For several weeks, Rose and I discussed potential solutions for securing subjects at the mansion, but people did not simply sprout from the ground. We quickly ran aground.
Naturally, with the intelligence I had already procured from Mujina, the answer to this predicament was already clear to me.
It was, so to speak, a circumstance unique to the East Region. In all likelihood, that was precisely the King's intention as well. As expected, the King and his Prime Minister were quite the cunning pair. After all, they were trying to use us to further solidify the foundation of the crown's authority. Personally, I would prefer to keep as much distance as possible from those scheming old monsters.
"Kai, do you have any good ideas?"
"Hmm, none at all."
This was a trial granted to Rose. Tossing her a lifeline would be entirely improper, and she would never grow if I did.
Besides, this was the sort of dilemma where she would inevitably reach the solution on her own as long as she gathered detailed intelligence on the region. Gathering information was the absolute bedrock of every endeavor. In a sense, it was far more precious than treasure.
This principle was practically an absolute truth to me, forged through endless, life-or-death explorations in that Easy Dungeon. This was something Rose simply had to realize with her own effort.
"Is that... so?"
She rose to her feet.
"I shall retire for the night."
Shoulders slumped in dejection, she headed up to the second floor of the inn.
Anna hurriedly trailed after her.
"So, when's Master gonna fill the princess in on that matter?"
The moment Rose stepped out, Zack paused his steady devouring of the piled food on the table and turned to ask me.
"That matter" referred to the chivalrous band of thieves operating primarily across the eastern territories of the Holy Amelia Kingdom—the Wind Cats.
They targeted the wealthy merchants and slave traders who colluded with Count Ketzer Kusar—widely reviled as the worst lord in the East Region, if not the entire Holy Amelia Kingdom—looting their supplies and distributing food to the destitute. By striking back against Count Ketzer's tyranny, the Wind Cats had become local folk heroes to the impoverished people of the East Region.
According to Mujina, Count Ketzer had recently discovered that the stronghold of these noble thieves was hidden within Eastend, and he was currently recruiting private mercenaries to wipe them out.
Up to that point, it was merely a rumor, and its credibility remained questionable. Swallowing unverified information whole from Mujina, whom I had only just met, would have been the height of folly.
To confirm the truth, I had dispatched stealth-specialized monsters under my command from the Subjugation Compendium to verify the facts. As it turned out, every detail of Mujina's report was completely accurate.
Beyond verifying the situation itself, the investigation proved that Mujina was an exceptionally capable information broker.
"Hmm? I have no intention of telling her myself."
There was the future to consider. It would never do if she relied on me for every little thing. If she could not even grasp the initial lead on her own, there was no point in even discussing it.
"Ah, figures. In that case, the princess ain't ever gonna notice at this rate."
Zack offered his backwards take while tearing off a chunk of meat with his teeth.
"And why is that? According to Mujina, the Wind Cats are common knowledge that anyone in the area knows about. All she needs to do is think of recruiting them as her subjects. If she can reach that realization, that is all it takes."
I did not expect the current Rose to figure out how to accomplish it. I intended to devise the concrete execution myself.
"That's exactly the problem! A wild idea like turning famous local bandits into law-abiding citizens ain't ever gonna cross a normal person's mind, no matter how hard they try."
"Hrmm."
I did not appreciate Zack speaking as though I were some bizarre eccentric, but he certainly had a point. Utilizing figures from the criminal underworld was likely an unthinkable approach for a sheltered young lady like Rose. I tended to forget lately, but despite everything, she was still an imperial princess.
"Very well. I suppose I shall offer her a slight hint, then."
What Rose lacked right now was an appreciation for the power of information. That was an indispensable asset if she intended to govern a territory in the future.
The dungeon contained a vast collection of books on the subject. This was a fitting opportunity. An introductory volume in particular should be relatively easy to digest, even for Rose in her current state. I rose from my seat and made my way up the stairs toward the second floor where Rose was resting.