Top floor of the Riento stern tower, with the daughter of the Chairman of the Board of Trade

'Hugo!　Fugaboo!　Hugo--!

　What's going on here?　Blindfolded and gagged, left to pee and piss... Is this the curse of the hexenized lion that died in the arena?

　What's going to happen to me?
　...you're going to kill me?

　No, I don't want to die!
　Scary, scary, scary!
　Somebody help me, please!

I see great promise in this wake-up call. Let's poke it a little and see what it does. [Choco]

Hugo?　Huggy!　Hugo!　Hugo!

Are you sure this is a hit?　No, no, no. He might give in soon enough. Next stop, the verbal abuse.

"Huh. From now on, you're going to be whipped to a pulp, and you're going to suffer and die.　But if you're going to be my livestock, I'll let you live, okay?

　No!　I don't want to be a company man anymore, even if it kills me!
　And you can't betray your friends and your goddesses!
(There is no automatic translation of window flowers, so some of it is mistranslated.)

　I reject it with a buzzing shake of my head.

[Bingo!　It's true!　This is good, I'm going to leave port early and take it back home!

　They played for a while, and then suddenly there was a loud noise and more buzzing.

''Ryota!　I'm here to help!　I'll let you go soon, okay?　It's all right now, okay?
I'm gonna carry her in. They already rigged the ship with explosives.
'My Lord!　No, ma'am we have secured the escape craft. This way.

　I then escaped from the ship, clinging to Midea.


★ The next day

　The day after things settled down, I found out that the name of the merchant chairman's daughter was [Schmel].
　That interrogation will now take place.

''Did you just kidnap her for the purpose of torturing Ryota for fun?　What is the only (●●)?　I don't think I can forgive this woman!

"What's wrong with a commoner?　You b*tc*!　I don't care if you're rich or not, you have no right!　Besides, my husband is the Baron of the Alps, like this. Now what do we do?

'A sinner who has harmed our Lord?　It doesn't really matter what the charges are, does it?　We should quickly cut off his head, cut him into tiny pieces and feed him to the fish!

　Eh, I'm in the corner of the room now. Schmel's shaking like a horrible chihuahua.

"Well, well, folks. If you say something too extreme, Ryota-sama will be afraid of you.　We have the footage of the scene and a written confession signed and sealed by the branch manager. With all the preparations for the legal counterattack, it would be most expedient to appeal to the authorities in a quiet manner. Is that all right?

""Tsk, I get it."

　Now, just when we thought we were finally going to be able to settle the abduction case, a long awaited visitor arrived.

"My name is Leon, commander of the Minos Maritime Defense Force Escort Squadron.

　Leon is a squadron leader and mercenary in the convoy squadron hired by Schmel. If the Alp is a land mercenary nation, Minos has the distinction of being a sea mercenary nation.

　This time, it's a terrible ugly story for Shmel's Chamber of Commerce. It seems that they came to negotiate a settlement at the direction of Ambassador Riento to cover up the incident.

"I want you to blame me for all of this. Her father is an important figure in the Riento nation and the Olin nation wants to lend him a diplomatic favor. I beg you to settle the matter.


Leon's terms to me.

Schmel is practically locked up in retirement.
A ton of cotton and a large settlement.

　I'm going to agree to it, but people around me object first.

It's no joke, sir!　I demand a letter of apology from the Riento Trading Company and a demand from the Riento State that Schmel be tried as the abductor. Please send a letter of apology to the German Guard, Count Sela Pretares and Baron Ryota. The fee may be commensurate.

　Nah!　Window flowers put an official apology before money!
　This is a very angry thing to do.

Please wait!　If negotiations break down, the private fleet of the Riento Trading Company and our own fleet will set out to retake Lady Schmel!　It is my shame that I came here to avoid this. We will do our utmost to increase the settlement amount, so please, please reconsider!

　Oh yeah, I can handle it if it's enough to make the window flowers roll over.
　I mean, I can't wait to get out of it!

'We're not even close to a story!　We'll have to wait until we receive the State Book first. Please leave!

　Well, window flowers?　What's wrong with you?　I'm gobbling up settlement goods and money to settle a case.　And we don't have the naval power to fight them, do we?

"I'm very sorry but I think you're right. But it's our job to do it. That would make us enemies. Please, sir, if you don't think that's possible, just surrender. I would give my life for your safety. Then we beg your pardon.

　The story has been decided by leaving the parties involved...
　What do we do now?

''Ryota-sama, don't worry. We have an idea of where you'll be staying.

　Then the strategy from Window Flowers was announced.


★ Window flowers' strategy.

1. Change of base

　There are numerous uninhabited islands near Sitri Harbor. Move to one of them.

　The island that Windowflower spotted is almost a precipice. But part of the northern part of the island is a narrow radial slope made of rubble. The upper part of the island is covered with trees, and there is also a pond in the center where rainwater is collected, suitable for a siege.

　Armoured vehicles have a limited number of floatable crossings and the island is shallow enough to move around. After landing, it is possible to climb the slope to build the position. As the self-propelled vehicle of the ruins does not have the ability to float, leave it in the consulate of the Alp guard country.

Reason for moving to the island.

　With Orin's tacit approval, a siege at Manya's workshop could cause damage to the neighbors. Therefore, we have to go to an uninhabited island where there is no danger of getting involved.


2. Food, water and shelter

　Preserve earth-made preserves. Instead, we bring in grains and root vegetables that last for a long time and goats that can survive in a harsh environment, and we survive on milk and meat in an emergency. We take vitamin and mineral supplements such as lime and rock salt. We conserve Japanese supplements as much as possible.

　We use the island's ponds for water. Filter and sterilize the water before drinking it. In case of shortage of water, local heavy rains and continuous use of water in the same place will affect the ecosystem, so the water is basically from the pond.

　Basically, they live in armored vehicles, but depending on the environment, they can use a wide tent to improve their comfort.


3. Protection and counterattack measures

Large ship support

　Outrange attack with a new 84mm field gun (range of about 15km). Reconnaissance and impact observation is by drone. Anti-ship supplementary attacks are made with Simonov PTRS armor-piercing incendiary howitzers.


If an enemy landing force attaches to the northern slope of the island

　The enemy ship was in a blind spot for field artillery at close range. Therefore, the field gunner will intercept the ship with different equipment.

　Because of the shallow water, it is impossible to engage the ship even by boat, and the ship will be immersed in the sea when it lands. Therefore, they used the excess power of the armored car to set up electric traps in the shallow water. Grenade traps were set up on the slope of the rubble.

　If it is breached, a localized torrential downpour will generate a flash flood to push the enemy away. The rest are intercepted by Midia and Manya.


　That's what this operation is all about.

　That's why we immediately prepared for a night escape. But unfortunately for everyone involved, the most evil little girl has secretly entered the room.


Attack of Viville!

Ryou where do you plan to go without telling your allies?

　A chilling voice calls out to me that sends chills down my spine, and I realize that Viville has come. It seems that he approached the vicinity of Sitri under the cover of night and came from there in human form.

I'm not going to be able to get to know you. What's going on all of a sudden at this time of night?　Besides, it wouldn't be nice if Senator Ryu came to another country without permission, would it?

　It's not good.
　I haven't told Viville that I've been hospitalized in Japan, healed and returned to Ares.
　Is there any way I can fool him?

Hey Ryou, did you fight the rebels without telling me?　And once you've disappeared from this world?　I was worried and lonely and painful, but I believed and waited for word. But when I didn't hear from you, I sensed Ryou's presence and fear... and you still think you're going to cut the white off?

　Viville's rage was unusual.

　Unbridled rage became a torrent of magical power, and a storm was brewing in the room that was supposed to be closed off. That alone would make you feel incontinent, but in the dark night, your golden eyes shine with a deep red color, your eyes are thin and sharp, and your pupils are squeezed vertically like a snake.......

　We're all upright and immobile.
　I'm already wobbly and chattering.
　And yet everyone's eyes were urging me to [do something].