"Tea?"
"Sure, thank you."
"Hahaha, no need to be polite with me, Your Majesty. This is the least I could do for someone as noble as you."
"Is that sarcasm?"
"I will leave it to your discretion. So, how do I owe you pleasure, King Rizieri?"
Riz didn't rush to reply. He took his time sipping the tea first. In this world, Kingdom of Tormia is the only place you can find tea.
"I am here to return several rats back to you, Count Naharog,"
Riz is currently at Naharog mansion in Mezorin. He comes here in a discreet manner to meet the count for a reason.
Spy after spy came to Bideford like a gushing water escape from a broken dam. His agents were pushed to the limit in order to capture them. Upon interrogation, the identity of their employer was revealed. Thus, Riz decides to take this matter into his own hands.
Count Naharog had his eyes wide open, "I can't believe you are still keeping all of them alive."
Riz denied, "No, not at all. In fact, I have killed a considerable amount of them. I stop because the cleaner of my dungeon needs some time to rest."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCount Naharog chuckled, "I never know you're such a benevolent person."
"I am but only to my allies," said Riz in a sharp tone.
Count Naharog naturally knows the underlying meaning of Riz's words. He smiles and gives a polite reply, "I will keep it in mind."
"Good. Let us end this farce, shall we?"
"I agree. I believe Your Majesty doesn't come here simply to return the spies. This kind of job should be left for your servants to do."
"As you said, I came here to ask you to stop sending spies to Bideford. I know what you are searching for and I believe we can discuss that."
Count Naharog solemnly shook his head, "Forgive my rudeness, I believe Your Majesty has misunderstood my intention. I purely need it for research purposes."
Riz's eyes twitch. He's losing patience with the count's feigning ignorance. He is aware the count is trying to gauge how much he knows. "Stop lying. You don't need to produce a lot of my cannons if it is only for research. You are in dire need of it."
"Ohh!? This is surprising. I never thought there was a rat on my side. Looks like my effort to hide it has gone useless."
Riz playfully said. "You obviously shouldn't underestimate me, Count Naharog. I know a lot about you including your deepest secret about the previous countess."
"You...", Count Naharog narrows his eyes and lets out his bloodlust. His goofiness completely disappears.
Riz remains unfazed, "Relax...It is not my style to humiliate people with such sensitive information."
After the war with the noble coalition was over, Riz did an extensive investigation on Count Naharog. He is currently the most influential count in the kingdom and the sole supporter of the next king, Prince Niall.
Of course, there are other counts who join Niall's camp later on but they are too late to leave any good impression on the prince.
After months of investigating and sneaking around, Riz reaches the conclusion that Count Naharog doesn't have a shred of loyalty to the Napuna Dynasty as a whole. In fact, he holds a deep grudge against them. The reason is unknown but he has his reasoning.
Forty years ago, the father of the current king forcefully slept with the previous countess, Count Naharog's mother during his visit. His father at the time was completely drunk. Count Naharog who was a child at that time accidentally witnessed it. He tries to save his mother but is powerless to do so. Instead, the previous king tied him up and forced him to watch such a scene unfolding right in front of him.
After doing that despicable act, the previous king acted as if nothing happened in front of his father. He wants to tell his father about it but the previous countess forbids him from doing so. She didn't want his father to lose his reputation.
Losing a reputation is like a death sentence to a noble family.
A few days later, the previous countess commit suicide. Nobody can guess why except for him and the previous king since only three of them know about this incident.
This information intrigues Riz. He investigates deeper as to why the previous king does such a thing to the previous countess of Naharog.
Apparently, Count Naharog's mother was the most beautiful woman at the time. She was meant to be betrothed with the previous king but the plan fell apart when a better candidate with higher status was chosen.
However, the previous king has already been mesmerized by her beauty. Years passed and that feeling never disappeared until he decided to cross the line.
Riz deduces the count's behaviour of sleeping with many women regardless of their marital status has something to do with this incident.
Perhaps it is some sort of way he directs his anger and hatred.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe believed there was no way Count Naharog would sit quietly and swallow his hatred. Right now is the best time for the count to act with Napuna's military at its weakest.
"What's your offer?" Count Naharog asks after a few minutes of silence.
"I will sell you ammunition at a reasonable price until you succeed in your endeavour."
"Why do you want to offer help to me? Am I your enemy recently?"
"There are no eternal enemies and there are no eternal friends. Only eternal benefits. As for the reason, I don't have an obligation to tell you."
"That is a nice quote."
"I know. I don't remember who said that. Your answer?"
Count Naharog fell into deep thinking. Getting help from a teenager is not something he is proud of. But if he keeps minding his pride, his revenge will go incomplete. For the sake of his hatred, he is willing to be Riz's dog.
"Fine, I agree." said the count seriously.
He giggles, "No need to be so serious. This is just a normal trade deal."
Riz reached out his hand with a smile, "Happy cooperation."
"Happy cooperation." said the count while shaking his hand with his former enemy.
The same scenario happens in all counties. Riz's subordinates are selling them a weapon at a cheap price. As a newly established nation, the kingdom needs some trade deals to get the gold flow in. Thus, the most profitable trade is by selling weapons. Unlike Count Naharog, they were offered cold weapons.
He would not needlessly sell the firearm to this continent.