Chapter 317

Legal uniform, wealth, military, badge, magic, administration.

Although their missions varied, they were all nobles, gifted with outstanding appearance and health, and possessed an unending wallet known as noble pension.

Thus.

“Pour it, empty it!”

“Pour it, empty it!!”

“If you’re scared, put down your cup and step back.”

It was very natural for them to indulge in pleasures that suited the sultry weather, hosting banquets for hours every evening and holding a ball that lasted two days on Friday nights.

“I just came from a tea party hosted by Count Rudi. The magic tool statue was so magnificent—.”

“Hoho. I envy you. Do you happen to know where it was obtained?”

Of course, the gathering was not merely a place of debauched revelry.

“Duke Roiselin.”

“Oh. Count Zaksenten. Good to see you.”

Roiselin was a wealthy noble, and Zaksenten was an administrative noble on the rise.

So if Zaksenten called Roiselin to a corner, it meant there was something subtly advantageous to be given.

“Do you happen to have any messages from His Majesty?”

“Yes. Actually, we’ve encountered some administrative burdens in the mass production of purification light streetlights recently.”

This meant that gold coins were pouring out like crazy to construct workshops and hire magicians.

Roiselin immediately understood what Zaksenten was implying upon hearing those words.

“I understand. Establishing and operating several large workshops is not an easy task. Is there any way I can assist you with His Majesty? Perhaps a patriotic ball for the bourgeoisie…?”

Meaning he intended to create a place to prod the bourgeoisie.

“That would be good. If we go ahead, I would like to ask Count Consecratus and Duke Hadrian to attend. However, His Majesty intends to slightly raise the gate and canal tolls. It’s not a time for emergency funds.”

Roiselin realized that this meant it was not the right time to pressure the bourgeoisie and nodded immediately.

“Come to think of it, the bourgeoisie is currently spending large sums of money on the construction of the New Town Sector. There was an analysis suggesting that if liquidity decreases now, significant losses could occur. Securing resources through toll increases as you mentioned is better.”

Zaksenten and Roiselin each poured a glass of champagne from a tray carried by a passing servant.

“Then my task is… to incite the bourgeoisie’s backlash.”

Not to suppress, but to stimulate them.

“Yes. I apologize, but I would appreciate your assistance.”

Zaksenten bowed his head.

“You will be accused in the High Court for the crime of ‘attempting to incite civil strife among the bourgeoisie during this critical time of war against the Infiltrators, instead of dedicating your loyalty to the Imperial Family.’ The verdict might… come out when the God of Radiance grows bored, or it might not come out at all.”

Roiselin nodded with a noble smile.

Gathering the discontent of the bourgeoisie due to tax increases and then getting smashed by the Holy Emperor was her role.

In this way.

The ballroom also served as an office handling matters that could not be documented.

“An import of reagents from the South is caught up in ecclesiastical law…”

“For now, let’s confiscate it from the Black Iron Knights and return it later.”

The military noble listened to the lament of the magical noble.

“I heard Konel is building a temple in the New Town Sector…”

“Oh, that shouldn’t be touched. It’s a task His Royal Highness has entrusted.”

A wealthy noble’s scheme was stymied by a badge noble.

“I’m thinking of imposing tariffs on magic tools from the Ivory Tower to extract funds from provincial high nobles.”

“For now, let’s push from our legal uniform side. We still have some leverage against the high nobles.”

The legal noble handled the administrative noble’s difficulties.

They laughed heartily and exchanged stories that should not see the light of day.

“The magic tools from the West are waiting for customs clearance, but something feels off. I think it’s mixed with ancient magic tools containing the power of corruption.”

“Is it under Count Iseas’ banner?”

“Yeah. I feel I can’t just push him too hard since I know his circumstances. He’s crafted the paperwork so well that it’s hard to find fault. It’s complicated.”

“Then I’ll ask Count Rudi for a secret inspection. Tomorrow, my sister has a tea party with Count Rudi, and he often attends Count Iseas’ auction house.”

Deep into the night.

Once the business talk had concluded, only then did a slightly more relaxed atmosphere ensue.

On a summer night with a gentle breeze on the balcony, a couple yearned to call each other’s names.

“I’ll gladly carry it out. Zaksenten. For His Majesty and you.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Roiselin. If only I could have found another way!”

The wealthy noble Roiselin, who was to be accused, and the administrative noble Zaksenten, who solicited it, were engaged.

* * *

“Count Rudi, how about this item? It’s a 300-year-old staff.”

“Count Rudi, this is a spirit statue from the North. They say it helps with mental training.”

“Count Rudi, this is a belt made from elven hair. It’s effective for amplifying magic—.”

“Count Rudi, this is a crystal jewelry from the Southern Continent. We’ll sponsor it if you wear it to tomorrow’s ball—.”

“Count Rudi—.”

Rudi was the darling of high society and a maid of the rumored debauched Duke Valencianus.

This meant she was the best model to promote dangerous yet beautiful items, and the magic tools business of Iseas and Marilina capitalized on that danger.

Thus.

Iseas invited Rudi to the auction house every day to promote new magic tools, encourage purchases, and sponsor her; it was quite natural.

A handsome man with black hair and half-closed eyes smiled broadly as he gestured.

In the middle of an auction house resembling an art gallery, a massive round table was set.

“This is a large mahogany table from the Southern Continent. It took the artisan 13 years to carve it.”

Rudi pondered whether to take out the hidden cannon under her white dress with green patterns.

“This has intricate carvings of ancient worship, doesn’t it?”

“It’s not merely ancient; it’s the worship pattern of the 13th Great Demon approved by the Church. It’s a devil worshiped by several black magicians of the Imperial Magic Guild, so there’s no issue.”

Both demons and the ancient were entities beyond comprehension.

Demons were understandable beings with whom negotiations could be made, and black magicians were accepted existences.

However, the ancient was an incomprehensible entity with which negotiation was impossible, and infiltrators faced continental oppression.

“The carving on the leg seems to depict another being’s worship.”

“That’s the charm of it. Haha.”

“Alright. I’ll buy it.”

Rudi nodded while secretly letting out a sigh.

A flicker of hesitation crossed her kind face.

“I have no idea where they procure such items. I should show it to Her Highness Sererassie right away.”

Iseas smirked.

“An excellent choice! How about this? The Disappearing Spirit Dagger.”

A dagger with a purple blade was placed upon a wooden stand.

Rudi raised an eyebrow.

She didn’t particularly look angry, but she appeared somewhat pouting like a hamster.

“Selling me a dagger won’t be easy. So far, I’ve casually purchased decorative items, but this will be different.”

“If you just take a look, your thoughts might change.”

Rudi had learned throwing techniques from the Platinum Knights, and no matter how much Iseas tried to act like a wealthy noble, he was still just that.

However, the skill of holding a dagger without a blade support between her index and thumb, and aiming with her index finger, was quite good.

“Have you truly learned well?”

Iseas instructed his attendants to place a board between the wooden stand where the dagger was and them.

“Watch.”

He threw the dagger.

Whack!

The dagger flew in a neat line, becoming translucent, passing through the board, and materializing in front of the wooden stand.

Thud!

The dagger pierced the log up to its hilt.

Rudi, entranced, opened her wallet.

“I’ll buy it. I’ll take it with me right away.”

“I absolutely have to buy this! I’m not looking to possess it myself! It’s likely a magic tool of an infiltrator!”

* * *

“The goods? Where on earth did you get something like that? It depicts the process by which the ancient celestial deity faith and thunder deity faith connect to the evil gods in a Southern style—.”

Rudi headed to the comprehensive workshop, where Sererassie was having a meal in the ground-floor dining area.

The menu consisted of a scandalously thin beef stew and white bread, alongside coffee so dark it was questionable how many shots were used.

“Your Highness, before we delve into your favorite topic, please eat a bit more.”

Rudi brought a plate of meat and kept her seated until Sererassie finished eating.

“How dare you attempt to bind royalty!”

Sererassie resisted, twisting her limbs, but Rudi, a sword user, was not one she could outmatch in strength.

“I have a holy duty to prevent Her Highness Sererassie from starving!”

“Students! Shouldn’t you drag this treacherous maid away immediately?”

She called out to her students in desperation, but the dining hall was empty.

Roiselin’s students and Marcus’ apprentices had all returned to the laboratory after finishing their meals.

Realizing this, Sererassie despaired.

“I sent them all away! This cannot be! I dug my own grave!”

“Indeed. Your Highness, please chew thoroughly.”

After a while, Rudi lifted up Sererassie, who had collapsed from overeating, and took her to the laboratory.

“Your Highness, take a look at this dagger. It’s called the Disappearing Spirit Dagger.”

“Shut up. My stomach is churning… Is that a real spirit?!”

Sererassie, who was reclining in her chair, snapped up as soon as Rudi pulled out the dagger, her eyes sparkling with insight.

Snap!

Instantly snatching the dagger, she spilled mana and assessed the incantation circuit.

“Indeed, it’s not just simple transparency. The power traversing between substance and energy is contained in this single dagger! Goodness! What kind of establishment is that Iseas running? Is he perhaps a contractor of a demon?”

“Hmm… The mana flow itself seems to be rather normal for a noble.”

For a moment, she exhaled deeply.

A subtle anxiety clouded over her two differently colored eyes.

“At this point, it becomes hard to merely view it positively. He likely possesses extraordinary skill or has some suspicious ties.”

Rudi nodded.

“Yes, Your Highness. I thought it would be best to meet with the merchant soon.”

“That would be wise. Always be cautious. Oh, Marcus has succeeded in mass-producing new arrows, so take them with you.”

Sererassie pointed to a box set aside.

Inside the box were numerous arrows containing silver and seemingly complicated circuits.

Rudi frowned at the unstable energy emanating from the arrows.

“Your Highness, forgive my irreverent question, but are these truly successful?”

Sererassie smiled bitterly.

“I tried to convert what I designed as an incantation circuit into an incantation circuit somehow; that’s where the trouble began. They should certainly fire. The power is as you desired.”

Rudi furrowed her brow.

This time, she didn’t seem frightened, but rather appeared to be sulking like a squirrel.

“When you say ‘should’, it implies there could be side effects, right?”

“Now that you’ve become a splendid court noble. Yes, it could potentially explode.”

Rudi flinched her shoulders once, carefully putting away the new arrows.

Seeing her concern, Sererassie asked sympathetically.

“Are they to be handled with that much care?”

Rudi beamed in response and nodded.

Sunlight poured in through the window, casting a deep shadow over her kind face for a moment.

“We were attacked on the way here today. Though we tossed them all in the underground waterway.”

* * *

“A merchant? Why would you wish to go there?”

“I’m curious about what kind of people are seeking these magic tools.”

“Let’s go then. For a VIP like Count Rudi, we can afford to make that effort.”

Iseas hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“The headquarters is in this building.”

It was a wide stone structure with five floors, bustling with employees.

“Oh my. Count, is that you?”

A hefty manager rose from his desk and bowed slightly to welcome them.

“Our merchant has been active since the Southeast…”

“Secrets? Haha. To be honest, I have nothing to brag about. I just put in the legwork to undercut the prices for those who don’t know the value of things.”

“If the secret is working diligently, then it is a secret.”

He chuckled humbly, spreading out his books as if there was nothing to hide.

“It took twelve appraisals to acquire three magic tools…”

“The final profit of the merchant is…”

Aside from the normal accounting tricks anyone could do, there was nothing noticeably suspicious about the merchant.

However, Rudi did not miss the faint sounds of labored breathing coming from beneath the manager’s desk.

“I should certainly come by again at night.”