Episode 363

"What did you just say?"

"T-that... The Iron-Blooded Lord is visiting."

Golden Lord Taina Seiter lowered the grape she was about to eat and blinked somewhat slowly. It was a habit she relied on to organize her thoughts.

Quick-witted, she could usually reach a plausible conclusion after a few blinks, no matter how difficult the problem. This time, it took five or six before her thoughts began to settle.

The Iron-Blooded Lord? What would bring him to the south?

First of all, they shared only one connection. Both were among the five grand dukes who represented the empire. Beyond that, they had little contact. In the first place, Taina rarely left the south. The last time she had seen him was five years ago, at the emperor's birthday celebration. They had exchanged polite greetings and a few words, nothing more.

"Is it definitely the Iron-Blooded Lord... No." She cut herself off, recognizing the foolishness of the question. No matter how distant the south was from the capital, no one would dare impersonate the Iron-Blooded Lord.

Her mind raced. An unexpected visit like this is unlikely to carry good intentions.

The odds pointed that way, and her instincts agreed. That left two possibilities. He was either bringing bad news, or he had sensed something.

Naturally, a capable entrepreneur must be able to turn a crisis into an opportunity.

"Tell him I am away for a while. Two hours... No. Politely ask him to wait for an hour," she instructed.

"U-understood."

Taina quickly ordered her maid to prepare a bubble bath and her favorite golden dress. Then she applied makeup and adorned herself. At a glance, it seemed that she only cared about her appearance, but it wasn't the case. As she bathed and got ready, Taina was able to organize her thoughts and make a plan.

***

Taina greeted Delac with a genuinely warm expression. "Haha. Look who it is. I never expected to see you here in the south."

Delac nodded. "It has been a while."

Taina studied him in silence. It's really him. Black hair, dark skin, and, above all, those unforgettable purple eyes. His appearance matches the last time I saw him, aside from his attire.

"I'm sorry I came to visit you without notice," Delac said flatly.

If you know that, don't come to see me, Taina thought, but she showed no signs of it. "Don't mention it. The busiest noble in the empire came to visit me in person. I am happy. Then..."

Asking about the purpose of the visit right away was an amateur move. Taina kept her thoughts hidden as she smiled slightly and rang a bell she had prepared in advance.

As if on cue, the door opened and attendants carried in food.

"I don't know what would suit your taste, so I prepared a variety. I know you have a small appetite, but I want you to at least try some of it," she said.

"Thank you."

The table was filled with enough food to bend its legs. There was enough for twenty people, let alone two.

Taina had not prepared such an amount out of gluttony, nor was it an act of bravado or display. A person was most at ease when eating or sleeping, and she took advantage of that. She had a particular method; by observing a person's food preferences, she could infer aspects of their personality.

For instance, those who preferred bland food tended to have calm and composed temperaments. Those who favored spicy or strongly flavored dishes were more likely to be impatient. If someone also ate quickly, that tendency became even more pronounced.

However, Delac cut each portion into small pieces and chewed each bite about ten times before swallowing. Before sampling a new dish, he rinsed his mouth lightly with wine. He repeated this process exactly thirty times, once for each dish on the table.

The scene resembled a ritual more than a meal. Countless people in the empire would offer gold for a taste of that food, yet Delac seemed not to taste it at all, moving his jaw with mechanical precision.

"I ate well."

"I'm glad," she said.

Taina shook the bell again, and the attendants cleared the plates. She had originally planned to serve tea and desserts after the meal, but she decided to change her strategy. Her back had felt strangely itchy since earlier.

Taina decided it would be unwise to drag things out any longer. "So? Why did you suddenly come to the south without warning?"

"I'm here to do my job as the Iron-Blooded Lord."

The expected words came, but Taina intentionally frowned without revealing any other emotion. "Do you mean the Dark Church? Naturally, I'm aware of them. They are maggots who won't die even if you try to kill them. Don't you know that much better than I do? They can't be stopped just because you wish it."

That was especially true in a vast region like the south.

"But at least in my city, they can't run rampant as they please. I guarantee this," she claimed.

Delac remained silent and simply stared at Taina with unreadable eyes.

Just as the silence was starting to feel uncomfortable, his tightly closed mouth finally opened. "If the leader of the Dark Church and all the priests die, it will take at least a few decades for the Dark Church to completely disappear from the empire."

"That... might be the case."

It would literally take a few decades, perhaps even close to a century. That was how deeply rooted the church was in the empire. Its influence ran so deep that, at a glance, it seemed like a unified community.

Delac said, "So I will do what I am capable of."

"What you are capable of?" she asked.

"Uprooting evil." For the first time, his calm voice sent a shiver down her spine. There was no mana or malice in it, yet it still unsettled her. "Before coming here, I stopped by Sandstorm Hill. The dwarves joined forces with the Dark Church."

"What? Then they..."

"I treated them like sinners."

That means he killed them. Taina stiffened and held back a sigh. What's the value of hundreds of dwarf craftsmen?

Yes, they were imperial citizens, yet they had joined forces with the church. They were definitely criminals.

If Taina had faced that situation, how would she have acted? She would have exploited it. Hundreds of dwarf craftsmen with their weaknesses laid bare before her? If she could manipulate those arrogant, willful beings as she pleased, her profits could be immense. With even a small degree of flexibility, substantial gains would have followed.

Of course, that had nothing to do with Delac. He saw the world in stark black and white. Were they connected to the Dark Church or not?

Delac continued, "I came here today to ask for your permission and cooperation."

"Permission and cooperation?" she echoed.

"There is a big shot in the south right now," he replied.

"If that person is important enough for you to come in person, is it a priest?" she ventured.

"No. This is still a guess, but it's probably someone higher."

In the Dark Church, only two beings stood above priests. Taina sensed that he was referring to a figure that no one in the empire had been able to trace.

If so, hindering or preventing the Iron-Blooded Lord's activities might cost me my life, she thought.

Delac went on, "It seems I may have to cause a stir to find them. I thought it best to inform you in advance rather than notify you afterward. After all, you have judicial power over Airuga and the surrounding area, including the Rahild Labor Camp."

"Yes."

The mention of the Rahild Labor Camp, spoken as if in passing, sent a chill through her. She took a moment to gather her thoughts. Delac's objective was far beyond her expectations, but this didn't interfere with her plan. On the contrary, she could use him more actively.

"Of course, it would be beneficial to reduce the Dark Church's influence in the south. There is one thing that concerns me," she said.

"Speak."

"There is currently a project of great value to me. It is the Rahild Labor Camp you just mentioned."

Delac nodded. "I know you value it highly."

"It's more than that. Depending on what happens to Rahild, my title may change from Golden Lord to Diamond Lord." She spoke in a joking manner, but the stern man showed no sign of a smile.

"Do you know how I earned the name of Golden Lord?" Taina asked with a cold expression. "Half a century ago, jobs were scarce in the south. The only way to avoid starvation in this barren land was to take up a sword and hunt monsters in the desert. People fought for their lives just to earn enough for a single meal."

Taina chuckled. "I didn't do anything grand. I just paved roads around Airuga by hiring those who couldn't find work. After that, there was some unrest, but I managed to settle it and reach my current position. This is the path I pursue."

"Is it the use of surplus labor?" he asked.

"That's correct. The core of Rahild Labor Camp is its prisoners."

"Prisoners?"

"It gives scraps to those who would otherwise be useless. In return, they gain the privilege of working for the empire. But recently, they have begun making suspicious moves," she replied.

"A rebellion?"

Taina's smile deepened, and she said softly, "I loosened administrative control slightly to expand my business, and they immediately tried to bite their master. This is why those vulgar lesser races...

"I can do everything you want in the south. If they are church members, no one will hold you accountable for killing them. There will be no restrictions on your movements. In return, will you act as my representative for a time?"

Taina knew that the Iron-Blooded Lord's attention focused solely on members of the Dark Church. Hence, he would never be able to refuse this offer.

Delac smiled.

***

"In any case, the general situation is like this," Seren explained.

Ludwig and I fell silent to organize our thoughts.

I didn't know what Delac was trying to do now, but I knew that he had his own plans and would be moving alone for the time being.

Well, he won't be in danger if left alone. Still, I can't read his thoughts, so I can't help feeling uneasy. Did I bring him all the way to the south for nothing? This thought crossed my mind, but regret wouldn't change anything.

Ludwig said, "I understand. The information is impeccable. Thank you for the hard work."

"Don't mention it."

"Master, you asked for information about the Golden Fairy, right? Can you tell me what you want to know?" Ludwig asked.

Seren paused, as if considering something, then glanced at me.

I was surprised for a moment. Did she notice my identity?

"Before that, I have a few questions," she stated.

"What is it?"

"What crime did this lizardman commit?"

"Insubordination," Ludwig replied. "He dared to defy a Badniker. I can't share the details, since this is an internal matter."

"Insubordination..." Seren muttered, lingering on this word. Then she continued, "I have a new suggestion. Give me this lizardman."

"What?"

"I will buy this friend," she said.

Things are starting to get pretty interesting, I thought with a quiet chuckle.