Chapter 11: 9

Ninth Run, the Strongest Shield and the First Prince

“What I wish for is human resources, Your Majesty.”

“I see, human resources huh.”

“The Asgard Territory has prospered as a trading hub but in recent years, the amount of tax we can collect has been declining.”

This is a fact.

As the number of business routes has increased in recent years, traffic to the Asgard Territory has been in decline.

“The silver deposit was actually discovered in my attempt to revitalize my territory.”

After the purge, economic activity has been stagnant throughout the kingdom and the income from the toll fee was decreasing.

Klein used that fact to construct an appropriate reason for the King.

“I am thinking of developing my human resources using the profit from the silver mine, Your Majesty.”

“I see. So you want someone who can train your civil servants huh.”

As expected of the King, he is quick to understand.

The Asgard house is a viscount family with a long history but Klein has succeeded as its head at a young age so he still lacks the connections.

“That is correct, Your Majesty. Not only that, our soldiers can not be said to be well-trained either. To be frank, I am quite anxious to leave the protection of the silver mine to them as they are now.”

“Fumu.”

So, in return for the profit made, he wants to recruit skilled people to work in his territory.

The King now understands why he wants to recruit people who can educate his staff back in his territory.

Convinced, the King nodded.

“To train new personnel, it would be sufficient if the palace could lend me someone skilled for 4 years, Your Majesty.”

Klein takes a deep breath after he stated his request.

That is all he asks.

“I see, I understand now. Certainly, the Asgard territory needs to be strengthened in order to keep the silver mine safe.”

Said the King as he leans forward and smiles in a good mood.

“…..so, you are also threatening us that the mining will stop if we leave your territory as weak as it is right now, correct?”

“I wouldn’t dare, Your Majesty. I simply want to get rid of the source of my anxiety.”

Being subjected to the killing intent from the two royal guards at the King’s side, Klein was preparing for another dead-end.

“I was joking. You’re still young but you sure have the foresight huh.”

“I humbly accept your compliment.”

“It seems that you have the courage to remain unmoved in the face of my knights’ killing intent as well. Hmm, how reliable.”

If this doesn’t work out, he can just try again.

Thinking so, Klein was calm.

Then, in a good mood, the King ordered the royal guards to stand down with his hand.

“I will try to fulfill your request as much as possible. You should accompany the Prime Minister to his office later to make the arrangements.”

“Thank you very much, Your Majesty!”

Klein, who replied with his loudest voice of the day, immediately left and headed to the waiting room.

——————

In exchange for the decreased income from silver mining, Klein has gained the strongest shield called the [Royal Family’s Protection].

He is also going to be introduced to experts in various fields and knights that can serve to retrain his soldiers.

This is a big step forward toward his survival.

“Thank you, Marie. I will make sure to raise your salary later.”

He managed to discover the silver deposit thanks to the scholars he invited to his territory but it was thanks to Marie’s advice that he can keep it.

While thinking that he should keep his ears open for others’ opinions, Klein was sitting on the sofa of the waiting room to wait for the Prime Minister’s call.

“Who’s Marie?”

“Oh, She’s a maid in my serv—–! Your Highness, excuse my rudeness!”

He casually responded to the question but the other party was the First Prince.

He’s a person with a slim bodyline and sharp gaze, coupled with his long silver hair and distant atmosphere, he’s the kind of person that would make you feel a little nervous around him.

Whatever the case, Klein hurriedly tried to greet the prince who suddenly appeared behind him.

“You don’t have to stand, I’m going to sit down too.”

After having the nearby maid brew tea for us, the first prince sits down across from Klein.

Since he did not say anything during the audience and had never personally spoken to Klein before, Klein doesn’t know what kind of person he is.

“So, you were saying?”

“No, it’s nothing, Your Highness. My maid simply told me that I would fail if I acted too greedy.”

Since the prince started the conversation with him, he found it easier to talk to him rather than the king.

“I thought about what she said and came up with the proposal I presented to His Majesty this time.”

“I see. You are a good lord that listens to his people huh.”

There was a mysterious pressure emanating from the prince as though he was trying to judge Klein’s character.

Then he proceeded to sip his tea with a bored expression before continuing the conversation.

“It seems that you properly took care of your horizontal relationship but what about your vertical ones?”

“My parents have already passed away and I do not have any connection with other great houses.”

Although he does have a blood connection with Count Jotunn, the present Klein should not be aware of that yet.

That’s why he decided to pretend not to know anything and answered so.

“Hmm, is that so, it must have been hard on you.”

This time Klein spotted that the corner of the prince’s mouth had raised up a little but he did not know the reason behind the prince’s smile.

You are reading story Survival Strategy for Weak Territories! ~ My Territory Will Be Destroyed No Matter How Many Times It Is Repeated. How Can This Be Saved? ~ at novel35.com

He has declared that he would give half of his profit to the royal family and the King has already acknowledged it.

Surely, the prince is not trying to monopolize the silver mine. Still, what is he trying to get out of him?

While Klein was pondering how to handle the prince, silence washed over the room.

When around 10 seconds have passed.

The prince opened his mouth again, however, this time he’s leaning forward.

“Then, what do you think about the Vanaut house?”

“….Um, well.”

“If you find it hard to say then, you must have some idea about them right?”

He was killed by the Count for some ridiculous reason.

There’s no way that Klein does not have his opinion about him.

However, Klein is being intimidated by the tremendous pressure exuded from the glint in the Prince’s eyes.

Still, Klein decided to say what he thinks knowing that the Count would surely kill him if he found out.

That being said, the story would have to go from his relationship with the Jotunn house.

If he goes into details then he will contradict his first statement that he has no relationship with other great houses.

That’s why he decided to give a vague reply while pretending to be afraid of the Eastern Count.

“Umm, this is a story I heard from my distant relative but, well, it seems that the head of the Vanaut house has been passionately pursuing a marriage talk with them recently.”

“Then he would eventually become your relative as well, right? It’s not like you are making more enemies, what are you not satisfied with?”

Thinking about it normally, instead of an enemy, he would gain the Eastern Count as his ally. However, the problem here lies with the Count himself.

Thinking so, Klein put it into words.

“……..the young lady who the Count has been courting, she is only 11 years old, Your Highness.”

“……Ahh, I see. Come to think of it, that guy certainly has that kind of hobby huh.”

If the prince did not know beforehand that the Count is a lolicon, he would be accused of spreading false rumors about high-ranking aristocrats.

For better or worse, the prince seems to be aware of Count Vanaut’s preference as well. 

Seeing that, Klein strokes his chest in relief.

“Then, what about House Laguna?”

The question the prince raised next was about the house that tossed him into these loops in the first place.

House Laguna could be said to be the source of all his hardships, a family that his fate is being tied with.

However, from what he knows, it seems that the Marquis hasn’t started anything yet and the relationship he has with the royal family is not a bad one either.

Badmouthing him here would accelerate the destruction of his house.

——-thinking so, Klein decided to praise the Laguna house.

“That name is famous around my territory. I think that the Marquis is a proud and respectable person. He is truly the pride of the Kingdom. Yes, I admire him.”

“Hmm, I see. So you see him like that huh.”

Klein was praising the Marquis while enduring the boiling feeling inside him.

He has to praise the Marquis for the sake of his people. However, it appears that it came with a lot of stress.

While suppressing his shaking body, Klein forced himself to smile.

“Due to the recent unrest, it seems that the Laguna house has greatly increased its influence.”

The first prince casually said that while lightly spinning the saucer under his teacup.

“Yes, I heard about that as well.”

“I can’t allow a fool who can’t even read the situation from that to hold such a great power.”

“………Eh?”

When Klein confusedly raised his voice, he heard the sound of something cutting through the air coming from behind him.

Perhaps due to his struggle with the assassin lately, Klein managed to avoid being decapitated by the first blow.

“Ah, ugh, ha!?”

However, he was slashed from his right shoulder down to his left hip.

“If you can not see the conspiracy here then you are blind. If you can’t feel any sense of crisis then you are but an ordinary man. Your attitude as a lord is praiseworthy but it is possible that you will side with Laguna in the future…….you failed.”

“Indeed, Your Highness.”

When the first prince muttered so, the royal knight that had been escorting him moved to his side.

That knight’s face somehow feels familiar to Klein.

However, the only part he felt familiar with was only her eyes.

“…..ahh, this won’t do. I made him suffer.”

Just like that, Klein’s upper body was cut in half.

The person who delivered him such a finished blow—–had a very gentle look on her face.

 

 

 

Kingdom Calendar Year 500, April 22nd.

It was announced that on his way back from the royal palace, Viscount Asgard was attacked and killed by a group of bandits

As a result, the entire Asgard territory was transferred to the royal family’s direct control.

 

TLN: Next up 10th – 11th run.

Well, I have another vaccine jab next weak so expect significantly lower productivity…….

-Mr.Graverobber

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