Chapter 726 : Overthrow

Chapter 0726 Overthrow

Translator: ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Jay_Forestieri

Editor: ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Tseirp

Early ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the next morning.

A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍bell rang out across the deck of the Skidbladnir.

Abel emerged from the guest suite after hearing it.

“Zack, what happened?”

He asked Zack Cooler, who was standing guard outside the guest suite door.

“A ship seems to be approaching from the harbor.”

Zack replied, pointing toward the port.

Indeed, even without a spyglass, it looked like a ship was coming in.

It was not as large as the Skidbladnir, but still fairly big.

The other company commander, Scotty Cobook, was already leading the Kingdom Knights and lined up on deck.

Of course, the knights had not drawn their swords, but they were fully armed.

So they would be ready if it came to combat right away.

“Zack, Scotty, do not make the first move.”

“Understood.”

Abel ordered, and the two answered in unison.

It was not only the knights who were in combat readiness.

The Skidbladnir’s deck was also set up for battle.

More specifically, rows of bows and arrows had been arranged where they could not be seen from the enemy ship.

So the crew could grab bows and string arrows immediately.

“Captain Paulina, tell the Skidbladnir crew not to make a move yet either.”

“Understood.”

Paulina nodded as well.

The crew must have heard her, because they nodded too.

“Ryo, can you tell how many people are on that ship?”

“Fifty on deck. Of those, thirty are armed soldiers. And... there’s some pompous-looking guy at the bow.”

“Pompous-looking?”

“Arms crossed, and probably glaring at us.”

“So you can tell that much.”

Abel was surprised by Ryo’s detailed report.

Zack, Scotty, and Paulina, who had heard Ryo’s voice, also seemed surprised.

Even so, all of them remained silent.

The tension mounted.

And then...

“Stop the ship!”

Zack shouted.

At a distance of about fifty meters between the two ships, the one that had come from the harbor came to a stop.

It resembled the galleons that were common in the Central Countries.

At roughly fifty meters in length, it was smaller than the Skidbladnir, and its deck sat lower.

But because the bow and stern were built a little higher up, the man standing at the bow with his arms crossed was clearly visible from the Skidbladnir as well.

“Ryo was right, he does look pompous.”

“Right?”

Abel muttered, and Ryo, standing beside him, nodded.

The man standing at the bow looked to be in his mid-thirties.

He stood about 180 centimeters tall, with a broad, thick chest and an imposing physique.

He had his arms crossed before that chest and was haughtily thrusting it out.

His long black hair, streaked with a little gray, was tied back, but even more striking were his black eyes, which seemed to hold a powerful will.

“I am Mafredi, lord of Niban Island. I wish to meet with His Majesty Abel I, King of the Knightley Kingdom.”

The man standing at the bow, Mafredi, introduced himself.

“I am Abel I.”

At the introduction, Abel introduced himself in return.

“Hoh... just as reported, you’re giving off the aura of a real powerhouse.”

“As reported?”

“I heard that aura of yours got the ‘freak’ in Pishkan to go berserk.”

“I see.”

Abel nodded, understanding Mafredi’s words.

It seemed the events in Pishkan had been relayed to this man.

“I have heard that a lord of an island holds a position similar to that of a viceroy. In other words, is it correct to understand that you held a supporting position to King Lakkan, whom I met yesterday?”

“Yes. Up until yesterday, that was indeed the case.”

“In other words, not anymore?”

“Yes. Starting today, it is I, not Lakkan, who am the king of the Banban Kingdom.”

Mafredi declared with a grin.

“I see. And what brings Mafredi-dono here?”

Abel asked without changing either his expression or his tone.

But Ryo noticed something.

Abel had said Mafredi-‘dono’.

Not ‘His Majesty’ Mafredi.

Just ‘dono’.

But he said nothing.

Silently, his smile deepened.

If Abel were to say ‘His Majesty Mafredi’, the Knightley Kingdom would be acknowledging this coup d’état.

That is what the words of a king at the top mean.

It would not be settled with ‘It was a slip of the tongue’.

That is what diplomacy is.

It was a carefully laid trap by Mafredi.

He rushed over first thing in the morning, introduced himself aboard ship, and made the other side call his name.

If they happened to add the honorific ‘Your Majesty’ at that point, all the better...

But Abel had elegantly dodged that trap.

It was the brilliance of Abel that Ryo praised.

“As the newly crowned king, I would like to hold talks with His Majesty Abel, King of the Knightley Kingdom. Could you come to the palace?”

“Hm.”

Abel thought for a moment.

The moment Mafredi introduced himself as the new king, Abel had already guessed this sort of proposal would follow.

And as a rule, there was no option of not accepting that invitation.

However...

“During yesterday’s attack on the palace, the First Hall where we were staying was attacked as well. To be honest, I feel uneasy about going with someone like that.”

Abel said plainly.

This too was diplomacy.

He was pointing out the other side’s blunder.

At the same time, he was making it clear that he also held information.

“We sent troops to the hall so that the people of the Knightley Kingdom would not get caught up in the troubles of our country.”

“I see. You sent soldiers as protection.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Mafredi’s expression did not change at all. He was shameless in the extreme.

Of course, there was no telling whether Mafredi’s words were true.

There was also no telling whether they were lies.

It was not impossible that they had kept the group under protection while trying to negotiate with the Knightley Kingdom proper...

In reality, the distance was so great that it seemed unlikely they could maintain contact with the Central Countries at all, but... there was no way to know just how much the people of the Banban Kingdom understood.

“Well, fine.”

Abel nodded once.

Then he added a condition.

“In Mafredi-dono’s name, you will guarantee the safety of us heading to the palace and those remaining on the ship, I assume?”

“Of course. In the name of Mafredi, the 111th king of the Banban Kingdom, I will guarantee everyone’s safety.”

And so the group headed to the Banban palace, now ruled by a new master.

On the way to the palace.

“Sorry to the king from yesterday, but this island lord has more presence.”

“I... can’t deny that.”

The premier duke and His Majesty the king were whispering to each other.

“Maybe this regime change is something that happens often in the Banban Kingdom.”

“What do you mean?”

“Among the three islands, the strongest person removes the old king and becomes the new one... some kind of political system like that.”

“How could something like that... even be possible?”

“Isn’t it fine if it does exist? If the people don’t have to suffer and the heads of the powerful are simply swapped around among themselves... and if a capable person ends up at the top, then isn’t that better for the people?”

“Ryo’s conclusions are as out there as ever.”

Abel shook his head slightly at Ryo’s reasoning.

“The worst thing for the people is for an incompetent leader to keep governing. If you try to remove that person by force, the people often get caught up in it, and that makes the people unhappy, so it is not recommended. But if no civilians are harmed, then whether by force or some other means, if a competent person ends up at the top, isn’t that fine?”

“So long as the competent person... is someone who actually thinks about the people.”

“Exactly. The question is whether that can be guaranteed.”

Ryo accepted Abel’s point.

The root of all the problems was whether the people would be considered in the politics being carried out for them... that was what it came down to.

“Even so, we are not interfering in the Banban Kingdom’s affairs.”

“Yes, I understand. Relations between countries are noninterference in internal affairs.”

Equal diplomacy cannot exist unless sovereign states recognize one another as such.

Of course...

“Unless Abel wants to turn this Banban Kingdom into a vassal state of the Knightley Kingdom.”

“Yeah, as I always say, that is not something I want.”

“So this time, we won’t get involved.”

“Yeah, please correct that to we won’t get involved this time ‘either’.”

“Oh, come on now.”

“Don’t ‘come on now’ me! ”

It was the usual teasing between Ryo and Abel.

“But what happened in this Banban Kingdom might also happen in the Knightley Kingdom.”

“Hm?”

“If King Abel is removed, then if someone more capable becomes king, the kingdom’s people would be even happier.”

The premier duke said it in a stern, utterly matter-of-fact tone.

“Then that more capable person who would replace me is probably you, Premier Duke.”

“Eh? Me? No, I hate dealing with being king...”

“For the sake of the people.”

“My life comes before the people’s lives. That’s the motto I intend to live by.”

“...A guy like that becoming the top of the country would make the people miserable.”

“Yes, absolutely.”

For some reason, the king and the premier duke seemed to reach an agreement.

Maybe that was a joke allowed only because King Abel was so popular with the common people...

Guided by Mafredi, the group stepped into the palace.

The palace bore raw, vivid traces of a fierce battle having taken place.

“Even if ordinary civilians were not caught up in it, soldiers were.”

“That’s true. On that point... peace really is best, I suppose.”

“Or a bloodless revolution is okay too.”

“Bloodless? You mean a revolution without bloodshed... I see.”

Abel thought it over a little and nodded.

In Earth’s history, there have been a fair number of successful bloodless revolutions.

Some conditions need to be in place, but... if they can be met, it might be ideal in a certain sense.

“Still, this not-yet-cleaned-up feeling... it seems deliberate, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. Maybe that’s Mafredi’s personality. He’s deliberately showing it to us.”

“Is this part of diplomacy too, I wonder?”

“Diplomacy is really a pain in the ass.”

Abel let out a small sigh.

Within relations between nations, everything becomes a diplomatic card.

Even a scene like this after a coup.

Would you clean it up before inviting people in, or invite them in without cleaning it up?

There should have been a choice between those options.

And Mafredi chose to invite the Knightley Kingdom’s group in without cleaning anything up.

What that meant was not yet clear, but... it offered a glimpse of the way Mafredi thought, or perhaps one aspect of his tastes.

Proceeding deeper into the palace, the group was shown into a fairly large room.

There was a long table in the center of the room, with chairs arranged on both sides.

The left side for the home country, the right side for the other country... a table and chairs that looked as though they were meant for diplomatic talks.

And on the left side, people who seemed to be Banban Kingdom officials were already seated.

Among those officials, Abel spotted someone he recognized.

“Your Majesty Lakkan?”

Yes, Lakkan XX, who had been king of the Banban Kingdom until yesterday.

He was not being restrained.

He did not seem injured.

Whether from frustration or humiliation... he seemed to be trembling with a stiff expression.

“Your Majesty Abel... I am sorry.”

He lowered his head as he said it.

“No, I am just glad you are safe.”

Abel nodded.

“I have asked Lakkan to be present here as a royal adviser. It would seem there was some sort of flow from yesterday’s negotiations... though perhaps calling them negotiations is a bit much, but still.”

Mafredi said with a laugh.

Even then, Lakkan’s expression remained stiff.

That was only natural.

Until yesterday, he had been the ruler of this country.

But now, he had been stripped of that position and was even seated here as a subordinate of the new top man.

In front of the king of a foreign country they had met yesterday.

Abel did not change his expression, but the expressions of the Kingdom Knights who had come as his guards probably did.

Seeing that, Mafredi opened his mouth and began to explain.

“In our country, it is common for the weak king to be brought down by the strong.”

The moment Mafredi said it, Lakkan’s face twisted.

“It removes political rigidity and prevents the king and those around him from becoming corrupt. So in fact, there are times when it is even praised.”

“I understand that political systems differ from country to country.”

Abel replied to Mafredi’s words.

“But I was simply wondering why it had to happen last night. Why act while we were visiting?”

“Because yesterday was the new moon. For nighttime operations, it is more convenient when the moon is not out.”

“So even if a diplomatic mission was visiting, that made no difference.”

“We had heard you were powerful people. We assumed you would protect yourselves.”

“I see.”

That was all Abel said.

He said nothing else, and without changing his expression, he sat in the seat at the center of the right side of the table.

With a small shrug, Mafredi also took his seat opposite him.

And thus, the bilateral meeting began.

That said, it was not an official meeting.

From the Knightley Kingdom’s perspective, the purpose of this port call was simply for King Abel to greet the representative of the other country.

They were not planning to establish diplomatic relations or conclude a treaty of friendship.

The purpose was simply to say, “We may stop here during future trial voyages, so we’ll be in your care”, and “A route will be opening up ahead, so please take care of us then as well”.

That matter had already been conveyed by Abel to the Banban Kingdom government the previous day.

It had also been conveyed directly to Lakkan at the evening dinner party.

So Mafredi, who was sitting here, knew about it too.

Even so, the reason he had called Abel and the others here was probably to show that Lakkan was no longer king and that Mafredi had become king.

He wanted to make it plain that Lakkan had come under the new king Mafredi.

“I am Mafredi, King of the Banban Kingdom.”

“I am Abel I, King of the Knightley Kingdom.”

They introduced themselves to each other and shook hands.

That was diplomatic protocol.

After that, the Banban Kingdom side’s attendees were introduced one by one.

Of course, Lakkan as royal adviser was among them too.

Then the Knightley Kingdom side’s attendees were introduced as well, but... aside from the Kingdom Knights serving as guards, there was only one other person.

“This is the Knightley Kingdom’s premier duke, Duke Rondo.”

The one Abel introduced was only Ryo.

Ryo stood up and gave a slight bow.

Once the introductions on both sides were over, Abel opened his mouth.

“Last night’s dinner party was splendid.”

“Hm?”

Suddenly, he praised the dinner party.

Mafredi could not help but frown.

That was only natural, because the host of last night’s dinner party had been Lakkan, the king at the time.

For Mafredi, the current king, it was not amusing.

“Regardless of who the current king may be, I could hardly fail to mention a dinner party held between the representatives of two nations. It would also be for the honor of the chefs and others who prepared the meal.”

“Hm, well, fine.”

And then Abel praised, one by one, each menu item that had been served at the dinner party.

Mafredi, of course, wore an unhappy expression, but Lakkan, who had been the host at the time, also looked bewildered.

Still, every now and then, he would briefly show a pleased expression.

It took twenty minutes before Abel’s praise finally came to an end.

Having received that, Mafredi brought up the main topic.

“I hear the Knightley Kingdom is conducting trial voyages to open a sea route with the Western Countries. I understand this port call is part of that effort.”

“That is correct.”

“I would like to hear how our country factors into your voyage.”

Mafredi asked plainly.

“There is a possibility that during the trial voyages, we may port in the Banban Kingdom.”

“I see.”

“However, as for the route that will eventually connect the Knightley Kingdom and the Western Countries... to be honest, I do not know whether we will stop in the Banban Kingdom.”

“...What?”

At Abel’s ominous words, Mafredi asked again.

“I have heard that in the neighboring country of Pishkan, once the route opens, you proposed the possibility of receiving supplies and also of trade.”

“Yes, we did propose that. That is true.”

“Then our country should also...”

“As king of the Knightley Kingdom, I believe we should prepare and propose safe port-of-call destinations for the ships that travel the route. Thinking along those lines, I have to ask whether this Banban Kingdom is truly suitable as a port of call...”

“Are you saying my country is inferior to Pishkan?”

Mafredi’s tone changed, and anger covered his face.

“No, please do not misunderstand. That is not what I am saying.”

By contrast, Abel wore a composed expression.

“Only that it is difficult to recommend an unstable country as a port of call.”

“An unstable country...?”

“Can a country where the government’s representative changes from one day to the next really be called stable?”

Abel said it flatly, without changing his expression.

In response, Mafredi remained angry, but had nothing to say back.

“King Abel seems not to understand the current situation.”

“The situation?”

“A change of regime was carried out overnight. And now, this palace is completely calm. How can you call this an unstable country?”

“Last night’s attack succeeded precisely because you mobilized a considerable amount of force. The fact that it is calm now is because... you exterminated the soldiers guarding the palace.”

“Even if that is so, is there some problem?”

Mafredi retorted.

“No, there is no problem. There is no problem, but... I was thinking of returning your words to you exactly as you just said them, Mafredi-dono.”

“My words?”

“It seems Mafredi-dono does not understand the current situation.”

“What did you say?”

Calm Abel, and Mafredi full of anger.

The one who spoke first was Abel.

But the words that came out of his mouth were not something anyone had imagined.

“Duke Rondo!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yes, he called for Ryo. Ryo also replied with a formal, businesslike expression.

He had deliberately called him ‘Duke Rondo’, not ‘Ryo’.

In this diplomatic setting.

“Report the movements of Niban Island and Sanban Island last night.”

“At 7:00 p.m., thirty-five ships departed from Niban Island and thirty from Sanban Island. Each was a small boat carrying twenty people. That means 700 soldiers departed from Niban Island and 600 from Sanban Island. They landed on Ichiban Island at 9:00 p.m. and began moving. There were two targets: one was the palace, and the other was the First Hall where we were staying.”

Ryo reported in an orderly manner.

On the Banban Kingdom side, no one, including Mafredi, said anything.

They listened in silence.

“Two hundred surrounded the First Hall, and the remaining more than one thousand surrounded the palace. Then, at 11:00, they launched an assault on both. We had already moved to the Skidbladnir, so we suffered no damage, but fighting broke out at the palace. At the time, ninety-five soldiers were defending the palace. They fought bravely against an enemy more than ten times their number, but... in the end, they were wiped out. Literally every one of them died.”

When Ryo finished explaining that far, one person lowered his head.

It was Lakkan, the palace’s lord at the time.

He was probably remembering what had happened then. His lips trembled with frustration.

So at present, there were no forces under Lakkan left in this palace... or so it seemed.

That is why the palace was calm... or so it seemed.

But even if he had been king until yesterday.

Could it really be possible that he had only ninety-five soldiers under his command?

“Then report the current situation surrounding Ichiban Island and the palace.”

“As of about thirty minutes ago, the ‘skirmish’ that began has already resulted in roughly one thousand soldiers from Niban Island and Sanban Island who were stationed in the palace and on Ichiban Island surrendering.”

“...Huh?”

Mafredi let out a comically odd voice at Ryo’s words.

“This palace too appears to be... about eighty percent secured by the new soldiers.”

“What are you talking about...”

Ryo was explaining, but Mafredi did not seem to understand the meaning.

That was only natural.

He could hear no sound.

It was so quiet...

But the next moment...

“S-stay your ground!”

“It’s futile!”

“Surrender!”

“Do you want to die!”

Those voices came from outside the door.

Yes, suddenly.

As though sound had been blocked until now.

As though sound had been cut off by an invisible wall of ice.

Clang.

Having understood the situation, Mafredi thrust his sword at Lakkan, who remained seated... but it was knocked back by an invisible wall.

Whether he had intended to kill Lakkan or take him hostage, no one knew.

But an invisible wall was protecting Lakkan.

Yes, an invisible wall of ice.

The next moment, the door was kicked open.

Soldiers came pouring in.

“Your Majesty Lakkan, are you safe!?”

“Nothing to worry about, secure the room! Do not kill Mafredi!”

Lakkan gave the order while still seated in response to the soldiers who rushed in.

He understood that there was an invisible wall around him.

During the commotion, the Knightley Kingdom group did not move at all.

Normally, if such a disturbance broke out, the guards would circle their lord to protect him... but every one of them remained seated where they had been.

Seeing that, Lakkan became certain.

The invisible wall protecting him would not break.

Probably, the Knightley Kingdom group, including King Abel right in front of him, was also protected by the same invisible wall.

And that wall would not break.

That was why they remained seated.

That was completely correct.

The invisible wall... was a completely transparent wall of ice.

Ryo’s <Ice Wall>.

There was no way human attacks could break it.

It took less than a minute to secure the room.

After confirming that, Abel gave a small nod.

Ryo dismissed the <Ice Wall> surrounding Lakkan.

Lakkan saw Abel’s nod too.

He understood it as the signal to release the invisible wall that had protected him, and stood up.

“Your Majesty.”

“Lord Admiral Nashin, good work. Report.”

“The palace has been fully retaken. At that time, the island lord of Sanban Island, Hikaso, was detained. As a result, the Sanban Island troops around the palace surrendered. Many resisted among the Niban Island troops, but about five hundred surrendered and were taken prisoner.”

“Well done. Immediately inform Niban Island and Sanban Island that their respective island lords have been detained. Tell them we will not attack if they submit to me.”

“Understood.”

The man called Lord Admiral Nashin stood up at once and left the room.

Lakkan went around the table and approached Abel.

“Your Majesty Abel, I apologize for the disturbance.”

“No, congratulations on reclaiming the throne. That was splendid work.”

“I did nothing. Only my subordinates were capable.”

Laughing cheerfully, Lakkan praised the subordinates who had carried out the operation.

“I am grateful for many things.”

Lakkan deliberately left the words vague.

He understood that the invisible wall that had protected him was undoubtedly the work of one of King Abel’s people.

But it would not be good to make that clear here.

Mafredi was present.

He was under restraint, but he could still hear.

It would not do anyone any good for it to seem that the Knightley Kingdom had been involved in this retaking of the throne.

Noninterference in internal affairs.

That is an important principle as sovereign nations.

“There should still be small matters to attend to. Your Majesty Lakkan, we shall take our leave of the island.”

“Once things have settled down, let us meet again, Your Majesty Abel.”

And so, in the midst of the bustle, the Knightley Kingdom group departed from the Banban Kingdom.