Chapter 652: Talent
“What kind of person do you want?” Captain Cat asked.
“Someone who can respect the beliefs and lifestyles of others. A good negotiator who can manage budget allocations, I guess?” The culture of the Amijin people is quite different from that of Soleil and the surrounding Naruadeid.
“I have someone in mind. Would you like to meet him? He’s the younger brother of a king from a small country,” Amijin replied.
“Younger brother… Isn’t that a bit too significant?” I wondered. It might just be my imagination, but it depends on how small the country is.
There are places here with populations under three hundred.
“It used to be a larger country, but now it’s about the size of this island.”
So it’s small.
“It feels like it’s on the verge of being completely absorbed by Shulm, barely managing to keep its name and form,” he continued.
“There are so many small countries besides Shulm that I can’t keep track of them all.”
“There are many similar countries. Well, they somehow managed to survive through trade and mediation. But recently, with the uprising against Shulm, the king was lured by neighboring countries.”
Ah, could it be a country close to Lady Rosa?
“When he opposed it, he was threatened on his life, so he left the country about two years ago. The country recently disappeared, and it seems he has no lingering attachments. What do you think?” Captain Cat looked at me.
Since he was perched on my shoulder, he was quite close. His whiskers tickled me.
So he’s been planning this for two years? No, maybe even longer?
“What kind of relationship does he have?”
“When he was asked to flee, he took his family on the ship. He’s thirty… now thirty-two. He’s gentle and not skilled with a sword, but he’s strong in negotiations.”
“Please introduce me.” I had no other leads, so I decided to trust Captain Cat’s judgment.
“Let’s start with Abel,” Auro suggested.
Abel and Cain assist Auro and Kiel. Their names sound ominous, but so far, they’ve been handling things well.
“Yeah. There’s compatibility to consider, and the climate and temperament of the people around Shulm and Amijin are different. I’ll ask if we can set up a trial period.”
From what I’ve seen of Abel during the snack battles, he seems strong enough to be a reliable bodyguard.
But I have a feeling he might want to return to this island, so I’d like to arrange for a proper bodyguard before that happens.
The land of Amijin is known for its demon beasts!
The area around the Divine Statue is strong with spirits, and due to the lack of people, there were hardly any demon beasts possessed by Black Spirits. But venture a little inland, and they were definitely there.
It turns out the people of Amijin are as strong as the average adventurers from Kanum or the Fortress City. They think they’re just ordinary, but Soleil seemed taken aback.
We arrived at the square of the Spirit’s Branch.
“Over there is the market, and the water is coming from the castle. That’s the best inn, serving rare dishes made from island ingredients. And that’s the theater—what are they doing now?”
Since they’ve seen our Spirit’s Branch, they must have been here before, but I explained anyway.
“They’re having an evening performance of chamber music, a string quartet with piano. They’ve invited a famous pianist named Ardi Ti, and around three o’clock, the quartet will perform a piece at the theater entrance.”
When I asked Auro, he explained it clearly.
The entrance to the theater has a canopy at the top of a few steps, and they often hold small performances for the people in the square. Sometimes it’s not even a performance; the performers might be practicing their instruments or doing a one-man show for fun.
“I’m not really interested in music or theater. I prefer the songs sung on the ship. More than that, I want to see the lives of the people living here,” Captain Cat said, watching a family leave the Spirit’s Branch.
“Ah, somewhere that isn’t a tourist spot,” I replied.
The market and the Spirit’s Branch are the centers of life here, so there’s a lot of comings and goings from the residents. However, the square and main street might be filled with tourists, lacking a sense of everyday life.
“At this time, there aren’t many residents in the market. They usually come when it opens in the morning and around lunchtime; otherwise, it’s mostly tourists wandering around.”
We turned back a bit and entered an alley.
“What’s that sound?” Captain Cat perked up his ears at the rhythmic noise blending with the bustle of the main street.
“That’s weaving,” I replied.
“Isn’t it hidden?”
“The dyeing and things they want to keep secret are done on the castle side.”
To get to the castle, you have to cross a bridge, and there are designs by Gardener Charles and magic circles set up by Grandfather Paorul to keep people away from places they don’t want visitors.
The former prevents accidental discoveries, while the latter ensures that even if someone sneaks in for that purpose, they won’t reach their destination, and Auro and Kiel will be alerted.
“I can walk around freely, right?” Captain Cat jumped lightly off my shoulder and looked up at me.
“Yeah, enjoy your stroll.”
As I called out to his retreating figure, his tail swayed in response.
“…Gather information and pass it on to someone who needs it. Being a cat is quite convenient,” Auro remarked.
“I think that someone is already decided,” I shrugged.
Captain Cat is quite diligent.
“If asked, I could show them the castle as well,” I added. It shouldn’t conflict with Soleil’s business.
Even with someone I trust, promises can be broken when leadership changes, so it’s probably best to keep secrets as secrets. But Karn won’t be changing leadership.
“You want to maintain a good relationship with my lord, don’t you? It’s a bit disappointing that you won’t join his ranks,” Auro smiled.
It seems both Captain Cat and Auro have a serious vibe, but I don’t think their relationship has changed much.
After that, I stopped by the castle to drop off some snacks for the employees on watch, only to find a war breaking out inside. But that’s just a usual occurrence, so I left it be.