Chapter 55 - Chapter 26: "I Have Killed Them!"
Greetings! It is Violia Nico Fortesia!
I am now making the head of House Fruitier write a delightful letter!
"Yes. That is it. You should write, 'All guns and gun-related items owned by House Fruitier, as well as the rights to their manufacturing sites and raw materials, everything related to guns shall be transferred to Violia Nico Fortesia.'"
Even if I do not press the gun against him, with Doran and Keeb standing behind him, and furthermore, me standing in front of him, the Fruitier bastard obeys perfectly.
Well, the gun that was supposed to be his trump card is now far away on the floor. His son is unconscious, and he has no weapons, no allies, and no place to run. It is only natural that he obeys!
And so, after making the Fruitier bastard write what I wanted him to write, it is the final treat.
"Now, the promised money. Here you go?"
I turned the bag of Black Gold Coins (though they are counterfeits! Naturally!) upside down and scattered the Black Gold Coins on the floor.
The Fruitier bastard seems unable to talk about pride anymore. He began to scramble for the coins scattered on the floor!
That incompetent noble who was only high and mighty! He is crawling on the floor collecting money! Serves him right!
"I would truly like the other nobles to see your current appearance. It is quite amusing."
When I said that, the Fruitier bastard made a very hateful face.
"To threaten someone and then say such a...!"
It seems he does not understand his position. Furthermore, he seems not to understand his own fate after this. Well, fine.
"You are not doing this for the sake of your life. After all, I had no intention of harming you as long as you did not do anything foolish. And..."
I leaned down slightly to match his gaze and showed the Fruitier bastard.
"That I have a gun is a lie."
"Wha... what did you say..."
I tossed the gun I had in my hand to the Fruitier bastard.
...It was not a gun or anything, just a toy. It was merely something that somewhat imitated the appearance of a gun.
Naturally, no bullets come out, and it does not explode. However... it was more than enough to deceive and frighten a fool.
"T-then, the guards..."
"What was hitting their backs? You have already seen that too, haven't you? It is the iron pipe that the man over there is holding."
The iron pipe in Doran's hand. That is the true identity of the gun that was behind the guards.
Since it is something they cannot see anyway, anything would have been fine. As long as something like a metal cylinder is being pressed against their backs, those who know of 'Guns' will be frightened by that alone.
Smiling brightly at the Fruitier bastard who was stunned by the true identity of our 'Gun,' I told him.
"See? Therefore, you are not crawling on the floor collecting coins because you were threatened. You are crawling on the floor like that of your own accord, for the sake of money."
In a state of daze, the Fruitier bastard ended up leaving the inn.
"Then, greetings. I do not think we shall ever meet again."
I wonder if my words even reached him. He just clutched the bag containing the counterfeit Black Gold Coins and climbed into the carriage that had been parked outside.
...And.
The carriage the Fruitier bastard climbed into!
Went up in flames!
It did—!!
The carriage is burning! That bastard finally died!
Naturally! There was no way I would let him go home alive!
Ah, with this, I have been able to purge one more fool who dared to oppose Fortesia! I feel very good! Ohohohohoho!
"Yo. Looks like it went well?"
"Yes. Chesta. You did good work too. It was a fine performance."
"Haha. That's an honor. ...So, sorry Giovan, but could you put me in the bag? I'm getting pretty bad now."
...Well, that is true. He is an arsonist who set two fires in a row, after all.
"Yes, yes. Do you want to get in too, young lady? And Doran as well?"
"Yeah. Sorry, but I'll leave the rest to you."
And so, before people could gather at the burning carriage, we decided to hide in Giovan's Spatial Bag.
...Ah, of course, I recovered the Black Gold Coins from inside the carriage!
Thus, in the royal capital, the head of House Fruitier met a mysterious death in despair, and later, House Fruitier was to be disbanded.
Since the eldest son remains missing, and the warehouse with the products and the winery have disappeared, it is only natural.
The wife and other children left in the mansion will likely end up wandering the streets. Well, I might as well overlook them. It was mainly the head and the eldest son who entrapped Fortesia.
Besides... for the nobles raised in a pampered greenhouse, it might be more painful to live on after falling.
Now then.
Thus, having brilliantly caused the downfall of the evil House Fruitier and escaped from the royal capital, we cannot simply return to Elsemarin.
The place we are heading to is east of Elsemarin.
The place where House Fruitier was manufacturing guns is likely there.
Heading southeast from the royal capital. Near Poaris, there are mines. House Fortesia's mines are also in this area.
And from among them, I shall find the one belonging to House Fruitier... and head there.
The rights to this mine are already mine. Because I made him write the letter that way. And the gun manufacturing factory in this mine is also mine!
"It reminds me of the Bag Village..."
What was in the Fruitier mine was a sight that recalled our Bag Village. However... our Bag Village has a far better environment.
Workers covered in dust, simply and indifferently making gun barrels. All of their eyes are dead.
And it seems there are guards as well. The guards are monitoring the workers and making them work.
Since the soldiers on guard are wearing the same outfits as the House Fruitier guards, there is no mistake that this is Fruitier's gun factory.
...Now then.
"Greetings!"
I boldly entered the factory.
Towards the guards who were alarmed by our intrusion, I thrust out the letter.
"As of this moment, this factory has become mine! If you understand, everyone assemble at once!"
The workers assembled in great confusion.
And the soldiers...
"You! What do you think you're doing!"
"What is the meaning of this! This is a factory directly operated by House Fruitier!"
Well, they all came over while saying such stupid things. Judging by the way they are already brandishing weapons, they seem quite motivated. I do not dislike those with spirit.
"There is no meaning or anything. I have been formally transferred the rights to this factory, the mine, and even you all, by the head of House Fruitier. Listen well! From today, this place is mine!"
Then I explained to them. That House Fruitier has fallen. That there is no longer an employer for the soldiers and workers here. And above all, that I am the new master of this place!
"By the way, how much were you receiving in wages?"
The soldiers had faces as if wondering what I was talking about, but they finally answered after I asked the same question again.
"Monthly, we were receiving about 30 gold coins, but..."
"I see. ...Then, rest assured. Even if your employer has died, I shall newly employ you. For 50 gold coins a month."
Seeing the soldiers startled, I smiled brightly.
"Decide now whether you will be employed or not. Of course, if you wish to remain loyal to Fruitier, that is fine in its own way."
When I said that, the soldiers looked at each other... and then every single one of them requested to be employed by me! High wages are indeed attractive, aren't they!
After winning over the soldiers, next are the workers.
"I shall have you all employed as well. How much were your wages? Now, speak up!"
...But, some rather unexpected words came out.
"We have not been receiving wages..."
"Because we are slaves..."
...Ah, that? Is that how it is?
This is... hmm.
I am in a bind. As for the soldiers, I can just lure them with wages. If anyone betrays me, I can just kill them as an example and silence everyone. That is fine.
But as for the workers... they were slaves, weren't they? And by the death of the head of House Fruitier, they are now free, aren't they?
Hmm... what should I do about this.
I thought about many things. How to manufacture guns most efficiently, while maintaining secrecy.
After thinking and thinking... I reached a conclusion.
"I understand. It is a bother, so I shall build a factory in Elsemarin! And I shall employ all of you there together!"
Yes. I shall build a second Bag Village... no, a Bag Factory!
...Since then, one month has passed.
I bought a corner of the noble district in Elsemarin (it is a fine ghost town now) and built a gun factory there.
However, naturally, I did not make it a mere factory.
When you enter through the building's entrance, you are automatically inside a Spatial Bag. ...Yes. It is made so that one does not realize this is inside a bag.
And inside the Spatial Bag, I have fully equipped the gun factory. ...I moved the entire factory equipment, lock, stock, and barrel, into the Spatial Bag. Thanks to that, the relocation was very easy.
On the other hand, since I cannot move the mine, I built proper dormitories at the mine, hired miners, and decided to transport the iron ore and gunpowder raw materials obtained there to Elsemarin.
The workers, who were originally slaves, work well. After all, what was originally unpaid and without rest has become paid and with rest. Naturally, the work efficiency increases.
Guns depend on precision. If I make them manufacture guns in a poor working environment, there is no telling what kind of inferior products might be made.
Since these will be the weapons that Elsemarin entrusts its life to, naturally, I shall have them exercise the best technology in the best environment.
...Yes.
I am thinking of something very good right now.
I shall make Elsemarin the first armed group in this world to be equipped with guns.