Published: July 4, 2025
Three days after the meeting of the four, Ryo and Abel emerged from the Azure Orb Company Wannya Branch at the trading port.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
"No, it was thanks to Mr. Abel that no one was harmed. Please feel free to use our Azure Orb Company anytime."
Abel expressed his gratitude, and Captain Ban Socks replied.
"Please take care of everyone's return trip."
"Leave it to us. We will deliver everyone to the Sujay Kingdom responsibly."
Ryo made his request, and Branch Manager Banton nodded in agreement.
The Queen Rain Shooter was a graceful and fairly large ship, but it couldn’t accommodate all one hundred people who came with Princess Iliriaja.
In fact, all one hundred had expressed their intention to return with Princess Iliriaja, which made things quite complicated...
After all, everyone was adamant that they could not accept acting separately from the princess, especially given the disputes that arose from the transfer from Manyamia.
It seems that over the past three days, Princess Iliriaja and Kavui Somaru had repeatedly tried to persuade them...
Eventually, ten imperial guards, including some of the closest guards, agreed to board the Queen Rain Shooter with the princess while the remaining ninety would return to the kingdom separately.
The Azure Orb Company Wannya Branch was entrusted with that separate journey.
For Ryo and Abel, it was the most trustworthy company.
They felt assured that as long as they left it to the Azure Orb Company... that was their thought.
After the two left the Azure Orb Company Wannya Branch and arrived in front of the Queen Rain Shooter, Kavui Somaru had already arrived.
"Thank you for coming."
He said, shaking hands with Abel and Ryo.
"Still, you managed to get out splendidly."
"Admiral Gus wanted to drive me and the princess out of the vassal kingdom, so I just went along with that."
Abel praised the efficiency, and Kavui Somaru chuckled.
After the meeting of the four, Kavui Somaru had made arrangements with several heads of departments in the vassal kingdom to ensure that Princess Iliriaja and Kavui Somaru were exiled from the country in the imperial council.
"It went smoothly with just a small request."
Just then, the carriage carrying the princess arrived.
Kavui Somaru and the sailors welcomed her.
Watching the smiling Kavui Somaru, Ryo had a thought.
Is our Naitorei Kingdom really alright...?
So, he advised his majesty the king.
"Abel, isn't there interference from other countries in the policy decision-making process in the Naitorei Kingdom? Are you sure about that?"
"That might be the case."
"What...?"
"However, Count Heinlein is in charge of counterintelligence. I think it is harder for them to infiltrate than in other countries."
"Even so, it's not perfect...?"
"That goes without saying. It's something humans do; if you aim for perfection, you'll have to sacrifice many things. Sometimes you may need to pay sacrifices to be perfect, but... when it comes to administration, if you tighten the screws too much, those distortions will all fall upon the people... The purpose of administration is to make the people happy, so it can't make them unhappy, right?"
Abel was a realist as a king.
Administration is genuinely difficult.
There is only one thing that must not be forgotten.
"Is it truly making the people happy?"
That is the perspective that must not be overlooked.
Princess Iliriaja approached the two.
"Mr. Abel, Ryo-san, please take care of us."
"I promise to do my best."
"They also promised good treatment, so leave it to us."
Abel took charge, and Ryo responded with a cheerful expression.
As they boarded the ship, Abel asked Kavui Somaru.
"Is there a possibility that the vassal kingdom's navy will attack us along the way?"
"Ah, you mean Admiral Gus?"
Kavui Somaru understood the intent of Abel's question and smiled slyly.
Admiral Gus, who was the central figure behind the exile of Princess Iliriaja and Kavui Somaru, was also an opponent of the kingdom.
Moreover, he had fought against the navy led by Kavui Somaru many times before.