Chapter 360: I Want to Commit Industrial Espionage

The next day, we gathered at the coast of Tribute. Although we met in the morning, everyone looked surprisingly sharp for such an early hour. I felt like I could go back to sleep two or three more times, but everyone else was so energetic.

Thinking this, I gazed at the large ship moored at the pier. The size of the ship was similar to Tran’s, but I felt the design was slightly different. Also, the biggest difference was probably the color of the sails. Unlike Tran, who had pure white sails, Mondeo’s ship had vermilion sails.

“……You look sleepy, Lord Van.”

“Yeees……”

I tried my best to reply when Rosso called out to me, but I ended up being laughed at. Ah, Arte and Till are laughing too. However, I am sleepy, so it can’t be helped. After all, I am human.

As I was thinking such goofy thoughts with a groggy head, Mondeo and his group descended from the large ship moored at the pier I had built.

There were ten of them. Mondeo was at the center.

“Good morning. Lord Rosso, Lord Van! Welcome, thank you for coming!”

Just like yesterday, Mondeo greeted us with an amiable attitude. His eyes were narrowed into slits, and he was smiling broadly enough to be seen from a distance. Rosso gave a wry smile and nodded lightly.

“Indeed. We are in your care today as well.”

“The pleasure is ours, thank you!”

In contrast to the composed Rosso, the genius boy Van returned the greeting brightly and energetically to lower the opponent’s guard. Mondeo walked over while laughing.

“Hahaha. I am glad to see you are in good health. Now then, allow me to guide you through my ship, the Escalade. Since Tran has already shown you his ship, there may not be much that is new to you, however.”

To Mondeo, who said this with a wry smile, I plastered on an innocent smile and made my request.

“No, I am looking forward to it! Ah, may my subordinates join the tour today? They heard it was a big ship and seemed very curious about it……”

When I asked, Mondeo showed a gesture of thinking for a moment, but after looking at my face once more, he immediately smiled and nodded.

“……Very well. Just for you, Lord Van, I will make a special exception. However, since this involves important classified matters of our state, I would like to limit the number to a maximum of five people……”

Mondeo said this and glanced at Rosso. Rosso nodded deeply, granting his approval.

“Umu, of course.”

Hearing Rosso’s reply, Mondeo nodded lightly and turned his face toward me.

“In that case, Lord Van. Lord Rosso and Lord Van—who else will be joining?”

To that question, I replied with a beaming smile.

“Wow, thank you so much! I would like to bring Law, a knight who loves crafting; Mr. Kusala, a dexterous adventurer; and Havel, please!”

“Heeh, I have not spoken much with adventurers before, but……”

Mondeo had been wearing a beaming smile, but he froze when he saw Havel emerge from behind Law and Kusala. A short stature, but the appearance of a muscular middle-aged man. Meanwhile, Havel, who was being scrutinized by Mondeo’s group, stared fixedly at the ship without caring about the gathering gazes.

“……T-That person, could he be of the race known as Dwarves?”

“Yes! He lives in my village! He said he wanted to see the ship.”

Mondeo’s cheek twitched, but ignoring that, I slapped Havel on the back to introduce him. At that, Havel knitted his brows and shifted his gaze to Mondeo.

“I am Havel. I heard I could see a large ship, so I was looking forward to it.”

To Havel, who crossed his arms as he said this, Mondeo spoke while maintaining a clumsy smile.

“……E-Umm, I apologize. Regarding the Dwarf……”

Mondeo looked like he was about to utter a refusal with great difficulty. Hearing that, I immediately called out to Havel.

“Ah, Mr. Havel! You have a gift, don’t you?”

“Ooh, that is right.”

Pretending not to hear Mondeo’s line, I sent a signal to Havel. Acting as if he had genuinely forgotten, Havel nodded and took out the short sword he had at his waist. He removed the sheath in front of Mondeo and held up a Mithril sword adorned with beautiful decorations.

“O-Ooh…… How magnificent……”

Mondeo was involuntarily captivated by the beauty of the sword Havel held up. Confirming this, I put on a smile and spoke to Mondeo.

“Mr. Mondeo! Mr. Havel says he wants to present you with a top-quality Mithril sword! Isn’t it nice! It has enough value to become a national treasure, you know?”

When I told him this while glancing sideways at the short sword, Mondeo swallowed hard and stared at it. It was truly a magnificent piece of work that looked like it could become a national treasure. I had asked Havel to make a good-looking short sword, but he had completed one even more elaborate than I imagined. As expected of a Dwarf.

I had thought to prepare a bribe just in case, and I must say, it was a brilliant judgment on my part.

“I-Is it really alright for me to accept such a gift?”

Even Mondeo was flustered.

“It is fine! He says it is a token of gratitude for letting him tour the ship!”

The finishing blow. With this, Mondeo completely folded.

“I-Is that so……! In that case, please come this way! I shall guide everyone!”

Mondeo accepted the short sword and began walking toward the ship with a light step. As I secretly fist-bumped Havel so Mondeo wouldn’t see, I sensed Rosso, who was following at the very back, laughing quietly.