Water Magician

Chapter 371: Second time in the Republic~ The Slight Complication in Procuring a Ship

Editor: Tseirp

((Abel, I was given a letter of credit for 500 billion Florins))

((Yeah. I gave it to Gramas to use just in case. I left the decision to him.))

((In that respect, Abel has such a big heart, and I honestly admire that about you...))

((...Really?))

Abel was perhaps feeling shy... Ryo could tell!

((Well, the success or failure of the negotiations rests on whether or not we could secure a ship now, I suppose? So, a letter of credit of 500 billion Florins doesn’t seem as ludicrous.))

((By the way...how much is 500 billion Florins worth?))

((How much is it worth? I don’t understand what you mean?))

((Let’s see... for example, how much is the average annual income of the Kingdom’s citizens?))

((Oh.... I don’t know about the Kingdom as a whole, but for the people in the royal capital, it should be around 1 million to 1.5 million florins.))

((I-I see...))

Converted into Japanese yen at the beginning of the 21st century, 500 billion Florins was about one trillion yen. (TLN: About 6.7 billion USD)

Ryo’s fingers trembled just a little.

((I will consider anyone who approaches me as a thief and beat them to a pulp!))

((No, please don’t.))

Money drives people crazy....

It took Ryo six days to reach the border of the Republic of Mafalda from the Holy Capital Marlomar.

Yup, ‘six days’.

The last time, it took five days.

There was, of course, a reason why it took so long despite the hurry.

And that, too, was an unavoidable circumstance.

Incidentally, he stopped at the West Dungeon of the Holy City on the way.... (TLN: This will be talked about in a future chapter, look forward to it!)

And then, the border of the Republic of Mafalda.

Same as the last time, the border security was very strict.

After waiting for a while, it was Ryo’s turn for border inspection.

The coachman disembarked, went through some formalities, and then there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Ryo said, and the door opened, and a guard opened the door and entered.

“Pardon me, but this is a mandatory check. Do you have a Republic-issued border crossing pass or identification?”

As before, the question was extremely polite.

Of course, Ryo did not have a border pass issued by the Republic this time either.

Except....

“How about this.”

Ryo handed him the identification plate that was hanging around his neck like a necklace.

“Okay. Oh, a nobleman. One moment, please.”

The guard said, heading outside.

Likewise, Amalia, next to him, also bowed her head.

This time, the two were visiting by special order from the official residence of the head of state, which is even higher up than the Secret Services Agency.

Which got them all the more fired up.

“Hello, Captain Bangan and Vice Captain Amalia. Well, please, have a seat.”

Ryo indicated the sofa across from him and they sat down.

“The cakes here are very good. Why don’t you order some?”

“Oh, in that case...”

“Hey!”

Ryo recommended, and Amalia was about to order when Bangan scolded her.

“Eh~. It’s Doge Pietro’s lounge, you know, You get that right, Captain? That distant, dreamy place that we can’t even get close to, let alone enter on our salary. And now the Duke himself is generously offering us a treat from that very place, if nothing it would be rude to refuse, wouldn’t it?”

Amalia insisted on her theory.

Not eating a delicious cake succulently sitting in front of you is nothing but torture.

With that analogy, Ryo nodded gravely and backed Amalia.

“Captain Bangan, I believe it would be easier to extract information if you order a cake and build a friendly atmosphere.”

“R-Really? In that case...”

“Yay!”

Bangan caved in, and Amalia gave a mini fist pump gesture.

Now Ryo could have his second round of cake without any worries....

((The agreement was no more than one cake a day.))

The voice of a certain king haunted him out of nowhere....

((This is part of the negotiation. If I pull out now, I won’t be able to win the hearts of these two. I really don’t have a choice.))

((...)))

The king seemed to have agreed.

He felt an atmosphere of dissatisfaction wafting from the other side of the ‘Soul Resonance’, but he must be imagining it.

“So, I take it that the two of you came here today to find out the purpose of my visit, right?”

Ryo’s blunt question caught both of them by surprise.

“Yes. You’re right...”

Captain Bangan said stiffly.

Ryo nodded and continued.

“The reason I came here this time is to get a ship.”

“A ship?”

Amalia asked, tilting her head.

“Yeah. A reasonably large vessel... big enough to sail long distances. One that can easily go from here to the Central Countries.”

“The Central Countries...”

“Okay, but how far away is that exactly...?”

Ryo explained, Amalia exclaimed, and Bangan was astonished.

“Well, I understand that it’s quite difficult. But that’s my sole reason for coming here. This time, I am officially here as a representative of the Kingdom of Knightley. Could you please inform His Excellency the Head of State and the Bureau Chief of that as well?”

“G-Got it...”

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