While Yakov arranged the meeting, I investigated the man known as Count Gernot Hermann. It was not difficult to gather information from the merchants traveling through my territory.
‘He really is an eccentric.’
Yakov had not been exaggerating.
Apparently, Hermann was already infamous among the nobles of that region for all manner of bizarre behavior carried out in the name of personal hobbies and territorial development.
-I heard he once served commoners’ food at a banquet. Naturally, the guests were horrified.
-Apparently, he once attached feathered wings to a horse, called it a Pegasus, and rode around on it.
-According to his servants, the underground chambers beneath his castle are filled with strange inventions. They say some of them are even blasphemous.
If I were one of the nobles in that region, I would probably have recoiled and avoided associating with him as well.
There was no indication that he exploited his subjects or ruled tyrannically, so he could hardly be called a Tyrant or an incompetent ruler. Nevertheless, he was clearly the sort of peculiar man one would rather not become close to.
For that very reason, however, he was an excellent candidate for a secret transaction.
I proceeded with the plan, and after some time, the day of my meeting with Hermann arrived.
“There they are, my lord.”
In the middle of a sunlit field, several mounted soldiers stood beside a temporary pavilion.
As Hermann had agreed through Yakov, we were meeting here on the outskirts of Hermann County.
A flag fluttered high beside the pavilion, bearing the image of a Dragon’s wing, the emblem of House Hermann.
Naturally, our side was approaching beneath the Vermont banner, which depicted an eagle perched atop a downward-pointing sword.
Although this was a secret transaction, two lords were meeting face-to-face. Observing this much formality was only proper.
“Those horses look impressive even at a glance, my lord.”
“They do indeed. Hermann County is famous for the quality of its horses, if I remember correctly.”
“You could even accept those horses as payment instead of silver. They would fetch a high price wherever you sold them.”
My men offered their opinions as we approached the pavilion.
The horses all moved vigorously and possessed proud, powerful builds. Even to someone like me who knew little about horses, they were obviously fine animals.
Nevertheless, I had never heard of Hermann County exporting horses or neighboring territories attempting to purchase them.
That alone demonstrated how reluctant everyone was to establish relations with the Count.
“Do not lower your guard, my lord. You should not dismiss his reputation as an eccentric simply because it sounds ridiculous. There are plenty of nobles who begin indulging in strange behavior out of boredom and eventually become dangerous men.”
“I know. That is why I brought more people than usual.”
Just as Hakon said, twenty men followed me today.
In addition to the ten subordinates I usually brought with me, I had added several mercenaries who normally guarded the mine.
The opposing mounted soldiers appeared to number roughly the same.
“Then I will go speak with him. Everyone, wait here.”
“Yes, my lord. We will be waiting.”
“If we notice anything suspicious, I will put a bolt through someone immediately. Do not worry.”
Leaving Stefan and the others behind after their reassuring replies, I took only Hakon with me and walked toward the pavilion.
The mounted soldiers on the other side were also withdrawing.
Inside the pavilion, I met the man waiting for me.
Like me, he had brought a single Guard Knight. He was a neatly dressed middle-aged man with an impressive mustache, exactly as Yakov had described him.
“A pleasure to meet you. Are you Count Hermann?”
“Indeed. Gernot Hermann. Count Hermann, Gernot, Hermann—call me whichever you please.”
“I am Dieter Vermont.”
I returned his greeting as he introduced himself with exaggerated gestures that seemed almost theatrical.
“Yakov explained the circumstances to me. You wish to sell Ancient Dragon Stone on a continuing basis, correct?”
“That is correct. I contacted you after hearing that you had long been interested in purchasing Ancient Dragon Stone.”
“I have already received your conditions through Mayor Yakov. I dislike dragging matters out, so I will answer immediately. If you have no objections, I would like to do business with you.”
His ready acceptance was reassuring.
Furthermore, I found myself liking the way he spoke plainly without circling endlessly around the point.
At first glance, he appeared perfectly normal. It was difficult to understand how such a man had become infamous as an eccentric whom everyone avoided.
“I see. Excellent. Then please examine the merchandise.”
I removed a piece of Ancient Dragon Stone from my pouch and held it out for him to see.
Desire gleamed in Hermann’s eyes as he stared at the reddish crystal.
“Beautiful. The purity appears quite high as well. There should be no concern regarding the quality.”
“I am pleased to hear that. As you already know from the terms I sent, I am not seeking a single transaction. I want an ongoing trade arrangement. You agree to that as well, correct?”
“Yes, naturally. However… there was one particularly noteworthy condition.”
Hermann composed his expression and continued.
“It stated that payment for the goods would consist of silver and regular visits to my territory. What exactly do you mean by those visits?”
“In truth, I conducted some research into you beforehand, Count Hermann. I also investigated your territory.”
“……”
“You have something rather interesting hidden there. Ah, perhaps saying you hid it is inaccurate. Since you have been ostracized from noble society, it would be more accurate to say that the rest of the world simply never learned about it.”
A faint disturbance appeared in Hermann’s eyes, but it vanished the next instant.
He was clearly skilled at concealing his thoughts.
“Am I wrong? To be precise, it lies beneath the castle where you reside.”
I continued.
“The Dwarven Ruins.”
That was the other reason I had chosen to deal with this eccentric.
Dwarven Ruins existed within his territory.
If there was another way to obtain information about Dwarven Technology besides entering the Royal Palace and studying the records stored there, I had no reason to reject it.
That was why I intended to trade with Hermann and secure permission to visit the Dwarven Ruins within his territory.
“Well, well. You discovered that rather thoroughly. It appears there are no true secrets in this world. Ha ha ha!”
“Merchants spread all manner of rumors. Most are baseless, but every now and then, some truth is mixed among them.”
“So you wish to visit the ruins beneath my castle? Why?”
Hermann asked with an intrigued expression.
“I am curious about your intentions. Is it merely personal interest? Or do you have another purpose? I cannot help wondering whether you might be an agent sent by the Royal Family.”
“An agent of the Royal Family?”
“Yes. Surely you know that the Royal Family attempts to monopolize records and information concerning Dwarves? They constantly try to take what I possess under the pretext of territorial inspections and the like. Naturally, I drive them away before they can even approach my castle.”
That explained why the Royal Palace Library contained so much information concerning Dwarves.
“So answer me. Are you one of them? If so, this transaction may become somewhat difficult….”
“No. It is nothing of the sort. The truth is that I am personally interested in Dwarven Technology.”
I had already decided to conduct business with him.
There was no particular reason to hide that much, so I answered truthfully.
“I have considerable interest in Dwarven Technology and the records describing it. I also enjoy creating useful items by applying those technologies.”
“Oh! Is that so?”
Before I had even finished, Hermann stretched out both hands and seized my shoulders.
The startled Hakon immediately moved, but I quickly shook my head to stop him.
“Ha ha ha! Excellent! Absolutely excellent! In truth, I am the same! Dwarves—are they not utterly fascinating beings? I adore Dwarves. Their culture, their history, and naturally, the technology you seek!”
“I-Is that so?”
“Of course! Studying and contemplating Dwarves is one of my greatest joys! And now I discover that you share such a deep interest. What a remarkable connection! Ha ha ha!”
Hermann shouted with genuine delight.
His eyes sparkled, and his expression had become as innocent as that of a child.
“You were also born a son of a noble family, so surely you understand. Life as a nobleman is unbearably tedious. Ah, truly unbearable. Without something entertaining to occupy oneself, it becomes almost impossible to endure.”
Hermann finally released my shoulders, sighed once, and shrugged.
Unlike commoners, nobles did not ordinarily need to earn a living through labor. Spending their days pursuing hobbies such as hunting and banquets was therefore commonplace.
Of course, that did not apply to me.
As an illegitimate son, I had spent my life constantly carrying out the family’s orders.
“However, I eventually discovered that even those things become dreadfully dull when enjoyed alone. I naturally have no desire to associate with people incapable of understanding my tastes, but at the same time, I have come to feel the need for companionship quite keenly. Everyone needs someone with whom they can have a proper conversation, do they not?”
“That is certainly true, Count Hermann.”
“And then you appeared! That makes me all the happier. Ha ha ha! I shall choose a suitable date and invite you to my territory. We can tour the Dwarven Ruins together and engage in a truly profound discussion! Naturally, we shall enjoy a banquet as well!”
“Of course, Count Hermann. Then you agree to the contract?”
“Ah, naturally! Vinland? Where is my seal?”
“Here, Count Hermann.”
The knight who had remained beside him throughout the conversation respectfully handed him a Signet Ring.
Hermann and I pressed our seals onto the contract in turn.
With that, the trade agreement was complete.
“Then farewell for now. I will send you a letter shortly, and we shall arrange another meeting. Ha ha ha!”
Leaving his cheerful laughter behind, Hermann mounted his horse and rode away across the field with his cavalrymen.
“He truly is an eccentric. At first he seemed almost normal, but the moment Dwarves came up, his eyes lit up and he lunged at you like a starving wolf.”
“It is hardly unusual for nobles to develop peculiar hobbies. You know that as well as I do.”
“I still have a bad feeling. The safest course is not to become involved with madmen like that.”
Hakon spoke while glaring at Hermann’s retreating figure, which was rapidly shrinking into a distant speck.
Even to me, the Count did not seem entirely sane.
Naturally, I had no intention of trusting him completely. No sensible person entered a transaction with that degree of blind faith.
“The important thing is that he possesses what I need. Silver to pay for the Ancient Dragon Stone and those Dwarven Ruins.”
“You believe there may be a clue there? Something that could help repair the Ancient Dragon’s sealing device?”
“That possibility is precisely why I approached him. We have no idea when we will be able to enter the Royal Palace Library. If another opportunity appears before us, should we not seize it?”
“Hmm….”
With Hakon still looking unconvinced, I left the pavilion and walked toward the subordinates waiting for us.
For now, I was relieved that the transaction had been successfully established.
“Ha ha ha ha! Excellent! This has gone exceedingly well!”
Hermann’s laughter echoed down the spiral staircase.
His Guard Knight, Vinland, followed behind him while maintaining a rigid expression.
He looked almost like an emotionless statue.
“You appear pleased that the transaction was successful, Count Hermann.”
“Of course I am pleased! Is he not exactly the man I have been searching for? My eyes lit up the moment Yakov first delivered his conditions. Ha ha!”
Hermann even clapped his hands as he laughed.
That was how delighted he was by the transaction with Dieter.
“This is different from everything before. That man Dieter said he wanted an ongoing trade arrangement rather than a single transaction. That means his territory contains a source capable of producing a considerable quantity of Ancient Dragon Stone.”
“That would appear to be the case, Count Hermann.”
“And sources of Ancient Dragon Stone are intimately connected to the existence of Ancient Dragons. Every location we investigated in the past proved as much, did it not?”
It was true.
Ancient Dragon Stone was a remnant of Ancient Dragons, and its deposits were generally concentrated in places that had once served as Ancient Dragon Lairs.
In other words, there was an extremely high possibility that somewhere within the Bricks Territory existed a place that had once housed an Ancient Dragon.
That was precisely what Hermann desired.
“However, the amount of silver required under the contract is considerable. Are you certain you wish to pay him everything he asks?”
“For now, give him exactly what he wants. We will continue the trade and investigate the Bricks Territory in the process. If that territory truly contains what I seek… then, when the time is right, we will proceed. He wishes to visit our ruins, does he not? That itself presents an excellent opportunity.”
“I see. Indeed, Count Hermann.”
“Still, what a peculiar twist of fate. The man who may lead me to an Ancient Dragon happens to be a member of House Vermont. What a fascinating connection. Ha ha ha!”
Still laughing, Hermann descended the spiral staircase and eventually entered a vast underground chamber.
All around him, illuminated by torchlight, stood mechanical devices of bizarre shapes.
Crystals glowing red like Ancient Dragon Stone had been fitted into various sections of the machines.
“Perhaps the time has finally come to use these.”
Hermann slowly examined the machines one after another and murmured as though offering a prayer.
“O great Gods of Old, please wait only a little longer. Soon, I shall awaken you from that endless slumber….”
Rather than the eccentric described by popular rumor, Hermann’s face was filled with the rapture of a madman.