Chapter 181: A Battle of Wits (1)

The neck of Harlan Mineta, who had become the former king of the Mineta Kingdom, was displayed on a pike in front of the castle gate.

It was an excessively brutal sight, but it also served as a warning to the nobles who had followed the former king.

Deborah elevated Count Vagran Ambraze to the rank of duke as an exceptional measure.

There was still work left to be done.

After several days passed, criminals were brought into the plaza of the Mineta Kingdom.

Twelve nobles, including Duke Dominus Flomen, the closest aide of Harlan Mineta.

They all looked utterly disheveled from having been imprisoned for quite a long time. They were so filthy that even a beggar passing by the edge of the plaza pinched his nose.

The thirteen nobles had hoods placed over their heads. Surrounded by soldiers, they were led up onto the platform prepared in the plaza.

Above it, gallows erected in accordance with their number exuded a chilling atmosphere.

Duke Vagran Ambraze, newly elevated to duke, stepped forward.

“These are the ones responsible for rotting the Mineta Kingdom from within. Thus, Her Majesty Queen Deborah Mineta, the rightful successor who has newly ascended the throne, has ordered that they be executed by a decision made with a cold heart!”

Those gathered in the plaza were silent.

At that, Duke Ambraze continued speaking.

“This will ensure that the Mineta Kingdom never again falls into the abyss! This will ensure that no one has to live in suffering! We will not trample the people beneath our swords! Prepare!”

At the command, the knights standing together on the platform placed nooses around the nobles’ necks.

Unable to see anything, they trembled violently.

The people of the plaza watched such a sight with cold eyes rather than pity.

How much suffering had they endured since the change of royal authority? To others it might not seem long, but to the people, a single day felt like a month, and a month felt like a year.

Clunk—!

Soon, the platforms beneath the nobles who had become criminals dropped away.

At the end of the taut ropes, the nobles’ bodies trembled briefly before going completely limp.

“…….”

.

.

.

The execution of the nobles and the succession to the throne proceeded without a hitch.

Looking out the window at the scenery that felt peaceful, Deborah felt a slight sense of satisfaction.

“……Does it please you?”

“Oh my!”

Startled by the voice from behind, Deborah jumped.

Duke Vagran Ambraze was standing in front of the door.

“What were you thinking so deeply about that you did not even hear the knock, Your Majesty?”

“I was thinking about a few things. More importantly, what brings you here?”

“What brings me here, you ask? I came to discuss state affairs.”

The door opened again, and subordinate administrators and secretaries kept carrying in parchment scrolls.

In an instant, the scrolls were piled up like a mountain.

“A-all of these?”

“Do you know whether Dominus Flomen properly administered the state? Everything was a mess. Tax exploitation was the norm, and he treated the kingdom’s assets as his own. Moreover, it was not his doing alone. Corruption is rampant in every department. If it were up to me, I would like to take every single one of their heads off.”

Perhaps from how frustrated he was, Duke Ambraze’s mouth did not stop moving.

Of course, Deborah was well aware of the situation.

But if she added even a little from there, it felt like the story would start all over again with no end.

“…….”

“You think that is all? Even the taxes collected from each territory are in complete disarray. The tax collectors must have learned embezzlement as a tradition! These must be dealt with immediately!”

So worked up was Duke Ambraze that veins stood out on his forehead.

He looked as though he might collapse from high blood pressure at any moment.

“Please calm yourself.”

“More importantly, how long do you intend to speak like that?”

“Yes? About what?”

“You are now the king of the Mineta Kingdom. Then why do you not speak down to me?”

“Ah…… right, I should.”

“Please speak comfortably.”

“Alright.”

Deborah glanced at him slightly.

‘It’s just the duke that feels a bit uncomfortable.’

From the beginning, she had already dropped formal speech with everyone else.

“I’ll handle it myself. What should I start with first?”

“You are quite stubborn. First are matters regarding territorial inspections and tax collection. Due to the excessive taxation imposed by the royal capital, the territories have weakened in both operations and defenses against monsters.”

“Then should we conscript more troops?”

“Conscription alone will not be enough to handle everything. We must receive cooperation through mercenaries and the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“Is it that serious?”

The Mineta Kingdom’s geography as a nation was similar to that of Kanas.

Except for the north, three sides of the kingdom were surrounded by the Rolarsen Mountains.

Seen negatively, it could be isolation, but seen positively, it was a natural fortress.

Unlike the Kanas Territory, the soil was fertile and the rainy season was moderate, so even if isolated, there was no real issue.

However, the short yet painful rule of Harlan Mineta had shaken the very foundation of national defense.

“Because the rotten parts were cut out so extensively, there isn’t much healthy flesh left. To begin with, funding itself is a problem.”

“If it’s that, then it won’t be an issue for now.”

“For what reason do you say that?”

As mentioned earlier, the amount of funds embezzled and squandered by the nobles, including Dominus Flomen, was enormous.

In such a situation, there was no immediate source from which money could be obtained.

“The Canel Kingdom has decided to provide assistance.”

“From that place?”

“One hundred million gold. Would that be sufficient?”

It was an amount that exceeded territorial budgets and was difficult to even consider lightly at the royal capital level.

Naturally, Duke Vagran Ambraze showed a shocked expression.

“Is that level of support truly possible? Surely they are not planning to impose interest and use it to pressure us later on…….”

“Even so, it’s an unavoidable situation, isn’t it?”

Although they had executed the core nobles and confiscated their assets, there was not much left, with no idea where it had all been spent.

Moreover, given the current state of the Mineta Kingdom, it was difficult to beg other nations for help.

She had also considered going through a trading caravan, but it was a matter of prestige, making it difficult.

“Well, that is true as well.”

“We should just accept it and use it properly.”

Knock, knock.

The door was knocked, and Patrick peeked his face in.

“It has been a while, Your Majesty.”

While the situation was being stabilized, the people from the Canel Kingdom had not been visible to others.

As a result, since they had left the royal palace and stayed in the outer castle, there had been no opportunity to see them for some time.

“That’s right, Patrick. Has everyone been doing well?”

“There have been no particular issues. More importantly, we have brought the preparations.”

“Already?”

“We will bring it inside.”

Men of considerable build entered, carrying heavy pouches over their shoulders.

Although they were dressed like laborers, they were in fact knights of the Canel Kingdom.

They piled the pouches they carried high in one corner of the office.

“For now, this is one hundred million gold. Please use it for the reconstruction of the kingdom.”

“……For now?”

Duke Ambraze thought he must have misheard.

At that, Patrick smiled.

“There will be continued support going forward. As allies, this is simply showing courtesy, so please accept it without burden. Ah, and the formal arrival of the official delegation will be in seven days.”

“If the Canel Kingdom is thinking this much of our Mineta Kingdom, we will gratefully accept it.”

“Patrick, thank you. Have you ever thought about coming to the Mineta Kingdom? If you do, I could even grant you a title. How about marquis or duke?”

At such an unprecedented offer, the knights who had entered carrying sacks of gold coins were startled.

“You are giving an excessive offer to a mere butler.”

“How are you a mere butler? You’re an all-purpose butler who has reached the realm of a Swordmaster. And according to Spessen of Moratz, they even call you the ‘White Flash.’”

At the mention of that nickname, Patrick’s previously gentle expression stiffened slightly before returning to normal.

It was only for an instant, but Deborah did not miss it.

At the same time, Duke Ambraze looked shocked.

“Your Majesty, are you perhaps referring to the White Flash who was active in Moratz?”

“Do you know Patrick’s nickname as well, Duke?”

Duke Ambraze immediately looked at Patrick with eyes full of respect.

“Are you truly the White Flash? The very White Flash who distinguished himself in the southern battle of Bovis and the northeastern battle of Dikon?”

At the specific battles being mentioned, Patrick began to feel a sense of pressure.

Even so, Duke Ambraze moved his legs—which looked barely able to support him—and approached Patrick.

“Is it really you?”

“Duke, why are you like this? Do you know Patrick that well?”

“Know him well? Decades ago, in the northern regions of the continent, there was no one who didn’t know the name White Flash!”

“To that extent?”

“Your Majesty had not even been born yet. At a young age, he became a mercenary, and his tremendous feats were enough to instill fear in multiple northern kingdoms.”

“Wow……. To think he was that incredible. Then I suppose he achieved Swordmaster back then as well.”

At the question thrown out with admiration, Patrick tried to add an explanation.

“That’s not…….”

“That is incorrect! At the time, he was not a Swordmaster, and rather than swordsmanship, his throwing-knife skills were outstanding, which is why he was called the White Flash! Especially in forests thick with trees, it was said that no one could ever catch him, nor survive! And furthermore! Even if one managed to find him first, they were said to be killed by daggers that shot forth like pure white light!”

It was a long-winded yet extremely detailed explanation.

It went beyond surprise, to the point of being looked at as astonishing.

Of course, it was Duke Ambraze being looked at that way, not Patrick.

‘Was this duke always this talkative?’

‘Was Patrick some kind of hero?’

‘Why is it so detailed? Did he follow him around or something?’

All kinds of thoughts flashed through the minds of Deborah and the knights.

Even in the midst of that, Duke Ambraze showed no sign of stopping his explanation.

“In any case, that means Patrick is just that incredible, right?”

“Does ‘incredible’ even suffice! In truth, even if the Moratz Kingdom were to revere the White Flash as a hero, it would not be enough. But…!”

At that moment, Patrick hurriedly stepped forward and lightly covered Duke Ambraze’s mouth.

“It seems you are remembering too vividly the foolish deeds I committed in my youth. They were insignificant matters. Things from long ago.”

At the same time, the expressions of the knights who had been listening in anticipation twisted.

The same was true for Deborah.

However, seeing that Patrick had gone so far as to act in a way that could be considered discourteous, she could not press further.

“I have been rude. Patrick-nim.”

“Please speak comfortably. Are you not a duke?”

“How could I do that? More importantly, it is truly an honor to meet you like this in person.”

Duke Ambraze’s expression was sincere.

At that sight, the doubts in the minds of the others only deepened further.

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