One day in the Celuroa Kingdom.
"What? 'Lord of Kunlun'?"
"Yes."
Richard Valois de Celuroa, the King of Celuroa, gave a derisive snort.
"Hmph. So he claims ownership of some insignificant remote island? Fine, let him have it. Grant him permission."
"Are you certain, Sire?"
"Of course. My Celuroa Kingdom has no reason to concern itself with an island so meager it would blow away in a stiff breeze."
Richard was in high spirits that day.
Just yesterday, the domestic maps created using 'Celuroa-style hot air balloons' had finally been completed.
"Hmm, so this is the shape of Azul Lake. And the Naudaria River flows like this, while the Azul and Torres rivers merge here... and my capital, Esaia, is right here..."
Naturally, the map also depicted portions of the Kingdom of Egerea, the Shouro Empire, the Kingdom of Franz, and the Klein Kingdom.
"A fort is positioned here... Heh heh heh, with this, it will be much easier to formulate military tactics."
Gazing at the freshly finished maps, Richard Valois de Celuroa was a picture of satisfaction.
On another day.
"My Lord, you summoned me?"
Kneeling before Richard was Knute Amond, the Minister of Food. His rank as a civil servant was only lower-middle, but due to the recent food shortages, he found himself called before the King with increasing frequency.
"Knute, what is the status of our food procurement?"
"At your command, Sire. Following the proclamation you issued the other day, I have ordered the regional governors to collect emergency taxes. We are on track to receive a quantity of wheat that will soon be sufficient to supply every resident in the capital, Esaia."
"Umu, well done."
"I am unworthy of such high praise."
With the King's royal sanction, Knute Amond had imposed a crushing tax—specifically on the Corin region—amounting to 'eight parts for the state, two for the people.' This meant eighty percent of the harvest was seized by the government.
The Corin region had originally been the Corin Kingdom. Two hundred years ago, it had been annexed through methods that were indistinguishable from a flat-out invasion. Consequently, the Corin region was looked down upon as an inferior territory within the kingdom.
Similarly, the Liebus Region in the east had been formed a century ago when the Libas Kingdom was swallowed up. However, that area was home to many nomads, meaning their primary tax contribution was wool—unsuitable for solving a food crisis.
Nevertheless, as if to ensure the people were not being pampered, the wool tax had also been raised by forty percent over previous years, causing the residents' resentment to fester.
And on yet another day.
"My Lord, the seizure of Eckart's large ship has been completed."
"Hmm. Continue."
"Yes. We intercepted the vessel just as it returned from its trial voyage. When we demanded the transfer of the ship, we were told it was surrendered 'willingly.' At that time, since a seizure without any payment would tarnish your prestige, the state granted him ten thousand Toll in exchange."
"Heh, you handled that quite well."
"Yes, Sire. Furthermore, the dock where the ship was built, the laborers, and even the majority of the ship's crew have been taken as state property."
"A job well done. You shall be rewarded for this."
"I am unworthy of such praise."
Once again, on another day.
"What? A large number of golems have been discovered in the ruins of the Leonard Kingdom?"
"Yes. We received word from a spy we successfully embedded in the Kingdom of Egerea."
"Hmm... To think such ruins still existed. It is vexing to let that country claim them for themselves. Dispatch troops from our nation immediately."
"By your command!"
"...It's all over..."
In the town of Koup at the southern edge of the Celuroa Kingdom, a man sat slumped in total despair.
His name was Eckart Techles.
He was a 'former' wealthy merchant who had once reached the pinnacle of prosperity in Koup. But the Bridget, the massive ship he had built with every ounce of his passion and fortune, had been seized by the state. At the same time, his manor, his construction docks, and even his servants had been taken from him.
He had been paid a mere ten thousand Toll—roughly equivalent to one hundred thousand yen.
Fearing the soldiers sent by the crown, the majority of his crew had chosen to remain with the ship and enter the service of the state. Dissent was not an option. What could one lone merchant say in the face of more than five hundred armed soldiers?
"Master Eckart, please, find your strength."
Consoling the dejected Eckart was his personal magi craftman, Altaf. In reality, he was Regulus 50, a Quinta unit created by Jin.
"Madam, young master, you as well."
Attending to Eckart's wife, Paulette, and his son, Mitchell, was Altaf's wife, Gena—actually Deneb 30 of the Quinta.
Now, the only ones remaining by the side of the ruined Techles family were these Quinta units.
"...Thank you. But why haven't you left like the others...?"
As Eckart offered his weak gratitude, Altaf replied with a gentle smile.
"Because we aren't people of the Celuroa Kingdom. We have no lingering attachments to this land."
"That's right. Why don't we go to the Shouro Empire?" Gena suggested.
"The Shouro Empire...?"
"Yes. Vivienne and Stearena have already defected there."
"Defected, huh..."
"We have acquaintances in that country. There is no point in lingering here forever, is there?"
"..."
Just as Altaf and Gena said, Eckart no longer felt any tie to this country. He had not been born in Koup, but in the inland town of Watos; he had no deep roots here.
"Dear," Paulette said softly.
Eckart looked at his wife and slowly stood up.
"...You're right. I still have all of you. As long as the three of us can manage to put food on the table in another country, that will be enough for me."
Altaf and Gena had brought a single golem with them, which carried the group's luggage, making the journey surprisingly easy. This golem was, of course, Smith 40, a Smith Golem created by Jin.
They traveled west along the coast. Over five days, they covered one hundred and sixty kilometers until they arrived at a town called Isol.
Across the Border River flowing to the west of the town lay the Shouro Empire. However, there were no towns or villages on the opposite bank. The village of Kiin was located thirty kilometers to the north, but before they could worry about that, they had to solve the problem of crossing the river.
Crossing the border without permission was a severe crime. Border guards patrolled the riverbanks, and if caught, they would be arrested immediately. Under the laws of the Celuroa Kingdom, the punishment was a lifetime of hard labor.
"Let's just cross in the middle of the night," Altaf said casually.
Eckart could only nod anxiously. Paulette's face was equally clouded with worry.
"It will be fine. If it comes to it, we will act as your shields," Gena said, soothing the family's fears.
And true to her word, the group successfully crossed the Border River on a raft that Altaf had 'quickly' put together. Strangely enough, not a single border guard patrol appeared until they had reached the other side.
"The Eckart family is defecting, then?"
On Hourai Island, Laojun had been receiving regular reports from the Quinta units Altaf and Gena. He had already formulated a plan.
"We shall have the Celuroa royal family reflect on their actions. Though, that arrogant house likely won't feel much from this alone... Let us teach them the meaning of the 'ant's hole.'"
It was a reference to the proverb: "Even a thousand-fathom dike can collapse from a single ant hole." It meant that even the most formidable fortress could crumble because of a tiny, overlooked crack.
Following Stearena and Vivienne, now came Eckart Techles.
Laojun intended to slowly make the current King of Celuroa, Richard Valois de Celuroa, realize exactly how much of a loss the drain of talent truly was for a nation.
January 19, 3458.
"Defectors from the Celuroa Kingdom, you say?"
News reached the Empress of the Shouro Empire in the capital of Loizart, coming from the town of Shimos on the shores of Lake Wasu.
"Yes. It is reported to be a merchant who developed a large ship on par with the Bernstein."
"I believe I have heard that name from Jin-kun. He spoke of him being a very talented merchant. Invite them to Loizart."
Eckart and his family had successfully reached the Shouro Empire. Following Stearena and Vivienne, they became registered foreigners No. 3, 4, and 5 residing within the Empire.