kscans

Chapter 167 - Episode 5: Part 2, The Power of Ultimate Trust to Stop the Spear

"I heard that merchants would come to dominate both the Kingdom and the Empire. Tell me, what would become of our nations then?"

Ah, you caught me.

That was a joke, of course. I wouldn't be surprised if Prince Craig had already noticed. What I explained, in essence, was a significant expansion of commercial power, dealing with liquid assets. Relatively speaking, the power of the nobility, who deal with fixed assets, would decline.

In my previous life, the world economy was swayed by derivatives, which were like distant relatives of securities, themselves relatives of intangible paper currency. But even in that era...

"Earlier, I explained the value of information and trust. Trust is power."

I continued, looking at Prince Craig's face.

"Then, what is ultimate trust? It is the guarantee of life. No matter a person's status, no matter the amount of property they possess, everyone has only one life. Therefore, the greatest trust is..."

I looked at the knights surrounding Prince Craig.

"Military power. As long as the most precious things to humans are their own lives and the lives of their loved ones, such as family, that will not change."

At least, it was the same in a world that would be equivalent to several hundred, no, a thousand years in the future, on Earth. Security was exceptional. Social order was formed around security. The reserve currency, the dollar, was established because it was backed by overwhelming military power, which gave it trust.

Of course, military power is not everything, nor is it always wonderful. But no one is brave enough to try an experiment that removes it. No, I believe it should not be done. If a world without military power were to be created, it would be the world with the greatest incentive to rearm. Moreover, there would be no power to prevent someone from rearming.

"Let the value of the Knight Orders be that. What will happen to the politics of the nation?" Prince Craig asked.

"I dare to say, for the contents within a box to move vigorously, it is logical that the box itself must be sturdy. If we merchants are to be more active than ever before, then the box that is the nation should also be strengthened. That is why I suggested the new city be a direct royal domain."

If merchants were left unchecked, that would surely lead to collapse. Those who deal with liquid assets, merchants, and those who deal with illiquid assets, politicians, each have their roles. Continued collision between the strongest spear and the strongest shield is growth, and that is not a contradiction. No, it is a necessary contradiction.

Prince Craig's gaze and mine clashed. I could feel the knights around Prince Craig bracing themselves. They would surely restrain me at a single command from their lord.

"It must be quite a task to become Ricardo's box. Well, this much will do for now. After all, this place is strictly for discussions among merchants, and we are outsiders. Besides, there will be plenty of opportunities to speak with Ricardo in the future."

I was finally released from his gaze. A conditional approval, perhaps. Peace returned to the room. Now, everyone on our home team, it is time for your turn to resume.

"Even if it is possible to deal with magic beasts, this is an enterprise of enormous scale. How will the vast funds and huge risks be managed?"

"Regarding that, I am considering a system, a stock company, in the form we implemented at the Shoken Festival with the members of Central Garden. We will procure funds by issuing shares to interested merchant companies, primarily those gathered here today. It would essentially be the establishment of a new merchant company to operate a futures market."

The stock company was originally created as a mechanism to disperse the risks of dangerous long-distance sea voyages. And its other benefit is...

"So, it won't be Vinder's monopoly," said Paul Vinder.

"Of course not. Look, where among us would we find the personnel to do such a thing? We are merely an emerging sorcery silver merchant company."

Though I simply stated a fact, everyone laughed. It seems I do not have the ability to make people laugh by calculation.

"Regarding the stock company you just mentioned, would it be possible for the Kingdom to provide funding?" Euphillia asked.

Vinder Company is funded by Grand Duchess Bertold. The new company would be a joint venture with other merchant companies, so Grand Duchess Bertold's stake would be diluted. I hope she will forgive me, as I intend to increase profits.

"I would prefer to avoid it, but I will keep it as an option. After all, as a stock company, the investors are not limited to only people from the Kingdom."

"Are you planning to involve people from the Empire as well?"

"The advantage of a stock company is that people with different stances can pursue common interests. Of course, that is a matter for the distant future. We will adjust it so that the initial members hold the majority of voting rights. If the trust in the city itself increases, it will be through the issuance of bonds and so on. Whoops, I got ahead of myself again."

What those bonds would mean is not a discussion for now. Speaking of which, the East India Company's corporate bonds apparently had a credit rating comparable to British government bonds. It became the East India "Empire" and then failed, but no, I won't let this become the East India Company.

Well, if economic growth proceeds as I expect, there will be a shortage of currency in the future, and that will be the time to discuss it. First, the extermination of wyverns, then the establishment of a simple trading post. How long will it take to open a futures market?

"What will the new merchant company's name be?" Rilka asked. I had heard she would be late, but it seemed she had already entered the venue.

"Well, for now..."

I looked at the young people who would carry the future of the Food Guild.

"Let's just call it Central Garden."

It was meant to be the academy's courtyard, but its scale has certainly expanded.

◇◇

Vinaldira rushed over to me, having completed my important role. Then she hugged Natalie. "You did well," she said.

Even the Guild Master was asked to leave the meeting room, and I was once again facing Prince Craig and Euphillia. This was no longer a discussion about commerce.

"But is it truly possible to open up the magic beast territory?"

Yes, the commercial discussions until now had ignored the existence of magic beasts. And this topic was impossible to discuss under those circumstances. The reason this question had not come up earlier was because Prince Craig was present.

"Technically, it is possible. In fact, the Empire crossed a great river using sorcery."

"That would have only been possible with their most elite troops using vast quantities of Magic Crystals."

"If we can incorporate the basic magic circuit technology developed by the Grand Sage and Noel-san with the magic staff circuit technology secured during the decisive battle in the Grynisias Ducal Territory, I believe that Fireball sorcery can achieve double the power at a quarter of the cost. At least that much."

"I have received reports. However, I hear that you are struggling because the Kingdom's sorcery is too different in form."

"Yes, but if the current experiment to investigate the nature of magic power itself succeeds, and the nature of magic power becomes clearer, I believe various analyses of unknown circuits will be possible. Also, it can be created with Sorcery Silver, not Sorcery Gold. I believe there are resources within the Kingdom, even if not abundant, correct?"

I deliberately emphasized Sorcery Silver. It is significant that there are resources within the country, even if not currently mined, instead of relying on Sorcery Gold, which has a high dependency on the Empire. However...

"However, I would personally prefer to incorporate the Empire's sorcery circuit technology with their cooperation. The time efficiency would be completely different."

Naturally, Prince Craig's expression hardened.

"I heard that weapons development is not included in the joint research."

"Yes, that is correct. Currently, the plan has not advanced a single step. It is purely fundamental research into magic power."

I nodded solemnly. Security is an exceptional matter, after all.

"However, I believe that in the future, if we do not do this, it will be the Kingdom that finds itself in a desperate situation. This is its symbol."

I showed Prince Craig a crimson Magic Crystal. It was spoils from the Horse-Dragon unit he had captured.

"That was a special Magic Crystal for battering rams, wasn't it? They say it stores a lot of magic power."

"Yes. It is said to be extracted from a magic vein deep within the Empire. Once the wounds of their defeat heal, the Empire will likely focus on further developing these resources. Eventually, they may extend their reach to the Blood Mountains region."

I told Prince Craig that a paradigm shift had actually occurred the moment sorcery was born. It was akin to an enemy nation undergoing an industrial revolution. Currently, there is a stalemate in agriculture and population. But agricultural progress cannot outcompete industrial progress.

Assuming from Maytyl's account, the Blood Mountains are like an oil field or a uranium mine. A situation where they overwhelmingly control energy resources is the worst possible scenario imaginable.

"So, maintaining the status quo is impossible."

He had probably already considered it. Generally speaking, this recent war was unique. The Empire attacked, believing they could easily win with sorcery, and the Kingdom repelled them using diversionary tactics. Prince Craig, who knows how they defeated the Horse-Dragons, understands this.

"Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, the Empire currently lacks the military strength even to defend its own territory from magic beasts. To reduce future risks, we must either take this opportunity to completely destroy the Empire..."

"Or form a relationship with them, recognizing magic beasts as a common enemy and the resource development of the Blood Mountains as a common interest."

The Empire is mountainous. If they focus solely on defense, their homeland itself becomes a fortress. Moreover, magic beasts run rampant there. If the Kingdom's army, without knowledge of magic beasts, were to invade, they would not survive unscathed. They would not even know where the safe zones were.

Of course, the Kingdom holds the trump card of food. However, even if they were to win by starving the enemy, the Kingdom would still be utterly incapable of governing a completely different society.

The Kingdom's golden hour will not last long. Of course, if the Empire's magic veins become active again, that would be a different story, but in that case, there could be an even greater problem.

"So this city is a vision that accounts for all of that, then," Prince Craig said.

"This city can only exist in such a way. It cannot be separated from the Kingdom, nor from the Empire. And the more the Kingdom and the Empire prosper, the more this city will prosper."

If I were to find something similar on Earth, it would be Singapore's position. I will not make it the East India Company.

"Considering the recent abnormalities in the magic veins, there is no time to lose. Furthermore, if this city becomes a major base for magic vein and magic beast countermeasures, it will become a common heritage for all humanity."

I deliberately exaggerated a bit. Of course, what concerns me more than such a future is the abnormal fluctuations in the magic veins lately. I do not want a situation where we realize it is too late. If that happens, Alfina will suffer the most.

"If the current joint research progresses, I hope you will also discuss the next steps with the Empire," I said.

My ability to step in at that time was due to the abnormal situation of wartime. Now that it is peacetime, I want to leave it to the authorities.

"I see, I understand," Prince Craig said, looking intently at the map and nodding. Euphillia nodded beside him. These two are truly helpful because they understand. Speaking of which, there is one more person...

"Um, as for Alfina-sama today..."

It wouldn't be a sudden reaction from the crystal, would it? While I was worried, Euphillia grinned.

"Oh, are you curious?"

"...No, since Alfina-sama is also a major shareholder of Vinder, I felt I had to explain."

"Still 'Alfina-sama,' huh... Well, never mind. Actually, the person Alfie wanted to meet preferred today."

"A meeting...?"

"Are you curious about the person my sister-in-law prioritized over this important discussion?"

"Do not worry, it is a woman."

Both of them looked at me with amusement.

"N-no, I wasn't worried about that. I was just worried that there might have been some strange activity from the crystal."

I was definitely not lying. Though I cannot deny that I had taken Alfina's presence for granted.