Kingdom's Foundation (1)

***

- - At The Same Time - -

         - Yusen POV -

Yusen and Givens finally arrived at Berthaquin after crossing the mountains.

"I can't believe the Lord's new territory is in such a remote place." <Givens >

The shabby-looking Givens shook his head in dismay.

It was not too far away, but it seemed like they went a long way because they had to cross a mountain to get there.

"It's a remote but vital location..." <Yusen >

After saying that much, Yusen looked around and made sure that no one was around before continuing his story.

"Assuming there's any iron at all." <Yusen >

"That's true, but is there really iron in a place like this? Well, there are a lot of mountains, so it seems likely." <Givens >

"Shhh be quiet! You're talking too loud!" <Yusen >

Yusen poked Givens in the head.

Givens frowned at it and blurted out.

"Sir there's no one here!" <Givens >

Yusen gave Givens a grim look and looked at the lord's castle ahead.

The territory itself was practically a village, that's why the lord's castle was also small in scale, it was more like one of the military forts around Aquitania.

Most of the total area of the territory was mountains.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the lord of Berthaquin is the lord of the mountains.

"We're going to the lord's castle anyway." <Yusen >

"Yes, yes, let's go." <Givens >

So Yusen and Givens travelled to the lord's castle.

There, the flag of the Lunan Kingdom was raised.

When Givens saw that the soldiers of Lunan were there, he approached them and said.

"Hello, soldier of Lunan. How do you do?" <Givens >

"What is it with you people?" <Soldier >

The soldier replied with a frown at his cocky attitude.

"You idiot!" <Yusen >

Yusen poked Givens in the head again.

"I'm from Aquitania. I thought we had a deal..."

When Yusen asked politely, showing the Aquitania coat of arms provided to him by his lord, the soldier relaxed and nodded.

"Oh! You're from Aquitania! One moment, please!" <Soldier >

The soldier ran somewhere in a hurry.

Givens smiled and showed his satisfaction.

"Yes, yes, that's how it has to be. Hahahaha!" <Givens >

"I'm so confused. I can't believe you're my subordinate." <Yusen >

Givens is a comrade in arms who can fight with his life on the battlefield, but he has a problem with careless comments.

While Yusen was lecturing Givens, the soldier came back.

Behind him was a man wearing a prestigious armour

Only knights and higher classes were allowed to wear armour.

It was only natural that a commander would be dispatched to occupy a territory.

However, what surprised Yusen was that the man was wearing the armour of a noble.

"I am Yusen, a vassal of His Excellency Julius, who are you?" <Yusen >

Puzzled by Yusen's question, Count Fihatri scratched his head and answered.

"You're the one that His Excellency sent. It's good to see you. I am Count Fihatri, general of the Lunan forces in the Bridget region." <Count Fihatri>

These words surprised Yusen.

He had heard about Count Fihatri from Julius.

But he hadn't expected him to be here.

"...Excuse me, sir, but why are you here? I was told that you would send your men to..." <Yusen >

Almost at a loss for words Yusen stumbled his words out fearing the rebuke for how he'd just address a noble.

Thankfully Fihatri did not seem to care.

"I can't send my men even though His Excellency Juius asked me to. His Excellency's words that I have a role to play are etched in my mind. Come to think of it, I was just wondering what His Excellency was planning to do here." <Count Fihatri>

"Oh, really?" <Yusen >

This time, Yusen had a troubled look on his face.

Originally, Berthaquin was also Bridget's territory.

It was necessary to have Lunan's soldiers occupy the place beforehand, where the existing Bridget troops and lords were.

Aquitania did not have that much time to spare.

Therefore, they needed soldiers to occupy Berthaquin first.

Yusen had been ordered to search for iron ore in secret once the soldiers left after capturing the territory.

"Actually...His Excellency Julius has asked me to leave the necessary number of guards and let the rest go home, I will protect this place. You've come all this way, but I can't tell you anymore because it's an order... I'm sorry" <Yusen >

Yusen said with a regretful look on his face.

"No need to be so embarrassed. I was only doing my best to do as His Highness asked. I've also managed to persuade the people to run the city according to your policies. I'll leave you with as many guards as you need. Just tell them I was here." <Count Fihatri>

Fihatri replied nonchalantly.

***

- - Julius POV - -

When I looked at the ledger I had taken from Gensema, I couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.

The ledger was filled with the names of the leading nobles of Lunan.

In addition, at the top of the list was the name of Duke Ronen, the highest nobleman in Lunan.

Ronen was also related to the Doro Trading Company, unfortunately, he did not use the slavers himself.

It was Ronen's son who was doing business with the slavers.

"So you were going to hand the girl over to Duke Ronen's son?" <Julius >

"Yeah." <Gensema >

"...You've got to be kidding me." <Julius >

I kicked Gensema in the face; he really was a piece of human garbage.

Zeff grabbed Gensema by the hair as he rolled on the floor and got him up.

This is why it was impossible to get rid of slavers in the Lunan Kingdom.

In other words, I am the only one in Lunan who can eliminate these people.

I don't care if it's the king of Lunan or Ronen, I don't need to worry about what anyone thinks anymore

However, I no longer needed to visit Ronen.

The ledger was so detailed that I could go to my target immediately.

Since Ronen's name was mentioned so directly, I went to visit Hero Elheat.

"Is this for real!? You've got to be kidding me...!" <Hero Elheat>

Elheat began to tremble with anger as he looked at the ledger.

This man was one of those rare nobles who had nothing to do with the slavers.

In fact, he was a man who could not tolerate such injustice.

Because of his character, the other nobles must have been desperately trying to hide the facts about the slavers.

That's probably why they kept Lunan in such a pure state so that he would be completely unaware of the real situation.

"I tracked down the assassins, who attacked me, and I found their fortress, and I even got the ledger from their hideout in the royal capital. All the evidence is there, my lord." <Julius >

"You mean to tell me that His Highness really knew about all this and left it alone?" <Hero Elheat>

Elheat asked again in disbelief.

His face said please deny it, but I can't do that.

"If anything, it was His Highness Ronen who took advantage of the slavers. Just look at what Lord Selville did." <Julius >

I pointed to Frill, who was happily playing in Hero Elheat's garden.

Frill was picking flowers with an innocent look on her face.

Yuri sat in the garden and put a flower on top of Frill's head.

"..." <Hero Elheat>

Elheat fell silent as he watched the peaceful scene.

"With His Highness Ronen power, he could have taken care of the slavers, but he did not. Rather, he introduced the slavers to the other nobles, and by seizing their weaknesses, he made it impossible for them to make a move against him. You can see it clearly in the ledger." <Julius >

"..." <Hero Elheat>

Elheat hit the table with his fist, he was furious.

"I can't believe it. I don't care how much...I can't believe they're doing this too..." <Hero Elheat>

Well, I guess that's a natural reaction, since he was supposed to have pledged his loyalty for life.

His reaction should lead to a disagreement soon.

"You may give the ledger directly to His Highness Ronen. It's too much for me to handle alone." <Julius >

If I show this to the King of Lunan, nothing will happen.

So, the only thing I would gain from this was the anger of this man.

Of course, this wasn't going to be enough to completely break the relationship between them.

But for now, it was enough to create a small rift.

* * *

- - Hero Elheat POV - -

"Is this true, Your Highness?" <Hero Elheat>

Elheat was a man with a straightforward personality.

So he immediately visited Ronen with the ledger in hand.

"Selville is naïve, he can make mistakes and it's inevitable that he would exhibit that level of weakness in order to influence the nobility. Have you lived your whole life without knowing that?" <Duke Ronen>

"But I didn't know it was human trafficking. Isn't that a whole other story?" <Hero Elheat>

"Human trafficking? I don't remember anything about that. What are you talking about?" <Duke Ronen>

Ronen raised his voice and Elheat's eyebrows twitched.

He couldn't trust those words right now, no matter how much he wanted to.

Who didn't know about the inevitable connection between slavers and human trafficking?

Pulling the leather bound ledger from within his clothes.

"Your Highness, does that mean it's true that the slavers were deliberately neglected?" <Hero Elheat>

"Where the hell did you get that ledger?" <Duke Ronen>

The Duke's eyes near popped out of his head upon seeing what Elheat was holding.

Elheat kept his mouth shut.

Julius said he didn't mind talking, but he was not the kind of person who gave out people's names easily.

And given the Duke's reaction to it now, it's contents were confirmed.

"I got it by accident, but I couldn't believe it until I saw the signature of Your Highness." <Hero Elheat>

"Well, all right, give me the ledger. I'll take care of it." <Duke Ronen>

"But, Your Highness!" <Hero Elheat>

Elheat stood up.

"You dare to oppose your master? Elheat!" <Duke Ronen>

Ronen yelled at him.

As a result, Elheat fell silent.

He had no choice but to do so.

"I will give you the ledger. But the punishment for the nobles here is... and even your own son" <Hero Elheat> 

"I think you'd better go and cool down for a while." <Duke Ronen>

Elheat's head began to feel fuzzy.

Meanwhile the Duke snatched the ledger from his hands.

The idol to which he had pledged his life's loyalty was completely out of sight.

Ronen's desire to protect his country was genuine, and unlike the other dukes, he was the only one who went to war himself.

It was precisely because of him that Elheat had pledged his loyalty to Ronen.

However, the way he protected Lunan was so ugly.

It was understandable that he was stunned.

"Make sure you go to the border fortress for a while." <Duke Ronen>

No matter how good a commander you are, you're still dealing with slave traders and I can't just let this slide.

The Duke meanwhile was basically exiling the countries hero to a place full of his own supporters who wouldn't flinch when the accusations about their lord were revealed to them.