91. Don’t Mess with People During Meals
“As expected, you’re the best at calculating money. Thank you, Justitia.”
“Lord Riald isn’t fully recovered yet, so I’ll help you, sister.”
Justitia said, looking over the bill that Titania had shown her.
“Gartus Mercenaries, you say? Their invoices are outrageous. At this rate, we might as well just hand over our money to actual bandits.”
“Even so, they’re the most formidable organization in the vicinity. We want to maintain the most amicable relationship with them that we can.”
Currently, the Grantz family entrusts the Gartus Mercenaries with their escort duties.
Apparently, without the Gartus Mercenaries watching over them, they were constantly being attacked and unable to conduct their business.
“Sister, the Rigel family thinks the same way.”
“Eustia…”
“I thought that if we didn’t get along with the Yuterus family, we wouldn’t be able to sustain our family.”
Eustia said with a bitter smile.
“Sirius is the one who changed my mind.”
“……”
“Just wait a little longer, sister.”
Eustia said, her voice filled with conviction.
“Sirius will change everything.”
“……”
Titania gazed at Eustia’s face for a moment.
Then, she smiled and nodded.
“It seems Eustia has a great deal of trust in her husband. That’s how it should be between spouses.”
“Oh, sister, I don’t mean it like that.”
Eustia denied, her face turning red.
“I simply believe in Sirius’s abilities. And I believe that Sirius will lead us in the right direction.”
“That’s impressive enough, isn’t it? How many people have that kind of faith in their spouse?”
“Well…”
“Just having a spouse you can trust makes a marriage a success. That’s what I think.”
“……”
Eustia fell silent at Titania’s words.
Eustia and Sirius were only husband and wife in name.
In reality, they had never shared a bed and were nothing more than business partners.
There was no love between them, only trust as partners.
But… perhaps there was some truth to Titania’s words.
“Eustia, if your husband were someone other than Sirius, how do you think you would feel?”
“That’s…”
“If you could have anyone other than Sirius as your husband, would you change it?”
Eustia kept her mouth shut, unable to say anything.
Titania smiled as she watched her.
“I’m glad you met Sirius, Eustia.”
“……”
I’m glad I met Sirius.
Unable to deny those words, Eustia felt a strange sense of shame.
* * *
In the end, the Grantz family accepted Sirius’s proposal.
Lord Riale promised to participate in the alliance and cooperate with the various families in the east and south.
However, the Grantz family cannot provide troops because they lack military power.
Instead, they will provide financial support.
Even so, it is not a big loss considering they have been exploited by mercenary groups and other dark organizations.
Rather, they could benefit more if the治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安治安
“You’re back already?”
“hahahaha, I know a shortcut.”
Galette decided to stay here and help out with the chores.
He seemed to be impressed by Sirius, who had taken revenge on his enemy, Luciano.
“Let’s eat. Come on, have some.”
“You should sit down and eat with us.”
“Oh, thank you.”
The four of them sat down on chairs and began to eat.
Western food was generally greasy, but the abundant use of spices kept it from feeling too heavy.
“You said your name was Galette? There’s something I’ve been wondering.”
“Yes, master.”
“Why is it that in the West, food delivery and takeout are so common? Isn’t it better to eat your meal right at the restaurant?”
“Well, there are a lot of ruffians in the West, aren’t there? It’s common to get caught up in a fight while you’re eating at a restaurant.”
“Hmm, I see.”
As Sirius listened to the conversation between the king and Galette, he recalled his time in the Murim.
The Murim warriors often fought in the inns where they stayed.
Sometimes it was a fight between local thugs, and other times it was between powerful masters… They would start brawling without any regard for the other people who were eating nearby.
At times like those, there were people who felt sorry for the innkeeper, but when you thought about it, the ordinary people who were just trying to eat their meals were even more pitiable.
After all, they might not even be able to finish a few spoonfuls before they had to run for their lives.
Sirius wondered if the Murim would have been a better place if it had also developed a culture of food delivery and takeout, so that people wouldn’t have to worry about such things.
“Sirius, you look awfully serious.”
The king stopped eating and looked at Sirius.
“Are those guys who are coming here dangerous? Is that why you look so serious?”
“Is that true?”
“Heavens…”
Verdian and Galette also looked at Sirius with serious expressions.
“I was just thinking about what the prospects would be like if we started a food delivery or takeout business in other places.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The three of them were speechless as they looked at Sirius.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
“…”
A group of about ten men, led by a fierce-looking middle-aged man, stormed in.
Galette gasped when he saw them.
“T-those people are…!”
“Do you know them?”
“They’re from the Gartus Mercenary Corps. Rumor has it that they have connections to the Western branch of the Alliance…”
Gartus Mercenary Corps.
Sirius had heard that name from the Granz family as well.
This place has the largest army in the region, and even the Grantz family borrows troops from the Gartus Mercenary Corps.
They’re so powerful that even the small and medium-sized gangs in Palamia often borrow the Gartus Mercenary Corps’ strength when something happens.
So…… it was natural for them to come looking for Sirius, who had wiped out the small and medium-sized gangs in Palamia.
“Who is Sirius?”
When a middle-aged man with a fierce expression came closer and asked, Sirius responded in a cold voice.
“I’m eating, so wait.”
“Is it you?”
Ignoring Sirius’s words, the middle-aged man approached.
“They say you killed Lucianna? And that you’ve taken care of several other gangs as well.”
“…….”
“Lucianna was a woman our mercenary corps was looking after. And there were many among the other gangs who paid our mercenary corps.”
The man stuck his head out and spoke in a threatening voice.
“Sirius, I don’t know how you got by in the South or the East, but in the West, we have the rules of the West. It’s problematic when a foreigner comes to the West and stirs up trouble like this right away.”
Sirius didn’t respond and continued eating.
Galette had leisurely bought the food, and about half of it was still left.
“My, these Westerners are fearless.”
Right then, Hwanwang snorted.
“Rumors of that punk Sirius must have spread in the West too, but they don’t care about their lives? Or do Westerners get some kind of disease if they don’t act tough?”
“What did you say?”
“I’m giving you some sincere advice, so just wait quietly. Then this punk will talk to you too…….”
Thud!
The fierce-looking man kicked the table.
The table overturned, spilling the food and making a mess of the surroundings in an instant.
“Do you want to die?”
He grabbed Hwanwang by the collar.
Watching that, Berdian let out a sigh.
“They’re not just fearless, they’re just narrow-minded. To Westerners, the West is their whole world. So even if they hear rumors from the South or the East, they can’t really grasp the reality of it.”
“They’re frogs in a well.”
“What are these guys doing, so leisurely……!”
Berdian turned his head and looked at Sirius.
“Sir Sirius, what are you going to do?”
“Whew…….”
Sirius let out a sigh and put down the fork he was holding.
“Even if I get it packed to go…… I can’t help it if these punks come looking for me and make a mess.”
This incident gave Sirius a great realization.
“Eating in a restaurant or getting delivery or takeout…… That’s not what’s important. It’s more important to have the manners not to cause a disturbance when others are eating.”
If I had realized this earlier, when I was in the Murim Alliance, I would have become widely known in the pugilistic world.
Then the restaurants of the pugilistic world wouldn’t have been destroyed every time.
How nice it would be if, when a dispute arose, they said, “Let’s finish eating and then fight.”, “That’s right.”, and went outside the restaurant to fight quietly among themselves.
Thinking those thoughts, Sirius spoke to Hwanwang, who was being held by the collar but had a composed expression on his face.
“I’ll leave the disposal of these guys to my elder brother.”
“Who’s your elder brother?”
Right after that.
The fierce-looking man who had been grabbing him by the collar, along with the other men from the Gartus Mercenary Corps, all collapsed to the floor at once.
They were all rolling their eyes and making terrified expressions.
It seemed that Hwan-Wang had used his illusion magic to make them have a terrifying nightmare.
“Let’s clean these guys up and go to the Gartus Mercenary Corps.”
I had to pay them a visit in person and have a word with them since they had been exploiting the Granz family for so long anyway.
Besides, if the Gartus Mercenary Corps was behind Lucianna… then I would be able to figure out why Lucianna was using a swordsmanship influenced by the Sword Emperor.
“Let’s go visit them in person and teach them some manners.”
What happens when you bother someone while they’re eating.
I’ll teach them those manners first and then try to have a conversation.