Chapter 72: The Current State of The South


    Nice to meet you, the vige chief. I am the Eight Prince, Leonard Lakes Adler.


    Saying so Leo bows to the gray-haired old woman who lives in thergest house in the vige.


    The olddy called the vige chief shakily bow her head in reply.


    I am Mao.the vige chief of this Hina vige. For extending your help to a vige such as ours, thank you very much.


    No, no matter what kind of vige it is, yours is still considered a vige of the Empire. As a member of the Imperial family, it is my responsibility to help my subjects.


    Leo replies with a soft smile on his face.


    Hearing Leos words, another person in the house whistles.


    I was surprised. who would have thought that twins could be this much different.


    What kind of image do you have of my brother?


    He looked haughty.


    A red-haired man is leaning against the wall.


    At Als request, Abel led the adventurers to this vige to act as its guard.


    He left a strong impression on Leo on how adventurer-like and unreserved he is.


    Is that so. You might be in for a surprise when you saw how he normally is you know.


    I wish. That prince offered a stupid amount of reward for us to protect this remote vige. I was scared shitless thinking about what kind of monsters are roaming around here you know?


    And what did you find?


    There are no monsters around at all. This is such a peaceful vige. But its exactly like Ive heard, there are some thugs that seem like kidnappersing out around here. Seeing that we already solidified the viges defense, they dont really try anything on the vigers so far but I still see them sneaking around here and there. That said, this is still not worth that stupid amount of money. Something like this is only a simple request after all.


    That should be a good thing for an adventurer like Abel but he seems to be unsatisfied about it.


    As hes not a pro on the matter, Leo shows him a bitter smile.


    If the reward is cheap, they will get angry and if its too high, they get frustrated. Adventurers really are hard to please. However, Leo likes how they freely live their lives.


    The hard part is soon toe. I will be investigating the organization behind these kidnapping cases and it is likely that the Lord who is governing this area is involved as well.


    Hou? Base on what?


    I visited the Lords city before I came here and I saw their suspicious attitudes. The Lord himself seems nervous and there are some suspicious guys moving around as well. If he just doesnt recognize the existence of the frontier viges and ignore their request out of pure negligence then he could just normally wee me. But that Lord did try to contact someone. That action was enough to make me deepen my suspicion.


    He might just be very nervous about your visit you know?


    That might be the case but the Southern Nobles should already be notified of the purpose of my visit. If they really didnt notice the existence of those viges or it was a case of oversight from their part then they should show me their minimum effort about the matter. In fact, other Lords near the border area have already started to act for the immigrant viges in their area but the Lord in question is still yet to move.


    I thought that you were taking a detour but you did look into them while doing that huh. You are reallypetent just like the rumor says.


    I wonder about that. I still havent done anything yet after all.


    Saying so, Leo looks down.


    That was Leos honest feelings.


    At the Knight Hunting festival, he led the Knights to the city rescue but that couldnt be considered the decisive blow. As the ambassador plenipotentiary, it wasnt him who won the trust of the two countries but Al dressed as Leo.


    He hasnt done anything ever since he joined the session war.


    Thats why he was obsessed with this case.


    He couldnt afford to be someone that was installed as an emperor. He has to show the will to be one and act. Those who can not take action by themselves are not worthy to be an emperor.


    If he cant solve this case then being an emperor would be just a dream within a dream for him.


    His words came from that thought.


    Well, it must be like that if you think so. Its a good thing that you are not cocky. But if you are going to quickly solve this case then be careful not to lose sight of whats important alright?


    Of course. The first thing I am considering is the well-being of the vige and the kidnapped people after all.


    Lyn is a kind girl she should be the one who took it the hardest but she put that behind her and acted for the vige, for us.


    I havent heard anything like that from Lynfia but I thought that something terrible must have happened to her since she decided to leave the vige and went all the way to us.


    Yesthe earliest kidnapping case was eleven years ago. It was Lyns sister who was three years older than Lyn. Lyn was only five years old at the time. Thetest child who was kidnapped was also her sister six years younger than her. It was on the day that Lyn fell asleep because she had fallen ill.


    They kidnapped both of her sisters


    Among the siblings, Lyn was the only one who didnt have odd eyes. It must have been thanks to that, that she wasnt kidnapped as well. The kidnappers were targeting children with odd eyes. Eleven years ago, many dwarves immigrated into the Empire and there was a great deal of hunting for demihumans and children with special abilities. The frequency of such cases has decreased since His Majesty the Emperor dered that all the immigrants are to be imperial subjects but my vige was still continued to be targeted. No one came to help us just because we are all immigrants.


    The vige chief said so and let out a deep sigh.


    It doesnt like they are immigrants because they choose to be.


    Those that migrated to the Empire are people who lost their home to the southern conflict in the warring era or those who have suffered from demihuman persecution of the Sokal Empire who drove out all demihumans from their country.


    The Empire is tolerant of the immigrants but that was to incorporate the excellent demihumans to their side, the Empire cant just go on with humans alone after all. Demihumans who have exceptional skills are useful in various ces but those that do not have such skills still have to live under discrimination.


    Eleven years ago, they were treated as if they did not exist. However, because of the Emperors decree, their situation changed.


    The immigrants were happy about the change but that doesnt mean that it changes everything.


    At the time the Emperor gave out his decree, the immigrants who were recognized as imperial citizens were exempt from paying taxes for five years. It was a burden for the Lords but in reality, the immigrants couldnt afford to pay the taxes at the time. That was why they were given five years to blend into society, start trading, or reim thend. That was the Emperors order but some of the Lord intentionally ignored it.


    Such things dont benefit them after all.


    Leo understands that to an extent. He thought that if that was the case then there was still a room to pardon them. The Lords point was valid after all.


    However, that is not the case this time.


    This vige is special. People with odd eyes are often born here, it gave birth to someone as excellent as Lynfia, and there are a lot ofpetent hunters in the vige. If they are incorporated into the local Lords territory they will surely bring many benefits to him. It was something that could be found right away if they had conducted an investigation after all.


    However,


    If they did that, the existence of this vige would be known to the central part of the Empire. They must have something that they want to hide in this ce.


    Thats why Lynfia came to us. It was the responsibility of us at the center of the Empire for overlooking this until now. Please forgive me.


    N, No! Thats out of the question! Please dont say such a thing! And please raise your head!


    No matter how many apologies I offer, it would not be enough to heal your scar. I cant promise you that I can get all of them home but I will do my best to search for all the kidnapped vigers. I will bring all the sins of the Lord to the open. The Emperor himself will deliver a fair judgment for you all.


    Thank you very much..! Thank you!


    The vige chief repeatedly bows to him.


    That was the end of their discussion and Leo left the ce together with Abel.


    You sure said it huh, I think that its not gonna be easy you know?


    I guess so.


    From their bearings and equipment, the people who are lurking around the vige are professionals. I thought that normally only thugs and bandits would do these kinds of kidnapping but I have never seen such a serious group like them before. They arepletely all business here.


    I see. It means that the organization behind them is that big. The Lord who governs this area is not that influential. Perhaps, the Lord himself might just only be a pawn as well.


    Its possible that all the Southern Nobles are involved in this case too. If you do a poor job at this it will cause a rebellion you know?


    That sure sounds like a big problem.


    Saying so, Leoughs.


    The issue of the Southern Frontier is a perfect way for him to win the Emperors favor but if the Southern Nobles are allowed to rebel, all the responsibility may be shifted to Leo.


    This is a dangerous mission.


    Investigating them without digging in too deep and round them up.


    That was a valid strategy.


    However,


    But since I heard their story, I wanted to help them. Do you think someone who couldnt help those he wanted to help can be an emperor?


    I dont know about that. But, if I have to say which one I want for my emperor, I guess I would prefer someone who can do that huh.


    Right. Thats why I came here. Sorry but, since you have been paid such a high sry, I will have to ask you to earn your wages okay?


    Sure sure, as youmand.


    His adventurers instinct told him that he just epted some terrible request.


    But since he already epted the money, as an adventurer, he cant turn down a request he already epted.


    Theres nothing Abel could do but shrug and giving Leo his answer.