Chapter 103: Does This Mean My Fathers-in-Law Are Working for Me?

After putting down the phone, Louis asked the butler and learned that Crowley and the others were waiting for him in Crowley’s semi-study. So, he headed over.

It appeared they were having tea and chatting leisurely. Earl Crowley, having heard that Stewart was going to visit some of the old ministers, was holding a thick stack of letters prepared by Osicris, explaining to Stewart the current situation in the kingdom and the circumstances of these old ministers.

When Louis sat down, Crowley handed him Osicris’s letters and briefed him on the situation—a gesture that clearly showed, at least on the princess’s side, Crowley now regarded Louis as the leading figure.

Earl Crowley truly had a discerning eye.

After listening, Louis couldn’t help but shake his head inwardly. Just as he had suspected, these old ministers were nothing more than a group of elderly cheerleaders, only good for shouting encouragement from the sidelines.

He even felt a twinge of sympathy for Osicris—it was no easy job.

“Sir Louis, please don’t worry about this matter,” Earl Crowley said, placing a hand over his chest. “Today, after Bishop John and I go to the court, we’ll take Sir Stewart to visit some real people—this is a minor issue, Louis. However, I do have a major matter that I may need your help with.”

Having to trouble Louis yet again made Crowley somewhat embarrassed. He went on to describe his current headache, all concerning several banks of the Belief family.

It turned out the Seventh Fleet was a unique fleet with special maritime trade permits and royal privateering licenses. To assemble such a special Seventh Fleet, Earl Crowley had traveled far and wide. Yet with little support from the royal treasury—thanks in large part to staunch opposition from many domestic ministers—the fleet had been formed with hardly any resources at all.

The king’s attitude was likely: “The fact that I managed to get this fleet officially established after all the wrangling is already a great effort. As a loyal subject, you should help me share the burden.”

And so, the mess was left entirely in Crowley’s hands.

As a result, Crowley had to find solutions for everything—even some of the munitions had to be purchased from arms dealers.

At this point, the earl sighed. “Even the meager startup funds we received—more than half came straight from His Majesty’s private purse. The rest came from loans I personally managed to secure.”

But before these funds could be put to use, Lady Crowley’s condition had suddenly worsened. The prominent banker, KFC, upon hearing that his investment might be lost, nearly tore out his own mustache in frustration.

Lady Crowley’s matter was resolved today, but the funds were still far from sufficient—they still owed War God’s Hammer a large sum for arms.

As for this debt, Earl Crowley was planning to push it off for later, so he didn’t elaborate. His request for Louis’s help today was to see if Louis could use his connections to persuade KFC to extend them a larger loan.

Hearing this, Louis understood at once—KFC, that crafty old fox, was playing his cards well. Knowing that Louis intended to support the princess, and that she needed the help of non-magical forces, KFC had put him in contact with Crowley as well. At the same time, KFC planned to make a profit without much risk—by resolving Crowley’s financial troubles, the Seventh Fleet, this potential gold mine, could be launched.

Afterwards, with the “Mysterious Bureau” providing its backing, the “stock” of the Seventh Fleet would surely soar.

Louis nodded; he understood that Belief would definitely increase his investment—the matter was already as good as settled.

However, a different thought occurred to him—he remembered the blood parrot who had, in just two weeks, helped him recover his “chives.” Perhaps he could use the opportunity of the Seventh Fleet to launder the blood parrot’s pirate crew, legitimizing them. Then, he would become the true major shareholder of the Seventh Fleet.

It would be best to discuss this with KFC—perhaps he could put a little pressure on Crowley from KFC’s side, prompting Crowley to lobby the “real, super-majority shareholder,” the king, to sell Louis more shares.

“Is this considered scheming against my future fathers-in-law? Ahem, not at all—it’s just additional investment. The blood parrot is quite famous. Once the company grows, Crowley, as CEO, will be even more impressive. When the king sees his company finally thriving, he’ll be delighted—even if his share shrinks, it’ll be worth it, won’t it?”

[You have convinced yourself.]
[Shame—MAX]
[Pride +MAX]

Louis said, “Mr. Crowley, I’ll speak with Mr. KFC Belief about this soon. Wait for my call.”

Crowley had no idea that Belief and Louis were partners in crime, nor that Belief was currently clinging to Louis for help.

From Louis’s words, Crowley discerned that although Louis didn’t give an outright guarantee, he was confident in handling it. But knowing KFC’s nature, he’d surely want a piece of the pie—another favor owed to Louis!

Crowley was both pleasantly surprised and deeply impressed. This young man before him was more mysterious than he had imagined.

He couldn’t help but recall the mysterious duchy behind Helen and began to suspect that Louis was deeply involved with some powerful, secretive force—perhaps even a leader himself.

Crowley’s hopes for the future grew even brighter.

Louis felt the same: “Does this count as making my fathers-in-law work for me?”

With this mysterious incident, he had managed to benefit greatly on three fronts: the Ministry of Magic, the non-magical world, and his own influence.

[It seems that handling more troublesome cases for the Mysterious Bureau will introduce you to even more hard-working future in-laws…]

After a few cups of tea, the head maid led Helen off to see the “Mermaid.”

Louis and Earl Crowley, along with the others, strolled in the garden. Crowley asked Louis whether he would accompany him to the court—Bishop John and the others were also going today.

Crowley had already asked this question yesterday. Louis had no intention of going.

It wasn’t because of the Ministry of Magic’s regulations, which he considered little more than wastepaper.

Rather, he simply wasn’t the type of “demon-slaying, wandering knight” who, after accomplishing a task or two, would rush to see the king.

If he was to meet the king and the Witch Queen, it would be at their invitation.

Still, Louis did intend to wait for Osicris to arrive, and then go “home” together with her—surely the “meeting gift” of a princess from the son-in-law was no small thing?

If the king thought that bringing Osicris along didn’t count as a proper gift and considered Louis to have come empty-handed, he’d just have to tie up the king’s lovely daughter and take her away right before his eyes.

The king would surely find him quite satisfactory.

Besides, Osicris would at least have to call him “master” (as per their bet). How could he let her be bullied?

If he didn’t go to the palace with Osicris, how would he know who usually made trouble for her? And how would he see just how arrogant those ministers who harassed her really were?

He could bully her, but could they?

So, when faced with Crowley’s invitation to court, Louis put on a thoughtful expression for a moment, then politely declined.

“Very well,” Earl Crowley nodded. He, too, thought it best for Louis to play hard to get—the king had to summon Bach and his peers several times in a row before they agreed to see him. And this young man had already been invited to the Moon Court six or seven times by Bishop John and hadn’t responded yet.

He would go stoke the fire for a while at court, let His Majesty Eg yearn for talent a bit longer, and then introduce the great knight Louis.

When they finally met, His Majesty Eg would be overjoyed.

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