A day later, we moved to the Barony of Balzac.
The Blue Fire Squad members decided to remain at the resort in case of any unforeseen circumstances, and Marchioness Ludvecia took charge of managing the situation.
Clatter.
The carriage rumbled as we made our way toward the Barony of Balzac.
This barony, which had been adjacent to the Marquisate of Ludvecia since the days when it was still the Count Habsderk family’s territory, was nothing more than an ordinary barony.
“You know, right? Baron Balzac has been making advances toward Marchioness Ludvecia for ten years now.”
That was news to me.
Of course, things would be different now.
“Was he really that kind of person?”
“Oh my, what kind of person did you think he was?”
As we traveled in the carriage, Yurha provided me with information about the Barony of Balzac—information that I found thoroughly unpleasant.
“A weak-hearted coward, constantly reading the room, too scared of the consequences to take any action?”
“That was Baron Balzac… about ten years ago.”
“…So, you’re saying he’s different now?”
That couldn’t be right.
Baron Balzac was a feeble figure, so timid that he barely even spoke in public—a mere extra in the grand scheme of things.
And how did I know this?
Because in the original story, Baron Balzac’s daughter was actually quite a well-performing side character.
– My father is too weak-willed, so I decided to come to the Academy and grow stronger. Instead of inheriting the Barony of Balzac, I plan to establish my own barony under a new surname.
She was a talented character who worked hard to take over the barony herself rather than rely on her unreliable father.
When I saw her among the new students this year, I felt a sense of familiarity. I was also relieved that she hadn’t resorted to using Mana Drain on some unfortunate man in her quest for power—
‘Wait… come to think of it, she didn’t seem to be attending as a baron’s daughter, did she?’
Apart from her uniform, she wore no noble accessories or insignias. It was almost as if she was cosplaying as a commoner.
“Are you thinking about another woman?”
“Yes. Doesn’t Baron Balzac have a daughter around our age?”
“He did. She was about your age, Phoenix, but she’s dead.”
“…Dead?”
“Or rather, missing. She disappeared without a trace three years ago. Before she vanished, she had serious conflicts with Baron Balzac.”
“A runaway, then…?”
“If it were just a runaway case, she would’ve resurfaced somewhere. But she was reportedly too weak to even qualify for Vinyudan at that age.”
“Hmm.”
A baron’s daughter hiding her noble status?
If there was a compelling reason and some variable at play, then Baron Balzac’s transformation might be the key factor.
“So, this is the same Baron Balzac who made his own daughter flee. What gave him the audacity to pursue Marchioness Ludvecia—my mother—so persistently?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“He was hoping for a miracle. If he could somehow marry Marchioness Ludvecia, his life would completely turn around. Until then, he’s just a nobody—an insignificant rural lord.”
“Even if you strike a tree a hundred or a thousand times, some trees won’t even get a scratch. Foolish, really.”
“Even if it’s foolish, if that’s the only way he can survive, then who are we to judge?”
I had no interest in ridiculing the Baron’s choices.
If I weren’t personally involved with Marchioness Ludvecia, I wouldn’t have cared about Baron Balzac’s affairs in the slightest.
“I’m suddenly tempted to turn this carriage around.”
“Oh my, why?”
“Because if that man finds out he has a sealed dungeon in his territory that could attract hordes of hunters, he’ll probably be overjoyed. Just by handling the byproducts from the Ant Nest hunting grounds or charging commissions, his domain’s finances would improve drastically.”
“Not just improve—his revenue could even multiply. But of course, I won’t let him sit back and enjoy all the profits.”
Yurha pulled out a pair of black glasses from her coat.
“And who am I?”
“Yurha Silverstar.”
“That’s right. Silverstar. And this is exactly the kind of situation where Silverstar’s best abilities shine, don’t you think?”
“You mean coercion disguised as negotiation?”
“Oh my, coercion? I simply facilitate proper agreements between parties at fair prices. It’s important to be meticulous with contracts, don’t you agree?”
She made a circle with her fingers.
“If someone believes they’ve sold their land for a good price, only to later discover a vast vein of magic stones buried underneath, how do you think they’d feel?”
“Hold on. We’re not at the magic stone stage yet. There are still monsters holding onto those stones.”
“Same thing.”
Yurha was already lost in a euphoric fantasy about stripping the monsters of their magic stones.
“Phoenix, can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Instructor Esta seems much more relaxed than before. Do you already know a lot about the monsters inside the Ant Nest?”
“Know them? I know them inside and out.”
After all, we had already cleared it once—the one from 500 years ago. I knew the dungeon’s internal structure like the back of my hand.
“More importantly, what will you trade with Baron Balzac? Even if he’s being forced into this deal, we still need a valid pretext.”
“You already provided the perfect pretext, Phoenix.”
“I did?”
“Yes. The Blue Fire Squad.”
Yurha extended her hands forward, mimicking the gesture of someone being cuffed.
“To most people, an Ant Nest correctional facility might seem like a nuisance, but in a barren place like the Barony of Balzac, it’s a golden opportunity. He’ll be thrilled. Oh, do you want to come along and watch the negotiations?”
“I feel like I’d just be witnessing something unpleasant.”
“This is also a part of who I am, and I have no reason to hide it from you, Phoenix. Besides, it’s just Baron Balzac—he’s hardly worth worrying about, isn’t he?”
“Hmm.”
I pointed to my attire.
“Do you have a secretary’s outfit?”
“The perfect disguise.”
* * *
Shortly after.
The carriage carrying the Vermilion Class of the Old School Building paused briefly at the border of the Marquisate of Ludvecia before continuing toward the designated meeting place where Baron Balzac had been summoned.
“H-Huff…! It is an honor to meet you, Director of Silverstar!”
Baron Balzac, with his brown hair and matching brown eyes, arrived drenched in sweat—hardly a noble-like appearance.
While his physique suggested he engaged in some level of physical activity, his overall demeanor and attire were unbefitting of a baron, let alone comparable to Marchioness Ludvecia.
“Pleasure to meet you.”
Yurha’s voice was devoid of any warmth.
Gone was the playful Academy senior who had been cracking jokes just moments ago—now, she was nothing but a Silverstar executive.
“Let’s skip the formalities. We’d like to purchase this area.”
“P-Purchase…? That wording seems a bit…”
“Oh my. Then how about letting us use it for about a hundred years instead?”
Silverstar never hesitated to embrace its notorious reputation.
Even when approaching negotiations, their first move was always a thinly veiled threat—“Hand it over for free.”
If the other party caved, they never admitted it was just a bluff.
Gratitude? No, Silverstar thrived on intimidation when they could get away with it.
“H-How much are you willing to pay for usage rights?”
“So as long as the price is reasonable, you’re willing to sign the contract?”
“W-Wait a moment.”
Baron Balzac flustered, flailing his hands wildly as he realized that something about this conversation was terribly off.
“W-What exactly do you plan to use my land for?”
“Do I need to disclose that?”
“If you don’t tell me, this will be a problem! Even if I receive proper compensation, I can’t approve just any facility that might trouble my people as their baron.”
“…Oh?”
A flicker of amusement passed through Yurha’s eyes.
So, Baron Balzac wasn’t completely spineless after all—his unexpected resistance meant Silverstar’s usual brute-force contract approach wouldn’t work this time.
“Fine. If you prefer a rational, business-like deal, then perhaps you should first review our proposal before making a decision.”
With a gesture, Yurha signaled to me.
I handed over a yellow envelope, which had been prepared in advance.
“This is a sample contract. Would you like to take a look?”
“H-Hmm…”
Baron Balzac hesitated.
Receiving a contract before any discussions had even begun? That was a clear power move—it carried the unspoken message: “This deal is already happening. Just stamp your seal.”
“…A correctional facility?”
“Yes, that’s right. We want to establish a rehabilitation center for criminals in the Barony of Balzac.”
“W-What in the—?!”
Baron Balzac shot to his feet, utterly stunned.
“You’re saying you want to build a prison?!”
“Precisely. Though, to be specific… we plan to establish a labor camp where rehabilitated prisoners will be put to work while undergoing reform.”
“A… labor camp? And what exactly will they be producing?”
“That’s company confidential. But I assure you, it’s an important project—one that must go forward no matter what. If the Barony of Balzac refuses to cooperate… well, Silverstar will have to explore other measures.”
Was this a negotiation?
No—this was outright coercion.
“All resources required for the facility’s construction will be covered by Silverstar. It’s not a bad deal for your territory, either. People traveling to the correctional facility will find it more convenient to stay in the Barony of Balzac rather than going all the way to the Marquisate of Ludvecia’s urban areas.”
A whip to the body, a noose around the neck, and finally—a carrot dangled in front.
“Well? What do you say?”
“Ugh… Hmm…”
Before coming here, Yurha had told me this.
– Negotiation is when two parties sit at the same table and discuss matters as equals. Just like how you and I talk, Junior Phoenix.
This, however, was not a negotiation.
“…Alright. But, about the debts hanging over my territory…”
“I’ll authorize the partial cancellation of some of them.”
“Th-Thank you!!”
From the beginning, the dominant side had simply dictated the terms.
Thud.
Even as he internally cursed and shed silent tears, Baron Balzac had no choice but to stamp his seal on the contract.
This was not a negotiation—it was merely a formality for an already-decided outcome.
“Phew. One last question, Director—who exactly is this correctional facility for?”
“Vinyudan.”
“…Huh?”
Balzac’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
“What? Are you saying women with small chests can’t be rehabilitated?”
It was too late.
The contract had already been stamped.
And it was now firmly in Yurha’s hands.
“If you have any complaints… feel free to sue.”
When an infamous villainess is on your side, you can’t help but root for her.
