During the royal court meeting the next day, Count Arcadio proposed a motion. In recognition of Captain Stolt's contributions over the past year in suppressing unrest and maintaining order, he suggested promoting Stolt's title from knight to baron.
Count Rielde and his faction did not put up much resistance. Given Norton I's tendency to trust Arcadio implicitly, Rielde's group knew that if they wanted to eliminate Arcadio, they would have to act decisively and without prior approval. In this delicate situation, William's stance was pivotal. His militia was the only armed force Arcadio could rely on, and likewise, it was the only obstacle standing in Rielde's way.
At this critical juncture, Rielde was careful not to antagonize William over something as trivial as a symbolic title, avoiding any move that might sour relations with him.
However, when Arcadio later proposed appointing William as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs to oversee crime, public order, education, and healthcare in the slums, Rielde opposed the idea.
This authority fell squarely within the jurisdiction of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Without reaching a consensus or negotiating terms with William, Rielde was unwilling to relinquish such power so easily.
...
At noon, William visited Arcadio's residence for lunch. The two discussed the events of the earlier court meeting.
To William's surprise, Arcadio suggested that he continue engaging with Count Rielde.
Suspicious of Arcadio's intentions, William put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth, and said, "You spoke on my behalf during the court meeting. Rielde probably already sees me as being entirely on your side. Why would he talk to me now?"
"Why not?" Arcadio replied. "If that were the case, he would have blocked your promotion to baron as well. The reason he allowed your noble status to advance is that he still harbors some hope about your allegiance. He doesn't want to burn bridges completely. He only opposes things that directly infringe on his authority because he's unsure of your true stance."
After finishing his explanation, Arcadio set down his utensils and picked up a glass of mead. He didn't drink it immediately, instead handing it to a maid, who took a sip first. Only after this precaution did he drink it himself.
"And what exactly do you want me to do by engaging with them?" William asked.
"The investigative bureau is moving too slowly," Arcadio said, swirling his wine glass. Despite his advanced age, his eyes sparkled with a sharpness rivaling that of a younger man. "Rielde, like me, is one of the kingdom's four key ministers. Toppling him won't be easy, and it will take too much time if we rely solely on the bureau. I want them to feel secure enough to act boldly, so that I can eliminate them in one fell swoop."
William looked at him in astonishment and pointed to himself. "You want me to go undercover?"
"You could gather intelligence on them and put their minds at ease. We'll use this to our advantage and strike after they make their move," Arcadio explained.
Feigning hesitation, William furrowed his brows as if he were reluctantly considering the idea.
Seeing this, Arcadio attempted to persuade him further. "Don't forget, not long ago, those people attempted to poison us. If we don't take this opportunity to root them out, do you plan to live in constant vigilance against them?"
Appearing reluctantly convinced, William agreed. However, he hesitated and then asked, "If we eliminate Rielde, what happens to his position as Minister of Internal Affairs?"
"You want to be the Minister of Internal Affairs?" Arcadio gave William a sidelong glance. "That would be difficult, but I'll do my best to help you. However, it will have to be a gradual process."
"Fine," William said, nodding in satisfaction.
After finishing their meal, William left. Meanwhile, Eaton, the butler who had been serving them throughout lunch, noticed that Arcadio remained seated, deep in thought.
"Master?" Eaton asked.
Arcadio exhaled heavily. "What a greedy little man."
Eaton glanced at the seat where William had been sitting. "You're absolutely right, sir. People like him, with insatiable appetites, are never truly satisfied. You must be wary of his eventual betrayal."
"I know," Arcadio replied. "This man can't be allowed to stay. He must be dealt with after all this is over." He walked to the window and looked down at William's departing figure. "It's time to consider finding a new ally."
Arcadio sighed deeply. "It's a pity Roy is dead. If he were still alive, Stolt wouldn't dare act so brazenly. Those pirate cooks... they truly are lawless, daring to attack and kill a base commander. But no matter. As long as I have money, I can always make new friends."
Turning back to Eaton, Arcadio gave him a stern order. "We have an important guest arriving the day after tomorrow. Make sure everything is prepared to make him feel at home."
...
After leaving Arcadio's estate, William's expression grew serious. He gestured for Darwil, who quickly stepped forward.
Darwil, once a mere deckhand during Barbarossa's time, had been bullied by the now-deceased first mate Felton. Now, however, Darwil was considered a veteran among the crew.
In truth, with William's current strength, he no longer needed bodyguards. Yet, as his influence expanded and the number of people under his command grew, his attention to the pirate crew had inevitably waned. To prevent any potential insubordination or deception, William kept someone like Darwil—a dependable and straightforward individual—close by to stay informed about the crew's situation.
Despite William's many roles—owner of the Four Seas Trading Company, captain of Navia Kingdom's militia, and now a baron—veteran crew members like Darwil still preferred to address him as "Captain" in various settings, a way of emphasizing their unique bond.
"Captain, what can I do for you?" Darwil asked.
Frowning slightly, William thought for a moment before saying, "Go to the docks and find Harden. Tell him not to let the fleet disperse. Keep all ships concentrated near Kalmar City. I need to ensure we can blockade the city at a moment's notice."
Arcadio's eagerness to agree to things at the dining table had made William suspicious.
After Darwil left, William headed to the residence of Count Rielde, the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Over the past few days, several members of Rielde's faction had been arrested by Kuro and his investigative bureau. These pampered nobles, unused to hardship, were already terrified upon entering the prison. Torture wasn't even necessary to break them. Moreover, Kuro had his own hidden agenda, and several individuals had mysteriously died in custody.
The looming fear of death had left Rielde's faction on edge, pushing them toward a desperate gamble.
Given the circumstances, and knowing William's stance, Count Rielde's demeanor during their secret meeting had shifted dramatically. He was now far more deferential.
First, he apologized for his behavior during the court meeting. Then, he offered to concede the exclusive rights to the alcohol trade that William had previously demanded—on the condition that William stay out of their upcoming plans.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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