A few days after the meeting concluded, I met with the delegation Luise had assembled for the mission to the Kingdom of Anchester.

The number of people she prepared was small, but that was expected.

“Baron Moritz Hughes, responsible for managing the gifts,” the man introduced himself with a polite bow.

“Baron Hughes, a pleasure to meet you. I am Viktor, head of the delegation,” I replied, acknowledging his role. He appeared to be a diligent and reliable financial officer at first glance.

“Commander Viktor, it’s an honor! I’m Erika Bauer, tasked with recording and interpreting!” she greeted energetically.

“It’s been a while, Erika,” I replied.

“Yes! And this is…?” Erika turned to Anna, who stood beside me.

“I’m Anna, adjutant to Commander Viktor.”
“Pleased to meet you, Anna!” Erika said, extending her hand enthusiastically.

Anna nodded politely and shook her hand.

Erika, who had once accompanied me when I was first brought to the Empire, then retrieved a letter from her belongings.

“Here, this is a message from Her Majesty!”

I accepted the letter and skimmed its contents.

“…‘Handle it well,’ essentially,” I murmured with a small sigh.

“Pardon?” Erika tilted her head in confusion.

“Oh, it’s an explanation of the mission and Her Majesty’s encouragement. The list of prepared gifts is with Baron Hughes, apparently.”

The letter was straightforward, containing no flowery language. Luise had emphasized minimal interference, giving me the freedom—and responsibility—to prove myself. The details were clear, albeit with a slightly provocative tone.

Moritz was noted for his reliability, and Erika, it seemed, was not only adept at diplomacy but also fluent in the Dwarven language. Her family’s history of handling foreign affairs likely contributed to her expertise.

“Can you really interpret Dwarven?” I asked.
“Of course!” Erika replied confidently.

Not bad. Her presence could simplify communication with the notoriously insular Dwarves.

This journey wasn’t solely about negotiations. I also intended to gauge the situation in Anchester, especially regarding the rumors of depleted mines, which were directly linked to the Dwarves. Though premature, any signs of trouble would be valuable to note.

With just these two individuals accompanying me, it seemed we could move freely without unnecessary hindrance.

“I’ve always wanted to work alongside you, Commander! I’ll do my best!” Erika said with her usual energy.

“Yes, let’s work well together,” I replied, appreciating her enthusiasm.

“Commander, may I speak with Anna for a moment?” Erika suddenly asked.
“With Anna?”
“Yes!”

It was an expected request. Erika was closer in age to Anna and likely felt more at ease speaking with her.

“Anna, would that be alright?” I asked.
“I don’t mind,” Anna replied calmly.

“Thank you! Anna, over here, please!” Erika eagerly led Anna away, leaving me with Moritz.

“Baron Hughes, may I see the list of gifts?” I asked.
“Of course, Commander. Here it is,” Moritz said, handing me a scroll.

“Thank you. Let’s see…”

I unrolled the scroll and scanned the items listed.

“…Didn’t you say these were gifts?” I asked after barely getting through half the list.

“They are,” Moritz confirmed.

“…I see,” I said with a small, incredulous laugh.

The list included legendary items such as the sword Votis, said to have been wielded by the mythical hero Fried and forged by the famed Dwarven blacksmith Josh Schmidt. There were also items like Schmidt’s anvil and hammer and even dragon scales, rare enough to be mentioned only in myths.

Had the provenance of these items been unclear, one might doubt their authenticity. But their sheer value and rarity meant that negotiations would likely be straightforward with such offerings.

“Does this mean the funds for the negotiations are separate?” I asked.
“Yes. Her Majesty has also provided a guideline for the budget you may use during negotiations,” Moritz replied, handing me another document.

I unfolded the paper, and my eyes widened at the staggering amount written.

“…Dragons really do have a different concept of finance,” I muttered.

“Were you aware of this?” I asked Moritz.
“Not at all. Honestly, I still can’t believe it,” he admitted with a wry smile.

Both of us chuckled quietly. While securing firearms from the Dwarves was expected to be challenging, with this level of preparation, failure seemed unlikely—unless I made a grave error.

Or perhaps, as Luise’s straightforward letter implied, failure was simply not an option.

“I’ll manage it judiciously,” I assured Moritz.
“I trust you will,” he replied.

We were in agreement. The challenge now wasn’t securing the deal but ensuring it didn’t set a harmful precedent for future negotiations.

“Don’t you think just one of these dragon scales would suffice?” I asked, pointing to an entry on the list.
“Perhaps, but smaller ones might be more appropriate,” Moritz replied thoughtfully.
“Larger scales would be difficult to transport, after all,” I added.

As Erika and Anna conversed in the distance, Moritz and I deliberated over which gifts to present, balancing their impact and practicality.

***

The preparations for the delegation proceeded smoothly, partly because Theodor seemed unwilling to involve himself.

During my absence, Aleksandrov would oversee the Red Dragon Corps.

“With Her Majesty’s command, there shouldn’t be any trouble, but if anyone tries to interfere, I’ll step in,” Gerhardt assured me.
“Thank you, Grand Marshal,” I replied.
“…That title still feels strange to hear,” he said with a faint smile.

To ensure all bases were covered, I had also spoken to Gerhardt, so there was little chance of issues arising within the corps.

After selecting a security escort from the Red Dragon Corps and loading the wagons prepared by Luise with gifts, provisions, and supplies, we were ready.

“I’ll secure the deal and return,” I said to her.
“Hmm, I’ll be expecting great results, Commander Viktor,” Luise replied.

The delegation, consisting of twenty members, including the escort, departed Reinesberg.

I traveled in a large wagon bearing the Imperial crest, along with Anna, Moritz, and Erika.

“Anna, have you ever been to the Kingdom of Anchester?” Erika asked.
“…No, I haven’t. How about you, Erika?” Anna replied curtly.

Moritz and I mostly kept silent, preoccupied with reviewing our respective duties, while Erika and Anna chatted during the journey. Erika’s earlier reserved demeanor had completely disappeared, replaced by a constant stream of questions directed at Anna.

Despite Anna’s usual stoic expression, there was a noticeable change in her tone—slightly lighter and more engaged than usual.

“I’ve visited a few times with my father,” Erika said, her voice animated. “The other cities are unique, but the capital, Dinheim, is incredible. It’s like one massive forge, almost like the blacksmith districts of Reinesberg but on a much larger scale. When I visited during the winter, it wasn’t cold at all because of the heat from the forges.”
“Is that so,” Anna replied flatly, though I could tell she was listening intently.

As I quietly observed, Erika squinted playfully at Anna.
“Anna, your reactions seem a little different from before, don’t they?” she teased.
“…What do you mean?” Anna deflected, glancing briefly at me and leaning subtly in my direction.

I put down the documents I was reviewing to focus on their exchange.

“You’re not embarrassed, are you? Last time, you were so enthusiastic when talking about Commander Viktor!” Erika exclaimed.

“I wasn’t… Uh…”
“You kept going on about how most of the strategies were his ideas and how vital his role was in diplomacy and negotiations!”
“…”
“Isn’t it a bit much for his adjutant to be that proud of him?”

Anna’s head dipped lower as her hands, once neatly resting on her lap, slowly disappeared between her legs.

“Is that true, Anna?” I asked, my tone light to ease the tension.
“…Yes,” she admitted softly.

“Well, that’s fair enough,” I said with a small smile. “Still, we’ll be spending a long time together on this trip. I’d appreciate it if you could be a bit more approachable with Erika.”
“…I’ll try,” Anna replied, her voice barely audible.

“And Erika,” I added, “do try to be understanding. Anna may seem distant, but she means well.”
“Of course, Commander Viktor!” Erika said cheerfully.

With the tension diffused, the two women seemed to relax. It wasn’t long before Anna, her expression lighter, resumed their conversation.

“Can you tell me more about the Kingdom of Anchester?” Anna asked.
“Of course!” Erika replied enthusiastically.

Afterward, I returned to my paperwork, occasionally pausing to weigh in on their conversation.

“The Dwarves of Anchester specialize in metal craftsmanship,” Erika explained. “Their intricate metal puzzles, which sometimes sell for exorbitant prices, are all their handiwork.”
“Commander, what do you think? Perhaps you could order some custom equipment while we’re there,” Moritz suggested.
“That sounds reasonable. A reward for the soldiers providing our escort seems fitting,” I replied.

The atmosphere in the wagon was calm and productive until—

“…!”
“…What’s happening?”

A commotion erupted outside, followed by the wagon gradually coming to a halt.

“It seems the wagon has stopped,” Anna noted, glancing toward the windows. “I can’t see anything. Shall I step out to check—”

Anna moved to rise, but I instinctively reached out, placing a hand on her arm to stop her.

“Commander?” she asked, looking at me in surprise. Erika, too, stared at me, wide-eyed.

“It’s probably nothing serious. Stay in the wagon,” I said firmly.
“…But as your adjutant, it’s my duty to handle such situations.”
“No, this is the escort’s responsibility. Stay put,” I insisted, releasing her arm only after glancing at the minimap and confirming there were no threats nearby.

After a brief pause, Anna complied and sat back down silently.

A few moments later, there was a knock on the wagon door.
“Commander Viktor! A wild animal briefly blocked the road, but it has been dealt with. We’ll resume travel shortly!” one of the escort soldiers reported.
“Thank you for the update,” I replied.

The wagon began moving again within minutes.

“Anna, I apologize for grabbing your arm earlier,” I said, breaking the silence.
“There’s no need to apologize. I was too hasty,” she replied.
“Still, I’d appreciate it if you could be a bit more cautious,” I said gently.
“Yes, Commander,” Anna said, her tone soft.

With that, silence fell over the wagon once more. I picked up my documents again but found it difficult to focus.

I couldn’t stop wondering why I’d reflexively stopped Anna.

“…Hah.”

It’s simple, I reasoned. With the minimap, I can monitor the surroundings better than anyone else. There’s no need for Anna to expose herself to unnecessary risks.

Yes, that’s all it was—efficiency.

…At least, that’s what I told myself.

“…”

As the journey continued, the unease lingering in the back of my mind remained, even as everything else seemed to proceed smoothly.