Chapter 8

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 8

Chapter Title: Contacting the Black Eagle Unit

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"What is this?"

Liam didn't bother hiding his bitterly disappointed expression.

He'd been secretly hoping the princess might pull off something impressive.

"It's a letter."

But this was the result? Just a single letter?

Even after the Duke of Brail had delegated the necessary budget and authority to her?

Feeling a twinge of disappointment, he looked down at April.

"Just send it to the address written on it."

The princess, not hiding her fatigue, shook the thin envelope in her hand to urge him on.

Her small face shifted through several expressions even in that brief moment they faced each other, but he couldn't quite read what she was thinking.

With no choice, Liam took the letter and checked the recipient.

[Ilamena Federation, Golbro Territory, c/o Genevra Golbro]

He shot her a look as if to say, "Who the hell is this?" And the princess replied.

"Someone I got to know while working. I figured I'd ask her a favor regarding manpower."

It was just as the duke had predicted. She was seeking out a group with idle hands to throw at the dam construction.

Her plan hitting the mark exactly as expected, Liam smirked and crossed his arms.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah? Well... for now, this seems like the best option."

"Just in case, the letter's delivery will be handled by a knight sworn in loyalty to the Duke of Brail."

It was a warning that even if she tried disguising the letter as a plea for rescue back to the Salt Kingdom, they had plenty of countermeasures ready.

"Ah, sure. Go ahead."

But the princess just nodded listlessly.

"Any other requests...?"

"Nope. That's it."

In the past, he might have suspected she was slipping off somewhere after leaving so quickly, but now even Liam knew better.

The princess wasn't slipping away anywhere. She was rushing back to her room faster than anyone else.

'Why does she keep shutting herself in that prison cell?'

There had once been a con artist who showed up claiming to be the granddaughter of a cousin to the previous duke's hidden son.

That woman had wailed and begged to stay outside even for a moment during her brief allowed outings, after just three days locked in that room.

This princess had some seriously weird quirks.

"Anyway."

Even if the letter was delivered via gate within three days, finding suitable manpower, making connections, and negotiating would take at least a few weeks.

So, the task he'd given the princess was as good as a failure.

'I'll have to tell His Grace the Duke to prepare a backup plan.'

A flicker of regret crossed his face.

A week passed after that.

Truly, the week slipped by in utter emptiness. And since sending the letter, nothing had happened.

At this point, Liam started worrying the princess might try to bolt.

Ever since reporting the situation to the Duke of Brail, he'd been keeping a sharp eye on her, trying to catch any suspicious moves. Or at least attempting to.

'She has to come out for me to surveil her or interrogate her.'

But a full week after sending the letter, the princess's door remained firmly shut.

The plates and bowls from her three meals a day came back perfectly clean every time, so she hadn't died inside or escaped.

"Hey."

"Good day, Aide."

Unable to stand the frustration any longer, Liam found himself right in front of the princess's room, greeting the guard knight.

He schooled his face into calm composure and lowered his voice to ask.

"Nothing out of the ordinary in the meantime?"

"Out of the ordinary, sir...?"

"Like attempts to escape from inside, or suspicious folks prowling nearby..."

The knight startled and waved his hands frantically.

"Nothing like that at all! The inner windows can't be opened from inside, and the door's guarded airtight in three shifts."

Liam already knew all that full well, so he could only nod awkwardly.

"Right... Keep up the good work going forward."

Another week ahead—the halfway point of the two weeks he'd allotted the princess.

'This place is paradise.'

I was genuinely savoring the sweetest vacation imaginable.

No one woke me even after sleeping fourteen hours straight, and meals arrived punctually in between.

So, naturally, a healthy sheen started returning to my emaciated body and weary mind.

'Who knew doing absolutely nothing could bring such bliss.'

Before dying, I couldn't even fathom holing up at home without my smartphone, but after getting battered by the grueling labor in this fantasy world with zero human rights protections, my mindset shifted.

Humans are humble creatures who can find happiness just lying flat on the bed, buried under the covers up to their necks.

Thus, I was utterly content and satisfied right now.

Of course, a full heart didn't suddenly make me want to bustle about diligently.

The bomb the duke had tossed my way still needed defusing, so I wasn't slacking off completely.

But I had my ace in the hole.

'If manpower's short, just fill the gap.'

The continent was teeming with professional request-fulfilling groups. The Ilamena Federation's mercenaries were one such outfit.

And Genevra Golbro—the recipient of my letter—was the daughter of Count Golbro, owner of the Black Eagle Unit, aka the construction mercenaries, and the point of contact for hiring them.

In other words, I'd gone straight to the source. With terms so specific and irresistible, they couldn't refuse.

'Unless some natural disaster hits, the Black Eagle Unit should be en route to Brail territory by now.'

I didn't even need to wait the full two weeks for results.

The issue was half-solved the moment the letter left my hands.

Others might think I'd given up, holed up crying in my room.

But sometimes, showing results speaks louder than lengthy explanations.

Besides, right now, I just wanted to keep my mouth shut. How long had it been since I'd gone without talking to anyone?

'Talk about perfect timing that Salt cut ties with the Ilamena Federation.'

The Black Eagle Unit had originally been under exclusive contract with Salt, making requests impossible.

But King Berga of Salt, banking on a massive investment in an expedition team supposedly returning loaded with free slaves, severed ties starting this month.

I knew that expedition was a scam backed by the empire, but with the king already blinded by greed—and not particularly fond of me—there was no convincing him.

Who'd have thought it'd circle back like this?

Only a fool would pass it up, so I'd spooned in on the opportunity.

'The job'll wrap up quick.'

The Ilamena Federation funded its operations mainly by dispatching talent across various fields.

They far outclassed your average mercenary band or merchant guild in skill.

They could probably blitz through the dam project, currently dragging at the final stretch.

'And I've already mastered dangling conditions that'll satisfy them.'

It was a thought born from trading hundreds of letters with the picky Miss Genevra.

Back when I was slaving away in Salt like a dog, I'd handled administrative grunt work for Remeia—who wanted to win public favor—right on her back.

Normally, contracting with pros like that meant endless haggling over price and details.

Well, the saga of getting on speaking terms with Miss Genevra was a tearjerker best saved for later.

Once the mercenaries arrived, the duke's administrators would handle the rest—no need for me to get dragged in.

That was my calculation.

"Until then..."

Time to rest.

Sorry to the duke who'd grandly handed over budget and authority.

Who knew when I'd get yoked like an ox again? Might as well recharge fully.

I rubbed my back against the fluffy bed and closed my eyes.