Gasi

Part 4Martell was captured as a perpetrator of assassination.

The pope office was driven into chaos when that report reached them.

There was no record of a member of the special corrective force ever getting captured alive even within the long history of the church.

They either completed their mission or died. If they failed their mission, it was only natural for them to quickly take their own life.

To be captured alive meant that he wasn't even given a moment of opening to commit suicide.

If Martell's skill was taken into consideration, it was impossible for this to happen unless the other side had been waiting for him in ambush with full preparation from the start.

「Why did Martell assassinate Viscount Continerri?」

Those who knew about the dark side of the church had to be erased. Especially the incompetent people who didn't understand about consequence and loss and gain, such people had to be swiftly erased.

In that respect, Valerie wasn't an existence who could be easily assassinated, so the special corrective force thought to assassinate Continerri to be a warning for Valerie too.

But they never expected even in their wildest dream that Valerie was a step ahead of them and laid out a trap.

Could it be that Valerie was already aware of the special corrective force that was the church's secret by the time he came into contact with Martell?

「...The opponent is a sly old fox of the underworld. There is no way he will openly declare a war to us.」

「Is it already too late to kill Martell now? The only thing that he can use as proof is only Martell alone.」

An archbishop was asking for the death of a subordinate without any hesitation. From there it could be peeked just how cheap the life of the special corrective force was.

However there was a practical problem for that. The other side had someone who could capture Martell alive. The risk would be too big to send another assassin to kill Martell. If the assassin they sent also got captured too, the church wouldn't be able to make excuse anymore.

「It's not desirable for us to be in open hostility with the dukedom right now.」

「Although it was to keep the secrecy, wasn't assassinating Viscount Continerri overdoing it?」

「No, the assassination itself isn't a mistake. The problem is that our agent got captured.」

The special corrective force could be called a secret agency even though there were rumors about it was because nobody could catch hold of their true form. The moment the name of the special corrective force got exposed under the sunlight, its worth as an organization would be over.

What should they do in order to resolve this problem while still keeping the existence of the special corrective force as a secret?

「──We can only deny about Martell's existence while finding a common ground with the dukedom. We will only give advantage to that monsterBaldr if we turn the dukedom into our enemy.」

Those words came from Magella, the archbishop in charge of the church's diplomacy. The pope nodded gravely to that and their policy was decided.

Each of them started taking action to erase the traces of the man called Martell from this world while they would also attempt to win over the dukedom by giving them concessions.

Even though the church's territory was like a tiny country that could be blown away by a single breath from a major country, the influence they possessed in this continent was still vast regardless whether it was on the surface or behind the scene.

They wouldn't be able to introduce themselves as the biggest religious nation in the continent if they couldn't overcome a danger of this level.

It was exactly at that timing.

「There is a messenger from Count Ost of Trystovy Dukedom!」

The message that was conveyed by the visiting messenger was something that surpassed the church's imagination.

Martell would be liberated. The message also said that the dukedom was aware of the existence of King's Gate and they sought the church's assistance to deal with it. The detail could be asked from Martell's own mouth──.

Why was Martell liberated even though they were able to capture him red handed?

In the first place, could the church believe Martell who was liberated by the enemy?

The top brass of the church were bewildered by the situation that took place unexpectedly. Not a single one of them was able to see through Valerie's motive.

「You have done well to convey this message. Please be sure to tell Count Ost that we will definitely consider his proposal carefully.」

The archbishop observed the complexion of the pope while barely forcing himself to say those words to the messenger.

In any case the church couldn't possibly have a breakdown of relationship with the dukedom here. At the very least they had to keep it like that until Baldr's ambition was stopped.

First they had to delay questioning this problem and also gave the other party a good impression in order to build a good working relationship from here on.

However three days later, the church was shaken severely once more by the words that were spoken from Martell's mouth who returned back without a single wound on his body.

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Inside the great statue of Europa there was a dark room that only the pope was allowed to enter.

That place was storing a relic where history and wisdom of the church that couldn't possibly be publicized was written on it.

Only the pope alone knew about the content.

If other people tried to operate this relic, the burden of the relic would burn off their cranial nerves and they would die instantly.

He tried to remember when was the first time he entered such a forbidden place.

The pope closed his eyes and went back his memory lane.

The previous pope named him as his successor and then it was approved in the round-table conference. If he didn't remember it wrong, it happened 51 years ago.

──Until that time he was only focused in the race to be promoted within the church.

Although he was born as the second son of a poor baker, he became popular in his neighborhood due to his keen mind, and with that he was fortunately able to obtain priesthood as a friar in the church.

He didn't want to return to that poor livelihood anymore. He sincerely refused to return to an environment where he often went hungry and if he got seriously sick there would be nothing he could do except giving up and waiting for death.

He distinguished himself within the church as though to repay for all of his misfortunes since birth.

He tripped up his colleagues and seniors and swore that it would be him and nobody else who would obtain the supreme position within Europa religion. He never said out loud such ambition that originally shouldn't be allowed for someone of his occupation, however that was what he decided in his heart.

Fortunately there was a tradition in Europa Church to not be fixated with social status from birth.

After that he became a demon of political struggle and did things like bribery or giving lavish treatment as though it was only natural.

He even joined hand with scoundrels who specialized with work in the shadow to take down his rival.

Even while he displayed degenerate actions that would make other questioned which part of him was a clergyman, his dearest wish finally came true and he succeeded in obtaining the position of pope. But that result wasn't necessarily the fruit of his schemes.

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「──What is necessary to be a pope isn't human virtue.」

His predecessor asserted that to him clearly.

He thought that such thing was a problem in itself, but he didn't say it out loud.

「The real authority for managing church is in the possession of the archbishops in the round-table conference. You too surely know about that.」

「Of course, I'm aware that the authority of your eminence the pope is also presiding over the archbishops even in such case.」

His predecessor snorted. That was because he was aware that he who was an archbishop at that time didn't actually hold any such respect at the slightest toward the pope.

「What is demanded from a pope is to keep the secret of the church's darkness no matter what kind of method he has to use and to prepare for the coming crisis.」

「──The coming crisis?」

There wasn't an ideology about the end of the world in the teaching of Europa religion.

Although even if there was such ideology, there was no way he would believe such empty story.

「The true objective of our Europa religion isn't to give salvation to all living things under the name of Europa. It's to protect this world from invasion.」

「Haa?」

He let out a stupid sounding voice.

Certainly mediating between countries to prevent wars from happening was a praiseworthy role of the church. However he could only feel puzzled if he was told that was the true objective of the church.

At that time he wondered whether his predecessor had started to turn senile and delusional.

「It can't be helped that you can't believe it. But that will only be until you ascertain it with your own eyes.」

His predecessor laughed cynically.

「──Watch. The truth of the church lie here.」

Light was overflowing bit by bit. The laughter of his predecessor was getting louder along with that.

He grimaced slightly from the irritating voice that touched his nerves.

「You sir won't be able to escape anymore after learning the truth. Only those who can bear the weight of this truth can become the pope.」

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The pope cut off his recollection and let out a deep sigh.

The seal was undone in his era of all time.

How troublesome, he didn't become a pope for something like this. Even though his only wish should be to obtain a peace that nobody could violate…..

──If I make a mistake in my leadership, the church will lose its meaning of existence and the world will follow the path of destruction.

「...I don't know how much he know but, Count Valerie Ost, he can't be allowed to live.」

If Valerie arrived at the unvarnished truth, he would have to be killed first before Baldr.

But, as expected the pope couldn't imagine that Valerie could possibly know of the truth. It was impossible for anybody than the pope to know about this secret.

If it was only about the existence of King's Gate then all the top brass of the church were in the know.

「Perhaps...no, there is no way.」

He didn't want to consider that the information leaked out from the church, but if that wasn't the case that meant Valerie gathered information from the beastman race.

「First we will have to kill Baldr Antrim Cornelius before thinking about this.」

If they could just kill that man, the church wouldn't need to have a second thought about killing Valerie or turning the dukedom into enemy.

Besides the dukedom too wouldn't be that obsessed with making trouble with the church that they would even turn Answerer Kingdom into their enemy.

「Things just won't go as they should.」

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Part 5「I shall act as liaison between your excellency and the church from now on. Please treat me as you see fit.」

Martell bowed deeply toward Valerie wearing the ceremonial dress of a bishop.

「My goodness, looks like you have drawn the short end of the sticks.」

Surprisingly it was Martell who was chosen to act as the church's liaison for their cooperation with the dukedom.

Martell was aware that this wasn't a promotion or the like at all for him.

He was given the mission to betray Valerie when the times came and then killed himself on the spot regardless whether he succeeded or failed.

The failure that Martell committed was just that big. It wouldn't be that strange for him to be executed immediately after he returned at that time.

「I'm envious.」

「Envious?」

Valerie shook his head as though he was speaking from the bottom of his heart. Martell naturally asked him.

「The church appointed you sir to become a liaison because they don't have any doubt at all that you have turned traitor toward the church. I only have several subordinates who I can trust to such degree.」

Martel had certainly committed a blunder.

However the church didn't hold any suspicion at all that Martell might have betrayed the church and switched side to Valerie. The faith of those who belonged to the special corrective force wasn't that weak.

There was no doubt that only the church or the beastman race was able to believe in the loyalty of their members like this throughout the continent.

(How truly envious. Though it's a different matter between not turning traitor and not causing loss. Are they intending to send poison to this me using this man?)

Sometimes it was none other than virtue that ended up inviting destruction in the nastiest way.

It was exactly because Martell was a capable and perfectly faithful man that he had extremely great utility value for Valerie.

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Part 6The commanding officer of Trystovy Dukedom's first fleet Federigo Romano was leading Gigante and continued to seal ocean current Medina even now.

It was one of the three great currents that made Mulberry as thriving as it was. Just because the other two currents had been taken back wasn't any reason to abandon this current.

It was a headache for the maritime guild that this area that was one of the major sea routes continued to be blockaded. Just because two of the three had become usable didn't solve all the problems.

On the other hand the dukedom side also received great impact because the sea routes blockade that should corner Mulberry in a short time was broken through. It was said that the navy minister Tommaso had submitted his resignation to the archduke unofficially.

He heard that the archduke delayed from making a decision, but Federigo wondered how would it be in the end.

「Well, no one ever imagined that this Gigante would be done in that easily.」

Gigante was a fortress that was floating on sea.

This ship wasn't amusing for sailors, but this ship was created so the conventional way of fighting until now by shooting arrows at each other and boarding the enemy ship for close quarter combat became impossible.

The difference of height between the deck of Gigante and other ship was too great that a proper close range combat couldn't occur.

If Federigo was told to fight Gigante, he would recruit suicide corps and set his ship on fire to crash into Gigante. That was the only idea that he could think of.

It was a method that was no different than a declaration of defeat as a sailor who had confidence in his own ability until now.

The kingdom army conquered that Gigante──or rather it was trounced by some absurd heroic women with brute force──at first Federigo couldn't believe that story.

It would be more believable to hear that Gigante was sunk, but a ship being taken over was a disgraceful story for the crews, and no matter how hard he racked his brain he couldn't think of any method to take over Gigante.

When he learned that the story was really true, he was honestly at his wits' end.

He didn't know how should he fight an opponent that was able to occupy Gigante with close-quarter combat.

The only idea he could think was to not allow the enemy got near from the start and to increase his side's firepower.

If possible he wanted to double the size of his fleet, but the declining dukedom didn't have any leeway for that.

And yet he also didn't have the option of not strengthening his combat force.

With a Gigante falling into the kingdom's hand, the armada of maritime guild that was commanded by Admiral Barbarino became completely free to act.

It was earnest desire as a military man to settle his rivalry with his old enemy, but he couldn't possibly let his guard down against Urraca de Parma, the navy minister of Majorca who was even extolled as the personification of the sea god.

Or rather presently Federigo was forced to prioritize preserving his fleet that he was unable to deal with Urraca who was rampaging across Marmara Sea.

「Good grief, so this is what Trystovy navy that was once said to be the ruler of the south seas is now reduced into.」

It was useless to reminisce about it now, but in the past both the maritime guild and Sanapniradeon were under the control of Trystovy and it was said that one day the country would surpass Answerer Kingdom as the continent's strongest.

When he was still nothing more than an officer, Federigo was burning with ambition and dream.

He swore he would become an admiral and sailed fast through this south seas under the title of the strongest. And then he would perform conspicuous service that left his name in history.

Unfortunately his dream didn't come true except for being an admiral.

「Well, nothing will start if I just grumble here.」

Federigo scratched his head awkwardly. Then there was a report from the sailor on guard duty that there was enemy ship sighted.

「──So they came.」

Even Federigo could see that a fleet of around thirty ships was approaching here from the west.

「They arrive exactly as scheduled. The skill of those overserious fellows from Answerer isn't bad.」

His tone was casual but Federigo's expression couldn't hide his humiliation. After all the glorious navy of Trystovy Dukedom had lost a Gigante and they couldn't deny that they were unable to maintain the control of the sea with their own strength.

After Trystovy Dukedom negligently lost Gigante that Answerer Kingdom generously lent to them, Answerer Kingdom took the plunge and sent direct aid to them.

──The reinforcement that was sent to the dukedom wasn't just the land army under the leadership of Mikhail.

Rather for Answerer Kingdom that was being bothered with internal troubles from Nedras Kingdom's resistance, this reinforcement in the form of their navy that didn't have any place to raise achievements right now was the main reinforcement.

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「──The sea here is really calm.」

「──This feels a bit lacking for us who were trained in the rough sea of Galeares(ガレアレス).」

On top of the flag ship of the reinforcement fleet for Trystovy Kingdom, the fleet commander Percival and the ship captain Domitory looked at each other and laughed.

Their headquarters Sevastopol was located at the western edge of Answerer Kingdom. It was known for its freezing coldness and strong wind.

The power of the sea merchant in their country was strong. The good harbors with warm climate were controlled by the merchants.

The navy in Answerer Kingdom had contented themselves with their position as social outcast until now, but the expedition to Trystovy this time was an unexpected chance for them to raise achievements.

Percival was a young and energetic commander. Everyone had high expectation to the future of this young admiral.

He was a masculine handsome man with darkish skin from the sun and sea breeze. He looked strangely picturesque with his reddish-brown hair that was only tied up simply.

Although he was considered young, he had finally stepped into age forty not long ago. In the end he was considered young only among the top brass of the navy.

Percival was able to be promoted as admiral at his thirty was also greatly helped by his status as an influential noble. That was why he was hungry for a chance to prove his ability.

Domitory was staring at that youthful vanity smilingly.

There was no military man who didn't want to obtain achievements. A man who didn't wish for fame and achievements was just a man without any ball.

Besides it wasn't just Percival who wished for enemy they should fight and achievements.

Domitory was also feeling his blood seething in anticipation to the enemy that they hadn't seen yet.

「I pray that we will meet worthy enemies.」

「Even if we take all the stories with a grain of salt, I think our opponent will be fun enough you know? Although perhaps even that is already within the calculation of the top brass.」

「Yeah, certainly──」

Percival muttered with a troubled look.

「Around this time...」

They weren't the only fleet that departed from Answerer Kingdom. The time had come to prove that Answerer Kingdom was the strongest not only on land but also at sea.

Besides no matter how excellent of an admiral Urraca or Barbarino was, Percival had the state-of-the-art weapon that he was given from his motherland.

「I'll turn them all into my stepping stones.」

At that time a flag signal from Federigo's flag ship was displayed to welcome them.

「Reefing! Midship!」

The imposing appearance of Gigante that was originally constructed in Answerer Kingdom was going strong.

To think that a ship this gigantic had been taken by the enemy, just how worthless the dukedom navy was? Indeed, it was understandable that the other side had to borrow their strength.

「Tell them that there is no need to worry anymore now that we are here.」

Federigo threw his hat on the deck in fury when he saw the flag signal from Percival.

「A tourist who doesn't know anything dare to...don't act like a big shot you bastard!」

Indeed, the national power of Answerer Kingdom was really something with how they were able to dispatch two fleets here while still leaving behind their main fleet back in their homeland. He recognized that it was a feat that the dukedom could never do no matter how hard they might try.

「However, don't think that you guys will still be able to act smug like that when your opponent is Tormenta Negra and the Sea Wolf Barbarino.」

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Part 7「Come on, come on! Are the men of the sea from Trystovy nothing but coward?」

After Majorca Kingdom's participation in the war became public and Urraca didn't need to be sneaky anymore, she went around attacking all the merchant fleets of the dukedom that she could find.

The number of merchants ships that Urraca had sunk since the start of war had reached dozens. The dukedom's economy was gradually weakening due to that immense damage.

The maritime guild wasn't the only maritime merchant in Trystovy. Rather the number of sea merchants who surrendered to the dukedom was also quite a lot.

It was obvious but, they wouldn't be able to do their business if they didn't go out to the sea.

Although they were given several ships as escort, the escort knew that they wouldn't be able to oppose Urraca. They would immediately scramble to run away as soon as Urraca approached. Because of that the merchant fleet of the dukedom could only be hunted down as a pitiful prey.

「...Really, there are nothing but gutless bunch here. Don't they feel anything even if their sea route got crushed?」

「No, as expected there's no way that's the case.」

For a maritime nation, marine traffic route was their lifeline.

Trystovy Dukedom also had vast land territory, but there was no doubt that it was essentially a maritime nation.

Actually there were too many obstacles that made it impossible for Trystovy to rely on their land traffic route.

There was Piller Mountains at their border with Mauricia Kingdom that blocked the way. At the north there was the pope territory that was considered untouchable. And then Grand Duchy Tenedora at the east had become a vassal state of Answerer Kingdom and since then the public order there kept worsening.

The cost-effectiveness of the land route was incomparably bad than the maritime trade.

On top of that the population in the pope territory and Grand Duchy Tenedora wasn't high by all means.

If they allowed Urraca to continue destroying the commerce like this, sooner or later the merchants of the dukedom would be forced into bankruptcy.

「...Hm?」

Urraca's sixth sense and her inhuman sight caught the silhouette of ship at the horizon.

「Hou, so there is still a lively leftover here.」

Urraca talked to herself joyfully, but contrary to her expectation, the opponent wasn't at the level of simply a lively leftover.

What appeared from beyond the horizon was the combined fleet that was led by Percival and Federigo. It was a large scale fleet that numbered nearly fifty ships.

「Well well, looks like those guys are also getting serious.」

「...As expected we can't hope to contend with that number. We're going to link up with Admiral Barbarino just as planned. But, we won't get punished even if we prank them for a bit right?」

「But of course boss lady.」

「Yosh, port! Open and change the jive!」

「Ma'am!」

.

「Enemy ship accelerating!」

「Are they sane?」

If they thought they could win against a grand fleet of nearly fifty ships with a fleet of only four ships, then the people there must have a serious case of megalomania.

Until this moment Percival still considered this as something like a puppy nipping at his heel.

「Three is a signal from the dukedom fleet. The enemy fleet is led by Tormenta Negra.」

「──What?」

The woman was the navy minister of Majorca Kingdom and she was said to be the cornerstone for Baldr Antrim Cornelius's war effort at the sea. Percival couldn't believe that such person would show this kind of foolhardiness in this kind of place.

In the end she is just a woman, such contempt welled up in Percival's chest. At the same time a chill that had saved him several times until now although he couldn't explain how ran through his spine.

(No, don't tell me──)

Percival thought of this chill as his instinct as living being that warned him of danger.

In other words, his instinct was telling him that fleet of only four ships possessed a fang that could put him in enough danger.

His mind could hardly believe it, but Percival trusted on his instinct more.

「Be on your guard! Stretch out our flanks!」

「Sir!」

「Don't approach the enemy ships other than the marines! Take some distance and don't let them break through!」

「Sir!」

Most likely Urraca's aim was to take advantage of how large this combined fleet was and how the coordination between Trystovy fleet and Answerer fleet was still awkward.

However the skill of the dukedom fleet wasn't that bad that they would needlessly hinder Answerer fleet.

Next if the marine unit that was the pride of Answerer Kingdom could board the enemy ships, the battle would be as good as over.

「E-enemy ships accelerating! They're fast!」

「Calm down! You can't win a battle just by being fast!」

This sea shouldn't be Urraca's turf, and yet she was able to read the wind until this far. Percival was amazed in his heart.

Perhaps Urraca was more skilled than him in handling ship.

But, it would be a great mistake if she thought that she could overcome this overwhelming difference in number with just ship handling skill.

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「Fore topsail a back! Mizzen spanker whole in!」

「Ma'am!」

「Let the stern drift! Open and change the jive!」

「Ma'am!」

「Hard starboard!」

「Ma'am!」

Urraca's ship looked like it was accelerating and charging forward, but the ship's bow rapidly turned to another direction.

It was a magnificent maneuver that was really difficult to imitate.

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Even though their ships were sailing to the same direction, Urraca's fleet was slowly getting farther. Percival noticed that and he felt his body burning with humiliation that he had never felt until now.

Urraca showed her acrobatic right before them only to show off the difference in skill as sailor between them.

Percival's humiliation was great because he could comprehend that he was unable to do the same thing like that.

「D-don't screw with me! Oi, take out that thing!」

「...Your excellency, the possibility is high that we will miss at this range. It won't be wise to allow the enemy learn of that thing's existence just for this.」

「You're right. I've shown you an unsightly side of me.」

Domitory's composed warning made Percival immediately recovered his rationality.

「...The enemy ships escaped. Tell the watchers to not slack off in their vigilance.」

「Sir!」

Urraca's back quickly grew smaller until it only looked like a speck at far away. Percival muttered a curse.

「Tormenta Negra, the price of this humiliation is going to be expensive!」

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Part 8By subduing the atrocious pirate Sanpaniradeon, the safety of south seas route that was connecting Majorca Kingdom and Trystovy Dukedom became guaranteed to a degree that was never felt before.

Sanjuan Kingdom also set out to develop the south seas that had finally turned safe. Selina's Cornelius Company that took up residence in Sanjuan Kingdom was also quickly organizing a merchant fleet.

There were enormous demands in Trystovy. Cornelius Company had the ability to export and fulfill those demands so naturally their business was booming.

Of course Dowding Company was backing up Cornelius Company in full.

For Dowding Group that had become a big company that was distinguished even in the whole continent, their advance to the shipping industry was literally a large undertaking that put their company's future into a bet.

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「The tailwind is also blowin' to a favorable direction right now.」

Selina was feeling a great delight in front of the newly made merchant fleet of Cornelius Company.

At present they only had four ships, but it was planned that six more ships would be completed within the year.

The one who was commanding this merchant fleet was a veteran captain who belonged to Sanpaniradeon in the past, Kazru.

He once was even entrusted to command a sub fleet of Sanpaniradeon. He withdrew from Sanpaniradeon after the group's surrender. He couldn't bring himself to fight under the command of army no matter what.

Even so he also couldn't bear to separate from the sea. Selina's job offer was truly a godsend for him.

The crews of his ships, and even the helmsmen and navigation officers were all veterans from Sanpaniradeon.

Even if their number was few, having a veteran leader or not was like the difference between heaven and earth.

「We gotta spread our market in order to make the dukedom dry up too.」

The price of salt at the dukedom fell drastically due to Selina's scheme and many nobles and merchants of the dukedom were driven into bankruptcy. The dukedom put an embargo to Sanjuan Kingdom's salt in order to adjust the price.

The mass produced cheap salt from Sanjuan Kingdom was in great demand, so they weren't troubled in searching for new buyer for it. Even if the embargo from Trystovy Dukedom continued, it wouldn't be a problem at all.

Besides there were many products that they could export, like the cultured pearl or diamond.

Sanjuan Kingdom had left Trystovy in the dust in regard to shipping industry. Now they started to act to use this chance to expand the market in the south seas.

Cornelius Company had strong connection with Sanjuan Kingdom's government through various points. The company received favorable treatment and it made the major merchants that had done their business for long in Sanjuan Kingdom to be displeased.

However they weren't so foolish as though to openly act hostile to Cornelius Company despite their displeasure. Rather they considered this as a great chance and with indomitable business soul they also profited a lot from it. This was the characteristic quality of the merchants.

And then just the other day too, a newly formed fleet set sail to Trystovy fully loaded with foods and clothing. The owner of the fleet was a well-established company of Sanjuan Kingdom, Gilbey Company.

「Hmph, I'm not going to let that greenhorn brat get even further ahead from us than this!」

The company president Adnams angrily stood at the lead of his fleet.

As a senior figure who had done business in Sanjuan Kingdom for many years, his pride wouldn't allow him to stand below a young woman like Selina.

Of course he was aware that there was Dowding Company and the hero Baldr Antrim Cornelius behind Selina.

But this and that were two different stories.

Unfortunately Gilbey Company didn't have a special product that others couldn't imitate like Cornelius Company.

In exchange they had a lot of old acquaintances. They had deep connection with the producers of agricultural products. They were food trader who didn't allow any other company to catch up with them in Sanjuan Kingdom.

The current situation where they could anticipate a war to break out where the participants would need a great amount of food was a chance that was hard to come by.

Although Dowding Company exported the grains of Haurelia Kingdom through Mauricia to Trystovy, the amount was still completely insufficient to satisfy the demands of the whole country.

People would rush to buy their products no matter how high the price was. I won't let Cornelius Company act like a big shot yet, Adnams swore in high spirits.

His fleet was also composed of ten ships, twice the size of Cornelius Company's fleet. The fleet was also accompanied by two more ships as escort.

The crews of the fleet also weren't amateur in combat. They could also become a brutal armed group on their own.

If they encountered the patrol boats of the dukedom, they would be able to repel them with their own effort.

To say nothing of how the control of the sea was almost completely within the grasp of their country right now. The risk of getting pillaged by a pirate group like Sanpaniradeon like in the past was extremely small.

「──Old man, there is sign of ships at two o'clock.」

The confidante that Adnams trusted Kalira pointed with his finger. There several ships outlines that looked like battleship were lining up.

「There are nearly twenty ships──are they Sanpaniradeon? No, there are even more ships behind them!」

A chilling cold ran through his back.

That movement was easy to understand for those who had lived for long on the sea──that was undoubtedly battle maneuver.