Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Unexpected Reward

In the end, I received the manor!

At first I was startled because His Majesty suddenly said he would give a knighthood. But thinking carefully, I thought a knighthood might be needed for the condition of owning a manor.

I'm not even gentry but just an ordinary commoner. Moreover it's not just a manor, but a manor owned by the king. As expected justification is important.

Lord Frederick also seemed considerably flustered at His Majesty's bomb statement. When he suddenly chased me out I thought the manor was too much, but he handed that over together too. So before later words came out I quickly received and fled.

Glancing at the mood it seemed selling peanut butter cheaply to the commoners received a high evaluation.

There was nothing strange. Because there was already a precedent.

Golden Syrup, the guy who made that also received a knighthood saying he gave joy to the commoners?

So me who made peanut butter much more delicious than that receiving a knighthood is a natural thing. Shall I later say to Mr. Henry let's do a peanut butter sale as a commemoration? What? I'm a knight so what are you going to do?!

Anyway I roughly accepted the situation. This is why people have to manage their image well to receive blessings! Of course I didn't foresee up to this level!

And it wasn't even receiving the ownership of the manor whole but only the right to collect rent, but in fact money is everything, right?

Speaking of the knighthood, even though His Majesty called me 'Sir,' because it didn't go through an official investiture there was no big meaning for now.

If a real investiture it should be proclaiming gathering high officials in the ceremony hall of Buckingham Palace. What if I alone go around saying I'm a knight? Other people also have to acknowledge, right?

And because I'm a former newspaper seller I know well. Knighthood investitures are definitely carried in newspapers and also informed to London citizens. Without that it's steamed bun without red bean paste.

While trying to flee like that suddenly Lord Frederick followed out and dragged me here and there. Such he eventually reluctantly put a few papers in my hand.

One of them was roughly this content.

[ The British Empire royal court from today recognizes the owner of this certificate 'Jean-Paul Durand' as the owner of the 'knighthood.' ]

And a large stamp stamped below.

The Great Seal of the Realm of the British royal court.

It must be the Great Seal, right? Honestly I'm not a high government official so how would I know the shape of the Great Seal. I just thought so.

There a queen wearing a dress and crown sitting on the throne was drawn. This must also be Her Majesty Queen Victoria, right?

It seems because the coronation hasn't been held yet His Majesty hasn't newly made the Great Seal.

Before leaving the palace Lord Frederick warned in a low voice.

'Sir Durand, what His Majesty did is only a preliminary investiture. Time is needed until the official investiture is held so until then it's good not to boast greatly. Because if an unsightly incident occurs the title might be canceled.'

It meant don't excitedly blabber.

Well since it's correct words I also nodded. For the time being it was a time to be careful even of falling leaves.

The rest were of course documents related to the manor.

'The manor location is written in the document. Because I have to inform the manager in advance it's good to visit at least three days later. For the rent it's convenient to open an account at the bank and receive. Because the distance will not be easy to go directly every time. Still it's good to show your face occasionally. Manage well so the guys don't slack off.'

It was long advice unlike Lord Frederick. But my account is already at Barclays Bank so there was no need to worry.

"So where is the location?"

I who was excitedly reading down the document momentarily paused discovering a familiar place name.

"Berkshire. It's not as far as expected?"

A region located right next to London, upstream of the Thames River. A distance that can be sufficiently reached in half a day by carriage.

As a London native I've never gone down to the provinces once so I don't know well, but it was a region I often saw in newspapers.

"Wait a minute, but can I go down?"

Since I received the manor I have to go and check once.

Wasn't I thinking of sending my parents for recuperation? Knowing where there is do I send my parents right away? It's 1901 Britain. Compared to other regions of this period it was a country with considerably stable public order, but still living in the capital with strong public power and the provinces were considerably different.

An acquaintance reporter also said. When going down to the provinces there are many scammers so don't trust anyone recklessly. Anyway it was such an era.

It meant reconnaissance was needed. Before sending my parents I intended to go first and check with both eyes directly. And while going Sir Jean-Paul Durand the knight also catch some discipline.

"Restaurant... It'll be okay even if I'm briefly not there, right?"

Now the restaurant runs well even without me. Lady Edith does so well, and the other newspaper sellers also do the work skillfully on their own, and the uncle hired as sommelier is a very slick person.

Hmm, but the boss being absent for a long period isn't good.

This is also ultimately a justification fight. To reduce the employees' burden an appropriate reward was needed.

Jingle jingle.

I opened the leather pouch His Majesty secretly put in my hand without Lord Frederick knowing.

Inside it was full of sovereign gold coins. No less than 40.

Just right. If I use this it'll be good? Loyalty! Your Highness!

###

Returning to the restaurant I had Joe summon all the newspaper sellers who were helping me.

After that as soon as I put two gold coins each saying you've worked hard�

"Boss! Don't abandon us!"

"We'll work harder! Please!"

"Sob, I have an elderly mother to support!"

At the sudden sea of tears I stopped my movement speechless.

"...You guys, what on earth are you saying?"

I just gave a bonus with the free money that came in?

Ah, in this era there was no concept of performance pay. The guys seeing me suddenly giving money, seemed to have mistaken thinking they were being chased out.

If I was going to chase them out I would have chased them out long ago. Why would I still be keeping guys with nowhere to go and no place to rely?

In my thought, in this era people are the most undervalued resource. Low point buy high point sell is the basic of investment. In modern times to use guys who listen well like these I'd have to give two or three times more salary?

"Sob, you just gave us money? Because we did the work well?"

"Yes, you. Your mother also caught a cough illness lately. With that buy medicine or something, and make chicken soup. Some doctor said if you put honey and lemon and boil it's effective. Let's verify once if it's bullshit."

"Bo-boss has finally gone crazy! Boss giving money to others!"

"What?!"

Recently a bizarre rumor spread in London alleys that money that entered my pocket never comes out again, and finding out it was all words that came out of these guys' mouths.

In the world there's not a single guy to trust!

When the surprised guys calmed down, I took the momentum and quickly declared the vacation plan.

"Ahem, more than that from tomorrow I'll be briefly absent for a few days, please take care. Got it? Help Lady Edith well! If the Earl of Derby comes run away well! Got it?"

"Yes, Boss!"

"Rest well and come! We'll guard the restaurant well!"

"If suspicious people come like last time I'll kick their butts and chase them all out!"

What are you saying again? Surely you didn't chase out all the messengers His Majesty sent? Well those people aren't ones who would be chased out even if chased.

One gold coin has the value of 1 pound. Two is a large sum equivalent to about two weeks' weekly pay. The guys who received the money bloomed laughter flowers happily.

Anyway after sending out the excited guys, only Joe remained standing blankly. Among the uneducated guys this guy was relatively quick-witted and slick. I was going to leave only this guy but he remained on his own.

Enough for Sir Jean-Paul Durand the knight to make a squire. I lowered my voice lowly like a knight.

"Joe, you guy have an urgent matter to handle with me right now."

"Yes, Boss! I have a lot of time! Anyway thank you for the gold coin! I've never seen a gold coin in my life! Heh, as expected Boss!"

"Ahem, stop flattering and follow behind me. It's an important matter so be careful with words and actions."

"Yes!"

Why am I taking this guy? Because I hate the situation of wandering alone and getting kidnapped again. So for the time being I was thinking of taking him along as an escort.

He's a guy with a bigger body and stronger strength than me, so if something happens I have to leave the back and flee.

Similarly the most worried thing before going down to the manor is the public order situation of that region. It's an era full of villains who kidnap people in broad daylight. I couldn't let my guard down even a little.

Moreover I'm a London native so I have no information at all about that region. It's not a distance where I can look at a map app and follow comfortably like modern times. At times like this consulting an appropriate person is good.

And exactly one person who would be okay if helped came to mind. This is why I scatter favor here and there usually. Because when urgent it can be recovered right away like this.

But the place... is a bit far? It's a waste of money to call a carriage. I just spent a large sum.

The problem was that because I'm still a half-baked knight I didn't have a horse worth riding at times like this. So in the end Sir Jean-Paul Durand the knight had to diligently step on the bicycle pedals together with squire Joe looking uncool.

"Huff huff, why is it so far! Position a bit closer to the center!"

"Bo-Boss! Too fast! Slow down a bit!"

"You! This is all exercise! Let's do some exercise!"

The place we headed was Scotland Yard in the Whitehall area by the Thames River.

In other words? London Metropolitan Police.

And the person we're looking for is one of the uninvited guests who visited my restaurant together with Mr. Doyle a few months ago,

Inspector John Reid.

He's a perfect expert for this kind of matter, right?

Anyway we ran for a long time and finally arrived at the destination. Scotland Yard had many people even on the weekend. Because police work doesn't rest on weekends.

The inspector I saw after a long time was tearing his abundant mustache with a tired-looking expression.

Because I secretly showed him the knighthood appointment certificate.

"Hmm, Mr. Durand! No, Sir Durand! How should I call you?!"

"Mr. Durand level is fine. Because it's not something to widely inform yet. Please know alone. It's a national secret."

"Th-then Mr. Durand! In fact I was guessing that someday you would receive a knighthood! Do you know how noisy London was with that peanut butter! I still vividly remember the day I visited with Mr. Doyle!"

Joe standing in attendance behind me wasn't surprised even hearing such talk. Because he had already been surprised for a year's worth.

I also casually informed this guy before arriving at Scotland Yard. Anyway whether informing a year later or now what's different? As long as I don't make rumors it's fine, right?

"Even these days are people flocking that much because of peanut butter?"

"Of course, don't even say! Can't you increase the production volume more? There's a shortage of personnel to maintain public order on the streets controlling people! Lately it's so popular to the point Golden Syrup factories are completely closing their doors because of that!"

"I don't know that side's work well. Consult with Mr. Pitton."

"Hmm...! Understood!"

Really I don't know. Because I cut off my steps from that side's management. Later when I receive the settlement I'll just prepare to be surprised.

Anyway I informed him of the location of the manor I'm going to check, and asked if there's anything special. But finding out that place was also under the jurisdiction of Scotland Yard.

The inspector said to wait a moment, and appeared holding a large document box together with a few policemen.

"There are no particular incident reports in that region. Mr. Durand, by any chance is there something you're worried about? If you wish Scotland Yard can also rent a coachman and carriage."

"Ah, up to that level is fine!"

Sip.

I took a sip of the black tea the inspector gave, and almost spat it out right away. This was brewed wrong. Why is it so bitter?

Coming to my senses from the bitter taste I immediately brought up the main point.

"Instead, can I see the map Scotland Yard holds a bit? Because I'm curious exactly where the manor location is."

"That's no problem. Richard! Bring all the road and district maps of the Berkshire region!"

"Yes, Inspector!"

The inspector who saw the map pointed to one spot and said.

"Here. It's a place designated as an important patrol area so you don't have to worry about public order. Mounted Constables patrol on time every day."

Eh? It was such an important place? Just looking at the map there's only forest and fields?

"...Sorry but, is there some hidden military facility there?"

At my question Inspector Reid asked back as if what are you saying.

"Yes? Surely you don't know? This manor, it's a place that manages the royal deer hunting ground. It's quite a famous place. So I thought Mr. Durand received some secret imperial order from the royal court and said I would help."

"...Yes?"

Not an orchard or wheat field? The king's hunting ground? And that deer?!

After that the inspector who took a big breath spat out an even more shocking word.

"Here, look at this map. Right near the manor there is 'Windsor Castle.' I know His Majesty's family members are staying for vacation even now. This is the hunting ground His Majesty cherishes the most."

Oh no! So the region name was familiar!

Windsor Castle! It's the most important place in Britain next to Buckingham Palace! Considering Buckingham Palace is treated like a government office, it's a region no different from the heart of the current royal court!

His Majesty Edward VII had literally handed me a demon's lair.

My mind gradually became distant!