"Other farm owners must have warned you plenty of times to stop what you're doing right now. And yet you ignored those warnings and brought things to this point. Without any sense that this is war, you must have thought, I'm just doing the right thing, I want to prove that giving this much to the farm workers can still yield enough profit, this is a problem that can be solved simply if I eat a little less myself, so why are they like this? Isn't that what you thought?"
It was exactly as Azadin said.
Randa Banema saw the other farm owners who warned her as people filled only with hollow greed that could never be sated, no matter how much you shoved into their mouths.
She mocked their greed and foolishness, but overlooked the fact that such greed carried with it the wicked wisdom passed down through generations to protect their wealth.
She looked down on them as mere fools blinded by greed, and without resolve to kill and be killed, she raised the curtain on war. Not knowing that, she floundered, and now at this late hour she had summoned the Herald Clan with the Emperor's gold coins.
Azadin saw right through everything about Randa Banema.
"Are you blaming me right now? I only acted with good intentions!"
"Without power and strategy to back it up, good intentions often bring the worst results."
"..."
Randa Banema was struck speechless by Azadin's reproach.
"Then what do you expect me to do? Just give up, enter a political marriage, and join them in practicing slavery? Betray the hopes of the farm workers who have followed me until now?"
"P, President."
The bodyguards were startled by Randa Banema's weak words. But some of them felt relieved deep down.
Unless they went to war against every single surrounding farm, there was no way to overturn this situation.
But war, really?
Those who had lived their whole lives in Bel Hoda knew well. For this kind of reason to start a fight, Bel Hoda would drown in endless battles that washed away blood with blood.
The sugarcane farms of Bel Hoda had all amassed enormous capital, each one practically a great noble house. Once war began, no one would yield until that enormous wealth dried up, so this land would never know a day free of blood.
Wouldn't surrender be better, if it meant peace could be preserved?
It was at that moment.
"Ah, don't worry, petitioner. What I just said was only to share awareness of the current situation. I don't intend to break your will."
Azadin smiled, pointing at Randa Banema.
"I like people like you. Most people lack both goodwill and wisdom. Compared to them, someone with goodwill at least, how precious is that?"
"..."
Was that an insult or praise? No, since he was saying to her face, you're a fool, then it was an insult, but the eyeless man was speaking with a smile…
Usually such a smile would look like mockery. Yet now, his smile seemed to spring from genuine satisfaction.
"My emotions are too much on a roller coaster, I don't know what rhythm I'm supposed to dance to. I admit I lacked power and wisdom, and so did something reckless. But I cannot compromise with them. Herald Clan, lend me your power and wisdom. How far can you go?"
"Mm. Then let us set the scope of the petition like this. At the very least, in Bel Hoda's sugarcane farms, kidnapping people and forcing them into slavery or anything close to it shall be forbidden. And Randa Banema, I will ensure your family does not perish in armed clashes between farms. How about that?"
"What?"
Randa Banema was startled by Azadin's words.
Since he had come reproaching her from the start, she feared she would have to give up much. But the scope of the petition Azadin proposed was as close to the best she could imagine.
"Is that really possible?"
"With enough power and will, of course it is possible."
"…Will."
"Then first let's persuade the other farm owners. If we can end it with persuasion, without bloodshed, all the better. Then, can I leave this arena now?"
When Azadin asked, Randa Banema nodded.
Then—
—Swish!
Azadin's body swayed, then lightly kicked off the ground, and in an instant he leapt up, gripping the railing of Randa Banema's VIP seat.
"My god."
Far too fast. Just as when the arrow flew before, if Azadin had wished it, Randa Banema would never have survived. Even after negotiating from such a safe place, she felt chills run down her spine.
"Then let us accept the petition."
***
The Bel Hoda Sugar Industry Guild soon knew that the Herald Clan had arrived.
The local gentry who had lived with roots in Bel Hoda for ages were all intertwined. Even if they were from different farms, if you traced their roots back, they were connected as cousins, in-laws, friends, classmates, seniors, juniors, and so on.
Even among the people of the Banema farm, there was always someone connected to another farm of the Bel Hoda Sugar Industry Guild, and through them, Randa Banema was under constant surveillance.
"The Herald Clan, hm. What do you think?"
In the Sugar Industry Guild's clubhouse, the farm owners spoke as they played billiards with ivory balls.
Billiards and bowling, these were pastimes popular in Bruma, and billiards in particular was good for flaunting luxury.
These farm owners, to show off their overflowing wealth, competed in extravagance by crafting their billiard balls and cues out of the finest materials, measuring themselves against one another in luxury and pleasure.
"So, the Herald Clan has come? So it really exists, then."
"Of course it exists. Haven't you heard the rumor that recently the Herald Clan seized Coral Sahar?"
"I've heard the rumors, sure. But you know how rumors are, all over the place. Some say it was the Nagas who raided Coral Sahar instead?"
"Anyway, those soulless, profane ones, the Divine King Slayers, even after hundreds of years since the fall of the Emperor, the fact that their organization still remains is remarkable."
They marveled at the news of the Herald Clan's arrival, but their admiration lacked any sense of crisis.
Rumors of the Herald Clan's outstanding might, rumors of the effort and toil they put into fulfilling their missions, none of it gave them any sense of danger.
Because they had money, they commanded armies no less than those of nobles, and had hired extremely capable adventurers.
The grim reputation of the Herald Clan, the contemptuous names for their souls, had now begun to stimulate their curiosity in a different way.
"I've heard the Herald Clan has ranks. What rank is the one who came this time?"
"Second Herald."
When the messenger spoke, the farm owner holding a billiard cue paused.
"Second Herald?"
"Isn't that really high?"
A farm owner cut his cigar with a cutter, lit it, then hacked up phlegm and spat. A servant holding a silver tray carefully received the phlegm with both hands, then carried it out of the clubhouse.
"Second Herald of the Herald Clan, eh. How many came?"
"Uh, one from the Herald Clan, and two men, one woman."
"Two men and one woman? Only four came?"
"Yes. One man wore a blue headscarf, so he's probably Blue Sky Order. The other man was extremely muscular, perhaps a Taina cultist, since he was always sprawled out on the ground. And the woman, she's an incredible beauty, but she carried the curved sword and chain veil handled by Nagas."
"A Naga woman, you say?"
"Outwardly, she looks like a human woman."
The curved sword was large and heavy, not a weapon suited for women. She must be a mage who strengthened her muscles with sorcery, or truly a Naga.
"I don't know if that woman is a Naga or not, but since the others didn't carry bows, it seems the only one from the Herald Clan is that man."
"One Herald, the rest just riffraff? If he's Second Herald, he should have plenty of subordinates. So what are they doing?"
"Well…"
The servant who brought the news hesitated.
"I heard they're just eating meals at the Banema farm, saying they're waiting for something."
"Just eating?"
"They arrived yesterday, so perhaps they're just recovering from travel fatigue."
"Is that so."
A reasonable explanation. Travel always builds up fatigue. And if they were exhausted, they couldn't do much anyway.
But if they weren't fatigued, what would they do?
"Maybe they're waiting for reinforcements?"
Some voiced cautious opinions, but one young, ambitious farm owner swaggered forth.
"Whatever the case, what does it matter? I'll handle it."
"You'll handle it?"
"Yes. Our farm contracts adventurers who occasionally take care of monsters that appear, and their skills are quite impressive."
"In that case, we're not lacking either."
The farm owners had not only armed their serfs into private soldiers, but had also hired A-rank or higher adventurers from the Cell Sword Guild with their own money.
Though these adventurers were bound by money, with long-term contracts came loyalty and attachment between employer and employed. The farm owners came to take pride in the reputation and strength of the adventurers they had hired.
And now, the Herald Clan was an excellent target for fame. If their adventurers brought down one of the Herald Clan?
Already dulled by indulgence in every kind of pleasure, their desire and vanity found rare vitality and began to stir.
"Second Herald, huh. If they bring him down, that'll be an excellent title for our adventurers."
"Then what shall we do? Shall the ones I sponsor try first? I do want to see the strength of the Second Herald of the Herald Clan…."
"Trying to go first, sneakily?"
"Come now, we don't know the opponent's abilities. It's a risk, isn't it? But if I fail, those who try after me will have the advantage of knowing the information, won't they?"
"We can't let you suffer that for us. I'll take the vanguard myself."
"Oh dear, Lord Salco. You're of advanced years. You should refrain from such dogfighting excitement."
The farm owners joked loudly, competing over who would be the first to seize the Herald Clan.
It was then.
"Knock knock. Anyone home?"
A voice came from outside the door.
And then… suddenly, the clubhouse door shattered with an explosive crash and flew inward. It was a destructive force as if a catapult had smashed it.
But then the servants rushed out and, with astonishing skill, caught the flying door.
This clubhouse was where farm owners, weary from indulging in every pleasure alone, gathered to boast of their vile tastes to one another. Their bodyguards already lay scattered everywhere.
With skillful handling, they absorbed the force of the flying door and carefully laid it down on the floor.
"My, excuse me. Fine skills you've got there."
The one who entered, making the knocking sound with his mouth, was a young man wearing a mask.