Chapter 79

The next day, I was taken back to the interrogation room. Incidentally, I was only given dinner, which had turned to sand in the pot by the time I got it.

I had been taking my lunch, dinner, and breakfast on my own.

Remaining balance: 9,875,836 yen.

As usual, my legs were restrained, and then Blow Soar entered the room.

"Hmph. Ministers sure have a lot of free time. To interrogate a mere poacher every day..."

"Indeed, you finally admit to poaching."

"Hah! You never intended to listen to me in the first place!"

"That's not true. Although, your crime hasn't changed."

"Of course not. So, what brings you here this time? Want to chat about your favorite woman's preferences?"

"Hardly a funny joke. I just have a simple announcement."

"What is it? Are you going to release me and declare me innocent?"

"Hardly. Your sentence has been finalized. For treason, poaching, disrespect, fraud, illegal entry, and illegal trading, you will be publicly whipped and crucified the day after tomorrow. It's been a while since we've had a public execution. Congratulations."

"Thanks a lot."

I suppressed the urge to start smoking.

"So, is that all you wanted to say? Don't you have any questions?"

"Nothing in particular... Oh, right, one thing."

Blow, who was about to leave the room, turned back.

"Who are you, really?"

---

I was immediately returned to my cell, but to make matters worse, a soldier was stationed outside my cell from that moment on.

Should I have tried to escape last night?

It took me until morning to finish my mental simulation, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I needed to revise my plan.

I felt like I could make it work with a forceful approach, but I couldn't afford to be reckless. After all, my execution date was set. I still had a couple of days... I hoped. An opportunity would surely come. If not, I'd have to force it by tomorrow night.

My life is still a shit game. Damn it.

The soldier on guard was replaced, and he stayed in front of my cell all day.

When the rotten soup was brought in at night, I pretended to eat it by turning my back to the corner of the room, but I secretly ate the rice ball I had hidden. Even eating a meal was a struggle.

Remaining balance: 9,875,586 yen.

Late at night, as the guard started rowing his boat, I revised the plan I had thought about the previous day. All the items I needed for the plan were approved at the SHOP. Whether I could use them effectively was another matter, but I couldn't afford to complain.

I turned my back to the iron bars and started purchasing the items one by one. I checked the items I could hide, and for those I couldn't, I would have to improvise. I prepared quietly, trying not to make any noise. My hands were sweating from the weight of the items.

"Don't hate me if I die..."

I had muttered without realizing it. Fortunately, the guard outside was still rowing his boat.

The escape equipment cost 1,344,100 yen.

Considering the value of my life, it was quite cheap.

At this moment, my divinity level increased.

Divinity Level 9, with a container capacity of 50 items.

In fact, my container was almost full at this point.

In a very cramped position, I organized my items. I had used all but one of the plastic bottles as garbage bags and threw them into a burlap sack, which counted as one item.

Adding the cost of the tomato sandwich (285 yen), the total was 1,344,385 yen. I still had water left, and there was a spare in the bucket.

Remaining balance: 8,531,201 yen.

I took deep breaths to calm my trembling hands. The defensive breathing technique of wave logic helped me relax significantly.

The operation would take place tomorrow night.

Today, I would rest and regain my strength.

I secretly took out and held the makeshift symbol of the god I had made.

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

(Third Person)

The morning of destiny.

The sky was as clear as usual, with sand dust in the air.

The sea breeze provided a slight comfort to their bodies.

From the outside, it looked like any other morning.

But their feelings were unlike anything they had ever experienced.

Cherina Veriello.

She was the daughter of the largest maritime merchant in the city-state of Piratas, a merchant and a sailor herself. Although she hadn't been on a ship recently, she still considered herself a sailor.

Her temperament was naturally rough, having grown up surrounded by brash sailors. On the other hand, she had also been exposed to her father's business negotiations and had the benefit of a governess, so she had also learned the manners and etiquette of a lady.

As the de facto head of the Veriello Trading Company, Cherina understood her position and continued to fulfill her duties and responsibilities.

The only thing she wouldn't do for the company was get married. However, the potential suitors were either the king, who was worse than a pig, or a creepy baron. Even in a world where political marriages were the norm, no one would force the company's idol, Cherina, into such a marriage.

That's why Cherina's persuasion went relatively smoothly. More accurately, she forced their agreement.

If Cherina became the king's wife or concubine, the Veriello Trading Company would be unshakable. That was the logic she used.

The executives opposed it. It was a natural reaction, given that the reason was to help a single merchant. If Cherina had decided to marry, they could have sold her for a much higher price. Such thoughts were inevitable for merchants.

However, the executives gave up immediately after looking into Cherina's eyes.

Her resolve was genuine, and they understood her feelings.

Ironically.

She had to give up her first womanly emotion for this cause.

The executives of Veriello were on the verge of tears. They pleaded with her to wait until the master returned, but Cherina dismissed it, saying there was no time.

That night, a letter was delivered to the royal palace: "From Cherina Veriello, regarding the previous invitation from His Majesty, I would like to respond in person and would like to visit tomorrow."

---

Currently, in front of the Veriello Trading Company, there are five carriages surrounded by thirty guards.

Dwarf Hagg and Elf Yarai are riding in the same carriage as Cherina's guards. The other carriages carried the old dignitaries of Veriello and the tribute.

The procession looked like a wedding party.

"Cherina, is that outfit okay?"

Hagg, fiddling with his beard, asked Cherina.

"Is there a problem?"

Her attire was the same as always, a red chain wrapped around her body, more like a flashy mercenary.

"If you're okay with it, then it's fine."

Hagg slowly closed his eyes.

"What I'm about to do is a negotiation."

"Negotiation?"

This time, Yarai looked up.

"Yes, I will sell myself as a product and buy Akira as a product. It's a transaction like that."

"You're not a product."

"No, merchants assign a value, a price, to everything that exists in this world. Although, I have no intention of selling myself cheaply."

"Do you really think Akira is worth that much?"

"Oh, he's the apostle of a god and possesses knowledge of another world. He's worth as much as the True Radiant Sword Eckesachs."

"Knowledge and abilities you can't use are worthless to you."

"..."

"Hmph. Why don't you be a little more honest?"

"I am... the temporary representative of Veriello."

"..."

Hagg closed his eyes again.

"Then, let's set off."

—Fate began to turn.

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