Chapter 56

Whereabouts (3)

There was Ian's regret to consider, as well as the need to prepare for a possible battle with the Sovereign of the Abyss.

'The medicinal ingredients to treat Seraphia...'

Just as I was gathering my thoughts, I heard Adlan speak.

"Then I'll keep investigating this man named Ian and contact you as soon as I find any distinctive information, my lord."

Adlan was quite perceptive, knowing just what to do without being told.

"One more thing. Can you obtain some medicinal ingredients for me? I'll list them for you."

"Ah, yes! Just a moment, please!"

Adlan instantly pulled a sheet of notepaper from beneath the counter and readied himself to write.

Searching my memory, I recited the ingredients that Predatory Instincts[S] had identified as capable of improving Seraphia's condition, one by one.

"Flame Heart, Sungrass, Magma Heat Column, Flame of Dawn."

Even their names sounded extraordinary.

"Uh..."

Perhaps that was why Adlan's expression grew grave as he wrote them down.

"These will cost a considerable sum, my lord."

"How much?"

"At the very least..."

Adlan drew out his words as though doing the sums.

"I believe you'll need to budget twenty thousand gold per ingredient."

What a fucking ridiculous price.

Still, it was roughly what I had expected, and it was no great problem for me now.

I took a hundred platinum coins—one hundred thousand gold—from my Inventory and placed them on the counter.

"Eek?!"

Adlan recoiled in shock.

But it wasn't the Inventory that had startled him. His wide eyes were fixed on the hundred thousand gold.

A merchant through and through. Apparently, a hundred thousand gold was more astonishing than an Inventory.

When he finally looked at me, there was a hint of awe in his eyes.

"Can you get them?"

"M-might I ask... what you intend to use them for, my lord?"

"Are they difficult to obtain?"

"I'm afraid so. It may take quite some time."

Apparently, having money didn't mean I could obtain them straightaway.

In fact, that was part of the reason I was entrusting the job to Adlan. With everything else on my plate, I had no time to find them myself.

"Is the matter urgent, my lord?"

"They're for treating my younger sister."

Adlan's eyes went round.

It seemed he hadn't known she was ill, rather than that I had a younger sister. I was already notorious in Frecce as the wastrel son of a count's house, so naturally, he would know about Seraphia as well.

Knowing that she was sick, however, was another matter.

Adlan fell silent, apparently deep in thought. I had only a moment to wonder what he was doing before he declared boldly,

"You can leave everything to your humble servant!"

"I'll scour the entire continent right this instant and get them to you as quickly as possible!"

"I'll compensate you generously—"

"No, my lord! Compensation? I wouldn't dream of it!"

"But you'll be taking time out of your day."

And at a time when he ought to be making as many sales as he could, at that.

"Oh, please! After all you've done to boost my sales, Lord Adrian, what does a little thing like that matter?"

Of course it mattered.

Yet Adlan didn't seem to mind in the slightest.

"If you tell me your sister's symptoms, I'll even pay a skilled alchemist whatever it takes and bring you the finished remedy!"

He'd go that far?

"So don't you worry about a thing, Lord Adrian. Just concentrate on your business!"

Adlan thumped his chest as if to say I could trust him.

His motives were plain as day, but I wasn't offended. I could certainly count Frecce as firmly on my side.

In any case, there was no reason to refuse when he was offering to take care of everything.

I took another ten platinum coins—ten thousand gold—from my Inventory and placed them on the counter.

"Pay the alchemist generously, and put whatever's left to good use as you see fit."

"Th-this much... my lord?"

Adlan's eyes widened when he saw the amount.

Ten thousand gold wasn't pocket change. It certainly wasn't the sort of sum one could casually throw around.

But I'd made an enormous profit selling Rex meat at five thousand gold per hundred grams.

Adlan swallowed hard.

"I, Adlan, shall continue to serve you with my very life, Lord Adrian!!!"

He bent into a ninety-degree bow.

◆Adlan's affinity toward you increases dramatically!

A translucent message appeared before my eyes, announcing the increase in his affinity toward me.

◆Adlan's affinity toward you has entered the [Closeness] state!

◆An individual in the [Closeness] state holds a basic level of goodwill toward you.

◆This individual shows consideration for your words and actions and tends to put your needs before their own.

◆However, continued attention and consideration are still necessary. If contact is broken off, affinity may decline easily.

His affinity had reached [Closeness] in an instant.

True to his merchant nature, his affinity shot up the moment I handed him money.

"Just keep doing what you're doing. I'll be off, then."

"Yes, my lord! Take care! And if there's ever anything you need your humble servant for, just call!! I'll drop everything and come running, anytime at all!!"

And so Adlan remained bent at the waist until I had disappeared from view.

* * *

Between Seraphia's medicinal ingredients and the commission fee, I'd spent more than expected.

That left me with—

'About three thousand gold.'

I might as well have been penniless. It was nowhere near enough to establish and run the allied army.

Above all...

'The Dark Merchant Company...'

It was nowhere near enough capital to compete with them.

'The Dark Merchant Company is moving faster than I expected.'

In other words, the Emperor was acting sooner than I'd thought.

The Dark Merchant Company was deeply involved in the politics and economies of the kingdoms. Operating behind the scenes, they had political patrons and allies among the nobility.

Even the kingdoms' armies were nothing more than their puppets.

But...

'Not yet.'

After all, the Emperor would not begin acting in earnest for another ten years or so. That meant he would only finish preparing to swallow the continent ten years from now.

The Dark Merchant Company was moving faster than I'd expected, but that didn't mean all its preparations were complete. It was probably only just beginning to lay the groundwork.

'I have to stop them before they can wield that influence.'

That was why I had to keep the Dark Merchant Company in check now. At this stage, I could still stop them.

Now, while they had yet to fully seize control of the kingdoms' politics and economies. Now, while they were only beginning to recruit political patrons and allies among the nobility.

If I intervened at this stage, I could ruin their plans completely.

This was another reason I had founded the Predator Merchant Company. I hadn't created it merely to find Ian.

It was an organization through which I would exert influence across the entire continent.

And that, of course, required capital.

The three thousand gold I had on hand wouldn't come close.

But there were people standing in a long, snaking line outside the restaurant. People who leaped up and shouted the moment they saw me.

"H-he's here!! The owner of the Predator Merchant Company is here!!"

"He's here? Where, wh—Oh, it really is him!"

"You there!! I'll pay double, so please sell me some Rex meat! The marquis said he'd kill me if I failed to get any again!!"

"Oh, come on, you! Can't you see there's a line?"

"You think your life's the only one on the line?"

Since I could squeeze money out of... no, earn money from the nobles, I wasn't too worried.

* * *

Countless kingdoms were scattered across the continent.

Generally speaking, a kingdom was a sovereign state ruled by a monarch who held absolute power. Most kingdoms on the continent were founded on this system of government.

But there was one exception: a nation that governed state and society according to God's will, under a political system in which divine and royal authority were closely intertwined.

A nation that made religious doctrine its law and social code, seeking to realize God's will on earth.

The Holy Kingdom of Cordelia.

Beneath the lofty ceiling of the vast papal hall, hundreds of candles flickered, casting a faint light over the multitude of faithful gathered below.

As a solemn hymn resounded through the hall, a voice spoke.

"Beloved brothers and sisters."

The voice rang out gently, pure and crystal clear.

"Today, we have gathered before God. Under His grace, we seek to cleanse our hearts and ask for mercy upon those who suffer."

Her voice echoed against the marble walls of the papal hall, sounding as though it came from heaven.

A noble woman stood at the central altar.

Her softly glowing white vestments and radiant platinum-blond hair fell in gentle folds and waves, catching the candlelight.

Her lips were soft as roses and pink as tulips. Her delicate ivory skin was as pure as a lily shining in the morning sun.

Long lashes softened her eyes, yet they emphasized her unearthly beauty rather than lending her a sense of life.

"Guide us, that we may turn from sin and walk a new path."

Every heart grew reverent, as though holiness settled wherever her gaze fell.

Her expression was calm and serene. Deep compassion and benevolence filled her eyes, as though she held all the suffering of the world within them.

"Grant food to the hungry, comfort to those who grieve, and healing to the sick. Let them find peace once more within Your mercy."

The faithful bowed their heads as one. Everyone listened intently, as though unwilling to miss a single word. They clasped their hands, making her words their own prayer.

It was a majestic sight, as though the multitude had become a single soul.

"Hear today's scripture. These are the teachings God has left us."

She stood at the central altar as the savior of the world.

In that moment, she was not human, but God's messenger and representative, conveying His will.

"He said: Do not regard another's success as your own failure. Envy is no shameful feeling. Do not drag others down, but let it spur you onward, and enter through the narrow gate."

Her clear eyes revealed a quiet yet powerful faith and devotion.

As she raised the chalice and began the rite of blessing, the choir once again broke into a hymn of praise. The faithful sang along, watching the ceremony draw to a close.

At last, the woman slowly descended from the central altar.

Her name was Isolde Cordelia, princess of the Holy Kingdom of Cordelia and the 213th Saintess.

After descending from the altar, Isolde quietly left the papal hall. The congregation's hymn still rang out inside as she walked down the corridor.

An attendant priest hurried to catch up with her.

"Your Eminence, I am told that a suspicious rumor has been circulating in the kingdom lately."

"A suspicious rumor?"

"It concerns monster meat becoming popular among the people."

Isolde stopped dead in her tracks.