kscans

Chapter 152 - Chapter 20: Part One, Negotiations

"Well then, let’s hear your thoughts on this proposal."

I waited for the two imperial princesses to react.

"Unthinkable. What you are describing is the operational range of the monsters from the Mountains of Despair. What could you possibly hope to achieve by acquiring such a place?"

The first to speak was Lisabet. That’s right, her homeland was near the Blood Mountains, even by the Empire’s standards. The land I had pointed to was right next to it.

"...She’s right. That’s the kind of talk that makes me doubt your sanity."

Maytyl, who had been staring at me intently as if to discern my true intentions, also shook her head.

Incidentally, Mia’s face twisted in exasperation for just a moment. She, of course, knew about my ultimate goal, the concept of a general trading company, or rather, an international trading city.

"Why is it impossible?"

I asked Lisabet. In order to build what I want in that location, her opinion as a future neighbor was crucial. This was a matter I would have preferred to discuss with Alfina, but I am, after all, the despicable schemer who entrapped Lisabet.

"It should be obvious. The wyverns from the Mountains of Despair aren’t nearly as powerful as dragons individually, but they move in swarms. Even on the Kingdom’s side of the river, I believe no one lives within that range."

Naturally, the distance each wyvern could travel varied. By some fluke, an individual might fly too far to return. As a result, a portion of the Kingdom along the great river near the Blood Mountains had also become an uninhabited zone.

"I heard the Empire crossed the great river to get to Kurtheite, though."

"Yes, by driving the wyverns away with the power of sorcery. And that was only because we used the river’s current to pass through quickly. It’s obvious, so I won’t hide it, but traveling upstream would be many times more difficult. Of course, it’s not impossible for us."

"So long as you hold Tuvil Mountain, right. I see, so it comes at a cost."

The Empire’s escape route was far too sensitive an issue for me to use as a bargaining chip.

"Exactly. I’m almost tempted to say, ‘We won’t get in your way, so do as you please.’ We would welcome the Kingdom’s army wearing itself down against the monsters there."

It seemed they thought I was planning to build some kind of forward operating base against the Empire. I’m a merchant. Why would I be building a military base? What I want to build is purely a commercial city.

Of course, the cost constraints for that are even greater. A road that requires a military escort is out of the question. Even so, there is no other location. We also need a base for observing the Blood Mountains, the very source of the recent abnormal fluctuations in the magic veins.

"My goal is to create a trading hub for the Kingdom and the Empire here. It should have significant benefits for the Empire, too. The greatest source of conflict between our nations has always been the pressure on the Empire from its dependence on the Kingdom for food, its most vital strategic resource."

I spoke while watching their faces. There was no sign of denial.

"We will create a market here where merchants from both the Kingdom and the Empire can exchange their products. The state would only provide a broad framework of governance, leaving the transactions themselves to individual merchants. As a result, trade can be conducted far faster, cheaper, and more flexibly than under state management."

Lisabet’s expression lit up with understanding. Yes, if we could do this, her homeland would be transformed from a remote Imperial frontier into a major trade route.

"Monsters on the outside, squabbling merchants on the inside. It sounds like a vision of hell."

Maytyl, on the other hand, maintained her doubtful expression.

"I’m not saying that problems like price disputes or attempts to corner the market won’t occur. In fact, the sheer number of such conflicts would likely increase. But that’s fine."

There’s no use trying to deny human greed when it comes to business. The key is to channel the power of that greed in a productive direction. That’s the benefit of transparency. It’s all based on self interest, not some lofty ideal of justice.

Of course, a free market won’t solve everything, so a state framework will be necessary. However, the current state framework is too rigid and hinders the speed of commerce, so my proposal is to loosen it.

"You mean the scale of each individual conflict and problem would become smaller, falling within a range that can be managed or predicted."

"Exactly. It would prevent situations where a neighboring country suddenly snaps and invades."

And it would prevent that same neighboring country from kidnapping my important business partner.

"I understand the logic. However…"

Lisabet looked at Maytyl.

"If the cost outweighs the benefit, it’s simply a case of putting the cart before the horse. Even if we were to acknowledge its existence, the Kingdom could not maintain such a city. Am I wrong?"

Their words acknowledged the potential benefits. Good, I can move on to the next stage.

"We can. If the Empire cooperates in liberating that region."

"Are you joking? Surely you aren’t asking the Imperial army to die for the sake of the Kingdom’s territory."

"No. This would be a joint operation through and through. If you wish, the western side of the city could be Imperial territory, and the eastern side Kingdom territory. The city itself would have to belong to the Kingdom, though."

The Empire would incorporate no man’s land into its territory, and the Kingdom would do the same. Even if those territories just so happened to be adjacent, it wouldn’t be a problem.

That was a joke, of course. Countless problems can arise when territories border each other without a buffer zone. But in this case, direct contact would, for the time being, be limited to the city itself. It would be controllable.

In reality, I want to get to the point where both nations work together to exterminate the wyverns. If the city belongs to the Kingdom, I don’t think it would be impossible to offset the cost with a reduction in war reparations.

"I’m starting to seriously question your grasp on reality. The Kingdom and the Empire are currently at war. Even if the war ended tomorrow, it would be impossible. Besides, you said it yourself, didn’t you. That the Empire is struggling just to defend its own homeland right now."

Both were serious problems. One emotional, the other logistical. On the Earth I came from, this would have been utterly impossible. But this world has conditions that my previous one did not.

"There is land that belongs to no one, and a common enemy in the form of monsters. It is not impossible. In a way, the Kingdom and the Empire would be forming an anti monster alliance."

Maytyl and Lisabet shook their heads at my words. The rejection in their eyes was even stronger than before. I may have gotten a little ahead of myself.

"Of course, I don’t expect to achieve all that at once. Building a city immediately is also impossible. For the time being, it would be little more than a glorified supply depot at best. Yes, if it takes the shape of a city in ten years, that will be enough."

Besides, I have my own complaints about this. Originally, this was a plan I’d have been lucky to even start in ten, no, twenty years. The only reason I'm being forced to rush into it is because you stuck your nose where it didn't belong. And I expect you to take responsibility for that.

"We will start small. The Kingdom and the Empire will cooperate to observe the fluctuations in the magic veins. And conduct joint technological development for that purpose."

"That’s hardly ‘small’."

Maytyl’s eyes widened at my words.

"But it’s necessary, isn’t it? The magic vein fluctuations have worked in the Empire’s favor until now, but there’s no telling what will happen next. It is certain that the magic veins, which had been relatively stable, are now fluctuating greatly. Understanding them should be a matter of life and death for both the Kingdom and the Empire."

I wasn’t talking about some fluffy ideal like, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if the Kingdom and Empire could be friends?’. I was talking about the harsh reality that if we don’t cooperate, things will go badly for both of us.

My gut tells me this series of fluctuations is all connected. It could be the precursor to an even greater change. My basic stance is that the sooner we can observe the Blood Mountains and develop sorcery to deal with the magic vein fluctuations, the better.

And this could become a common interest. Of course, my current plan is to leverage that immense shared interest to achieve my own private goals.

"Are you just saying what’s convenient for you? Isn’t this just a ploy for the Kingdom to unilaterally absorb the Empire’s technology?"

"Oh? But wasn’t your vaunted corps of sorcerers defeated by the Kingdom, barely able to do a thing? Besides, you are aware of how the Kingdom was able to predict the Empire’s invasion in advance, are you not?"

I made the remark with deliberate provocation.

"...I would very much like to hear the full story of those seventy years of records. But as for sorcery itself, the Kingdom’s technology has nothing to offer. Your solution to the dragon was poison, and while those two colored magic catalysts are quite interesting as materials, your method of deployment was a crude dispersal via catapult. Your measurement technology is intriguing, I’ll give you that. But that just puts us on even footing, because there are things your measurements can’t see."

Maytyl looked at Mia.

"Indeed. If the Kingdom possessed sorcery advanced enough to utilize this girl’s mathematical theories, the Empire would have been wiped out to the last soldier by now. All of your strategies are completely unbalanced. That makes it impossible to trust you."

Maytyl watched me with calculating eyes.

I was glad she understood so clearly. Yes, the Kingdom’s sorcery technology, with a few exceptions, was far inferior to the Empire’s. Our level of magic circuit construction was so poor that the Kingdom’s two greatest mages couldn’t analyze them even when working together.

Though, Fulsy’s measurement technology was quite important as a foundation.

"That’s right. If you would explain a little more about that magic catalyst, perhaps we could consider your proposal."

I see. She was baiting me because she wanted to know more about that "quite interesting" magic catalyst.

"That was my intention from the start."

I smiled fearlessly and took a wooden box from my breast pocket. I would show them how that magic catalyst was really meant to be used.