CH 431

C431: The Westward Plot / Cruz

Sorry for the long hiatus but IWSLP is back and the schedule is 5ch/week(Monday-Friday).

“A man from Ludawan has come to see you, Master Cruz, and he insists on seeing you.”

The garrison commander said in a quiet tone.

“Are you looking forward to a nice vacation with your family this summer? Or are you about to buy the home of your dreams?”

The unit commander looks deeply troubled, as if he doesn’t understand the intent of my question. I tell him, annoyed at the bluntness of his response.

“I am asking about the amount of the bribe you received from that person.”

Oh, ha! I am sorry, sir! He handed me about 10 million gold……..”

It is impossible for a person from a country with which we are at war to come to visit us and report on what is going on. It is only to be expected that money is involved. The bribe was not important. What mattered was what kind of person he was.

I decided that if he was capable of bribing a unit commander with 10 million gold, I would meet with him.

“Let him pass.”

“Oh, you’re going to meet him?

Regardless of what the reply was, I guess I was promised 10 million just for talking to him. I was surprised that the head of the unit didn’t expect me to meet with him.

“I won’t say it again.”

“I’m sorry, sir. I will bring him immediately!”

He must have sensed my anger, because he immediately replied. Although I have become accustomed to this situation because of all the incompetent subordinates, I am still angry with them.

“I am the Minister of War of Ludawan. My name is Deer Grafful.”

The man whom he brought was a small, fat, elderly man, befitting the position of Minister of War.

“So, what does Ludawan Minister of War want with me?”

“Before we begin, I would like to offer you this, which is a gift befitting a beautiful woman like yourself.”

He presented a box full of jewelry. Some of them had a nice shine and seemed to be worth quite a lot of money.

“Oh, what do you want me to do with such a nice gift?”

“No, this is just a greeting, a gift.”

“Then I’ll take it without reservation.”

There is no such thing as a woman who doesn’t like jewelry. There is no reason not to take it if you offer it to me for free. However, it would be wise not to think that this would add even a little color to the main topic of conversation, but he seems to fully understand that as well.

“May I ask you one question then, on the subject at hand?”

“It depends on what you want to talk about. Tell me.”

“……The invasion of Ludawan……is there any possibility that you will stop it?”

“No, there is no possibility. We will destroy it as planned.”

He was a little upset, as if he did not expect me to answer him so casually.

“So, what would my life be……then?”

“If you’re the Minister of War in Ludawan, you’ll be hanged. If you are going to beg for your life, you will have to pay a lot of money for it. It would probably take more than even you, a rich man, could afford.”

“I understand. I don’t want to die yet so I’m willing to offer whatever it takes to keep me alive.”

“I told you, it has to be something that even a rich man cannot afford.”

That meant that bribes would not be accepted, but Deer Grafful did not hesitate,

“No, what I am offering is not money, but something more useful to the Elysian Empire.”

Hearing this, I became a little curious so I urged him to continue.