The Third Son of a Medieval Knight Family Chapter 26 - Knight of the Principality (12)

“Enter.”

As the Administrator’s voice sounded, the door quietly opened.

The first thing Viktor encountered as he strode in was the enormous head of a bear mounted on one wall of the well-furnished reception room.

Below it, he could see the back of a man gazing out the window.

“…”

As Viktor stood silently for a moment, the man slowly turned around and spoke.

“A man of few words, I see. Welcome. I am the Administrator of this city. Though it’s rather late, I’m pleased to meet you in person.”

A well-groomed mustache contrasting with a thinning, smooth head.

A middle-aged man with a substantial build greeted him with a gentle smile.

His coat made of glossy black fur was particularly striking.

Viktor spoke in a low voice.

“I am Viktor of House Kobarov, Your Excellency. I’ve come at your summons.”

The man smiled even more deeply at Viktor’s precise, formal speech, befitting a well-trained knight.

“After hearing a bit about you from Bostov, I simply couldn’t wait. I apologize for the rudeness of calling you so urgently. I hope you’ll forgive me. I am Fedor Ragunov. As you can see, I am the Administrator of this city.”

Fedor made a light gesture, and servants who had appeared from somewhere began preparing light refreshments.

“Please, sit for a moment. Have you eaten? I should properly welcome such an excellent knight with wine and a feast, but as you know, this isn’t an official invitation, is it? I trust you understand.”

Viktor silently approached and quietly took his seat.

Fedor was secretly intrigued by his demeanor.

‘He’s not saying anything… Hmm, clearly no ordinary knight.’

A sudden invitation after sunset.

And if his servant had properly carried out the task he’d been given, the knight should rightfully be furious by now.

Yet this large, intimidating knight, contrary to his appearance, showed neither anger nor complaint, but maintained a cautious and composed attitude.

In Fedor’s mind, his estimation of the knight before him rose a little more.

He personally served some desserts topped with raspberries and berries while asking a question.

“Tell me, Sir Knight. Did something happen on your way here? Or is your expression always so impassive?”

At the Administrator’s casual inquiry, Viktor didn’t respond immediately but instead reached for the appetizing dessert placed before him and promptly devoured it.

He’d had to leave his dinner untouched to come here, and the sweetness helped calm his somewhat irritable mood.

Only after finishing the remaining refreshments did Viktor slowly open his mouth.

“Your Excellency, I am a knight, so I don’t particularly enjoy speaking in circles.”

“Oh? Haha, seeing how heartily you eat, I can tell you’re quite a manly knight indeed. Go on, speak your mind.”

As Fedor nodded while tugging at his beard, Viktor calmly began.

“On my way here, your servant insulted me. He first spoke ill of the merchant to whom I am indebted, and when I objected, he asked if I thought I could challenge him.”

“Hmm… Was there such an incident?”

Fedor stopped tugging his beard with a slightly flustered expression.

He had anticipated the knight’s questions, but this was somewhat different from what he’d expected.

‘What exactly did that servant blabber about? He should have just done as he was told…’

He had instructed the servant to insult Bostov and observe the knight’s reaction, not to give the knight a direct scolding.

There was quite a significant difference between those two actions.

“Your Excellency, with all due respect, if that servant hasn’t lost his mind, then surely this must have been on your orders. I have enough perception to realize that much.”

“…Well, supposing that were true, what do you wish to say?”

Fedor tried once more to gloss over the situation and take control, but even he couldn’t maintain his composure at Viktor’s next words.

“As Your Excellency well knows, for a knight, honor takes precedence over all else. Even a lord cannot carelessly disregard a knight’s honor. Yet whatever your intention may have been, you have trampled my honor underfoot and spat upon it. Do you acknowledge this?”

He wasn’t erupting in anger, nor was he drawing his sword and making threats. The knight was simply speaking his mind calmly and more logically than most rhetoricians Fedor had ever encountered.

“W-what are you saying…”

“By ordering a mere servant to engage in insulting behavior, you have committed an act worse than if you had insulted me directly, Your Excellency.”

When Fedor momentarily stammered, Viktor continued with composure.

“If I were to make this matter public, the legitimacy would clearly be on my side, and if I were to challenge Your Excellency to a duel, you could not refuse.”

“T-the champion…”

He unwittingly let slip those pitiful words, but Viktor countered effortlessly.

“Hiring a champion is your right, and naturally you could do so. But I swear by God, everyone around would speak ill of you. They would call you a shameless person. Am I wrong?”

Seeing the knight methodically secure his position with just a few words, more skillfully than expected, Fedor let out a hollow laugh.

Then, unconsciously wiping the sweat from his brow, he had to admit it.

He had made a mistake in assuming this knight would be stupid like most knights who relied solely on strength, and thus had played a shallow trick.

With the opponent responding this way, the Administrator, having first given cause for offense, had little recourse.

He could crush the matter with his authority and power, and things would somehow pass, but then what would be the point of calling for the knight in the first place?

That would be no different than deliberately making an enemy of an innocent person.

“I concede, I concede. I surrender cleanly. I apologize. Though in my defense, all I instructed my obtuse servant to do was to speak ill of Bostov in your presence and observe your reaction. I never intended to dishonor you.”

“Even that, I could only perceive as an insult, Your Excellency.”

“Yes, I understand. But there is clearly a difference between that and directly attacking you. Let me make one thing clear. I didn’t ask to see you privately to pick a quarrel. What would I gain from fighting with you? After all, we’re meeting for the first time today.”

As Fedor abandoned his previously evasive attitude and spoke sincerely, Viktor nodded.

“Then I ask: why did you do this?”

“Before I answer that… you truly speak well and are quite intelligent. Did you happen to study under a renowned teacher during your time as a squire?”

Fedor asked with a genuinely impressed expression.

He had seen numerous knights under his command, and even those who were touted as remarkable knights of the principality, but he had rarely encountered one with such a sharp mind.

“I’ve never studied under anyone. Given my family’s circumstances.”

Fedor murmured in admiration at Viktor’s response.

“My goodness, then it’s innate. I find myself wanting you even more.”

“…”

“Haha, enough with the indirect talk. Forgive me; spending too much time in this position, that’s all one learns. Meeting a good knight made me a bit too eager. I sincerely apologize.”

One of the ten most powerful figures in the principality quietly bowed his head.

Anyone else would have been shocked to speechlessness, but Viktor acknowledged it with little emotion.

Having properly established his position, even a Grand Prince would have had no choice.

That’s how important legitimacy was in this world.

“I had the servant insult Bostov simply because, without a hint of falsehood, I desired to have you.”

“What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?”

Deciding to be forthright after all this, Fedor began to openly reveal his thoughts.

“You’re being treated as a guest by that man, who is indebted to you, aren’t you? So I wanted to find out if he had offered to be your patron, or if he had made an employment offer while trying to curry your favor.”

“…Your Excellency, if you were truly curious about that, wouldn’t it have been better to just ask me directly?”

Fedor shook his head lightly at Viktor’s incredulous expression.

“I couldn’t do that. It’s related to why I need you.”

“…?”

“I’ll be direct. I need your strength. Or more accurately, this city needs your strength.”

“I’m listening.”

“This is related to why Bostov reported to the veche today. The truth is, we’ve already received intelligence that an army of barbarians has advanced to near this city.”

“…!”

It was a startling revelation.

‘But Bostov clearly said that the city people wouldn’t know about the eastern defeat, let alone that barbarians were active nearby…’

Observing Viktor’s expression, Fedor continued.

“That’s not the only problem. It’s hard to believe, and I don’t want to believe it, but… it seems there are those within the city attempting to collaborate with these barbarians.”

Fedor’s expression grew grave.

“And that councilor who brought you here is among those who cannot be fully trusted.”

Viktor’s face filled with disbelief, as if he’d heard something preposterous.

****

“With all due respect, that doesn’t make sense. He would have been killed by the barbarians if I hadn’t been there.”

As Viktor refuted Fedor’s claim as nonsensical, the Administrator slowly spoke while stroking his beard.

“Yes, I’m sure that’s true. From what I heard, he even lost precious employees when they encountered a small raiding party.”

“Then, doesn’t what Your Excellency just said contradict itself?”

“How much do you know about the barbarians?”

“…I come from the eastern region where the war is currently raging. While I’m not an expert on them, I know a fair amount.”

Fedor quickly waved his hand at Viktor’s words, as if pleased.

“Then this conversation will move faster. You’re aware that they’re divided into various factions or tribes, right? They’re not actually unified. They’re merely a loose coalition.”

“…”

Viktor wore an expression that seemed to say, “Could it be?”

“The trouble Bostov encountered on his way here was probably a genuine accident. Not all barbarians participate in the war with the same objectives or information. Those attackers must have been from a different tribe.”

“Hmm…”

Viktor had to admit there was some logic to that statement.

‘But that he might be collaborating with barbarians? Why on earth?’

Still, no matter how much he thought about it, Viktor couldn’t see why Bostov would collude with barbarians.

What possible benefit could a city councilor gain from such an act?

If barbarians occupied the city, they would simply burn everything, loot, and then leave.

When Viktor expressed this doubt, Fedor nodded gravely.

“You’re right. An ordinary city councilor, not being a principality noble, would have absolutely no reason to join hands with barbarians.”

“That means…”

“I don’t consider Bostov to be highly suspicious either. He’s ambitious and greedy, but I don’t think he has the courage to betray the city to that extent.”

“…I don’t quite understand.”

“Nevertheless, the reason I can’t fully trust him is one thing. Those suspected of collusion share a common trait. Can you guess what it is?”

Fedor continued without waiting for Viktor’s answer.

“There are those who have established connections with places that would reflexively benefit if Permikoff were to fall. And they did this right when the war broke out in the east. Isn’t that strange? Who would gain if this place were destroyed?”

At the Administrator’s somber words, Viktor unconsciously muttered.

“Hmm… wouldn’t it be other countries that would benefit if a major trading city collapsed? Since our principality monopolizes the northern trade…”

Fedor exclaimed with genuine admiration at his words.

“Good heavens, you should have been a merchant or a secretary rather than a knight! Anyway, you’re exactly right. People from other principalities might not necessarily wish for our city’s downfall, as it would only make trade difficult for them. Unless they’re those who have been excluded from northern trade until now.”

Despite Fedor’s admiration, Viktor still couldn’t hide his puzzlement.

“But that’s still strange. Even if they abandon their foundation here and move to other small states, it’s not like they’d gain any significant benefit.”

“Haha, your insight is truly remarkable. Are you really a knight? Yes, normally that would be the case. If it weren’t for those barbarians.”

Fedor’s explanation was as follows:

If the principality were to lose not only control of the eastern region but also Permikoff, its largest fur trading hub, the incentive for western or southern merchants to visit the principality would greatly diminish.

At that point, if smaller states that produce their own fur, albeit less than the principality, were to establish connections with these merchants, they could share in the fur trade pie that had been monopolized by the principality.

“…And those who stand to gain such benefits might offer sums tempting enough to sway even a member of the veche. Or they might promise even sweeter power.”

Hearing all this, Viktor finally began to understand.

“So Bostov…”

“Yes. The reason he urgently went on a business trip this time was to meet a noble from the small principality adjacent to ours. At the very least, making such a move at this juncture can only be considered suspicious, don’t you think?”

Viktor respectfully bowed his head.

“Your Excellency, I didn’t expect you to explain the city’s situation in such detail. I understand completely now.”

“Haha, well, since I was the first to give offense, it’s only right that I explain the circumstances to this extent. Besides, honestly, I felt like I was conversing with a renowned secretary rather than a knight. It’s truly something to be grateful to God for. He always gives trials and hardships, but He also provides the strength to overcome them.”

“Hmm…”

“I wouldn’t have gone into such depth without reason. It’s all because I want to secure your services somehow.”

Though the situation nearly fell apart at the beginning due to the foolish servant’s mistake and the knight’s unexpectedly sharp intellect, it seemed to have turned into a blessing in disguise.

Fedor was genuinely desperate to have this knight.

In these turbulent times, to have such an intelligent and powerful knight, without a lord, just drop into his lap.

Though he hadn’t directly witnessed his strength, judging by his physique and, if even a fifth of what Bostov said was true, he was undoubtedly a formidable knight.

Viktor, for his part, was also thinking.

‘This might be quite a good opportunity…’

Being employed by a city of this caliber to fight against barbarians could mean excellent support.

The city would certainly not lack funds, so if he achieved military merit, he might gain considerably.

Moreover, the Administrator didn’t seem as foolish and arrogant as he had initially thought.

Viktor carefully began.

“But, Your Excellency. Though it may sound strange coming from me, don’t you suspect me? After all, I came with Bostov.”

Fedor merely laughed at Viktor’s words.

“Haha, you bring this up yourself? That makes you even more trustworthy. Don’t worry. I’ve already had people inquire about you with the mercenary company. In my judgment, you don’t seem like the kind of knight who would be manipulated by someone like Bostov.”

‘So he’s already had me investigated.’

Viktor was surprised but nodded.

Indeed, one would need to be at least that thorough to proudly claim to be the head of a city.

“Very well, Your Excellency. Since you’ve spoken so earnestly, I’m also willing to enter into a contract.”

When Viktor responded positively, the experienced Administrator’s expression lit up with joy.

“Excellent, excellent! Haha, this truly delights me. We’ll discuss the details at leisure. For now, I must first give thanks to God! Hahaha!”