Chapter 657

On November 22nd, Jin had returned to his mansion in the capital city of Royzart from Penglai Island after completing the “Shark.”

There, he was welcomed by Elsa at the underground transfer gate, alongside another familiar face.

“Long time no see, Jin.”

“Hey, Reinhard.”

Reinhard had also come to Royzart with Elsa.

“Welcome back, Jin-sama.”

Baro and Bell greeted him.

“Reinhard’s here as well?”

“Yes, I was summoned by His Majesty.”

“I see. Well, let’s discuss things upstairs.”

The group then moved to the living room. Elsa, Jin, and Reinhard took their places around a round table, while Reiko and Edgar stood behind Jin and Elsa.

Bell promptly brewed some tea and set it in front of everyone. Today’s tea was hojicha.

“It’s delicious. You’ve brewed it just right,” Jin praised after taking a sip.

Hojicha was traditionally brewed with boiling water, but Jin was sensitive to hot temperatures due to his sensitive palate. Therefore, his portion had to be cooled down slightly after pouring it into the teacup. The exact procedure was known to all the golem maids on Penglai Island.

Bell, who received the compliment, briefly expressed her gratitude and then stepped back. It was apparent that her training at Reinhard’s residence had paid off.

“Now then, Elsa, welcome back. Have you decided what to do?”

“Yes, I’ve decided to reestablish the Randle family,” Elsa answered, looking Jin straight in the eye. Jin replied gently, “I see. I’m sure that’s a decision you made after a lot of thought. I’ll support you.”

“Thank you, Jin-nii.”

Elsa’s cheeks reddened slightly, and she bowed her head.

“So, Reinhard, you were summoned by His Majesty. Was there something specific?”

“No, it seems it’s not about any conflicts or issues. It’s a technical consultation,” Reinhard replied, though he noted that he hadn’t been informed about the details yet.

“I see… Well, I’m going with you today,” Jin stated.

“Eh? You too, Jin-nii?”

“Yeah, I think things will go faster with me there.”

As an “Imperial Honorary Advisor,” Jin had the authority to visit the palace without an appointment and request an audience with the Emperor.

“That would certainly be helpful… Although Jin is going for Elsa’s sake, right?” Reinhard teased Jin.

“Uh, well, yeah,” Jin replied with a straight face. Elsa, who was listening to their conversation, blushed and looked down.

“Jin, please take care of Elsa. She’s my dear and adorable cousin.”

“……?”

“Oh, yes, of course,” Jin responded, not fully understanding the implications.

“……!”

Their exchange seemed casual, but there was a subtle difference in nuance between Reinhard and Jin. Elsa, who was listening, wore an awkward expression.

** * **

It was 10 a.m. when Jin, Elsa, Reinhard, Reiko, Edgar, and the others traveled to the Imperial Palace in an airship. They didn’t have much time to chat along the way.

Besides saving time, using an airship allowed them to convey the purpose of their visit more quickly.

As they landed, the Prime Minister welcomed them with open arms.

“Well, well, Lord Jin Nido, welcome. Lady Reiko, you’re welcome as well.”

“Sorry for this sudden visit, but I brought Elsa and Reinhard.”

“Excellent timing. His Majesty is waiting for you. Please follow me.”

The Prime Minister led them to his office without letting anyone else speak.

“Lord Jin Nido, Lady Reiko, Lord Reinhard Randle, and Elsa, welcome.”

The room they were led into was not just any office but the office of the Empress.

After everyone took their seats, the Empress got straight to the point.

“We have some urgent matters to discuss, so let’s skip the formalities. Jin, it’s good that you’re here. First, Elsa, how are you feeling? Have you made up your mind?”

“Yes, I would like to go by the name Elsa Randle.”

The Empress nodded approvingly.

“That’s fine, then. Prime Minister, any objections?”

“Not at all, it’s perfectly fine. Therefore, today, on November 22, 3457, I officially approve the title of Lady Elsa Randle, the Viscountess.”

“Thank you.”

Elsa stood up, bowed to the Empress and the Prime Minister, and thus, Elsa Randle von Razurella became a Viscountess.

“Just to make it clear, you won’t receive any territory. Instead, you will receive an annual salary of 1 million tolls as a Viscountess. What about the recipient?”

If they held territory, they could maintain their family through tax revenues. However, in the Shouro Empire, nobles without territories received a salary from the state.

Additionally, if they held an official position, their salary would be increased accordingly. For now, Elsa’s salary was set at the minimum.

As a result, Elsa’s parents, who had been merely depleting their family’s assets, now had a means of financial support.

However, they would be obligated to take on certain responsibilities for the state, even if they didn’t hold a position.

“… I’ll leave it to my mother from my family.”

“Understood. Secretary, make a record of it.”

Seeing Elsa’s tension and anxiety, the Empress smiled kindly and instructed her secretary to document the decision.

“Don’t be so nervous, Elsa. Your main role is to be Jin Nido’s assistant. Will that be okay?”

“Yes!”

Elsa initially looked bewildered, not understanding what was said, but once she grasped the meaning, her face lit up, and she responded enthusiastically.

“What a lovely smile. That’s how a young lady should be. Jin Nido, please take care of Elsa.”

“Yes.”

Jin also smiled and responded to the Empress’s request.

“Now, Lord Reinhard Randle, the reason we called you here is for a shipbuilding project.”

“Shipbuilding?”

“Yes, shipbuilding. We’re grateful that Jin is here too. Are you ready to hear the details?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When it came to discussions about creating things, Jin was always enthusiastic.

“Thank you. Prime Minister, please continue.”

“Yes. Our country relies heavily on water transportation. We are thinking about the future, and we believe that further development of ships is necessary.”

“You mean thinking about the future?”

Reinhard leaned forward.

“Yes. We have a sea to the south of our country, and it is mostly uncharted and untapped. We can’t afford to leave it untouched.”

“Yes, I agree.”

This time, Jin responded.

“First, we want to create ships capable of ocean voyages that can withstand journeys lasting several days to a few weeks. The primary purpose will be transporting goods.”

“To promote the development of water transportation, I assume.”

Elsa remembered her recent conversation with Lioness Ashford in Klein Kingdom.

“That’s right. For this reason, we want to build large ships, and we’d like Reinhard to be part of this plan.”

“Do you already have an outline for the ship?”

“No, we’ve only decided that the size will be between 30 and 40 meters. The details will be handled by experts.”

“It sounds interesting.”

Jin, who had been deeply involved in shipbuilding on Penglai Island, found himself getting excited.

In the Celroa Kingdom, there were 40-meter-long ships used to carry wagons across the Azure River. These were simple ferry boats with limited mobility.

In that sense, this new large ship, which will be the first of its kind in the world.

It was no surprise that Jin was eager to get on board.