Reincarnation of a Hunter Chapter 23.2 - Each One’s Interest (1)
Since I had trusted her and sent her off, all that was left was to wait—but I couldn’t help feeling a little impatient.
Even if we produced goods worth exporting, there would be little profit if we were treated unfavorably in trade.
Especially if we could form a marriage alliance with Veneto, which had a massive trading port, there would be no greater advantage in diplomacy.
“My lord, we are ready to depart.”
Lost in thought, I was approached by Axel and Diego, accompanied by their attendants.
We had decided to send Axel, the knight commander, as an envoy to the Papal State of the God of Plenty, and Diego, the chief economic advisor, to the territory of Catalonia.
As for the Rhône-Alpes region, since it was accessible by land, we had already dispatched other knights.
Handing them their respective letters, I said, “Deliver these as quickly as possible. If we drag our feet, that bastard Marco might find another way.”
“Yes, my lord.”
I saw them off as they boarded the Benedicta and set sail. I could only hope things would unfold as planned.
⚔️
The next day.
The administrator of Catalonia hurriedly rushed to the lord’s office.
Even if it involved another territory, a noble holding a trial was a significant matter.
As the attendant opened the door, the impatient administrator got straight to the point.
“My lord, a trial! A trial!”
“Calm down. Why are you smiling?”
The lord, a middle-aged man with a splendidly groomed mustache that extended long on either side, greeted the administrator.
“How could I not smile? It’s a trial!”
“Haha! It has been a while. Which territory’s noble is involved?”
“Lord Eric Marseille, the Count of Marseille, has sent a letter.”
“Marseille? That’s the place that recently brought up the marriage alliance discussion.”
“Was there such an event?”
“Ah, this is confidential. It fell through because there was no suitable match, you see.”
The Marquis of Catalonia took out a cigarette and began to smoke.
“Getting a daughter married off is no easy task.”
“Why on earth did the Count of Marseille refuse?”
“You know the Count of Westphalia, right? He married a woman with an illegitimate child. That’s his son.”
“Ah…”
“He grew up watching his mother suffer.”
“What a filial son.”
The two of them were jumping to conclusions on their own.
“But what’s the reason for holding a trial?”
“An attempted assassination against him.”
The Marquis of Catalonia’s eyes widened, and he shot up from his seat.
“Hahahaha! Prepare a ship to the territory of Marseille at once!”
“Yes, my lord!”
“I’ll bring an audience with me! Spread the word that a trial is happening!”
“Of course, my lord!”
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen blood spilled! Will you be joining me?”
“Absolutely, my lord!”
The two were thrilled about the rare occasion of a trial. They were looking forward to the execution that would follow.
For nobles, whose heads could roll at any moment for any reason, the catharsis of watching someone else lose theirs was like a drug.
The excited Marquis of Catalonia continued shouting.
“Make sure the accused don’t escape! Hold them tight!”
“Uh… my lord, the accused is Marco.”
“Marco? The Marco I know?”
“Yes. The merchant with twelve ships—Marco.”
The Marquis’ face twisted in confusion, ‘What was this nonsense?’
“Damn it. I just wanted to watch.”
The Marquis of Catalonia, who owed Marco a considerable sum of money, was conflicted.
While watching an assassin’s head roll would be entertaining, he couldn’t just stand by silently if it were Marco’s.
As the troubled Marquis pondered, the magistrate handed him Eric’s letter.
“My lord, I think you should read the Count of Marseille’s letter yourself.”
The Marquis took the letter and, after reading for a while, made a puzzled expression.
“Magistrate, have you ever heard of a reciprocal free trade agreement?”
“Never.”
“What on earth does this mean? Eliminating tariffs? Isn’t that just losing money?”
“That’s what I thought. The Count of Marseille hasn’t gone mad, has he?”
“Hmm…”
The two had to read the letter over and over—until they understood Eric’s words, or rather, his true intentions.
⚔️
Meanwhile, Eric’s letter also arrived at the Vatican of the Church of the God of Abundance.
The head of the internal affairs bureau, assigned as the responsible office, examined the letter together with Deputy Director Daniel.
“What do you think? This seems like a trial with some backdoor negotiations going on.”
“If the knight commander of the Marcel territory came in person as an envoy, it must be a trial with a predetermined outcome. Normally, they’d just send a servant or an ordinary knight, wouldn’t they?”
The bureau chief frowned.
Sending a judge to such a trial wouldn’t earn them any praise.
They’d just end up as a figurehead. This wasn’t the first time they’d faced this issue. Meddling in such trials was a surefire way to get cursed at by the faithful in the territories.
Even stamping the approval seal felt uncomfortable.
Then, Daniel quietly made a suggestion.
“Chief, would you let me handle this?”
“You? Why?”
“There are rumors that the lord of Marcel has received a divine blessing. I’ll go as a blessing investigator—killing two birds with one stone.”
At the deputy director’s offer to step in personally, the bureau chief cursed inwardly.
What’s this bastard scheming now? Nobles and their endless tricks, I swear…
Coming from a commoner background, the bureau chief had long been wary of Daniel, a noble-born and rapidly promoted ‘politically inclined clergyman.’
Moreover, he had deliberately kept Daniel under his thumb to prevent him from rising any further.
In his view, politically motivated clergy were nothing but trouble.
This guy’s dangerous. Should I really let him go?
As the bureau chief’s hesitation deepened, Daniel spoke up again.
“You can just pretend you don’t know, Chief. I’ll handle it as your proxy.”
“Proxy? You mean approving things in my absence?”
“Yes. Why not take a day or two off for a trip?”
“Hmm.”
Given that whoever they sent as judge would face backlash, Daniel’s proposal was tempting.
After all, he could just claim ignorance if things went south.
“Fine. You handle this as you see fit.”
With that, the bureau chief stood up and walked out.
Watching his retreating figure, Daniel grinned widely, baring his teeth.
Hahaha! Finally, I can break free from that bastard’s grip!
Daniel planned to use this opportunity to escape the Internal Affairs Bureau. He’d long realized the bureau chief was suppressing him.
Not only that, he had already laid out a plan no one could even guess. He intended to use Count Eric Marseille for his own glorious future.
‘Heheh, shine bright for my sake, Marcel Territory!’
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