283. The Hawk Flies (4)
From the moment they entered the market alley together, Kirhas couldn’t hide her excitement, almost bouncing around until she finally calmed down after being scolded by Fernandez.
“Kirhas.”
“Yes, Your Excellency!”
“There are many eyes around.”
“It’s fine! How would anyone know who I am…”
“Everyone knows. This is the cradle of Iron Side.”
“Ah…!”
The woman, who had been undermining the authority of the Chieftain in real-time, began to feign solemnity with a red face. She fumbled with her pipe but quickly withdrew her hand upon seeing Fernandez’s face.
“You can smoke.”
“I… quit smoking!”
“A good choice for your health.”
Of course, there was no need to tell her that in her previous life, despite being a heavy smoker, she had lived a long life. Though accustomed to the smell of burning herbs, the cigarette smoke was quite stimulating to Diemonica’s sensitive nose.
Kirhas occasionally shot sharp glances whenever she felt someone’s gaze, intimidating those around her. Her unique aura and presence made even the roughest sailors hesitate and back away.
Enjoying the rare calm amidst the bustling crowd, Fernandez walked alongside Kirhas, sharing the market snacks she handed him.
“This skewer dish is quite good here!”
“Is that so?”
“Do you like it? Then what about that drink over there… What is it? Your Excellency, do you know what that is?”
“That’s Amur tea. A Kirzat beverage.”
“Is it… tasty?”
“Well, let’s go try it.”
At his words, Kirhas quickly ran to the stall. Meanwhile, Fernandez leisurely scanned the market with his hands behind his back. He felt blatant stares from every corner.
Aside from that, it was a typical thriving port city market. Overflowing with ingredients from around the world, most citizens were plump and smiling. Occasionally, merchants argued with red faces, but it never escalated to violence.
It was unusual for a port. Generally, port merchants are tougher than inland ones, having to deal with both sailors and traders, which often involves force.
But the citizens of this city were remarkably docile. This atmosphere hinted at one thing: strong control. And the resulting enhanced security. Not just military power, but a perfect level of control.
It must be Iron Side’s doing. The citizens know of Iron Side’s presence. The hidden spies watching over them have instilled a sense of civic duty.
‘Ideal.’
Fernandez smiled briefly. An ideal city. Freedom inevitably leads to indulgence and corruption, and beneath a corrupt city, maggots will always swarm. Heretics and cultists alike.
Robert’s thorough self-discipline was reflected in the city’s form. This was a kind of social experiment. Whether citizens could love their ruler under strict control and surveillance.
‘Cruel, cold.’
-Wise.
Faijashi and Fernandez nodded slightly. Then, a low voice came from behind him.
“How was the city tour?”
“Impressive.”
“A compliment, I assume?”
“Of course.”
He didn’t turn to see the man approaching. There was no need. In the distance, Kirhas was seen bringing two drinks, momentarily flustered upon seeing them, then returning to the merchant.
“The greatest ruler isn’t the one who makes the people happy. It’s the one who makes them believe they are happy.”
“Similar to what my uncle once said. But he added one more thing.”
“What was that?”
“Don’t seek the happiness of the majority, but conceal the misery of the few.”
“Was your uncle from Iron Side?”
“I inherited his position.”
Robert chuckled. Fernandez looked around anew. The citizens who had been glancing at them now ignored them completely, as if they weren’t there.
The citizens here love their ruler. But equally, or more so, they fear him. The ruler’s authority stems from the balance of tolerance and terror, making Robert the closest to an ideal ruler.
“Shall we go somewhere quieter and more comfortable?”
“Let’s. Kirhas!”
“Yes! Ah, yes! Just a moment! Yes, yes. Your Excellency!”
Kirhas, having almost snatched two more cups from the drink merchant, ran back to Fernandez. She caught her breath and handed out the four cups of drinks.
“This is for Your Excellency… This is for you, Count Tremule. And this… is for you.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Lady.”
The man beside Robert blushed and bowed. It was noble etiquette, but that single phrase revealed the young man’s worth. That he didn’t know Kirhas’s identity despite accompanying Robert meant he wasn’t a significant figure.
“There’s a tavern nearby that serves excellent fish dishes. The Chieftain will be satisfied too.”
“Ah. Ah. Yes. No, indeed!”
Feeling it was pointless to hide her identity any longer, Kirhas spoke with feigned solemnity.
“I didn’t know you had an interest in the lowly shops of the market alley.”
“Isn’t that a virtue of a ruler?”
Robert smiled and led the way. A virtue of a ruler, indeed. Using even the small taverns in the market alley as tools for his subordinates’ operations meant he cared about manipulating public opinion.
* * *
The tavern was bustling. At least until they opened the door and entered.
Sailors drinking and making noise since noon, merchants with gloomy expressions, foreigners conversing in unknown languages. They all fell silent upon Robert’s entrance.
Robert walked forward without a word. They headed to the deepest seat in the tavern without any guidance. The only empty seat.
“Fish dishes.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As he whispered, a man who seemed to be a kitchen servant bowed deeply and disappeared. Fernandez noticed and Robert chuckled.
“Correct. This is my seat. It’s an honor to serve you directly. This is the Empire Iron Side. The headquarters of the Gray Circle.”
“Is it okay to share this information with outsiders?”
“Actually, there’s no one in the intelligence agencies who doesn’t know about this tavern. Even if they know, they can’t do anything about it, so they just watch.”
Robert’s smile exuded confidence. He looked at the flustered Kirhas and spoke nonchalantly.
“If the Chieftain wishes, we could collaborate on training espionage personnel for the Federation of Beastmen Nobles?”
“No need.”
“You’re raising people too gently, Sir Sernerd.”
“One should be cautious when speaking, Count Tremule.”
Fernandez’s cold warning sharpened the atmosphere. The Iron Side members sitting quietly in the tavern lobby began to glare at him sharply. Robert waved his hand, diverting their attention, and smiled.
“My apologies, Sir Sernerd. We’ve had enough of beating around the bush, shall we get to the point?”
“Let’s.”
Having exchanged enough of the Empire’s noble metaphors and schemes, Fernandez nodded. Robert reached out to the Kirzat merchant sitting next to them. The merchant handed him a document envelope without a word.
“The results of what you ‘requested’ from me last time.”
“…Already?”
“There’s no information Iron Side doesn’t know, and no person Iron Side can’t kill if needed.”
As Robert laughed heartily, Fernandez opened the document envelope. It was a simple coded message, something Fernandez also knew. But the content was…
It was never simple.
What Fernandez asked of Robert was just one thing. In the distant southwest, an endless plain. In the territory of the White Horse Tribe, find the Amarr Clan and kill a young boy under the age of ten.
The most dangerous being among those still alive. It was a move to eliminate Karadskar. The territory of the White Horse Tribe was vast, comparable to almost the entire empire, and finding one person on that land was impossible for Fernandez.
But for Iron Side, it was worth a try. Their intelligence network extends even to Kirzat, a hostile nation. Considering that the White Horse Tribe’s main trading partner is Kirzat, it’s not impossible if you want to make a connection.
“And it’s better to believe. There was only one person named Turgenjin in the Amarr Clan.”
Amarr Turgenjin. The great Kagan later known as Karadskar. A hero who united the fallen clan and brought together the numerous tribes of the White Horse Tribe to establish the unified state of Yeke Tetai Ulus (Great Tetai Empire).
If it had been just a little later, the Amarr Clan would have fallen as in the original history. In that case, capturing and killing the young Turgenjin would be nearly impossible.
It was one of the operations that had been postponed, thinking it wasn’t immediately important, but now that the empire’s territory was secured and Iron Side could be utilized, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.
But… is this possible? It was a task entrusted because it seemed possible, but even now, with the information that it had been accomplished, he couldn’t trust this report.
‘I’d rather believe the story that Daryan was assassinated.’
Daryan Schryke was the empire’s strongest even during Karadskar’s active days and was still the emperor’s eyes. Naturally, he was one of those who attempted to assassinate Karadskar during his northern campaign.
Of course, it was during his twilight years, past his prime, but to handle that terrible nightmare of the empire’s strongest failing an assassination so easily… Fernandez put down the report with a sour expression.
“When was this?”
“The assassination was three months ago, and the report arrived ten days ago. We got the information that you were heading to Gur and waited for you.”
“Then we must assume the assassination failed.”
“…What?”
If it was three months ago, we must assume this assassination attempt failed. It hasn’t even been a month since we heard the world would end.
Although it wasn’t the reincarnated Karadskar who destroyed the world. The invasions of the Black Erik and the Great Kagan Karadskar undeniably provided the catalyst for the end.
The current civilization has almost perfectly preserved its potential. If Karadskar’s northern campaign and Erik’s naval war disappeared in the altered timeline, there’s no other being that could destroy the current civilization in one fell swoop.
But that was information that couldn’t be convinced without talking about the previous life. Robert’s eyes sharpened.
“You don’t trust me? Iron Side’s transformation techniques are almost perfect. Do you think they can’t infiltrate any group? And what is that kid that you’re so wary of? No matter how many the White Horse Tribe has, they’re just a nomadic group.”
“By five, they ride horses; by ten, they master horsemanship better than knights who’ve been through wars. Tens of thousands of them, and nomads mean they can convert their numbers directly into military power in wartime. Of course, we should be wary.”
“They’re different from beastmen. They’ve never formed a nation. They’re barbarians who’ve never had more than two clans join hands.”
“That’s why we should be even more wary. The potential of beastmen was predictable. They had a history of forming a unified nation. But the White Horse Tribe… the Tetai Tribe’s potential is unpredictable. If, by any chance, they unite the clans and start advancing, there’s no indicator to predict their military, tactics, or scale.”
At Fernandez’s words, Robert frowned and shook his head. Fernandez didn’t try to persuade him further. Now, it was just an order.
“Forget the assassination request. The ‘favor’ I asked of you will be repaid. But I have another request. Set up a channel to regularly gather information from the White Horse Tribe’s territory. We need to understand their situation at least every fortnight.”
“…We’re short on manpower to deploy within the empire.”
“I think I can handle that on my end.”
“Did those rabble gathered in Paltennoia turn out to be unexpectedly capable?”
“At least from the east to the wilderness. Yes.”
“…Fine. Then this will be a kind of information exchange. That’s fine. I’ll send the detailed negotiation terms to your subordinates separately. Now, we need to discuss your ‘favor.'”
As Robert said this, he leaned back in his chair. He pointed to the young man stiffening in fear beside him, listening to the conversation.
“Let me introduce you. Duke Jean Albre of Vares. The Prince of La Merthion and the empire’s legitimate Elector.”
“Jean… Jean Albre de Vares… Yes… Um. Hmm. Pleased to meet you!”
Fernandez glanced at the frozen young man and sighed.
“You want King Vicente’s troops to withdraw.”
“…!!”
At Fernandez’s words, Jean Albre was startled. It was just an introduction, but he had already grasped his purpose.
“It’s obvious. The Eastern Kingdom’s Dane occupies La Merthion. At this point, introducing you to me can only mean one thing. Count Tremule knows I’m a Knight of the Round Table of the Dane Royal Family.”
“W-were you a Knight of the Round Table?”
Interpreting the Dane Kingdom’s Knight of the Round Table in imperial terms means a high noble of the empire’s highest council. Given the kingdom’s somewhat different authoritarian political system compared to the imperial parliament, the authority of a Knight of the Round Table could be even higher.
Jean Albre straightened his posture and spoke earnestly.
“La Merthion is my hometown and an ancient city of the millennium empire, a crucial strategic point on the empire’s inland trade route. Also…”
“I don’t want a history lesson. I’ll send a messenger to the Dane Royal Family.”
“…That easily…?”
“I’ve shown ‘favors’ to King Vicente before, so unless he has other intentions, he can’t refuse.”
At Fernandez’s words, Jean Albre looked at his friend with a doubtful expression. Robert shrugged.
“Didn’t I tell you? It won’t be difficult.”
“How is it this easy…? Can I trust this guy?”
“The man you call ‘this guy’ led the politically ruined King Vicente, orchestrated the political situation, and gifted him the throne in exchange for the position of Knight of the Round Table. Didn’t I tell you? ‘Untouchable.'”
At his words, Jean Albre gulped. Fernandez looked at Robert with a blank expression.
“Untouchable?”
“Your new nickname.”
“…It’s as bad as the last one.”
“Nicknames are supposed to grow with achievements, aren’t they?”
“Iron Side should work on their naming sense.”
From Kingmaker to Untouchable. Fernandez didn’t like the creepy word. Then, Faijashi whispered softly.
-Fernandez’s Reversal.
‘Shut up.’
-Fernandez’s Guiding Spear.
‘We agreed not to use that.’
-Fernandez’s Persistence.
‘Oh, please.’
Ignoring Faijashi’s giggling, Fernandez turned to Robert.
“Nicknames aside, let’s talk about the next deal.”
“I’ve been waiting. Go ahead.”
“Put out a bounty for elves. The Elven Fleet.”
“It’s not… difficult. Which royal family do you need?”
“The Guimerin Royal Family. Mention my name and request an audience; they will definitely contact you.”
“Must be connections from the City of the Awakened Dragon. Fine.”
Listening to the conversation transcending nations and races, Jean Albre grew more frightened. He never intended to betray them, but if he ever had to, he thought it would be easier to just kill himself.
Trying to avert his gaze, he locked eyes with a beastwoman beauty carving fish at the corner of the table. She smiled and said,
“This is mine.”
“…”
“If you want some, order another.”
“O-okay.”
Watching her continue her meal calmly amidst this chaotic conversation, Jean Albre suddenly wanted to run away.
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