Under normal circumstances, Earl Corodo would have looked down on someone like Lanevus. A few years earlier, Lanevus would not even have been allowed to set foot in his mansion.
But things were different now. In recent years, the introduction of various laws and the New Party's rapid rise had dealt the Conservative Party a heavy blow.
The repeal of the Corn Laws this year had been especially devastating to the Conservative Party, whose members' main assets were land. Earl Corodo was naturally no exception.
Although his status as an earl had spared him the bankruptcy that had befallen ordinary landed nobles, his total assets and income had been cut in half. He urgently needed another way to make money and maintain the dignity and expenses befitting an earl.
Thus, when Lanevus came to him of his own accord and made it clear that he had a way to solve his predicament, Earl Corodo ultimately had him brought into the mansion.
Earl Corodo did not see Lanevus immediately, however. Instead, he had the butler leave him waiting in a room for half a day.
On the one hand, he wanted to observe Lanevus's behavior during that time; on the other, he sent people to investigate him.
Half a day later, Lanevus finally passed Earl Corodo's test. The butler then brought him into the study to meet the earl, who said those earlier words.
As a Swindler, Lanevus understood all this perfectly well. He wore a faint smile, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief.
I've finally passed the first test. The rest will be much easier.
Looking at Earl Corodo, Lanevus spoke solemnly. "I came here to solve your predicament, my lord. I would never come before you with something as unworthy of your attention as a small iron mine."
"But before that, I would like to ask you a question, my lord."
Earl Corodo frowned. "What question?"
"Do you remember Baron Mirage, my lord?"
"Mirage?" At the name, a nostalgic look appeared on Corodo's face.
"Of course I remember him. Back then, we joined the Loen Kingdom's army together and fought those natives on the Southern Continent."
"I was ambushed several times and nearly died. Every time, Mirage was the one who rescued me from the enemy's encirclement. I'll never forget what I owe him for as long as I live."
Earl Corodo then added with a sigh:
"It was because of his bravery that the enemy later singled him out. He was gravely wounded and had to return to Loen early."
"Although he was made a baron, his injuries caused his health to deteriorate, and he died young without leaving a child."
"Fate is truly unfair."
Finally, Earl Corodo looked at Lanevus. "Does the matter you came to see me about have something to do with Mirage?"
Lanevus nodded. "It does, but..."
He looked at the others around them.
"This matter is of great importance. Could you ask the others to leave, my lord?"
Earl Corodo refused. Whether for his own safety or to show his subordinates that he trusted them, he could not agree to Lanevus's request.
"They're all my trusted men. They came back from the battlefield with me. Whatever you have to say, you can say it."
Lanevus understood Earl Corodo's concerns and gave him a way out. Smiling, he shook his head and said, "Of course I believe you, my lord, but the matter is so important that I really cannot risk it. I hope you understand."
"If you're worried about your safety, my lord, there's no need. I'm just an ordinary merchant and pose no threat to you."
Finally, Lanevus retreated in order to advance.
"Of course, if you insist on refusing, I won't press you. I'll leave of my own accord, and you can simply act as though I never came."
Earl Corodo fell silent for another moment. Finally, he waved a hand and said to the butler, "Glaint, take the others outside and wait."
Glaint showed no displeasure. He bowed slightly and carried out his employer's order without question. "Yes, my lord!"
Glaint then left with the two guards, leaving only Earl Corodo and Lanevus in the room.
"You can speak now, can't you?"
"Of course." Lanevus took a document envelope from inside his coat and stepped forward to hand it to him.
"All the answers are in here, my lord. You'll understand once you've read it."
Frowning, Earl Corodo opened the envelope and pulled out its contents.
"This is..."
After only two glances, Earl Corodo lost his composure. Still, his good breeding allowed him to read on patiently, and the more he read, the more shocked he became.
"How is this possible? Something like this actually happened!"
When he finished, Earl Corodo froze, still unable to recover from his shock.
After an unknown length of time, he finally came to his senses. Suppressing his excitement, he asked Lanevus:
"What is your relationship with Wilt Mirage? Is everything written here true?"
Lanevus knew he had taken the bait. Smiling, he said politely, "I am a Beyonder employed by Mr. Wilt Mirage. I came here to ask Earl Corodo for help."
"Mr. Wilt hopes to use your influence, my lord, to stop the governor of the Rorsted Archipelago and the military from seizing the gold mine. If you succeed, Mr. Wilt is willing to give you a share of the mine's profits."
Earl Corodo fell silent, his expression shifting, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. Only after a long time did he speak again.
"I need to think about it. I'll give you an answer tomorrow. Also, I need to meet Wilt Mirage in person."
Lanevus agreed. "Of course, those are reasonable requests. I'll come back tomorrow morning."
"Glaint!" The butler immediately came in from outside.
"Show Lanevus out."
After Lanevus left, Earl Corodo muttered to himself, "George Negan, governor of the Rorsted Archipelago..."
"This is tricky. Someone from Duke Negan's family is actually involved in this matter."
Duke Negan was a hereditary duke of the Loen Kingdom and the leader of the Conservative Party. He was entirely different from someone like Corodo, who had risen through war.
The governorship of the Rorsted Archipelago was controlled by members of Duke Negan's family. So when Earl Corodo learned what was in the documents, his first thought was to kill Lanevus.
In Earl Corodo's view, the whole affair might have been the work of the Negan Family, who wanted to monopolize the gold mine. He could not afford to cross them, especially since he was a member of the Conservative Party himself.
But in the end, he held back, because profit was tempting, and he happened to need money.
"The so-called Conservative Party and New Party are nothing more than groups formed to protect their own interests. If I can get a large enough return, perhaps I can..."
A glint flashed in Earl Corodo's eyes. Just then, the butler returned.
"Glaint, contact my old comrades in Backlund for me. I'd like to ask them about the Rorsted Archipelago..."
"Also, send a letter to the mayor of Tingen City requesting a visit. I intend to call on him tomorrow afternoon and discuss some important matters with him."