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After the meal, Baron Kilburn met with Sion privately, bringing only his youngest son, Piot, along.
Sion wanted Administrator Schwat to attend as well. Kilburn found it a little strange to involve an unrelated administrator in a conversation about his son’s future, but he agreed nonetheless.
It quickly became clear why Sion insisted on Schwat’s presence.
“I’m convinced that something big will happen in the Dragon’s Wasteland within ten years at most—maybe even five or six.”
“……!”
The unexpected declaration shocked everyone. Baron Kilburn, who had assumed this meeting was simply about his son’s future, was stunned. So were Piot and Administrator Schwat.
“What are you saying? Something will happen in the Dragon’s Wasteland? And how would you even know that?”
Sion calmly took a sip of wine before replying to the baron’s suspicious tone and expression.
“You bought my horse as a birthday present for your youngest son, didn’t you? Don’t you wonder why I suddenly showed up after seven years of searching for it?”
“……Ah! You mean—?”
Baron Kilburn frowned, thinking for a moment, then his eyes widened in realization.
Sion nodded.
“Yes. During that time, I was exploring the Dragon’s Wasteland and beyond.”
“What!”
“You can’t be serious!”
All three were visibly shocked.
“Is that true? You actually explored the Dragon’s Wasteland?” Piot asked.
“I swear it on my name and that of my house,” Sion replied solemnly.
Schwat muttered in disbelief, almost to himself.
“That’s impossible… no one’s ever survived more than a few months there, and you stayed for years…?”
“I survived—and returned. Didn’t you check which gate I entered Burgos from?”
“Ah…!”
Indeed, after deciding to accept Sion’s investment, Schwat had gathered as much information as he could about him. The royal identification plaque Sion presented had cleared most doubts, but still, Schwat had investigated thoroughly.
Among the rushed reports was the fact that Sion had entered Burgos through the eastern gate—the one facing the Dragon’s Wasteland.
“More importantly,” Sion continued, looking at each of them, “what could I possibly gain from lying? Fame and glory for being the first to explore the Dragon’s Wasteland? Baron Kilburn, you know better than anyone that for a royal, fame like that brings more trouble than benefit.”
Kilburn nodded. He knew Sion was right.
The Obla Kingdom followed a principle of primogeniture for royal succession, but the current crown prince was surrounded by controversy. If a royal from a cadet branch were to gain tremendous fame now, it would almost certainly spark political conflict.
At best, the royal family would keep a close eye on them. At worst, they might invent a pretext to confine or exile the person to the borderlands.
“And besides,” Sion went on, “I’ve no intention of telling anyone else about the Dragon’s Wasteland for now, aside from you three. So the idea that I’m chasing fame is baseless.”
Kilburn exhaled slowly. “All right, I understand. Then why are you telling us this? What does this have to do with me and Piot?”
Schwat nodded in agreement—it wasn’t clear why this concerned them.
“Because there’s a very high chance that the monsters from the Dragon’s Wasteland will move toward Burgos.”
“What?!”
“Impossible!”
Sion turned away from the baron’s twitching eyes and fixed his gaze on Schwat, who was gulping air nervously.
“Administrator, you must’ve wondered why I decided to invest in Burgos. A royal suddenly pouring money into a remote town like this—it must have seemed strange. The reason is simple: what’s coming from the Dragon’s Wasteland is both a crisis and an opportunity.”
“Opportunity? How could this possibly be an opportunity?” Schwat’s face was almost on the verge of tears.
Sion remained calm.
“Think, Administrator. If monsters spread throughout this region, who will arrive first—and in the greatest numbers?”
“Eh?”
“Knights, soldiers, and mercenaries. The capital won’t just sit back and watch.”
“Ah…!”
Exactly. Burgos was a royal domain; if something happened, troops would be dispatched, and mercenaries would receive subsidies from the capital. Hundreds—possibly thousands—would flood into Burgos.
“Do you see now? That’s why I invested here. The disaster from the Dragon’s Wasteland will be a crisis for Burgos, yes—but also a massive economic opportunity.”
The influx of troops and mercenaries would mean huge profits for lodging, food, supplies, and entertainment. Mercenaries in particular tended to spend money freely, often spending at least half of what they earned in the same place.
At this point, Piot hesitantly raised a hand.
“May I ask something? If the army and mercenaries come, wouldn’t that end the situation quickly? If it’s resolved early, wouldn’t your large investment end up being a loss?”
Schwat nodded eagerly—this was a sensible question.
Sion shook his head firmly.
“No. I’m certain this situation will drag on for years.”
Everyone gave him puzzled looks.
He continued confidently,
“I said a major event will happen in the Dragon’s Wasteland—but I never said it would stay only there.”
“……!”
“Administrator, you must have confirmed with Jenna Olrot of the Burgos Information Guild. Before going to the Dragon’s Wasteland, I spent time in Exon. There, I learned of a cult plotting something using monsters.”
The details about the cult were fabricated, but his stay in Exon was true and verifiable.
“Not just Exon. In the past few years, monsters have been increasing in many regions, and related incidents have been happening all over. The Dragon’s Wasteland is just the biggest and most dangerous of them all. Besides—”
Sion turned back to Piot.
“Do you really think the monsters in a land as vast as the Dragon’s Wasteland can be wiped out quickly? Even if the disaster started tomorrow, it would take over five years to end it.”
“You’re right… I didn’t think of that. My apologies,” Piot admitted quickly.
Sion nodded, then addressed Kilburn and Schwat with a serious expression.
“In any case, the crisis will come within a few years. Burgos and your Lagos territory will need to work together, with royal support, to face it.”
Kilburn hummed in thought.
“As a member of the royal family, I intend to prepare for that. That’s why I’m investing here, and why I’m making a proposal to you, Baron Kilburn, lord of Lagos.”
Sion placed a hand on Piot’s shoulder.
“With proper training under the Swordmaster of the Sion Duchy, your youngest son could become a fine knight—the sword of Lagos.”
“……!!!”
Kilburn finally understood why Sion had brought up the Dragon’s Wasteland.
“If he becomes a capable knight, he’ll be a great asset to your domain. And if ties with the Sion Ducal House are mended, you’ll receive their support as well. Blood cannot be denied.”
And I will make sure of that.
This was a declaration from Sion—the alpha and omega of his ducal house.
“What do you think?”
After Sion and Schwat left, Baron Kilburn sipped wine in silence for a while before asking Piot.
Piot, looking a little excited and lost in thought, raised his head. He took a breath and replied,
“I want to go. Of course, the decision is yours, Father. I’ll follow your will.”
Kilburn chuckled.
“Of course you’d want to go. That’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking whether you trust Sion.”
Piot thought for a moment.
“To be honest… I can’t say I trust him completely yet. Even if he’s royal, I only met him today.”
Kilburn nodded slowly.
“I was shocked too—there were too many surprises. And when you think about it, there are quite a few suspicious points.”
“True.”
A vain noble might have jumped at the chance, but Kilburn was different. He had become lord of Lagos not through birthright, but through merit.
“In that case, perhaps we should refuse…” Piot began, unsure.
Kilburn smiled gently.
“You don’t mean that.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Kilburn’s smile deepened at his embarrassed son. But slowly, it faded into a bittersweet expression.
He’s talented enough to be lord, and as a knight he’s more gifted than his brothers…
Piot was a little impulsive and emotional, but that was due to youth. Kilburn himself had been worse at that age.
If Piot had been born first, he might have soared. But with his capable elder brother in place, he had little path forward.
After his coming-of-age, his plans to become a knight’s squire had been derailed by a riding accident. At twenty, he was still stuck in the domain.
Sion’s offer was, in truth, Piot’s best and perhaps only opportunity left.
“Shall we take the few days he offered to think it over?” Piot asked.
“No. I was going to, but I’ve changed my mind.”
“Huh?”
Kilburn stood.
“If Sion offered you time knowing your situation, then he’s more perceptive than I thought.”
“I don’t understand…”
“This offer leaves no room for refusal, whether for political or practical reasons. If it were just about your future, we could deliberate. But once our house, the ducal house, and the Dragon’s Wasteland issue are tied together, hesitation is no longer an option.”
“…!”
Kilburn put a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“As head of House Kilburn and lord of Lagos, I can’t even afford to consider refusing.”
“Ah…”
“The Dragon’s Wasteland crisis may or may not happen. But since the Burgos administrator is involved, as Lagos’s lord, I must prepare.”
He added firmly,
“And I must restore your grandmother’s honor. As Sion said, blood cannot be denied. Sooner or later, we had to face the Sion Ducal House.”
“Father…”
“Your future, my mother’s honor, and my duty as lord—all three are tied into Sion’s offer. Even if only one succeeds, we stand to gain. The choice is obvious.”
He helped Piot to his feet and rested both hands on his son’s shoulders, his voice firm.
“Go to the Sion Duchy. You don’t need to become a legendary knight. Even if relations with the ducal house don’t improve, just do your best. As your father and as lord, I’ll be here, fulfilling my duties and waiting.”
“Yes, Father. Yes!”
Piot nodded vigorously. His determined eyes mirrored his father’s.
(To be continued…)
