Knights, Let’s Smash Them

77 – When goodwill continues, I know it’s a right (1)

“Nice to meet you, Commissioner Luverne Alroy. My name is Siegbert Bauer, Commander of the Wolfpack Knights.”

“It is an honor to meet you. This is Luvern Alroy, Administrator of the Snow Leopard Knights.”

“Ah, the snow leopard…… ! It is an alert and clever animal. Indeed, it is an order of knights that fits the Lubern magistrate’s rumors.”

It was a casual greeting.

Siegbert Bauer was a man of very impressive looks. His sharp jawline and bulging nose make him look like a beast of prey.

His black hair, combed back with his all-back, was neat and strong like a wolf’s mane.

Because her eyes, shining blue like Sianne’s, had the spirit of a guardian protecting the north.

Alpha Blue.

The leader of the wolves and a very powerful person.

He is a man who lacks nothing even when compared to Lee Myung, who is popularly known in the world.

“Are these two meeting for the first time?”

“Yes, since I was leading the detached team during the grand expedition.”

“You must have moved together with former general manager Aslan.”

I recalled the figure of a man with thick black hair radiating fearsome black energy.

The former leader of the Black Lion Knights, Aslan.

He also nodded, recalling the not-so-distant past.

“It was a fierce battle. If it had not been for the Lubern Administrator’s time delay with a proper strategy on the Lechenberg Plain, the detached detachment would have been completely annihilated.”

“I would say the opposite. It was because the detached unit eliminated the enemy boss in time that we were able to achieve victory on the Lechenberg Plain.”

Siegbert burst into laughter at my correction.

“As rumor has it, you are humble. Even the Duke of Hebron said so.”

“No. I’m just telling the truth.”

Honestly, it was a fact.

Although I’m ‘a little’ better than others in terms of tactics, I’m not to the point of being called everyone’s hero.

The reason why the battle on the Lechenberg Plain is still talked about is that it was a fierce and devastating battlefield after all.

It was the result of everyone risking their lives in battle at that time, not because I was good at it.

So it was always burdensome to be called the hero of Lechenberg.

If you’re going to do it, I’d rather just go with the black fox.

Besides, talking about a great expedition usually goes on endlessly.

“Anyway, nice to meet you. The story of the grand expedition will be shared in detail later when the opportunity arises.”

I appropriately cut off the conversation and gave the signal to get to the point.

“hahahaha, I see.”

“As expected, it’s nice that the story is fast.”

Recognizing the signal, Duke Harald of Hebron laughed. Since he is also a duke, he is busy, so he will not be able to stay in Nodarks forever.

“So I talked with the vassals about the Luchihyeop you talked about.”

The Duke looks at me and continues his words.

“Unfortunately, it seems that some of my vassals have been to and from Rupel’s Festival.”

“Is that so?”

When I look back at Lillia in surprise, she replies with a look that seems completely unaware.

“Even the only daughter of the dukedom and the captain of a knighthood casually goes around hiding his identity. Don’t worry too much.”

It can’t be a really unique manor.

Ordinary bureaucrats and aristocrats would be impatient to reveal their identities, but they went around hiding their identities.

“Anyway, he seems to have been deeply impressed by Rufel’s food. Luckily, I was able to taste it right before the deadline.”

“It was explosively popular at the time.”

The winners of the cooking competition even made and sold their own dishes to commemorate their victory in the northern section of Petalonto, which was decorated on the same day.

It’s a cooking contest in its own way, but isn’t it a bit like having only the judges taste it?

That’s how the event was planned, but in the case of Sanders Fried Chicken, which won first place, the waiting number went almost to the 300th.

In the end, the quantity of chickens we had prepared was insufficient, so the business, which was supposed to operate until 10pm, ended early.

“So…… I was also a little curious. I’m picky by nature, but if it’s to the point where even my daughter and vassal react that way.”

Good!

This is it!

I called for joy inside. Of course, the facial expressions were thoroughly controlled. If he behaved like that in front of the duke, the trust and goodwill he had built up would go down the abyss.

“So I decided to partially accept your offer.”

“Part…… Are you talking?”

“I personally sent someone to find out, and they said that a proper head office hasn’t been established yet.”

“Ah, that’s ready to open as soon as my vacation is over… ….”

“After all, doesn’t that mean we haven’t actually run an operation yet?”

I shut my mouth at the words of the duke who mercilessly attacked.

Of course, there was no particular reason for attracting the Lucifer to the Duchy of Hebron.

In the end, it is a matter of money and recognition.

The population of Count Rupel, which can be inferred from the current administration, was less than 60,000, including the entire territory.

As Treasurer Edwin Carlton managed really thoroughly when it came to taxes, there must be a few hundred errors.

From noble mtl dot com.

Even those 60,000 are usually spread out along the mining towns and villages near Jarhead, where the economy is most active.

The rest of the members live scattered in small and medium-sized cities and remote villages, including the capital Petalonto.

Even if you open a franchise branch in a place like this, the profit you can earn is really limited.

As there are merchants who have signed direct supply contracts with the association, they will have to create a new trade route to that village or city.

Since it is the county of Rupell with poor traffic, it is necessary to subdue nearby beasts and thieves.

In other words, it means that the initial expected profit is absolutely not high to run the business in Rupell itself.

The reason why I wanted to attract the highway was also part of an activity to increase the number of people flowing into the territory.

Money does not flow without people.

In such a situation, since there was the continent’s largest dukedom right next to the territory, how could I not stick a spoon here?

It can perfectly replace Lupel’s vastly insufficient market size.

“I know what you are thinking. Of course, I don’t think that just one restaurant will have a big impact on the economy of our duchy.”

I looked the Duke straight in the eye and listened.

He is an old duke with a wise and sharp outlook.

You should never take it lightly.

“But we also have circumstances. Even if it was a business with real potential, the Rupel Manor did not gain our trust enough to invest in something that yielded nothing.”

“I understand.”

Until now, the only rumors that had been heard in the Rupel Counties were hideous and humiliating rumors about how much they owed, that they were on the verge of bankruptcy, and that they were being absorbed by the Southern Baronies.

Even commoners know the story, and there’s no way the Duke of Hebron, who is in charge of the neighboring estate, doesn’t know.

‘Credit’ is important.

In the modern world where we originally lived, the way money is rolled is the same as a ghost.

It will still take some time to regain the trust of Count Rupel in the surrounding territories.

“If only the results come out, then I’ll go along with your plan without saying anything.”

“Thank you for giving me space.”

I got up and bowed 90 degrees to the Duke of Hebron.

“Just…… As you vaguely know, there is something else we are really interested in.”

I raised my bowed head and looked at Captain Siegbert and the Duke of Hebron.

“It’s a story about a dungeon owned by the Duchy.”

***

“As far as I can tell, there are two places where dungeon revenue has decreased by more than 50% year over year.”

Siegbert held out a piece of paper in front of me.

The places written in the document are the Ulaid Swamp, an A-class dungeon, and the Cursed Temple, an A-class dungeon.

To be precise, both were dungeons where I didn’t intentionally write down the manuals. Hiding my stinging emotions, I read the papers slowly.

‘…… No, but did you cut off 50%? Are these bastards really incapable of doing anything without a manual?’

Contrary to what was expected to be around 30%, the profits from the two dungeons were disastrous.

How much did you shovel?

This isn’t exactly sabotage.

I’d rather not know the names of the other dungeons that I told you to sabotage Petra directly.

It seems that the dungeon management department of the Knights of the Black Lion is also quite messed up.

…… Even when I was there, it was a piece of sh*t.

Is it just about to explode?

Since he is trying to express his regret at the disastrous result as much as a former office worker with his own love and hatred, Director Siegbert shakes his head.

“Ulaid Swamp was the main source of income for Tarnoa Village. The town’s economy is breaking down at an alarming rate.”

In addition to the leader’s words, Harald, Duke of Hebron, let out a deep sigh.

“It is the same with the cursed temple. No, I can’t say that this is simply the economy. Since the number of monsters living inside is not controlled, it has reached the point where some monsters come out and install them outside the temple.”

“This is serious.”

“I heard that all of this happened after you, Luvern Alroy, left the Black Lion Knights.”

The Duke’s gaze flashed.

“With that said, can you say that you managed this dungeon by yourself?”

“Yes.”

It was an immediate answer.

Especially in the case of Ulaid, it was measured as A-class, but the level of difficulty experienced during subjugation was much lower, so the dungeon boasted extremely high efficiency.

It was also a dungeon that I managed with great care as a filial product.

“How long will it take for the two dungeons to return to normal?”

I thought for a moment, then raised two fingers.

“Two months?”

“This is enough.”

“…… !!”

“But you can’t unilaterally break the contract with the Knights of the Black Lion, can you?”

“That too… …. Is there any way to quickly terminate the contract?”

It’s not that there isn’t.

No, in the first place, if you ask Petra, the current head of administration, you will be able to snatch it without having to go up to the top.

But if she did, the higher ups of the knights might hold her accountable and punish her later.

No matter what, it shouldn’t be a way for her to hurt her. It is not a duty to the girl who has been helping me with both her physical and emotional feelings until now.

In the end, the argument is contract termination.

That’s also a way to unilaterally declare cancellation without any problems or noise…….

To be honest, if I manage to catch the pods of the current collapsed profits, the Knights of the Black Lion will have no choice but to lower their tails.

There was a need to find a more reliable method.

“Then let’s try this.”

I took out the special pen that I always carry with me from the pocket of my knight’s uniform.

I started scrawling letters on the back of the document Siegbert handed me.