Chapter 37: Request for Assistance

Hans and I were riding horses toward the royal capital.

"Why are only Hans and I suddenly summoned to the royal capital?" "I don't know. Did you do something?" "I did nothing. That's why it's bothering me." "If you talk while riding, the horse will bite the reins." "That sounds about right."

A few days earlier: "You have a letter from the royal capital." "Huh, did I do something wrong?" Yung handed me an envelope with the prime minister's seal. "As far as I know, you haven't been causing trouble behind the scenes, right?"

"I haven't." I opened the envelope and read the letter. "Come to the royal capital immediately with Hans. - Grosser" That was all it said. Am I the only one who feels like the letters are getting increasingly brief? Is there some technical problem involving Hans? I'd better go. "Contact Hans, and we'll head to the royal capital tomorrow. Prepare for the journey." "Understood. Fjord, please help." "As my lady commands." Fjord bowed politely.

And so, Hans and I are riding horses to the royal capital. I'm glad I had Hans trained in horseback riding. Now he can ride normally.

We rode directly into the palace.

We were immediately guided to the prime minister's office. Only Baron Grosser was waiting in the tastefully decorated room.

"What's going on? What does it mean to bring Hans along? Is this urgent?" "Wait, I'll answer one thing at a time." Grosser said this and slowly sipped his tea. I understood he was deliberately trying to calm us down, so I also took a sip of tea.

"Actually, we've received a request for assistance from the Feliciano Republic." "Feliciano Republic?" "That's right." "Where's that?"

Both Grosser and Hans burst out laughing. "The Feliciano Republic is a country bordering the kingdom's southwestern region. There's the Piprina Great Marshland between us, so there's little interaction, but they're a friendly nation. I know it well because my family is from the south." "It's in the south. So why are we from the north being called?" "Ahem," Grosser cleared his throat to draw attention.

"The Piprina Great Marshland is the problem. It's an entire area of knee-deep muddy marshland, but in the center, there's a rock-based island with a gold mine." "Apparently, that mine has been seized by bandits recently." "If they're just bandits, they shouldn't be a match for regular troops. Couldn't you just take it back?" "That's why I called you two." "The Feliciano Republic had been using wooden walkways for supplies, but those have all been destroyed. They can no longer supply their troops. In the marshland, neither horses nor cattle can be used. Human movement is also difficult. Without supplies, they can't send a large army, and even if sent, they couldn't stay long. That's the problem." "And it seems the rumors of Count Hans's supply management skills and Hans's ingenious machines have reached that republic during the recent war." "They want your expertise in moving resources through the Piprina Great Marshland." "How are these bandits managing their own supplies?" "We don't know." "Understood. I'll think of something. Hans, are you okay with this?" "Of course! Sounds interesting." Hans is grinning. I'm slightly worried, but oh well.

"It won't hurt to do a favor for the Feliciano Republic. Please take care of this." Baron Grosser handed me a stack of papers. I immediately passed them to Hans - I wouldn't understand them anyway.

"Understood. We'll return to our territory and consider our options." We stood up and hurried back to our territory.

Another battle, this time with mud. Who knows what will happen?