Chapter 234 - A Shrewd Baron
The Baron Icetoy's residence is a modest but respectable mansion, not far from the entrance to the Noble District. The small garden and parking area were too cramped to accommodate our vehicles, so we had to park on the side of the road near the gate. Despite the frequent visits of guests that one might expect from a noble's household, the estate’s grounds were surprisingly small.
It seemed that the advance notice from our guard had already arrived, as the gate was open, and a man who looked like a butler was waiting for us. We all got out of the vehicle, and Siegrune firmly grabbed the delinquent girl as we approached, but the butler didn’t seem flustered at all.
"Welcome, members of the Kikyo Society. The Lady has returned. Please, this way."
His demeanor was both respectful and nonchalant, far more composed than one might expect from a butler of a minor noble. Perhaps the baron is a more significant figure than we thought. The quality of the servants often reflects that of their master.
By referring to the delinquent girl as 'the Lady,' it was clear he had no intention of hiding her true identity.
Inside the mansion, the interior was clean and tastefully furnished, a far cry from the strained financial state Josephine had mentioned. According to her, the baron was rumored to be struggling with finances, but this place showed no signs of such hardship.
Josephine and Siegrune casually observed the surroundings as they followed the butler. The delinquent girl, curiously, seemed nervous despite being at home. I decided to ignore it, assuming it was a family issue.
We were led to the parlor, where a distinguished gentleman greeted us. He glanced briefly at the delinquent girl before addressing us.
"Welcome, members of the Kikyo Society. I am Fritz Icetoy. It seems my daughter has caused you some trouble."
He was a remarkably composed man, appearing to be in his early forties. He didn’t seem rattled by our unexpected visit, despite the fact that we had no prior connection.
In the world of nobles, no one is unfamiliar with the Kikyo Society. Our reputation and achievements are well-known. For an organization like ours, which is known for its violent methods, an unexpected nighttime visit could be terrifying for some. Either this man is a master of poker faces or he possesses exceptional nerve.
A baron's power isn’t enough to pose a threat to the current Kikyo Society. We have allies among more powerful nobles and significantly outstrip them in both wealth and force. The traditional hierarchy of nobles and commoners doesn’t apply here.
His calm demeanor could be a sign of confidence or a bluff. Or perhaps it’s just his natural way of being.
"…I am Shinogami of the Kikyo Society. This is Siegrune and Josephine. We apologize for the late hour."
Out of courtesy, I offered an apology. While I wouldn’t grovel, I wouldn’t be rude either, given his polite treatment.
When I mentioned our names, his expression didn’t change, but a slight tension was evident. The names of the president, vice-commander, and head of the Intelligence Bureau are well-known among the nobility. Josephine, in particular, is renowned for her expertise in noble operations.
"Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea? I have a bit of a collection, so I can offer a variety of choices."
Impressive, he has good taste.
We had no intention of staying long, but if he insisted on offering tea, we might as well accept.
"I'll have Etoile Felt."
I threw out a challenge. Etoile Felt is a highly prized tea favored by royal courts across the continent. My request was a test to see if he could produce it. If he could, we’d enjoy it; if not, it would be a point against him.
Of course, a mere wealthy person wouldn’t be able to afford it regularly, but he claimed to have a collection. I wanted to see if he could deliver.
To my surprise, the butler immediately opened a tea cabinet and began preparing the tea with graceful movements. I found myself captivated by the elegance of his actions.
Well done. This was a small but significant detail that raised my personal opinion of the baron’s household.
When the tea was served, the delightful aroma made me smile involuntarily.
"Etoile Felt… subtle yet robust, its fragrance evokes the feeling of a spring meadow."
The baron offered a critic-like commentary. While I didn’t fully understand his words, the delicate, floral scent was indeed exquisite. I took a sip and detected a faint, honey-like sweetness. It was undoubtedly genuine.
The aroma and taste of the high-quality tea created a relaxed atmosphere among the four of us and the baron. If this was a ploy, it was a clever one. We couldn’t afford to let our guard down.
I didn't want to let him set the pace any longer. It was time to take the initiative.
"Baron, thank you for the delicious tea. It’s late, so let's get to the point."
"About my daughter. However, I must admit, I don’t quite understand why you’ve brought her here."
The delinquent girl, who had been tense throughout the tea ceremony, now sat huddled at the edge of her seat, clearly worried about the situation.
"Josephine, please explain."
"Very well. I’ll start from the beginning. You’re probably aware of the black market operation on Central Avenue—"
She proceeded to explain the discovery of stolen goods and drug trafficking, the involvement of the street gang, and the exclusion of those elements, leading to the presence of his daughter. It was a straightforward and not overly complex story.
The stolen goods issue was the shop's responsibility, not the baron’s. If the baron had forced them into it, that would be different, but according to the shop owner, it was an independent decision. Therefore, we had no grounds to blame the baron for that.
The real problem was that his daughter had been leaking information to the street gang. This led to the Clad Family’s third-tier organization losing their drugs, which were then sold in our territory. Even if her actions were unauthorized, her father was still held accountable.
Josephine’s explanation was concise, and the baron’s calm demeanor shifted to a more serious one.
"…I was aware that she had begun associating with undesirable people, but I never imagined she would frequent such a place… It is truly embarrassing."
"The situation is serious. We are here to resolve this through discussion, but the Clad Family’s third-tier organization will likely see this as a personal vendetta. The street gang has already been handed over to them, so they will soon learn about your involvement. They won’t be lenient. They’ll demand compensation and possibly more. If it’s just money, that would be the best-case scenario."
Money is always a factor in these situations, but if it can be settled with money, it’s a relatively easy problem to solve.
"Given this, a conflict with the Clad Family is inevitable… May I ask for your advice, or perhaps your assistance? I understand that you may not be in a position to help, but…"
Even if it’s a pretense, showing an understanding of one’s position is a wise move.
He asked if we could act as his representatives in dealing with the criminal organization. Dealing with such entities is smoother when mediated by a similar organization.
However, this would come at a cost. The offer seemed too good to be true, and I wasn’t eager to get too involved, especially since we were in a position to hold the baron accountable alongside the Clad Family.
"Money alone won’t be enough. I have two upcoming social gatherings. Would you like to attend with me?"
Interesting. He quickly proposed an alternative when he saw our hesitation.
Noble gatherings attract influential individuals. While we occasionally receive invitations, attending such events organized by this baron would be different. It could open new connections and sources of information. Josephine, for one, seemed enthusiastic.
Given this, we might consider acting as his representatives. The Clad Family’s third-tier organization would likely accept a settlement that includes both compensation and a nuisance fee. They would owe us a favor for apprehending the culprits, and if we could settle the matter quickly, it would be a win-win.
The key question was whether the baron had the funds to make it worthwhile.
"Baron, before we decide, how do you plan to pay the Clad Family? While we’re here to discuss your daughter’s issue, an invitation to a social gathering might not be enough. Josephine, can you estimate the amount needed to settle with the Clad Family?"
We had a rough idea of the quantity of drugs the street gang had intended to sell, but the exact amount they used themselves was unknown. Estimating the total cost would be challenging, but Josephine had a knack for such calculations.
"Considering everything, around eighty million Gist, but they might round it up to one hundred million."
"I see. That’s a significant amount. I can’t prepare it immediately, but… what if I offer you some of my outstanding debts?"
"Debts? I know you lent money to the black market, but are there others? I’ve heard your finances aren’t in great shape."
"You are well-informed. However, those rumors are unfounded. My family is not in financial distress. The issue is that the loans I made have not been repaid, which is why there are rumors of financial trouble."
It was good to hear that he wasn’t in financial trouble, but if he had enough money to lend and didn’t seem overly concerned about the non-payment, it suggested he was a wealthy baron indeed.
"Can you tell me more about your sources of income? I haven’t heard of you being particularly prosperous."
"My business is modest. Of course, I have nothing to hide, so I will explain."
It turned out that Baron Icetoy’s domain had been fortunate enough to avoid damage during the war with Retnark. His land, consisting of several typical farming villages, had supplied many crops to the Royal Capital and surrounding towns during the post-war chaos, earning him a good reputation. The quality of his produce was excellent, and he now had access to the markets of the capital’s top merchants, making him much wealthier than before.
Additionally, he had invested surplus funds in trade, which had also proven profitable. Despite his wealth, he had chosen to remain low-key to avoid drawing too much attention. He was a shrewd and cautious man.
The rumors of financial trouble had arisen because he had difficulty collecting debts from other nobles and merchants, but in reality, the Icetoy family was not in financial distress. The loans he had made were not frivolous; he had proper documentation.
Among those he had lent money to, there were individuals whose debts he could relinquish, meaning he could sell these debts to us or the Clad Family.
It was a daunting prospect.
Upon further inquiry, I learned that some of the debtors, despite borrowing money, had spread negative rumors about the baron out of spite. This was also connected to his daughter’s issues.
His delinquent daughter, it seemed, wouldn’t have had the opportunity to contact the street gang on her own. She likely had connections through other delinquents, possibly the children of other influential families. The baron’s daughter was now on the verge of tears, realizing the truth of the situation.
The baron was clearly frustrated with the families that had influenced his daughter.
Regardless, the offer of debt collection was quite appealing. The baron couldn’t enforce the debts himself, but we could. We were skilled at such tasks, and it could lead to significant gains, whether through seizing businesses or gaining leverage over nobles. This was a much more attractive proposition than a simple monetary settlement, though we would need to carefully review the details.
I doubted the baron would try to deceive us at this point. He knew the consequences.
"Given that, we can work with you and the Clad Family. It’s late, so let’s finalize the details tomorrow."
"Whenever you are ready, I will be here."
Despite his calm demeanor, the baron was still a noble, capable of discussing unsettling matters with ease.
The rest could be handled by the Intelligence Bureau in the coming days.
Just as we were about to leave, the butler refilled our tea, indicating there was more to discuss.
The baron and his butler were a well-coordinated team, not to be underestimated.