Chapter 99: Spy
Taking off from Belfast and flying north, I could see an army besieging the town of Gerard.
After Yuri-san and I looked down from above, thinking, “So that’s Marquis Randall’s army,” I reported it to Pops, just in case.
He was surprised by the speed of their advance but was pleased, saying it was convenient.
I told him I’d fly on to scout the Empire, and if I didn’t see anything unusual, I’d return directly to Leben. With that, we took off from the former Royal Capital, Mildrad.
And so, we flew north from Lease and made a wide circle around the Imperial Capital, but there was no sign of troops gathering in particular.
Just as I thought, “Can’t be helped,” and was about to cross the mountain range to return to Leben, Yuri-san pointed and said, “Um, what’s that?”
Lowering our altitude and getting closer, I saw a lone man being chased by a pack of enormous bears.
Why was he in the mountains?
In this world, it’s common knowledge that mountains are far more dangerous places than Dungeons.
I had just been warned by Pops to be careful because this particular mountain wasn’t a level where people should enter.
Don’t tell me he’s planning to lure Monsters to Leben?!
Judging by the direction, he was definitely heading towards Leben.
Deciding we couldn’t just leave it, the two of us used our Laser Guns from the sky to pick off the bears.
“Th-They’re fast! If we pull sideways while shooting, they’ll easily dodge it, won’t they…”
“Yeah. They’re strong enough to kill us if we fought them head-on. They don’t die in one hit either, and if we’re not careful, they might be even tougher than the Abyss.”
I continued rapid-firing with a grimace.
However, he hadn’t attracted that many, so the annihilation ended quickly.
Then, thinking I had to get information from that guy next, I cautiously approached the man.
He was undoubtedly strong. After all, he’d kept running from those bears.
However, fortunately, he was on his last breath. His back was deeply gashed.
“Hey, who are you… Wait, you’re one of that damn pretty boy’s subordinates!!”
“Ah, ugh… Is this a dream? I came because I wanted to meet you. Thank you for saving me… I’m grate…ful…”
The man said that and fainted.
While bewildered about what on earth was going on, I activated Healing Magic to close his wounds, then immobilized the man with Maso, collected the defeated Monsters, and transported them to Leben.
As soon as I returned, I called Genzou-san, asking him to join me for the interrogation, and woke up Marquis Ignat’s adjutant.
“So, what’s your objective?”
At first, I thought it was to lure Monsters, but the chances of assigning someone as strong as him to a mission that would likely fail were low.
If it were a punishment for a lost battle, it might be plausible for the Empire, but there’s no value in going to such lengths to crush the town of Leben.
Was it because they knew that I, who had used weapons on the battlefield, was here?
“Yes. I came because I have a request for Your Highness the Prince.”
While still restrained, he prostrated himself on the spot and explained his reason for coming.
Apparently, Ignat’s wife was ill and needed treatment with Light Magic.
He said he would do anything if I would undertake her treatment, and offered to first hand over one hundred Imperial Large Gold Coins from his luggage.
“I understand I’m asking for the impossible. I am prepared to accept any unreasonable demands you may have as well. So please, I beg of you!!”
“Hmm, so if I were to say you’d have to work as a spy for us from now on, would you accept that?”
He’ll definitely object immediately.
Genzou-san asked him that, likely thinking he would object immediately.
“If that is all, then with all my might. We of the Marquis Ignat Family have all thoroughly lost faith in the Empire.”
Oh dear… It’s true Ignat did say he’d defect if he could.
“In that case, we shall consider it when you have earned our trust through your work and demonstrated service worthy of treatment. Of course, sending His Highness himself is out of the question.”
Genzou-san asked, “Is that still acceptable?”
“If someone capable of performing the treatment will come, then by all means!”
“Even a Magic Tool?”
“Eh? Y-Yes. If treatment can be performed, then of course, anything…”
Hmm, I do have a few Light Magic Magic Tools. But they’re all for Monster subjugation, so their effects are too focused.
I mean, I could make one, but if it’s not a proper Magic Tool, the Magic Circle could be copied and used by the enemy…
Huh? Come to think of it, do I even have any obligation to help him?
No, but him saying he’ll provide information is a big deal.
The possibility of a double agent exists, but he should know he can’t lie about things like troop mobilization since I can verify it from the sky.
And I just have to make sure not to give him any information from our side.
Knowing the enemy army’s movements early on is a huge advantage.
Even more so for us, who can set things like landmines.
“By the way, what kind of illness requires Light Magic?”
“Yes… Natalia-sama is suffering from Magical Power Sclerosis.”
“Huh…?”
The moment I heard that, a sound escaped my lips involuntarily.
Was he trying to feign the same illness as my mother to gain sympathy?
But he only showed a bewildered expression.
Thinking it was too early to doubt him, I continued the conversation.
“Can Sclerosis be cured with Light Magic?”
“No, it counteracts the hardened Magical Power, so it provides relief, but it only prolongs life, you see. The Sclerosis itself doesn’t stop…”
He lowered his eyes and tightened his lips.
If it was an act, it looked convincing enough to seem truthful…
“Currently, the Sclerosis has already progressed to her lower abdomen. The doctor’s prognosis is one to three months. Therefore, please, I ask that you make your decision within two months. I will continue to work with utmost sincerity even after that.”
“I see. Well then, first, tell me what you know about the Empire’s current movements.”
As expected, I still couldn’t believe him, but ending it without even hearing him out would just be foolish.
I just need to verify his claims.
Just getting a lead on what to investigate first is a big help.
It wouldn’t be too late to cut ties if the information turned out to be false.
Both this guy and Ignat were adored by their subordinates. I think it’s worth looking into.
I’m not foolish enough to believe him unconditionally, but the reverse is also true.
I also thought that managing him would be troublesome since he’s strong, but I can just have him operate in the Empire and gather information from their side.
If I summon him to an empty plain, there’s probably no danger to me, since I can fly away.
Thinking that, I asked about the internal situation, and he told me in considerable detail.
They had received information two days ago that Lestall was going to capture Lease, so an emergency meeting was held, and Ignat was apparently summoned to it. He revealed everything that was decided at that time.
It was decided that four individuals—Second Rank Lloyd, Seventh Rank Misha, Eighth Rank Vincent, and Tenth Rank Ein—would join the battle. And that a large-scale Forced Conscription would be carried out from their troops and surrounding nobles.
“What’s the approximate number?”
“I don’t know. However, even if they gather to their utmost limit, I believe around forty thousand would be the maximum. About twenty thousand are tied up in the northern war.”
Forty thousand… Well, we did defeat twenty thousand with two thousand, though. But Imperial Soldiers are supposed to be ridiculously strong.
Just as I was thinking that, Genzou-san began his questioning.
“Can we consider Count Estoc’s soldiers to be among the stronger ones overall?”
“…Nominally, yes. However, if it’s just that level, even excluding our own army, I believe nearly ten thousand such soldiers could be gathered.”
Just that level…? But that was a level where even our elite troops would struggle without Abyss equipment.
That’s excluding the twenty thousand attacking the north, right…?
So they do possess the strength to talk about things like world conquest, huh.
“Hey, you’ll lend us a hand for a while even after the treatment is over, right?”
“!? Of course, once my lady wife, Natalia-sama, is cured!!”
Hmm, just as I was about to think it over, Genzou-san pulled my arm, and I was led out of the room with Yuri-san.
“Your Highness, you mustn’t!”
“But, you know, I think it’s a good way to gauge the reliability of the information. With a Magic Tool, the Magic Circle won’t be stolen, right? If we can test it without any loss, shouldn’t we do it?”
“Mmh… What do you mean by that?” I explained to him as he tilted his head.
We’ve extracted the information he has now, so the next batch will be a while off.
In the meantime, shouldn’t we test whether he can be trusted by seeing if he returns with the Magic Tool and if his information proves true?
“Even if his story is true, if we let him treat her first, there’s no way he’ll come back afterwards.”
“Yeah. That’s why I thought this would be quicker. If he’s not at least someone who keeps his promises, then even if we get information, it’s no good, right? Ignat didn’t seem like a bad guy when I talked to him, so I feel this is a situation where we should act in good faith.”
“I plan to put a trick in the Magic Circle too, you know,” I said, persuading Genzou-san.
That trick is to make it activate with high output but not last long.
Those guys would easily be able to create such a mechanism.
“A situation to act in good faith, you say…”
“Yeah. I felt King Lestall was that kind of person too, which is why I tried to join hands with him. Conversely, even among Lestall’s people, there were plenty I thought were no good. Thinking that everyone is bad just because their country is a certain way, I believe, narrows the range of options we can take. It’s true they’re on the enemy side, so we have to be completely suspicious, and it’s troublesome, but…”
Well, in reality, I haven’t thought about it that deeply.
It’s more like, if there’s no loss, let’s just give it a try.
“Understood. If Your Highness says so. However, you must not do anything dangerous!”
“Alright, I’ve got permission, so let’s proceed along those lines.”
And so, I flew to Belfast again and had Mizuki make a Magic Tool for me.
The Magic Tool unit gave their seal of approval, assuring me that because I’d made the Mithril wire so thin, even if it were disassembled with some unknown technology, it would almost certainly lose its shape, so it would be fine.
I handed it over and dropped him off in the Ignat Territory.
“Take this too, just in case,” I said, handing him a small vial.
It was a small amount of diluted Elixir. Since I was receiving a good sum of money from him, I threw it in as a bonus.
To him, who tilted his head asking, “What’s this?” I gave a vague answer: “It’s a super high-grade Potion.” I also told him he could throw it away if he didn’t believe me.
“Well then, in two days, I’ll gather as much information on the army as I can and return here. After I finish treating your wife-sama, I will return this at that time, but…”
“I know. If it becomes necessary, I’ll lend it to you again.”
It seems that with Mizuki’s Magical Power, it can be used long enough to last for several hours.
That should be enough to treat one person. Even if he doesn’t come back, as long as the Magic Circle isn’t replicated, that’s fine by me.
Even if he betrays me, he was an enemy from the start, so it doesn’t really matter.
And so, I returned to the Town of Leben and decided to look around the town for the first time in several days.
When I went to check on the Hunter Guild, there was a sign stating they were operating out of a temporary office elsewhere, and demolition work was underway.
I went to the location written on the sign. When I asked at the reception if everything was alright after the recent events, they seemed quite frightened but replied that there were no problems. I then headed to another place.
Next, I headed to the former Leben Company.
Thinking it would be a disaster if the entire existing structure was dismantled, I had left its role as a major wholesaler intact.
I showed my face there, found a few merchants, and asked about the current situation.
I couldn’t tell if it was flattery or the truth, but they, while frightened, expressed their gratitude, saying profits were up thanks to me.
Next, I headed to the slums, but there was no sign of anyone around.
Huh… Did everyone leave?
They shouldn’t have that kind of money… but when I went to the mine, it was bustling with people.
When I found Rose and asked about the situation, she said that apparently, almost all the residents of the slums had jumped at the good wages.
She showed me the gold they had produced and said, “Amazing, right?” but I had no idea how much was considered amazing.
However, judging by its size, it looked like they could make nearly a hundred Large Gold Coins from it.
Considering they’re employing a thousand people, even assuming seven silver coins per person, that’s seven Large Gold Coins.
Since this was apparently the result of about a week’s work, even if we assume it yields roughly fifty Large Gold Coins, it seems they can manage well enough.
But what about the sales route… Wait, if we’re talking about minting money from this gold, only the country can do that, huh.
Well then, I’ll take it to Pops and ask him what to do.
After receiving silver and copper as well, I asked the soldiers if there were any problems on their end.
“Um, well, handling payroll and currency exchange is a bit tough, I guess.”
He said with a wry smile. Apparently, all the confiscated money was in gold coins, and since payments were in silver coins, a large-scale exchange was necessary. He also mentioned that paying a thousand people each time was a lot of work.
Ohh, I hadn’t thought about that. …I can’t have soldiers doing that kind of work forever, can I?
I need to set up some people for administrative work too.
I spoke with Rose again and asked her to introduce me to trustworthy people who could read, write, and do basic calculations.
Then, two men were brought to me.
“Um… I can read, write, and do some light calculations, more or less, but… do you need something from me?”
The man asked timidly. The other one was silently watching me.
“I want to entrust you two with being the treasurers. Of course, soldiers will be stationed to guard the money.
The job involves accounting, including payroll distribution.
I want you to clearly record the employees’ names, roles, and salary amounts.”
That’s right. Having them receive pay based on self-reporting is just not feasible anymore with this many people.
“Also, I want you to manage inventory for supplies and calculate expenditures.
Right now, it’s all outgoing, but from now on, money will be coming in from selling pure gold.”
The acid needed for gold extraction and the Slime Jelly applied to the mine tunnels aren’t free either.
I need you to accurately calculate and keep track of the costs involved, or it’ll be a problem.
It seems the soldiers had been handling even that somehow, so no wonder he made a wry face.
“For now, as long as you accurately record who is in charge of what and how much their salary is, ensuring there are no mistakes in payroll, you can rely on others for the rest. Can I ask you to do this for a daily wage of eight silver coins?”
Eight coins is quite a high-tier wage. Rose, who’s the general supervisor and earns the most, gets about one large silver coin, for instance.
They replied in unison, energetically, “We’ll do it!”
I warned them sternly that if they dared to embezzle any money, they’d be fired.
They nodded, saying, “We wouldn’t do such a terrifying thing even if asked,” so they’ll probably do their jobs properly.
When I returned to the mansion and settled down, I asked a guard soldier if there had been any attacks or anything while we were away, but apparently, nothing of the sort had happened.
Well, that figures.
After I scared them that much, they’d be too terrified to try anything.
It seems Genzou-san and the others have communicated the abolition of the Slavery System, so it looks like I can really just leave things be.
I consulted Yuri about going somewhere for fun after getting the information in two days, during the time before the generals head to Lease, and she said she wanted to go to a Dungeon.
In that case, I made plans to go to a Dungeon tomorrow.