"Hmm, Kaina Village, you say?"
As Jin made his request, King Alois III of the Klein Kingdom offered a pleasant smile.
"Are you certain that is all? You are well within your rights to demand a much larger territory, you know."
"No, I am content because it is Kaina Village."
Jin’s resolve did not waver.
"Hmm. Very well, then."
Alois III signaled to his secretary to begin drafting the contract.
'Kaina Village shall be granted to the Magi Craftman Jin Nidou as a leased territory.'
This was the core of the agreement.
What followed were detailed clauses defining the specific boundaries and the duration of the lease. The term was set for fifty years, effective immediately.
A golem of the quality Jin had produced typically commanded a price between five and eight million Toll. For twenty units, that totaled anywhere from 100 to 160 million Toll. Material costs alone accounted for approximately 80 million Toll.
Considering the sheer craftsmanship involved, Jin’s labor alone was worth at least eighty million Toll. While he had also forged the swords, he had accepted the entire commission for a total of 50 million Toll. The difference in value was well over 30 million Toll.
In contrast, assuming Kaina Village’s annual tax revenue in wheat was five tons, it amounted to roughly 450,000 Toll a year—totaling 22.5 million Toll over the fifty-year lease.
Even accounting for the village as a reward, the trade was clearly lopsided in the kingdom's favor. It was for this reason that Alois III had suggested a more expansive territory would be appropriate.
The secretary continued reading the provisions aloud. One clause specified that the contract would be rendered void if Jin committed any act contrary to the interests of the Klein Kingdom. Naturally, Kaina Village was also granted extraterritorial rights.
Since Jin could not possibly commit every detail to memory, he used Reiko as a conduit to have Laojun record and analyze the text in real-time. Through Reiko, Laojun pointed out that the phrase 'acts contrary to the interests of the Klein Kingdom' was the primary point of concern. Reiko whispered this warning to Jin.
"What do you think, Jin-dono?" Chancellor Powell asked once the first reading was complete.
Jin raised the concerns Laojun had identified.
"Well... the phrase 'acts contrary to the interests of the Klein Kingdom' seems somewhat ambiguous. For instance—hypothetically speaking—if someone from the Klein Kingdom were to cause trouble in the vicinity of Kaina Village and I were to intervene, I would need to know to what extent such actions would be permitted."
The King realized that Jin was subtly referencing Earl Walter’s previous aggressive conduct and Jin’s own efforts to restrain him.
"A valid point. Chancellor, do you have a suggestion?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Perhaps we could include a provision stating that if the designated region is threatened, the right of self-defense within that territory is recognized?"
Though the language was formal, it effectively meant that if Kaina Village were attacked, a counterattack launched from within its borders would not be considered an act against the kingdom's interests. For a territory with extraterritoriality, this was a natural conclusion.
Conversely, it also implied that Jin could not pursue enemies beyond the village boundaries.
"In this context, does 'Kaina Village' refer to the actual settlement, or the geographical boundaries of the region?" Jin asked.
"Concretely, it refers to the area north of Togo Pass, bordered by the Erme River and the northern mountains," the Chancellor clarified.
Togo Pass was the small mountain pass they had crossed previously to pay taxes. The 'northern mountains' did not refer to the peaks where medicinal herbs were gathered, but rather the range further north where the Hekatonkheir had once lurked. It was a substantial area.
At Jin’s insistence, a simple map was included to eliminate any ambiguity.
They confirmed several other minor points. The final addition to the contract stipulated: 'In the event that a resident of Kaina Village is harmed outside of the territory, the right to determine the punishment for the perpetrator shall reside with Kaina Village.'
With Laojun finally giving the okay, Jin signed the contract and pressed his handprint onto the parchment. Two copies were produced, one for the Klein Kingdom and one for Jin to keep.
"With this, a formal bond has been forged between our nation and Jin," Alois III declared.
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing I wish to confirm."
"Speak. What is it?"
"It seems the conflict with the Kingdom of Franz has concluded. What is the status of the conscription orders?"
"Chancellor?" The King turned the question over to Powell.
"Indeed, conscription orders were issued to the landed nobility. However, we rescinded those orders this morning. The forces should be in the process of disbanding as we speak."
Jin breathed a sigh of relief. The men of Kaina Village would soon be returning home.
"I am relieved to hear that. Finally, I ask that you take care to ensure no friction arises with Earl Walter, who governs the surrounding region."
"Understood."
The King took this as a request to prevent any incidents that might trigger the clause regarding harm to Kaina residents outside their borders.
Relieved that the matter was settled, Jin felt a surge of happiness knowing that Kaina Village would finally know peace.
For his part, the King was equally satisfied. "It is a momentous day to have secured this tie with Jin."
He had two glasses brought in, poured the wine himself, and offered one to Jin. Jin accepted it graciously.
"To a fruitful relationship."
"To a fruitful relationship."
"Cheers."
Princess Lieschen beamed with pride that the man she had scouted had been officially recognized by her father. The Chancellor likewise looked pleased to have secured a connection with such an irreplaceable talent.
By the time the legalities were concluded, it was 5:30 PM. It looked as though they would be staying for one more night. Lieschen took the opportunity to extend an invitation.
"Jin, this is wonderful. You must join me for dinner at my palace again. Father, you don't mind, do you? Oh, and Powell, you should come too."
Alois III nodded with a smile. "Lies, you are the host, so I shall leave the arrangements to you. Powell, you are dismissed to join them."
A magnificent spread of food was prepared in the grand dining hall of the Detached Palace.
The gathering included Princess Lieschen, Chancellor Powell, Baron Boulton, and Gloria Allstatt, the Vice-captain of the Female Ritter Order.
They were joined by Jin, Elsa Randol, Hanna, and Reiko—though Reiko did not consume any food or drink.
Hanna wore the dress the Princess had gifted her. Elsa was also dressed in a fine gown she had received as a gift. Jin wore his Honorary Magi Craftman half-coat.
With the exception of Hanna, who was given juice, everyone toasted with a light fruit wine.
"Ah, I feel as though a great weight has been lifted," the Chancellor admitted after the toast. He seemed genuinely relaxed now that the connection with Jin was formalized. While he might still have had his own designs, he clearly realized that it would be foolish to move against Jin directly after witnessing his capabilities.
Jin had given Elsa and Hanna a simplified explanation of the contract. While Elsa understood the implications, Hanna likely did not grasp the legal nuances.
Even so, she understood that Jin had received a great reward. "I'm so glad for you, Onii-chan!" she cheered.
Conversation flowed easily throughout the meal. Princess Lieschen was the most animated of the group.
"My intuition was correct!" she proclaimed. "You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you like!"
Gloria was equally enthusiastic. "Jin-dono, I shall cherish this sword you made for me for the rest of my life!"
Her father, Boulton, went so far as to lean in and whisper to Jin, "Jin-dono, if you ever find the time... I would be honored if you could forge a blade for me as well." Jin gave him a non-committal answer for the time being.
The night wore on amidst the lively and pleasant conversation.
Meanwhile, Alois III was meeting with his subordinates.
"The Chancellor answered Jin’s inquiry, but I wish to be certain. Exactly when was the order to rescind the conscription issued?"
The King was determined to maintain the trust they had built.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty," the Secretary replied. "The orders were dispatched to all regions via express riders first thing this morning."
"I see. That is well. Honestly, due to a minor oversight last time, we nearly let such a talent slip away to another nation."
Alois III thought back to Earl Walter’s reckless actions with lingering irritation.
"Furthermore, regarding Lieschen’s potential marriage to the Kingdom of Egerea, this provides her with a valuable acquaintance."
As a nation that practiced a diplomacy of befriending distant allies to balance nearby rivals, strengthening ties with Egerea was highly desirable for the Klein Kingdom.
Based on what Lieschen had heard from Jin, the candidate for her hand, Third Prince Ernest, seemed to be an exceptional young man. As a father rather than just a king, Alois found this quite reassuring.
"What is the status of Earl Walter?"
The King intended to provide a thorough explanation to the Count, given that a portion of his territory was being carved out.
"He should be in Gara, organizing his local forces. The conscripted men have almost certainly been disbanded by now."
"Very well. Send an express rider at first light tomorrow. Inform him of the final decision regarding Kaina Village."
"Laojun, how is the status of the mana linkage?"
"It is excellent."
Later that night, Jin sat on his bed and confirmed there were no eavesdroppers before communicating with Laojun through Reiko.
"If I increase the sensitivity slightly, I can perceive everything that the units Nick 1 through 20 see and hear."
Jin did not fully trust the Klein Kingdom. He had installed several 'insurance' policies within the golems for exactly this reason.
For their eyes, he had utilized light-attribute magi-crystals with specifications that were arguably excessive for their basic functions. The surplus capacity was entirely dedicated to the mana linkage with Laojun. The magi-formulas used for this were microscopic and composed using kanji, ensuring that no one in this world could decipher them.
The wind-attribute vocalization devices also had their surplus capacity routed to the mana linkage. If he wished, Laojun could listen to every word spoken by or near the golems.
Additionally, limiters had been placed within their control cores to ensure they could never attack Jin, Hourai Island, Kunlun Island, or Kaina Village. The architecture was designed so that Laojun could seize direct control if necessary.
This was a secret shared only between Jin, Reiko, and Laojun.
"One more thing. Laojun, please deliver a Golem carriage identical to the one I made previously to the vicinity of Alban by tomorrow morning."
Expecting that they might be provided with an escort the following day, Jin gave Laojun instructions to help maintain his cover.
"This should be enough to manage..."
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