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I was able to get detailed information about the Senate from Kait.

“Those guys are really a bunch of jerks…”

Kait’s first order was to “acquire the sword of the fallen knight Vorzharb as a memento and inspect Zaria.”
According to Miraldia’s customs, those who die in single combat are accorded greater respect than ordinary war dead.
So, if he asked, he could get back a sword like that as a keepsake.
*“And while you’re at it, gather as much information as you can.”*
That was his mission.

But in reality, this was a trap that could drive him to ruin.
That greatsword, the “Werewolf Slayer,” was said to be a family heirloom of the Governor of Klauchen, a mining city in the north. Since the Senate had gone out of his way to borrow it, failing to return it would cause a problem.
The Elder who had forcefully borrowed the “Werewolf Slayer” from Klauchen was panicking and ordered, “Retrieve the Werewolf Slayer.”

Meanwhile, for the other elders, such a thing was no big deal. If another elder lost face, their own influence would increase by comparison.
So other elders chimed in, saying, “Just go through the motions on that, but while you’re at it, investigate in detail what happened in the Battle of Zaria.”
It’s just my guess, but I suspect this is the faction that assassinated the Governor of Zaria.

However, at this point, yet another group of elders interjected. This was the faction seeking to sever ties between the Demon Lord Army and the Southern Federation, drive out the Demon Lord Army, and reunify Miraldia.
They intervened in personnel matters and ensured that a diplomat would not be sent as the envoy this time. Their aim was to sabotage the negotiations.
Thinking ahead, they likely disliked the idea of incurring a debt to the Southern Federation over something as trivial as a single magical sword.
And if the envoy were to be killed in the process, they could publicize it as proof of the Demon Lord Army’s cruelty.

Thus, a rather baffling order was finalized: “Demand the return of the greatsword, the memento of Knight Vorzharb, and gather intelligence on Zaria. However, you must not use diplomats.”
It’s somewhat confusing, but it is an official order from the authoritative Senate.

The real problem lies with the staff working for the Senate.
Negotiating with the enemy requires experts with extensive networks, knowledge, and negotiation skills, but if they can’t use diplomats, it’s a non-starter.
If they can’t send negotiation experts, let’s at least send investigation experts. Since mages are also intellectual workers, they might be able to handle simple negotiations (or so they say).

And among the mages assigned to the investigation, the one who was the worst at navigating the world ended up drawing the short straw.
It was Kait.
The fact that he was an exceptionally talented mage was, in a way, his downfall.

These are just speculations, but when I combine the information Kait gathered secretly with what I’ve gathered from pilgrims and others, that’s roughly the picture that emerges.

“The Senate is quite a laid-back organization, huh?”

I said sarcastically as I offered Kait a cup of tea.
At that, he buried his face in the table.

“It can’t be helped. The Senate has amassed an overwhelming amount of money and power.”

The system established by their predecessors was rock-solid, and it seems the successors were able to govern Miraldia simply by upholding it.
Though, that was at the expense of the southern regions.

I also heard another interesting story.
Since there is no television or internet in this world, the Senate can control information within Miraldia. If they announce something as a Senate decree, any lie can become fact. They can also cover up the truth.
So, it seems they’re spreading all sorts of rumors to tarnish the image of the Demon Lord Army.
For example, regarding the Rasie incident, it goes something like this:

“The ferocious and cunning Lord Black Wolf Veit kidnapped the Saintess Mildine and subjected her to unethical and humiliating abuse too vile to put into words. As a result, the Saintess reportedly went half-mad and took her own life.”

It seems I’ve been singled out as the target of the Senate’s smear campaign. But I actually kind of like the title “Lord Black Wolf,” so I hope the Southern Federation adopts it too.
After telling me about these behind-the-scenes shenanigans of the Senate, Kait glanced at me.

“Rasie is doing fine, right?”
“Of course. Right now she’s immersing herself in research everyday as a disciple of the Demon Lord Gomoviroa, doing exactly as she pleases. Her skill with illusions has improved tremendously.”
“I’m so jealous…”

Kait sighed, then muttered suddenly.

“But she can be pretty irritating sometimes, isn’t she?”

Is she?

“By the way, Kait, how much of the investigation report on Zaria have you sent in?”
“The Zaria guards are keeping such a tight watch that I haven’t been able to investigate much. I did confirm, though, that the reports from the soldiers here are generally accurate.”

Well, then, no one’s in trouble.
In that case, let’s have him make a report.

“Kait, report that the ‘Werewolf Slayer’ was damaged.”
“Damaged?”
“Yeah. Say that the Demon Lord Army recovered it after the battle, but since it was damaged and unusable, they disposed of it.”

This isn’t to cover up my own mess-up.

“If you do that, the Senate will likely give up on the ‘Werewolf Slayer.’ And the Governor of Klauchen will be furious.”
“I see. So you’re trying to deepen the rift between the Senate and Klauchen?”
“That’s part of it.”

But of course, that’s not all.

“Can you travel freely all the way to Klauchen, Kait?”
“Huh? Well, yeah, I’m a field investigator. Once this job is done, I can just make up some excuse and go on a business trip to Klauchen or whatever.”

So it’s the kind of workplace where you can pull off a fake business trip. I bet their accounting is a sieve. I’m a little jealous.
I laughed, then told him.

“Then I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it, Mr. Veit?”
“I’d like you to take me to Klauchen sometime soon.”

At that moment, Kait spit out his tea.

“Buh-huh!?”
“That’s gross!”

Then, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, Kait shouted in a panic.

“What on earth are you thinking!? You have a 120,000-silver-coin bounty on your head!”

Oh right, I do. I’d completely forgotten.
Still, it used to be 70,000 silver coins—the bounty’s gone up quite a bit. I’ll just take it as a sign that my reputation’s improved.
Oh well.

“That’s why I’m asking you. Pretend I’m a mercenary bodyguard or something and take me to Klauchen. I’m counting on you to make the arrangements.”
“That’s the northernmost tip of the continent, okay!? What are we going there for!?”

I pulled out the malfunctioning “Werewolf Slayer” and sighed.

“I’m going to return this in person. And apologize while I’m at it.”
“That’s it!? Are you out of your mind!?”

I have to apologize for what I broke, and while I’m at it, I want to bring the Governor of Klauchen over to our side.
Given the geographical situation, it seems difficult to incorporate Klauchen into the Southern Federation, but I might be able to make him an ally.

Also, there’s one other thing on my mind.
Mao, the merchant we sent to Klauchen, has been sending us a steady stream of troubling reports.
For example, he says a new tunnel is being dug near the rock salt mining site. Officially, it’s labeled as exploratory drilling, but something seems off—it’s not like usual. Access is also restricted.
There were also numerous other suspicious reports, such as the governor frequently leaving town without anyone knowing his destination.

Since the merchants aren’t professional spies, they can’t pull off ninja-like stunts.
For example, they can’t infiltrate that new tunnel to scout out the inside. Because of that, gathering intel is frustratingly slow.
So it’s better to check the situation out firsthand.
Besides, I’ve got an excellent investigator right here.

It’s a brilliant plan, killing two, no, three birds with one stone—yet Kait clutches his head and crouches down.

“S̲h̲i̲t̲… I’ve gotten myself mixed up with something big… This guy is utterly mad…”

You’re a rude one, aren’t you?
Crossing enemy territory to pay a solo visit to the governor as a high-ranking officer of the Demon Lord Army.
Just as Kait said, it seems nothing short of madness, but that’s precisely why the psychological impact on the enemy is so great.
For example, if the Governor of Klauchen were to come all the way to Lüenheit alone, I’d definitely be interested, too.

I pressed Kait, who was still clutching his head, to make his decision.

“Kait. Make up your mind—are you going to accept or refuse?”

When I said that, Kait sighed and looked up. Then he grinned.

“Sure, I’ll do anything you ask, Mr. Veit.”
“That’s what I want to hear.”

Now the problem is when and how to slip out secretly…