Chapter 54 - Chapter 25: "Your Assets Are Burning Quite Nicely, Aren't They?"
Greetings. It is Violia Nico Fortesia.
I am now in a room of a quiet inn, slightly on the outskirts of the royal capital.
The luxurious room makes me well realize that it is an inn for nobles.
...What am I doing in a place like this, you ask? That is already decided!
From now on! I shall watch the House Fruitier warehouse burn! Together with the people from House Fruitier!
"I am getting excited..."
"That's just the line of a dangerous person."
Say whatever you like. In fact, I am! Excited right now!
...The document to lure out Fruitier has already been sent.
'I have heard that your winery has suffered devastating damage. I wish to provide funding of three Black Gold Coins. In exchange, I would like you to be friendly when we advance into the noble world. It is better to talk about the details in person. I shall wait at an inn on the outskirts of the royal capital,' is the sort of wording it had.
For Fruitier, if they want to choose any option other than 'discarding this talk immediately,' they must meet us no matter what. And once we can meet, we have our illegally modified Spatial Bags, so there is nothing to worry about.
...And.
In this inn, together with the Fruitier lot, I shall look towards the House Fruitier warehouse visible from the window... and enjoy seeing it explode and go up in flames! Yes! That is it! If I am going to do it, I must do it thoroughly!
Since it is a rare opportunity, I shall enjoy the explosion and fire of the warehouse to the fullest, as a side dish! Ohohohohoho!
"I envy Chesta... the one who sets the fire must be having fun too."
By the way, the one in charge of setting fire to the warehouse this time is Chesta. As an evacuation route, Giovan is scheduled to wander around the area with a Spatial Bag. If it is Chesta, well, he should be fine. Even a drug addict will do what needs to be done when the time comes.
...Especially this time, perhaps because Doran was dealt a painful blow, he seems to be quite fired up. Chesta, and Giovan too.
Well, it is a good thing to have spirit. Because Chesta was so motivated, I yielded the role of arsonist to him!
"Whether to enjoy the explosion and fire of the warehouse from afar with the Fruitier lot, or to enjoy the exploding and burning warehouse up close with my own hands... both were hard to choose between..."
At times like this, I wish there were two of me...
...While I was doing that, the Fruitier lot arrived. The inn servant announced the arrival of the guests.
"Then, as planned. Keeb, I'm counting on you."
"Yeah, yeah."
Keeb is in charge of calling the Fruitier lot into the room. He is also the one to send the signal to Chesta.
"Doran. Is your physical condition alright?"
"No problem."
Doran is in charge of suppressing the Fruitier lot or throwing them into the Spatial Bag.
...And, I am!
"Yes, four guests, right this way."
Keeb said that and opened the door to the room, and those who entered the room were the head of House Fruitier and his son.
And... they shall witness it.
"Welcome, I am glad you could come."
Me, waiting for them, sitting elegantly on the sofa!
Yes! My role! Is to provoke them as much as possible! And to make them despair as much as possible! That is all I am in charge of—!!
"Wha... y-you are...!"
"My apologies for the late greeting. I am Violia Nico Fortesia. ...It has been since we met in the throne room of the royal castle, has it not?"
When I stood up to welcome them, the head of House Fruitier turned surprisingly pale and began to tremble violently.
"Oh, please wait before you leave. The talk has not even begun yet, you know?"
Although the Fruitier head and his eldest son tried to exit immediately, their path was blocked by Doran.
"In the first place, you came here because you wanted funding, did you not? Would it not be reluctant to go home empty-handed?"
Because I said that, or rather, I think it was because Doran standing before them was scary, the House Fruitier heads turned back towards me again.
"...Now, please, have a seat? I am not very patient, you see."
When I pointed to the opposite sofa, the head and the eldest son sat on the sofa, and the two who appeared to be guards stood behind them.
...Hehe, it feels like a dream.
To have the bastards who burned my mansion right here before my eyes.
Of course, for me, it is the best dream, but for Fruitier, it is a nightmare. Yes.
"First, regarding the funding, I have the Black Gold Coins here."
I took the counterfeit Black Gold Coins from my breast and showed them to the two from Fruitier.
Suddenly, the two from Fruitier looked startled and were fascinated by the Black Gold Coins.
...While the attention of the two is on the Black Gold Coins, I send a signal to Keeb. Keeb should send lightning through the sky to signal Chesta.
"Do you want these Black Gold Coins? You do, don't you?"
I wonder what the two from Fruitier felt from my words. It seems they are not so dull that they cannot feel anything at all. While feeling only a bad premonition, they still waited for the continuation of my words... and then, they shall despair.
"Then I shall give them to you."
I dropped the Black Gold Coins on the floor. Under the table, in a position where they cannot be taken unless one crawls, you see.
"Now, please? Take them?"
Saying that, I directed a full smile at them.
"Y-you, are you mocking us!?"
"Mocking you? Heaven forbid. If anyone is mocking anyone, is it not you two?"
When I threatened them like that, both of them became quiet.
"Did you think you could get Black Gold Coins for free? Besides, if Black Gold Coins can be obtained just by you two crawling on the floor, is it not a cheap bargain?"
"Cheap, you say...?"
"It is a cheap thing, is it not? Your pride, when you are on the verge of downfall. Well, fine. If you wish to cling to your meager pride and fall, I shall not stop you."
I shall overwhelm them. Thoroughly. Ah, how delightful! I wanted to do this in front of a crowd of people!
For a while after that, the two from House Fruitier were hesitating.
But eventually, as if giving up, they let out a sigh and looked back at the guards behind them.
"Pick them up. It is not for members of House Fruitier to pick them up."
"Oh. You say such boring things."
Before the guards who immediately started moving... I brought out and aimed what I had been hiding behind my back.
"Wha...!"
"Oh. You know of this, don't you? 'This' was originally ours, of Fortesia."
What I aimed at them. ...It was a gun.
"Ah, Mr. Guards, please do not move. You should understand, but what is being pressed against the back of your hearts right now is the same as this."
Even before hearing my words, the two guards had stiffened. And for good reason. From behind, Keeb and Doran are pressing the objects against the guards' backs... at the position of their hearts.
"You do not need to feel anxious. As long as you do not do anything foolish, this gun will not spit fire."
I smiled brightly to reassure them and...
"Now, let us stop the boring wordplay. Lord Fruitier and the next head? Now, I wonder which of you will take the Black Gold Coins?"
When I asked that without lowering the gun, both of them finally froze.
For a while, both of them remained silent. The eldest son had a determined expression as he looked at the Black Gold Coins under the table, but...
"...No, enough. This talk is off."
Eventually, the Fruitier head said that.
"We do not need funding! Even without borrowing your hand, the loss from the winery can be managed somehow!"
"Oh, is that so? That is a pity."
Is pride that important? Well, I do not mind.
"...However, I wonder if that really 'can be managed somehow'?"
I said that and stood up... and opened the window curtains.
"Your source of funds. It has all been crushed now, you know?"
At the place I pointed to, on the outskirts of the royal capital... the Fruitier warehouse was finally burning with spectacular flames!
They invested massive funds to develop and manufacture guns, and now that is burning vigorously. The shock to the two from House Fruitier must be immeasurable.
Both the head and the eldest son clung to the window to look outside and collapsed on the spot.
Hehe, with this, their downfall is certain! Can they endure the downfall that is approaching by the second!?
"...Oh my. At this rate, House Fruitier cannot be rebuilt with just two or three Black Gold Coins, can it?"
I wonder if my words are reaching them. Needless to say, they should understand, but my words might not be reaching their ears.
"But do not worry. I have many more Black Gold Coins prepared. Look."
There, I took out one Black Gold Coin from a bag that made a clinking sound. Suddenly, the complexions of the two from Fruitier changed. After all, the money to save their lives and honor is now in my hand!
"...I shall give these to you as well. If you write a letter as I say, that is."
When I smiled brightly, the two from Fruitier finally showed expressions of despair... and looked back at the guards as if seeking salvation.
But the guards were no longer there.
While the two from Fruitier were focused outside the window, the guards had already disappeared.
Yes, inside the Spatial Bag!
"There is no one left to protect you. Now, will you go back as you are and become miserable fallen nobles? Or will you write the letter here, pick up the Black Gold Coins, and go home?"
When I forced a decision... they finally moved.
"In that case!"
Yes. Those bastards, they pulled out guns.
"The same trick won't work twice."
Doran said that and gave the iron pipe he swung a twirl.
In the eyes of the stunned House Fruitier head, the gun that was knocked away and rolling on the floor was reflected.
And beside him, the eldest son of House Fruitier was collapsing after being struck by Keeb's lightning.
"...I believe I said it, did I not? 'As long as you do not do anything foolish, this gun will not spit fire.'"
Now then. I pressed the gun in my hand against the forehead of the House Fruitier head and smiled brightly.
"This is the final confirmation. ...What is your wish?"