Chapter 265 - Prospects for the Coming Year
After concluding the meeting with the board members, I head not to a conference room but to the guest room where my rendezvous awaits. The top floor and the one below are entirely reserved. A super VIP is staying here, after all.
Accompanied by Frederica, I enter the top floor and make my way through the security provided by the Aurora Torch Knights to the designated room. "Welcome, Yukarinowe. And you too, Frederica. Please, come in."
Greeting us with the demeanor of a household’s mistress is Duchess Rosmerta Juliana Oversta. I take a seat at the tea table she offers, as does Frederica, though she seems a bit intimidated. It appears that no one else is in this room or the next, save for the knights in the hallway. Even among old acquaintances, meeting alone with someone from the underworld is quite bold.
"Alone? You should be more cautious."
"It’s not a formal occasion, and having someone else around would make it hard for me to relax."
She pours the tea herself, exuding a calm confidence. "Fine, but are you sure you don’t want anyone else to hear this?"
She’s cautious, no doubt. She trusts her confidants, but information can leak from anywhere. The fewer people who know a secret, the better. Still, a strategist like her might even use leaks to her advantage. Maybe she just didn’t like the idea this time.
"Hehe, I can rely on you, Yukarinowe."
"Flattery won’t win me over."
I can’t take her compliments at face value. She’s up to something, and I’m not about to be swayed by her words. I’m not someone who can be bought off easily, and I have no shortage of funds. I’m well aware that betraying Rosmerta would mean the end of my operations in the Kingdom of Brenark.
Exembra is our base, and losing business here would be devastating. We also have a personal friendship, which makes betrayal highly unlikely. Still, her smile, charming as it is, always makes me uneasy.
After some casual conversation, we get down to business. "So, Yukarinowe, the arena this year has brought in a lot of wealth, hasn’t it?"
"Indeed. It’s been a prosperous year, and not just for Exembra. The Royal Capital has benefited greatly as well."
"Thanks to the profits funneled through the nobility and merchant guilds, the Royal Palace has seen significant gains."
The arena generates immense wealth. Billions of Gist flow through it alone, and the economic ripple effects are even more substantial.
"Do you have any plans for how to use the income?"
"A rough idea. I throw out some general wishes, and the board and Frederica handle the specifics."
Our gazes turn to Frederica, and she begins her explanation. "In brief, the biggest allocations will be member bonuses and increased budgets for each section. We’ll also invest in new ventures and cover related expenses."
"There’s no point in hoarding it. We’ll spend it wisely."
"Indeed, the Kikyo Society never disappoints. Too many people try to hoard wealth, which can be problematic."
Money is a fluid asset. While a little savings are fine, hoarding large sums can create issues. The arena generates vast sums, and once earned, the question becomes how to use it. The significant profits raise the issue of where to allocate the funds.
"So, what’s your plan for the money you’ve earned? Is that the main topic?"
"Exactly. I’ve been thinking about how to use the profits, and now that they’re real, it’s time to put them to use. That’s why I called you here."
"I suppose I have no choice but to hear you out."
We’re here to listen, and while Rosmerta tends to bring up troublesome matters, she always offers something in return. "The primary use will be for military expenses. The reasons should be clear, right?"
Initially, the Royal Palace focused on the Royal Capital’s reconstruction and development, but with the looming threat of the Medek-Legisamo Empire, military spending increased significantly.
The war with the Empire isn’t entirely over, but the Kingdom of Brenark’s primary target has always been closer to home. The immediate threat is more pressing.
"The former Retnark. You’re planning a full-scale invasion, I take it?"
"We can’t afford to let this problem fester. Given the current political and financial situation, there’s no longer a need for caution."
The surplus from the arena will be directed to the military, transitioning from a defensive stance to an offensive one. This means the invasion and pacification of the former Retnark.
Retnark once invaded Brenark but was defeated. However, internal strife led to its downfall, and the fragmented factions continued to fight among themselves. This allowed Brenark to rise again, and with Rosmerta’s leadership, the kingdom was rebuilt and even thrived. Recently, they dealt a significant blow to the Medek-Legisamo Empire in the western continent.
The kingdom has not only recovered but is now more prosperous than ever. However, the former Retnark, now a fragmented and dangerous entity, poses a threat. There have been incidents, like a recent bombing plot against the arena, which highlight the need to act.
Public opinion also favors action against the former Retnark. There are also various interests at play, including those of the military, but the political reasons are less important to me.
"When do you plan to start?"
"We aim to begin the invasion by summer."
It’s currently a pleasant autumn, and preparing for summer gives us ample time.
"So, why are you telling us this in confidence? You’re not asking us to clear the way, are you?"
That’s the crux of the matter. What does she want from us? This isn’t a surprise attack like the one against the Medek-Legisamo Empire. This is a full-scale invasion to annex the former Retnark and expand the kingdom’s territory.
It’s not just about defeating the enemy but also about securing and governing the towns. Military spending involves more than just building up forces; it’s a comprehensive strategy for victory and post-invasion governance.
Of course, the main military force will be the regular army, but mercenary groups might also be used. The kingdom will likely win a straightforward battle, but Rosmerta won’t settle for a simple approach. She’s been planning this for a long time and has contingency plans in place.
She won’t just attack head-on; infiltration and subversion are also part of her strategy. There will be many opportunities for persuasion and betrayal, and towns will be taken with minimal resistance.
Why she wants to involve us, with our unconventional methods, is unclear.
"Hehe, nothing like that. I want you to deal with some bandits."
"Bandits? What’s your real agenda?"
It’s a suspicious request. Bandits can be handled by the regular army. There’s no need to involve us.
"Frederica, what do you think the kingdom will gain by annexing Retnark?"
Frederica, caught off guard, hesitates before answering. "First, we’ll gain a territory roughly the same size as Brenark. This will provide access to various resources. The Royal Palace can also grant land to new influential nobles. And... the sea. Is that the focus?"
"Exactly. The kingdom, an inland nation, will expand its territory to the coast, but that’s the challenge."
The sea. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it.
I push aside the sentimental thoughts and focus on the question. The focus is the sea?
"But you mentioned bandits earlier. Could it be..."
My unease is met with Rosmerta’s charming smile.
"Piracy. I want you to deal with it."
She says it with a smile, as if it’s nothing.
Her request, initially confusing, starts to make sense once she elaborates. The invasion is a state affair, but the Kingdom of Brenark’s military is mostly land-based. They can conquer the fragmented factions of the former Retnark, but the real challenge is the sea.
Retnark once had a navy, which has now turned to piracy, controlling the coastal waters. The Kingdom of Brenark, lacking a navy, can’t compete with these pirates. Building a navy from scratch would take too long, and acquiring ships capable of countering the pirates is a significant challenge.
That’s where we come in. As a small, elite group, we’re expected to handle the situation. But that’s where things get complicated.
"I understand the situation, but we have no experience in naval combat. If they run, we can’t catch them. If it’s just sinking the ships we can see from land, maybe we could manage."
"Oh, if it were that simple, I wouldn’t ask you."
"What do you mean?"
"Building a navy from scratch is too difficult. I want to use the pirates as our navy. They were once the navy, so I want you to persuade them to join us."
She’s asking the impossible.
"Handling the sea is unfamiliar territory, and we have no connections in the ports. Getting to the eastern coast of the continent will be a significant undertaking. And you want us to not just defeat them but recruit them?"
I’m usually confident in turning the impossible into the possible, but this time, I can’t see how it will work.
"Hehe, even you are stumped, Yukarinowe?"
"Of course. If you ask me to do something impossible, I’ll have to refuse. Can I?"
"Do you not want the port’s privileges?"
That’s the bait.
"..."
It’s tempting. The port’s privileges offer several opportunities. The port itself is a hub of activity, and the scale of operations is massive.
While this world’s magical civilization is advanced, many tasks still rely on manual labor, including port operations. Cargo ships are unloaded and loaded manually, with magical assistance, but it’s still a significant undertaking. The volume of cargo and the number of workers required make it a substantial business.
Currently, the port is plagued by piracy, and most ships avoid it, routing through the northern port of Donditch. If the kingdom can use the port directly, it would significantly reduce costs and improve trade.
"Yukari, this could be a major legitimate business."
"Yes, and more than that, it will bring additional benefits."
There are also the unique advantages of the underworld. For example, smuggling. As the port’s overseers, we could easily facilitate the import and export of goods and people. There will always be a demand for discreet travel, whether for criminals or others.
"By the way, how many pirate bases are there?"
"There are several, but I’m only asking the Kikyo Society to handle the port on Breastflow Island. It was once the largest military port of the former Retnark and poses the greatest threat. While the military port can’t be given away, the largest non-military port will be your reward."
This isn’t the typical pirate hideout I imagined.
I’ll need to study the geography and specifics of Retnark’s coastline. Breastflow Island has a military port, but I don’t know its size or location.
Still, the pirates using a former naval base is fitting.
It’s a daunting task, but there’s plenty of time to prepare. Rosmerta likely brought this up early to give us time to prepare. She probably kept it secret because our role in eliminating the pirates is the most sensitive part.
There are also other interests to consider, but for now, it’s manageable.
"... Hmm, the value seems to match the trouble. We’ll conduct our own investigation, but it will have to wait until the arena is over."
"Feel free to prepare as you see fit, but of course, it must be done in secret. When can we start acting more openly?"
"We aim to begin the invasion in early summer, so I’d like it done by then. At the latest, by the end of summer. We’ll discuss more during the winter arena."
"Understood."
At this stage, there are too many questions to form coherent ones. The plan is still secret, and I can’t discuss it widely within the board, but I should consult with the Intelligence Bureau and Siegrune.
With her business concluded, Rosmerta leaves to meet others.
"Yukari, it looks like we’ll be busy again."
"Preparations for the summer pirate hunt and other tasks await. And there will be more to come, I’m sure."
The autumn will be busy with the arena, and the winter arena will follow. We also have our annual special training to consider. Spring will bring another arena, the busiest season of the year.
Indeed, we’ll be very busy.