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Every movement has its precursors and aftermath. This is also true in human society, where individuals or communities show certain movements, preceded by precursors and followed by aftermath.

Especially in the case of a kingdom, the scale of these precursors and aftermath is proportionally large. At some point, the active movements of the Kingdom of Dane’s foreign ministry officials, including personnel shifts, military and police department reorganizations, and the establishment of new departments, were noticeable to any nation paying attention to the Kingdom of Dane’s activities.

The reaction of the ‘Empire,’ which borders the Kingdom of Dane to the south, was merely cautious. They had already heard about the movements of the Paladins from the Church Order and the situation in the north.

Moreover, Friedrich Konrat Rotbart von Schwaben Hohenstaufen, the current de facto ruler of the Empire, now known as Friedrich der Rotgriffon after being elected as the Griffin King, had once become the legitimate monarch of the Empire with the help of Sophia.

His basic stance was that if he could repay this favor, he might consider concessions to the Kingdom of Dane, provided it did not cause excessive harm to the Empire.

Of course, the lords governing the Holstein region, which directly borders the Kingdom of Dane, and the Pomerania region, entangled in the interests of the Baltic Sea, had slightly different positions. However, both Holstein and Pomerania were underdeveloped regions in the Empire, where colonization had just begun, and their voices were somewhat marginalized in the central politics of the Empire.

Meanwhile, the reactions of the dual kingdom of Lechic and Lietuva south of the Baltic Sea and the United Kingdom of Svea to the north were more sensitive.

The Kingdom of Dane already controlled a significant portion of the access points to the Baltic and North Seas. The only remaining passage was the Øresund Strait, where København and Malmö face each other. If the Kingdom of Dane extended its influence to Malmö, the nations within the Baltic Sea would be forced to yield to the Kingdom of Dane.

Under these circumstances, it was only natural for Kazimierz I, the Peasant King leading the Poles of Lechic and Lietuva, to propose a joint response with the United Kingdom of Svea.

“The Kingdom of Dane is trying to extend its claws to Malmö! Are we just going to sit back and watch this outrage?”

“We can’t do that…”

“The only nations capable of standing up in this sea right now are us and you. If we don’t act now, we’ll regret it later!”

“That’s true, but…”

However, contrary to Kazimierz I’s expectations, the United Kingdom of Svea’s response was lukewarm.

As mentioned earlier, the United Kingdom of Svea was not a kingdom with clear contractual relationships among feudal nobles but rather a nominal kingdom held together by numerous tribal chiefs. There were no prominent powerful nobles, nor did the Svea royal family have overwhelming power over others.

Some argued that the situation in Malmö was urgent and that they couldn’t refuse the Kingdom of Dane’s help, while others insisted that they shouldn’t allow the Kingdom of Dane to project influence over Malmö. Some even considered negotiating with the Kingdom of Dane for benefits. With such divided opinions, the United Kingdom of Svea was left in a state of confusion.

It was no wonder that Kazimierz I, upon hearing this, sighed in disbelief.

“Ha, what can I do with these fools who can’t even exercise sovereignty over their own territory?”

If the city of Malmö had remained intact, the story might have been different. Although the city of Malmö was entangled with the interests of various nearby tribes, at this point, the sovereignty of Malmö was held by the council members residing in Malmö.

However, at this juncture, Malmö was in a state where normal diplomatic contact was impossible. Thus, the communication channels for discussing Malmö’s issues were inevitably dispersed among the surrounding tribes.

Ultimately, it was a foregone conclusion that Kazimierz I would turn his attention to the Empire, which would later sow the seeds of conflict between the Empire and the Poles over the sovereignty of Holstein and Pomerania. But that is a story for another time.

Setting that aside, the Kingdom of Dane’s grand plan to project its influence outward was still in the planning stages, and there were issues that needed to be resolved first.

“Have all the guild members been notified?”

“Yes. All the guild leaders have accepted the royal command with a sense of joy and dedication to the kingdom.”

In response to Countess Iida Torildur Ingrid, the Chancellor of the Kingdom of Dane, the man reporting in front of her desk answered without hesitation. However, the Chancellor’s reaction was as calm as ever.

“Hmph, what joy? They probably think it’s annoying and inconvenient to follow orders from above, but they have no choice but to comply.”

The Chancellor smirked, curling one corner of her mouth, and the man responded with a similar resigned smile.

“But this time, they will have to comply with the royal command. Those who don’t will lose their positions as guild leaders. They should be grateful for the opportunity to be of use.”

“Even if it’s due to the unique customs of our Kingdom of Dane?”

“Of course, even if that’s the case.”

The man’s firm words made the Chancellor smirk and nod in agreement.

The conversation between Chancellor Iida Torildur Ingrid and the man went something like this.

They planned to have the guilds control the personal information and movement routes within København and use the introduced port area as a battlefield for a thorough purification operation.

Common sense would question how such a thing could be possible with mere guilds. In places like Franquia or the Empire, which function as relatively free cities, the influence of guilds was limited to their areas of jurisdiction or at best, communities of technical professionals.

However, in the Kingdom of Dane, especially in København, the story was quite different.

Simply put, almost all citizens of København were registered guild members.

There was a saying in the Kingdom of Dane: “Danes go from the church to the guild and back to the church.” This was because personal matters like birth, adulthood, marriage, and death were reported to the local church, while all matters related to livelihoods and various professions were handled by the respective guilds.

For example, bakers, chefs, blacksmiths, textile workers, and even prostitutes or laborers, who in other cities would be on the fringes of society, were all required to register with the brothel guild or labor guild in København.

Of course, the influence of these guilds was not naturally formed. The Kingdom of Dane used various benefits and regulations like carrots and sticks to coordinate the power dynamics among the guilds, and sometimes even created guilds to handle necessary tasks by mobilizing people.

From the very beginning of building the kingdom’s foundation, this system was designed and maintained, leading to the formation of a cooperative relationship between the government and the guilds.

And the institution responsible for managing all this was the ‘Bank af København’ (BAK), the national financial institution of the Kingdom of Dane.

The role of BAK, short for ‘Bank af København,’ was truly complex and diverse. To compare it to modern institutions, it was like combining a country’s central bank, stock exchange, chamber of commerce, and financial supervisory authority into one.

Guilds were essentially associations of artisans, and as such, they were organizations responsible for one aspect of economic activity related to their professions. The director-general of BAK was a high-ranking official directly under the Chancellor, responsible for overseeing the operations of these guilds, ensuring the healthy flow of manpower and money within the country, and maintaining balance.

The man reporting to the Chancellor was none other than the director-general of BAK.

His full name was Niels Henrik Somz, the eldest son of former Chancellor and court composer Rasmus Somz, and the young master of the Somz family.

He was one of the three children of Rasmus Somz, known in the world as the ‘Three Falcons of the Somz Family.’

While looking at the eldest son of her respected mentor with warm eyes, Chancellor Iida Torildur Ingrid continued the discussion on the important state affairs at hand.

“What about the response to the movements of the youth?”

While adults with jobs could be controlled through their respective guilds’ commands, special attention was needed for children without jobs and retired elders. However, BAK Director-General Niels Henrik Somz answered without hesitation.

“Children over the age of 10 are mostly studying at vocational training centers operated by each guild, so we are proceeding in that direction. For children under 10 and the elderly, we have requested cooperation from the church.”

“Good, the results of the policies we’ve been pushing are showing here.”

The Chancellor smiled broadly and nodded.

The vocational training centers operated by the guilds of the Kingdom of Dane were the biggest distinguishing feature between the kingdom’s guilds and the traditional guilds of other countries.

In traditional guild systems, vocational education referred to apprenticeship education, where apprentices learned skills and know-how by assisting their masters. Here, the master-apprentice relationship was also that of employer and employee.

In fact, the relationship between a knight and his squire or a university professor and his assistant was not much different, meaning apprenticeship education was essentially the traditional method of education.

In contrast, the training centers operated by the guilds of the Kingdom of Dane were an example of a completely different teaching method. Standardized curricula were established, and professional instructors taught students according to these curricula.

In other words, while it might not be enough to produce a single master craftsman, it was more than sufficient to supply a number of semi-skilled workers who could be employed anywhere.

In fact, such a system would have been difficult to realize without the special circumstances of the Kingdom of Dane, where conditions, needs, motivations, and driving forces were all aligned.

If it weren’t for a fledgling nation with no traditions, trying to establish a proper state system and compete with traditional powers by overhauling all aspects of the country? And if there wasn’t a need to immediately and long-term supply high-quality talent throughout the country?

If there was no idea of state-led guild cultivation or control, and no accumulation of policy know-how?

Then, there would have been no need or ability to touch the traditional apprenticeship education system.

In any case, thanks to this, the control of population movements through guilds could be applied not only to working adults but also to boys over the age of 10 receiving education at training centers. It was truly another achievement that the Chancellor and the BAK Director-General could celebrate as a reform success.

Depending on the results of this operation, it could serve as evidence that the government’s control over the people could reach the very bottom of the nation.

The reliance on the church for the management of children under 10, retired elders, and disabled people who couldn’t work was somewhat regrettable, but both knew that expecting more would be greedy. The kingdom’s budget was still insufficient in all aspects to dedicate resources to those who couldn’t pay taxes or provide labor.

“If we can mobilize the guilds and the church, we can grasp and respond to the movements of almost everyone in the country. Truly an encouraging achievement.”

“Indeed. However, as a politician running a country, this ability seems both frightening and dangerous. It must be used with great care and discernment, always for the safety of the state.”

“Indeed, it’s a power that must not be abused, and cannot be abused.”

As Niels Henrik Somz trembled at the unprecedented potential of state power, Chancellor Iida Torildur Ingrid warned him in a serious tone.

Niels Henrik Somz was expected to succeed her as the kingdom’s Chancellor. It would be unacceptable for such a person to lose political moderation by becoming enamored with the power of state authority.

Chancellor Iida Torildur Ingrid recalled her days as a novice bureaucrat learning politics under Rasmus Somz and did her best to guide Niels Henrik Somz.

“Anyway, once we officially suppress population movements, there’s only one thing left.”

“All preparations for a comprehensive sweep have been made. The sorcerer controlling the monsters will only be able to grasp the situation after the quarantine is over.”

“Good job. In fact, if we’ve come this far, there’s not much left for us to do. Everything ultimately depends on the Paladin of the Church Order, doesn’t it?”

At the Chancellor’s words, Niels Henrik Somz forced a bitter smile. No matter how high the kingdom’s state power reached, it still couldn’t match the power of a single superhuman. His special situation made this realization even more poignant.

Suddenly, the Chancellor smiled and said to Niels Henrik Somz.

“Huhu, if this operation succeeds, the Director-General’s contribution will be significant.”

“Flattery. What have I done? It’s all thanks to the hard work of the government officials and BAK staff.”

At the Chancellor’s words, Niels Henrik Somz modestly deflected the praise. The Chancellor’s gaze was warm, like an older sister looking at a much younger brother. Despite being a grown man, Niels felt as if he had returned to his childhood and couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. However, the following words made his expression harden.

“Lord Somz, you are truly fortunate.”

“! ……, Haha, is that so?”

At the Chancellor’s words, Niels Henrik Somz seemed about to say something but then swallowed his words with a bitter smile. Chancellor Iida Torildur Ingrid, who had keenly noticed his reaction, also smiled wryly.

‘Tsk, boy. Are you still hung up on that?’

As the Director-General of BAK with an impeccable career, destined to succeed her as the next Chancellor, Niels Henrik Somz’s unusually deflated demeanor was out of place. The Chancellor inwardly clicked her tongue at this incongruous sight.

“Your Somz family was originally a court poet family, which I know well. But someone like you, who has achieved success in a field, seems still bound by the title of court poet. Is there a reason you’re so fixated on it?”

The Chancellor’s tone was slightly reproachful, but Niels Henrik Somz showed no particular reaction. He just smiled awkwardly, as if he had nothing to say.

However, Chancellor Iida Torildur Ingrid could guess what was on his mind without hearing it.

Originally, the Somz family had inherited the tradition of court poets, or skalds. Her mentor, Rasmus Somz, had reached a level of wisdom and sagacity that allowed him to serve as the kingdom’s Chancellor, but this was merely a concurrent position with his role as court composer. His true essence remained that of a traditional court poet.

Among Rasmus Somz’s three children, the eldest, Niels Henrik Somz, had only average talent as a skald. For the eldest son of a family with a father who was a great skald, average talent was like an unavoidable weak point.

Moreover, his younger siblings, Iida Birgitt Somz and Brantley Somz, both showed exceptional talent as skalds. The sense of alienation and pressure felt by the eldest son was indescribable.

That said, it wasn’t as if the family members gave him any disapproving looks or made him feel unwelcome. His father, Rasmus Somz, was a man of great ability and popularity, so he had no need to impose his ideals on his children. His siblings also had no tendency to belittle or disparage their less talented elder brother.

However, feelings of inadequacy tend to grow and accumulate regardless of the surrounding environment.

Ultimately, this sense of inadequacy became an incurable complex for Niels Henrik Somz, persisting even now as he achieved remarkable results in administration and management.

‘There’s no need to be so hung up on it.’

Although Niels Henrik Somz’s talent as a skald was average, as a bureaucrat, he was an exceptional talent, hard to match. As someone she had been eyeing to succeed her as the kingdom’s Chancellor, his unnecessary complex was not a good look.

‘But, as an outsider, there’s nothing I can do to help. I can only hope he overcomes it himself.’

If he could overcome it, he would grow even further. Believing this, Chancellor Iida Torildur Ingrid decided to keep an eye on Niels Henrik Somz.

“Alright, then how far along is the support plan for this operation?”

“Here, the general framework is complete. Please refer to the thirty-eighth item in the submitted report.”

“Oh? I thought it would take longer to shape up since there’s no precedent, but it’s progressing faster than expected.”

“There may be no precedent since the kingdom was established, but there are records from before that. The situation is different, so we can’t do the same, but we could refer to some extent.”

Truly capable. It’s a pity that such a pillar of the kingdom is held back by a mere complex.

After a brief respite, the Chancellor’s officials resumed their work. Niels Henrik Somz, the Director-General of BAK, also hurriedly finished his report and returned to his own battlefield.

A major project that could determine the future of the nation was imminent. The weight of the responsibilities on their shoulders was too heavy to be distracted by personal matters.

 

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