kscans

Chapter 47 - Chapter 5, Part Two. The Land of Calamity

"What do you mean, Kurtheite is a special case?"

At my question, Maria and Roston glanced at each other. Roston gave a small nod, and Maria began to speak.

"What I’m referring to is a matter of timing. You remember our discussion about the rock salt trade with the Empire, don't you?"

"Ah!"

Rock salt is exported from Kurtheite.

"I see, trade with the geographically distant Empire. And through limited, state-run channels. That means shipments are consolidated as much as possible. Am I right, Maria-senpai?"

"Yes. Salt isn't under the Food Guild's jurisdiction, so I don't know the full details, but most of Kurtheite's salt is scheduled to be shipped out soon. The Calest Company, which managed the business there, was hit hard and seems to be struggling financially, so they're in a rush. For Kurtheite, they can always replenish their salt supplies quickly."

"So, what if they can't get into the mountains for some reason?"

"Regarding salt, their situation would likely be far from abundant. I don't know if it would lead to an outright shortage, though."

"I understand. What about you, Roston-senpai?"

"My concern is about the food supply."

Ruitsa looked over the documents again. "According to this data, they have enough stockpiled for the city's population. Even if contact with the ducal lands were cut off, they could hold out for half a year or so."

"The problem," Roston said, "is the people living outside the city."

What does he mean? If anything, food should be more plentiful outside the city.

"Kurtheite is mountainous, which is unusual for the Kingdom. They can mine minerals like rock salt and harvest valuable forest products. The whole reason for the plan to transport Imperial timber to Kurtheite is because they have a forestry hub there. By the way, those truffles you mentioned, Vinder, they can be found there too."

"I see."

I looked at the map again. Numerous villages were clustered near Kurtheite, nestled in the mountains. Moreover, many of them faced the mountain ranges rather than the plains. Both mining and forestry require a massive workforce.

"There is a significant population around Kurtheite that isn't engaged in agriculture."

I thought back to the last disaster. If the kingdom hadn't taken action, I had planned to evacuate the villagers to the nearby city of Bertold.

"Depending on the type of disaster, Kurtheite could become isolated at the same time it experiences an influx of refugees from the surrounding areas. In that case, the food supply..."

I looked at Mia.

"Calculating based on that assumption, both food and salt would be depleted very quickly," Mia answered in an instant.

"So Kurtheite is our prime candidate." I had reached my conclusion.

"This is the worst," Ruitsa said. Of all places, it had to be the main stronghold of the opposing faction.

"What are you talking about? If we warn them now, they can prepare extra food and salt, can't they? The Eastern Grand Duke and the Chancellor are on good terms, right? Remember during the Shoken Festival, Chairwoman Hilda and Leonardo-senpai were..."

"If only they would actually listen to an opinion coming from our side," I muttered.

Certainly, it would be ideal if we could arrange for food to be sent from the well-stocked ducal lands to Kurtheite beforehand. But there was a high probability they would misinterpret our intentions and assume it was some kind of scheme. If they thought we were using Alfina's prophecy to fuel our factional dispute, they wouldn't lend us an ear.

"The fact that we don't know the exact nature of the disaster hurts, too. It makes our warning less convincing."

"Why? It seems perfectly clear to me. Anyway, it doesn't matter what the reason is, if the goods don't arrive, the result is the same."

"Well, Rilka," Belmini said gently, "not everyone is as straightforward as you are."

"Ugh. Don't make me sound like a simpleton."

"Don't worry, you're still much better off than Senpai."

"That's no consolation at all. The very fact that I'm being compared to Vinder makes it sound like I'm already a lost cause."

What do you mean, a lost cause? I'm perfectly aware of that myself, thank you very much.

"We will continue to investigate the nature of the disaster," I said, collecting myself. "But assuming it is going to happen, is there anything the Food Guild can do?" I asked Maria.

"We're talking about the population of Kurtheite and all its surrounding areas, right? And we can't let them know our intentions. That means the scale of what we can do is very limited. We only trade in surplus goods. Stockpiles are under the direct authority of the local lord. We can't just sell to them the way we do to ordinary citizens. The cost would be prohibitive, too."

"You're right."

For example, if we manipulated the market to lower food prices around Kurtheite, the Grand Ducal House might just try to buy it all up. It would be the opposite of the tactic Hideyoshi used at the Siege of Tottori. But compared to making them buy the same amount of food directly, it would require many times more capital. And we wouldn't get that money back.

"What about the rock salt?"

"Like I said, the Food Guild and the Salt Guild are separate organizations. The Calest Company just happened to be involved in both because of their location. Hmm, maybe we could interfere with the new head of the Calest Company and delay the transport a little. But my word alone won't be enough."

"I understand. We'll need Her Grace the Grand Duchess to make a move on that. In any case, let's report the conclusion we've all reached."

If the shipment is delayed, Kurtheite will retain a reserve of salt. That's much better than a double whammy of food and salt shortages. A lack of minerals ravages the human body far faster than a lack of food. Even if people survive, the severity of the aftereffects would be on a completely different level.

"You're right. I'll report everyone's hard work to Her Grace. Vinder-kun, you'll be coming with me."

I nodded at Ruitsa's words. If the disaster leads to famine, delaying its onset will buy us more time to respond. Of course, not letting it happen at all is the best outcome. But if we only assume the best will happen, we won't be able to achieve even a better situation.

"Hold on. I know this is a bad time, but the birds are ready. I can deliver them the day after tomorrow. The Director's office is fine, right?"

As I was about to leave the room, Dalgan stopped me. He was right. We were dealing with live animals for that experiment, and if we waited too long, all the preparations would go to waste.

"You're right. I'll check the Director's schedule, but please aim for the day after tomorrow."

Ugh, seriously, why am I so busy?

"Yo, an experiment, was it? If you're using birds, isn't there something I can do to help?"

"Yes, of course, but are you sure? The members here are hardly sitting idle. They're all heirs to Silver-ranked companies, after all."

"Yeah, I don't know what you're doing, but I know a thing or two about handling birds."

"That would be a huge help."

Just having someone who can butcher a bird makes a world of difference. That's right. My workload has increased, but so has the number of friends willing to lend a hand. This is no time to complain.

I lightly bumped my fist against Dalgan's outstretched one.

◇◇

"I see. So this is the result of your work as a merchant, as you put it."

"Ricardo-kun. Ricardo-kun, you are truly..."

When I explained Central Garden's conclusion, the Grand Duchess stared at me intently, while Alfina's eyes grew moist.

"No, no, this conclusion is thanks to the cooperation of everyone in Central Garden."

"I am aware. I shall consider a reward I can bestow."

"I must thank everyone properly."

It seemed neither of them had any objections to our findings. In that case, the next step was...

"We've listed three particularly dangerous cities, but our primary candidate is Kurtheite. Is there any way you can get the Eastern Grand Duke and the Chancellor to take action?"

As I said this, the Grand Duchess turned her face away with a huff.

"Why must I bow my head to those I must save? The Chancellor as well. I just had a run-in with him the other day to acquire that very data. Yes, if Kurtheite were to be destroyed, it would make things a little easier for us."

"Please, you have to do something."

"If politics were as simple as saying such things, it would be a much easier business. Well, they likely will not take it seriously, but I shall leak some information that will make that vain man anxious. As for the rest..."

She was just teasing me, apparently. I had no choice but to leave the negotiations to Her Grace, the great noble. In fact, it was the last thing I wanted to do. My stomach ached just from talking to people I didn't know.

"Aunt-sama, I will also go to persuade Duke Grynisias. You had a disagreement with the Duke recently, did you not, Aunt-sama? I believe my presence would be helpful."

"But..." the Grand Duchess hesitated.

This was the same Chancellor who had pushed Alfina to the point of collapse. I wanted to stop her too. There was also the question of responsibility if our prediction turned out to be wrong. Alfina already bore enough responsibility for the prophecy as it was.

"The prophecy is my duty. Yet I have allowed Ricardo-kun and the others to bear so much of the burden. Besides, I believe the Duke, at the very least, is not a man who would neglect his public duties."

"Well, it is true he is easier to reason with than the Eastern Grand Duke, but..."

Indeed, without the accuracy of that data, we never could have reached this conclusion.

"Besides, if I am there, I can push things through by citing the prophecy. We cannot let them learn of Mia's power, can we?"

"Alfina-sama."

I had no choice but to swallow the words I was about to say to stop her.

"It will be alright. There is nothing for me to be afraid of now."

Alfina beamed. Looking closely, I could see the color had completely returned to her cheeks. It was good that she was well again, but that sort of unfounded confidence was setting off my own self-preservation alarms.

"Speaking of which, I hear you passionately wooed a bedridden Alfie."

"Wooed Alfina-sama? I have no memory of doing such a thing."

"Oh? Did I not tell you that when I call her Alfie, you may also address her so informally?"

"That was strictly a matter between you and I, Your Grace."

"If you wish, you may even call me 'Aunt'."

There's no way I can tell her I already do in my head. Though in that scenario, I'm her 'uncle'. Besides, if I actually called her 'auntie', my head would probably go flying.

"A-Aunt-sama, you are making Ricardo-kun uncomfortable. But, now that you mention it, he did call me Alfina back then..."

"Senpai? When did that happen?"

Blushing, Alfina looked up at me for some reason. That was in the heat of the moment, it just felt like the right thing to do. It was only that one time. Now, Mia’s sharp, reproachful stare was boring into me. The Grand Duchess, smirking behind them, was absolutely infuriating.

"A-Anyway. I'm leaving matters at the royal palace in your hands."

I said, trying to escape their combined gazes. There was no way I could win. From a shareholder's perspective, the three of them held nearly two-thirds of the 'Vinder' voting rights.