Early the next morning.

A bell rang out across Skidbladnir’s deck.

Hearing it, Abel emerged from the distinguished guest room.

“Zack, what happened?”

He asked Zack Cooler, who had been standing guard before the door of the distinguished guest room.

“A ship appears to be approaching from the port.”

Zack answered while pointing toward the harbor.

Indeed, even without using a spyglass, a ship seemed to be drawing closer.

It was not as large as Skidbladnir, but it was sizable enough.

The other company commander, Scotty Cobuck, had already led the Kingdom knights into formation aboard the ship.

Of course, the knights had not drawn their swords, but they were fully armed.

Ready in case the situation turned into battle at any moment.

“Zack, Scotty. We do not strike first.”

“Understood.”

Abel gave the order, and the two answered in unison.

The knights were not the only ones prepared for combat.

Skidbladnir’s deck had also been readied for battle.

Specifically, rows of bows and arrows had been laid out in positions that could not be seen from the enemy ship.

So the crew members could immediately take up bows and nock arrows.

“Captain Paulina, Skidbladnir is not to strike first either.”

“I understand.”

Paulina nodded as well.

The crew members must have heard her words, because they nodded too.

“Ryo, do you know how many people are aboard that ship?”

“Fifty on deck, thirty of them armed soldiers. Also... there’s someone who looks important standing at the bow.”

“Someone who looks important?”

“He has his arms crossed and is probably glaring this way.”

“You can tell that much?”

Abel was surprised by Ryo’s detailed report.

Zack, Scotty, and Paulina, who had heard Ryo’s voice, also seemed surprised.

That said, all of them remained silent.

The tension rose.

Then...

“Halt your ship!”

Zack shouted.

At a distance of about fifty meters between the two vessels, the ship from the port stopped.

It resembled the galleons that had become common in the Central Countries.

It was fifty meters long, smaller than Skidbladnir, and its deck was lower.

However, the bow and stern were slightly raised, so the person standing at the bow with his arms crossed was clearly visible from Skidbladnir.

“Just as Ryo said, he does look important.”

“Doesn’t he?”

Abel muttered, and Ryo nodded beside him.

The man standing at the bow appeared to be in his mid-thirties.

He stood about one hundred eighty centimeters tall, with a dignified physique and a thick chest.

His arms were folded before that chest, and he stood arrogantly with his chest thrown out.

He had black hair streaked with a little white, long and tied behind him, but what left the strongest impression were his black eyes, filled with powerful will.

“I am Mafredi, island lord of Niban Island. I wish to meet His Majesty Abel the First, King of the Knightley Kingdom.”

The man standing at the bow... Mafredi, introduced himself.

“I am Abel the First.”

Receiving the introduction, Abel gave his own name in return.

“Oh... just as reported, you radiate the presence of a strong man.”

“Just as reported?”

“I heard that the atmosphere you gave off drove the Strange Man of Pishkan into a rampage.”

“I see.”

Abel understood Mafredi’s words and nodded.

It seemed what had happened in Pishkan had reached this man.

“I have heard that an island lord is, so to speak, a position similar to that of a viceroy. In other words, may I understand it as a position that assists His Majesty Rakkan, whom I met yesterday?”

“Yes. Until yesterday, that was indeed the case.”

“In other words, that is no longer true?”

“Indeed. As of today, I, not Rakkan, am the king of the Banban Kingdom.”

Mafredi declared this with a grin.

“I see. Then may I ask why you have come, Lord Mafredi?”

Abel asked without changing his expression or his tone.

But Ryo noticed.

Abel had called him “Lord” Mafredi.

Not “Your Majesty Mafredi,” but “Lord.”

Of course, Mafredi himself also noticed.

But he said nothing.

Silently, his smile deepened.

If Abel had called him “Your Majesty Mafredi,” then the Knightley Kingdom would have recognized this overthrow of the government.

Words spoken by the king, the nation’s leader, carried that kind of weight.

“I misspoke” would not be enough to fix it.

That was what diplomacy meant.

It was a trap Mafredi had set with skill.

He had come pushing in first thing in the morning, introduced himself aboard a ship, and made the other party say his name.

If, in doing so, they attached the title “Your Majesty,” then all the better.

But Abel had elegantly evaded that trap.

It was the genius Ryo praised in Abel.

“As the newly crowned king, I wish to meet with Your Majesty Abel, King of the Knightley Kingdom. Would you come to the royal palace?”

“Hmm.”

Abel thought for a moment.

Once Mafredi had introduced himself as the new king, Abel had imagined he would make this sort of proposal.

And fundamentally, there was no choice to refuse the invitation.

However...

“When the royal palace was attacked last night, the First Auditorium where we were staying was attacked at the same time. To be honest, I have some misgivings about following someone responsible for that.”

Abel said it plainly.

This, too, was diplomacy.

He struck at the other party’s blunder.

At the same time, he made clear that he possessed information.

“We sent soldiers to the auditorium so the people of the Knightley Kingdom would not be caught up in our country’s troubles.”

“I see. So you sent soldiers to protect us.”

“Yes, precisely.”

Mafredi’s expression did not change at all. Brazen was the word for it.

Of course, no one knew whether Mafredi’s words were true.

No one knew whether they were false either.

It was not impossible that he had meant to place Abel’s party under his protection and negotiate with the Knightley homeland.

In reality, they were far too distant to imagine contacting the Central Countries would be possible... but there was no telling how the people of the Banban Kingdom understood the situation.

“Very well.”

Abel gave one nod.

Then he added a condition.

“In Lord Mafredi’s name, you will guarantee the safety of those of us who go to the royal palace and those who remain aboard the ship, yes?”

“Of course. In the name of Mafredi, one hundred eleventh king of the Banban Kingdom, I shall guarantee the safety of you all.”

And so the party went to the Banban royal palace, now governed by its new master.

On the way to the royal palace.

“I feel sorry for yesterday’s king, but this island lord has more presence.”

“...I will not deny that.”

The Premier Duke and His Majesty the King whispered to each other.

“Perhaps this sort of government overthrow is common in the Banban Kingdom.”

“What do you mean?”

“The most powerful person among the three islands removes the old king and becomes the new king... a political system like that.”

“Could such a thing... really exist?”

“Why shouldn’t it? If the common people are not sacrificed, and only the important people have their leadership replaced... then if a capable person becomes the leader, wouldn’t that actually be good for the people?”

“As always, Ryo, your deductions are outlandish.”

Abel shook his head slightly at Ryo’s theory.

“The worst thing for the people is for an incompetent leader to continue ruling. If removing that leader by force drags the people into it, then the people suffer, so that is not recommended. But if there are no civilian casualties, then whether it is done by force or by some other method, as long as a capable person becomes the leader, there should be no problem, right?”

“As long as a capable person... and someone who truly thinks of the people, becomes the leader.”

“Yes, and there’s no way to guarantee that part.”

Ryo accepted Abel’s point.

The root of every problem was whether the ruler would govern with the people in mind.

That was what it came down to.

“That said, we have no intention of interfering in the Banban Kingdom’s circumstances.”

“Yes, I understand. Relations between nations are founded on noninterference in domestic affairs.”

Without mutual recognition as sovereign states, diplomacy on equal terms could not exist.

Of course...

“Unless Abel wants to make the Banban Kingdom a vassal state of the Knightley Kingdom.”

“Yes, as I always say, I want no such thing.”

“So you will not interfere this time.”

“Yes, and please correct that to: I will not interfere this time either.”

“Oh, come now.”

“Don’t ‘come now’ me!”

It was the usual horseplay between Ryo and Abel.

“But that does not mean what happened in the Banban Kingdom could never happen in the Knightley Kingdom.”

“Hmm?”

“I mean King Abel being removed. If King Abel were removed and someone more capable became king, the people of the Kingdom would be happier.”

The Premier Duke said this in a stern tone.

“This more capable person who would replace me is surely the Premier Duke.”

“Huh? Me? No thank you. Being king sounds like such a pain...”

“It would be for the people.”

“My life before the people’s lives. I intend to live by that motto.”

“...If someone like that rose to the top of a country, the people would be unhappy.”

“Yes, without a doubt.”

For some reason, the king and the Premier Duke appeared to have reached an agreement.

Perhaps it was a joke permitted only because King Abel was also highly popular with the people.

Guided by Mafredi, the party stepped into the royal palace.

There had apparently been fierce fighting in the palace, and the traces remained raw and vivid.

“Even if the common people weren’t caught up in it, the soldiers were.”

“Yes. In that sense... peace really is best.”

“Or a bloodless revolution would also be acceptable.”

“Bloodless? A revolution without bloodshed... I see.”

Abel thought about it briefly, then nodded.

In the history of Earth, there were a fair number of successful bloodless revolutions.

Several conditions had to come together... but if they could, then in a sense, that might be ideal.

“Still, this feeling that nothing has been cleaned up... it seems deliberate.”

“Yes. It may be Mafredi’s personality. He is showing it to us on purpose.”

“Is this part of diplomacy too?”

“Diplomacy truly is troublesome.”

Abel let out a small sigh.

In relations between nations, everything became a diplomatic card.

Even a scene like this after a coup.

They could have invited them in after cleaning it up, or they could have invited them in without cleaning it up.

There should have been a choice between the two.

And yet Mafredi had chosen to invite the Knightley Kingdom party in without cleaning it up.

What that meant was not yet clear... but it did provide a glimpse of how a man named Mafredi thought, or perhaps what he preferred.

Proceeding farther into the royal palace, the party was shown into a fairly large room.

A long table stood in the center of the room, with chairs lined up on either side.

One’s own country on the left, the other country on the right... the sort of table and chairs likely used for diplomatic negotiations.

And on the left side, people who appeared to be officials of the Banban Kingdom were already seated.

Among them, Abel found a person he recognized.

“Your Majesty Rakkan?”

Yes, Rakkan the Twentieth, who until yesterday had been king of the Banban Kingdom.

He was not restrained.

Nor was he injured.

Perhaps from vexation, perhaps from humiliation... he seemed to be trembling with a rigid expression.

“Your Majesty Abel... I apologize.”

He bowed his head as he spoke.

“No, I am glad to see you safe.”

Abel nodded.

“I have decided to have Rakkan attend this meeting as royal advisor. As for yesterday’s negotiations... though it seems nothing so formal occurred, there is still a certain flow of events to consider.”

Mafredi said this with a laugh.

During that time, Rakkan’s expression remained stiff.

Naturally.

Until yesterday, he had been the highest authority in this country.

Now he had been stripped of that position and, worse, made to sit as a subordinate of the new leader.

Before the king of a foreign nation he had met only yesterday.

Abel did not change expression, but perhaps because the expressions of the Kingdom knights accompanying him as guards had shifted, Mafredi opened his mouth and began to explain.

“In our country, it is common for a weak king to be struck down by a strong one.”

The instant Mafredi declared that, Rakkan’s face twisted.

“By doing so, we remove political stagnation and prevent the king and those around him from rotting into corruption. For that reason, such acts may even be praised.”

“I understand that political systems differ by country.”

Abel answered Mafredi’s words.

“I simply wondered why it had to be last night. Why you deliberately acted while we were visiting.”

“Because yesterday was a new moon. For action at night, it is more convenient when the moon is absent.”

“So even the visit of a diplomatic mission did not matter.”

“I had heard you were people of power. I assumed you would protect yourselves.”

“I see.”

That was all Abel said.

Without adding anything else, and without changing expression, he sat in the center seat on the right side of the table.

Mafredi gave a small shrug and sat across from him.

Thus, the bilateral meeting began.

Though it was not a formal meeting.

For the Knightley Kingdom side, who had merely put into port, this port call was only meant as King Abel’s greeting to the representative of the other country.

They had no plans to establish diplomatic relations or conclude a treaty of friendship.

Their purpose was simply to convey, “From now on, our ships may stop here during trial voyages, so please treat us favorably,” and, “Beyond that, a sea route is planned to open, so when that happens, please treat us favorably then as well.”

Regarding that matter, Abel had already informed the government of the Banban Kingdom yesterday.

At the dinner that night, Abel had also told Rakkan directly.

So Mafredi, who was present here, also knew.

Even so, the reason he had summoned Abel and the others here was likely to demonstrate that Rakkan was no longer king and Mafredi had become king.

And that Rakkan now served under the new king, Mafredi.

“I am Mafredi, King of the Banban Kingdom.”

“Abel the First, King of the Knightley Kingdom.”

They introduced themselves to each other and shook hands.

That was diplomatic protocol.

After that, the Banban Kingdom side introduced its attendees.

Of course, Rakkan was introduced as royal advisor.

Then the Knightley Kingdom side introduced its attendees as well... but apart from the guarding Kingdom knights, there was only one person.

“This is Duke Rondo, Premier Duke of the Knightley Kingdom.”

The only person Abel introduced was Ryo.

Ryo stood and only bowed his head lightly.

Once the introductions on both sides were complete, Abel opened his mouth.

“Last night’s dinner was splendid.”

“Hmm?”

He had suddenly praised the dinner.

Mafredi could not help frowning.

That was only natural, because the host of last night’s dinner had been Rakkan, the king at the time.

For Mafredi, the current king, that was not amusing.

“No matter who the current king may be, I cannot fail to mention a dinner between national representatives. For the honor of the head chef and the others who prepared the meal as well.”

“Hmm. Very well.”

Then Abel began praising each dish served at the dinner, one by one.

Mafredi, of course, looked displeased, but Rakkan, who had hosted the meal at the time, looked bewildered as well.

Even so, now and then, a happy expression appeared on his face.

After twenty minutes, Abel’s praise finally ended.

Receiving that, Mafredi broached the subject.

“I hear the Knightley Kingdom is conducting trial voyages in order to open a sea route with the Western Countries. I have also heard that this port call is part of that.”

“That is correct.”

“I would like to hear how our country will be involved in your nation’s voyages.”

Mafredi asked without embellishment.

“During the trial voyages, there is a possibility our ships may put into port in the Banban Kingdom.”

“Mm.”

“However, as for the sea route between the Knightley Kingdom and the Western Countries after that... to be honest, I do not know whether it will stop in the Banban Kingdom.”

“...What?”

At Abel’s ominous words, Mafredi asked again.

“I heard that in the neighboring country... Pishkan, you proposed that once the sea route was opened, you might receive resupply there, and also suggested trade.”

“Yes, I proposed that. That is true.”

“Then to our country as well...”

“As king of the Knightley Kingdom, I believe I should prepare and recommend safe ports of call for the ships traveling that route. When I think of it that way, I must ask whether this Banban Kingdom is truly suitable as a port of call...”

“Are you saying our country is inferior to Pishkan?”

Mafredi’s tone changed, and anger covered his face.

“No, please do not misunderstand. That is certainly not what I mean.”

In contrast, Abel’s expression remained composed.

“It is simply difficult to recommend an unstable country as a port of call.”

“An unstable country... you say?”

“When the representative of the government changes between yesterday and today, it is hard to call that a stable state, would you not agree?”

Abel said it without changing expression.

Against that, Mafredi remained angry, but he could not answer.

“It ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) seems King Abel does not understand the present situation.”

“The situation?”

“The change in government was completed overnight. And now, this royal palace is entirely settled. You call this an unstable country?”

“Last night’s attack succeeded only because you mobilized a considerable military force. And the reason things are calm now is... because you annihilated the soldiers who had been guarding the royal palace.”

“And if so, is there a problem?”

Mafredi shot back.

“No, there is no problem. There is no problem, but... I find myself wanting to return Lord Mafredi’s earlier words exactly as they were.”

“My words?”

“It seems Lord Mafredi does not understand the present situation.”

“What did you say?”

Abel was calm, while Mafredi was filled with rage.

Abel opened his mouth first.

But the words that came from it were something no one had imagined.

“Duke Rondo!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yes, he called Ryo.

Ryo answered with his public face on.

Abel had deliberately called him not “Ryo,” but “Duke Rondo.”

Here, in this diplomatic setting.

“Report the movements of Niban Island and Sanban Island last night.”

“At seven in the evening, thirty-five boats departed from Niban Island, and thirty boats departed from Sanban Island. Each was a small boat carrying twenty people. In other words, seven hundred soldiers departed from Niban Island, and six hundred soldiers departed from Sanban Island. At nine at night, they landed on Ichiban Island and began moving. They had two target points. One was the royal palace. The other was the First Auditorium where we were staying.”

Ryo stated the facts in order.

On the Banban Kingdom side, no one, including Mafredi, could say anything.

They listened in silence. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“They surrounded the First Auditorium with two hundred men and surrounded the royal palace with more than one thousand remaining soldiers. After that, at eleven, they stormed both locations. We had already moved to Skidbladnir, so we suffered no harm, but fighting began at the royal palace. At the time, ninety-five soldiers were guarding the royal palace. They fought hard against an enemy more than ten times their number... but in the end, they were wiped out. Literally all of them died.”

When Ryo had explained that much, one person bowed his head.

Rakkan, the master of the royal palace at that time.

He must have been remembering what had happened then. His lips trembled with frustration.

Yes, at present, it seemed there were no forces under Rakkan inside this royal palace.

That was why the royal palace seemed calm.

However, even if only in name, Rakkan had been king until yesterday.

Could the soldiers under him truly have numbered only ninety-five?

“Then report the current situation surrounding Ichiban Island and the royal palace.”

“Due to the ‘skirmish’ that began roughly thirty minutes ago, around one thousand soldiers from Niban Island and Sanban Island who had advanced into the royal palace and Ichiban Island have already surrendered.”

“...What?”

At Ryo’s words, Mafredi let out a wildly strange sound.

“This royal palace also appears to be about eighty percent secured... by new soldiers.”

“What are you talking about...?”

Ryo explained, but Mafredi seemed not to understand.

Of course he did not.

No sound could be heard.

Everything was this quiet...

But in the next instant...

“D-defend it!”

“We can’t!”

“Surrender!”

“Do you want to die?”

Voices like that came from beyond the door.

Yes, suddenly.

As if sound had been cut off until now.

As if an invisible wall of ice had been blocking the sound.

CLANG.

Having understood the situation, Mafredi thrust his sword toward Rakkan, who remained seated... but it was deflected by an invisible wall.

Whether he had meant to kill Rakkan or take him hostage, no one knew.

But an invisible wall protected Rakkan.

Yes, an invisible wall of ice protected him.

In the next instant, the door was kicked open.

Soldiers came flooding in.

“Your Majesty Rakkan, are you unharmed?”

“I am fine. Secure the room! Do not kill Mafredi!”

Rakkan, still seated, gave orders in response to the soldier who had rushed in.

Because he understood there was an invisible wall around him.

Throughout the commotion, the Knightley Kingdom party did not move at all.

Normally, if such a disturbance occurred, the guards would surround and protect their master... yet every one of them remained seated where they had been.

Seeing that, Rakkan became certain.

The invisible wall protecting him would not break.

Most likely, the Knightley Kingdom party before him, including King Abel, were protected by the same invisible walls.

And those walls would not break.

That was why they remained seated.

A perfectly correct answer.

The invisible wall... was a completely transparent wall of ice.

Ryo’s <Ice Wall>.

There was no way any human attack could break it.

It took less than a minute to secure the room.

After confirming that, Abel gave a small nod.

Ryo released the <Ice Wall> enclosing Rakkan.

Rakkan also saw Abel’s nod.

He recognized it as the signal to release the invisible wall that had protected him, and stood.

“Your Majesty.”

“Lord of the Navy Narsing, good work. Report the situation.”

“We have fully retaken the royal palace. In the process, we restrained Hikaso, island lord of Sanban Island. Because of that, the soldiers belonging to Sanban Island around the royal palace have surrendered. Many of the soldiers belonging to Niban Island resisted, but approximately five hundred have surrendered and been taken prisoner.”

“Well done. At once, inform Niban Island and Sanban Island that their respective island lords have been restrained. Tell them that if they submit to me, we will not attack.”

“Understood.”

The man called Lord of the Navy Narsing immediately rose and left the room.

Rakkan circled the table and proceeded to stand before Abel.

“Your Majesty Abel, I apologize for the disturbance.”

“No, congratulations on reclaiming your throne. It was handled splendidly.”

“I did nothing. My subordinates are simply capable.”

Rakkan laughed cheerfully as he praised the subordinates who had carried out the operation.

“I am grateful for many things.”

Rakkan deliberately blurred his words.

He understood that the invisible wall protecting him had undoubtedly been the work of someone among King Abel’s people.

But it would not be good to make that clear here.

Mafredi was present.

He was restrained, but his ears still worked.

It would be undesirable for anyone to think the Knightley Kingdom had been involved in this reclamation of the throne.

Noninterference in domestic affairs.

That was an important principle between sovereign states.

“You must still have many matters, large and small, to handle. Your Majesty Rakkan, we will take our leave of the island.”

“Once things settle down, let us meet again, Your Majesty Abel.”

And so, in great haste, the Knightley Kingdom party departed the Banban Kingdom.