Original subtitles

Well? Can you do it?

Of course I can.

It's my first job for you, so I'll take one gold as payment.

I'd like three silvers now for my advance.

Of course!

Er, how long will you need for the investigation?

Let's see...

Meet me back here in five days.

Huh?! That soon?!

No worries, kid.

This sort of intel gathering is our specialty.

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World

Dang, what a meal!

Charlotte, you have to leave some for the others!

They can just order more!

Episode 9 Sounding Out

Go on, help yourself!

Sheesh, that was a long bathroom break.

Well...

As it happens, we ran into the leader of Shadow!

Lord Ars successfully got them to take our request.

Huh? You guys did all that without me?

I wanted to meet the guy myself.

Right?

Yes, I was quite curious.

Here you are!

On the house, just for you!

Do take your time!

Hey, that's nice of you.

It's all been delicious!

Thank you kindly!

Now, if you'll excuse me!

I-Incredible...

I'd never have guessed Pham was a man if I hadn't seen his status.

Pardon us.

Hey, glad you made it.

Oh? The other members of your gang aren't here?

They're off on other jobs.

Investigations take a lot of manpower.

I suppose they would...

Who did the investigation for my request?

Just me.

J-Just you?!

Well, it sounded interesting enough, so I took care of it on my own.

Mazak Finde 22 Male

Diplomacy 22/23 Leadership 33/44 Ingenuity 87/90

Prowess 91/92 Archer: S Ambition 45

I get it.

It's his incredible skill that makes him Shadow's preeminent member.

That explains why he's the boss despite a mediocre Leadership score.

Well, let's get down to business.

The investigation was a success.

Was it? Thank you so much!

Only natural, since I handled it personally.

But how did you finish so quickly?

That's a trade secret.

Now, let me explain to you why Perreina District won't side with Couran.

I got my hands on something interesting.

Have a look.

It's a pact!

It bears the signatures and seals of nobles who've sided with Lord Vasmarque.

All the signatories would have a copy of this, then?

It includes Perreina's signature and seal.

But what does it—

Is that the mark of Maasa District?

Where's Maasa District again?

It's situated in the west, like us.

Maasa District has a large population

and one of the continent's biggest infantries,

on par with that of Missian's capital, Arcantez.

They'll be a powerful ally to whichever side they take.

Luckily, Maasa District has chosen Lord Couran, as we have.

Yet here is the mark of Maasa District on a pledge of support for Lord Vasmarque.

D-Do you think...

If this pact is genuine, it means that Maasa District has betrayed us.

B-Betrayed us?

Why would they do that?

That I don't know.

At this rate, even if we invade Perreina,

Maasa

Perreina

Maasa could mobilize and undermine our encirclement.

Or worse, they could attack from behind and take us out.

That would certainly tip the scale wildly in Vasmarque's favor.

Perreina District has likely determined that siding with Couran is a losing prospect.

Explains why they won't play along.

Can you confirm that this pact is genuine?

You said it was a trade secret,

but it can't be so easy to obtain a document of this import.

I don't share my methods with anyone, even my most trusted colleagues.

But I assure you I found that in Castle Perreina, where the headman lives.

Understood.

Forgive me for doubting you.

No worries. It's all business.

That sums up my investigation.

You can take the pact with you.

Pham's so cool!

It must take unbelievable skill to acquire something so important in such a short time!

And he can disguise himself flawlessly as a woman! He's a real ninja!

He's like Hattori Hanzo!

Oh, let me settle your payment.

Save your money.

I was pretty rude to you before, after all.

But you got us exactly what we asked for.

Nah. Consider it an apology for the other day...

and an investment in the future.

Understood.

Please let me pay you extra for the next job, then.

I can't thank you enough for this.

Sure. See you again.

Rietz, we should inform Lord Lumeire of Maasa's betrayal at once.

Right!

I hope it's that simple, anyway.

Castle Canarre

Maasa District is siding with Lord Vasmarque?!

Is this pact genuine?

I have it on good authority that it came from the Perreina headman's residence.

I see.

Maasa's headman has always thought very highly of Lord Couran.

But if this document is authentic,

getting Perreina on our side will be no mean feat.

Menas, take this document to Torbequista and Coumeire at once.

My lord.

Ars, you've done well.

Without you, we'd have found ourselves in a grave state of affairs.

I thank you.

Well, a mercenary leader did all the work...

Still, Perreina is the least of our worries now.

I need to consult with Lord Couran.

Ars, I'd like your help, as well.

Wait a moment.

There's something amiss with this pact.

There is?

The signature and seal of Maasa District aren't quite right.

Follow me, please.

The seal of Maasa's headman is a circle inside a hexagon,

with a pentagram drawn inside that circle.

Compare these two seals.

At a glance, it looks correct, but...

Wait.

The circle's not as it should be, is it?

The hexagon looks a bit too small, as well.

The signature is also a close match,

but there are discrepancies in the handwriting.

That said, I believe the other seals and signatures are genuine.

Does that mean...

Maasa District's seal and signature on this pact may be a forgery.

I see.

So Perreina was deceived into believing that Maasa betrayed us,

thus they've sided with Lord Vasmarque?

Menas has a very discerning eye.

You can take him at his word.

Menas has a skill like that?

Menas Renard 40 Male

Prowess 70/70 Ambition 25 Builder: B Cavalry: B Mage: C Infantry: B

Leadership 71/71 Ingenuity 75/77 Smith: D Aerial: D Archer: A Strategist: B

My Appraisal lets me see stats, but it doesn't show me special skills.

I should try not to assume that I'm getting the full picture.

But why push a lie that would eventually come to light?

To buy time, perhaps?

Yes, that's what I think.

We'll attack Perreina, and Perreina will fight back.

But Perreina will inevitably fall to our superior forces.

So all that matters to them is having Perreina on their side in the interim.

If they regard Perreina as disposable, then their real goal must be...

Of course! The explosion magistones.

What are those?

Extremely valuable magistones that, within Missian, are only found in Perreina,

and in only three other districts across the entire continent of Summerforth.

When refined, explosion magistones allow for the use of powerful magic

and can be used to make even more powerful weapons.

I see.

So Lord Vasmarque is after Perreina to get as many of those magistones as he can.

Which means that attacking Perreina is now out of the question.

Why say that?

Under other circumstances, Perreina would have been our ally.

If we whittle each other down by fighting,

we'll be playing right into Lord Vasmarque's hands.

I believe our only option is to tell Perreina the truth and win them over.

I see.

But we've sent numerous messengers to Perreina, and all have been turned away.

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World

What do we do?

As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World

Castle Perreina

I read your letter.

Setting aside the question of how you happened to get a copy of our pact...

Headman of Perreina

For now, I'll hear what you have to say.

Just as I said in my letter,

Lamberg also wishes to join Lord Vasmarque's side.

Maasa District changing sides was a huge shock to us.

As it was to me.

The loyalties of a force as large as Maasa's

will be a critical factor in the war's final outcome.

Having learned of this, Lord Lumeire intends to join Lord Vasmarque, as well.

What did you say?

You mean you're a messenger from Canarre District, then?

For a small territory like ours,

siding with the inevitable winner is all the more important.

I'd heard Lamberg had a new lord...

You seem competent beyond your meager years.

You were able to steal a tightly guarded pact, after all.

Very well.

There's no point in hiding now that it's out.

I'll speak to Lord Vasmarque myself.

We'll gladly accept Lamberg into our cadre.

I'll be counting on you in the future.

First, I'd like to confirm one last thing.

Is the pact document genuine?

I received it from Lord Vasmarque personally.

I can attest to its authenticity.

But hasn't Maasa's headman been loyal to Lord Couran all this time?

Why would he betray him now?

This is war.

It's not uncommon to betray former allies to secure a winning position.

But surely Maasa District knows that such a betrayal would leave them surrounded.

Do you know his specific reason for siding with Lord Vasmarque, despite the risk?

Well...

Isn't it a bit dangerous to buy into this without knowing why he did it?

I see now. This was all a ruse.

Your interest in joining us was merely pretext to get an audience with me.

Arrest them!

Please wait.

We didn't come here for a fight.

Headman of Perreina, I came to tell you something.

A-And what's that?

Y-You're...

Maasa's headman?!

Well, why not ask the man himself?

Castle Canarre

Um, I think I have an idea.

What is it?

We'll arrange proof that the pact is fake.

Castle Maasa

Wh-What nonsense is this?

Headman of Maasa

Then, as we suspected...

Indeed, I never signed this pact.

We believe it's a forgery by Lord Vasmarque to deceive Perreina.

Disgusting. What a cheap trick!

We want to pretend to change allegiances to get Perreina to see the light.

Could you write us a letter condemning the pact as counterfeit, if you would?

To forge the seal of Maasa District...

This is an absolute disgrace!

I cannot abide such underhanded tactics!

I'll visit Perreina's headman and reveal the truth myself!

Maasa's headman wants to come with us?!

Headman of Perreina.

I did not sign that pact.

That means it is a forgery.

I have served Lord Couran from the beginning, and I will until the end.

I am no turncoat!

Now, I wish to ask you a question.

Knowing what you do now,

will you pursue your own ruin by continuing to side with Lord Vasmarque?

Now that I know of this treachery, I wish to side with Lord Couran.

But... we still did turn on him, for a time.

Do you think Lord Couran will really take us back?

Indeed, that won't be easy to do.

Let me tell you one thing.

Maasa District is one of the most populous in all of Missian.

That makes us a powerful domain.

At the same time, it means I have more people to protect.

I feel that, for their sake, I must win this war at any cost.

I'm sure you felt the same way.

Nevertheless, had you investigated this, you'd have seen it was all a trap.

I cannot ignore how easily you were fooled!

He has such a commanding presence.

That's what it takes to lead a large domain.

I need to rise to that level.

Still, it was Ars who brought the matter to my attention.

Ars, I leave the decision to you.

M-Me?!

I agree that Perreina's headman acted incautiously.

But... everyone makes mistakes.

I don't want to cut anyone out for a single mistake.

Perhaps it's naïve of me,

but I'm just happy we could resolve this without fighting.

Maybe it was meant to be.

Let us become allies once more!

I'm deeply grateful for your compassion.

I promise to serve as best I can.

Well, I believe that's that.

There's nothing more to discuss.

Now go inform Lumeire of this.

I will!

Um...

Thank you so much for joining us today.

I'm the one who should thank you.

You saw through the enemy's plot and resolved the situation without bloodshed.

It seems Canarre has made a fine addition to its leadership.

I'll remember that.

Thank you so much!

Your acting was a bit on the wooden side, though.

I'll try to work on that...

That's the long and short of it.

Perreina's headman pledged to Lord Lumeire that he'd support him unilaterally from now on.

It also appears that Lord Vasmarque acquired

large numbers of explosion magistones from Perreina District.

He's frighteningly clever, isn't he?

Lord Ars.

Are you all right?

It's gotten quite chilly today.

So cold!

That's right. Winter's coming, isn't it?

Lord Ars?

Thanks to the two of you, we managed to resolve this without anyone getting hurt.

Again, you have my deepest thanks.

Y-You think so?

Is something weighing on your mind?

Ah, no, it's nothing serious.

I know what I have to do, but it's difficult to accomplish...

Lord Ars?

The headmen of Perreina and Maasa were desperate to protect their domains and people.

I have to become a strong lord like them.

If I didn't have you, I would have been powerless to influence the situation.

You do have us, Lord Ars.

No matter what enemy we face, we'll do everything we can to protect you.

You need only do what you feel is right, as you did when you forgave Perreina's headman.

Thank you for your support, Rietz, Rosell.

Lord Ars!

A carriage just arrived...

Lord Lumeire? What are you doing here?

I'm sorry it took me so long to visit, Raven.

Thank you for coming.

Raven, Lord Couran wishes to meet Ars.

Huh?

Lord Couran wants to meet me?!

Th-The lord of a nothing territory like me, meeting Lord Couran?!

Village Leader (Rural): Me

City Mayor: Lord Lumeire

Prefectural Governor: Lord Couran

That's like a village leader meeting the prefectural governor!

S-Surely a rural lord like me is unworthy of meeting Lord Couran...

There's not something else going on, is there?

I told Lord Couran about the recent incident.

It seems he's taken quite an interest in you.

Interest

I... I see. Very well.

I'll try to mentally prepare myself for when the day comes.

What do you mean?

We're going to see him now.

Come along!

Right now?!

Yes!

S-Surely this is all too sudden!

I haven't even prepared tribute!

Why are you hesitating? It's your chance to move up in the world!

You must go!

It's a good chance to gather intel on our allies! You've got to go!

I shall gladly accompany you!

On we go, then!

Listen to this, Charlotte!

I'm about to meet Lord Couran, the possible next governor of Missian!

Meaning you're going to a party to eat delicious food?!

Okay, I'm gonna get ready!

I-I told the wrong person...

Next time: "Couran Salamakhia."

Next Time Couran Salamakhia

Whoops, I forgot "Lord."