Chapter 23: Transaction

The Seventh Weapons Factory.

Nias was currently on duty as she weightlessly floated through space in her uniform.

It looked like she was flying, but she suddenly stopped after moving to a certain place.

In front of her was a fortress-class space battleship over two thousand meters long.

Hey, why havent we sold it yet? I thought there were talks with the imperial army commissioning them.

To Nias angry tone, her subordinate made an excuse.

The Third Weapons Factory stole a march on us. They just recently revealed a new fortress-class ship.

And thats why were better than them. Compared to our model that weve been improving on for the past two decades, they cant even reach our levels of performance.

It was rare for the Seventh Weapons Factory; who specialised in performance, maintainability, and efficiency, to actively focus on design.

However, because of that they constantly lost to the more popular Third Weapons Factory.

The subordinate made a troubled expression,

Isnt this your responsibility? If we cant sell this, then the dock will continue to be occupied, and unfortunately we dont have the funds to pay for that. Youll get in trouble again.

The fortress-class was far more expensive than super-class battleships.

If the Empire didnt buy it, then there werent that many places that they could sell them at.

Its not like they could sell them to other countries.

It was possible to sell them to imperial nobles, but only houses that the Empire had given permission to could legally purchase them.

As Nias pondered this, the only place that came to mind that she could possibly sell it to would be the Banfield house.

However, Liam was currently in training.

It wouldnt be good to intrude on his studies just to make a sale.

But she was on a time limit.

So,

H-how about I slip into a party hosted at his place of training? I believe it was Viscount Razels house? Are we in business with them?

After asking for confirmation from her subordinates, they immediately started to check,

Lets see they seem to have bought some normal military models that we created two decades ago, but since then it looks like theyve been procuring products from the other weapon factories.

If they had money, I wished they had bought our newer models.

There arent that many places that can actually afford our new models, even the Banfield house has a limit to what they can purchase. Hmm the next party that the viscount has invited us to would be this one.

With that, itd be possible for Nias to attend as a representative of the Seventh Weapons Factory.

It was a party for the graduating children who had completed their training.

Well, we havent lost yet! Even if representatives from the other weapon factories will be there, Ill definitely be the one to make the sale!

You have to, or else were finished.

Nias was visibly distressed.

If we cant free up the dock here, well be completely behind schedule.

They couldnt dismantle the ship.

Leaving it outside wasnt an option either.

Nias had no choice but to sell it.

After listening to that story about peoples manhoods exploding I took my training seriously from then on.

To be honest I wanted to play around, but I was afraid of what could happen if I did so.

Thanks to that, I had arrived at my third year of training before I even noticed.

Before I realised it, its already almost finished.

Yeah.

The three years of training was almost finished the last one spent living in fear of explosions.

Damn, this is all because that stupid viscount wasnt taking care of his territory properly.

Dont leave such dangerous STDs running amok in your domain!

I swore to myself that the moment I returned home, I was going to launch a general health inspection throughout my domain.

It was too terrifying to live in a land where people couldnt even play around without fear.

So you say, but we still have to participate in the martial arts contest before our training is officially finished.

Ahh There was that, wasnt there?

On the day before we were scheduled to leave, there would be large matches that the soon-to-be graduates had to participate in.

However, they would all be fixed so that the noble children given preferential treatment would win.

They even gave instructions to us on how to lose.

Im not happy with how the viscount does things. I hate stuck-up rich people.

I used to think that I was pretty rich, but theres always someone better than you in the universe.

Compared to their houses whose history and territory had been built up over countless generations, my house was apparently nothing.

The results were something I just had to accept.

But I couldnt.

In my case, I cant let people underestimate a license holder of my school, so Id be troubled if I lost.

Same here, but since Peter has the same license as me, I should be fine.

Is that so?

Kurt and Peter were both swordsmen of the Arend school.

Because it was a famous swordsmanship style, it had a lot of students.

Though, I guess having so many came with its own problems.

Since were from the same school, theres no problem as long as I lose another license holder.

Is Peter as strong as you?

no, I dont think he is. I heard that Peter procured his license in exchange for money.

Ive heard that the famous swordsmanship schools would sell their licenses to people with high social status.

Those people would act as a form of advertisement, and their vassals were more likely to enroll into the school as well.

Though in my case, since there wasnt really anyone who taught the One-Flash, each practitioner of the school had to truly master the style before getting their license.

I guess the students of famous swordsmanship schools also have it hard.

Even my father, who only became a lord after receiving his license, had to pay a large sum of money to them.

After hearing that, I couldnt help but marvel at how noble Master Yasushi truly was.

To not even consider taking disciples and passing the school of the One-Flash to the next generation, it was only natural that he got angry with me.

With that said, what was I supposed to do about the matches?

Should I just decline participation altogether?

Though I dont think theres any need to worry.

Since Peter came from a house ruled by a virtuous lord, would they really just buy him a license with money? Wasnt he the kind of person who practiced useless things like heroism and such?

As I thought, he was truly someone I couldnt get along with.

Ive lived in Viscount Razels house for three years now, but even that was longer than the time that I had spent with my parents.

As I pondered this, I had mixed feelings well up inside me while I cleaned up the garden not. As a side note, I could see Peter out on a walk with his arm linked together with Katerina.

And as they passed by me,

Hey, penniless trash.

Peter, dont bully the poor thing.

The piece of shit that laughed while apologising was none other than Katerina.

Since we were still repaying the debt left by my parents and grandparents, technically my house could still be considered poor.

While it was possible to repay it all in bulk, Amagi said it would attract some unneeded attention and that we should just repay it normally.

Thats why I was still discriminated at as a poor man.

Do you need something from me?

Peter started to laugh,

I just thought I should do some charity work for the poor for once. Come, Ill take you over to the casino I frequent.

Apparently, he came to invite me to hang out during his spare time.

What an idiot. He was playing around in a casino run in a territory that didnt manage its entertainment district well.

Id rather earn my money normally rather than gamble for it in a casino anyways.

Please allow me to decline.

As I politely refused, Peters face distorted in anger,

To refuse my generous invitation! Y-you bastard, this is why I hate the poor!

Without warning, Peter suddenly lunged towards me in an attack. But after I dodged him, he tripped and ended up writhing in pain as he hit his head.

Peter, are you okay?!

As Lady Katerina ran over and held him up, Peter started to glare at me.

Youll regret this, Ill report you to the viscount!

But wasnt this all your fault?

What the hell was he talking about?

Ignoring his tantrum, I went back to continue my cleaning.

The guide watched the battle between Liam and Peter from the roof of the mansion.

hes definitely out of the question.

He had been moving around to exact his revenge on Liam, but so far nothing had been successful.

The main reason being that there was no one here that could beat Liam.

Not even Kurt could win against a serious Liam.

Time just keeps on passing without me being able to do anything. Am I really okay with this?

Even if he wanted to do something, he didnt have the power to do so.

But in order to efficiently make Liam unhappy, he had to use his power.

The band of pirates who are targeting Liam this time are smaller and weaker than Goazs fleet. I cant rely on just them.

Even if he was able to find people strong enough nearby, there wasnt any real reason for them to attack Liam unless he could mess with the situation.

This isnt enough. Its not enough at all. What should I do?

The guide was troubled today as well with the situation out of his control.

A white light that was curiously observing the guides back- suddenly departed for who knows where.

Damn it! That bastard, why isnt he here yet?!

The leader of the pirates slammed his fist down on the table.

After getting information on Liam, he had made various preparations for their revenge, but the person in question didnt even show up.

He never left the premises of the mansion, so the pirates couldnt even touch him.

Boss, if we leave things as they are, then hell just return back to his home after his training finishes. Liams home planet isnt part of our territory.

If he gets away, they wouldnt be able to chase him anymore.

Without giving up, the pirates desperately started to think of what cards they could still play.

As for the boss,

Ill get in touch with that bastard Randolph.

A-are you sure thats okay? Didnt he tell us to only contact him in emergencies?

This is an emergency! If we give up here, well be looked down on by the other pirate fleets and they might attack us.

His subordinates then quickly scattered about to make the call, and after a while, the figure of Randolph projected itself in front of the boss.

Whats the matter?

Randolph seemed unhappy with the boss sudden call.

My lord, I actually have a problem that I need to talk to you about.

what do you think?

In his office.

Randolph frowned as he listened to the pirates story.

So to summarise, you want to attack one of the nobles that I currently have under my care, correct?

This would damage the reputation of his house if he let this go through.

Even though the pirates understood this fact, they didnt really seem to care.

My lord, we have a reputation to uphold. In order to keep out the other pirate fleets who would bring destruction to your territory, its necessary to punish all the fools who would dare insult us.

They had to destroy anything that would cause others to look down on them.

Pirates also had it hard in their own way.

To protect my houses honour, can I have you wait for a while?

I understand. With that said do we have your permission to attack him before he returns home?

Listening to the request, the viscount started rubbing his jaw.

(Its not worth protecting the Banfield house if it means angering these brutes.)

just do it outside of my territory.

As you wish, but you will cooperate with us, right?

I cant afford to send out my fleet, but I may be able to delay our response to their request for reinforcements.

The pirates laughed while grinning. A response of true neutrality, one that guaranteed that the viscount wouldnt impede them was enough.

Thatll do. Weve already secured allies willing to help us for the sake of your territorys safety.

And who might that be?

Lord Peter of the Peetak house.

Randolph started to glare at them, but the pirates didnt seem to mind.

(I heard that he had a dispute with the Banfield houses brat, but I didnt think hed go this far.)

Peter and Katerina had reported to Randolph different things.

Peter said that he was assaulted, but Katerina later told him that he just fell.

(Hes truly incompetant, but I cant lose his favour here and lose the chance of marriage.)

The misunderstood size of the Peetak house that Randolph saw was very attractive.

If they joined together, there was no doubt of the great benefits his viscount house could reap.

Therefore, he was quite troubled when he heard this information.

The Peetak houses personal fleet wont be participating. Only pirates will be. Understood?

Although not explicitly said, he was implying that the Peetak house should pretend to be pirates.

The pirates seemed to understand though.

I understand, my lord. Only pirates will be attacking the Banfield house. As long your house doesnt intervene, well thoroughly beat them beat them down without leaving any trace of your involvement.

There shouldnt be any problem if the Banfield houses heir disappears. Even if hes killed by pirates, the Empire shouldnt have a real reason to investigate the matter.

He didnt think they would launch a full-scale investigation for a house that insignificant.

As long as he told the Empire the end-results, everything should wrap up smoothly with none the wiser.

Randolph was sure of this.

Just dont leave behind any evidence.

Of course.

Once the call finished, Randolph returned to his work.

He was confirming the participants who would attend the graduation party held for the children that would finish their training this year.

Thanks to the participation of the Peetak hose, it looks like this years party is going to be bigger than usual.

Randolph made a satisfied face while impressed by the large number of attendees.

There were many houses coming that he wanted to build connections with.

As well as merchant company heads, weapon factory representatives, and so forth.

Compared to them, it truly was a failure to accept someone from the Banfield house.

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