As Rolf strolled through Fernsouth Castle, he admired the reliefs on the walls, remarking to Howard, “This castle of yours, Howard, is truly remarkable. These reliefs, they are the work of Master Zelmo from three hundred years ago, aren’t they?” Howard, well-versed in the history of his castle from hours spent in the library, knew Rolf was correct.
At lunchtime, Howard invited Rolf to join him for a meal, an invitation Rolf accepted.
Eager to make a good impression, Howard had Nora bring an abundance of river clam meat.
Once the chef finished arranging the dishes, the clam meat was presented in an immaculate display.
Rolf, upon seeing the river clam meat, expressed his surprise, “Oh? I didn’t expect to encounter familiar river clam meat here. I thought only adventurers unearthed such edible treasures.” Howard felt a slight surprise inside, realizing that river clam meat was a developed delicacy elsewhere too. But he maintained a composed exterior and continued, “Yes, these river clams are not just for meat. More importantly, while harvesting them, we occasionally find pearls. The clam meat itself isn’t worth much, just the price of meat. But pearls, they are valuable – each one could be worth the price of a dozen gold coins.”
Howard, still unfamiliar with Rolf, chose not to disclose the true value of the pearls.
Upon hearing about the pearls, Rolf was ready to discuss a partnership with Howard.
However, as Howard took a bite of the river clam meat, he said, “Aren’t you here as the Duke’s Minister of Diplomacy? Let’s complete your official tasks first, then we can talk about personal matters. I am someone who believes in separating business from pleasure, and I wouldn’t want our dealings to become complicated.”
Rolf then dropped his guard, revealing, “I am not the Minister of Diplomacy. The Duke merely entrusted me to speak with you and convey his message. Essentially, the Duke fears your rapid ascent and sent me to persuade you to marry soon.”
Howard replied, “Persuade me to marry? Didn’t the last minister already discuss this with me? Why repeat it?” A fleeting smirk crossed Rolf’s face as he retorted, “But the Duke has been waiting, and you’re still not married.”
Howard turned to Nora, inquiring, “How many days are left until my wedding to Kaserlyn?” Nora responded, “Not many, just half a month until the official ceremony.” Howard glanced at Rolf, his look conveying the message: there’s your answer, no need for further discussion.
Rolf nodded, “Alright, let’s talk about personal matters now.” But unexpectedly, Howard interrupted him to inquire about the assassin.
Rolf’s expression fluctuated, but he firmly denied any possibility of the Duke of Jiakai being involved in such dishonorable acts. The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.
Observing the sweat on Rolf’s forehead, Howard sensed the truth but chose not to pursue it further.
Instead, Howard shifted the conversation to Rolf’s money-making scheme.
As Rolf recounted his story, Howard began to understand the source of Rolf’s wealth.
It turned out that Rolf hailed from Ferrara, a fiefdom with a bustling trade port where countless ships anchored daily.
Ferrara, a Mediterranean port, was a hub of constant movement of goods.
Rolf had learned from a group of adventurers he had intercepted about a nearby forest teeming with bizarre occurrences.
Leading his soldiers on an expedition, he discovered a large number of exotic beasts.
Instead of informing the Church about this discovery, Rolf regularly hired adventurers and conscripted soldiers to hunt these peculiar creatures.
He then sold their hides, meat, and other parts to merchants, earning gold coins in return.
Howard, intrigued by a particular aspect of the tale, asked, “Exotic beasts? What makes them so unusual?” Rolf explained, “According to the merchants, these beasts seem to have originated from the New World. But given the distance, they couldn’t have arrived here without ships. These creatures can’t swim, nor can they build or use boats, so how did they end up in Ferrara? That’s the mystery. Their peculiarity lies precisely in this enigma.”
Howard asked Nora to bring a map, and after studying it carefully, he speculated, “Is it possible that these beasts were transported here by other merchants from the New World?” Rolf chuckled, “Of course, that’s a possibility. But I don’t concern myself with such details. I am now making a fortune from these beasts.”
Howard, sensing Rolf’s pragmatic approach, commented, “If these beasts are not native, their numbers must surely be limited.
Constant hunting by you and your men will eventually lead to their extinction.”
Rolf replied nonchalantly, “I’m not concerned about that. Besides, they seem to be adapting well here. According to my people, their numbers are even increasing.”
Howard marveled at this.
Rolf boasted, “How else would I describe them as extraordinary beasts?”
Howard then asked Nora to bring fifty gold coins, offering them to Rolf, “I want to invest. I’d like a share in your future earnings.” Rolf pushed away the plate of coins, refusing, “No, no, I couldn’t possibly take your money.”
Howard explained that it was an investment, a share in the venture.
Rolf remained resolute, his eyes gleaming as he said, “The truth is, I’m not short of money. What I lack is manpower. The territory of these beasts is expanding. Originally confined to Ferrara, they’re now nearly reaching Romagna. If other nobles discover them, the price I get for their hides and miscellaneous goods will plummet.” His implication was clear: he needed to prevent other nobles from interfering, wishing to keep these benefits to himself.
So, Howard instructed Nora to return the gold coins to the treasury, casually crossing his legs, he said to Rolf, “I’ve heard of people being short on money, but being short on manpower is less common.” .
Before Rolf could respond, Howard continued, “As nobles, we all know that being short of money is troublesome, but with war looming, the biggest concern and worry is the lack of manpower. We are feudal nobles; warfare is our forte. If I assign a troop to you, but consequently get defeated by my enemies, it would be a loss not worth the gain.”
Rolf pulled out a small notebook and showed it to Howard.
It contained records of each expedition, detailing the number of adventurers hired and conscripted soldiers sent to the forest, along with their respective yields.
Rolf assured Howard that this venture was profitable, explaining that the money earned far exceeded the costs of hiring mercenaries, suggesting that Howard would definitely profit by joining.
In response, Howard kicked the coffee table, sending it sliding towards Rolf.
Anger was evident in his voice as he accused, “You’re trying to deceive me? If it’s as profitable as you claim, why don’t you hire the mercenaries yourself? You could hire them daily and profit from the difference.”
“Wouldn’t that be a business with no investment and all profit? Unless you clarify the downsides, I absolutely won’t participate! I, Howard, may not be the sharpest, but I know better than to make a deal with a tiger!”
This outburst changed Rolf’s perception of Howard.
Based on his research, Howard was seen as a nouveau riche count with no significant foundation, having inherited a minor knighthood.
Rolf had underestimated Howard, thinking him easy to fool due to his apparent lack of experience.
But to Rolf’s surprise, Howard had astutely pinpointed the discrepancies in his proposal.
Thus, Rolf was compelled to reveal the truth.
The beast population in Ferrara had spread to Romagna, and from there, it had expanded further, catching the attention of the Governor of Venice.
The Governor, with his commercial acumen, had already spotted a business opportunity in these beasts.
With this revelation, Howard could almost piece together the entire scenario.
Indeed, Rolf admitted, “Our real challenge isn’t the beasts, but the Governor of Venice. If I were to hire mercenaries myself, I might not manage the situation delicately. Thus, your assistance would be preferable.”
Subsequently, Howard decided to join the venture, though he insisted on clarifying all the finer details beforehand.
That evening, around seven or eight o’clock, Rolf and Howard concluded their negotiations.
Howard agreed to deploy 1500 troops to aid Rolf in Romagna, with the aim of intimidating the Governor of Venice.
In return, Rolf promised Howard a tenth of the profits from his beast-hunting enterprise.
True to his decisive nature, once Howard made up his mind to participate, he acted without hesitation.
On the third day, he set out from the County of Nok with 1,500 troops, heading towards Romagna.
Accompanying the contingent were two knights, Anna and Margaret, as well as Golan, Howard’s knight squire.
Since Rolf had developed a good rapport with Howard, he had clarified things on the very night they had discussed their plans. Regarding the assassin, Rolf hadn’t personally witnessed Duke Lyon of Jiakai paying the killer, but it was evident that the assassin was closely connected to Lyon’s court. As for whether Lyon had indeed hired the assassin, Rolf subtly nodded, giving Howard a hint of the truth.
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