Chapter 12: Bait

"Is that so? If we can't even agree on this point, then I think Mr. Kudan and I have no need to further our discussion. However, I've heard that Mr. Gote has always been dedicated to becoming a mighty power in the Mediterranean. Could it be that his subordinates lack even this bit of insight, or are they afraid to take even this small risk?"

The chilling mockery squeezed into the opened mouth of the whiskered man, who wanted to speak but stopped, leaving him to cough repeatedly to cover his embarrassment.

"Lordship, it's not that Kudan doesn't trust you, but anyone who hears about such things would first think of them as utter nonsense, after all, these legendary items have been in tales for several centuries without anyone ever seeing them, don't you think?"