Kingdom Foundation (5)

***

Yuri went to the fortress first, taking Frill with her.

After disposing of Gensema, Zeff and I joined her at the fortress later.

As soon as we arrived, I got information again from the prisoners I had kept alive.

"So you're supposed to report back periodically, and people from each branch will be coming soon? They'll be bringing back more orders?" <Julius >

"Yes, that's right!" <Slaver Prisoner>

"Your information was accurate, and thanks to it, I was able to kill Gensema and Luthrie. It's only accurate information like that that makes it worth keeping alive. Do you know what that means?" <Julius >

"Yes, of course! I will never...ever lie to you! I'm not like those other guys!" <Slaver Prisoner>

The prisoners all shouted in fear.

These people don't deserve mercy but as long as they're useful I'll keep them alive.

"You're sure that this fortress is the headquarters, aren't you?" <Julius >

"Yes." <Slaver Prisoner>

"Did Gensema ever show himself to them?" <Julius >

"No, he's a skeptic. Especially since the Visigoth Kingdom is much stricter than Lunan, he doesn't reveal his face to people from that branch. It's a good thing that the two branches don't know each other, because if one of them is destroyed, the others will survive." <Slaver Prisoner>

"What I need is that very branch in the Visigoth Kingdom." <Julius >

To be precise, I needed the first-hand information brought by the branch in the Visigoth Kingdom.

Because they are a criminal organization that deals with the nobility, it is easy for them to obtain important information, and they were able to get more information than my spies.

In war, information is more important than money, more information means victory.

I was willing to become a representative of the Doro Trading Company at least on the surface for the sake of that information.

Of course, I had no intention of condoning acts such as human trafficking and kidnapping.

As soon as I got the information, I was going to round up all the branches of the Doro Chamber of Commerce and destroy them.

Information about Visigoth is more important than anything else at this time, more than the gold beneath Aquitania, no, more than the iron of Berthaquin.

"Then get ready. I will personally meet with the representatives of each branch." <Julius >

I announced to the captives I had kept alive.

* * *

"Frill!" <Lillian >

"Hey, sis!" <Frill >

Lillian hugged Frill and started to cry.

"Don't worry, I'll build a village in my territory and you can live there with everyone else. There will be no one to torment you anymore." <Julius >

Having said that I turned to leave to two alone.

"Frill, hold on a second." <Lillian >

"Sis?" <Frill >

Lillian walked over to me and fell flat, leaving Frill to stare in wonder at her sister's sudden gesture.

This little girl was laying flat on the cold stone floor in a completely submissive pose.

"My Lord!" <Lillian >

"What?" <Julius >

Turning around with a stiff look on my face.

"I...will do anything! Anything! So please allow me to serve by your side!" <Lillian >

Then she said something outrageous.

"You want to serve me? You don't have to. Go to the village and live free." <Julius >

When I replied to her sudden request she crawled forward crying and suddenly grabbed my leg not allowing me to leave.

"I want to live for my lord! Please let me repay you. So please forgive me!" <Lillian >

"No, that's not what I said..." <Julius >

I'd much rather deal with a scoundrel like Gensema.

She didn't seem to want to let go even though she was being dragged back and forth as I swung my leg side to side.

Her small hands gripped my legs tightly.

The more I did so, the more eyes would be on me.

This was a situation that would lead to misunderstandings, and those misunderstandings would lower the people's spirit.

So, I had to resolve this situation well.

I decided to make a suggestion to Lillian.

"In that case, why don't you and your sister try working as apprentice maids in my castle? It's a lot to learn, but working at the lord's castle means you'll be serving me." <Julius >

"I'll do it! Please let me do it! I'll make the lord's castle the most beautiful castle on the continent!" <Lillian >

"I'll help you Sis!" <Frill >

Frill reinforced her sisters point without any understanding what she was agreeing to.

Lillian was delighted and started to talk about her strange aspirations.

If she wants to, I'll let her.

I'll just leave the rest to the Landers.

"All right, I'm going back and I'll take care of this, so just get up." <Julius >

"I'll do my best!" <Lillian >

Lillian got excited and clasped her hands together almost like she was praying.

Of all people, Yuri suddenly appeared and shook her head.

"Pervert." <Yuri >

No, wait a minute. What's so perverted about me now?

"Hey, Yurasia!"

I shouted frantically at her as she walked away, but she didn't stop.