Chapter 151 - 149 The Threat of Jason
Former Zande Territory Port Town Aege
Once, Aege was a beautiful town said to be the best natural harbor in the country.
Because of 'Red Crow,' it was contaminated with drugs and occupied by gang-like thugs. It had fallen into becoming a port where drug smuggling, human trafficking, and the like were carried out.
Last year, the Red Crow gang was annihilated.
But that didn't mean all the bad guys were gone. The truly bad guys were the gangs, including the pirates. Those who had once tasted sweet profits wouldn't easily let go of their interests. While aiding Red Crow, they had also been receiving money from the Duchy of Walujava.
The roughly 80 people I captured.
Because O-kashira blabbed on and on under the truth serum, I was able to accidentally learn that the evil influence of the Duchy of Walujava had stretched even here.
Not only our territory, but the neighboring Count Gran's family was also struggling with accepting refugees. And both Count Gran and his sister Rose suspected there was still something more in the former Zande Territory, but since it was His Majesty's domain, they couldn't complain.
"Big Brother! Let's just raid it already! I'm absolutely sure the magistrate and the internal affairs officer aren't doing their jobs either!"
"I understand what you're saying, Rose... but we have no proof. Even if we find proof, we must seek permission from His Majesty and Excellency Klaus..."
"And besides! Big Brother, you want that port too, right? We could make it a sightseeing spot like Shivans' territory next door, and we could even make it a naval port!"
It was around that time.
An article titled [Negligence of Internal Affairs Officers Across Regions] appeared in the newspaper.
Following that, a secret order came down from His Majesty and Klaus.
'Seal off the port and the town of Aege in the former Zande Territory.'
The reason was to arrest suspicious individuals with close ties to the Duchy of Walujava. The order was to seize evidence.
Immediately, Rose gave orders to the ships.
"Listen up! Capture every suspicious ship in the nearby waters! I don't care if you run them aground if they try to flee! Even more so if it's a ship from the Duchy of Walujava! Sink them!"
The trained soldiers raised their spirits.
At sea, a fleet carrying 2000 men led by Rose headed west. Her brother Gran led 5000 soldiers westward by land to suppress the town of Aege.
Rose first blockaded the inlet, forbidding ships from entering or leaving.
"Suspicious guys always move at night. Until then, make sure no ships can move!"
Small boats were lowered from the transport ships, and as soldiers carrying flaming arrow bombs approached the harbor, arrows were shot from a ship that appeared to be a pirate vessel. The flagship Rose was on immediately aimed its 'ballista' at that ship.
"Fire!"
The pirate ship was pierced in a single blow and sank.
"Nice! They ain't the type to quiet down from just that, right? Don't surrender, fight!"
Those who were shot at raised cries of shock.
"You're kidding... it reaches from this distance...?"
"The ship... the ship is sinking!"
"Crap! Run for land!"
At the fleeing enemies, "Wahoo!" flaming arrow bombs were hurled from the small boats, the ships burst into flames, and the pirates panicked and fled in confusion.
"You bastards! Don't think you can escape from Big Sis Rose!"
"Wahahaha! Chase them! Kill them!"
It was already presenting a scene where one couldn't tell which side were the pirates.
The enemy fled into a stone hideout, but ballista shots were fired into that hideout too, and flaming arrow bombs were thrown in.
The enemy was injured, and there were many who couldn't escape.
"Help... don't abandon us..."
"It's impossible! Sorry!"
The surviving enemies who could move headed for the lord's manor.
But... that place was already surrounded by 5000 soldiers led by Gran.
"Where do you folks think you're going?"
"No matter how you look at it, you don't look like good citizens! Capture them!"
When they tried to flee, arrows were shot at them, and they were told, "Next one won't miss!" and everyone surrendered.
The next day, troops for maintaining public order also arrived.
The Minister of Internal Affairs' interrogation unit also arrived.
The magistrate, internal affairs officer, and administrative officials were captured and put into the interrogation room.
Their families were also captured there.
"Papa! Help!"
"If Papa doesn't say anything, your leg will be crushed with a stone, okay? It hurts, right?"
As the interrogation unit smirked, the man begged, "I'll say anything! I'll talk! Don't lay a hand on my child!"
"Fine. But if your testimony doesn't match the others, or if you hesitate, a stone will drop on that kid's leg right away, got it?"
"I-I understand... I'll tell you everything..."
A shocking background was revealed from their mouths.
"We had no choice but to obey. Our families were taken hostage, and we couldn't defy... The person who gave us orders... was the Sixth Prince, Jason-sama..."
Everyone was shocked, as he was supposed to be dead. The one who died in the war with Rhodesia was a person with the same build as Jason. They dressed that person in Jason's clothes. Making everyone think he had died in battle, he escaped with his close aides. Jason had joined hands with the Duchy of Walujava and was said to be currently devising schemes to destroy the Altmea Empire.
(This has become a serious situation...)
Floor plans of the palace and such had already fallen into enemy hands, and there was a danger of intrusion through underground passages.
Immediately, a gag order was placed regarding Prince Jason, but everyone thought it would become known eventually.
The palace received this news and shock ran through it.
"What did you say! That idiot son was alive...!"
"Please calm yourself, Your Majesty! There are measures we can take!"
His Majesty, soothed by Klaus, regained his composure.
"Forgive me, Klaus. I apologize for losing my composure. But this also makes it very clear why those scoundrels were able to cross the border and invade so easily. No matter how much we fortified the land routes, they were coming by sea..."
It was good that they found out before the party, and emergency countermeasures would be taken.
Shivans' Guard, who had entered the final push stage for the party.
When the six captured people were entrusted to Shivans' Guard, Yuri was enthusiastic, saying, "Since we swore loyalty to our master, we'll be more active than anyone!"
When her father Gensai tried to slack off even a little, an arrow flew from behind.
"Okay? If you slack off next time, I'll consider it a betrayal of our master and blow your brains out."
Having his back taken without noticing, he was startled and forced to say, "Understood..."
When Sarusuke used 'Concealment' and tried to do something unsavory, an arrow flew from behind.
"If I see you next time, I'll kill you! Work for our master's sake!"
"I-I got it... but how did you find me?"
"Ufufu. I am our master's loyal subordinate!"
Thinking that wasn't a reason, he nodded while trembling in fear. When Seikai and the others, who had become the Moho trio, tried to skip training, arrows flew at them too.
"If you betray our master, I'll kill you!"
"We were just taking a little break..."
Another arrow flew.
"There won't be a next time. Even if you make excuses, I have no intention of listening."
Quietly radiating killing intent, the three, feeling (We might actually be killed...), seriously devoted themselves to training.
The five men were surprised that their backs had been taken so easily.
Yuri was infatuated with me and had blossomed her abilities more than anyone else.
Yuri volunteered for both yabusame and the sword dance, devoted herself more passionately than anyone, and improved visibly, astonishing Yaris.
"That's amazing, Yuri!"
"Because I am a loyal subordinate!"
The only troubling thing was... when she ate a banana, she would stretch out her tongue, drool as if performing fellatio, and eat while making a gesture of fondling breasts. When straddling a horse, she subtly moved her hips seductively. When doing the splits during the sword dance, she would say, "I'm getting wet..." and scatter sex appeal everywhere, becoming a woman who bewildered men.
She herself was unaware of this, thinking (If I work hard, our master will praise me! And he'll train Yuri again!), so she was also diligently training in various other areas.
Yuri had some strange quirks, but thanks to the six of them seriously devoting themselves to training, the other soldiers also said, "We can't lose!" creating a synergistic effect.
I was holed up in the academy's laboratory.
I was making konjac from the konjac potatoes I received. Because there were many dishes I wanted to make for the coming autumn and winter.
"Shivans-senpai? That's a poisonous potato, right? What are you doing?"
The Seven Idols came over, and it was Marfa who asked worriedly.
"It's fine. No need to worry."
Even in my previous life, I knew it contained calcium oxalate and was harmful. Neutralizing it with slaked lime should eliminate the problem. It was also fine when I checked with 'Appraisal.' I used wind magic and alchemy to make block konjac and shirataki noodles.
Then, I took out potatoes and cooked them.
"Is that spado? Shivans-senpai, you really use nothing but strange things, don't you?"
When Ekaterina said this with distaste, Valentina added, "In our territory, slaves and poor children eat that..."
(What a waste.)
I made nikujaga, motsu stew, miso dengaku, oden, and other dishes. Thinking I would mass-produce them if they were delicious, I tasted them, and they turned out quite well.
"Is that... delicious?"
Arina asked with great curiosity, so I portioned some onto a small plate and let her eat. "Oh my? It's delicious!" she said, and then everyone at once grabbed small plates and began tasting.
"Both spado and the poisonous potato are unexpectedly delicious! As expected of senpai!"
As Rinora pressed forward, pushing her large breasts against me, Misuzu, not to be outdone, also went braless and immediately pressed against me, saying, "The recipe! Could you teach it to us?"
"Of course! However, I made this using magic, but originally it takes a lot of time and effort, you know? Are you still okay with that?"
All seven nodded, so I handed over the recipe and ingredients, and it seemed they would research it through trial and error. I also made some potato salad and croquettes on the side, and these were also well-received.
I immediately went to the Klaus family home, but no one was there.
Klaus was at the palace, Windam was at the Military Affairs Bureau, Lady Marino was visiting someone, and Aqua was out at a gathering of the cabinet ministers' wives.
To meet Aqua, since the gathering seemed to be held at a super high-class restaurant patronized by the Imperial Family, I decided to invite myself in.
(Surrounded by women around thirty, Aqua alone looks abnormally young, so she must be having a hard time with jealousy and envy. I'll go help her out a bit!)
I went to the restaurant and gave my name, "I am Baronet Shivans O'Brien," but was naturally turned away at the door with, "Those without a reservation cannot be admitted!"
"Then, please let me speak with the owner for a moment."
Reluctantly, I was shown to a separate room and spoke with the owner.
"It seems you are unaware that I am on close terms with the Imperial Family, the Klaus family, and the Cielo Trading Company?"
When I asked, he hurriedly sent a messenger to the Cielo Trading Company.
After a while, the head clerk of the Cielo Trading Company appeared and asked curiously, "Why is Shivans-sama here?"
"I heard that our ingredients were not being handled with care. I became worried and came, but was turned away at the door."
"What! Such an attitude towards Shivans-sama? I will report this to my master, Cielo, immediately!"
The owner panicked and apologized, starting to say, "My staff..." when the head clerk said, "I don't sense a shred of sincerity. From now on, our transactions with you..." The owner prostrated himself deeply and apologized, so I decided to forgive him.
(Now, there's no one left to get in my way.)
Immediately, I borrowed the kitchen and began baking a large number of cakes.
Then, the cooks also started to show interest.
"Currently, only the people of the palace and the Klaus family are partaking of this."
""Ooh!!""
A commotion like cheers arose, and everyone was intrigued by the sweet and delicious-smelling aroma.
When I let them taste a bite each, questions like "Make me your apprentice!" or "Where do you get the ingredients?" came, but I told them I couldn't teach them that easily.
"But we're happy just to have been shown!"
"We'll surpass this taste someday!"
They were cooks worthy of being called first-rate, indeed. They immediately gathered ingredients and began researching from what seemed possible.
When I cut the cake and brought it to the seven wives, Aqua looked at me with a surprised face. The other six were meeting me for the first time and were dumbfounded.
"Nice to meet you all. My name is Shivans O'Brien. I am the son who runs a rustic hot spring inn in a place called Butler Territory. I heard that those very close to Aqua-sama were gathering today, and I thought I absolutely must have you all try the cake that His Majesty himself highly praised, so I brought it."
Thanks to the words 'His Majesty himself highly praised' and my handsome smile, far from being treated as a nuisance, they squealed with delight.
(Aqua looks unamused. Well, but I'll do my best from here on.)
We enjoyed pleasant conversation over cake and tea.
"Is that the hot spring with that shampoo and conditioner?"
"If I go there, can I become as beautiful as Aqua-sama?"
With confidence, I declared, "Madam, you've been worried about your rough skin lately, haven't you? Perhaps you are under a lot of stress? If you invite your husband and soak in the hot spring, it will get better."
"B-but reservations are difficult, and you have to wait over a year..."
"H-hey? Can I become beautiful too? Like Aqua-sama?"
I couldn't say that was impossible, so...
"Everyone, you are all already sufficiently beautiful, aren't you?"
I flashed a handsome smile, and the six were delighted by my words.
"A woman's greatest enemy is stress. When you unknowingly accumulate dissatisfaction with your husbands and such, it can cause skin problems and the like."
Everyone knew about the Windam incident and the Aristo incident.
Until now, they had mocked it, but the six thought (I also have worries I can't tell anyone about).
Then, one woman asked Aqua a question.
"Aqua-sama, you must have stress too, right? How do you deal with it?"
"Delicious food and delicious drinks! Gazing at beautiful scenery and resting in comfortable bedding blows away fatigue and such! That's right... since Shivans-kun is here, I wonder if we could arrange some convenience for these ladies?"
When Aqua smiled sweetly, the six looked at me imploringly.
"If it's a request from Aqua-sama, I must listen! Understood."
With this, the six were now indebted to Aqua.
From there, each began complaining and griping about their husbands.
"Listen! At my house, it's been about four years since we've been intimate!"
"I've already forgotten at my house. He's obsessed with his young mistress..."
"I wonder if he'd go to the hot spring with me?"
"I thought the same! I feel like he'd say he wants to go with his mistress..."
"At my house, that doesn't work, so he doesn't even hold his beloved mistress."
"I keep having sleepless nights worrying about what to do if I can't have a child like this, and my skin is getting rough!"
Aqua listened to such complaints with a smile.
(Everyone, to a greater or lesser extent, has their own worries. I'm happy because I have this person!)
Thinking such things, Aqua squeezed my hand.
When I told the six women, "I will send out invitations to the hot spring under Excellency Klaus's name, so your husbands will surely be pleased to come," they were grateful.
"If you're grateful, direct it to Aqua-sama. I merely assisted."
The six thanked Aqua with unprecedented smiles.
"We must be going soon!"
"Oh my! Today was fun!"
"The hot spring... I'm looking forward to it!"
And finally, the six said, ""Aqua-sama! Thank you!"" and boarded their carriage and went home.
We saw the six off, sent our carriage home first, and decided to walk through the city to return.
"A date with the miraculous Aqua-sama!"
"Ufu! You came to help me? I was happy!"
Windam had been helped by Aqua, but I said I came because I thought no one had helped Aqua herself. With a happy face, she said, "Hey? I want to kiss!"
"On a street right in the middle of the imperial capital like this? It's dusk and people are watching, you know?"
"No good? It's fine, right?"
When she said it cutely and I embraced and kissed her, we drew attention.
We shared a passionate kiss, our tongues entwining sloppily.
There were various reactions: people averting their eyes, and people looking on enviously.
"Just 'cause you're young, don't go rutting on the street! Flirting shamelessly!"
When a drunk old man complained, another person covered for us.
"Don't be jealous, old man! That big brother and big sister are a handsome man and a beautiful woman who suit each other perfectly! You're envious, right? I'm envious too! Be happy!"
We were blessed and applauded by strangers.
It was a little embarrassing, so I put my arm around Aqua's waist and quickly left.
"This is the first time I've had such an experience!"
"Same for me. My heart was pounding!"
"Hey! My heart is pounding really hard too!"
Aqua guided my hand and placed it on her chest; her nipples were also hard. As I gently fondled them while playing with her nipples, Aqua also touched my crotch and said, "It's gotten a little bigger! Making it bigger on the street, what a bad boy you are!" So I pulled her into a back alley, made her kneel, exposed her breasts, and had her perform fellatio.
"In a place like this... doing something naughty is incredibly exciting! Hey! Let's have sex here!"
I lifted one of her legs, shifted her panties aside, and inserted. "Ah... I'm already coming! I can't hold back my voice!" she said, so I covered her mouth with a kiss, and she squirted intensely.
When I sucked on her breasts, she covered her own mouth with her hand and seemed to be coming while trembling and convulsing. After I came inside her, she laughed, "That was... incredibly good... It's not something nobles do, is it?" and gave me a cleaning fellatio.
As we walked out of the back alley, she said, "Yan... it's dripping out. I wonder if the smell will give it away?" and scooped it up, licking it up.
"I won't let you sleep tonight, Aqua?"
"Oh my? That's exactly what I want!"
We both laughed heartily, linked arms, and returned to the Klaus family home.
Aqua promptly took a bath, and I prepared and served five newly made side dishes.
I met with Klaus for the first time in a while.
"I was wanting to see you! I have a lot to talk about!"
I was shocked to hear that the information from the 80 people I captured had turned into something outrageous.
"So, it seems there are still enemies lurking from the port town of Aege towards this territory capital. Prince Jason, is it? He knows the palace and the territory capital well, doesn't he? A troublesome enemy."
"The enemy is a group coming with their lives on the line, though small in number. They will probably try something at the party."
I didn't know whether the enemy's numbers were small or not, but it was expected that they would come, likely using dirty tricks.
On my side, I had a request to make of Klaus.
"I wondered if it was appropriate to make such a request at a time like this."
When I told him the story about how, at the gathering of the seven wives earlier, Aqua had felt uncomfortable, so to help her, I recommended the hot spring inn, he laughed.
"I'm sorry, Shivans-kun. The reason Aqua feels uncomfortable is, to begin with, because of that idiot son. That guy is always too preoccupied with himself to show consideration for others. I understand well his desire to be praised by me... but that's just complaining. I'll handle that matter somehow!"
I got his promise, we made a toast, and drank with the snacks I made.
Meanwhile, Windam was still being kicked by his concubines and mistresses.
"Are you an idiot? You made a memo of my features... and this is it?"
What was written was weak content for a distinguishing feature: 'Reasonably beautiful. Has a mole on her right cheek.'
"And as a result, what were you thinking, getting my name wrong!"
"Wait... don't kick me... that's strange?"
"What's strange is your head!"
Windam's cries echoed again tonight.
That night.
When I went to Aqua's room, she immediately clung to me.
"How was it, kissing your wife on the street like that? It was exciting, wasn't it? Honestly! You're such a pervert!"
Aqua was already wet and waiting.
"We're both the same, right?"
"Yeah! I love you, darling!"
I had a feeling that surely, around tonight, our next child would be conceived.