Chapter 311: Tran Bronco
After enjoying the seafood to my heart’s content, we used an inn in the town that day. We had received an invitation from a messenger of Rosso to rest at the lord’s manor, but due to the number of rooms, only Panamera and one subordinate, plus myself, Talga, and Esparda would have been able to stay.
When I politely declined, Panamera blinked her eyes.
“You do terrifying things, Boy.”
She was probably referring to the fact that I turned down an invitation from a high-ranking noble. Thinking that, I answered with a wry smile.
“If I propose building ships and transporting supplies via sea routes, he’ll forgive me, probably.”
“That is… well, certainly true. However, it will require training people to operate the ships.”
“Ah, that is true… regarding that, the cooperation of experts is indispensable.”
Answering so, I thought about ship operation. However, naturally, I have no knowledge of steering a ship. It likely isn’t as simple as ‘it moves if you hoist the sails,’ and my understanding of how to use an anchor is just a vague feeling. There is no way I could simply say, “Now, go out to sea.”
Thinking that there were various challenges ahead, I decided to rest leisurely at the inn that day.
The next day, a messenger from Rosso visited the inn first thing in the morning. Perhaps I had been told to come whenever I woke up, so treating it like a vacation, I ate breakfast leisurely and went outside, only to find the messenger standing there. It was an older guard with a beard.
“Good morning, Viscount Van.”
Being greeted immediately upon exiting the inn, I returned the greeting while feeling apologetic.
“Good morning. Could it be that you have been waiting this whole time?”
“Not at all, not at all! It has only been about two hours!”
“Two hours!? I’m sorry!”
When I apologized in surprise, the guard stared at my face with a look of wonder.
“…Excuse me for saying this, but you are a mysterious person, Lord Van. No, not in a bad way; I think you are a very kind noble.”
“No, no, that’s not…”
Being praised so directly, Van-kun felt shy. I wanted him to say more. However, the guard, who could not hear the voice of my heart, returned to a serious face and straightened his back.
“Oops, pardon me. I have been tasked by Lord Rosso to ask you to come. Please, this way.”
With those words, the time for praising the genius Van-kun was declared over. What a shame.
Guided by the guard, I went to the lord’s manor and visited Rosso. Panamera was already there waiting.
“You’re finally up?”
Being told that by Panamera in an exasperated tone, I returned an energetic greeting.
“Good morning!”
“Umu, I am glad you came.”
Perhaps due to my attempt to gloss over it with energy, Rosso nodded with a mix of wry amusement. He then pointed out the window.
“It seems that Tran Bronco, the person in charge of the Fleetwood, will be visiting in the afternoon. I thought you would want to talk to him.”
“Thank you very much. I would love to.”
Hearing Rosso’s words, I conveyed my gratitude. I didn’t think I would be able to meet him this quickly. Actually, since it was already before noon, I would be able to meet him very soon.
As I was feeling excited, Rosso spoke while laughing.
“That’s right. Let us have lunch together at this manor today. I have an exclusive chef, you see. You can look forward to it.”
“Thank you.”
“Wow, I’m looking forward to it! Will there be Shira too?”
“Ooh, Lord Van is a connoisseur. To think you know the specialty of this town.”
Perhaps out of consideration, Rosso had a variety of dishes lined up that could be called a Shira feast. Seeing dishes more elaborate than specialized restaurants appear, I suppose I should say, ‘as expected of the exclusive chef of a historic Marquis family.’ Fear the House of Rosso.
As I was sticking a fork into the tail of a crustacean that looked like a perfectly sized shrimp and munching away, there was suddenly a knock on the dining room door. The door was opened from the outside, and a maid poked her head in.
“Master. Lord Tran has arrived.”
“Ooh, that was fast. Have him wait in the guest hall.”
“Yes, understood.”
After that exchange with the maid, Rosso looked at me.
“Eat without rushing. The scheduled time is still a little while away.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Rosso was strangely kind for some reason. While feeling slightly out of place, I ate another one of the shrimp-like seafoods. Next time, I want to eat fried shrimp (ebi fry) too.
When we finished our meal and went to the hall, a dark-skinned, red-haired man was standing there. Since he was looking out the window, I could only see his back, but even so, it was clear he was a thoroughly trained macho man. The muscle definition was visible even through his clothes. And his dark skin. He looked like a bodybuilding competitor.
Before we could call out to him, the man turned around, found Rosso, and bowed.
“Marquis Rosso, I am glad to see you looking well.”
“Ooh, Lord Tran. Thank you for coming.”
Tran, who turned around, was a handsome man with a dynamic, masculine atmosphere. He was a Wild Bodybuilder Handsome Man. I’d like to line him up with Dee and Talga and hold a contest.
“Lord Tran, this is Count Panamera Carrera Cayenne and Viscount Van Nei Fertio. And this is Baron Talga Brescia. They visited saying they wished to inspect your ship, the Fleetwood. Do you have time to talk?”
When Rosso asked that, Tran raised one eyebrow and looked at Panamera, Talga, and then me.
“…Hmm. People equivalent to what we would call Councilors in our country, I assume. In that case, I would certainly like to speak with you as well.”
