6

‘Should I really ask him to teach me some of his know-how?’

As soon as they entered the city, Louis grasped its structure in one glance. After seizing the outline, he immediately dug into its weaknesses. That, too, in an instant. It was truly astonishing. Hansen followed Louis, saw what Louis saw, and heard what Louis heard, yet he could not perceive it.

If it was a talent, it was a terrifying one. And the fact that the possessor of such a talent was a Consul… If ever faced as an enemy, it was an insight and discernment frightening enough to dread.

“Speak quietly.”

Even if no one was inside, attendants were waiting outside. If one of them overheard Hansen’s words, they would certainly dash off to Marquis Gangpireu. Realizing he had been uncharacteristically careless, Hansen steadied his breath.

“…….It is the army. He is managing the army very recklessly.”

Louis furrowed his brows. He had known that Marquis Gangpireu coveted his father’s land, but this was alarmingly early. Armies were money pits. Their mere existence devoured vast sums.

‘So he’s biding his time, is that it?’

It meant that Marquis Gangpireu was preparing in advance. Simply increasing troop numbers did not create offensive power. Training was necessary—relentless, repeated training….

‘But how exactly does he intend to time it?’

There were more than a few oddities. For instance, why strain to maintain them now? To suddenly launch a surprise flank? That was impossible. No matter how weakened the King of Gong was, he was still the king. Attacking Duke Remitri’s territory was tantamount to threatening royal authority. In Louis’s speculation, even in a private war, the farthest Marquis Gangpireu would dare to go was seizing two or three cities. Even then, only by taking advantage of disorder. Beyond that, he would have to stop. At such a level, the king would not object—it was merely a territorial struggle between marquises. In fact, the king quietly encouraged such wars of attrition, as their infighting weakened their power.

“Interesting. Very interesting.”

“Lord Louis, what matters is what comes next. Apparently, due to unforeseen circumstances, his deficit has grown significantly. Rumor has it he borrowed money, and repayment is due soon.”

“…..Hansen.”

“Yes.”

“Perfect.”

Louis could not help but praise Hansen. How he obtained his information did not matter. What mattered was that Hansen brought back accurate intelligence. Hansen could have deceived him—fed him false information to mislead him. But Louis had come to secure resources, not to wage war. This was not the time for Hansen to betray him.

And it was true. What Louis failed to perceive was that Hansen had begun to fear him.

‘The city records confirm that Marquis Gangpireu is in deficit, and from Hansen’s report, delaying is nothing but a bluff.’

This changed everything. Negotiation was always like rock-paper-scissors. Information, time, and power were constantly pulling against each other to shape the balance of initiative.

In terms of power, Louis—yet to formally receive a title—was inferior to Marquis Gangpireu. But now, armed with decisive intelligence, the balance tilted slightly in Louis’s favor.

“Lord Louis, greetings. I am Onelia. My father summons you. He also sends his sincere apology for keeping you waiting.”

“I accept his apology, Lady Onelia.”

Onelia smiled sweetly. She thought Louis remarkably composed. Despite being made to waste three days, he had accepted the apology with grace.

‘Could it be that Father intends to marry me to this man?’

Louis was not exactly her type, but… he was not bad. In fact, he was quite acceptable.

“Please follow me.”

‘What impeccable timing.’

The moment Onelia arrived was terribly inconvenient. If Louis had been given a bit more time, he could have refined his thoughts with Hansen’s intelligence. Yet, like Murphy’s Law, Marquis Gangpireu—who had not shown his face for three days—now demanded to see him immediately.

Watching Onelia’s back, Louis thought to himself. Her glossy hair, her charming face. Clearly still young. Naturally, he compared her to Enika, and a faint grin slipped out.

‘To think of a married woman at a time like this.’

Perhaps because of that, some of the tension eased. As he walked along the long corridor, statues passed by his side until a great door appeared. Likely the office.

Compared to his own Consul’s office, the atmosphere here was notably stifling.

“This is the place. Father, I have brought Lord Louis.”

At her words, the door opened, and Louis followed her inside.

Within waited a middle-aged man, late forties or early fifties, with a kindly appearance. It was Marquis Gangpireu himself.

The marquis immediately sensed the atmosphere grow heavier upon Louis’s arrival. A personal space had been invaded—an aggressive current.

‘Mana, perhaps..?’

That prickling sensation, discerned by instinct alone—his first impression of Louis was….

‘The best of the three brothers.’

So exceptional that Remitri’s complaints seemed inexplicable. Presence, manners, patience, and intelligence. Physically he was not extraordinary, but from his right wrist it was clear he had practiced swordsmanship.

Of course, Gangpireu knew why Louis had come.

“I am Louis of Pontina.”

“Welcome. I am Gangpireu.”

“First, I would like an apology for the delay.”

From the very start, Louis played a strong hand. Knowing Gangpireu’s strained finances, Louis understood the marquis could not simply drive him out in anger.

Gangpireu thus had two options. One: grow angry and expel Louis immediately. Two: apologize.

But casting him out did not mean Gangpireu did not wish to deal with him. To resolve his finances, he had no choice but to deal with Louis. If he expelled him now, he would still have to swallow his pride and wait, only to later negotiate from what he hoped would be a stronger position. That was Gangpireu’s style of negotiation—completely overwhelming his counterpart, then twisting the terms to his favor.

Yet, somehow, Gangpireu detected in Louis’s voice the tone of a man who already knew everything and would not be fooled. Others might not notice, but Gangpireu, a veteran of countless such exchanges, easily read the subtle nuance.

‘So he does know…’

Now that his bluff had been exposed, the first option was no longer efficient. The second—restoring relations—was the only way to avoid disaster.

“I apologize. Even I must admit, such behavior could be considered discourteous. Calm your anger, young Consul.”

This revealed just how unwilling Marquis Gangpireu was to abandon the deal. From Hansen’s information—that he was in debt and repayment was looming—Louis now confirmed the due date was far closer than he had imagined.

‘There’s no need to beat around the bush.’

Having gained certainty, Louis pressed forward with an even bolder move.

“I accept your apology, Marquis Gangpireu. So then, when is the repayment due?”

‘Tch… so he really did know everything.’

Deep wrinkles creased Gangpireu’s forehead. This young lion had seen through it all. He had tried to use Louis’s inexperience to overlay his own image and gouge him, only to be bitten instead. Had they negotiated immediately, he might have settled on a reasonable price. But now, the tables had turned.

“To make me wait despite your lack of leisure—impressive. To stall for time when you are the one more pressed.”

“Hm…. You strike hard indeed. I have met your brothers, but I must say, you are the most aggressive of them all.”

“I appreciate the compliment. Since my strike seems to have landed, I will speak frankly. I require three hundred warhorses. Will you sell them at a fair price? I expect swift results, given how long I’ve waited.”