An Unexpected Windfall

When Count Weissen's messenger arrived, Buksa grew nervous, afraid something had gone wrong with this year's wheat business.

The messenger's first words after seeing Buksa were, "Something's happened!"

Buksa's heart sank.

The messenger continued, "Count Weissen has ordered you to send this year's wheat samples to Weissenburg as quickly as possible."

Buksa asked nervously, "What happened?"

The messenger waved a hand. "It's a military secret. I can't say."

Only when two silver coins accidentally flew into his pocket did he lower his voice and say, "Something huge happened over in Hanma City!"

"They're digging a canal there to bypass the Danma Kingdom, right? Grand Duke Wessen suddenly went to inspect it and ate some bread with a musty smell at dinner."

"An investigation later found that the moldy flour had been transferred from the army."

"Then Grand Duke Wessen personally went to inspect the army's provisions, and that's when they found trouble."

"Now no one knows whether the flour went bad because of poor storage, was switched in Hanma City, or had been bad from the start."

"Count Weissen has always been in charge of the army's provisions. This time they put it down to a storage issue, but there can't be another incident. If Grand Duke Wessen loses his temper, someone will end up hanging from the city wall!"

"Grand Duke Wessen is paying attention to the army's provisions now, so Count Weissen is being especially strict about buying them this year. He's adding another round of bidding, which is why the notice came early."

Buksa was deeply frustrated. He had no idea who was behind it, but whoever it was had made life miserable for an honest man like him.

He told the messenger, "Thank you. I'll leave for Weissenburg right away."

"You've come a long way, too.