Marquis Lorenzo's gaze passed over the assembled nobles and settled on his old rival.
"Marquis Ironwall, I heard you recently acquired a shipment of red wine from the Empire. It seems I won't have a chance to drop by for a glass after today's meeting."
Marquis Ironwall gave a twitch of his cheek in acknowledgment.
Then Marquis Lorenzo slowly rose to his feet.
His movements were unhurried, but as he straightened his back inch by inch, his earlier languor vanished without a trace.
He surveyed the hall, a gentle smile even gracing his face.
"First, I propose that we thank the Holy Second Empire."
His words stunned everyone in the hall.
The nobles in Marquis Ironwall's faction looked delighted, while Viscount Brian and the others felt their hearts sink.
As though he had not noticed their reactions, Marquis Lorenzo continued.
"We thank our powerful neighbor for its deep concern over the safety of the Duchy's shipping lanes. The Empire is willing to lend a hand and help us handle our 'domestic affairs.' We appreciate the goodwill."
He picked up the petition submitted by the Sea Serpent Merchant Guild from the clerk's desk, holding it between two fingers as though the papyrus were stained with something filthy.
"Marquis Ironwall's analysis just now was excellent. This Barbosa is indeed no longer a mere pirate."
Without warning, Lorenzo changed tack, his voice taking on a curious tone, like a scholar dissecting a subject in a lecture hall.
"He has backers, advanced weapons, and a tightly organized force. This is not harassment, but a... 'proxy war.'"
A proxy war?
Most of the nobles in the hall looked bewildered. The term was beyond their understanding.
Only Marquis Ironwall's pupils abruptly contracted.
"Certain powers with sinister intentions could fund these pirates and choke off our Duchy's