Trantor: SFBaka


    Editor: Thors Stone


    The next morning, I felt a bit restless, so I took a bath to calm my nerves and kill time. I then put on my military uniform and headed for the training grounds with more than enough time to spare before the barons visit.


    All of the n members were already gathered on the training grounds. They were all fully equipped even though this wasnt a training day. Were they nning on meeting the guests along with me?


    Whats up, everyone? I think it would be fine even if I met up with the baron on my own though?


    That wont do. You absolutely cannot be looked down upon by a mere baron. We are going to show him the difference in your bearing.


    Adjutant Dalshim was really fired up for some reason. Well, I guess Ill just let them do what they want.


    Five minutes before the appointment, each team lined up on opposite sides of the training grounds in order to wee our guests.


    The town bell rang, notifying everyone in the city that it was already ten oclock. A short whileter, the figures of three men gradually approached our Homes main gate. Two of them were the attendants I met yesterday, so the middle-aged man between them should be Baron Volker Herring.


    He seemed to be in his forties, and though he did look the part of your typical noble, he didnt have an aristocratic aura at all and resembled an adventurer more than anything else. The members of my n all look more like nobles than this guy.


    I thought hed arrive via carriage, so I was caught by surprise a bit.


    There was a loud noise behind me. I nced over and saw that everyone was kneeling uniformly.


    Although I reacted a bitte, I also followed after them and knelt down.


    Its a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Lordship. My name is n.


    Ooh Oh! What a grand wee this is. I am truly grateful. I am Volker Herring. n-dono, there is no need to kneel in front of someone like me. Please, stand up.


    I did as he said while thinking things were a bit different than what I first expected.


    Thank you for gracing us with your visit today, Your Lordship.


    It was I who insisted on visiting today in the first ce, so theres no need to mind me so much. Please be at ease. But how about the men behind you?


    These are the members of my n, Shining Star.


    Oh! So these men are them! I can see why youve been able to make your reputation resound throughout thend with men such as these.


    If its alright with you, Your Lordship, might I invite you inside for some tea?


    Thank you, my good man. Please lead the way.


    We decided to have the meeting inside my office. We couldnt possibly conduct it inside the dining hall, and there were no other suitable rooms for receiving guests.


    When we arrived in front of the door to my office, I called the attention of the baron.


    If its alright with you, Id like to have some others attend the meeting as well They are the members of our main parties.


    I see. Of course, I do not mind. Go ahead and have them attend as well.


    We all decided on this bit beforehand. And so, my four party members and Adjutant Dalshim entered the office with us.


    Only the baron and I took our respective seats. Our respective men didnt sit and stood behind each of us instead.


    Elna, who was very familiar with noble etiquette, made some tea for us.


    First of all, I must offer my congrattions to you for subjugating a dragon, n-dono. The imperial capital seethed in excitement after receiving word of a dragon subjugated by adventurers of our kingdom.


    Thank you very much. Luck simply smiled upon us this time around.


    Even His Majesty, King Amad Bertie was deeply moved by the news and even said he would like to wee n-dono to the ranks of our fair kingdoms nobility!


    A noble of this kingdom huh


    It would be bad if I showed my eagerness this early, so I proceeded to downy the atmosphere a bit instead.


    A-Are you not interested in bing a noble of our kingdom, n-dono?


    It looks like hes starting to panic a bit.


    Lets see I cant say Im not the least bit interested, to be honest. Yes, I think I do have an interest in that prospect.


    Oh! Thats wonderful! Now, about the particrs. The king wants to grant you the title of baron, but some of the more inconsiderate nobles in our ranks have said that you have not made enough contributions to the kingdom to warrant being bestowed such a title. And thats why the king is troubled about what to do right now.


    What? So thats how they want to y this game huh. It looks like they want to begin negotiations regarding the dragon materials straight away. Well, its nice that the talks are proceeding quickly, I guess.


    Basically, no one would have had the courage to oppose a decision made by the king, so the negotiations this time was most likely an idea by the king himself.


    I see Thats a problem, isnt it? What should we do then?


    Some people have proposed that offering the dragons magic stone as a tribute would count as enough contribution to the kingdom.


    The dragons magic stone!? I see Thats unfortunate then.


    No, please wait! Only a small number of people are suggesting it, and of course, most of us are in opposition.


    This guy sure is easy to read. He doesnt seem to be cut out for negotiations at all.


    Oh, thats good then. The moment I heard you wanted the magic stone, though unfortunate, I thought I had no choice but to refuse.


    The dragons magic stone was an item thats practically priceless. Its countless times more valuable than your usual national treasures, so I didnt n to put it on auction in the first ce.


    I understand. That is but natural. n-dono, what Im going to say next will be rted to our kingdoms most closely guarded secrets, so would it be fine if you cleared the room first?


    Of course.


    I nodded at everyone who was standing behind me, and they left the room together with the barons attendants. A period of strained silence followed.


    n-dono, as you can see, I am truly not one suited for negotiations such as this.


    So its not rted to ssified info at all huh. But his way of speech no longer resembled that of your typical noble. It sounded more rxed.


    So why go through all the trouble of sending your attendants to arrange an urgent meeting?


    Since the preparation period before the start of the auction was quite short, they sent whoever was avable immediately. However, this matter has garnered utmost attention from the citizens, and if, by any chance, the offer of the peerage was refused, the one whos going to shoulder the me would most probably be the envoy. Hence, no one wanted to burden themselves with such a responsibility. This job was basically pressed upon me, and I had no choice but to take it.


    Hes being brutally blunt now, isnt he? But I like this guys honesty.


    Thats quite unfortunate.


    If I fail in this negotiation, my house will probably be finished.


    Do things like that really happen?


    More often than youd think. My house is one of those that are easily tossed aside. n-dono, please! Can you just tell me what your bottom line is?


    Understood. It would be cold of me to ignore the fact that your noble house might fall to ruin after all.


    Oh! n-dono, thank you! Truly, thank you!


    So, what exactly is the proposal of those nobles opposed to me being given peerage?


    In case their proposal regarding the magic stone fails, I was given several more alternative ns.


    Baron Herring then began taking notes and maps out of his breast pocket and spread them out on top of the table.


    This is the first alternative proposal. This n was the one that garnered the most approval. This area marked on the map is a part of the Khazar region. It has not been properly cultivated at all, but there is a wide river flowing from north to south, and thend around it is quite fertile. For thisnd, you can offer us the dragons skull and both its fangs.


    This negotiation suddenly turned simr to real estate consultation. I get that hes desperate, but wasnt he being a little too honest?


    This is the second proposal. Thisnd is part of the Seth region. The river here isparatively narrower, but it boasts the widestnd area. There are several other good points as well, I think. For thisnd, you can offer both dragon fangs and its eyeballs.


    He basically just confessed thend didnt have much going for it apart from howrge it was. Is that really okay?


    This is the third proposal. This territory is part of the Rust region. This particr territory is the narrowest of the three, but it is closest to the capital and the kingdoms main road. If you cane up with a local specialty of some sort, it should not be a bad choice at all. You can offer both dragon fangs for thisnd.


    Uh, any territory would benefit if youe up with a popr local specialty though. In thisnds case, if we donte up with one, it would be all over huh.


    None of the offers were particrly attractive. It looks like what Ss-san said about the kingdom not having any decentnd left was true.