Chapter 66
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66
I studied the blueprint spread across the table.
“Hmm.”
As I pored over the technical drawings, Philip asked in a hopeful voice, “Sir Roen, don’t tell me you can read blueprints as well?”
His eyes sparkled with anticipation. It seemed he expected me to pull another miracle out of my hat, but…
“No, I can’t.”
How would I know how to read this? To me, the white parts were blank space and the black parts were just lines.
Besides, they say geniuses have terrible handwriting. Even if I had some knowledge of architecture, I would have struggled to decipher this blueprint, hand-drawn by Demian himself. It was a chaotic mess of sketches, having been erased and redrawn countless times.
Still, I meticulously checked the sections that mattered to me.
Like the secret passage leading to the dormitory basement.
I examined a small drawing tucked into the corner of the sheet. This passage led to the estimated site of an ancient ruin hidden beneath the Izelin grounds, and to a secret dungeon concealed even deeper below that.
The plan was to secure this passage during the foundational groundwork, allowing the exploration of the ruins to proceed concurrently with the dormitory's construction. I had already discussed this much with Eleina. We had agreed to share a portion of the profits from the exploration with Izelin Academy.
Of course, Eleina would have gladly accepted even if I had decided to keep everything for myself.
But getting too greedy while digging on someone else's land is a recipe for disaster.
It was better to share what I didn’t need.
Next, beside the passage for the ruin exploration, a secret staircase leading to the underworld had been placed—designed exactly as I had requested. Furthermore, the entire design had been conceived to skillfully avoid the underground aqueducts located directly beneath the Union.
It was a testament to Demian’s genius as a designer. After a quick scan, I handed the blueprint to Ciel, who was sitting beside me.
“I’ve confirmed what I needed to. You look over the details.”
This was the limit of my expertise. I would leave the minutiae to Ciel. A perfect maid—neat, academic, and a master chef—surely possessed the ability to review a blueprint.
As I handed it over, Ciel narrowed her eyes.
“…So you’re just dumping all the tedious work on me.”
“It’s called putting the right person in the right place. I have other things to do. A maid can handle a simple blueprint, can’t she?”
“A typical maid does not review architectural blueprints.”
“…”
She had a point.
Demian, who had been watching our little skit, spoke up. “Hey. Did you really get things sorted out with the people downstairs?”
“Why? Are you scared?”
“…Scared? Not really. And even if something goes wrong, I’m not the one who should be afraid. I’m just a hired hand doing as I’m told. But it wouldn’t do for my client to die halfway through the job, would it?”
“Don’t worry about it. They were actually pleased with the idea.”
I recalled my meeting with Rebecca at the Panopticon’s western branch. At first, I had considered making a deal to get permission for the underground passage, but she had accepted without any conditions.
The underworld had nothing to lose from another passage connected to the Union, especially since we were footing the bill. Moreover, a secret passage unknown to the public could be used strategically in an emergency. It would likely come in handy during the sub-quest, [Underworld Conflict].
“When can we break ground?”
“After midterms at the earliest. As you know, construction doesn’t move that quickly. There’s a lot to prepare.”
That was true. From selecting a construction company to importing materials and hiring workers, there were countless variables.
Demian asked, “What about the construction company? There are a few factions at our Tulay Academy, you know.”
“I’ll leave it to your judgment. I trust you’ll handle it so that no unnecessary rumors start.”
Construction was mostly a chain of subcontracts. Forcing companies into bidding wars to drive down costs was bound to cause problems; choosing a reliable partner was a skill in itself. Supervision was also essential to ensure funds were managed properly.
It was too much for me to worry about such trivialities, so I entrusted them to Demian. He might have a difficult personality, but once he took on a job, he was meticulous.
“Fine. But I expect to be paid for this part. It’s a hassle for me, too.”
He had helped with the design out of personal interest, but the logistical work that followed was a different matter. This time, Demian demanded compensation.
I nodded readily.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re well compensated. You’ll like the reward.”
“Do you even know what I want?”
“It doesn’t matter what it is. There’s nothing I can’t acquire.”
“Hmph, you’re full of yourself.”
I knew that the compensation Demian wanted wasn’t simply money. I would have to find a suitable reward for him in advance.
“Alright, that’s all for the dormitory reconstruction. Next.”
I took a sip of black tea to wet my throat, then turned to Eleina to bring up the next topic.
“I heard from Elena. You’ve permitted the Lu Cult to establish a parish in Izelin?”
“That is correct. I apologize for not informing you sooner.”
I waved my hand at Eleina, who was bowing her head deeply.
“There’s no need to apologize. You don’t have to report every major national decision to an outsider.”
“I have never thought of you as an outsider, Sir Roen.”
True, I had become too deeply involved to be considered a mere guest.
“In any case, are you confident?”
Borrowing the power of the Holy Kingdom to keep Jerome in check was a dangerous game. It could easily turn into a case of letting a tiger in the front door while trying to chase out a wolf. Though their methods might differ, Celestia wouldn’t leave Izelin alone either.
Regardless of Elena’s own intentions, Celestia’s mainland will try to bring Izelin under its influence one way or another.
It wouldn't be with force and power like Jerome, but with a gentler, softer approach—one that, by the time you noticed, would be impossible to escape.
When I asked about this, Eleina answered in a calm voice.
“…It would be a lie to say I am confident.”
After a brief pause, Eleina looked at Josephine and Philip, her voice filling with conviction. “But I believe that together, we can overcome it. We have already navigated this path once before.”
Hearing her confident declaration, I smiled faintly.
“Good. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
*
“Good work today, everyone!”
“Yes, please get home safely.”
The Disciplinary Committee members left Jeremy’s office with cheerful greetings. Jeremy saw them off with a bright expression.
A moment later.
Knock, knock.
At the sound of a knock, Jeremy, who was reviewing documents, spoke without looking up.
“Come in.”
The man who opened the door and stepped inside was Zimmer Demetri. He was the professor who had taken over the Basic Swordsmanship class in Verdandi’s absence.
Unlike the friendly face he had shown the committee members, Jeremy didn’t even glance at Zimmer. Zimmer watched him for a moment before leaning back on the sofa.
“What did you call me for? I’ve already taken care of the task you asked of me.”
Tap.
At Zimmer’s question, Jeremy tapped his desk with a finger, his voice laced with displeasure.
“…Just because it’s ‘handled’ doesn’t mean it was done well. It wasn’t a very refined method. There was no need to go so far as to expel a student from the class over a triviality.”
Flip.
In Jeremy’s hand was the course withdrawal consent form that Professor Zimmer had forced upon Garfield.
“This could have caused unnecessary backlash. Fortunately, she seems to know her place and didn’t act out, but it was clearly coerced.”
At Jeremy’s reprimand, Zimmer quietly bit his lip.
“What more do you want from me? That was the only window I had to meet the grade change notification deadline. I had to force the issue.”
The hastily changed grade distribution notice, using Garfield’s expulsion as a pretext to limit the A grades in the Basic Swordsmanship class to a single student, wasn't Zimmer's whim. It was an order from Jeremy.
Jeremy shrugged at Zimmer’s excuse.
“That is not my concern. All I want is a clean process and a definite result. Handling it without causing a stir is what ‘competence’ is all about, is it not?”
“…”
Zimmer suppressed the rage threatening to erupt. To be treated like this by some greenhorn brat…
Noticing the aura emanating from Zimmer, Jeremy shrugged again.
“Don’t be too angry. Compared to what you stand to gain, Sir, isn’t this a trivial matter?”
Jeremy was right. Zimmer had never intended to take a professorship at the academy. He had no interest in teaching snot-nosed kids in such a boring place.
But he had a goal. A man he wanted to surpass, even if it took the rest of his life: the Sword of the Kingdom, Egil Demetri. If he could just escape his damn brother’s shadow, if he could just get his revenge on that bastard… then cleaning up after the kingdom’s heir for a little while was something he could endure.
“…So, my payment?”
“Of course, it’s been prepared.”
Jeremy Gilbert was strict and insufferable, but he was always clear about rewards and punishments. He handed a document to Zimmer.
“At the end of April, the Lombard merchant ships, having completed their long voyage, are scheduled to reach the Meteor Archipelago via the New Continent. Those ships are loaded with spices and other specialty goods. However, the company’s stock price is currently hitting rock bottom.”
Zimmer looked at the document and frowned.
“…So this is what those nasty rumors were about?”
For months, ominous rumors had been circulating in the port—that some of the Empire’s merchant ships had been wrecked, and that a great drought had struck the main spice-producing regions. In response, major investors began selling their shares, and predatory companies seized the opportunity to short-sell the stock. The collapse of the Lombard Merchant Company's stock price was inevitable.
As a result, the price of spices in the Meteor Archipelago had skyrocketed.
Jeremy nodded quietly. “Yes, it’s about time you started lining your own pockets, Sir. I expect you to make a handsome profit from this opportunity.”
“…Understood.”
Handing the certificate to Zimmer, Jeremy gave an inscrutable smile.
“Then I’ll be counting on you for the next task as well, Sir Zimmer.”
*
The weekend arrived again.
As I left my room after my morning workout, I saw a letter sticking out from under the door. On the back was a drawing of a red, all-seeing eye. It was a letter from the underworld.
I was able to confirm a few things from this correspondence.
First, the information I had requested regarding Professor Zimmer. It wasn’t much different from what I already knew. He had stepped back from the front lines, using an injury sustained during the Great Plains expedition as an excuse, and had taken a professorship at the academy. He was currently in a temporary alliance with Jeremy, driven by a desire for revenge and hatred toward his brother.
The incident in the Basic Swordsmanship class was undoubtedly his doing, orchestrated under Jeremy’s orders.
Jeremy Gilbert…
I recalled what I knew about the head of Ishtal’s Disciplinary Committee. A man who would one day be called the Sword Saint and become the king of the Knight Kingdom. From a general perspective, he was clearly a champion of justice and an ally to the player.
However.
Jeremy’s fundamental principles are slightly twisted.
Unlike Elena, who would risk her life to eradicate evil but never cross the line of ‘order,’ Jeremy was a being closer to ‘chaos’—one who would do anything without hesitation to see his own brand of justice through. He wouldn’t think twice about using base methods to achieve his goals, which meant he would do whatever it took to keep me in check.
Although I wasn’t sure why he harbored such hostility toward me, I could only guess that the original Roen had some kind of past grudge with him.
In any case, the method I would take to resolve this was to sever the loose connection between Jeremy and Zimmer.
They’re allies, but their relationship isn’t particularly strong.
With the right justification or reward, it wouldn’t be difficult to break their partnership. I could gain a lot from this in many ways.
Perhaps I don’t necessarily have to get Professor Zimmer kicked out.
I set aside the letter about Zimmer and turned my attention to the next one.
Flip.
It was a report summarizing various topics within the Meteor Archipelago. I focused on the section titled [Report on Spice Market Trends]. As I read, my eyes widened.
The soaring price of spices and the rapidly changing stock prices of the merchant company…
This is definitely it.
The Spice Stock Manipulation Incident—a special event that occurred randomly in the game. And I knew exactly who the mastermind behind this incident was.
After reading the report for a moment, I shot up from my seat. The time had come to invest the one billion krone I’d received from Eleina.
I should take Garfield with me.