How To Suck Honey With Extras [EN]: Chapter 108

119. Falzenta Dukedom (5)

Instead of answering, he covered his mouth with his hand, giving me a sweeping glance.

“…Anyway, about the food. The rumor you mentioned earlier. I’m a bit curious about it. What kind of story is circulating?”

“It’s just some rumors.”

I spoke cautiously.

“There was a rumor that the dukedom is experiencing a food shortage. More than anything, after docking here and taking a short walk, I realized something. The shops in the harbor barely have anything to eat, let alone anything else. The atmosphere was similar in the central city as well.”

The fact that they don’t even have goods to sell to the people who live here is clear evidence that there is a problem with food.

That’s the excuse for now.

“Is that all?”

“According to my observations, I’ve heard that the Falzenta Dukedom has a large proportion of its territory occupied by mines, making farming difficult. It wouldn’t be difficult for someone like me to guess.”

I actually know what caused it, but mentioning that far is excessive.

“I see… is that so?”

Delesros seemed to understand my excuse to some extent and didn’t ask any more suspicious questions.

“Food in the current situation…”

But it seems he’s not readily jumping at the deal?

‘It seems like there’s a food problem, but why is he hesitating?’

His reaction is somehow lackluster.

I’d be more relieved if he showed an overt and noisy reaction like he did with the potion.

‘Could it be that he doesn’t know the value of this?’

That’s unlikely, but looking at his face, he at least understands that much.

He’s genuinely conflicted.

But conversely, the fact that he’s conflicted means there’s a reason he’s hesitant to choose.

‘What is it? What’s going on?’

I had a feeling the question would be answered soon.

Because there was someone who barged into this place.

“Food? I hear it’s not even up to expectations! I’m so speechless!”

The intruder suddenly shouted as he entered, drawing my and his attention.

But no one condemns his actions.

That means he’s someone of that stature.

I quickly realized this and deliberately listened quietly.

It’s third-rate to jump in as soon as the other person provokes you.

No matter who the opponent is, it’s good to listen to the end once they start talking.

Still, he should at least introduce himself.

Didn’t he learn that as a child?

Well, I know him even without an introduction.

More than anything, his name is the kind that I can recognize.

For the author to appear in this place of all places.

While I was inwardly contemplating my complicated feelings, Delesros subtly informed me on his behalf in a polite voice.

“This person is Duke Nilfas’ nephew.”

“Yes, I am Nilfas Mel Falzenta, Duke Nilfas’ nephew. I am Nelvis Mel Falzenta.”

Only then did Nelvis introduce himself quite brazenly and arrogantly.

‘Ugh, that guy was still here.’

I suppressed the twitching at the corner of my mouth with annoyance and politely stood up, lowered my posture, and paid my respects.

Still a noble. Still a noble, even if he’s rotten. Anyway, a noble.

I have to be polite, even if I put Nelvis’ actions aside for now.

There’s no need to cause trouble yet.

“Lord Nelvis, it is an honor to meet a member of the esteemed Falzenta Dukedom like this.”

“Hmph. Yes, know it as an honor, merchant.”

…This, it’s really hard to imitate a merchant.

If I didn’t have self-control, I would have already punched him.

“But, um…”

“Speak.”

Only after receiving permission to speak could I cautiously ask about the meaning of the nonsense he had shouted earlier.

“Could you tell me the meaning of what you said earlier? Why do you say it’s not needed?”

“What? Don’t you even know that?”

I don’t know because it’s so absurd. I’m a person of common sense.

Nelvis cast a contemptuous gaze at my question as if looking at a fool.

“Ha! It means we don’t need food. Do you even know the situation in the Falzenta Dukedom right now, merchant?”

“…The conflict led by Marquis Celond is ongoing.”

“That’s right! That’s why the soldiers and knights are still fighting on the front lines! But you’re bringing food? In this situation?”

Hmm? What does that mean?

We’re in the middle of a war, so of course, I’m bringing those things. We need them.

However, Nelvis shouted, clenching his fist tightly as if he had no doubts or confusion about his claim.

“If you’re going to sell something, bring weapons or arms that can help! Why are you even mentioning flour! Weapons! We need weapons!”

“…But, Lord Nelvis, the additional purchase of food is something that should be considered. I think it’s worth listening to.”

Delesros hurriedly spoke, as if on behalf of me, who was half out of my mind.

As an outsider, I can’t arbitrarily interfere with a noble, but at least he can answer to some extent.

However, Nelvis clicked his tongue as if he found it ridiculous.

“Don’t you know! It’s a waste of budget, a waste of budget!”

Huh?

While I was widening my eyes at the absurd claim that made me doubt my ears, he continued to speak.

“We already had to waste the budget buying up a considerable amount of reserves in preparation for the war. But does it make sense to spend more money on food to feed the soldiers! It would be better to equip ourselves with more powerful weapons to end the war quickly. Yes! That’s right!”

Nelvis seemed to believe in the righteousness of his claim, even spreading his arms wide.

No one could say anything.

Because it was absurd.

‘That damn traitor.’

I, too, barely managed to speak, feeling both bewildered and sorry.

To begrudge feeding the soldiers.

I never thought I’d hear something like that, something I might have heard during my military service in modern Earth.

“That… I hear you saying that you have no intention of trading food.”

“Can’t you even understand simple words? Then I’ll teach you in an easy way that even a mere merchant like you can understand.”

This time, he openly frowned as if he was genuinely displeased.

He blatantly waved his hand and simply spat out those words.

“Get lost.”

Even with that frivolous laughter that was hard to believe coming from a noble.

In short, the meeting was over.

How wonderful, how wonderful.

Should I clap?

* * *

The meeting fell through, and I had no choice but to retreat for now.

But I had no choice but to back down for now.

Even if he’s rotten, Nelvis is a noble.

If I were to nitpick, things would get a bit troublesome later.

‘Now that Nelvis, that brat, has popped up, there’s no more meaning in talking at that place.’

There was no reason to stay there.

Nelvis Mel Falzenta.

Knowing the information about that idiot, I chose to step back myself.

From the moment Nelvis appeared here, this trading method has no chance of success.

Let’s back down.

‘And there’s a sure way.’

Meanwhile, when I returned to the assigned accommodation, I felt the gazes of the merchants who had followed me, looking at me with some pity, as if the news had already been delivered.

…Huh? Why is the atmosphere like a funeral home?

“Mr. Eilon, I heard. …To think the deal would fall apart at that place.”

“It’s really too much. I heard you even heard abusive language.”

“Even if he’s a noble, isn’t that too much?”

I tilted my head, listening to the merchants speaking resentfully.

I understand the sentiment.

As a merchant, the treatment I received earlier was harsh.

‘They think I’ve completely failed.’

Come to think of it, normally, everything would have been thwarted in that place.

If I had received the same treatment as before in another place, I would have had to cover my head and worry.

Still, the gazes are too warm, so it’s rather burdensome.

“Um? I’m okay, though…”

“I know, that resentful feeling.”

“You don’t have to pretend you’re not.”

Too warm.

“No… I’m really not?”

I’m really not in trouble.

‘In the first place, I was sure that the place was ruined from the moment Nelvis appeared.’

I thought there was a very high possibility of encountering a character appearing in the original 4th volume here, but it was faster than I expected.

“Come to think of it, that noble said something strange. …To think he would kick away the purchase of food in this situation.”

Malo muttered as if he couldn’t believe what he was saying.

Well, it’s an absurd statement in terms of common sense.

“Could the food problem be a lie?”

“That can’t be. It’s probably true.”

According to the original story, each defense line must be having a hard time with the food problem right now.

The daily rations given to the soldiers must have been reduced, right?

There was definitely a description of them being embarrassed because of that.

But he refused, saying it wasn’t necessary.

Usually, they think he rejected it because he was foolish.

That can’t be.

It’s intentional.

‘Nelvis is just deliberately saying foolish things.’

It’s intentional.

He deliberately puts the dukedom in a corner by doing foolish things because he has a purpose.

Because he’s a traitor.

In the development of the original 4th volume, Nelvis is a traitor who abandons the dukedom due to the persuasion of the Empire and seeks an opportunity to switch to a new noble of the Empire.

In other words, he’s deliberately doing stupid things.

I read that his treatment in the original story was quite a nuisance within the dukedom.

A brat-like trash who causes trouble by rampaging for no reason or acting high-handedly at will.

‘Hehehehe. It’s not different after all.’

On the one hand, I was rather pleased because I directly saw the actions that felt like that guy’s intentions.

Because the development is happening as I know it.

Then it’s a good omen.

If I do well, I might be able to do as I please.

Still, I hid the fact that I was happy.

It’s weird to laugh here.

“…Anyway, as long as he said that, it’s impossible to negotiate any further there.”

“Mr. Eilon? Then will you give up?”

“Don’t say ridiculous things. Who’s giving up already?”

Give up? If that were the case, I wouldn’t have even thought of bringing all these piles of luggage here.

“Rather, when. Who. Said that the only person I can negotiate with is that one person?”

“…What do you mean by that?”

Malo was puzzled.

Lowell only introduced that uncle.

But that uncle won’t be able to support me as long as Nelvis is glaring and causing trouble.

It’s a problem caused by authority and position.

It seems that Duke Nilfas himself is on the battlefield right now, even if he’s there.

Originally, when there’s no owner, the world becomes a place where cockroaches run rampant.

Thanks to that, it became clear.

What to choose here.

“There’s always a way.”

I just smiled at the merchants and sailors who were looking at me strangely as if they didn’t know what was going on.

If there’s a traitor in the original story.

Conversely, a trustworthy person will naturally appear, right?

That’s what a story is all about.

“I’ll be looking for another opportunity soon. So please rest assured and wait.”

I have to do some troublesome confirmation work and take action, but I can fully endure it.

I started to think about the opportunity to contact the second person as it is.

There’s no problem because I can guess that method well enough.

However, I have to wait because I have to do some research.