Chapter 36 - Episode 7: The Guild is in Trouble
Greetings. I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
I have just realized the possibility that the loathsome House Fruitier might resort to war once they are on the brink of bankruptcy.
Historically, this country has a habit of picking fights with its neighbors to make a quick profit whenever it runs out of money and finds itself in a bind. There is a high probability they will employ the same tactic this time...
Since they already crushed House Fortesia to extort our funds before starting a war, it was thought that the grace period until the next conflict had been extended... but there is a distinct possibility that the cornered House Fruitier will try to instigate a war.
"In that case, the countermeasure is simple. Before we drop slimes into the Fruitier winery, we shall seize control of the weapons market."
If a war breaks out, weapons will sell. Therefore, before the catalyst for war even arises—while House Fruitier is still blissfully unaware—if we buy up all the weapons in locations they are likely to reach for, they will have no choice but to buy weapons from us.
"So that means House Fruitier either hands their gold to us, or they go bankrupt. Is that it?"
"The Royal Family is not known for showing mercy to nobles on the decline, so House Fruitier will likely follow in the footsteps of House Fortesia. They will probably be framed for something convenient and fall from grace."
As they say, when you curse someone, you dig two graves! (T/N: 'Hito wo norowaba ana futatsu' is a proverb meaning that wishing harm on others brings harm to oneself.) Ohohohoho!
From that very day, the collection of weapons began. Secretly, of course, so as not to be discovered. Since that is entirely Giovan-san's responsibility, I am hardly involved. However, it does not seem to be going very well. Part of it is that they cannot move too openly, but it seems quite difficult for an individual to procure weapons in such large quantities.
Well, I have no choice but to trust in his skill... My involvement is limited to slime breeding and drug cultivation.
First, to increase the credibility of a 'slime outbreak,' I intend to cause slimes to appear in massive numbers in various places for no particular reason.
That way, fewer people will associate us with the slime outbreaks, and it will make our effort of buying up all the slime repellent worthwhile. I might even consider buying out the manufacturers who produce the repellent.
Next, regarding the drugs... while we continue to sell Mystic Ruby as usual, we are also creating a drug to be circulated among the nobility.
I have merely changed the bottle design, but I am differentiating it by adding a tiny bit more leaf components and sweeteners.
The product name for this one is 'Honey Royal.' The price is three times that of Mystic Ruby. Well, for noble clientele, even this is practically a bargain.
As for the leaf fields, Keeb-san goes to check on the state of Bag Village once a day to drop off food and listen to their concerns. The villagers seem a bit anxious, but they are gradually getting used to it. Since they were people who rarely interacted with the outside world to begin with, living inside Bag Village does not seem to pose any particular problem.
...And so, preparations proceeded in that manner.
In Bag Village, the leaves that had been growing well in the fields were harvested, and they immediately began to pass into the hands of the dealers to be sold off. Simultaneously, 'Honey Royal' began to circulate.
We have already earned enough money to buy a noble title.
...However, I have no intention of doing something like buying a title just yet.
We are doing quite a lot of things, after all. If we suddenly bought a title and stepped onto the public stage without any prior maneuvering, we would simply be hauled off to prison and that would be the end of it.
Furthermore, one does not become a noble simply with enough money to buy the title. A noble title is merely a passing point. You cannot fight unless you possess funds in addition to that.
...Therefore, for the time being, we shall continue our transactions in the underworld without appearing on the public stage. Yes.
Then, the season for grape blossoms ended, and the fruit began to set.
The perfect time to release slimes into the winery had finally arrived, and we were just about to launch a direct strike on the winery with slimes in hand.
...But before that, something rather troublesome occurred.
It happened while Keeb-san and I were walking through the town.
"Oh, there are soldiers. Their security is likely full of holes anyway, but shall we change our route just in case?"
"Yeah. No objections."
There were many soldiers on the way to our destination (a delicious bakery). People other than soldiers seemed to be gathering as well. I wonder if something happened.
...Lately, because we have been scattering surplus slimes randomly all over the place, the soldiers have been busy dealing with them and haven't stayed in Elsemarin much. Well, it seems they didn't think the criminal who slaughtered all the nobles in Elsemarin would stay here forever anyway, so it couldn't be helped.
So... seeing so many soldiers here now feels out of place. Especially with so many people gathered there...
"Would it be alright if I eavesdropped?"
"Then, that alleyway over there."
"My, you are quite reliable, aren't you?"
"I've been working in this town forever, so this much is natural."
Guided by Keeb-san, we took up positions where we could hear the soldiers' voices without being seen. I thought we might hear something interesting.
...And then.
"This Guild is under suspicion of harboring the great criminal, Violia Nico Fortesia!"
Yes, I heard the soldier's voice.
The Guild. The Guild. Yes. The place where the soldiers were gathered was the Guild.
Speaking of the Elsemarin Guild, that is the place where I was captured. Yes.
...Why would that Guild, and at this late stage, be suspected of harboring me...
"How strange..."
It is strange for this to happen so suddenly.
If they were going to charge the 'Guild with harboring me,' they should have done it immediately after I was captured. For it to start now means...
"Does it mean there was some kind of trigger?"
"Perhaps, but..."
Keeb-san and I held our breath and listened to the soldiers' voices.
"Consequently, the King has commanded that a fine of one Black Gold Coin be paid!"
...And then, I heard those shocking words.
A Black Gold Coin... you say? That is enough to easily buy a noble title. It feels like enough to perfectly manage funds thereafter. In short, it is a fine far too large to suddenly impose on a town's Guild.
What on earth... does this mean?
After that, I could hear the soldiers denouncing the Guild while saying various things, but Keeb-san and I slipped away at a good point. I have no desire to be caught in the crossfire by staying too long.
"...And that was the situation."
Immediately upon returning to the hideout, I reported to Doran-san, Giovan-san, and Chesta-san who were there. Oh, but Chesta-san is high, so reporting to him is a waste of time.
"Does it mean the Guild has been targeted? If it's to make them the target of public dissatisfaction... that would make sense."
"If so, isn't it a bit late? I think they should have done it before the public execution."
"They might have simply wanted money. It wouldn't be strange if they thought they could just pluck it from the Guild."
Hmm... but it is a strange story.
Certainly, if it's about crushing the Guild to take their money, just as they crushed House Fortesia, it's not entirely incomprehensible. Both the Royal Family and the nobles have reasons to do so (meaning they are poor), and I can somewhat understand wanting to make them the target of public dissatisfaction... but if that's the case, the Guild is far too inefficient.
Because many adventurers use the Guild. Turning the Guild into an enemy means turning the adventurers there into enemies as well. As a measure against the populace, it is far too unsuitable to be made into a public enemy.
"...Come to think of it, Violia-sama. When I went to report to the Guild, you mentioned something about a receptionist, didn't you?"
"I did, didn't I?"
"Is there a possibility that she sensed this would happen in advance and quit the Guild to run away? If we track her down, might we find something out?"
You mean the Pin-Hane Girl? If she sensed it and fled... that would mean she did something.
But I cannot imagine a mere Pin-Hane Girl having the power to move soldiers. Oh, but she is practically the only person who publicly knows my information...
...Hmm. But it lacks a decisive factor...
"Well, whatever. If the Guild is in trouble, it's a blessing for me."
"Eh?"
Then suddenly, Giovan-san said that with a cheerful face as if he were about to start whistling.
"What do you mean?"
"What? I'm saying we should take this chance to help the Guild."
Help the Guild? ...That means... ah.
"If we team up with the Guild, gathering weapons will be a lot easier, won't it?"
...It seems the Elsemarin Guild is also about to fall to our side.