Chapter 17: Inglis, 12 years old (5)
「So it really is you, Mr. Rahal. Thank you for training with me back then. It has indeed been a while.」
Inglis curtsied politely. Even so, she still couldn’t fathom how Rahal was the envoy sent by the Highlands.
「Don’t you find it baffling that I’m a Highlander?」
The now 20-year-old Rahal was wearing a feather headpiece and something similar to a rune was suspended between his brows. 1 Also, the color of his eyes had turned a shade of emerald green.
「Yes, it really gave me a shock.」 「I bet. But this stigmata on my forehead is the undeniable sign of a Highlander. I am a genuine Highlander, you see, through and through.」 「I see, so you can become a Highlander even if you aren’t born on the Highland.」 「Of course you can. All you need to do is provide the Highland with a great contribution to gain its citizenship.」
Said Rahal, proudly displaying the stigmata on his forehead.
「What kind of contribution are we talking about?」 「Cash, simple. We offer most of our profits from the trade to the Highland. Though, you’d also need a connection with a high-class Highlander that holds authority.」 「I see… …」 2
Simply put, it’s bribery huh. That doesn’t sound very nice to me. Inglis thought.
「Well, it did strip me of everything I had but if that means I could buy this position, this price ain’t mean nothing. I mean, Highlanders are essentially above these lowly aristocrats crawling on the ground.」 「I don’t particularly concern myself with such matters.」