After returning to Constantinople, Michael III granted Basil the honorary title of Protospatharios.
Then, unexpectedly, Bardas spoke up, suggesting that Basil be appointed as a general of a provincial theme in Anatolia.
Standing quietly in a corner, Nils sensed something strange.
Recently, he had been studying Greek in his spare time and had picked up key terms like theme (military district) and strategos (general).
In the Eastern Roman system, a strategos governed a theme, holding authority over:
military command
civil administration
judicial matters
Essentially, a provincial governor with military power.
On the surface, Bardas was recommending Basil for promotion.
But Basil's expression suggested reluctance—almost resistance.
Why?
Nils fell into deep thought.
A Crack in Power
Suddenly, Michael III began speaking directly with Bardas.
Their voices grew faster and sharper.
Around them, servants and eunuchs lowered their heads, pretending to hear nothing.
After some time, Bardas left the hall smiling, his expression calm and composed—no trace of anger.
Inside, Michael III dismissed all "irrelevant persons," including Nils.
The attendants seemed visibly relieved, sweat beading on their foreheads.
As Nils followed the crowd out, his mind was racing.
Bardas recommending Basil to leave the capital…
Is that really a promotion—or a disguised exile?
A realization struck him.
"Something's wrong… The relationship between Michael III and Bardas is beginning to crack."
"And when that happens—trouble follows."
A Foreigner's Dilemma
Leaving the palace, Nils wandered aimlessly through the streets.
He considered his position carefully.
As a foreigner, he had no roots in the empire.
Even if he participated in a coup, he would gain little power—
and might instead become a convenient scapegoat.
After a long while, he muttered bitterly to himself:
"I've only just adapted to this place… Can't I have even a little peace?"
Londinium
Meanwhile, in Londinium, winter brought a rare lull in affairs.
Vig sat comfortably in his office, reading the travel notes of an ancient Roman merchant.
After lunch, he stretched out on a reclining chair and took his usual nap—
a small luxury in an otherwise busy year.
When he awoke, business finally arrived:
A Danish envoy had come requesting an audience.
"Understood."
Vig yawned and headed toward the main hall.
On the way, he overheard two attendants complaining about last autumn's football league.
Curious, he paused at a corner to listen.
"…I'm still angry about Stirling's performance. Losing to weak Cornwall—knocked out just like that! Especially that damned—"
Noticing the king, the two attendants immediately bowed and hurried away like schoolboys caught misbehaving.
A Damaged Reputation
Inside the hall, Vig walked toward the throne, thinking about Ubbe's situation.
Rumors about the Siege of Magdeburg had spread widely.
Ubbe's reputation had been severely damaged.
Though there was no direct evidence, most people believed he had betrayed Nils.
The rumors had even been turned into a popular play:
"The Night of Magdeburg"
—complete with a fictional love triangle between Nils, Ubbe, and a shieldmaiden.
It was a hit in Londinium's theaters.
Vig sighed softly.
"Reputation is like porcelain… once shattered, it can never be restored."
Denmark's Request
Soon, the envoy entered and presented Ubbe's letter.
After opening it, Vig realized—
it was a plea for aid.
Nearly a year had passed, and Denmark still hadn't recovered from war.
Famine had driven people into banditry.
Banditry disrupted agriculture, which created more famine—
a vicious cycle.
If food shortages continued, Ubbe feared a large-scale rebellion.
Worse, Frankish forces might exploit the chaos.
He was asking for grain.
Vig stroked his chin.
This was negotiable.
"He's right about one thing—I do have grain."
"Since Ireland stabilized, grain prices have dropped sharply."
Wheat: from 2 silver pence per bushel → 1.7 pence
Barley: below 0.8 pence
Even alcohol prices had fallen due to surplus brewing
"I can provide thirty shiploads of grain," Vig said.
"But in return, your kingdom must fully cooperate with British merchants in recruiting migrants."
The envoy frowned.
"Impossible. At most—one year."
Vig smiled.
"Agreed. One year."
One year was enough.
He estimated:
30,000 migrants from Denmark
Combined with other regions → over 40,000 total
Most would settle in the southern royal domains.
Troublemakers could be sent to western Ireland, becoming subjects of royal barons.
Strategy and Economy
After the audience, Vig returned to his study and recorded the deal.
Financially, the kingdom remained stable.
Despite heavy spending on war and migration:
Annual revenue had reached 19,000 pounds
Enough to roughly balance expenditures
Ireland, in particular, had changed.
Duke Eamon, once perfunctory, had now become genuinely submissive:
attending court
paying tribute
allowing the Tynefort Order to operate freely
Though direct tribute was modest, Ireland's true value lay in its:
80,000 km² territory
550,000 population
A massive market generating significant commercial tax revenue.
Recalling this, Vig drafted an edict:
order the duke, five earls, and coastal barons
to build roads and ports
to integrate Ireland into a unified British market
He muttered as he wrote:
"Collecting agricultural tax is inefficient—"
requires many officials
breeds resentment
invites corruption
"Commercial tax is far more effective."
Canary Islands Report
Next came a report from the Canary Islands.
In just three years, the islands had flourished:
controlling two-thirds of the domestic sugar market
exporting to Northern and Eastern Europe
Annual contributions exceeded 1,300 pounds.
Once citrus and vineyards matured, profits could double.
At the end of the report, Helgi requested:
more ships
skilled doctors to treat the native Guanche population
Vig chuckled.
"Skilled doctors?"
He planned to send a couple of mediocre shamans instead.
With hospitals under construction across the kingdom, he couldn't spare real talent.
After writing his reply, Vig leaned back in his chair and resumed reading.
Roman travelogues, he had to admit—
were surprisingly entertaining.
—------------------------------
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