, which had been strengthened and had its strength increased, disappeared into a glowing bubble after being cut three times.
And,
âGah! You littleâŠâ
âYouâre dead.â
My fist dug into Marcusâ side. Summoning Bear was just my plan to distract Helgei and to buy time. My target was Marcus, who was hit by the assassin Dagraha. I punched him in the same location where Dagraha hit him.
(Itâs common sense to take out the weaker ones first. Now two bandits are out of the fight.)
Marcus clutched his stomach and convulsed as he fell face first to the floor. Together with the sleeping bandit, two out of three of the bandits were out of combat.
The bandit Helgei, who had been watching, slowly took his battle stance.