kscans

Chapter 146 - Chapter 15. Choosing the Bargaining Chips

Thump. Thump.

I slammed both hands against the door and strained my ears. The approaching footsteps sounded deliberately slow, as if to taunt me.

"What was that carriage just now..."

"It was just a food delivery. I told you I would let you know if anything happened, didn't I?"

Hyde's voice came from the other side of the door. He and his men had been guarding my room in the grand duke's residence day and night.

Of course, their duties included making sure I didn't get out. So much for flawless self-preservation.

"What good is self-preservation if you can't even protect one of your own?"

It had already been five days since Mia was taken. In that time, I hadn't been allowed to take a single step outside the residence. While the others were desperately working to find Mia, I was the only one stuck here, just waiting.

"Calm down. The city guard and many others are looking for her."

The door opened a crack, and Hyde spoke.

"Then instead of watching me sit here safe in the grand duke's residence, you all should be looking for Mia... Sorry."

I knew. It was that kind of thinking that led to this situation. Hyde's duty was to protect me. I should never have been late to that meeting. No, meeting at the back gate was a stupid idea to begin with. I should have chosen the front gate, even if it was a detour.

Fundamentally, we should have stuck together as much as possible. To split up with no sense of the danger... we were as foolish as characters in a horror movie.

"Please be safe..."

I returned to my desk. Scribbled papers were strewn all around it. There was no point in praying. I had to think. I picked up a pen. But no matter how much I wrote, my thoughts refused to fall into order.

◇◇

Another day passed. Everyone from Central Garden had gathered in my room. They had apparently found a trace of the attackers in an abandoned house on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, near one of the city gates.

"Someone connected to Dorefano or Calest, then. Damn it."

"Yes. It was in the back of a ruined shop that Natalie knew about..."

It wasn't just Natalie and Vinaldira. Rilka, Sherry, Dalgan, and Plural had all apparently run themselves ragged, using every connection they could muster.

"According to our information and Giverny's, people of that sort arranged for several carriages," Jean said. Apparently, his father had told him and he had decided to help. He was busy as the son of the Food Guild Master, yet he had taken the time to come.

"According to Duke Grynisias's investigation, one extra travel permit for the east was issued. Permits for the east are supposed to be strictly managed," Alfina said. She had managed to get the Chancellor, the man responsible for the capital's security, to take action. The existence of a permit that shouldn't exist naturally meant one thing.

"The official involved in the permit process... we were able to identify him using the method you suggested, Ricardo-kun."

"That was Mia's achievement, though."

All I had done was remember the statistical analysis I did before on the relationship between rainfall and tax revenue.

Flagrantly cheating on taxes doesn't necessarily mean a person is simply greedy and stupid. It means they likely have a powerful backer, and at the same time, are bound tightly to that backer. In other words, they were people who couldn't leave the declining Second Prince's side even if they wanted to.

"Someone from the Second Prince Faction?" "Yes, from Viscount Sagian's main family line..."

So, it was the Second Prince, Delnius. I will make him pay. He probably thought there was no risk in messing with a single commoner, but I was going to teach him a lesson he'd never forget.

"If they went east, it's probably to Kurtheite. Which means Mia... has fallen into the Empire's hands... right?"

I managed to force out the conclusion. All these people were working so desperately for Mia's sake. I was the one who screwed up, I couldn't afford to remain useless.

"Infiltrating Kurtheite to get Mia back would be the fastest and simplest way."

"Now wait a minute..."

"But it's impossible."

I shot down my own idea before Hyde could even finish his protest. It was the option I wanted to choose the most, which was precisely why it was the one I must not choose.

I didn't have those kinds of skills. Neither did Jacob or Remi. Okay, I'm calm.

That means this will take time. I have to walk the long, narrow path that leads to Mia's rescue. Thinking about the whole thing at once, I feel like I'm going to lose my mind. I have to break the problem down into manageable chunks. It's what I always do.

First, I need to ensure Mia's immediate safety. Second, I will hit the Empire so hard they'll be forced to return her. Finally, I will get Mia back and simultaneously eliminate any future threats. A three-step plan.

Each step is clear. Now, I just have to use every physically possible means at my disposal to achieve those goals.

"We have to make Mia valuable to the Empire."

"How will you do that?"

"Proposing a trade for Dagobard would be best... but we have no leverage. So, we'll expand the current search for Mia to the area around Kurtheite. We need to demonstrate that the Kingdom is desperately looking for her."

"What if that just makes things worse..."

"It won't."

If the Empire knows about our activities, it's hardly surprising they'd see the Vinder Company as a threat. I should have been their primary target.

But even though I was late, they only took Mia. Of course, kidnapping Mia is easier than kidnapping me. But if that was their plan, there should have been some follow-up. Like using Mia as a hostage to lure me out.

However, the culprits didn't bother with me and returned to Kurtheite. That means they believe they've already achieved their objective. In that case, all I have to do is reinforce that conviction.

"But won't that make it harder to get her back from the Empire?" Luiza asked. The more the Empire realizes Mia's value, the tougher the negotiations will become. That was certainly logical.

"That's why the next step is to push the Empire into a crisis so severe they have no choice but to accept our demands. Specifically, we will deal a decisive blow to the Sorcery Corps, the Empire's most elite unit, stationed in Kurtheite. I have a way."

I will crush the imperials who took Mia. I already have the means to do it.

"If you say you can do it, I'll believe you. But, you know, Prince Craig isn't the one in command of the eastern forces."

"I know. The battle against the Empire must be conducted exactly according to my instructions."

The problem is how to secure the authority within the Kingdom to make that happen.

"How in the world will you do that?"

"I'll get someone of higher rank than the Commander of the First Knight Order to approve my plan. No, that's not enough. The soldiers on the ground might resist, and then who knows what will happen. That person has to be there, on-site."

The First Knight Order exists to protect that very person, so it's perfect. It was a logical conclusion. The First...

"I'm just going to make the parent take responsibility for what their child did."

"...Parent?" Luiza looked aghast.

"Of course, it won't be easy. Just getting a meeting is difficult. Which is why I'd like to borrow the connections of a prince, a grand duchess, and while we're at it, a great sage."

"So my 'Great Sage' title is finally good for something," Fulsy grumbled.

"My aunt said she would be returning here soon. She mentioned she has an appointment with you, Ricardo-kun."

Euphillia is coming back to the capital? That's a tremendous help.

"...In that case, you should be able to meet with His Majesty. But how will you persuade him?"

"That won't be a problem. Up to this point, our interests are aligned."

Yes, I was confident about this much. My interests were aligned with the "parent" as well. In fact, the King stood to be the greatest beneficiary.

But from my perspective, just getting Mia back isn't enough. I have to think about what comes after.

The important thing isn't the Empire, who we plan to drive out, but the situation here at home. To be blunt, it's what to do about the Second Prince. Naturally, that damn prince has to disappear from our lives.

It's not because it's the right thing to do. This isn't about how a member of the royal family could sacrifice a citizen for his own selfish desires. That's not the point. This is a simple matter of one man, me, deciding that I will not forgive another man, Delnius.

I don't need remorse or an apology. He'd never offer one, and even if he did, I wouldn't be able to tell if it was genuine. After all, I'm hopeless at reading people.

So, having him disappear from my sight is enough. And I do mean permanently.

But my opponent holds the title of prince. He's like a man dressed in lavish clothes. Even if the person inside is worthless, if you stab him to death, they'll demand you pay for the bloodstained clothes.

Since this touches upon the very authority of the Kingdom, all the contributions we've made are worth nothing as bargaining chips.

"We've done so much for the kingdom, so get rid of one prince for us." An argument like that would never work. If it did, I'd question their sanity.

Ultimately, this is a personal matter. A question of winning or losing. And for that, I need overwhelming leverage.

"There's something I need you and Noel to prepare, Director."

"I'll do anything," Fulsy said.
"Just say the word," Noel added.
The two mages nodded.

"Noel, I want you to get your hands on that metal I mentioned before, the one that conducts a small amount of magic. Sorcery Silver, I believe it was called. Also, I need two of those ballpoint pens. With empty ink cartridges, please."

"I don't really get it, but I understand."

"And what should I do?"

"Director, I need you to create a certain magic circuit for me."

"I'll make whatever you need."

I explained my idea to Fulsy and Noel. They tilted their heads, puzzled by the seemingly meaningless circuit, but they accepted the task without another word.

With that, the plan was set. All that was left was to move forward, one step at a time. To go and bring Mia home.