I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

“Go ahead and sign.”

I pushed the documents, sent by raven from the headquarters, in front of the two.

Their expressions weren't great, but they signed without a word.

Professor Zain and Avantnik, having discovered that there were more Blood Mana Stones than expected, naturally fought over who would get the business rights.

Avantnik claimed ownership because of its proximity to Charnirasho, and Professor Zain claimed it because he was the one who discovered it, but….

“It's a good thing we decided to create a joint venture company. If not, one of you would have left this island as a corpse.”

“Coincidentally, of course. Did you perhaps know and do this?”

“I was merely granting the request of my friends in the Federation.”

Although he grumbled under his breath, Avantnik couldn't offer any real counterargument and shut his mouth.

The Federation had never made such a request, but there was no way the professor and Avantnik would know that.

“The documents state that you will participate as the manager, Count. Is there a reason.”

“You two can split the profits 50-50. The reason my name is on it is to mediate when disputes arise, so you don't have to worry about it on a regular basis.”

It was a safety measure I had prepared, not knowing what kind of trouble they might cause if I just left it to them.

As a bonus, if I needed some quick cash, I could pull from the company funds.

Normally it would be embezzlement, but the laws of this world were still full of loopholes.

“You said you were planning to stay on Sobiyoni for a while, Professor.”

“Yes. The basic geological survey has more than proven its profitability, so a more detailed investigation is necessary.”

“Speak so I can understand, old man.”

“To explain it at your intellectual level, it means I'm thinking of digging deeper into the ground.”

“Well, if it's something like that. I'll leave a few of our guys behind, so work them hard.”

The bigger reason was to leave them as watchers, but having free laborers to use wasn't a bad thing.

Although I didn't know if Professor Zain would make use of them.

“I trust the tedious negotiations in the Eslick Imperial Capital will have ended by now.

I have decided to follow the Assembly's judgment, so there's no need to tell me separately.”

“Remember this, old man. We went easy on you.”

Seeing them start to growl at each other again, my stomach churned, which was truly reassuring.

It takes about two days to return to the Imperial Capital, so I thought I should probably start now to be able to show my face at the very end.

“Then we'll be on our way. I hope you have a pleasant vacation, Professor.”

“Wait.”

The professor stopped me as I was about to get up from my seat.

He had something to ask me, not Avantnik?

“It's hard to meet or contact you normally, so I'll ask now. Are you planning to attend next month's Eight Council meeting?”

“Yeah, until now you didn't even make an excuse, you just didn't show up.”

Avantnik chuckled and patted my shoulder.

Feeling the heavy impact, I wracked my brain trying to figure out what these two were talking about.

“Nothing has been decided yet.”

“I'm busy with work and often miss it myself, so it's a bit much for me to say anything, but you haven't participated even once since he left. You said you got up because your back hurt, so you should try attending.”

“Why are you talking about his back?”

“Your kind doesn't need to know. You wouldn't understand even if I told you.”

Leaving the two who had started bickering again, I fell deep into thought.

The Eight Council meeting, the Eight Council meeting.

From the way they're talking, it seems like a meeting where the members gather, but was there any mention of that in the original work?

After thinking for a long time, I barely recalled it.

It was mentioned once, long after Valheit's death, when Til had practically become an ally of the protagonist's party.

I couldn't remember the exact words, but two things were certain.

One.

They had never all gathered together since the Commander disappeared.

Two.

Valheit always skipped it.

“I will consider it positively. My memory is a bit hazy right now, what date was it next month?”

“I'm planning to skip this time due to other business, so I didn't remember.”

“I don't know either. I'll have to go and check.”

Right, I hadn't expected much anyway.

I'd have to check the details at the headquarters or ask Til.

“If the Count participates, it's a real shame I can't go this time. It would be quite a sight to see.”

“Yeah. It would be very interesting. For sure.”

Suddenly, the two of them were getting along perfectly.

Seeing the two of them wearing creepy smiles that rivaled Valheit's own made me feel strange.

‘What is it? Is there some kind of problem?’

…I definitely have to ask Til.

***

“Lady Til has gone hunting with the people from Charnirasho.”

“Hunting… you say?”

“Yes, they said they were going whale hunting.”

The villa's butler replied respectfully.

Whale hunting.

It couldn't be that whale hunt, so did they really go to catch a whale?

In any case, she wasn't here, so there was nothing I could do.

She said she would return to the headquarters after the hunt was over, so I should go back to the headquarters….

“Your Excellency. The farewell banquet is ready.”

“I will be there shortly.”

Avantnik had been mostly quiet since returning to the Imperial Capital.

He did cause a commotion in a few shops, including the Royal Blacksmiths' Guild, but that was very mild for him.

When I opened the door and entered the dining hall, a magnificent feast was spread out.

Of course, it couldn't surpass modern delivery food, but for this world, this was a luxurious meal, so I decided to eat quietly.

‘Please let this end without any trouble.’

With the farewell banquet, all official procedures would be concluded.

I frowned and turned my head towards Avantnik, and he waved his hand as if he understood.

“Uh… I would like to express my gratitude to His Majesty the Emperor for not forgetting an old friend and inviting us. From now on, we, Charnirasho, solemnly declare that we will, um, abide by the treaty.”

Avantnik, who awkwardly read the script I had written, looked around the room and bared his teeth.

It seemed like he was trying to improve his impression even a little, but it had no effect whatsoever.

“On behalf of the Vestol Assembly, I thank the Eslick Empire for its hard work. We too solemnly declare that we will abide by the treaty from this time forth.”

As the Vestol Foreign Minister skillfully finished his speech, Blaiher, who was seated at the head of the table, smiled lightly.

“I wish for the well-being of both sides.”

The treaty was signed amidst a round of applause.

Though the Demons seemed more interested in the meat in front of them than in such things.

“You've worked hard, Your Majesty.”

“You've worked hard too, teacher. Although I don't know how you changed the professor's mind.”

“Let's just call it my own brand of diplomacy.”

Blaiher, having finished his diplomatic debut, looked relieved.

It would have been enough for him to just show his face, but he had even orchestrated things from behind the scenes, so it must have been a great deal of trouble.

“I've granted your request, so now it's your turn, teacher.”

“Hmm, thinking of putting me to work already, you're quite fast.”

“Geller is trying to convene a Council of Dukes to reclaim the rights of the Dukes.”

Geller was overtly raising his voice, calling for the restoration of the Dukes' diplomatic authority that the previous Emperor had taken away.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Would it be a sufficient answer if I said I have no intention of being dragged around by Geller.”

Although they cooperated because their interests aligned, Geller was fundamentally on the Dukes' side, not the Emperor's.

“However, it's true that I lack the power to confront him openly right now.”

“Are you saying you need help?”

“Because you can contact the Dukes much more easily than I can.”

The authority of an Emperor held immense power, but it was also too great to move freely.

So, he intended to use me, who had no such restrictions, as a pawn?

If the Dukes' power grew too strong, the stability of the Empire that had just been grasped would be shaken, so it was right to help.

However, the timing was delicate.

“I have other business until next month, so it will be difficult for me to help you as well.”

I had to focus on the Eight Council meeting that would be held sometime next month, and I also needed to check on Noah's party soon.

The rate at which the chapter count was increasing had slowed down a bit, but there was no stopping it from approaching chapter 150.

“I understand. I'll try to buy some time. By the way.”

Blaiher, who was slightly frowning, changed his expression and returned to a gentle face.

“I heard you're working with Mr. Ede this time.”

“Do you know him well?”

“It was brief, but I studied in Chartra. He's skilled, but how should I put it, a bit hasty like the public notice he posted this time.”

Hmm.

So that's how it is wait.

A public notice?

What public notice?

As I remained silent while trying to understand the meaning of his words, the quick-witted Blaiher let out a dry cough.

“You didn't know? They said he put up a huge notice recruiting people to work under Count Valheit.”

I haven't heard of it?

No, were the juniors he brought with him not enough, why is he suddenly putting up a recruitment notice?

“When did you hear that rumor?”

“I knew from the time the recruitment notices were posted everywhere. I do keep track of trends, after all.”

“I need to step out for a moment.”

What trouble has he caused now….

***

“Have you finished your meal?”

The butler asked respectfully.

I was about to answer perfunctorily but paused.

Come to think of it, I remembered the butler had stopped me right before I left for Sobiyoni Island.

“When I was leaving the villa for my business trip, what did you try to report to me about?”

“Mr. Ede said he was bringing applicants. You seemed busy, so I didn't say more.”

“Applicants?”

“Yes, he said he was recruiting new members for the count shadow corps organization. Did you perhaps not know?”

The butler asked cautiously, reading my expression.

No, what the hell is count shadow corps organization?

Questions piled on top of questions, but I decided to find Ede first.

“Where is Mr. Ede now?”

“He should be waiting outside the villa.”

Before the butler's answer was even finished, I was striding along the outer wall of the villa.

Before long, a bored-looking Ede spotted me and waved his hand excitedly.

“Your Excellency, in the meantime I have….”

“What in the world have you been doing?”

“Um as you can see, I've expanded the scale a bit.”

“And what is this count shadow corps organization?”

“We can't be called Ede's group every time, can we? If we also have a cool-sounding name, wouldn't more people want to join, like the Three Blades?”

I was at a loss for words.

So just how many people has he recruited?

“Don't worry. No one has been chosen yet. The applicants were quite disappointing.”

No, that's not the problem right now.

Of course, I thought that our current numbers were insufficient, but recruiting on his own was a bit much, wasn't it?

“As it happens, a new applicant is coming soon, so you can meet him and talk to him yourself.”

“Pardon?”

Suddenly turned into an interviewer, I was led by Ede's rough hand towards the villa's reception room.

‘Damn it, how did I….’

Grumbling inwardly, I sat down with little expectation.

On the desk, the applicants' documents were neatly organized.

All sorts of people had applied, from bankers and merchants' sons to mercenaries who had run out of work and suspicious vagrants.

As I quickly flipped through them, my eyes stopped on one document.

Wilhelm Rede.

A villain from the original work on the side of the Three Blades who drove the protagonist into a corner.

Why is this guy here?