kscans

Chapter 214 - Episode 11: Second Half - Trading the Future

I have no need for a reward, since I will be using this crisis threatening to collapse human society to build the foundations of Central Garden. My piously merchant-like words made everyone’s face twitch. Even Fulsy looked up.

"Your Majesty."

After a single sigh, Grynisias prompted his lord for a decision. The king silently rose and took a staff that was displayed on the wall behind his desk.

"I shall release all assets of the royal family to be used as countermeasures for this calamity. Let this be the proof of my vow."

The king placed the Royal Scepter on his desk. The large ruby at its tip gleamed. It was likely a symbolic item of the royal family. One of those things whose meaning far outweighed its material value.

"Upon receiving His Majesty's resolve, we of the nobility wish to follow his example," Grynisias said.

Euphillia, Yeverg, and Tembelg all nodded in unison. I see. This was a symbolic way of showing that the nation was in crisis. Given the nature of the situation, it was probably the best move to make when information control about the disaster would be difficult. A valuable lesson in self-preservation.

Well, whatever the case, I could use this.

"However, the war of recent years has only just ended. The cost of sending a large force across the great river, not to mention constructing a rear support base, would be far too immense."

The Chancellor’s face soured. I could not just tell him he was being ridiculous when the very survival of human society was at stake. If he, with his broad grasp of the kingdom’s finances, thought they were short on funds, then they were short on funds. Generally, the human reaction to danger is to shrink away. Recessions would never happen if you could just tell everyone to spend their money freely and expect the economy to improve.

Which is why, staking my own profession on it, I had an idea for raising capital. It was originally a method for building Central Garden, but the king’s decision just now was a timely opportunity.

"If I may be so bold..."

I raised a small hand toward Grynisias.

"I have a proposal to use His Majesty's decision as 'leverage' to widely solicit funds. What is more, it is a method that, if successful, will require no repayment."

At my words, Grynisias gave me the most skeptical look imaginable. I get it. You are thinking, "and if it isn't successful (because humanity will be extinct), there's no need for repayment," right? Well, I will not deny that part, but you cannot raise money with such a dreary outlook.

"I would like the kingdom to issue a certain type of bond."

With the highest possible credit rating backed by the royal family's assets, we could mix in something a little shady and still intangible and get away with it. The mechanism was like subprime loans, or maybe the Southern Sea Foam, or no, since it is near the great river, the Mississippi. What an ill omen.

Yes, I would just have to style it as a slightly exotic bond.

I explained only the general outline. The finer details would have to be worked out with the Central Garden preparatory committee.

"We will adopt this idea, including the opinions just stated."

The Chancellor nodded, and the king gave his permission.

"Grynisias, you shall oversee all matters of materiel, starting with the rear base. Yeverg will continue to be in charge of the alliance with the Empire. Euphillia, you are hereby appointed as auditor for this entire project."

With the full backing of the Chancellor's Office and the cooperation of the Food Guild, we should be able to manage for the most part. As I said earlier, there was no particular need for us to secure our own profits.

Given the scale of the enterprise, we could use all the participants we could get. And at the forefront would be us, Central Garden, who had already begun preparations to construct the new city.

Euphillia as auditor. That likely meant she could interfere with any of the project's various departments.

"Regarding the research to repel the Magic Insects, I grant the Great Sage full authority. I permit you, in the king's name, to make free use of everything, including the Magic Dormitory."

The Magic Dormitory, huh. We could use all the help we can get there too, but who would manage it? I glanced at Fulsy, but she did not seem particularly concerned.

"Does anyone else have an opinion?"

"Yes. As I stated at the beginning, the core of this strategy is the method for luring the Magic Insects. For the sake of our research, we must investigate the purple magic. I would like to request permission to use the kingdom's great treasure."

I stated my case. This was, in fact, a crucial point I could not concede.

"The kingdom's great treasure..."

"The Crystal of Prophecy. I wish to request permission that includes its use in ways that may, in the worst case, result in its destruction."

"You would have us relinquish the power of prophecy in this situation, where the calamity will continue for decades?"

The king looked at me, as if testing me. He was right. That was precisely why I wanted to place the burden on Alfina under "my" control.

Of course, this was for personal reasons. And since the king's words were based not on simple selfishness but on the "convenience" of the great majority, I had to offer a counterproposal.

"It is true that the future is uncertain, but surviving the first year is paramount. The condition for doing so is gathering the swarms of Magic Insects, which would otherwise scatter to various regions, into a single location. Then, for the second year and beyond, we will have accumulated information from the experience of the first year."

I looked the king straight in the eye, suppressing my trembling body as I prepared to speak.

The truth was, the first year alone was piled high with uncertainties. The primary item, the need to understand the nature of the adult Magic Insects, meant we did not really know our enemy. And the development of sorcery to counter those Magic Insects did not exist yet.

"And as for strengthening our countermeasures based on that information..."

As I spun my words, I felt the blood drain from the tips of my hands and feet.

"Though my talents are meager, that is a matter in which I excel."

I forced the words out, suppressing the shiver running down my spine.

"Ricardo Vinder shall retain his qualification as Royal Vice-Envoy and is hereby newly appointed as Assistant Auditor and Director of the Royal Sorcery Research Institute."

One enormous risk after another settled onto my shoulders in the form of titles I never wanted. Fine. This was a risk I had to bear. It was only natural that I should struggle for the sake of my own desires.

◇◇

"This time is something else entirely, is it not."

After the meeting ended, I stepped out into the hallway. Euphillia spoke to me. Incidentally, Fulsy had started to come over, my report in hand, but Grynisias stopped her. Actually, hadn't she been told to burn that document as soon as the meeting was over?

"You always cause the most outrageous things, Ricardo. I thought so the last time, and the time before that, but surely it could not get any worse. It was a fleeting wish, was it not."

"No, no, I haven't done anything. If anything, it's just how the world is structured."

"To see through a structure that requires a perspective of several millennia..."

"My sight doesn't reach any further than that. Besides, I couldn't have done anything on my own. More importantly, what was written in the Crown Prince's letter? I felt like His Majesty the King was unusually concerned about it."

I posed the question to Euphillia. A change of topic to get to the main point.

"I was not shown it either. But I can guess, to some extent."

"You can guess?"

"The next king is risking danger to remain outside the country. The most important message is obvious, is it not. But more than that, is there not something else you wish to ask?"

She saw right through me.

"What's the new information from the crystal?"

I struggled to keep my voice even as I spoke. Euphillia covered her mouth with the feather fan in her hand and began to explain what had happened over the past half month.

"Alfina is back at the cathedral!?"

I could not help but shout. Wasn't Alfina supposed to be working in a way that did not involve using the crystal? The scope of her investigation, under the guise of a pilgrimage, was vast. It should have taken a great deal of time.

"Why!"

"Calm yourself."

Euphillia lowered her voice slightly.

"Luiza's investigation determined that there was ultimately no danger of the sort you described. Furthermore, either Luiza or Claudia is always with her in the crystal chamber now. They stop her if she seems to be pushing herself even slightly. In fact, she has not collapsed once in the last half month."

"Even so..."

"Alfie is returning from the cathedral today. You can speak with her at the manor."

"W, well, that's true, but..."

I remembered my fight with Alfina before I left the country, and I flinched.

"Come now. Your declaration to me the other day. Your final defiant words to His Majesty today. With that sort of spirit, you should be able to handle anything."

Euphillia laughed. Knowing how to appease an angry girl was far too heavy a burden for me.

What was a socially inept person like me supposed to do. No, come to think of it, I was starting to get a little angry myself. I was working so hard to pull Alfina away from that crystal, so why would she go back on her own...