Chapter 15: The Big Basket and the Small Basket

The grand noble before me, who had not forgotten to keep up an elegant front until now, was no longer smiling at all. Her theatrical approach just now was to put an emphasis on how serious a matter this was. In other words, a tremendously influential noble who carried the power of my life was now tremendously wary of me.

“Oh, there’s no need to misunderstand. I’m not saying that you’re serving as somebody’s parrot. From what Alfina has told me, it’s clear that’s not the case. I’m asking why it’s possible for you to be able to do this.”

A question about as obvious as, “What is your reason for applying here?” in an interview. I’ve prepared several answers already. Though, the reason my voice won’t come out is because the archduchess’s silent gaze is implying that no manner of deception will work.

If left to the knowledge in my head, there are countless ways of answering. However, in my current condition, they’re all useless. Actually, I don’t even know why I came here.

“With regards to the method using the annual tree rings... I can’t say much else other than it being knowledge I found in a book.”

“And you’re saying that, with a single piece of knowledge, you surpassed the decades of experience of the Court Wizards? That you exposed the problem of the nobles falsifying their taxes that has gone on for over two centuries? You were also said to possess no disposition to mana, correct?”

And of course, I was faced with derisive laughter. I likely wasn’t the only one feeling a chill down my spine; I was sure she was also feeling the same emotion as me—true fear. Thanks to that, my tongue completely froze up and wouldn’t move.

“Let’s change the question. What manner of reward do you desire for this accomplishment? If you claim to be unable to properly value this, I do believe this level of accomplishment would leave me with no other choice but to grant you death.”

A cold sweat started pouring down my back. The fan she pointed at me was terrifyingly aimed at my neck. And before I knew it, the butler who was standing stock still behind her like an ornament until now was suddenly right behind me.

“Auntie, you’re carrying your joke too far. We’re speaking of a reward, right?”

“Protecting your business. What is it that you wish for aside from that?”

Alfina gripped her hands together in front of her chest and defied her guardian. However, the archduchess didn’t pay her any mind. There was no need for talk about rewards to begin with anyway.

This was simply a continuation of our interview upon meeting. Not about whether such a person should be near Alfina’s side, but about whether such a person should exist in the Kingdom at all.

This noble fully understands the power of knowledge in a different way from Fulsig’s scientific literacy. That’s why she accepted our explanation. That’s also why she obviously senses danger from someone like me, whose knowledge doesn’t match their stature.

I wanted to just say, “I wouldn’t have it so hard if I could so easily apply modern knowledge,” but that wouldn’t do anything for me in this situation.

That’s why Alfina was sorely mistaken. There was absolutely no generosity in her offer for a reward. Depending on my answer, my very fate could be decided upon the resolution of the disaster.

An old Japanese folktale called “The Sparrow with the Split Tongue” came to mind. What happened to the kind old man who picked a large wicker basket again? No matter how many good deeds he did, a single wrong choice ruined his life. It’s a somewhat extreme story.

In this case, unlike the folktale, choosing the small wicker basket wouldn’t solve anything. If I asked for something small, it would only magnify her suspicion. And if I were to choose something big, her wariness towards me would only multiply. Isn’t this a checkmate?

“What’s wrong? Will you not answer?”

What was reflected in her eyes was a completely unknown entity. And the less one knew of such things, the warier they were towards it. Claiming to be harmless would just have the opposite effect. The real problem at hand here is that I am in fact harmless as I am right now, but I’m the only one who knows it. Objectively speaking, I wouldn’t want someone who isn’t wary of me in this situation to be running the country. Although the archduchess’s wariness towards me is unreasonable and unjust, it isn’t unfounded.

“A normal person, you see, thinks about their own livelihood in the current moment above all else. Because of that, their outlook naturally narrows down. The only two choices they make with regards to an unknown disaster, which they don’t know will necessarily occur, are to believe in it, or not believe in it. You said that the reason you cooperated with Alfina was to protect your own small company, correct?” The archduchess’s eyes grew even sharper. “Such a person is unable to paint this picture.”

Dammit... she’s saying nothing but really accurate things all she wants. But that’s nothing more than her one-sided judgment. It isn’t unfounded, but there’s no reason for me to accept it.

So let’s choose the perfect sized basket in front of this woman ready to cut off my tongue, or, I suppose, my head in this case, shall we?

“As a matter of fact, there are three things that I wish for. Will that do?”

I already had a plan prepared to be put in motion. There were originally only two things I wanted, but due to a certain event, it was now three.

“Let’s hear them.”

“First is the handling of Reylia village after the disaster is resolved. I’d like for you to safeguard it in a certain manner.”

That village would, at the least, attract attention due to the monster flood. In the worst case, they could catch the eyes of the government from the knights coming and going during that period. And then there was the matter of the kidnapping the other day. Our secret couldn’t be protected the way we were doing it until now. And it had to be protected.

The archduchess pointed at the jar of honey next to my cup.

“‘Safeguard the production area for this,’ is what you mean to say, then? How so?”

“If we’re able to fend off the disaster, Princess Alfina’s reputation will surely swell. And when that happens, will it not become apparent that it’s unnatural for royalty to not be given a land to govern?”

If it became the land of a royal princess, then nobody could lay their hands on it half-heartedly. My original plan excluded having it come to this, but I’d lost the leisure for that. My only choice was to make the best of a bad situation.

“Very well. There’s a problem in that it’s former Felbach territory, but it’s just a small village. If I say that I will manage things, the king will surely agree.” The archduchess nodded.

This would mean that the archduchess would get involved with the village, but because of Alfina’s complete lack of know-how in managing land, this fact couldn’t be avoided. She’s bluntly calling it the production area for our honey, too.

“Second. I’d like for you to recommend the Third Chivalric Order to be the ones dispatched to the west.”

“The Third Chivalric Order is small. Even from a financial standpoint, it’s not a terrible idea from the perspective of avoiding unduly provoking the Empire, but...” The archduchess looked puzzled.

The Third Chivalric Order was, in a sense, a reserve force. They provided support to the Second Order during campaigns, so it wasn’t like they possessed no experience at all. However, the suppression of monster floods was the principal job of the Second Chivalric Order.

In a situation like this one where many lives were at stake, it would normally be prudent to prioritize a flawless force no matter the cost. However, the Second Chivalric Order wasn’t in a state where they could be dispatched right away.

“There is a possibility that the Second Chivalric Order will be hindered in deploying.”

In this world, where there was no room for the surplus production of goods, gathering military supplies together takes a lot of time. The last foreign war was long ago, and in the current day, the Kingdom was capable of predicting monster floods. Thus, they maintained fewer emergency stores than one ordinarily would.

And under the assumption that no monster flood would occur this year, the Dreyfans and Kendalls were in the middle of a conflict over shares. The emergency stores wouldn’t last for a campaign. This was a reality Mia and Jacob grasped through their investigations.

If hurried into an emergency dispatch, the Dreyfans and Kendalls would cause them to drag their feet. The dispatch of troops, which already involves all manner of disputes, would just get tangled up in unnecessary lobbying. In the worst-case scenario, the dispatch itself would be completely obstructed.

The suppression of a monster flood is, in short, the subjugation of a single large specimen. It isn’t a war against a horde of monsters. Amassing a large number of troops shouldn’t be top priority. This was something I confirmed beforehand with Fulsig.

The showy parade the Second Chivalric Order puts on when they depart is a demonstration towards the state as an appeal to increase military budget. As a matter of fact, there have been zero casualties on their last few campaigns.

“Hmm. Do you have some connection to the Third Chivalric Order...? No... to Prince Craig?” The archduchess narrowed her eyes.

Who the hell is Craig...? Oh, is that the third prince’s name? It’s fine for her to guess wrong, I suppose. I don’t really care about the prince’s personal circumstances at all. Although, the fact that the chivalric order is formally led by a prince is part of the plan.

“I was there watching during the Spring Festival. ‘Even if a disaster is to befall us, the King-dom shall overcome it, and protect our peace and prosperity. Just as we always have.’ Was it?”

“...The leader of the Third Chivalric Order is the third prince, which means the key figure in preventing the disaster would be the prince himself. It would compensate for the royal family’s failure in rejecting the Oracle Princess’s prophecy... no, it would paint a picture of the royal family joining forces to prevent a disaster, right? This would also suppress the criticism towards Alfina.”

Euphylia’s expression slackened for just a moment, and she looked at both me and Alfina. I didn’t know what kind of misunderstanding she was coming to, but Alfina’s self-preservation was basically linked to the village’s, Weinder’s, and my own at this point.

“And lastly?”

I wavered just a bit. These two conditions were enough to harden our defenses to the minimum requisite level. However, I couldn’t possibly stop here. This was no longer a scuffle between children, after all.

“I would like information of the knights being dispatched to the west kept secret, and that divulging it to anyone be postponed for ten days. It will likely take that much time for all concerned parties just to make the necessary arrangements anyway.”

“There’s no way it’ll even be done in ten days. Well, I can arrange to postpone it. Your reason?” The archduchess watched me steadily.

“I can only say that the monopolization of information is the greatest benefit to a merchant.” And I dared to put on a theatrical front and play dumb. In truth, just this one request was through and through, in every way possible, completely at my own convenience.

The two of us continued to stare at each other for a while longer.

“...Very well. All those shall be your rewards. Alfina, you are not to speak a word of this either. Even if Adel’s daughter is to return.”

“Even to Clau? Y-Yes, understood...”

“Thank you very much, Your Grace.” I bowed my head, for all sorts of reasons. If Claudia were informed of this, my plan would go out the window.

“Um, is that all? Everything just benefits me. There’s nothing for Ricardo... R-Right. This is something I begged of you to begin with. If there is anything that I can do, then I shall do whatever you want...”

“Wh-Whatever?”

Alfina nodded firmly with an earnest expression. Her platinum hair ran down her modest, yet well-shaped breasts, and I unintentionally gulped.

“Hmm, so you really do have some sort of promise with Alfina?”

“I-I don’t.”

Alfina surely saw my requests as nothing more than the small basket. However, to me, they were a tremendously large basket. And not in the relative sense. Trading small baskets and receiving an enormous one in return is what business is all about.

“Hmm, then let’s see... One of my distant relatives, a viscount, has a sole daughter of suitable age. They’re searching for an appropriate husband to inherit their name. If it would please you, I could introduce the two of you.”

“Auntie?!” Alfina stood up in shock, and thanks to that, I missed my chance to be shocked myself.

“What’s the matter, Alfina? We’re speaking of the promotion of a precious friend of yours. If he becomes a relative, then you’ll be able to associate with him far more than now, correct?”

“Th-That may be true, but, that’s not really what I... Um, you have to consider the will of the person in question, so...”

“Hmm. Certainly. Louisa may be dissatisfied with taking a commoner as a potential husband.”

“That’s, um, not that. We’re supposed to be talking about rewarding Ricardo, so without even asking for Ricardo’s will is... um, you can’t!” Alfina’s childish tone turned up in full force. It was actually quite charming, since she looked like a little sister who didn’t like the idea of her big brother being taken away.

“Are you not the one ignoring Ricardo’s will here? I simply said that I could introduce them, I was asking for his will to do so.”

“Huh? Oh, um...” Alfina turned to look at me with a troubled expression. Isn’t the answer obvious? Also, in these types of situations, I can’t refuse after we’ve actually been introduced, right? I at least know that much.

“I’ve spent a lot of time carrying the honey business of our house all the way here. Earlier, you called us a small company, Your Grace. It’s certainly true that the Weinders are small, but...” I puffed out my chest with pride. “We’re not so cheap that we can be traded for a mere viscount.”

My goals aren’t so petty that I have the spare time to be hooked onto some manner of side job. In any case, social status doesn’t have even the least bit of worth to me. But let’s make sure that never reaches the ears of said viscount’s daughter.

“Pffft... Ahahahaha!” The lady before me opened her mouth wide in laughter. She even started slapping the desk with her fan. The overwhelming pressure she was giving off until now had completely vanished. “I see, so you can’t be traded for a mere viscount, huh? Oh my, I thought to seat you as the purveyor to Berthold, but it seems that’s also unwanted.”

“Just think of being allowed to maintain a certain degree of freedom as being a part of my reward.”

It’s not like I’m selfless or anything. Indirectly hoping for nothing more than my own self-preservation could be said to directly interfere with the Weinder Company’s interests. Being under the patronage of a noble with strings attached would be mismatched to my objective. Freedom isn’t some god-given right; it’s an extremely valuable resource, especially in this society.

Of course, to do something about our situation, such power is a necessity. Even going through Reylia village would tie me down too much. That’s precisely why I didn’t need some antiquated position like a purveyor. I need a more transparent relation where our interests can be regulated. I do at least have a plan, but that’s for after things have calmed down.

“Well, let’s see how things go for a while longer. It does seem that as long as you’re here, Ricardo, I’ll be able to enjoy teasing my niece just that much more,” Euphylia said.

Now that I think of it, she just suddenly started referring to me as Ricardo. Well, whatever. Please just do your job. I’m going to be quite busy handling the matter at hand here.

*

Ten days later, I was headed towards the library as always.

“Sir.”

“How are the preparations coming along?”

“The rumors are slowly being spread throughout the city. Jacob is the one doing that, so it’ll surely reach the military soon.”

“And their reaction?”

“Just as we expected. There’s nothing we need to deal with ourselves. The only thing worth mentioning is that those with animosity towards the Dreyfans are serving as a distraction and spreading out their attention.”

“All according to plan, then.” I suppressed my emotions as best I could.

We spotted a plump student walking about in the courtyard, accompanied by a group of other commoner students. One, two... twelve of them. There’s even more than last time. Things are looking good, aren’t they?

“Yes, but...”

“What’s wrong?”

“What will Her Highness think when she finds out about this?”

“...Is that important right now?”

Considering the little princess’s personality, she definitely won’t smile at what I’m trying to accomplish. However, my current focus needs to remain on what I need to protect.

The attempted kidnapping of a child from the village ended up being connected to the Dreyfans. According to Jacob and Remy’s investigation, they were able to identify one of the key companies under the Dreyfan umbrella as the client.

“That was unnecessary, I suppose. Also...” Mia looked at the schoolgirl waving towards us from the courtyard, though she was grimacing at me. “I leaked information to the Kendalls to be careful of the Third Chivalric Order’s movements.”

“Sorry that I have no connections.”

Looking back on it, wishing for a scuffle between children to remain on the level of child’s play was just my ego doing the talking.

“No worries. This also happens to be for Lilka’s sake as well.”

They’re likely done verifying that the Third Chivalric Order’s garrison is full of hustle and bustle. As for the royal palace, that scary lady is probably in the middle of a presentation with a grip on the scruff of Fulsig’s neck.

“Okay, everything is in place, then.”

A large company has many tails. With the power we currently have, even one of those tails seems gigantic to us. In that case, we don’t take aim at just one tail, but rather...