Chapter Forty-Eight: A Curious Misunderstanding

Baron Milo was a repulsive-looking man, and every word and gesture of his fit the stereotype of a seasoned old politician—a black-bearded fox whose cunning matched his opponent’s, setting the stage for a grand performance. Arm in arm, the two appeared as the best of friends, their radiant smiles stretched to their very limits.

Within the mayoral residence, only Baron Milo remained; his wife had already taken their son and daughter back to the ancestral estate for a family visit. After all, Baron Milo was no solitary figure—he had a large family clan in Blackstone City to care for. Each winter, his wife would take the children and kin home to arrange the family’s affairs for the coming spring.

Perhaps due to the absence of a hostess, the refreshments Baron Milo had the servants prepare left much to be desired. The tea was lackluster in color, and the pastries were clearly not freshly made in the kitchen, but rather pre-prepared, perhaps stored for several days and only reheated before being served.

By the standards of social etiquette, Baron Milo was certainly remiss. But could one be too harsh on a seventy-year-old man left without his wife at home—especially when one came seeking his favor? Lin Qi took a cup of black tea, gnawing at a scone that was dry enough to stick in his teeth, and shook his head with mild irritation.

No wonder he was known as the “incorruptible” mayor—never mind the wretched refreshments, even the parlor for receiving guests was uncommonly shabby. The spacious room felt cold and empty, with only a few pieces of scrap wood burning weakly in the narrow fireplace—wood that gave off little heat, leaving the room chilly.

As for the furnishings, they paled even when compared to the salons of minor rural landlords in the Empire, let alone the mayoral residence of Dunelke. The wallpaper was blackened and peeling in many places, hanging from the walls like hanged ghosts. Lin Qi’s impression of Baron Milo’s “clean government” deepened further.

They gathered around a round table in the parlor. Baron Milo, grinning, sipped his lukewarm tea and squinted at Lin Qi. “Tiger, this must be the child you sent to study at Brailey, yes? A fine young talent of the Empire indeed!”

Lin Qi set down his teacup, forced down the dry scone, stood, and with a smile bowed to Baron Milo. “Honorable Mayor, I am Lin Qi, a student of accounting at Brailey Fifth University.”

Baron Milo narrowed his eyes, smiling. “Ah, the Fifth University, accounting? Tiger, you’ve found Lin Qi an excellent field of study. If he joins the Imperial Ministry of Finance in the future, your family’s prospects will be limitless—truly limitless!”

The black-bearded man laughed heartily, stroking his beard with pride and nodding in satisfaction.

After a few words of praise for Lin Qi, Baron Milo’s curiosity turned to Enzo. “And this is?”

Enzo stood up, as straight as a lance, and announced in a clear voice, “Honorable Mayor, I am Lin Qi’s friend, Enzo, a cadet specializing in Joint Infantry Command at the Imperial Army Academy, and a Second Lieutenant in the Imperial Reserve!”

Baron Milo looked at Enzo with surprise. It was not unusual for a student at the Army Academy to be an officer in the reserves, but for a current student to hold the rank of Second Lieutenant meant Enzo’s academic record and personal merit must be exceptional. Otherwise, such a high position would be out of reach.

Blinking, Baron Milo’s mind raced through possibilities. The black-bearded man’s son was a student at the Fifth University in accounting—a discipline whose graduates were in high demand throughout the Empire’s administrative departments. Especially among the nobility, hiring a graduate from that program as a family’s chief accountant was a mark of distinction. If Lin Qi graduated smoothly, he would easily secure an excellent position in the capital.

Enzo, on the other hand, was a star pupil at the Army Academy. With his reserve rank, upon graduation he would at least be appointed as a Warrant Officer, perhaps even a Second Lieutenant, in the regular army. If the black-bearded man leveraged his family’s wealth to maneuver Enzo into the Imperial Ministry of War rather than a frontline unit, then after three to five years of experience, Enzo could return as a field officer—perhaps as a district garrison commander.

Take Dunelke Port, the Empire’s third-largest seaport; its garrison commander, in charge of a regiment of a thousand infantry, holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, nothing more.

Baron Milo’s imagination ran wild, envisioning Enzo as the black-bearded man’s carefully groomed military representative in the capital. With Lin Qi joining the household of a great noble after graduation, the black-bearded man would establish powerful connections in the capital. Then, after Enzo gained experience and was assigned as a local garrison commander in Dunelke or the Ason Province, the black-bearded man would wield immense authority—both civil and military—alongside his family’s considerable influence, the very power and glory reserved for great noble houses.

With this realization, the last trace of reserve vanished from Baron Milo’s face. He suddenly set his teacup down on the table with a resounding thud and shouted sternly, “What are you doing? Don’t you know Mr. Tiger is my esteemed guest? How can you serve such poor refreshments? You lazy fools, bring fresh tea and pastries at once!”

In the span of a few breaths, exquisite sterling silver tea sets were brought in, the teapot filled with fragrant, mellow tea. New pastries soon followed, both sweet and savory, in over twenty varieties, each more delicately crafted than the last.

Baron Milo’s smile grew ever more brilliant. Beaming, he grasped the black-bearded man’s hand. “My dear Tiger, we are friends, aren’t we?”

The black-bearded man narrowed his eyes, his inscrutable grin unwavering as he nodded. “Of course, we are indeed friends!”

Baron Milo glanced at Enzo, who sat upright on the sofa, and said with a smile, “I will recommend you for my position to the provincial authorities. As long as you can win the support of the leaders of Dunelke’s merchant guilds, you shall be the new mayor. Naturally, I have a small request.”

At that, both the black-bearded man and Lin Qi looked toward Enzo, suddenly understanding Baron Milo’s intent.

Lin Qi smiled and nodded repeatedly, while the black-bearded man declared magnanimously, “Since we are friends, there’s no need for words. Whatever it is, as long as it does not contravene Imperial law or the teachings of the gods, I shall see it done.”

Baron Milo’s eyes narrowed with amusement. “My youngest son, Aaron, is only eighteen. He has two years left at the military academy in Ason Province.” He looked at the black-bearded man meaningfully, certain his meaning would not be lost.

The black-bearded man’s eyes widened. He grasped Baron Milo’s hand firmly. “Then it’s a deal. The mayoralty is mine, and as for your Aaron, I will see to his future.”

Baron Milo smiled broadly, squeezing the black-bearded man’s hand with genuine satisfaction.