Chapter 10

"An attack, how many are injured!?"

Immediately concerned about people's safety, Sora smiled at Rasett.

"It's fine. No one was injured. When a group of adult men come, the homeless children run away first."

Hearing Rasett's report, Sora let out a sigh of relief. Then, she glared at the white building visible outside the window with a hostile gaze.

"Those church people?"

"Most likely. It seems all the firewood the homeless children had saved up was stolen."

While keeping watch, Rasett had witnessed the stolen firewood being transported to the church in several trips to avoid suspicion. This fact led her to conclude that the church was behind it. Sora also agreed with Rasett's reasoning.

– But why did they attack? There's no value in twigs...

Leaning her cheek on her hand by the window, she pondered. Sora's thin eyebrows gradually furrowed.

"If there's no value, then they don't need to use them...?"

A sudden idea struck Sora, and she sensed she was onto something.

If there's no value in the twigs, they don't need to use them.

No, if it's to "prevent them from being used," what is the church planning?

Sora stared at the church's golden decorations for a while. The bird holding a staff, bathed in the light of the setting sun, scattered a brilliant sunset hue around, looking beautiful.

"...This is bad."

The words that finally came from Sora's mouth painted a grim future.

Rasett, who had been lost in thought, was brought back to reality by Sora's words.

"Did you figure something out?"

"Yeah, I hope I'm wrong, though."

Sora, who had her hand on her forehead and her face lowered, spoke bitterly.

"Do you understand how I made a profit from the last lottery scandal?"

"Was it futures trading?"

Rasett, originally from a fishing village and not very knowledgeable about business, answered with a hint of unease.

Sora's stern face relaxed slightly.

"Right. I secured the inventory all at once, reduced the supply to the market, and drove up the price. Then I made a profit from the difference."

"Thinking about it again, it's a ruthless move."

Sora chuckled, "I think so too."

However, his expression quickly turned serious.

"But there are even more ruthless people out there. They use even more inhumane methods."

"Is it really—"

"Yeah, the head of the Wood Dora Trading Company, Zendo."

Sora poured water into a wooden cup and drank it all. After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he spoke slowly.

"Probably, the Wood Dora Trading Company intends to create a situation where everyone has to buy the lottery tickets."

Rasett tilted her head.

Lottery tickets are just garbage if you draw a losing ticket. They are just a form of gambling.

People who dislike gambling or are too poor to afford it won't buy them.

When she raised this question, Sora nodded in agreement.

"True, but what if they make people buy them as firewood instead of lottery tickets?"

"In that case, they would just buy firewood or charcoal. Lottery tickets are more expensive."

"What if there's no firewood or charcoal?"

"...They would buy lottery tickets and burn them."

Rasett, who had reached the same conclusion, also held her head in her hands.

The method of the Wood Dora Trading Company was simple.

As a major trading company dealing in timber, Wood Dora would have the most firewood in the city.

If all the firewood that would normally be supplied to the market were turned into lottery tickets, what would happen?

The already scarce timber had increased in price due to the lottery tickets that Minan had introduced.

However, the price was expected to drop once the lottery tickets were no longer a factor.

But when Rasett tried to sell the leftover timber, she said:

"The buyback price seemed a bit too high."

In other words, someone was supporting the purchase of all the timber. That someone was the Wood Dora Trading Company.

By supporting the purchase, the Wood Dora Trading Company almost monopolized the timber market. With the backing of the church, they announced the lottery.

All the timber in the market was turned into lottery tickets, and no firewood would be sold in the city this year.

Even the wealthy and the impoverished would buy lottery tickets as firewood to avoid freezing to death.

"Ruthless. Too ruthless. Inhumane..."

Rasett shook her head and sighed.

After a while, Sora and Rasett, who had been sighing in unison, regained their composure and faced each other.

"They will probably set a very high price for the lottery tickets."

"Will people who can't afford them go and collect firewood themselves?"

"It's not possible. The homeless children would have already collected everything. Besides, they even stole the firewood the homeless children had saved. The company is telling people to buy the lottery tickets if they want firewood."

And they are also saying, "If you can't buy them, freeze to death." In reality, the number of people who will freeze to death will be quite high.

"That's it! We can inform the nearby villages and have them bring in timber!"

Rasett clapped her hands and smiled confidently. However, Sora's mood did not improve.

"That won't work. It's only slightly better than doing nothing."

At this time of year, with winter approaching, the few farmlands are busy with the harvest, and most villages are drying and smoking fish while the days are still long.

Cutting down trees to earn money is important, but ensuring food for the winter is the top priority.

Even if the timber could be brought in, it would be like pouring water on a burning stone. Everyone would want to sell to the highest bidder. And right now, no trading company is buying timber at a higher price than the Wood Dora Trading Company.

The Wood Dora Trading Company will happily buy the timber and joyfully turn it into lottery tickets.

Lottery tickets that will definitely sell. The Wood Dora Trading Company has found a dream business.

"...There's nothing we can do."

Rasett muttered, looking troubled.

Sora, who had been deep in thought with a serious expression, suddenly raised his head as if he had made a decision.

"Rasett, investigate the wood processing plant where the Wood Dora Trading Company is making the lottery tickets. Also, by tomorrow afternoon, gather ten homeless children, around ten years old, who are malnourished but not dangerous."

"Do you have a plan?"

"I don't have time to explain in detail. We need to prepare. Hurry."

Rasett nodded strongly and left the room.

"...Please, do your best, Rasett."

Sora sent a heartfelt cheer to Rasett, who was quickly walking away.

August 8th revision