Chapter 273: Panamera's Territory and New Subordinates
“…This is the Kingdom of Yelenetta’s fortress city that neighbors Fortress city Murcia, isn’t it? What was it called again?”
“Fortress City Cayenne!”
Count Panamera Carrera Cayenne puffed out her chest and announced the city’s name. However, that name was not yet official.
“What was the city’s name during the Kingdom of Yelenetta era?”
“It was Grosser. Though now, it is Fortress City Cayenne.”
Panamera answered with a grin. It’s good to see her having fun. More to the point, this was the first time I’d witnessed someone naming a city after themselves, but since it seemed so very like Panamera, it didn’t feel out of place.
“I see. In that case, it becomes Panamera’s role to monitor our ally, the Kingdom of Yelenetta.”
One look at the map makes it obvious. If the Kingdom of Yelenetta plots anything, it will likely reach Panamera’s ears first. And the keystones of the Kingdom of Scuderia’s defense are Fortress city Murcia and my Seatoh Village. Given that, it would be natural for Panamera to be the supervisor placed in the Kingdom of Yelenetta’s Royal Capital.
Just as I predicted, Panamera nodded and answered.
“Indeed. His Majesty’s gaze is already fixed beyond the Kingdom of Yelenetta, toward the Central Continent. Beyond the Kingdom of Yelenetta lies Hessel. Although it prospers as a trading nation, it is a lower-ranking country compared to the Kingdom of Scuderia or the Kingdom of Yelenetta. Since we defeated the Kingdom of Yelenetta, even if Hessel receives aid from the Solstice Empire, we likely won’t lose.”
Panamera spoke, easily predicting His Majesty’s thoughts. I felt that her prediction was likely correct. However, that brought a troubling thought to mind. His Majesty’s next move.
“…No, no, there’s no use thinking about it. Yep. Anyway, let’s decide on our future policy. Talga has experience as a magistrate, so I’d like him to govern a city eventually. As for Panamera’s fortress city, shall we go to renovate it in about a month?”
I proposed this, but Panamera clapped her hands together in front of her chest, looking like she had remembered something.
“I forgot. I have a message from His Majesty.”
“You forgot?”
As I gave a wry smile at her extremely rude statement, Panamera pointed to the line of carriages lined up behind them.
“Reward money, precious ores, and slaves that were being sold illegally in the Royal Capital are for you, boy. Also, he said the handling of Freightliner, the prisoner from the Kingdom of Yelenetta, is up to you.”
“Freightliner?”
As I said that and looked toward the carriages, the window of one carriage shut with great force. I approached silently and had Khamsin open the carriage window.
“Hellooooo!”
I tried greeting him in a loud voice.
“Gyaaaaaaa!?”
Just as I expected, Freightliner, who was hiding in the corner of the carriage, jumped up and screamed. A good reaction. His excellent talent for reactions is still alive and well.
“Prince Freightliner! Long time no see!”
“L-Long time no see…”
Freightliner returned the greeting with teary eyes. We are already good friends. The time when we were enemies must surely be water under the bridge.
“Is Prince Freightliner here as a hostage?”
“I-I knew it… As a defeated general, I’m going to be made to work in a mine while suffering the world’s most terrifying torture… I’m still so young; how pitiful I am…”
Seeing Freightliner muttering pessimistic things on his own, I felt an urge to bully… no, to tease him.
“Khamsin. Bring the hostage, Freightliner.”
“Yes!”
Khamsin answered cheerfully, took Freightliner’s hand, and led him out of the carriage. Freightliner was already sobbing.
“Sob, sob…“
“It’s the first time I’ve seen someone actually cry ‘sob, sob’.”
When I said that, half-exasperated, Panamera snorted and laughed.
“How pathetic, truly… He barely showed his face out of the carriage during the journey.”
When Panamera said that clearly, Freightliner’s shoulders trembled with a start. Seeing this, Dee spoke up.
“Lord Van. What do you intend to do with Prince Freightliner?”
Dee must have been wondering why His Majesty entrusted such an important hostage to me. I put on a deliberately affected smile and glanced at Freightliner out of the corner of my eye.
“It’s a request from His Majesty. I have to investigate whether the Yelenetta royal family is hiding treasure, even if it means torturing Freightliner. Especially since the Kingdom of Yelenetta has only just became a vassal state. If we don’t investigate quickly, there’s a possibility they’ll hide it. Actually, I already have a guess about the hiding place, but I can’t exactly send an investigation team without evidence, so I want the testimony of a royal.”
Spouting lies, I approached the frightened Freightliner.
“I suppose I should start with the fingernails? Or perhaps the teeth would be better? Ah, I’ll save the eyeballs for last, okay?”
As I approached with a devilish laugh, Till spoke up, her cheeks twitching.
“U-um, don’t you think that’s going a little too far…”
The moment Till muttered that, Freightliner confessed, his voice cracking.
“I-I’ll talk! Half of the royal family’s treasure is in the basement of the cathedral in the Royal Capital…!”
At those unexpected words, the place fell silent.
“Eh?”
“What?”
“The cathedral basement, you say?”
Talga, Panamera, and I reacted in turn. At that, Freightliner tilted his head with teary eyes.
“Eh? B-but, you already investigated, right? N-normally, the royal family of a defeated country is thoroughly investigated, and the whole family is tortured or executed…”
“No, because you surrendered before we invaded. That might be the case if we had occupied the country and claimed it as our own territory, but it’s a vassal state granted autonomy.”
“Hey, send a letter to His Majesty by fast horse. He was lamenting that the tax rate was too lenient. This will please him.”
“Y-yes!”
Khamsin was the first to react to Panamera’s instruction and ran off. All correspondence from Seatoh Village to the Royal Capital is entrusted to the Mary Chamber of Commerce. He likely ran to the Mary Chamber of Commerce branch.
Meanwhile, Freightliner, having blurted out unnecessary information, stood there stunned, like an empty shell.
However, a few seconds later, he snapped back to reality and looked around restlessly.
“D-does this mean I’m really done for? Is this the path to execution? Eh? Really?”
It seems he values his own life over the position of the royal family. Seeing this, I gave a wry smile and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. Looking down at Freightliner, who was writhing on the ground like a shrimp, I spoke to reassure him.
“It was a joke. The truth is, I wanted Prince Freightliner to work as my subordinate. There was a small town called Adventurer’s Town in front of Seatoh Village, right? I want you to become the administrator there. That way, Esparda can focus on being the magistrate of Seatoh Village.”
“…A-administrator? You mean a magistrate? Eh? What is with that name that sounds like a town of ruffians…”
Upon hearing the name “Adventurer’s Town,” Freightliner began to show a strange kind of fear. Will he be okay?
