As soon as I got up, everyone quickly closed their mouths and their attention focused on me. Although we were all in the same room, their gazes spoke for themselves of a wall between us.
The mustachioed baron looked me in the eyes and spoke on behalf of the group. «It seems that Baron Yandel has something to say». His message was loud and clear. They would listen to me, but I shouldn't have expected them to change their minds. It seemed that the other houses also agreed.
Sigh for my entrances.
I don't mean to steal your money to live in the lap of luxury.
Gathered here were thirty-one people representing thirty-one noble houses. Of them, the only one I could truly consider my ally was Baroness Rabbit, who strove to maintain order. However, that was fine.
He only needed to persuade fifteen people.
Including mine, Melbeth was made up of thirty-two houses. To reach the majority of the votes, I needed seventeen votes, and mine and Baroness Rabbit's were already assured.
«Then you can speak, Baron Yandel», said Baroness Rabbit, with a tinge of anxiety hidden in her tone.
I finished organizing my thoughts as the words left his mouth. «Let me clarify something first: I am not asking this out of greed». That was the first thing he had to establish if he wanted to have any chance of persuading fifteen other people. «This item that Baroness Lirivia brought to the table is for the good of all Melbeth».
It didn't take long for the expected arguments to arrive.
«How does supporting a clan directly below you help the entirety of Melbeth?»
«Because I am different from all of you».
The mustachioed Baron tilted his head at my response.
«The power of a nobleman usually comes from his house. However, my house has not yet found a piece of land to settle on».
I watched as everyone leaned forward in their chairs, curious to know what he was going to say. The tide was turning in my favor.
«And yet not a single nobleman would dare to belittle me», I continued. «Isn't it strange? Marquis Tercerion and Duke Kealunus are people who are far above my rank, but even they respect me and treat me like someone important. What do you think it is due to?».
«¿No es ... the famous?»
«Error.» Well, strictly speaking, I wasn't entirely wrong. But where does fame come from? «Is power».
I was the great barbarian known as Bjorn Yandel, who had become a baron purely thanks to his strength and power.
«I gained my reputation and position purely because I am strong. And that's why you all have to support me». With that, I got to the crux of my argument. «If I get stronger, my position will also go up. I don't plan to remain a baron for the rest of my life».
In other words: supporting me meant supporting Melbeth.
Thirty-one houses, or rather thirty-two now that I had joined, formed Melbeth. This group had two major weaknesses. One was that the other nobles ostracized them and kept them at bay for not being human. And two...
Its highest ranking member is only an earl.
The strongest member of the group was a single count.
«Support me. If you do, our wish will come true».
However, even though my logic had landed clearly, his reaction was a rather surprising collection of empty looks. Maybe my argument hadn't been enough to convince them. «I understand your point of view, but isn't this still unprecedented preferential treatment towards a specific house?».
I knew I would never convince each and every one of them. Rejecting change in favor of tradition was a normal response.
Still, some seem interested in what I say.
Now that he had done his best to convince them with nice words, it was time to try another tactic.
«Of course, that's not the only reason you should support me». I went ahead and continued with my speech. «Right now, Melbeth has no connection to the maze. But supporting my clan is our opportunity to make a place for ourselves in the world of adventurers. There is nothing to lose».
Many nobles openly supported various adventurers and clans, and did so not just to boast of their wealth and power. Having a clan beneath you meant that you could exert your influence in the labyrinth whenever you wanted. The entire kingdom depended on that single labyrinth, so its importance was evident. However, even now, Melbeth was not associated with a single clan.
«I understand what you're trying to say, but the reason we're not involved with the maze isn't because we can't be. We simply choose not to be».
«And why is that?» I asked even though I already knew.
Baron Bigotudo explained it to me kindly. «Because if we did, those above us would obviously descend to keep us at bay».
At first glance, it was similar to the situation with their sacred lands. Melbeth's motto was to stay out of it and avoid angering those in real power as much as possible.
«Didn't that change now that I've joined the group?»
Now that they had accepted me, someone who became noble for being a famous adventurer, into their group, wasn't that all irrelevant?
But it seemed that Baron Mustachioed was unwilling to back down. «That's why supporting you more would be dangerous. We've already brought you Melbeth. If we support your clan officially, we will not be able to avoid conflict with the other houses. From your point of view, it would seem that we are using you to take over the labyrinth, and that would also harm you, Baron Yandel». His response was firm, indicating that he was not willing to give me a single stone of support. However, if I were one of those who bow to so little pressure, I wouldn't have even tried it in the first place.
«Are you so afraid of them?» I provoked. To change their minds, I had to change my approach.
His response was immediate. «It's a meaningless question».
"¿Por qué lo dices?"
«Everyone here is a rational actor. That's what it means to be the head of a house. We are in a position where we must make decisions that not only affect current members of our households, but also future generations.» Although he spoke sternly, his tone was not hostile. If anything, I had a feeling he was giving me honest advice, but all that meant was that I would have to provoke him more.
«It seems to me that you want to put your responsibilities on future generations».
«There is no reason for me to continue entertaining myself with your slander», said the mustachioed Baron, with an icy voice. I felt bad. He seemed like a nice old man who was just trying to help me, but right now he had to do what was best for my group and my clan.
«There has been a misunderstanding.» It was time to change strategy again. «Baron Heskaira, I did not mean to slander you. I simply meant that now is the time to actively increase our strength. Isn't that why you are all interested in me?»
Although I had softened my tone, Baron Mustachioed did not respond. Instead, for the first time, someone else spoke.
«I see the logic behind Baron Yandel's words». He was Baron Bwellyn of the White Wolves. At thirty years old and one of the youngest in his family, he had already become the head of his house. «Don't we all agree that something has to change?».
As Baroness Rabbit told me, many people within Melbeth were unhappy with the current state of things. And it seemed that the dam containing the flood was finally cracking.
«That doesn't mean I'm all for supporting Baron Yandel's clan. I just think it's time to make a name for ourselves and expand our influence in the labyrinth. Throughout this war, all we have done is watched the other houses make great contributions and raise the status of their families.»
Baron Bwellyn's speech sparked a full-blown debate.
«I also agree with you. It's a hassle to have to borrow from the holy land every time we need an adventurer.»
«But is it necessary to support Baron Yandel? If we went and gathered our best adventurers of our own races, we could create our own clan in no time.»
«That's true... I've heard that Baron Yandel's clan doesn't even have ten members yet».
«Yeah. Perhaps we could gather talented individuals from our own homes to build and maintain a clan ourselves».
Shit, this wasn't good. Before I was completely removed from the discussion, I hurriedly intervened. «Why do you talk about things you don't understand?»
«...Sorry?»
«By the time you do all that, the war will be over!»
What could convince even the most cautious to get into the maze business? War. Many houses benefited greatly from the war by supporting the clans. Seeing how other houses extended their influence without lifting a single finger must have been painful for them.
¿Eh…?
Or, that should have been the case, anyway.
«Well, wouldn't it be too hasty of us to try to benefit from this war?».
«I agree. We should work to prepare for future wars, rather than trying to profit from it. Making hasty decisions always results in big mistakes».
Damn nobles. That was his problem: his narrow-mindedness and his focus on the future. How was I going to convince them to make big changes when they were so accommodating and relaxed? They had been in the same position for thousands of years and yet they had made no progress. As a k-barbarian who valued expeditious work, this conversation was suffocating.
I have to change my approach again.
To deal with politicians blind to the past and present, he could employ two strategies. The first was to please them and appeal to their goals of building a better future. That, or show them that the decisions they were making now would turn that future into a garbage dump. So of course I opted for the latter.
«Idiotes! As long as you continue to waste time like this, the houses that despise you will continue to gain power and surpass you».
If there was one thing I knew, it was that politics was always fueled by the negative.
«Just look at the prime minister! He's making the most of the war to bolster his house's fame! You are giving your own people all the opportunities and credit!»
«But weren't you the most benefited, Baron Yandel? The marquis was the one who endorsed your skills for that mission...»
«I'm an exception!» I had to quickly divert attention from myself. «Just look at your own son! He has no name or skills, and yet he is constantly given opportunities! He was appointed commander and benefits from it without taking a single step on the battlefield».
«I wouldn't go so far as to say that the future boss of Tercerion has no skills...»
«Anyway, I was lucky and became a baron, but what will happen as the war drags on? More new noble houses are sure to be born, and they will all align with the houses that supported them in the labyrinth! Do you plan to stay out of it and wait to see if I'm right? If we act now, perhaps we can create another non-human noble that we can bring to Melbeth».
I did everything I could to cheer them on, but they were a difficult audience.
«...It can't be helped. It is our fault for not preparing for this war in advance».
«This war came quite unexpectedly.»
«To be honest, it's hard to know if another war will break out in the future. So maybe it would be better if we kept doing what we've always done ... »
What the hell is wrong with these guys?
Baroness Rabbit, who was watching me fight a losing battle, quickly joined in and tried to help me. In the end, however, we couldn't completely change anyone's mind before it was time to vote.
«Now we will begin the vote. Those who are in favor of formally supporting Baron Yandel and his Anabada clan, raise your hands».
The results seemed obvious.
I never imagined they would be so conservative.
I guess I'd have to keep an eye out for the next opportunity...
«I'm for.»
Baroness Rabbit and I were the only two raising our hands when Baron Bwellyn's suddenly joined ours in the air. He was the first of the heads of families to recognize the need for change.
…¿Eh?
Surprisingly, the number of people who began to raise their hands slowly increased.
One, two, three, four...
When it came time to count the votes, the number of people who voted in favor barely exceeded those who did not.
«...So, there are already seventeen houses that agree. As the majority has voted in favor, the motion to formally support Baron Yandel and his Anabada clan has been approved.»
Even Baroness Rabbit, who had been a member of Melbeth all her life, could not hide her shock at the outcome. However, once the vote was over, discussions began. Little by little, my ecstatic joy began to fade.
«Although we have agreed to support you, we will not use Melbeth's official funds for this».
Regardless of whether they voted yes or no, everyone agreed to restrict the amount of support I would be given. In the end, I barely got anything from them except:
One, I was allowed to take out loans with official funds (with interest and limits).
Two, they gave me one of Melbeth's empty (cheap) buildings to use as a clan house.
Three, I would have to accept exclusive missions from Melbeth.
In the end, the most important thing was the third. If Melbeth needed my clan's help, she could request it. And we would be paid accordingly, of course.
...The first step is always the most difficult.
I decided to be happy with the progress I had made today.
***
After the meeting, I returned home by carriage. The next morning, I was forced to leave the house early once again. All this month, I would be on an extremely tight schedule.
«Hello, Mr. Bjorn... You are here...»
«Good morning, Shavin.»
«...Is it already daytime?»
I headed straight to the sacred land to take care of my boss duties. I checked the progress of our real estate plan with the management team, who had been working around the clock, and listened to any urgent reports and approved everything that required my authorization. However, my duties as a boss did not end there.
«Oh! Bjorn! You're here!»
«No es Bjorn. Es Chieftain.»
«...Correct, Chieftain!»
I had to check with Ainar how many of our young warriors who had recently gone through the coming-of-age ceremony had returned alive, not to mention gauge whether there were any other issues to discuss in our tribe.
«Will I be the second elder...?»
«Don't you want to be?»
«Of course I want to! I will do it! I'll do the best I can! Just tell me what I have to do!»
I appointed Kharon, son of Tarson, as second elder of the tribe. It was the same warrior who had been betrayed by his companions in the labyrinth but who, luckily, had been saved by me before anything bad could happen, after which he returned to the tribe and started the Backpack Revolution. Ainar couldn't take care of all the work alone, and with the start of a new month, we had to prepare for the next coming-of-age ceremony. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to manage each of them each month, and I didn't want to give more work to the administrative team, which was already dying.
The following days flew by until, finally, a new dawn took us to the fifth day of the seventh month of the year 157.
It was real estate day.