第１４８１堀：問い合わせの結果 (Part1)
Chapter 1481: The Results of the Inquiry
Side: Yuki
"I have to say, it makes me want to ask if this is really okay."
When I said that, Lowell, who was participating in the meeting, answered with a wry smile.
"It can't be helped. We can't exactly build lodging facilities for dignitaries on-site from scratch now, and we can't very well change the venue to the Royal Capital after all the publicity. That leaves us with no choice but to dump the responsibility on them."
"What you're saying is reasonable, but what about the Ewai Kingdom's face?"
"They understand that the power and financial resources of the Alliance and a small nation aren't on the same level, so it should be fine. Thanks to that, we have free rein. If you help out with the construction costs and time, Yuki, it’ll be cheap and reliable. They’ll be raking in the usage fees, so they’ll be thrilled. It’s a case of knowing one's place."
"Besides, for them, it’s better than having a gate installed in the Royal Capital. It prevents us from suddenly sending an army to occupy the capital, and it becomes the largest logistics hub in the Ewai Kingdom. Plus, since it’s being done almost for free, it’s a win-win, isn't it?"
Seraria added her own thoughts to Lowell’s words.
Well, I can understand the defensive aspect, but I’m still not sure about lending out land so easily just because we’re paying for it...
"Well, the Ewai Kingdom has already benefited from our Gartz and Rumel. It’s not like we’re forcing them into the Alliance; we’re just taking on this much."
Perhaps because I was wearing a troubled expression, Lowell added further.
"Is that how it works?"
"That’s how it works. They’re just accepting this as a return for the favors they’ve received so far. So, you should be grateful to me and Rumel."
"Understood. Thanks. Now, about the lodging facilities and defense..."
"Honestly, building them inside the town wouldn't be good for defense and counter-intelligence reasons. Besides, it might end up forcing out the people currently living or working there."
"In that case, we’ll have to build it adjacent to the town. You, show me the map of Wean, the town in the Ewai Kingdom."
"Yeah."
At Seraria’s request, I brought out the map of the town.
By the time the conversation had started, I had already deployed familiars and drones to begin an on-site survey.
"So this is the town of Wean. It doesn't look like there’s anything particularly unusual here."
"That’s right. It feels like it developed around the lord’s manor in the middle of a plain. The shape is oval, pretty standard."
As Seraria said, the town of Wean isn't exactly a fortress city; it feels like an ordinary town surrounded by a wall.
There was one more thing to confirm.
"Do you know anything about the surrounding threats? My aerial reconnaissance didn't find anything in particular. Just some goblins and wolves..."
"The Ewai Kingdom doesn't have anything that stands out. There are no dungeons, nor are there places where powerful monsters reside. As for tourist resources... I haven't heard of any. Well, I suppose that’s why it’s been left alone."
"So it has no strategic value for invasion?"
"Exactly. It doesn't face the sea or mines rich in resources, either. It produces crops, but the land isn't particularly fertile. It’s far from Rumel, and even further from Gartz, so there’s no merit in conquering it. Considering that if something were to happen, we’d have to provide support..."
"So it’s actually helpful for us that they remain independent. That’s why this might be a godsend for them."
"For the Ewai Kingdom, having a gate installed by the Alliance in a non-aligned country means they can receive aid in an emergency, and their logistics will improve. Well, it’s certainly all pros. Plus, for us, there’s the major benefit of being able to track the flow of goods in non-aligned countries more accurately."
If we can install a gate in the non-aligned Ewai Kingdom this time, it might force the Dark Guild—who seem to have been avoiding using gates to evade tracking—to change their habits, since they won't be able to ignore one right in front of them.
People can't help but use convenient things, after all.
"That’s the idea. You can just think of it as the Ewai Kingdom accepting the proposal because it genuinely helps them."
"The ones we need to be careful about are the Dark Guild, but we should be able to monitor their movements the moment the gate is installed, right?"
"Well, yes. Then, based on what we just discussed, the facilities should definitely be outside the town. We’ll build the gate, the lodging, and the defensive structures there. It would be great if we could build the auction venue there too, but..."
"That’s tricky. For safety's sake, it would be better if the Alliance built it, but then it might look like the Alliance held the auction, not the Ewai Kingdom. It could be seen as us not trusting the Ewai Kingdom."
As Lowell said, changing the auction venue is a difficult matter.
"Then, negotiate to have the existing auction venue in the town of Wean renovated."
"Understood. Leave that to me."
"But, thinking about it again, why is Lowell the representative of the envoys instead of someone from Rumel? Isn't it a vassal state of Rumel?"
Yes, I had been wondering about that; why is the representative Lowell of Gartz instead of Rumel?
Usually, considering the hierarchy, shouldn't someone from Rumel be doing it?
"No, envoys from Rumel are coming, of course. It’s just that I am the highest-ranking person among them."
"You. It’s rare for a mere diplomat to outrank a princess and a general."
"Ah... is that what you meant? It is indeed a vassal state of Rumel, but this proposal is coming from the Alliance as a whole."
"Yeah, if it were Rumel-led, Rumel should be in command. But as you said, Yuki, this is an Alliance matter. Since the Ewai Kingdom has ties to both Gartz and Rumel, it was decided that both would provide negotiators. Besides, there wasn't anyone in Rumel who could fight and command better than me."
"If you're talking about someone equal to or above Lowell in Rumel, that would be Princess Yuria. But she’s focused on politics, and right now she’s dispatched for negotiations with another continent."
"It seems things are tough over there, so that will take priority, assuming they occupy most of the benefits."
"It also means they won't interfere here unnecessarily."
Is that it? Well, Tanaka and the others are over there, so if they came here, could they be useful...?
No, they’re mercenaries, the type who solve problems through brute force, after all.