KNOCK KNOCK.
A gruff, middle-aged man’s voice came from inside the reception room.
“I have no scheduled guests. What is it?”
“L-Lord Nile… Lord Nileri has come to Clonia!”
“Hmm? Who did you say? Let him in for now.”
CREEEAK.
When the door opened, I saw unfamiliar long seats that looked soft and plush arranged on either side of the room. Between them stood a table upon which teacups could be placed.
The Mayor had been taking a sip from a white teacup, but when he saw Nileri and me—
CLATTER.
He dropped the teacup and began trembling violently. His lips quivered as well, and he leaped to his feet with his eyes wide in shock.
“That familiar nose and those features… C-could it be?”
I glanced at Nileri.
He is moved upon seeing that frivolous artist bastard?
Why?
Unlike the way he usually behaved around me, Nileri gave the Mayor a gentle, relaxed smile and extended his hand. The Mayor vigorously wiped both hands against his thighs, then carefully clasped Nileri’s hand in both of his and shook it.
Nileri smiled and spoke slyly in a lower voice than usual.
“It is a pleasure to meet you! I am Nileri.”
“The Man… Holding His C*ck… Is… is that truly you?”
Ah, the guard had told us that the Mayor liked Nileri’s work, but does he love musicals enough to make such a commotion?
Nileri smiled brightly.
“I heard that you came to see my work. Thank you, Mayor!”
The Mayor looked deeply moved and gestured helplessly as he spoke.
“You wore a mask, so I could see only your nose and mouth, but you were so handsome that I wondered who you were every day…”
“Hahahahaha! I was worried that seeing me in person might disappoint you, so I am relieved.”
“That familiar voice… You truly are Lord Nileri!”
Sanders finished shaking Nileri’s hand, sank deeply into the seat, and continued.
“Please, sit! What brings such a distinguished person all the way here? I will not wash this hand for an entire week.”
…That seems filthy.
Is Nileri’s work really that popular?
Nileri crossed one leg over the other and spoke with a cheerful smile.
“Noel said it, didn’t he? The reason my flower stalk is so fresh!”
Mayor Sanders immediately put on a serious expression and answered.
“It comes from cleanliness.”
Hahahahaha-!
They had been unable to stop smiling since the moment they met, though I could not understand what had made them so excited.
Nileri glanced at my impassive expression, blinked several times, and spoke to me.
“Your Highness, is something wrong?”
Sanders immediately leaned forward, stared at me, and asked.
“Your Highness?”
No.
That insane bastard Nileri finally made a mistake…
I warned him dozens of times not to address me by my title because our identities could not be exposed outside the capital.
When I glared coldly at Nileri, he seemed to realize his mistake. He waved his hands at Sanders and answered hesitantly.
“Ah! This man is an actor who will play a prince in our next production! He will be the protagonist of our musical troupe’s next season… so the members of our troupe jokingly call him Your Highness even in ordinary conversation… Hahah…”
Sanders glanced at my face.
“Ah, is that so? You were so handsome that I wondered, but you truly are a musical actor!”
He extended his hand to shake mine, but then stopped.
“Ah, my apologies. This is the hand that touched Lord Nileri. Could we shake hands another time?”
Although I was bewildered, I nodded and answered.
“Of course.”
There are two artists here.
Still, the Mayor appears slightly less artistic than Nileri.
I forced a bright smile and slowly looked toward Nileri. He avoided my gaze and continued smiling at Mayor Sanders.
While Mayor Sanders was talking excitedly by himself, Nileri whispered that these seats were called sofas.
Mayor Sanders sat back down on the sofa and spoke to me.
“Every actor in Lord Nileri’s musical troupe is beautiful or handsome! Even a mask could not completely hide this gentleman’s beautiful face! Hahahahaha!”
“Hahahahaha! Is that so? Thank you for viewing him so favorably.”
“Had I been a woman, I would have fallen for him~”
Nileri smiled and spoke.
“To become a truly beautiful man.”
Sanders rubbed both hands over his arms as though he had goosebumps and nodded.
“He must be rejected after confessing!”
What?
To become a truly beautiful man, one must have his confession rejected.
Well, I lacked the courage to confess to a woman because my goal was to become Nameless and I had assumed that I would be castrated. Perhaps they are not wrong.
I slowly sat down and stared impassively at Nileri.
When our eyes met, Nileri cleared his throat and spoke to Mayor Sanders.
“Mayor, we intend to move the Libera Musical Troupe to a larger city.”
“What! You intend to relocate such a venerable troupe?”
Nileri leaned toward Sanders and spoke in a low voice.
“And I hope that city will be Clonia.”
“Oh! The Libera Musical Troupe is always welcome, but…”
Nileri looked at Mayor Sanders and asked.
“Is there a problem?”
Mayor Sanders answered with a serious expression.
“The Solagio Troupe is already here. They will oppose it.”
“What! Would the city not earn even greater profits if it had two musical troupes?”
“The Solaris Organization stands behind the Solagio Troupe.”
“Even so, could any group within this city truly possess more influence than the Mayor?”
“Haaah… Solaris operates not only the troupe, but also the auction house. Did you not know?”
Nileri adopted an unusually cautious expression.
“Know what, Mayor?”
Sanders glanced around before speaking quietly.
“It is embarrassing to admit, but three organizations have a firm grip upon Clonia. Solaris operates the auction house, Finale operates the gambling house, and Bolera operates the inns and general stores.”
I looked at Sanders and spoke.
“Does that mean no one may operate within this city without receiving permission from those three organizations?”
“That is correct. Moreover, their influence has become so great that I am worried about whether I will retain my position as Mayor in the next election.”
An election?
Does this place select its representative through an election?
Nileri looked at Sanders and asked.
“I heard that your approval rating was high, Mayor. Would this not be your third term?”
“There will be an election in which every citizen of the city votes at the beginning of next year… It has been causing me endless concern lately. Haaah… The three organizations now intend to put forward a puppet Mayor.”
“Wasn’t the Mayor made an elected office precisely because something like that happened before? What is the problem?”
I looked at Sanders and spoke.
“It appears the three organizations are bribing or threatening the people.”
“That is correct…”
Nileri looked at Sanders and asked.
“You are the Mayor. Can you not simply put them in prison?”
“Article One of Clonia’s laws states that the Mayor’s income must be disclosed to every citizen each month. Article Two states that the Mayor may not imprison anyone within the city at will. A majority vote from the citizens is required to imprison someone.”
So even the Mayor’s hands were tied.
Why does he remain Mayor despite that?
Nileri spoke to Sanders.
“Then why do you continue serving as Mayor?”
Was that not too direct?
It seemed likely to offend him, but fortunately, Sanders did not appear particularly bothered and answered bluntly.
“Gold Coins.”
I should retract my thought that his hands were tied.
Nileri spoke in a bewildered voice.
“Gold Coins? But you said the Mayor’s income must be disclosed every month…”
“You know which place earns the greatest profit in Clonia.”
I glanced at Nileri. Fortunately, he appeared to know the answer and replied confidently.
“The Colosseum.”
“Mercenaries gathered from across the continent duel there every day. I give the final approval for the dates and matchups of those duels.”
“Does that… make money?”
“Hmm… My apologies, Lord Nileri. No matter how devoted a fan I may be, I cannot answer in any greater detail.”
There must be countless ways for him to line his pockets behind the scenes, including fixing matches.
I looked at Sanders bluntly and spoke.
“Then would there be no problem if we operated a business other than a musical troupe?”
Sanders glanced between Nileri and me.
Nileri gave an awkward smile and spoke.
“That is correct. We could operate a bookstore and sell the original novels upon which our musicals are based, or perhaps sell handicrafts… Ah! We could also open a tavern called The Man Holding a Liquor Bottle… We have devised many viable business ideas.”
Sanders nodded.
“Guard! Bring me a map.”
CLANK. CLANK.
SWISH.
Sanders spread the map across the table with a rustle.
“Is there a particular plot of land you desire?”
Nileri pointed at a place on the map.
“The Colosseum, the Mercenary Guild building containing your office, the auction house, the gambling house, and the plaza are all gathered here. This appears to be the most valuable area. How much does it cost?”
“Is that not the very center of the city…? You cannot purchase land there, regardless of how much money you possess.”
“What?”
“Did you not know? You cannot purchase land there unless you place within the top ten of the Colosseum Ranking.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are aware that ranking within the top ten here means ranking at least within the top twenty upon the entire continent, correct?”
Nileri nodded and answered.
“So I have heard.”
“The prime land surrounding the plaza may be purchased only by someone within the top ten. This area requires a ranking within the top fifty, and this area requires a ranking within the top one hundred. Anyone may purchase land in the remaining districts for residential purposes, but businesses may not operate there.”
Hmm.
What a novel method of purchasing land.
“Furthermore, no taxes whatsoever are collected upon this prime land. Land purchased by someone within the top fifty is taxed at twenty percent, while all other land is taxed at forty percent.”
Purchasing land according to the Law of the Strong…
It seems like a system that would have become explosively popular if introduced within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Nileri studied the map closely before speaking.
“We noticed it on our way here, but why are general stores and commercial districts established only within the areas reserved for the top fifty?”
“They likely could not disregard the influence of the rankers. You may not even be able to conduct the business you desire freely.”
“But that contradicts the name Free City…”
I cut Nileri off and asked Sanders a question.
“Can we obtain this ranking as well?”
“You must have seen the long line before the registration desk on your way here. You may also register as a mercenary there.”
“Understood. Thank you for your assistance.”
Sanders alternated his gaze between Nileri and me with a baffled expression.
“Who… intends to register?”
I rose from my seat and answered.
“I do.”
“What? Hahahahaha!”
Sanders broke into a broad smile and continued.
“Are you not underestimating the only Colosseum upon the continent? I may be a fan of [The Man Holding His C*ck], but the sticky battle over who tops and who bottoms in bed is different from a real fight! Hahahahaha!!”
I stared at Sanders without expression.
“Thank you for the advice.”
Hahahahaha!
“A musical actor fighting! A delicate-looking prince like you? Hrahahaha!”
Haaah…
I looked at Nileri with irritation.
After meeting my eyes, Nileri forced himself to turn his head away, rose from his seat, and spoke to Sanders.
“Thank you for your time!”
“Hahahahaha! Very well! Musical actors truly are something else~ Even your jokes are remarkably amusing.”
“Let us go, Nileri.”
“Yes! Ah… Mm.”
Nileri bowed to Sanders, then timidly followed behind me.
STEP. STEP.
As I descended the stairs, I saw burly men equipped with all manner of weapons lined up before two neatly dressed women.
“Is this the registration desk the Mayor mentioned?”
“It appears so.”
MURMUR. MURMUR.
CLAMOR. CLAMOR.
Those standing in line exchanged all manner of stories about their rankings and the types of training they underwent.
At that moment—
SMACK.
The man standing in front of Nileri laughed heartily as he stepped backward, striking Nileri’s cheek with his elbow.
“Urgh.”
Nileri staggered.
The man who had struck him with his elbow looked at Nileri irritably, then turned his gaze toward me.
‘What’s with this bastard?’