Before leaving, Leo repeatedly warned his mother and younger sister to be extremely careful. He told them not to leave Mr. Landord's family or the neighbors, and he asked Mr. Landord to look after them for the time being. At the same time, Leo handed his younger sister a package and asked her to keep it safe for him. Olina accepted the very heavy package and hugged it tightly to her chest. Anything her brother had entrusted to her had to be extremely important. Leo had a persistent feeling that something else would happen tonight. It was better not to carry a prohibited weapon like the wheellock pistol on his person.
Major Willy called Leo and Brad over and quietly said, “Koliver is dead. From now on, my account is the official version of everything concerning him. No matter who asks, neither of you is to say anything careless. Koliver and Bishop Notte were involved in a simple personal vendetta. Brad! None of those conversations between them ever happened. Understood?”
Brad replied without hesitation, “They never happened! I couldn't understand them anyway!”
Major Willy nodded and continued, “Koliver Enwey secretly defected to the West Empire, and the Church failed to discover it in time. He was the source of every disaster! He used a weapon from the West Empire to murder Bishop Notte Bonet!”
This was the first time Leo had heard Major Willy mention the West Empire. A matchlock, the life of a bishop, and a citywide fire had finally brought the West Empire to the attention of Blackport City's upper ranks. But what did the West Empire want? Had it started fires throughout Blackport City tonight merely to inflict losses on the count's city...?
The group returned to Toronia Square. The crowd had already dispersed, and the Order of Church Knights had surrounded the church. The Count of Blackport stood on the ceremonial platform from earlier, his expression gloomy as he faced west. The fire was currently fiercest in the southern part of the city, but whatever was happening in the west concerned the count even more.
Major Willy stepped forward, saluted the Count of Blackport, and declared loudly, “My Lord Count! The wicked murderer and vile blasphemer Koliver Enwey has been killed! His body has been brought back!”
The Count of Blackport's expression finally softened slightly. “Good, Willy. You have done well.”
Edwin Clair, the oldest priest in the Church of Radiant Prayer, stepped forward and placed a hand on Koliver Enwey's corpse. No one knew what method he used, but he immediately confirmed Koliver's identity. “My Lord Count, you have our deepest gratitude. The blasphemer who brutally murdered Bishop Notte Bonet has paid the price he deserved.”
The Count of Blackport said, “Priest Edwin Clair, I apologize for my failure to notice what was happening. Whatever the circumstances, as the Count of Blackport, I bear an inescapable responsibility for the bishop's death. Of course, this is not the time for grief. Priest Edwin Clair, I hope the Church of Radiant Prayer in Blackport City can quickly recover.”
“Disaster is everywhere in Blackport City...” The Count of Blackport looked into the distance beyond the city, toward the harbor, and continued, “Fires, stampedes, and an unidentified fleet appearing at sea... I need your strength. I need the Church of Radiant Prayer's power to calm the people!”
Priest Edwin Clair lowered his head in salute. “I will follow your arrangements, honored Count Leopold Cavendish, honored Lord of Blackport County. During this time of crisis, I will temporarily assume the bishop's duties. I will do so until the Cardinal Archbishop in Coldlance City issues instructions regarding the chaos here.”
Coldlance City was the capital of the duke’s domain. It was the largest city in the domain and the seat of Duke Blois Cavendish. Listening to the exchange between these important figures, Leo caught one significant detail: an unidentified fleet...
The Count of Blackport turned toward Major Willy. “Major Willy Belloc, you have done well. You resolved the Church's difficulty with great speed. This is the first good news of this terrible night. I hope more good news will continue to arrive. Your actions quickly stabilized Blackport City's rear. You are awarded one Second-Class Merit.
“Willy, I know you have always been depressed because you have not obtained the title of Viscount. For a C-Grade Mage to have still not become a Viscount means that fortune has never favored you. I admire you greatly. I am exceedingly fond of you.
“However, the rule established by the Duke of the Peninsula is that three First-Class Merits are required to be ennobled as a Viscount. Both you and I must obey it. Including this Second-Class Merit, you have now earned one First-Class Merit and three Second-Class Merits. I remember them all clearly.
“The Guardian of the Audrian Continent, Holy Archmage Hilquins, has passed away. Perhaps... No, it is virtually certain that war is about to begin. Major Willy Belloc, Baron Willy Belloc, you will become a Viscount very soon.”
No wonder Major Willy usually seemed so listless. His inability to become a Viscount had been weighing heavily on him. Major Willy said excitedly, “Thank you very much, My Lord Count! Your command points the direction in which I will shed my blood!”
After a moment's thought, Major Willy continued, “At the same time, My Lord Count, I would like to recommend a young man to you: Leo East. He is a second-year Cadet Officer at the Military Academy. He has completed one Final Entrustment ritual and is a dual-school mage. His magical abilities are those of a D-Grade Cipher Mage and an E-Grade Haste Mage. He was the first to pursue the wicked murderer Koliver Enwey, and he personally killed Koliver Enwey!”
Leo froze for a moment upon hearing Major Willy's recommendation. Then he hurried forward several steps and saluted the Count of Blackport. The Unicorn Legion consisted of five corps. Count Leopold was the Corps Commander of the 3rd Corps, which also served as Blackport County's garrison force.
The Count of Blackport raised an eyebrow. “Oh? A dual-school mage? Cavendish never stints when it comes to talent. Leo East, you are awarded one Third-Class Merit.
“You may not be familiar with the Fief Regulations of the duke’s domain, so I will explain them now. Three Third-Class Merits are sufficient for you to be made a Knight. Leo East, I hope you will be the first among this cohort of Cadet Officers to become my Knight!”
The nobles behind the count immediately began whispering among themselves. The Third-Class Merit did not surprise them, but dual-school mages were relatively rare. The conditions for a final entrustment were simply too demanding. How many people could entrust their dying wishes to someone else? Most people's Final Entrustment rituals fulfilled the wishes of their own relatives. Only fathers and sons or brothers shared bonds deep enough for that.
Leo hurriedly saluted the count and said fervently, “Thank you very much, My Lord Count! Your command points the direction in which I will shed my blood! I will prove my loyalty with courage!”
Whether he was loyal or not, Leo did not know. What mattered most was that a Knight possessed a fief. Who would not want a fief of their own? Land represented wealth. It represented something to depend upon. It represented a home.
Other than the honor, did a Third-Class Merit come with any additional reward? That was the first question that occurred to Leo. However, in a setting where everyone was displaying generosity and loyalty, asking about the reward for a Third-Class Merit did not seem particularly appropriate.
The count's secretary then handed Leo a parchment document and instructed him to sign it. The document certified Leo's Third-Class Merit. Along with the document came a Third-Class Merit medal and one gold pound. Leo was somewhat disappointed. Only one gold pound...
Sometimes, suddenly becoming rich distorted a person's judgment of wealth. The ten gold pounds Leo had obtained from the Acolyte had blinded him and affected his judgment. They made him forget that in two years, he had saved only twelve silver pennies, and that twenty silver pennies were required to exchange for one gold pound. Yet now he was complaining that one gold pound was too little.
Just look at poor Brad beside him, whose eyes reflected nothing but gold. He was utterly astonished. That was one gold pound! That was fourteen months of his salary! Only after all eleven gold pounds had been squandered would Leo remember just how enormous a fortune they had been.
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