Reincarnation of a Hunter Chapter 45.2 - The Ducal Succession War

As I was chewing on the jerky, he finally spoke.

 

“Matteo is so foolish. He takes after me.”

 

I’m glad you’re aware.

“That expression just now seemed to say you know everything, didn’t it?”

 

This old man is quite perceptive.

 

“Not at all.”

 

“Tsk. Anyway, it’s true that I’m fonder of that boy Matteo. What parent would dislike a child who takes after them?”

 

“Seeing the two of you together always brings a smile to my face.”

 

“Indeed. But I am a lord. You are also a lord, so you understand, right?”

 

That’s right.

 

A lord has a burden on their shoulders.

 

It means the successor must be a capable child, not a beloved one.

 

“If you have any methods, teach them to me. I’ll do anything for you. If that boy Matteo becomes the lord, the territory will go into decline, and in the end, even holding onto a single Kioja territory will be difficult. Unlike my era, the current times are teeming with jackals. With Matteo’s capabilities, he cannot protect the territory.”

 

“…”

 

An era of chaos.

 

If Count Kioja becomes the Duke of Veneto, he is currently a tree that showers me generously, but later, it means there won’t even be a territory left for me to extort.

 

‘Does this old man see me as a vampire? And he thinks I’ll drag the succession war out to the very end. But won’t he just hand the title over to Vincent anyway? This is about trying to win the succession war for the sake of pride.’

 

This time, I also pretended to hesitate.

 

While the frown on my forehead remained, the Duke dangled bait in front of me.

 

“Tell me the conditions Matteo offered. I’ll fulfill anything immediately and even add more benefits on top.”

 

Suddenly, the initiative shifted to the Duke. Should I bite this bait?

 

It feels a bit hasty, but judging by the Duke’s expression now, my strategy is as successful.

 

‘Yes. Let’s end this now. No need to incur unnecessary resentment.’

 

As initially thought, ‘two consecutive wins followed by negotiation’ is the best approach. Now, I should lay out my demands to the Duke and coordinate.

 

“I was promised mutually favorable trade treatment through a marriage alliance with Count Kioja. Regarding customs clearance and tariffs. And in return for helping in the succession war, I was to receive the Guano Island in the Balearic Islands. If we won the succession war, Veneto promised to abolish tariffs.”

 

Upon hearing my words, the Duke of Veneto flared up.

 

“What? Just how many promises did that Matteo make? This son of a… I’ll just…”

 

Ahem, ahem…

 

“…You, surely you don’t intend to accept all of that? Can’t you reduce it a little?”

 

“It has only been a minute since you said you would add to it and give me a benefit.”

 

“Damn.”

 

Now there’s no face or anything left to save.

 

“Look here. I can give you most-favored-nation treatment immediately. I’ll even hand over the New Island. But I cannot abolish the tariffs. If I do that for you, other territories will come running one after another, asking to have theirs abolished too.”

 

“How about a ‘mutual’ tariff abolition, not a unilateral one? Other territories would find it difficult to follow suit, I think.”

 

Because the Marseille territory primarily exports monopoly goods protected by the guild, it wouldn’t suffer much impact.

 

But for other territories, throwing the doors wide open to the Veneto territory, which distributes numerous goods, would endanger their own foundational industries.

 

Sigh, it’s sad that being a poor territory means we have no burdens.

 

“Hmm. That seems persuasive. Alright. I’ll agree to that as well.”

 

Done. Let’s stop here.

If I get any greedier here, I could earn resentment.

 

“Very well. I’ll give up.”

 

“Phew, thank you.”

 

The Duke, perhaps having broken a sweat, loosened his collar.

 

“Now, please persuade Count Kioja. Getting him to give up is the best plan.”

 

“What are you talking about? That’s not possible, which is why I’m asking you.”

 

“You’re using the wrong method of persuasion. Just say it as I instruct you.”

 

“How?”

 

The Duke of Veneto sat up and pulled me close. His posture was as if he were dealing with his child’s homeroom teacher.

 

“Please tell me who the real culprit is who killed my eldest son. And that Vincent knows nothing.”

 

The Duke frowned.

 

“You don’t mean to say you know who the real culprit is?”

 

“Everyone in the world probably knows, except for your sons.”

 

If I, who had only heard it in passing, noticed, then everyone working at the lord’s residence must have noticed.

 

“What if Matteo tries to kill my wife?”

 

‘Crazy.’

 

This old man cherishes the wife who killed his first son. If it were me, I would have beheaded her—all he did was banish her to her parents’ home.

 

It seems he’s bewitched by the Duchess, just like Count Kioja.

 

‘At this point, I’m curious to know what she looks like.’

 

“That won’t happen. Because he admires the Duchess.”

 

“Admires?”

 

“It’s a feeling close to yearning. Isn’t it common to see in young men?”

 

The Duke of Veneto, who had been picking at and chewing on some sweets, fell into deep thought for a moment before asking me.

 

“Is that alone convincing enough?”

 

“Then tell me you’ll kill me.”

 

“What? I would never do such a despicable—”

 

“You should.”

 

“…”

 

In fact, it was only because the Duke of Veneto was a noble among nobles that my life wasn’t in danger after causing this much trouble—otherwise, it wouldn’t be strange for my life to be at risk at this point.

 

Having nothing more to say, I stood up and bid him farewell.

 

“I’ll see you at the third succession battle tomorrow. I sincerely hope you succeed in persuading him.”

 

The Duke of Veneto, who did not respond, was lost in a worry far more important than any farewell.