127 - Overlapping Conspiracies
A messenger arrived from Fumiya, who was in the Kingdom of Lydia. Sieg assumed the messenger had come to deliver a response, or perhaps an excuse, regarding the orders he had sent.
The fact that there was a reaction was progress. However, unless Fumiya himself appeared, the problem would not be solved. Sieg intended to listen to the excuses and then send the messenger away, telling him that time had already run out. He was already prepared to head for the Kingdom of Lydia. The period during which matters could be settled through the exchange of messengers had ended.
However, the content the messenger brought was completely unexpected.
"...Are you suggesting that I sent an assassin?"
Contrary to his expectations, the messenger was here to reprimand him for sending an assassin.
"No, I am not stating that it was an order from Lord Sieg. I am merely asking if you have any idea who might be responsible."
"There is no way I would."
There was no way he had any idea. Sieg was the type of person who could not even tolerate others using such insidious methods as assassination.
"I see. Then I apologize. It is a fact that an assassin was sent. We have the body of the individual, as well as the poison they used."
"Even if you tell me such things, what does not exist, does not exist."
"Can you prove that?"
"Prove it?"
The messenger's words irritated Sieg. To be asked to prove that he had not plotted an assassination when he truly hadn't sounded like nothing but an insult.
"If you simply say you don't know, the Hero will not be satisfied. His life was targeted; he nearly died."
"If he fears assassination, he should come here. This place is safe."
"That is precisely why he feels he cannot. As I said before, I am not deciding that this was Lord Sieg's plot. If there is another culprit, I want them to be identified and punished."
"Even if you aren't deciding it's me, it sounds like you've decided it's the Kingdom."
To Sieg, it sounded as if the man had already decided it was him. Having calmed down slightly, Sieg became curious about the basis for that belief.
"The assassin was a citizen of the Laurel Kingdom. That is clear from their belongings."
"...Could they not have been posing as such? It is unnatural for an assassin to carry belongings that reveal their identity."
The fact that their identity could be known from their belongings was more suspicious. That was Sieg's thought.
"You have a point. However, those belongings are items that cannot be obtained anywhere but the Laurel Kingdom. Moreover, they are items that are quite difficult to acquire."
"What are they?"
"I cannot tell you. They are important evidence."
"Then we are done."
Sieg looked dissatisfied, but in truth, he felt it was natural that the man wouldn't tell him. If he knew what the items were, he would be the very culprit who plotted the assassination. Even if not the mastermind, he would be an accomplice.
"Then please tell me this. Does the Kingdom have a motive to kill the Hero?"
"...There is no way. The Hero is a precious military asset."
This was a lie. Sieg believed there was a motive. A Hero who could not be controlled was a useless burden. He knew that such thinking existed.
"...I see. This is problematic. I wonder how I should explain this to the Hero."
"May I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Are you, messenger, a member of the Laurel Kingdom's army?"
Sieg did not know the messenger before him. His attitude toward him did not seem like that of a military member. He wondered if he was a soldier from the Kingdom of Aria whom Fumiya had taken along, but he didn't seem like a soldier at all.
"...No, I am not a member of the army."
"Neither the Aria Kingdom army nor the Lydia Kingdom army?"
"Well, yes."
"Then why are you acting as the Hero's messenger?"
As he suspected, the man's identity was suspicious. Consequently, the information the man had conveyed also seemed suspect.
"If I were a member of the Laurel Kingdom army, I could not oppose Lord Sieg. Not that I intend to oppose you, but I would not be able to negotiate on equal terms."
"I am asking for your identity."
"I am a citizen of the Laurel Kingdom. However, I do not serve the state. By that, I mean I hold no official government post. I do intend to serve His Majesty, though."
"...For now, that is?"
There was no way someone who had never held an official post could conduct negotiations like this. He claimed to serve the King, but there was no respect in his tone. Even after hearing the explanation, the man's suspicious nature did not fade in the slightest.
"Yes. I used to work at the castle. It was quite a long time ago that I quit, though."
"And then you went to the Kingdom of Lydia?"
That was impossible. If he had lost his job, he should have looked for another one. Almost no one would try to do that in another country. There are few workplaces that hire foreigners. If there were, it would be someone who could no longer stay in their own country.
"I went to the Kingdom of Lydia for peddling work. I heard the Hero was there and went to meet him, and then this happened."
"...Were you acquaintances?"
"Yes. Also through my peddling work. I would prefer it if you pursued the assassin rather than pursuing me."
"Unless I know if you are a genuine messenger, I cannot believe the assassination attempt was a fact."
"...I thought so. I told the Hero that, but he forced me, saying there was no one else he could ask."
"Then what is the proof that you are genuine?"
Sieg would not allow him to deflect. With that thought, Sieg demanded proof of his status as a messenger.
"I have none. If we cannot talk without it, then I shall return another time."
"If you have posed as a messenger, you will be held accountable for the crime."
"That is why I will return with evidence so that it does not come to that. If you doubt even this, you may investigate my home. My name is Baldwin. My house is in the west district of the royal capital. My shop is the Baldwin Trading Company."
"...Understood. I shall do so."
Sieg considered detaining Baldwin until the investigation was complete, but he decided against it. He concluded that if the assassination attempt were a fact, detaining him might delay the discovery of the truth.
"Please do it as quickly as possible. The Hero has become paranoid. Surely you wouldn't want allies to fight each other? Well, assuming you are allies."
"...We are allies."
"Good. Just in case, I will tell you this. If you ever wish to speak with the Hero directly, Lord Sieg, please come yourself. The Hero will not leave his safe location."
"Yeah, I'll think about it."
If the Hero had already decided to rebel, this could be a trap. If so, he didn't think he should make the first move. Sieg believed that neither he nor the Kingdom had plotted an assassination. This was a strategy to detach the Hero from the Laurel Kingdom. If that were the case, fighting the Hero would mean falling into the trap. That had to be avoided.
◇◇◇
Almost at the same time Baldwin held his meeting with Sieg, another meeting was taking place in the Kingdom of Lydia. The content was as follows.
"It is impossible that our country would send an assassin."
The one denying involvement in the assassination was the negotiator for the Kingdom of Lydia. He was one of the officials who had served as the contact with Fumiya since the surrender negotiations.
"I cannot believe words alone. Even a culprit would deny it. What we are seeking is evidence that your country is indeed not involved."
"Even if you say evidence..."
Such a thing could not be presented.
"Anything will do. Anything that would allow the Hero to trust your country."
"If such a thing existed, I would produce it immediately, but..."
There was no way it existed. The negotiating partner seemed to be acting humble, but in reality, he was making an impossible demand.
"Do you understand the gravity of the situation? Plotting the assassination of the Hero is an act of hostility toward the Laurel Kingdom. The talk of surrender would vanish, and the deceived Kingdom would resort to drastic measures."
"That is why our country would never do such a thing—"
"I told you I cannot believe words alone! Does the Kingdom of Lydia intend to insult our country!?"
"N-no, never, we would never..."
If they truly angered the Laurel Kingdom, the Kingdom of Lydia would be destroyed. The negotiator knew this.
"We also do not possess definitive evidence that your country is the culprit. If you are playing dumb knowing that, then your thinking is naive. Evidence is not necessary for a war between nations."
"...Our country truly knows nothing."
The negotiator, lacking the means to prove his innocence, had no choice but to keep saying this, regardless of what was said or how he was shouted at.
"Then let us do this. Please provide as much cooperation as possible. In various aspects."
"In various aspects?"
"One is cooperation in the investigation to find the true culprit. The provision of soldiers to ensure the Hero's safety. The funds to operate them are also necessary."
"That is..."
He understood the investigation cooperation. But when it came to providing soldiers and funds, it could not be accepted so easily.
"Or would you prefer to invite our country's great army into your land?"
"...I cannot answer that on my own authority. May I have some time to take this back and consider it?"
"Yes, that is fine. I hope you make the best possible decision."
"Yes."
The negotiator left the room with his shoulders slumped. Just when he thought the surrender negotiations were over, he had been tasked with even more difficult negotiations. He was depressed by this thought.
Once the negotiator had vanished, Fumiya entered the room through another door.
"...Hansmann-san, aren't you being a bit too aggressive, no matter how you look at it?"
Fumiya expressed his anxiety about the content of the negotiations to Hansmann, who had been negotiating with the Kingdom of Lydia.
"That much is fine. There is no way the Kingdom of Lydia can oppose the Laurel Kingdom."
"But you're saying similar things to the Laurel Kingdom too."
Fumiya and his group had informed the Laurel Kingdom, the Kingdom of Lydia, and the Kingdom of Aria that they suspected the others of being the assassins.
"It is not the same. I am acting humble toward the Laurel Kingdom. All I need to get from the Laurel Kingdom is time."
He subtly changed the content of the negotiations for each. The purpose of the negotiations with the Laurel Kingdom was to buy time. The goal was to keep the Laurel Kingdom's army stalled in the Kingdom of Aria.
While doing so, he would obtain troops and the funds to operate them from the Kingdom of Lydia and the Kingdom of Aria. In order to create an army that Fumiya could move freely.
"I wonder if we'll be found out?"
"Why would we be? The Laurel Kingdom does not know we are negotiating with other countries. The Kingdom of Lydia believes it is negotiating with the Laurel Kingdom."
"What about the Kingdom of Aria? Sieg is in the Kingdom of Aria."
"I am dealing with the Kingdom of Aria cautiously. The requests to the Kingdom of Aria are more intrusive. Besides, I have already obtained the soldiers."
Fumiya had invaded the Kingdom of Lydia leading the forces of the Kingdom of Aria. It was simply a matter of not returning the soldiers he was leading. The winning over of the soldiers was also progressing.
"...I wonder if it will work?"
"There is no point in worrying about success or failure. We just have to do it. Or would you rather be killed quietly?"
"No way. I won't die. I will definitely grasp glory with these hands."
"That's the spirit."
"...But why are you and the others cooperating with me, Hansmann?"
He had only just met Hansmann and the others. Honestly, Fumiya did not fully trust them yet. He was only leaving things to them because they were convenient.
"...The nail that sticks out gets hammered down."
"Eh...?"
"It is not always the case that talented people are appointed to important positions. That is the kind of country the Laurel Kingdom is. With that, continental conquest cannot be realized. We must make it a country where talented people can fully demonstrate their power."
"...You're right. That's only natural."
Fumiya had confidence in his own excellence. He held a grudge against Sieg for not recognizing it. Fumiya could empathize with Hansmann's words.
"Moreover, if the next generation's king is like that... the country will perish."
"Is that really true about Akemi?"
"Yes. It is information without mistake."
"That Neil... I can't forgive him."
Ignoring the treatment he himself had dealt to Princess Lianna and many other women, Fumiya directed his anger toward Crown Prince Neil. The source of his anger was not sympathy for Akemi. He could not forgive that Akemi, who should have become his, had been spoiled.
"I will try to rescue her as quickly as possible. Until then, please strive to strengthen your own army, Hero."
"Yeah, I know. I'll make it the strongest army in the world."
Fumiya's ambition, combined with the resentment of the former Imperial Guard knights under Baldos, had begun to take on a realistic form. The calamity for the Laurel Kingdom was not Ray, but Fumiya. The thought that had once crossed Sieg's mind was approaching the moment of manifestation.
◇◇◇
Conspiracies were also progressing in the Kingdom of Aria. This was also a conspiracy targeting the Laurel Kingdom. However, the difference was who Fumiya was trying to entrap.
The ones plotting were the faction of former Prince Louis. For the subordinates under Patterson and others, it was originally an unnecessary complication.
"The Hero's movements are strange? Specifically, how are they strange?"
Former Prince Louis asked for details regarding the information brought by his subordinate.
"Unidentified individuals are gathering around him."
"Unidentified? I cannot tell from that alone."
"My apologies. Usually, he does not let anyone other than those individuals approach."
The reason this could be known was that there was an information source on Fumiya's side. It was not Princess Lianna. In the shadow of Princess Lianna, who would be suspected, there were people moving.
"So he has appointed new aides... I wonder why that is necessary."
"There is one piece of information related to that."
The one attempting to convey another piece of information was former General Patterson. Former General Patterson also had a separate information source.
"I am listening."
"It seems the Hero's messenger is secretly contacting His Majesty."
"The 'secretly' part is strange. Does it mean he does not want the Laurel Kingdom to know?"
"Most likely."
"Can I... hear the contents from Father? Father is of the obedient faction."
The King, former Prince Louis's father, was obedient to the Laurel Kingdom and to Fumiya. By doing so, he intended to ensure the survival of the Kingdom of Aria. On the other hand, Prince Louis was on the side of resistance.
There was no coordination between the two. By thoroughly maintaining their respective positions, they were trying to prevent a mutual collapse.
"It is certain that the Hero is plotting something."
"...Father is difficult. I wonder what he intends to do when a situation arises where the Laurel Kingdom and the Hero clash?"
"My younger brother... or perhaps Princess Lianna."
Create yet another faction. By making the second prince or Princess Lianna the head of the faction. That was Patterson's thought.
"...I suppose so."
Princess Lianna, who was by the Hero's side, would likely remain with the Hero. Former Prince Louis believed that would cause his sister even more pain.
"If things go as expected, an opening will be created. If we can somehow utilize that."
If the independence of the Kingdom of Aria could be realized at that point, there would be no need to force pain upon Princess Lianna or place a heavy responsibility on the still-young prince brother.
"...I suppose we have no choice but to try."
Honestly, he had no confidence that it could be realized. But there was no need to speak honestly about that here and now. Everyone knew. Knowing that, they still hoped something could be done.
"First, we must determine which side is dominant. The best course is to side with the underdog and help them overturn the situation."
By granting a favor, they would obtain a promise of independence. It was not as simple as putting it into words, but it was certainly the best option. Conversely, he did not think they could go as far as annexing the Laurel Kingdom.
"Normally thinking, the Laurel Kingdom is dominant."
"If he is making appeals to His Majesty, he must be doing the same for the Kingdom of Lydia. If two countries side with the Hero, it is unknown. The Hero possesses the power to blow away the difference in troop numbers."
"...The problem is the movement of the Kingdom of Lydia. I knew it, but I need more information."
"Yes. I will strive for further information gathering."
If they had the information network that the Laurel Kingdom possessed, the situation would change. Even if an impossible opportunity arose to know of their existence and seek their cooperation, it would be the same.
But that would not happen. The Laurel Kingdom would continue to suffer from the deficiencies of its information network in the occupied territories.