Chapter 429

Persuading Viscount Melt
Marquis Vardmoi summoned Viscount Melt, who had been in custody, to the reception room.
Now the real work begins.

“It’s our first meeting, isn’t it, Viscount Melt? I’m Lily.”

“Oh? I’d heard you were an elf, but I didn’t know you had black hair. I’m Viscount Melt. Well, currently a prisoner, though.”

Viscount Melt spoke with a tone of self-mockery, but since he *was* a prisoner, it wasn’t exactly funny.
More importantly, I needed him to listen to what I had to say.

“Viscount Melt. If you’re released, and the production of Mana Spider Silk gets on track, would you be willing to side with us?”

“What?”

“This is where Lily’s role ends. From here on, it’s a matter of nobles probing each other’s intentions.”

“Marquis Vardmoi… Is what she said true?”

“It’s only in the planning stage. Apparently, there are Mana Silk Spiders in your domain. If they’re willing to listen to what Lily says, there’s a possibility that we could obtain silk threads from them in exchange for some compensation. If the amount of thread increases, it should be possible to boost production of Mana Spider Silk.”

“That’s true. But, Lily, was it? You seem to have quite a fine spider with you. Are you really capable of making even Mana Silk Spiders listen to you?”

Hmm… That’s the part I’m not confident about.
I know nothing about the ecosystem of Mana Silk Spiders, not even what they like to eat.
I’d be groping in the dark from the start.
But I can’t exactly admit that honestly here.

“I don’t know for sure.”

“Marquis Vardmoi!?”

“Just listen quietly. Lily lived alongside a spider she raised from a Large Silk Spider into a Large Mana Silk Spider. If the nature of large Mana Silk Spiders is similar to Mana Silk Spiders, she should be able to use that as a reference. And even if they’re different, she may find a way through communication.”

“I see… So, what do you plan to do by reviving the specialty of my domain? It was thanks to that girl over there that it declined in the first place.”

Ah, so it *was* because I flooded the market with Mana Spider Silk that the industry declined.
Even though I was forced into participating, he clearly had some feelings about it.

“I’ll be blunt. Viscount Melt, defect to our side. Then flood the market in the northern country with Mana Spider Silk. Now that Lily’s Silk isn’t circulating, that should be possible.”

“… Understood. Let me think about it a little. I owe nothing to the King’s younger brother, but I am indebted to the Duke serving under him. If possible, I’d like you to save that Duke as well.”

Hmm.
So the key to bringing Viscount Melt to our side is saving that ducal house.
This is starting to get complicated!

What do you think about this chapter?