Chapter : 121

‘Hmm, was this a bit too much?’

Looking at the commotion beyond the wall in the Duke’s castle, I smiled mischievously.

Behind me.

There stood about 1,000 cavalrymen. All of them were knights clad in brilliant chainmail.

Only today did I realize there were so many wandering knights.

‘Good grief, 1,200 knights.’

Certainly, helping the surrounding lords diligently had paid off.

“Words have no feet but travel a thousand ri.” Indeed, this stale proverb worked even in [Pangea Universalise].

As honor and great deeds spread, wandering knights flocked in like a swarm of bees.

Not just from the Elang Kingdom.

Knights from the distant Holy Empire, and even elf knights from further east, all gathered.

Even after filtering out the riffraff who just stole armor, this many still followed.

‘Hehe, the ducal house has reason to be terrified.’

It was enough force to easily conquer most territories. No, 1,500 knights was not a force even the mighty Duchy of Bourgogne could easily ignore.

Knights were not a force comparable to ordinary soldiers or mercenaries.

‘In exchange, using knights really makes money disappear like flowing water.’

Two silver coins a day.

With 1,200 knights, just by breathing, 2,400 silver coins, roughly 20 gold ducats, disappeared daily.

If not for the gifts received from lords on the way, I wouldn’t have dared to maintain their employment.

‘Thinking about it, the power of great lords is truly terrifying.’

As far as I knew, the King commanded a whopping 4,000 knights, and the Duke of Bourgogne was formidable too, commanding 3,000 knights.

Moreover, what about my neighbor, Count Bozen? He employed a whopping 1,000 knights.

Truly immense wealth.

“By the way, still no contact from the ducal house?”

“I apologize. They went inside and it seems…”

Biden bowed his head and said.

“Raise your head. It’s not your fault, is it?”

“Dragging this size of an army might actually cause a misunderstanding. Honestly, isn’t this practically war level? It is a bit excessive.”

“K-khm. Still, we couldn’t just heartlessly abandon the friends who said they would follow, could we? Magician Agpiel.”

At Magician Agpiel’s scolding, I slyly turned my head and looked up at the wall.

It had already been an hour since the flustered garrison commander sent a messenger. Still no official response from the ducal house.

I wonder when that gate will open.

Just as I was thinking that.

-Boom boom boom!

With the sound of drums, the other side of the wall became busy. And a flag rose above it.

“Hmm?”

“Oh? That is…?”

A red cross on a white background.

It was the ducal flag used by the Duke of Bourgogne.

* * *

‘The Duke’s flag?’

Thinking there might be a mistake, I looked at the wall again, but the flag remained.

This meant.

The Duke of Bourgogne himself had come out.

“Everyone step back! And pay homage! The great and rightful ruler of Bourgogne, Duke Jean III, is approaching!”

With the loud voice of the herald, the castle gate opened.

Servants poured out and quickly laid a red carpet on the ground. Immediately, a military band in splendid attire and heavily armed soldiers marched on it.

And amidst them.

The Duke of Bourgogne was approaching dignifiedly, his voluminous hair fluttering.

‘As far as I know, the Duke wasn’t someone who moved this easily…?’

Recalling my memories of playing [Pangea Universalise], I tilted my head. The Duke of Bourgogne was a man with a very heavy bottom, befitting his vast territory.

‘Ah-!’

Then a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

The knights behind me.

He must have mistaken these massive cavalry forces as mine.

As the Duke of Bourgogne competing with the King, he desperately needed a force on the opposite side to keep the King in check.

And knights of this caliber fit exactly the force the Duke was thinking of.

Sure enough.

The approaching Duke of Bourgogne mentioned the cavalry behind me first.

“You must have a lot of money. In the Bellua Margraviate, I mean. Even I find it hard to maintain knights of this caliber.”

“Not at all. Compared to your knights, Duke, they are nothing special.”

“Nonsense. With this much, it looks like a force no one would dare ignore? Truly worthy of the Margrave of the Southeast.”

He praised me with skillful words.

Praise from the hegemon of the Northeast, the Duke of Bourgogne. It was truly an honor-raising event. Most nobles would have been captivated by the Duke’s recognition and just grinned foolishly.

But I knew well the nuance underlying it.

The condescension mixed in every word.

This was an act to show off his presence to those around him.

‘Quite a fox, a fox.’

Still, it was rare to experience the Duke approaching first like this. There were plenty of benefits to be gained using this.

So, I needed to play along appropriately.

“Coming to see the greatest lord of the kingdom, the Duke of Bourgogne, how could I just come empty-handed? I tried to prepare as fittingly as possible.”

“…….”

“…….”

Silence fell for a moment with my words.

The expression ‘greatest lord of the kingdom’. It was a sensitive remark that could undermine the King’s authority.

But the silence was brief.

“What? Uhahahaha!”

The Duke laughed heartily.

“You are quite funny. Aren’t you?”

Then the surrounding vassals of the ducal house chimed in.

“Ha, haha! That is correct.”

“Indeed! Of course! The greatest lord!”

“The Margrave speaks very well. Your Grace!”

The Duke of Bourgogne seemed very satisfied with that reaction. The Duke patted my shoulder intimately and continued.

“I have prepared a lot for you at my eldest son’s wedding anyway. Make sure to enjoy it until the end!”

“Thank you for your hospitality. Your Highness.”

The first button was fastened well.

Now, let’s use this favor to plow the field excitedly.

* * *

The Duchy of Bourgogne was a very important trade route where the Anjou Kingdom across the sea, the Elang Kingdom, and the Holy Empire intersected.

On top of that, the farmland was fertile, so farming went well too.

It had been famous since the Ancient Empire era, and in modern times, it was a wealthy region counted among the best, rivaling the southern Apennine Peninsula.

Therefore, if I opened trade with this place.

‘I can make a huge amount of money.’

I grinned and ordered the servants to prepare the goods.

In the meantime, using the interest I received from the Duke, I was able to build friendships with the influential people of the Bourgogne region.

And today.

Finally, a very important guest was scheduled to visit.

“I greet the Margrave. I am Baron Rodwin of the Brussels family.”

The Brussels family.

A key family of the County of Brabant, one of the three Low Countries ruled by the Duchy of Bourgogne. They were merchant nobles who owned workshops, banks, and shipping guilds.

If I could open trade with them, I could complete a massive relay market connecting the North and the Southeastern Free Cities.

“Nice to meet you. Baron Rodwin. This is a small gift.”

I gestured behind me, and a servant brought out the prepared gift.

High-quality pencils engraved with various seals and patterns. And even various industrial products that had started to be produced in my territory.

“Ho, this must be the famous pencil.”

Baron Rodwin picked up a pencil and fiddled with it.

“If you wish, I can supply pencils stamped with the Brussels family seal.”

“It would be an honor if you did.”

The start was amicable.

Baron Rodwin was curious about me, the emerging power in the Southeast, and I was curious about Baron Rodwin’s family.

So for a while, we exchanged stories, probing each other.

“Hmm, Margrave Bellua. I am curious exactly why you called me. It doesn’t seem to be simply about these pencils….”

Then, finally, Baron Rodwin spoke first.

“I am starting a new business.”

“A business?”

“Yes. I intend to create a relay station in my territory.”

“Hmm…. A relay station business.”

Tap, tap.

Baron Rodwin flicked the pencil with his finger.

I realized from the Baron’s expression that he didn’t think much of this proposal.

After all. Among the items here, the only thing of value is the pencil.

The quality of industrial products produced in my factory right now was lower than that of the three Low Countries.

I looked at him for a moment and then spoke to Baron Rodwin.

“I would like you to participate in this business. I want you to organize a merchant group and bring goods to my territory.”

“Haha, well, a relay station business is good. However….”

Baron Rodwin trailed off.

It seemed difficult to refuse outright, recalling the meeting with the Duke on the first day.

So what Baron Rodwin chose was a roundabout refusal.

“Doesn’t one have to pass through many territories to get to the Margrave’s region? If that problem is solved, I will move anytime.”

Basically asking to solve an impossible problem. That was what he meant.

But instead, I burst into laughter at Baron Rodwin’s words.

“Really?”

“Yes. Margrave. The taxes added every time we pass through territories are a big obstacle to long-distance trade. If you solve only that, I will dispatch a merchant group anytime.”

“Ho, is that so.”

It seems the news about the canal hasn’t spread here yet. To say such things.

“Then that is fortunate. Just in time, I dug a canal while creating the relay station.”

“What? What does that mean.”

“I connected the Ram River and the Seine River. I even secured an intermediate mooring area upstream of the Ram River. You know, don’t you? Traveling by river incurs no toll.”

At my words, bewilderment was visible on Baron Rodwin’s face.

“Since you can come up the river using ships, the problem you mentioned is solved. Then from when can you send them?”

“Ah, well. That is….”

Baron Rodwin was speechless and couldn’t continue.

If things went wrong, he would be pouring effort into a deal that might not even yield profit. But to back out now would be a matter of honor between nobles.

‘Is this enough?’

Looking at the dismayed Baron Rodwin, I quietly opened my mouth.

“It is a joke.”

“Ah-! Is… that so?”

“Yes. Would I ask you to make a deal that would cause you a loss?”

At those words, Baron Rodwin sighed in relief.

But my words didn’t end.

“So I recommend you once again to participate in the relay station business.”

“Khm….”

“I am not trying to tease you. The canal is already somewhat complete, and the Southeastern Free Cities have decided to send merchant groups.”

“If it is a merchant group, which one…?”

“The L’Isle-Ponte merchant guild.”

Baron Rodwin’s eyes widened. Then he immediately fell into thought. Probably calculating the gains and losses.

A moment later, Baron Rodwin, having finished his calculation, looked at me and asked.

“What can you give me?”

I grinned and answered.

“Well, what can you give me?”

Whatever it becomes, it will probably be a mutually satisfactory deal. This business was one with that much profit to share.

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