Restart:Untalented Man-Chapter 509: Home

There are several reasons for choosing Van Vernau's territory as a sacrifice.

First, it was located in the southern part of Blande, which means it is closer to the sea.

Because Ryntum's side took the initiative to ask for his island, Hugo realised their objective for making that demand.

They want his island for its strategic location to control the vital trade route in the Leviathan Sea.

Whoever controlled the island would wield significant influence over the flow of goods, ships, and commerce in the region. For Ryntum, it was a prize worth fighting for.

However, he couldn't afford to lose the island— it was his possession and a core piece of his family's legacy.

Hugo wasn't stupid. The only way to save himself was to give them something equivalent to or greater in value.

And Vernau's territory fits the criteria.

Secondly, Hugo plans to give two cities from Vernau's holdings to Ryntum.

Although the total area is only half of Hagen Island, this concession will provide a much-needed land connection with Barlia.

As a diplomat, Hugo obviously has to learn about the history of the kingdom he's negotiating with.

It is safe to say that Ryntum and Barlia are not in an amicable relationship.

While the war had yet to break out, Hugo was confident that it was only a matter of time before it happened.

Given this inevitability, his offer became even more enticing.

Hugo grinned as he wrote. He will help Ryntum in exchange for their protection when that moment arrives.

....

Riz continued working in his office. The soft scratch of his pen on paper is the only sound in the room.

Although he once said that work never truly ended, the scale of work is unfortunately not the same for everyone.

As a king, his workload is far surpassed that of ordinary clerks.

For them, a backlog might mean a frustrating day or two of catching up.

For him, skipping even a day's work could transform a pile of paperwork into a daunting mountain.

Trade agreements, military reports, budget allocations— things that can't be decided by his ministers or require his signature flowed to his desk.

"For the sake of tomorrow's me, I need to complete as much as I can," he said out loud without fearing anyone listening.

Since he has permitted the civil servants to leave, very few are left in the building.

The building becomes quiet. No voices are talking in the hallways, no footsteps echoing on the floors, and no interruptions at his door.

Riz found himself more focused than he'd been all day.

The solitude sharpened his mind, allowing him to read, review and approve many documents.

It's rare for him to be in this state and weirdly enough, there's something satisfying about this.

Still, Riz wasn't planning to stay here until the sunset.

He, too, wants to go home and put off the kingly act he's performing in front of everyone all day long.

Those measured words and demeanour were tiring to maintain.

Two hours later, Riz glanced at the clock again.

It's already two o'clock in the evening.

Deciding he had done enough, Riz put down his pen. He leaned back in his chair and looked at the stack of paper around him.

"This much should be enough," he said to himself.

While his work was far from complete, the piles had been significantly reduced. The remaining was manageable for another day.

Pushing his chair back, Riz stood and stretched his limb. After that, he took one last look at the desk before heading for the door.

On his way downstairs, Riz encountered a few guards patrolling. They straightened immediately upon seeing him.

Riz was not in a mood to be friendly. So, he offered them a simple nod as he passed to acknowledge their presence.

Perhaps because he's the king, even this simple act of gesture was too much for them.

The government building is just at the base of the hill where his mansion is.

Unlike others, he doesn't really need to commute by carriage. He just needs to walk on the path upward.

It is tiring but Riz treats it as exercise.

When he reached the top, a familiar figure caught his eye. Edward, the butler is pacing near the front door.

Edward has grown considerably older since Riz first met him. He's probably fifty-six years old now, but he's still full of vigour.

Riz call him out, "Edward, why are you walking back and forth at the front door?"

The butler froze mid-step, "Your majesty! Of course, I've been waiting for your return. I heard you permitted the workers to leave early today, so I thought it only proper to wait for you here."

"I see," Riz replied. Edward's behaviour probably had something to do with butler's code of conduct. "You don't have to. I'm capable of opening the door myself."

Having said that, Riz walks past Edward and enters the mansion.

Just right after he stepped in, he heard babies' cries resounding from upstairs and piercing his ears.

He didn't need to guess. He knew exactly who the culprits were.

There wasn't the slightest trace of annoyance on his face. He had long grown accustomed to this cry. It has become a music to him.

Riz slowly walked upstairs with a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The cries grew louder as Riz ascended the staircase.

He sees the maids were in a hurry to calm the cries. They become even more panicky when they spot him.

Maybe they're afraid of being blamed for not doing the job properly.

"Y-Your Majesty!" one of them stuttered.

"There's no need to panic." Riz stepped into the room.

He looks at the two small humans who cause all the chaos.

Riz asks the maid to pass one of the babies to him.

He cradled the child. The wailing softened slightly and the maids were stunned to see the immediate effect.

"See? It's easy, right?"