Territory Pioneering 4

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We were ushered out of the audience chamber and back into the waiting room as soon as the King had called an end to our meeting.

Almost as soon as the door had closed, it opened once more and we were greeted by the knight that had presented the King with the gold Neumann had provided me. It seems that there is someone that wishes to meet with me in private. The knight instructed me to follow while Ester-chan was to remain behind in the waiting room.

I quickly followed after the knight down a hallway, up a set of stairs, down another hallway, and ascending another flight of stairs.

We continued this process of going up and up until it seemed as if we had reached the highest floor in the castle.

The knight stopped in front of a pair of grandiose wooden doors before leaving without saying a word.

I was alone in the hallway with no idea where I had been guided or who I was meeting with. The atmosphere in the hallway reminded me of a hotel or the dormitory late at night. 

After a moment of hesitation, I knocked on the door.

“Excuse me, my name is Tanaka….”

“You may enter.”

I recognized the voice that answered back and opened the door as instructed.

The person waiting beyond the door was the same man I had seen only a few minutes before. The King of the Penny Empire. What reason would he have for calling the baron of a remote territory into a private meeting?

“Thank you for coming, Baron Tanaka. Please, take a seat.”

And he’s welcoming me with a smile. 

I managed to hide my confusion and the slight panic I felt in my heart.

“Pardon the intrusion.”

I took a seat on the nearby sofa, facing the King.

After taking a seat, I glanced around the room once more to confirm that there was no one else present, but it was only the King and this strange foreigner turned baron.

“Thank you for giving me this private audience, Your Majesty….”

“Please, there is no need for such formalities.”

“…o-of course.”

I cut my greeting short as the King continued.

“I mentioned this before in the audience chamber, but I wished to reiterate how impressed I am with everything you’ve managed to accomplish in such a short time.”

“Thank you.” 

I’ll try to keep my responses as conservative as possible until I know exactly what he’s called me here for.

“I originally believed Richard’s daughter’s praise of you was nothing more than an exaggeration of your abilities, but in a matter of weeks you’ve managed to build a fortress on the Radius Grasslands.”

“I wouldn’t call it a fortress.”

So the King has sent someone to watch me.

But who is it?

I guess that’s obvious, isn’t it? The Princess visited my town just a couple of days ago.

She couldn’t convince her father to allow her to travel to my territory just to experience the baths so she offered to give him a report of how I was doing as well.

“About Neumann-san….”

“Politics in the Penny Empire can be complex and the power any one noble family possesses can be quite substantial. Just because I am the king doesn’t mean I am in control of everything that happens.”

“….” 

“I made use of that lower-ranking official. I can’t make moves in the open without drawing scrutiny from the public. I made preparations to have the gold you needed made available and had a ledger forged showing how you earned the money. Though, I suppose, the latter wasn’t necessary.”

“I see.”

“However, you are correct in your assumption that I was behind this matter. I didn’t wish to involve others but was left with little choice.”

“Why would you involve yourself like this, Your Majesty?” 

“I’ve known that the Minister has been moving behind my back for some time now.”

The King had taken precautions in case I were to fall into the Prime Minister’s trap. It made me feel more secure knowing this man doesn’t just blindly trust those around him and is competent enough to come up with plans to secretly counter the plans of those that are working for their own selfish gains.

And the fact that he holds the title of king is also reassuring.

But the person that actually put himself in danger was Neumann. 

“I wish to offer you an apology for acting without your knowledge and for forcing you to lie about the origin of that gold.”

“No, there wasn’t much choice given the situation and you don’t have anything to apologize for. I’m a foreigner in a strange position and I don’t expect many people to be on my side. So I can only be grateful to you for helping me today.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that.”

It’s not like we’re friends though.

So why did he call me here?

There are no obvious reasons that come to mind.

“I wonder if you wouldn’t mind fulfilling a task I have in mind.”

“A task…?”

Ah, so this is what it’s about.

This is how he wants me to repay him for helping me.

“There appears to be something in Viscount FitzClarence’s territory that has drawn the interest of the Prime Minister. It would be a great help to me if you could look into this matter.”

So the King has been worried about that as well.

But why leave something like that up to someone like me.

“Do you think someone with a questionable origin like me is fit for such a task?”

“I have a feeling that you possess a more discerning eye than most.”

“Thank you.”

It feels good being complimented by a man of power.

“It’s a boring story but the king before you has very few close allies.”

Now we’re getting onto the subject of the King’s black history.

But it does sound plausible. It would explain why he’s gone about things in such a roundabout way. Certainly, him picking his office on the highest floor of the royal castle is a way for him to show off his strength.

But everything could also be a lie.

“I can understand if you’re not sure how to respond.”

“….”

There’s no reason he’d use a foreigner if he were trying to trick the Prime Minister in some way. I’d be the least likely person to succeed if that was his plan. This could also explain why he went along with giving me the title of baron; he wanted someone with no ties to the nobility of the Penny Empire that he could use. I’m even more willing to go along with his plan for the time being based on his close relationship with the noble mage.

For now, I should just go along with it while remaining cautious.

“I understand and I’m happy to accept.”

“That will be a great help, Baron Tanaka.”

A smile flashed across the face of the King.

Even though I already have Ester-chan’s backing, there is an unknown number of father figures after her that I also need to earn the approval of, but it’s not like growing closer to a man in a position of power is a bad idea.

“I’ve prepared funds as payment for your assistance and for you to continue growing your territory.”

He slid a stack of gold coins across the table to me.

I recognized the paper band holding them together.

It was the same fifty gold that Neumann had presented to me earlier.

“…are you sure?”

I expect great things from you, Baron. This is less of a gift and more of an investment.”

“Of course. I’ll do my best for you, Your Majesty.”

“I believe you will.”

I don’t have much of a choice anyway. Working for the King seems like a better choice than constantly struggling against the Prime Minister trying to destroy me. The King also saved me after I messed up. No matter how I look at it, I have more reasons to accept than to refuse.

This concluded the talk between the Baron and King.

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