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Chapter 26: Barbecue

Happy New Year.

Thank you for your continued support this year.

"--You went too far."
"I'm reflecting on it."

I -- or rather, we -- were having a barbecue outside the party venue after being scolded by the knight in charge of our training.

We were supposed to be participating in the party indoors, but we were kicked out for ruining the previous day's entertainment.

The other trainees who were treated the same as me are also having a barbecue outside.

"But it felt refreshing, didn't it?"
"The look on their faces when they woke up was priceless."
"Well, even if we stayed inside, our treatment wouldn't have changed much."

Everyone was enjoying themselves, one way or another.

The barbecue set was, well, made up of rather cheap items.

Still, after we were kicked out, our instructor took pity on us and prepared various things with his own money.

Kuruto was grilling the meat.

"It's ready."

He handed me skewers of meat and vegetables.

"Take out the bell peppers. I don't like them."
"Disliking things isn't good."

The bell peppers from the viscount's territory are bitter.

They taste bad.

The instructor was smiling.

"Well, a lot has happened, but let's end this with smiles, shall we?"

I agree with that.

The party venue.

Thomas of the Henfrey Trading Company, who was invited, finished his greetings and was looking for Liam in the venue.

"Liam-sama isn't here."

As he thought about contacting him, Nias, in military uniform, approached.

"Thomas-san, have you seen Liam-sama?"

Thomas shook his head at Nias, who seemed to be in a hurry.

"I haven't. Has he not arrived yet?"

Nias also seemed puzzled.

"He's not usually late, so is there a reason? This is troubling. I want to get down to business quickly."

"--Are we discussing business here?"

Nias averted his gaze and smiled to cover it up.

Just then, Yurishia appeared gracefully in a dress.

"Oh, someone from the Seventh Weapons Factory is here too."

"--You came too, didn't you?"

Sparks began to fly between the two, but Yurishia maintained her composure.

"Yes, actually, Count Banfield purchased a large number of mobile suits from us. Since we're here, I thought we could also sell him an aircraft carrier -- a fortress-class one."

Hearing this, Nias became flustered.

"W-why are you selling the fortress-class?"

"We recently announced a new model and are actively soliciting sales for it."

The two were vying for Liam's attention.

Thomas averted his gaze.

(Liam-sama must be having a hard time. Speaking of which -- where is he really?)

It wasn't just Thomas, Nias, and Yurishia.

Many people attended the party hoping to form connections.

There were many people searching for Liam within the venue.

Then, Randolph's voice echoed through the venue.

"Everyone, thank you for attending our party --"

He started with a brief greeting, and then announced his daughter's engagement.

However, the groom was unusual.

"This is Peter Sera Pittack, who will be my daughter Katerina's husband."

The one introduced was from the Pittack family.

Nias, unaware of the situation, applauded along with the atmosphere of the venue, while Thomas was stunned.

"It's a common trope for a son to come for training and then marry the daughter."

"Huh? No -- huh?"

He couldn't comprehend it.

(Why would the Reizel family form a marriage alliance with the Pittack family? It's an unthinkable match, no matter how you look at it.)

Thomas, who knew the inner workings of the Pittack family, could only find it strange.

Yurishia felt the same.

"Pittack -- Count Pittack, right?"

"Y-yes. I believe so. He is indeed the son of Count Pittack."

The figures of Peter and Katerina were projected into the air of the venue.

Yurishia looked incredulous.

"Has the Pittack family discovered some rare metal?"

Thomas shook his head.

The Reizel family's main business was resource mining and processing.

If the Pittack family discovered rare metals, a marriage alliance would be plausible.

It was plausible -- but he hadn't heard any such news.

"I haven't heard any such news. I've investigated various things in relation to my work, and I can't imagine Viscount Reizel approving such a marriage."

Many of the attendees also looked puzzled.

Nias, noticing the atmosphere around him, then said --.

"Excuse me? By the way, where is Liam-sama?"

All three of them, thinking Liam might know something, asked a waiter for information.

The waiter was a young noble undergoing training.

"Liam-san? Ah, he defeated all those who received special treatment yesterday and was laughing heartily, so the Viscount kicked him out of the venue. I'm about to bring him some drinks, shall I guide you?"

The waiter was a junior who was receiving the same treatment as Liam.

He laughed, saying, "Liam-san was amazing that time."

Thomas turned pale.

"--Liam-sama was kicked out of the venue?"

For the Henfrey Trading Company, Liam was a figure who could provide support.

Furthermore, he himself was a commissioned merchant of the Banfield family.

He felt dizzy.

Nias grabbed the waiter's shoulder.

"Q-quickly, guide me!"

"Huh? Sure, but --"

Yurishia was contacting someone somewhere.

Meanwhile, Thomas, having heard the location from the waiter, ran off.

"Liam-samaaaaa!"

While we were having a barbecue, Thomas came running up.

"Liam-samaaaaa!"

I put the leftover bell peppers on a plate and handed them to Thomas.

"It's been a while, Thomas. You were here too? Well, eat up."

Kuruto muttered, "Liam is terrible," but as a corrupt lord, having preferences is essential.

That's why it's acceptable to leave things behind.

"I-I'll have some. --It's bitter! Huh! N-no, that's not it! What in the world is going on? Why is Liam-sama outside the venue?"

What a noisy fellow.

"The Viscount dislikes me. It's like, I didn't fit in with the Viscount's family's way of doing things."

Really -- it was a mistake to come to the earnest and kind Reizel family for training.

Thomas seemed relieved.

Could it be that this guy was worried I might become serious?

As expected, he's an Echigoya -- no, a corrupt merchant.

"I'll protest to the Viscount immediately. Let's go inside."

"No way. What face would I show if I went inside now? More importantly, bring something to eat. And prepare some drinks."

Thomas was contacting his ship.

"W-we have some items for gifts. As for alcoholic beverages, they are all quite expensive, but?"

I felt good after yesterday's events.

I paid Thomas.

"Gift or not, just bring it here. Oh, and I'll give some to the old man who helped me. Bring some top-notch liquor too. Here, this is the money."

Even though I paid the presented amount in full, the number of remaining digits didn't change.

I wonder how much is in my account?

"I-I'll bring it right away!"

As Thomas began communicating with his subordinates, people started coming out of the venue.

Kuruto seemed curious.

"Huh? Is it over already?"

"It's just starting. Could it be a break? No, maybe a problem?"

As I was worrying, Nias and Yurishia, breathing heavily, arrived.

"Liam-sama, it's been a while! Also, please buy our fortress-class!"

Nias, who approached with greetings and a sales pitch simultaneously, was met with my cold gaze.

Yurishia, wiping her sweat, looked exasperated.

"--Discussing business right after greetings, you're insane. Count, why don't you ignore this stubborn person from the Seventh Weapons Factory and talk to me? I have something to discuss about the new fortress-class today. Unlike the older models from the Seventh Weapons Factory, this is the latest model."

You're no different.

I, who was exasperated, looked at Yurishia, who was dressed up in a formal gown.

As I watched, Yurishia, perhaps noticing my gaze, turned to me with a smile --.

"--Not interested."

It reminded me of my ex-wife from my previous life -- she always dressed up when she went out, and now that I think about it, she always wore perfect makeup when she went out to cheat.

It just -- turned me off.

"Huh?"

Yurishia froze, perhaps surprised by my attitude.

Meanwhile, Nias laughed at Yurishia.

"Too bad!"

Then, perhaps due to the heat, she unbuttoned her jacket and opened it.

It wasn't a seduction tactic; she was genuinely hot.

Her shirt was damp with sweat -- but she was wearing a sports bra or something similar underneath.

Realizing I was looking, she quickly covered herself and smiled shyly.

"N-no, this is, well -- it's not that my salary is low because sales are bad, but recently, you know -- I'm conscious of my health, so I wear this type --"

As Nias started making excuses, I approached her --.

"How much is it?"

"Huh?"

"How much is your fortress-class?"

"W-will you buy it?"

"You're a helpless person. Here, bring out the contract. One ship?"

"Please buy the destroyers and cruisers too! They're new models, but they're not selling!"

"You're a helpless person. Up to three hundred ships."

Nias, crying with joy, raised his hands in a V-sign, and each time, his shirt became transparent, revealing his unsexy underwear.

This was more appealing.

Since I got to see something nice, I decided to buy the fortress-class.

Yurishia grabbed my arm.

"W-wait, Count! Why? You haven't even confirmed the specifications yet!"

"--You were also a disappointing child."

Or rather, are all female military personnel from weapons factories of this type?

Then, in addition to the two of them, merchants and people from weapons factories came to greet me.

"Liam-sama, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Liam-sama, please use our weapons factory."
"Liam-sama, please provide us with financing --"

Before I knew it, a long line had formed.

At the party venue -- Randolph was stunned.

Most of the invited guests had gone outside.

Only about thirty percent remained.

The empty venue looked lonely.

Everyone around them looked bewildered.

"W-what is this?"

What was happening?

As he thought about having someone investigate, a subordinate came to report.

"Randolph-sama! Outside the venue -- it's outside!"

"What happened?"

When he rushed outside, he saw -- a barbecue was taking place.

He had heard that those he had expelled were doing something, but he had lost most of his guests.

In the center of it all was -- Liam.

"What is this? Why are so many people gathering around the Banfield family's son?"

Humans are very honest creatures.

If there's a declining noble, people quickly move away.

However, conversely -- if someone is on the rise, people gather.

If not just one or two, but even merchants -- those shrewd about profit -- are gathering around Liam, then there must be something.

"--Investigate the Banfield family immediately."

"Huh? But we've already conducted an investigation --"

"Just investigate! Now!"

At the spaceport in the Reizel Viscountcy's territory.

The Banfield family's fleet, which had arrived, was lined up and waiting.

Shuttles were arriving at the port, and preparations were being made to welcome Liam.

Tia was giving instructions.

She was talking with the spaceport officials.

"You can't permit a carpet?"

"We're laying down mats, so please forgive us. We can permit holographic projections to create an atmosphere."

"That would be too bland. Since the three years of training are over, I want to welcome him more grandly."

The knights and soldiers lined up --.

They were waiting with a sense of tension.

"Please welcome him grandly in your hometown. By the way, the Pittack family's fleet is magnificent. The Viscount said he would come to welcome you with quite a few ships -- huh?"

Immediately after, Tia, who had been responding politely, widened her eyes and lifted the official by the neck.

"--Do you not even know the crest of Liam-sama's Banfield family? What is the Viscount thinking, sending someone of that caliber to handle this?"

The knights and soldiers of the Viscountcy who were nearby rushed over, and the Banfield knights drew their weapons.

Tia, while squeezing the official, said.

"Listen well, we are the Banfield family's fleet. Mistakes are not permitted. This needs to be protested."

"P-please let go --"

"No."

Tia smiled and placed her hand on the hilt of her sword as the elevator doors of the spaceport opened.

"Oh? Where's my welcoming party?"

With Peter's drawn-out voice, the atmosphere of the place froze.

Peter looked at Tia.

"Perhaps you're one of our new knights? You're quite beautiful. Alright, I'll make you my bodyguard. Come on, hurry up and get ready because we're leaving."

Tia released the official and let him drop.

Spaceport.

My and Kuruto, sitting on a bench waiting for our welcome, were watching a video projected into the air.

It was the final episode of a popular drama at the Viscount's residence.

As the ending credits rolled.

"The welcoming party -- isn't coming."

I sighed.

"Well, it's fine since I got to watch the drama I was curious about, but it's quite bold to keep your master waiting."

As I was getting annoyed, the elevator doors opened, and Tia came running out.

She kicked off the floor and flew, then slid into a full prostration before me.

--It was a little amusing.

"I-I-I-I am truly sorry, Liam-sama! The spaceport staff mistakenly guided us to a different area -- Ow!"

As Tia looked up and started making excuses, I flicked her forehead.

"Don't make excuses. It's a fact that you made me wait. Honestly --"

As I sighed in exasperation, Tia, with a face like the end of the world -- was quite exaggerated.

To think that this person is considered competent, the world is a strange place.

Everyone around me seems to be a bit lacking.

"I-I will immediately cut off my own head and apologize."

She drew her sword and placed it against her own neck.

This person is likely an intelligent fool.

"Don't be an idiot. More importantly, carry my luggage. Let's go back quickly."

As I handed over my luggage, Tia hastily took it and stood up.

"W-will you forgive me?"

"Prepare yourself, because I'll be working you hard during the ship journey. Kuruto, shall I have you carry your luggage too?"

When I asked Kuruto.

"--Liam, I can't have a woman carry my luggage."

"You're an idiot. This is punishment for making me wait. Well then, let's go. By the way, which battleship are we boarding?"

Tia straightened her back and replied.

Why is her cheek red?

"Yes! The flagship -- the Vahl."

The Vahl, built by the Third Weapons Factory, slowly approached.

--It looks big when seen like this.

It seems to have been built exceptionally large, and its performance is correspondingly high.

"I-it's big. Could this be an super-dreadnought battleship?"

Kuruto also seemed interested.

As expected, he's a man. He loves battleships and humanoid weapons.

"Why don't you buy one too?"

"I can't afford it. Besides, if I were to buy one, considering the maintenance costs, destroyers and cruisers would be better."

Come to think of it, I bought them from Nias.

My military plans didn't require me to buy them, but -- I bought them on impulse.

It was a spur-of-the-moment purchase.

However, this world where you can buy battleships on impulse is amazing.

"Then, I'll give you some of our surplus."

When I buy them on my own, Amagi gets angry and says, "The military plan is messed up again."

I'll push them onto Kuruto.

"Huh? Really? That's a relief. Even if they're used, they can be used if maintained, and I'd be grateful if we could get even a few."

--Huh? Is this guy planning to take used ones?

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