"Just how much debt is there?"
At my question that was almost a mutter Rudolf held out a single document.
"This is the list of the debts created by the previous ambassador."
Looking at the document that was held out, names and amounts are recorded in order of the largest amounts. Achim Kirchhoff 550 gold coins, next Klaus Meine 400 gold coins, and after that they continue in a long line, the total being 3,100 gold coins!? In places the writing is blurred.
"Th-this Achim Kirchhoff is who?"
"A count, my lord."
"A count... and this Klaus Meine?"
"The next head of a baronial house, my lord."
"Then all the names written in this register are...?"
"Just as Robin-sama surmises, they are all the heads of noble houses or next heads, and members of their families."
"Are there no money-lenders?"
