Chapter 84

Thinking that there would be more secret talks from now on, I moved to an inn that rents out a detached house from last night.

The inn had a spacious garden, and when I woke up in the morning, I stood there.

The sun rose gently, and the morning dew dripped from the trees.

The trees swayed in the wind, and a single leaf fluttered down.

As it fell in front of me, I raised my hand and tapped it with the second joint of my middle finger, as if knocking on a door.

*Puff!*

A satisfying sound was made, and the leaf shattered into pieces in mid-air.

Literally into pieces, the leaf, which should have contained moisture, shattered like a dry leaf.

"Amazing..."

Zoe's voice came from behind me.

She had returned from outside and was staring at me with wide eyes, amazed.

"Was that... Master's power?"

"Yeah."

"Is that so...? Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

When I asked, Zoe didn't answer but muttered to herself.

"Leviathan, Bahamut, Behemoth, Fuwawa, Apophis, Jiz..."

The names she muttered were those of the powerful magical artifacts I possessed.

After muttering them, Zoe looked even more puzzled.

"Whose power was that just now?"

"Ah, I see. You've been with me all this time, so you have a good grasp of everyone's power."

"Yes."

"Exactly as you suspected, it wasn't any of their powers."

"Huh?"

"It was my own power."

I came here to investigate the salt tax and to train Zoe.

If I don't grow at all, it won't make sense.

Considering my current status and all my past experiences, I spent the night thinking about what I could do, which led to this attack.

It's easy to swing an attack with brute force.

But from the idea that a good sound is made when you tap something rather than just hitting it, I tried a strike that focused on a single point of impact.

As a result, I developed a technique that shatters a leaf fluttering in mid-air.

"Even you... Master is really amazing..."

"More importantly, did you talk to them?"

"Huh? Yes..."

Zoe said this and looked around nervously.

"Don't worry, I'm controlling the wind around us with Jiz's power."

"Wind?"

"Sound is transmitted through the air. By controlling the wind, I prevent the sound from leaking out. Inside, it might travel through the walls, but in the garden, it's fine."

"I see. Then I'll report to His Majesty."

"Alright."

Zoe told them about using the 3,000 Reen to bribe Kate, and they were very surprised. When she asked for additional funds, they provided them.

"How much?"

"Huh?"

"How much did they give?"

"The same amount, 3,000 Reen."

"...Huh, I see."

I smiled slightly, and Zoe tilted her head in confusion.

"Is something wrong, Your Majesty?"

"If someone like Zoe came, I would pay at least double, no, ten times as much. It's a classic case of 'rare goods are valuable.'"

"I see...?"

"That's why it seemed odd to me that they only gave the same amount."

"Um... so what does that mean?"

To Zoe, who still didn't quite get it, I smiled again.

"It means that the person who came and used that amount of money is only worth B-rank, or at most A-rank even with the advantage of being in their territory. They're not stupid, but they're not particularly impressive either."

Explaining it in terms of status and the "+" system:

"I see! That makes sense!"

Zoe nodded in agreement.

"Hmm?"

"After reporting my reaction, they were divided on whether to continue as is or change their approach. I could tell it wasn't a good sign."

"I see."

"Also, I asked what you like."

"What did they say I like?"

"Human beings—especially talented women."

"I see."

It's almost a perfect answer.

She's not lying; considering what I've done so far, it's a fully truthful answer.

However, it's also limited.

"Good job, Zoe."

"Thank you!!"

Zoe beamed happily.

"Given that, they might send someone like Evelyn."

A talented woman.

To Zoe, that would mean a senior maid, now a governor, who rose to the top of the Thirteen Princes' household.

But.

"That's overestimating them."

"Is that so?"

"For a B-rank person, the most they would send with that information would be a skilled courtesan or a geisha who doesn't sell her body."

"Ah... I see..."

Zoe still didn't quite get it.

Well, she'll understand eventually.

"Since we know their move, let's go out today and pretend to investigate while waiting for their contact. They'll definitely try to bring a 'talented woman' closer to me."

"Yes! I'll get ready!"

Zoe nodded and ran into the inn to prepare.

☆

When we went out into the city, it was as gloomy as ever.

The main street was wide enough for six carriages to travel side by side, but the city lacked vitality, and there was almost nothing to buy.

As Zoe reported, they continued to maintain an exaggeratedly gloomy appearance.

Really, how much money do they have?

At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if they boasted, "There's nothing we can't do in this city."

They've created such a situation.

"Master... this means... people are being forced to live a different life, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Everyone is following it... I still can't quite believe it."

"The guilds or unions are probably very powerful. Well, they have the money, so it's not surprising."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Do you know about the 'second residences' the princes have?"

"Huh? Um... are they like the 'villages' we have?"

"That's not entirely correct."

I chuckled.

"They are 'second residences,' located away from the capital. However, they are usually the same size as villages or towns."

"Oh, I see."

The former emperor and the royal family often own towns or villages under the name of 'residences' or 'villas.'

The thousands of people living in these villas are essentially servants of the royal family.

"In these villas, if the main royal family says black, it's black, and if they say the sun rises in the west, it does. If an inspection is conducted in the villa, the royal family might order everyone to be more restrained during that period. It's the same here, just on a much larger scale."

"I see..."

Zoe swallowed and looked around.

It's not just a little bigger, but she seemed to understand the analogy and was gradually getting a feel for the power of the salt merchants.

"Hmm?"

"What is it, Master?"

"That area seems unusually 'prosperous.'"

I pointed to a spot on the main street.

The city had been made to look gloomy to deceive my eyes, but in that one area, it was as lively and bustling as the night we entered.

As I approached with Zoe, I could hear the conversations of the townspeople.

"There's an amazing songstress from the capital at that shop."

"A songstress from the capital?"

"Yeah, I heard her, and her voice was incredible. It's a song that will stay with you for life."

"Is it that good?"

Listening to the passersby's conversation, I exchanged a glance with Zoe.

This is it. We nodded in agreement and headed towards the shop where the songstress was, based on the fragments of the conversation we heard.

"Master, you were right on the money!"

Zoe was very excited that my prediction had come true.

Immediately after, she—and I—was surprised.

The voice that reached our ears as we approached the shop was a familiar one.

"Is this... Alice...?"

The voice faintly heard from inside the shop was undoubtedly Alice's.