Chapter 327
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 327
Chapter Title: Are You Threatening Me?
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Rose bit her lip.
She glanced back at the Lukuma chieftain, who had been watching nervously from behind.
"Shut this place down immediately."
"What? We can't do that!"
"Are you just going to stand by and let your tribesmen sell themselves into slavery?"
"What's the problem with that?"
As if asking what the issue even was.
Rose was at a loss for words upon seeing the utterly baffled chieftain. Rimon spoke calmly to her.
"Then the kids will just starve to death."
"You're saying everyone here would starve if they didn't sell themselves into slavery?"
"Not everyone, but a good number of them, yeah."
The Lukuma chieftain, catching Rimon's gaze, reluctantly nodded in agreement.
"Pretty much. Anyone who comes here usually has a hopeless life because of debt or poverty."
"You monopolize the dungeon, yet you can't even provide basic welfare for the elderly and weak with those profits?"
"Welfare? You don't seriously mean giving my money to those beggars, do you?"
Building an army.
Bribing warlords.
Rewarding subordinates.
Buying luxuries or slaves.
There were so many places to spend money—why waste it on slaves who could fend for themselves once they were sold?
Rose was speechless at the chieftain's genuine bewilderment.
The dungeon profits.
The village itself.
Even the tribesmen.
He treated it all as his personal property, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. That attitude left her stunned.
"Don't look at me like I'm trash, sis. The Maasai do the same thing anyway."
"Is Chieftain Umb alu starving his tribe for personal gain too?"
"Nah, he pours every last bit of the tribe's wealth into weapons and training soldiers, so they're struggling to make ends meet."
Rimon shrugged.
Pouring money into weapons when you're on the brink of starvation? It sounded absurd.
But just look at how close the Maasai had come to being absorbed into the Lukuma tribe, all of them turned into slaves. That said it all.
The weak lost everything.
The strong took everything.
That was how most people in Africa—from small tribes to massive warlords—lived.
"...So this is just common sense on this continent."
Rose let out a groan.
She had a rough idea of what Africa was like.
The subtle racism.
The wars that were everyday life.
The child soldiers.
But she'd only known about them intellectually.
It wasn't until witnessing this scene that she truly understood the continent of Africa.
"Common sense is often surprisingly close to nonsense."
Rimon, on the other hand, was perfectly calm.
He was used to Africa, of course.
He'd seen parents boiling and eating their own children just to avoid starving themselves. This was nothing new to him.
"So you want me to just let this keep happening?"
"I don't plan to stop it, but I'm curious what you'll do if you don't ignore it."
"Well..."
"Feed all the kids with your own money?"
"..."
If this were Europe,
Rose would have agreed immediately.
Donations and volunteering were practically daily routines for the Blue Dragon Clan.
But sponsoring aid on her own in Red Dragon territory could be seen as provocation against Hasneti.
She couldn't politely request cooperation from the infiltrators hiding in Africa either.
Sure, throwing money at it might stop the kids from becoming slaves right away, but it was only a temporary fix.
Without solving the root problem, the slave market would be full again in days.
"Don't forget. We're outsiders."
"...So you're saying we'll leave eventually?"
"Over-involvement just makes trouble for everyone."
I'll stay out of anything beyond what's necessary.
Reflecting on her own earlier words, she fell silent. Watching her, Rimon flashed a mischievous smile.
"Plus, it'd hand me some leverage over you."
"Leverage?"
"If you meddle too much, I could tip off the tyrant."
"...!"
"Think that tyrant would still treat you as neutral? Or would she see you as an enemy invading her turf with my help behind the scenes?"
Given the Red Dragon Princess's personality, she wouldn't sit idly by.
Rose would struggle to maintain neutrality, and in the worst case, it could spark a civil war in the Seven Dragon Society.
In other words, to protect the Seven Dragon Society, Rose would have no choice but to do as Rimon—holding her weakness—said.
Imagining that scenario, Rose was so stunned she could barely stammer out her words.
"Are you... threatening me right now?"
"Threatening? Just giving advice."
As if he'd ever stoop to blackmailing her with her weakness like some thug.
Rose bit her lip again, watching the tanned blond boy grin innocently.
If he'd really meant to threaten her, he wouldn't have warned her so openly. She knew that.
Rimon's character wasn't the type for that anyway.
But what if it were Li Chingwei?
She'd exploit Rose without hesitation.
As the Black Dragon Clan's master schemer, she could gain massive advantages by subtly manipulating Rose.
'This really is just advice.'
That's why Rose understood.
From Rimon's position, it might have been better to stay quiet and slip the info to Li Chingwei later.
The fact that he told her upfront was consideration for her sake—she owed him thanks for that.
And the meaning behind his advice too.
'...In the end, standing by is the best choice.'
For the Seven Dragon Society's sake.
For her own sake.
Pretending not to see was clearly the way to go.
Africa wasn't territory she had to protect, and these villagers were people she'd never see again after leaving.
'But...'
Still, Rose hesitated.
She looked around at the people selling themselves one by one in the slave market.
Then she spoke up.
"...Rimon, if I remember right, you asked to accompany me here for mediation."
"Yeah."
"Was that... really just for mediation?"
"Does it matter?"
No affirmation.
No denial.
Just that bright smile from Rimon.
But contrasting his innocent grin were eyes utterly steady, deep, and serene without a flicker.
Meeting that gaze for a moment, Rose let out a soft sigh.
She turned her head.
"Chieftain Lukuma, does this tribe have any government offices?"
"Government offices...? You mean like a police station?"
"Even without formal offices, there must be some department that collects taxes and manages funds."
"I handle all that myself."
"...Then show me the ledgers you use for that."
"Sure, but why?"
The chieftain, who had puzzled over what a government office even was, looked uneasy at the request for ledgers.
After the takeover, Rimon had only made him hunt for birds, skipping the obvious duties. He'd been relieved.
Now he worried they were about to start collecting assets.
"I'll explain later."
Just do as she says for now.
The chieftain reluctantly nodded at Rose's words, a faint smile on her lips.
He had no choice anyway.
"What are you planning?"
"At least make sure these tribesmen don't sell themselves into slavery."
"Hmm, guess you're not scared of me holding something over you."
"We'll see about that."
"Yeah?"
As if he was really looking forward to it.
Rose didn't waver even at Rimon's impish grin.
No matter the reason—even if it was just to fend off fallout—now that she'd conquered the Lukuma tribe, she had a duty to take responsibility for them.
Even if only until she left.
She was Rose Cytherpent.
The Blue Dragon Princess who never bent her convictions to threats or blackmail, who never hesitated to do what she believed was right.
Above all, she had a way to resolve this while maintaining neutrality.
"This structure where most operating funds come from the dungeon is way too distorted. Why haven't you developed other industries?"
"Why develop other industries when the dungeon spits out money?"
"Taxes are a problem too. Collection is arbitrary on top of inconsistent, and some haven't paid in years or have been personally skimming."
"No, we give tax exemptions to relatives and officers..."
"Cancel those exemptions immediately and order the return of all improperly gained income."
"D-Don't talk nonsense! That'll spark a coup!"
"Then I'll suppress it for you."
"That's...!"
The Lukuma chieftain was flabbergasted.
He'd only worried about his personal wealth at first.
But what Rose was doing after reviewing the ledgers far exceeded his imagination.
Reforming the tax system, rooting out those diverting old weapons and ordering audits.
Switching suppliers because the current ones were buying dungeon byproducts at rock-bottom prices.
Banning the embezzlement and exploitation that had been quietly tolerated.
She was dissecting and overhauling the tribe's revenue structure based solely on the ledgers.
For the chieftain, who constantly agonized over even basic bookkeeping, Rose didn't seem human anymore.
But to Rose, it was hardly challenging.
As Yormungand's chairwoman.
As Countess Cytherpent.
As the Blue Dragon Clan's princess.
She'd managed conglomerates since childhood, led the Great British Empire's politics, and earned perfect praise from her clan.
Leading a small tribe like this was just a tutorial for a pro like her.
'If I can't use outside funds, I'll just make them self-sufficient.'
Even so, Rose didn't let her guard down.
No, she poured in more effort than ever.
It wasn't just because thorough reforms across multiple fronts were needed to prevent the slave market from reopening after she left.
It was because of Rimon, who rarely left her side, always trailing and watching her.
No matter how massive the search for the Seventh Color Bird was,
for someone as pressed for time as him, this was inefficient.
So she was certain.
Rimon hadn't brought her to Africa solely for Red Dragon mediation.
That's why she worked hard.
With all her heart, full throttle.
But because she focused so intently on reforming the tribe, Rose failed to notice.
The more zeal she showed, the more the tanned blond boy looked at her with pity, like a loyal steed leaping into a fire pit of its own accord.
"...Pardon?"
Rose caught the problem shortly after.
Once she heard what the Lukuma chieftain brought her.
"What did you just say...?"