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As a messenger of His Majesty, they obviously had to respond, but the matter happened so suddenly that a lack of preparation was inevitable.

"Time is of the essence, so the entrance is fine. In fact, I just came from the Academy where I heard that you were here. It\'s been a while, Daniel. I guess the last time we saw each other was during your summer vacation. It\'s good to see you in good health."

Marquis kicked-started the conversation with random talk, then he cleared his throat slightly before stating the reason he visited them as His Majesty\'s messenger in a stately but clear tone.

"......And that was how it went. ‘The only way I can respond to the kingdom\'s distress call is with the support of my close friend Dan.’ He announced it quite grandly in front of His Majesty and the other top ministers.

......So, Daniel. I can\'t deny that I had thought that the activities of the Sail Club were nothing more than a waste of time, so everything I say may look like an adult changing their tune for their personal interest. I won’t ask for your forgiveness, but if you can find it in your heart then please, assist us in saving the Grauksh territory… and this kingdom."

Standing at the entrance, Marquis Grauksh looked straight into Dan\'s eyes as he talked, and lowered his head after saying his piece.

The scene was so absurd that Dan’s thought process came to an abrupt halt with his eyes widening to their limit, and the only thought he could muster up was— Ah, Allen got them good.

Meanwhile, Codie-chan, who had heard their words from afar, appeared while rubbing his hands together and chiding Dan.

"What\'re you doing standing there like an idiot, Daniel!? There\'s nothing else to think about! Hurry up and say you understand! Daniel understands what to do, Your Excellency, so please raise your head."

However, everyone present ignored him.

Dan, coming back to his senses, knelt on one knee, and pressed his right hand to his chest.

"......It’ll be my honor to accept this duty."

Only when he heard Dan\'s words did Marquis Grauksh raise his head with a sigh.

"I am really very much glad to hear that...... You’ve made a valuable friend, Daniel. Allen Rovenne was really furious for you. He didn\'t say it, but his meaning was clear— Stop it with your prejudice and take a good look at Dan, that he\'s the one and only Daniel Serdos. It was as if he was persuading a kid, I couldn\'t utter any words in front of His Majesty and the other ministers."

The Marquis quipped, and flashed a bitter smile.

"......You shouldn\'t take any of his words to heart, Your Excellency. He... Allen Rovenne is just that kind of person."

Dan almost had a headache at the shenanigans Allen had pulled, and was only barely able to muster a response. Marquis chuckled at his words, and then glanced at Count Serdos’ way.

"......You really hide yourself deep, eh, Thomas? No matter how you were reproached, you continued to protect him, and kept your unwavering trust in him. Not everyone has such nerves of steel. And, oh, I am genuinely saying this. Everyone had been spinning their yarn while having no idea, and kept asking for an immediate result— I was no different.

You\'ve shown your caliber as a noble, and as a father, splendidly so. Who would\'ve thought I would be outsmarted."

The Count, meanwhile, was confused by the Marquis’ praises as the latter tapped his shoulder, and was only barely able to reply.

"P-Please, even a hundred of me wouldn\'t be enough to outsmart you, Your Excellency. I never intended to keep you in the dark."

The Marquis brushed him off with a laugh.

"Wahaha! Don\'t look down on the Grauksh\'s information department. I’ve already discovered everything from Daniel\'s upbringing to his connection with Serene Sea Co. So don\'t bother explaining things now, Thomas. You had everything in the palm of your hand all along— or not. You\'ve really made me look at him in a new light. Daniel Serdos, huh?... Truly the one and only in this kingdom. Mark my words: when this disaster is resolved, it’ll turn into a tale for everyone to hear.

I bet the other nobles must have had a good laugh about the Sail Club after listening to the details of the Marquis Meeting. It\'s going to turn into a good show, kukuku. Come, Daniel. Hurry up with your preparations. I’ll give you a ride to the port in my magic car."

Dan bowed and then left to get his things. Marquis Grauksh watched him leave, and once he was out of sight, the smile on his face vanished. Instead, he wore a demonic visage-like mask— reflecting the image of an Apex Noble who had survived countless cutthroat scenarios to reach his current place.

"Speaking of which, some fella seemed to have thought highly of himself and forced his way in the middle of our talk when I came here as a proxy of His Majesty, and had to bow my head to Daniel."

The Marquis said as he glared at the said guy like he was some insect.

The intense gaze had both Codie-chan and Brient, who had been there to support him, shudder in cold sweat.

"Daniel is someone who has made his name known among the council members while still being a first-year student in the Royal Academy, so... WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF!"

Magnifying the huge build that he had trained during his military service in his younger days, the Marquis\'s voice echoed like booming thunder.

"Eeeek!"

Codie-chan already looked like a scaredy-cat, so the thunderous roar made him fall on his back.

Seeing how the tears were pooling in his eyes, the Marquis sighed and restrained his intimidating aura.

"If you take even just a little bit of pride in being a noble of the Grauksh territory, I pray that you learn from this incident and seek to become better. The only time you have the right to speak with me is when you can get yourself on Daniel\'s level, or leave behind some achievement."

Count Serdos lowered his head in panic.

"I’ll make sure of it, Your Excellency! Corday Serdos will certainly aim to become a better noble, and in fact, he’ll be joining the army meant for disaster management."

Brient\'s eyes widened like saucers at her husband’s outrageous remark.

"Dear! What kind of madness has gotten into you all of a sudden! Our child has always been a gentle soul. How can he be fit for the gritty atmosphere of an army!? What would you do if something happened to the heir of the Serdos—"

However, Count Serdos sharply turned his head and cut her off.

"My words are final! If anything, you should be showing your gratitude to Marquis Grauksh for his benevolence. You have no idea what Codie-chan has done. He butted into the conversation when His Excellency had been officially pleading for Daniel\'s assistance as His Majesty\'s proxy. At such a time, he had no status to even make a sound.

No amount of misunderstanding can justify his behavior as the only person who had any right to speak back then was Daniel. You can\'t just go and end the matter by saying \'Because he wasn\'t aware of the custom\', not when he\'s a graduate of an Aristocratic School.

His name could have been stripped from the family register if he ever brought the ire of His Majesty on our Count Family. Codie-chan\'s political career would have been as good as dead then."

Leaving those words, Count Serdos turned to the Marquis and expressed his gratitude while bowing.

"......I have many expectations from you, seeing how Daniel turned out with your upbringing. Maybe you should start the training of your heir from scratch so that he doesn\'t become a burden to Daniel. I\'ll also make sure that he\'s placed in an active unit, harsh training would drill reasoning into him effectively for sure."

"T-Thank you very much for your kind words, Your Excellency!"

◆◆◆

Inside the magic car as it drove to the direction of the port—

"......Thank you very much for protecting my father\'s status."

Dan bowed his head to the Marquis. It was impossible for him to not understand that everything the Marquis had said — the \'You really had everyone in the palm of your hand’ comment — was intentional to push his father\'s position up.

When he returned with his luggage in hand, he also happened to see the strange state of Codie-chan and Brient, but he had no idea what had happened. He had a rough guess, but he didn\'t feel like confirming it.

Marquis Grauksh fixed his gaze onto Dan.

"It must have been rough on you...... Daniel, I hope you answer truthfully. What do you think of your father?"

Seeing the Marquis set his eyes on him, Dan guessed what he was getting at, and after a long breath, he replied, albeit with a bit of a stammer.

"Frankly, I barely see him as a father figure. But...... I’m very thankful to him. For bringing me into his family, for training me. For bringing me up to the Academy’s standard. For giving me a place to love...... I’m really thankful to him right now."

The Marquis nodded at Dan\'s statement while staring straight into his eyes, and further questioned the latter.

"What if I say I want to bring you into our Grauksh Family as an adopted son? Of course, I’ll also see to it that your mother Veena is meticulously looked after."

This must have been his real intention, Dan thought, and immediately shook his head.

"I’m grateful for your offer, but my birthplace holds an important position in my heart...... It must be the same for my mother as well. If there\'s any place we’ll be moving to, then it\'ll be Solcoast."

The Marquis made a wry smile.

"You really don\'t know when to take advantage of the moment...... but I won’t condemn you for that. I believe nobles have a duty toward their birthplace that had raised them. Anyway, just forget I ever asked...... Also, I was thinking of investing in your aunt\'s — Mimosa, was it? — company, I wonder if you can arrange a meeting with her?"

Dan nodded with a dry expression.

"I’m not an expert in business, but I can introduce you to her. It\'s just that, I dare say, Sis Mimo — my Aunt — will most likely turn down your offer, even if Your Excellency gives it personally. She\'s the kind of person who relies on herself no matter what."

This time, the Marquis\'s eyes widened.

"Ohh? I heard she has quite the guts from my investigation team, but color me surprised if she would reject even my offer. Well, force would only cripple what makes a merchant, and kill their peculiarity. In that case, pass my words that I would like to have an equal level of partnership, and just introduce me. After all, it wouldn\'t bode well for me to be your enemy if I used some backhanded means."

Dan nodded with a slightly awkward look.

"But life sure does work in mysterious ways, huh?...... Never thought I would come to understand why Meria had been so annoyed lately."

The Marquis said while pouting like some kid, his brows shaped together in an \'ハ\' shape.

Dan had been feeling stiff being present in the same magic car as the Marquis, but he couldn\'t help breaking into a smile when he imagined that figure who had been the cause of Marquis Dragoon\'s headache.

◆◆◆

Arriving at the military port near the Royal Palace, Dan found Allen looking at the loading of the luggage with an expression of boredom when he got down from the magic car.

A jet black mantle — the color of the third legion — was draped on his back.

"Hey, Allen..."

Dan called out to him, and in response, Allen smiled like a mischievous kid— or not, he simply greeted him with a \'Hey, today\'s wind is pleasant, isn\'t it?\' with a smile.

Dan felt a bit letdown, his shoulder dropping in dejection.

"You..... Don\'t you have something to say to me?"

Allen\'s eyes drifted for a moment when Dan threw him a straight ball, but the next moment, he gave him a thumbs up with a bright smile.

"I gave them a sound lesson in your place. No need to thank me~."

Dan flashed an amicable smile when he heard that, and— brought down a hand chop enhanced with mana on that grinning face.

"Gahh! W-W-What the hell are you doing, you potato face!?"

"I should be the one asking you that! Of all things, you just had to advertise me in front of His Majesty! Learn some tact, for god damn sake!"

"Shut up. It\'s up to me however I want to evaluate you! Heck, you know we just can\'t trudge our way through with only slick words. Besides, you\'re a much better sailor than me, and you can sail the ship much faster than me. Of course, I\'d need you for us to make it in time. Can you say that I\'m wrong?! It\'s about time you made up your mind!"

"I… I mean, you may be right but...... I don\'t think you had to be so bold in front of His Majesty..."

"Hmph, don\'t mind the small details, that was mostly just a slip of the tongue. I mean, just imagine me saying \'I’ll do my best\' like normal. That’ll just bring even more attention to me, and it would be another mess of annoyance. So I just shared some of the glory your way."

Once again, Allen flashed a grin while giving Dan a thumbs up, seemingly saying \'sharing is caring, after all’. It elicited another hand chop from Dan.

"Gah!"

"Don\'t take me for an idiot, dammit! What do you mean slip of the tongue?! It was definitely a calculated move from you!"

"Enough, you moron! Or I’ll blow you away!"

Rubbing his forehead, Allen retorted and started to control the surrounding wind. Dan paused momentarily, and then hurriedly took action. He jumped over a 10 cm wide wooden board by the port side of the ship in one leap, and assumed a sharp karate-like stance.

"Try it, if you dare."

......But some people intervened and walked between them.

"...Haha, it\'s great to see you all in high spirits, but I think it would be best to save your strength until our departure..."

They turned around to look, and saw members of the second legion — Glover-san and another person, seemingly his elder brother — looking at them with dumbfounded expressions. They both were wearing cyan-colored mantles— the color of the second legion. And behind the two, Marquis Grauksh was giggling at them.