The Gold Sun's Bargain
The casual shout didn't last long.
"Gold Sun, eh? A sun shining in gold? What a fine compliment! From now on, call me Prince Gold Sun! Haha!"
As expected of this world's people, he didn't grasp the exact implication and plopped down across from me with a booming laugh, clearly delighted by the nickname. He nodded approvingly after glancing at Noel, Erika, and Mina in turn, then flashed a smile at Noel.
"Pleased to meet you, lady of the Nexia Ducal House. I trust you haven't settled on a suitor yet? If not, allow me to throw my hat in the ring..."
Noel didn't respond. Gone was her initial wariness; she just furrowed her brow slightly and lifted her teacup.
Seeing that, Prince Rial chuckled. "I got a bit carried away with such beauties before me, eh? Just a joke, my dear. A joke."
"I was savoring the tea's aroma and missed your esteemed words—my apologies."
"You're no ordinary lady. I've heard there's a thorn in your family's territory, so I came myself to..."
"No such thing exists. And if it did, we'd handle it ourselves."
"Ah. I was speaking of family matters. Don't you need some muscle?"
Noel flinched ever so slightly but smiled calmly. "Family issues are for the family to resolve."
"Understood."
He'd seemed annoyingly persistent at first, but surprisingly, he backed off without a fuss. Then Prince Rial turned his smile to Erika, his next target.
"And what of you? Word is, the empire's giving your lands hell. Trying all sorts of new things to cope, I hear? With me by your side, it'd be a breeze..."
"Nah, we're good."
Erika shot back so casually. Noel, though, smirked faintly—clearly enjoying the shutdown.
The prince let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! Straightforward and simple—I like it. Heard you had a rough loss recently, but looks like you pulled through. Splendid. My offer stands whenever you need it, though."
"It'll stand forever, then."
A bit rude, but Prince Rial didn't mind. Honestly, I was starting to see why he'd approached them.
"You must be pretty curious about kingdom news, huh?"
"What talk is that? I'm only interested in lovely ladies like these."
Prince Rial said as much, but his expression screamed gotcha.
It wasn't hard to figure out. "News from Phoenix County and the Nexia Duchy must be tough to come by in the Gandharva United Kingdom."
Gandharva lay almost directly opposite the two territories from Vespia's capital—far enough that you'd have to cross an entire kingdom. What real support could they offer Phoenix's borderlands from there?
He'd clearly come armed with intel, probing them for reactions to verify its truth. And with Mina, whom I'd known longest, I spotted it right away. That prince was wearing a mask, putting on an act from the start.
"The real business is with me, right, Your Highness?"
"...I don't make a habit of serious chats with men."
But. Prince Rial's smile turned a touch colder. "On the surface, anyway."
He downed his teacup in one go. The probing was over.
"Fine. Enough games—down to business. You can guess what it is, yeah?"
"Cyclops? We're swamped handling domestic production as it is. Can't sell overseas."
"Exporting weapons like Cyclops requires palace approval anyway," Mina added leisurely.
"Not that I don't know. Cyclops goes to the palace too."
"But you're selling two versions, right? Palace-grade and the downgraded civilian model. I'm asking for the civilian ones."
Mina tried muddying the waters by mentioning the two variants, but the prince knew all about it. He looked like a cartoon thug, but he was no pushover. Prince Gilford came off as bumbling by comparison—how did two princes differ so much? Was their kingdom okay?
As those thoughts swirled, the Gold Sun spoke again. "Money's no object. Name your price."
Honestly, in a year or two, it'd be fine—but selling abroad now could blow up. I'd already learned my actions and rep affected the golems. Couldn't just charge ahead like before.
"Still, it's palace-supplied gear at base. Need permission."
I'd changed from my old self. For a better future, I had to hold firm here.
"Double."
...Hold firm.
"Academy brass approval too..."
"Quadruple."
"With the empire breathing down our necks, we haven't even fully..."
"Eight times."
Too much money. Did he really have that much?
Noel and Erika looked antsy, unable to jump in with the numbers escalating. Prince Rial leaned back casually. "Half of that's a joke."
"The other half's serious?"
Eight times was wild, but even four... nah, probably not.
"Funny way to put it, but spot on. Straight talk: Gandharva craves power."
He smirked. "We're up against the empire at our border too. Natural to want defenses, right?"
His tone had softened, more relaxed than before. Maybe this was his real voice.
As I pondered, he started to rise but sat back down. "Cyclops aren't widespread in Vespia yet."
"Drop the palace permission excuse already. I get your situation."
Prince Rial conceded easily, grinning. "But if not, I'll have to buy from Abatus. That'd put you in a bind, no?"
"Can't force buyers on sellers, so it's their problem before ours..."
That was my take, but...
"Hm. Heard you lack common sense—guess it's true. Or rather, you've been too detached from worldly affairs."
He was nonchalant. Fine from a friend, but from a foreigner on first meet? Outrageous. As I opened my mouth to retort, he smiled smoothly.
"Fine, you even gave me this cool Gold Sun title, so let me school you. Listen, Baron Arklite—I'm a prince, right? To you, a foreign one, so I can't demand your loyalty. No orders here. But would a prince from another nation buy junk?"
His eyes narrowed slightly. He pressed on. "Someone might say, 'Cyclops outshines Abatus chimeras!' And honestly, I agree!"
"High praise."
"Yet a foreign prince buys chimeras anyway."
I got his point.
"Within the kingdom, maybe not—but continent-wide, you carry more credibility than Prince Rial."
"Exactly! Though it's just between us for trust."
Cyclops superiority didn't matter. A foreign royal's endorsement was huge in this status-obsessed world.
"I'm chummy with Cardio too— we exchange letters. A word from me, and he'll cut me a deal. I'd just deploy those beasts to the border. They spent ages making something barely below Cyclops... but hey, secure borders are all I care about!"
His taunting was masterful. But it revealed a weakness.
"Why not do that?"
"Truth? I hate buying chimeras."
Prince Rial said softly, raising a hand before lowering it. "Pardon. Signaled my guards to watch the perimeter."
"We're alone..."
Apparently not. Looking closer, Professor Reina's sword hilt was positioned for a quick draw. Her silence earlier? Probably signaling the prince's guard not to try anything.
The prince continued. "Abatus and Gandharva have traded long. But old partners? They slack off, thinking it's routine—things fester."
"...Aren't you friends?"
"Friends? In this game, yesterday's ally poisons you today. Especially in Gandharva."
Harsh neighborhood... but with Abatus in play, I stayed quiet.
He looked openly annoyed. "Bought chimeras when they pushed, but with superior Cyclops around? Waste of coin. Plan was to buy yours and pit them in competition."
"Competition?"
"Cyclops vs. chimera—which suits national defense better? We'd test it here. After buying, of course."
He added as if it just hit him. "Oh, right. Academy's heading to the Saras Church Holy Site for pilgrimage—first in years. Main event'll be flashy."
I almost asked what he meant by main event but caught on quick.
"Fancy stage for me and Abatus to duke it out on?"
"No need if you chicken out."
So he said, then feigned nonchalance. "Though you'd get called coward, fraud. Fine for you, but golem cred tanks."
Cheeky bastard. But he stretched and said, "Win, though, and Gandharva imports civilian Cyclops en masse—ready to pay Vespia a 'gratuity.' And you, Baron."
"Feels sleazy moving just for cash."
"My bad. Rude to the world's top engineer. Apologies."
He bantered playfully, then softened. "As atonement, take our kingdom's rare metals. Mana metals to toughen golems, right? Consider it payment for the intel. Win, and you'll get steady supplies—maybe even rarities Vespia lacks."
Thought I was just greedy? Boom—gifts. Refuse, and I look petty. Status gap hit hard.
Noel ventured cautiously. "But the core issue remains, Your Highness. As you said, Cyclops classification needs palace..."
"Oh, spoke to the palace already. Stuffed gold bars in a few mouths—talks sped up."
Bribed already. He said quietly, "Sometimes interests align unexpectedly."
"Meaning?"
"I'm backing someone who has high hopes for you. You'll learn later."
Prince Rial grinned. "FYI, formal contract means three times local price for Cyclops. Expecting a yes."
Seemed predetermined—no sharp comeback. Math said backing out complicated things more.
"...Where does that cash even come from? Wild."
A touch irritated, he laughed. "Know what else they call Gandharva besides Saras holy site?"
"Not well-versed."
"Honest baron—love it. Simple: ..."
"City of Merchants. Desert's Gold."
Mina answered. "Oasis hub where tribes formed a united kingdom through trade. Land of gold where anything's available."
"...You know your stuff."
"Holy site for my church."
Mina glanced my way—pleading eyes, plus that sly smile she flashed when fleecing someone. I nodded understanding; she looked away.
The prince pressed. "Well, Baron? Deal?"
"I'll take it. One condition change."
"Name it."
I matched his calm. "First buy at ten times."
Money overflowed, right? He could pay. Time to settle those petty jabs.
Caught off-guard, his face stiffened slightly.
"My golems are worth that much."
I drove the wedge home with conviction.