Chapter 6
While Prewell was comparing his previous life to his current life.
He was interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door.
"My Lord, it's me, Wiegraf." Wiegraf's voice rang out from outside the door.
Ending his pondering, Prewell focused on the matter at hand. He called to Wiegraf outside the door. "Come in"
Wiegraf entered the study and approached Prewell's desk. He stood in front of the table and bowed. "You have called for me, my lord."
Prewell looked at Wiegraf, a skilled sailor and a good leader. This was the reason he was given the title 'The Captain' by the system. Naval Talent and Leadership, are the talents drawn for Wiegraf when he was manifesting him. Someone capable of leading his naval vessels, a perfect fit for a territory like Zalsac which possess a long a coast and a Port.
"I had you called because I want to know the results of your trip to the Merchant City of Delberg." Prewell went straight to the thing he wanted to know.
Wiegraf nodded, this was what he had expected. Before Prewell's sudden departure last night, he had already planned to give to report the details of his mission to the Merchant Port.
"My Lord, from the cargo of the 'Threading Hog', we made a profit of 1,114 gold coins, 2,240 silver coins and 580 bronze coins.
A bit higher compared to our estimates, mainly because our cargoes are valuable monster parts used by magicians in improving their abilities and various skills.
Another reason is because there are rumors going around the town of Delberg, mainly hinting that the Order plans to reduce the allowed retinue of each Noble class.
Last I heard, there were also rumors that the higher level of nobility are preparing to rebel against the Order... In my opinion, this is true. I have seen some people with various sigils of nobility. Some are hidden, while some openly show it.
Almost everyone with a noble sigil is buying weapons, armors, and warhorses. Even slave blacksmiths who can smith swords and armors are a hot commodity with those people." Wiegraf reported to Prewel while shaking his head.
A repetitive sound of finger tapping the hard wood echoed throughout the room. Prewell was in deep thought as he processed through the various possible outcomes that will come out because of this sudden surge of actions by the nobility.
'This could be the beginning of a chaotic time. The Order has completely become estranged with the nobility.'
'But why now, what happened recently that caused the Order's attitude to completely be on guard with the nobles.'
Prewell raised his head and asked Wiegraf. "Have you heard of anything that happened that could have caused this?"
Wiegraf paused for a moment. He placed his thumb and forefinger on his chin. Supporting his head as his eyes closed. Going through various news and rumors that he had heard in the merchant port.
"My Lord, apart from the news that the Lyzanese Empire sent a delegation to a high-ranking member of the nobility. There is no other news.
I can't confirm the authenticity of this rumor, my Lord. They may be noble houses spreading this rumor to cause trouble within the order's territory.
If someone from the nobility dare to initiate contact with the Lyzanese Empire they will definitely be provoking the Order. By then the Order will be forced to take an action whether they like it or not.
After all, their tyrannical control of the nobiltity caused many of the houses to be full of discontent with them.
Just a small sign that the Order's grasp over nobility is losing, could lead into a chasm of disasters. Assassinations, minor clashes, war between houses, are examples of what may happen if such a rumor is indeed true"
After thinking through it, this was the only news he knew that could affect the Order's attitude towards the members of the nobility.
But Wiegraf was not sure whether this rumor was true because there was a high possibility that other noble houses were spreading such rumors just to incite someone into making a first move.
Perhaps inciting someone to contact Lyzanese Empire is indeed their goal and having the person who tried to contact the Lyzanese Empire as their bait to test the waters with the Order.
Perhaps someone already jumped into the trap. After all, there is a rumor that the Order is lowering the number of men allowed in the retinue held by the Nobles, this rumor could be the result of someone falling into the trap.
Such an event could explain the sudden change of the Order's passive suppression of nobility into a full on aggressive suppression.
They may fear that Lyzanese Empire will take this opportunity to incite some stronger members of the nobility to raise their arm's against themselves.
Perhaps this may also be a trap set for houses like Ih Leviathan and Zalbaag, who had a neutral stance on matters not related to the survival of their people.
After all, unlike those interconnected houses in the central region of the order, a remote house like his Lords' is more isolated, without a steady stream of information. They're blind and deaf to the machination being made by other members of the nobility.
Isolated houses are more likely to jump on the trapped laid by them.
"Ah, the nobles really. Always a cause headache." Prewell held his forehead as he commented on the news shared by Wiegraf.
Wiegraf's eyes twitched after hearing Prewell's comment. 'My lord, aren't you a member of the nobility?'
"Alright, get ready for your next trip to the Merchant City of Delberg. I'll increase the number of your guards. It's too dangerous now, avoid getting involved in things that are not related to your task.
No matter the price, purchase as much grain, wheat, and cloth that you can, also if the prices of horses is not too high. Try purchasing some as well, though I doubt it will be the same as before, but nonetheless getting some horses wouldn't hurt.
For now, we focus on the goblin incursion in the territory. I'll also have to return to Saint Gerald Castle to receive someone from House Zalbaag" After a moment of silence, Prewell told Wiegraf of the following matter.
Wiegraf listened attentively as Prewell spoke of his next duty and the barony's next plan of action. Nodding to Prewell after he finished speaking.
"If that's all call, the person in the waiting room next door, afterwards, you can return to your work Wiegraf."
"As you wish, my lord." Wiegraff bowed to Prewell, and headed towards the door. After reaching the door, he turned around and faced Prewell again and bowed one final time before finally leaving.
While the person he was summoning was still away, Prewell wrote down Wiegraf's report in a small leather notebook that he took out from his chest.
He began to do this so that he wouldn't forget important events. This was a great help to him in getting used to his role as Lord of the Barony of Zalsac.
Initially, he made many mistakes, such as forgetting critical information in the trade agreements with the Barony of Zalbaag. Because of that mistake, the agreement between the two houses was almost broken.
So he did everything he could to prevent that incident from happening again. While he was writing, there was a knock at the door.
The person he had summoned was already there. So he hurried his writing.
"One moment." He said to the person at the door.
"I understand, My lord." A gentle female voice rang the doorbell.
Prewell quickly finished what he was writing, then he hid the book in his chest. "Come in."
After Prewell said these words, a woman opened the door.
White hair, blue eyes, wearing a blue gown with gold stitching on it. A beautiful woman, like a lone white swan in the middle of a lake. She drew attention as soon as she appeared.
"You called me, My lord." The beautiful woman spoke as she bowed to Prewell.
"Yes, I want to know about Waldr. While Wiegraf is not here, who are the people you suspect can affect this town." Prewell asked the woman as he watched her curtsied.
The woman's eyes met Prewell's eyes. Red and Blue locked onto one another.
This woman's name is Madeline, a daughter of a wealthy merchant. Prewell's friend since childhood.
The Prewell of this world, before his memories of his previous life appeared, was an elusive person.
Cold to people he is not close to. Always flat faced, his crimson eyes always had that judgmental gaze.
So Prewell has a reputation among those of his age in the noble circle as a cold and calculating person.
Madeline is a friend that his father introduced to him. Since childhood, Madeline has always been quiet, like Prewell's shadow, always following his every step.
Alone she drew attention wherever she goes, but with Prewell she always somehow finds a way to lower her presence. This is their relation, red leads blue and blue follows red.
Madeline blinked at Prewell, then began telling Prewell the information she gathered.
"Derick, the former captain of the castle guards, has been seen near the port more than once, interacting with various merchants. According to the people sent to watch him, he always receives a pouch full of coins.
After his meeting in the port is concluded. He heads straight to the smithy and commissions farm tools. Thereafter, his trace vanishes, then after a long while he will appear in the smithy once more. Taking the commissioned tools with him as his trace once again vanishes near the Order's small church by the edge of Waldr.
After that, he will suddenly appear by port once more, as for where the commissioned tools went. I suspect that he had them smelt and forged into weapons. After all, there is no farm land large enough in Zalsac to accommodate the number of tools he commissioned."
Madeline paused, still looking eye to eye with Prewell. Looking at him still staring at her without saying a word after she finished speaking, she asked. "Are you listening?"
Prewell blinked at her then nodded.
Receiving no other response apart from a nod. She continued in her report.
"I had Derick investigated, according to the report that I have received from my subordinates. He was removed from his position by the former baron because of his suspicious activity in the castle.
Although nothing was found in the end, perhaps the Lord Arguile found it difficult to trust someone acting suspiciously around the castle.
He was laid off, since then, no news of Derick was heard. Until someone recognized him at the port and was reported to me by the people below.
He is the only person besides the pastor and his Order guards worth paying attention to. Other than them, only foreign traders can affect the situation here in Waldr." With that, Madeline ends her speech.
As Madeline stopped talking, Prewell began to take in the report that he had heard.
'A man vanishing... only to appear when necessary… sounds like magic to me.
Is it Derick who's capable of casting stealth magic? Maybe that's why he was removed from his position.
His suspicious ability to vanish will indeed raise countless red flags, especially to my father. He had been paranoid in the latter part of his life.'
Once again, the tapping of hard wood echoed throughout the room. Finally, after a moment of deliberation, Prewell told Madeline her next path of action.
"Madeline, have the people under you to be wary of the way they disclose information. Use the secret code we have developed to pass on the news. Derick may be capable of performing stealth magic, or someone may have been casting it on him. Either way, better be safe than sorry."
"After that…" Prewell stared into Madelines eyes. Unclear emotions in those crimson eyes. With a softer tone compared to his normal voice. "Follow me home. I'll have Lucius take over your duties here after he comes back from his task. It's not safe here anymore, the relation between the Order and the nobility have been completely estranged. I fear the church may take drastic actions soon in response to the sudden increased of weapon trade in the region."
A small smile appeared on Madeline's face. Eyes locked with each other. She spoke in the gentle voice as before. "Yes… let's go home, my Lord."