Ⅴ
A low cry immediately drew the gazes of Rory and his companions toward the Inner River.
There, a white passenger ship was slowly approaching.
Though they had not actually boarded it, their far sharper-than-average eyesight and daily grounding in "aristocratic knowledge" prompted these young nobles to exclaim in wonder-
"Is that the observation deck?"
"The view must be beautiful looking down from the terrace outside that upper cabin!"
"Whoa, that ram at the bow is in the style of the Holy Age!"
Their successive remarks ended with a gasp of astonishment.
The young nobles turned toward the companion who had gasped.
"I'm certain of it. Both the ram's 'Song of Holiness' design and its combination of iron and wood are characteristic of the Holy Age. And...
It most likely survived from a ship of the Holy Age!
After all, even the finest craftsman couldn't reproduce that sense of age!"
The young noble marveled.
Then he sighed-
"What a shame, such an intact 'Song of Holiness'!
I wonder whether it'll survive what's about to happen.
If it does, I'd like it for my collection!"
As he spoke, the young noble looked at Rory.
The Marquis's son was never stingy when it came to generosity at someone else's expense.
"Of course!
If it survives, it's yours, Little Tammy!
You have my word!"
Upon hearing that promise, Little Tammy, Baron Tammy's only son, immediately gave Rory a slight bow.
Rory accepted it without reservation.
Moreover, the Marquis's eldest son took it for granted that he had won Tammy's favor. As the only son of Baron Tammy, one of the three barons in the Einhaas Fief, Little Tammy was naturally someone he needed to win over. Though a "Song of Holiness" was worth a considerable sum, Rory stood to gain far more. Why