Chapter 106. Gathering Shining Flags in Norington (1)
Emilia was standing in front of a half-burnt wall, tearing up.
On the wall she was looking at, there was a small dog hole that only a small child could fit into.
“I…… here…… sob sob…… Young Master pushed my bottom first…….”
As the blonde maid shed endless tears from her large eyes recalling the scene from that time, Ciella standing next to her took out a handkerchief and personally wiped Emilia’s tears.
This wall was the only thing remaining where the Cadmus family mansion used to be.
Imagining with what heart young Blanc passed through this wall, Ciella felt a corner of her chest ache.
“Alright, Emilia. Let’s preserve this wall.”
Ciella Cadmus, the Baroness of Cadmus who was granted full authority over the mansion reconstruction from Blanc.
In her view, this wall was qualified enough to become one of the histories of the Cadmus family.
“And please recall the internal structure as much as possible if you can.”
“Yes…… Lady Ciella.”
Ciella was receiving help from Emilia, who had worked for the Cadmus family for a long time, with the desire to revive Blanc’s old memories if possible.
“Then shall we preserve this wall?”
“Yes. Please do so.”
One Dwarf with a long beard was following Ciella around closely, meticulously writing down her requirements.
It was excessive kindness for a Dwarf with strong pride and craftsmanship to do, but there was a reason for this behavior.
Duven succeeded in inviting architects belonging to the Dwarf Stonemason Guild following Blanc’s instruction.
At first, the construction foreman was displeased to be dispatched to a mere Baron family, but his attitude changed rapidly from the moment he knew that the master of the Cadmus family, Blanc Cadmus, was a Golden Grade customer of the Iron Bank.
From the Dwarves’ perspective, the guarantee of the Iron Bank was much more important than the ranks of humans they had little interest in, whether Duke or Count.
Moreover, since there was also a personal request from Perlman Acehover, the president of the Iron Bank, regarding this Cadmus mansion construction, it was understandable for the foreman to be subservient to Ciella’s words and bow his head.
“A white mansion, thinking of 3 stories in height.”
“Yes, Baroness.”
While Ciella was walking around the site to build the mansion leading the Dwarves for a while, one Dwarf worker approached her.
“Baroness. What should we do with the tree stump in the middle of the site? It’s such a big one that removing it would cost considerable time and money…….”
Hearing the Dwarf worker’s words, Ciella looked at the tree stump lying alone in the middle of the mansion site.
Although only the base remained, its existence alone made one feel ominous.
“Please pull it out completely by the roots.”
Ciella did not tolerate the existence of such an ominous thing.
Because the Cadmus family mansion to be newly built had to be stronger and shine whiter than anything else.
The young phoenix settled on Ciella’s shoulder and nodded, supporting Ciella’s decision.
“Because the mansion we are building now is a precious place where my children and their children’s children will grow up.”
Baroness Ciella’s eyes looking at the ominous tree stump shone coolly.
***
Blanc stood by the window and looked at his wife leading the Dwarves.
“She’s quite good.”
Blanc spat out his honest impression seeing Ciella’s work ability.
Although she made distinguished contributions in the Liberation Front helping his father in the previous life, that was something she achieved only when Ciella’s age was almost forty.
However, the current Ciella was steadily growing, continuously receiving opportunities to unfold her abilities due to the existence of Blanc.
“It seems she has already completely grasped the family employees.”
Hearing Hansen’s words, a smile slowly spread on Blanc’s lips.
Since the Cadmus family had to establish a new foundation, the more talents, the better.
And if that talent was his wife who would stay right by his side, nothing could be better.
Without taking his eyes off Ciella moving busily, Blanc spoke to the young man behind him.
“I heard you learned a lot beside Bonas.”
The young man bowing his head answering Blanc’s words.
“Thinking it was an opportunity that would not come often in my life, I did my best. Baron.”
Although still skinny, the poverty seen at first could not be found in the current young man.
“Good. Nilsen.”
On a cold winter day, the boy who guided Blanc to Bonas in Bigrove was now standing in front of him.
“I will give you a mission. If you succeed in this, I promise to use you importantly in the future as well.”
At Blanc’s words, Nilsen’s eyes shone.
Nilsen, who had lived a beggar life on the streets, knew well how valuable the words Blanc was saying now were.
“I will do my best. Baron.”
Blanc smiled seeing Nilsen’s determined eyes.
“You will have to go around the entire southern area of the Kingdom of Felix. Prepare firmly and move.”
With those words, Blanc handed a box to Nilsen.
“Deliver those letters and return.”
Nilsen looked at the box Blanc handed over.
It was an object and a mission that might decide his life.
“I will obey your command.”
The beggar boy of Bigrove arrived at the huge tree named Blanc through the string named Bonas.
He did not want to miss this opportunity.
He did not want to return to the streets of the cold winter day with no dreams or hope again.
“I will do my best. Baron.”
Nicholas, who newly joined the Cadmus retainer group, looked at Nilsen leaving Blanc’s office with sharp eyes.
“From the moment he distributes those to the lords of the South, you will cross a river of no return with Count Lacie.”
Watching Nilsen leave, Nicholas spoke to Blanc as if he had been waiting.
“Time is on the Baron’s side. How about reconsidering my opinion once more?”
Blanc looked into Nicholas' eyes and recalled the conversations he had with him.
Nicholas was a man sharp and decisive enough to be called the Red Prime Minister in the previous life.
He was a person whose sharp foresight looking ahead and bold decisiveness stood out that much, but the problem was that his ability had not ripened yet and.
“Time does not take anyone’s side. Nicholas.”
The point was that he did not know the future of humanity standing at the crossroads of approaching Void and destruction.
“But Baron…….”
Nicholas' eyes were shining like that night.
***
“I think it is right to cultivate strength within the embrace of Tolome and Neudorf for now.”
Late at night. Blanc’s office.
Behind Blanc looking at the moon outside the window, Nicholas spoke fervently with shining eyes.
Knowing that Blanc was firm in his intention to set up an antagonistic angle with Count Lacie, Nicholas said now was the time to strengthen internal stability rather than confrontation.
“Correct words.”
Blanc turned his body from the window and looked at Nicholas.
His eyes wrapping the night sky had become much deeper than before.
“Your words are also correct, but I view now as the time to move.”
Nicholas' opinion was a sufficiently correct opinion.
Unless assuming the existence called Void.
Blanc said, looking at the map placed on his desk.
“The Prince’s Rebellion of Gartaria has begun. That strong kingdom will be divided into three sooner or later.”
Even without digging up memories of the previous life, anyone could predict it looking at the current situation.
“Therefore, rather, now is the time to shrink back. Since we do not know where the sparks starting from Gartaria will fly.”
It was a time when the flow of the era changed.
Nicholas said it would be a big burden to throw Norington, which was just barely getting settled, back into the raging turbulence, but.
“No, therefore, rather, we must move now.”
However, Blanc chose to walk into that flow.
“Because only those standing at the forefront in the changing flow can enter first into the newly beginning order.”
The Black Wolf’s eyes were shining blue.
“We cannot stay stopped at a Baron family forever, can we?”
“…….”
Despite hearing Blanc’s confident aspiration, Nicholas did not show much agitation.
There were things felt from the moment he first saw Blanc.
‘It is understandable that Count Lacie is urgently trying to check him.’
Blanc Cadmus who became a shining star accumulating numerous achievements.
His age, praised as a rising star, was only sixteen now.
Since it was Blanc who already established the achievement of becoming the Lord of Norington at an age that could be called young, no one would think he would stop here.
Looking at Blanc looking at him with deep eyes, Nicholas seemed to understand Count Lacie’s feelings.
“However, right now, you will not be able to receive firm support from the southern lords.”
Blanc slightly raised the corners of his mouth and nodded to Nicholas as if telling him to continue.
“There are two reasons why Count Lacie could exert great influence on the existing southern lords.”
Nicholas continued speaking as if he had waited for the current situation.
“His territory is located right in the middle connecting the center and the South. Through this, he can manipulate the flow of logistics connecting the center and the South as he pleases.”
This was also the part Pallard Cadmus felt most pressured by.
Since even the movement of people, not just goods, required Count Lacie’s permission, the Lacie Count family was effectively a gatekeeper for the southern lords.
And a gatekeeper stronger than themselves at that.
“And Count Lacie is a person who sways the grain market of the Kingdom of Felix through overwhelming wheat production coming from the vast plains of Bigrove. For the southern lords to choose the Baron in this matter where their livelihood depends is no different from a gamble.”
Count Lacie holding control over logistics flow and a leading position in the grain market.
Indeed, he was a person holding weapons worthy of calling himself the Ruler of the South.
Since such influence of his was enough to trouble not only Meritorious Nobles but sometimes even the Felix Royal Family, southern lords could not help but be wary of him.
“Indeed, it is lucky to have you under me. Truly excellent situational judgment.”
Blanc said to Nicholas with a satisfied smile.
“However, I have certainty. My father, Lord Pallard Cadmus, already showed that possibility.”
The Southern Union, a new southern force proposed by Pallard Cadmus. The existence of lords who signed it was that.
Although they turned their backs at the decisive moment, it was a part showing that dissatisfaction with the Lacie Count family was significant.
“Logistics flow and dominance in the grain market. If I bring even one of those two to my side, it would be worth fighting him.”
“But Baron…….”
As Blanc declared he would genuinely confront Count Lacie, Nicholas had no choice but to worry.
Because it was a different situation from the situation where he fought a decisive battle with the three families of Gartaria as a righteous avenger.
The Lacie Count family and Cadmus had no justification to raise troops and cause an all-out war, and even if that happened, Count Lacie was in a different weight class from the previous three families of Gartaria.
In the end, it meant fighting a decisive battle with Count Lacie through a subtle contest of momentum, not a military clash, and although it was already proven that the person named Blanc Cadmus was an excellent knight and commander.
“Count Lacie is a person like a cunning snake. The attack he makes starts not from a sword but from the tip of his tongue.”
It was questionable whether Blanc would stand out even in the dark strife occurring between nobles.
“Correct. It will be hard for me, who just barely regained Norington, to occupy an advantageous position over him in high-level political fighting.”
Blanc readily admitted Nicholas' words.
Although Blanc was a Regressor who jumped over 30 years, no matter that, he could only be in a state like a child regarding things he had not experienced.
However, what formed the basis of Blanc was strong mental power and cool-headed judgment, and this was an excellent weapon that worked anywhere.
Nicholas was wondering, looking at Blanc.
Because the young Baron who created an adversary named Count Lacie was smiling.
“Still, I judge there is a chance of winning.”
***
Blanc looking down at his wife from the window.
“Did you bring what I told you to prepare?”
At Blanc’s question, Nicholas handed over a rolled-up paper.
“I received help from Duven and the Dwarves he brought.”
Nicholas had doubts about why he was asked to make this map, but knowing that the person named Blanc was an extraordinary figure, he followed his order without complaint.
At that moment, a quiet knock was heard in Blanc’s office.
“Baron, people from the Torch Knights and the Goddess Religion have arrived.”
Hearing Billy’s report, Blanc looked at Nicholas and smiled.
“I know well what you are worried about, but I hope you keep in mind that I am not a person standing alone like Count Lacie. Nicholas.”
The night sky Blanc was wearing fluttered.
“Just as Count Lacie has weapons I do not have, I also hold weapons he does not have. I hope you consider such things when advising in the future.”
As Blanc nodded and signaled to Billy, the office door opened.
Nicholas turned his head and looked at the people standing behind the door.
“Oh my…….”
They were not ordinary envoys.
At the end of Nicholas' gaze, two shining flags were standing.
Big shots that ordinary Barons would struggle to see even once in their lifetime.
Antonio, the regional commander of the Torch Knights.
Paladin Trez, the Vice-Commander of the Goddess Religion.
Two shining flags arrived at Blanc.
“Welcome to Norington.”
The Black Wolf stood up and welcomed the flags.