Zenbe Uncle Visits the Office
< Zenbe Uncle Who Came to the Office. >
Back in Kara, we dove straight into a massive cleanup of the information agency's office. While we were away, a fierce dust storm must have swept through Kara, because dirt had piled up everywhere in thick layers.
As Armida sis and I swept the floor of the second-floor reception room together, she grumbled in a sly tone.
"Little bro. Can't you just hire someone for chores like cleaning?"
I straightened my back and replied.
"This is our nest. We gotta clean it with our own hands, put some love into it."
"Not because you've blown all the money?"
Armida sis shot me a glare, and I averted my eyes.
"Well, money comes and goes. When it's gone, we make more. No big deal."
"Almost 100,000 Riph, though. That's enough for a major territory's annual budget. How do you blow through that much?"
"Had places to spend it."
"What's a Magic Bullet Launcher even good for?"
"Obviously useful. How effective were they in the last war?"
"Sure, but 15,000 units?"
I put on my most shameless face.
"Just preparing for emergencies."
"Then make Essence cartridges too. Why just the launcher bodies?"
"Too pricey if we do cartridges too."
"But without Essence, they're useless, right?"
"We can make 'em later and slot 'em in."
The reason I was ordering just the improved Magic Bullet Launcher bodies now was simple: Essence was hard to come by at the moment, but once the age of ruin hit, it'd be rolling around on every street. The improved launchers used cartridge-style Essence anyway—easy to swap out—so no need to buy it all up front.
Plus, Kara was ramping up full-scale production on the mana-powered iron horses. Rails were already being laid between Kara and Merisella, and prototype No. 1 would be ready soon. If I hoarded all the Essence now, it'd screw up iron horse production big time.
Essence prices could skyrocket too.
"Why buy Essence later? Little bro, don't we have that giant one from killing Uroboros?"
"Got other plans for that."
"Like what?"
"Kara's developing new weapons right now."
"Again?"
Armida sis clicked her tongue. Lately, Kara had been churning out new weapons like crazy—from Magic Cannons to improved Rolan's Poison Fog, Magic Bullet Launchers, harpoon cannons, and more. Some were game-changers that could rewrite human weaponry history.
Even Armida sis couldn't hide her awe at the mana-powered iron horse under development. No fancy spells involved, but once complete, it'd revolutionize humanity's economy, transport, and culture. Hauling massive manpower and goods at dirt-cheap rates.
"Yeah."
"Little bro. You planning to conquer the world or something?"
"What, you think I'm some kid dreaming of world domination? Just prepping for humanity's doom. If we can't stop sis's runaway friend, the whole species has to step up, right?"
Armida sis looked sheepish.
"Fair enough. Prepping's not a bad idea... But Chronos might complain. 'What if Kara conquers the continent?'"
"Why worry about Kara?"
"If Kara takes over the world, the Water Church becomes the global faith."
"Yep."
"Euroa, being Water Valkyrie, would love it, but the others'd be salty."
I waved it off wildly.
"Tell 'em not to worry. As long as I'm alive, Kara won't invade anyone. And with just over 3 million people, how could we manage a world empire? We'd shine bright at first, then the whole nation'd vanish."
"Really?"
"Yeah. So relax. Kara won't start wars unless invaded."
"Got it. Not bad then."
Ah, too many gods is a pain. Their religious interests clash hard, so they nitpick everything.
But whatever. I had no plans to conquer the world. We might butt heads with Chronos over other stuff, but not this. If they pushed, fine.
"Alright, let's go."
Sis and I dumped the swept-up dust into the trash bin in the second-floor hallway. I stretched and looked around.
Clean as could be now.
But the old building had cracks everywhere. Another dust storm, and it'd be filthy again. The magic AC never cooled well because of those gaps anyway. Time to repair or rebuild soon.
Shura came out into the hall too.
"Master. The break room across the way's done."
"Good. Let's head down."
We all went to the first-floor office. A welcome guest had arrived: Zenbe uncle. Spotting me, he gave an awkward, standoffish look.
"Human. You're here."
"Yeah. What's up, Zenbe uncle? Coming to our office?"
Zenbe uncle sidled right up to me.
"Got something important to discuss."
"Don't say you need a loan. I don't lend to friends."
"It's not that!"
"Then what?"
"Outside. Can't let others hear."
"Then we talk here."
Zenbe uncle glanced at Armida sis. I'd often told him she had a big mouth.
"Outside feels safer."
"What's the big deal?"
"Just come."
Zenbe uncle practically dragged me out. He was acting weird today. Probably food poisoning from leftover cart scraps.
He pulled me into a shady alley, then whispered so soft it didn't match his gravelly voice.
"Human. War's coming, right?"
"What war? Wars happen all the time."
"Between Yosrahim Empire and us orcs. You just came from the empire—you must've heard."
"Yeah. So?"
"A million strong?"
"Heard they're prepping around that. But why do you care? War's routine, and you stay out of worldly stuff."
Zenbe uncle sighed deeply.
"Sigh... Things changed."
"How?"
"Blue Plains Tribe sent a letter recently."
The Blue Plains Tribe was the orc force where Zenbe uncle had been chieftain. Though defeated by the Red Fang Tribe 11 years ago and now under Grollmog, it was his homeland—he couldn't ignore it.
"What? They want you to join?"
"Nah."
"Then we're good."
"But they made this awkward request."
"What?"
"Hook 'em up with Magic Bullet Launchers and Magic Cannons."
Those were strategic military goods, export-controlled by the state. Small batches via smuggling, sure—but bulk needed government okay.
I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. Selling Magic Bullet Launchers to orcs was what I wanted anyway, no biggie. But since they came begging first, couldn't just hand 'em over. Urgency jacks up prices.
"Can't they get from Kalligo Kingdom? Your ally."
"They're busy checking Light forces on their border, no spare capacity. Plus, their weapons suck compared to Kara's."
True. Same gear, but performance differed. Theirs human-designed; ours by Valkyrie Armida sis. They'd catch up eventually, but not yet.
"Still, tough ask."
"Why?"
"Orcs stayed neutral in the Lobros-Kara war, remember? Makes support awkward. International relations run on reciprocity."
"Reciprocity?"
"Eye for an eye. Point is, when Kara was in crisis before, you orcs sat it out—so we'll munch popcorn this time. Somethin' like that."
Zenbe narrowed his eyes.
"You really gonna play it that way? I stepped up back then."
"That's why I'm offering land. How much you want? Can't give all of Jores Island, but Padilla'd carve out a prime spot."
"Can't budge?"
"If it was personal, sure. But international politics in the mix—super tricky."
"Why?"
"Help 'em, and it's obvious. Think Yosrahim Empire won't notice? Relations tank instantly. Plus, they sent knights gratis last war. Arming orcs now? Ungrateful. Humans don't do that."
Zenbe uncle rubbed his face. True—Yosrahim Empire had backed Kara hard last time. Couldn't aid orcs morally.
"Got it. I overreached."
As he turned, I grabbed his shoulder. Geez, this uncle quits too easy. Just talk—I couldn't let him buy it. Too naive for haggling.
"But Magic Bullet Launchers alone? Maybe doable."
"Wait, you said no."
"Kara's a no-go. But I got some. Recently upgraded—awesome. Longer range, extra features."
Zenbe uncle perked up.
"For real?"
"Yeah. Take this blueprint. Pass it as Kalligo make. My empire ties make open sales iffy."
"How much?"
"Chaos Pieces. One million units."
One million Chaos Pieces was 400,000 Riph wholesale now. I bought from Evelyn at 3,500—over 114x markup.
Not a scam, though. Scams are selfish; mine serve humanity. Legally clean. For real.
"Human. Ain't that humanely pricey?"
"Orcs don't even use Chaos Pieces? Handing over trash and acting fancy."
"Not trash here."
"Don't like it, pass. Not dying to sell. Doing it for you. Latest version—not even issued to Kara troops. Top performance. Wouldn't sell without your ask. What nation peddles bleeding-edge gear abroad before its own?"
Zenbe uncle smacked his lips.
"Tch. Fine. I'll pitch it."
"Oh, and mention this too."
"What?"
"Got 15,000 pre-made. If needed, say so. Off-books stock, so sellable."
I eyed him slyly.
Empire-orc war planned for next year. Fire at their feet—pre-stocked launchers irresistible.
"Price?"
"Hmm. Fair at 200 units per."
Three million total. Reasonable for humanity's sake. Still markup, but war premium made it cheap. Honest deal this time.
"Got it. I'll mention."
"But absolute secrecy. Leak, deal's off. Tell 'em zip it."
"Understood."
Zenbe uncle left soon. I watched him go, then bolted to Kara's magic comms station.
In the darkened magic comms room, I dismissed the attending mage and stared at the crystal orb alone. Soon, a face appeared: Brendel Duke, conservative leader of the Yosrahim Empire.
The duke beamed at me.
"Baekmyeon. Safe return?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Good. What brings the contact?"
I scanned the room.
"No one around?"
"Yes. Cleared it for just me. What's up? Trouble in Kara?"
"Nah. Empire side."
Brendel duke's pupils dilated slightly.
"Our empire? What?"
"Contact from our spy in Kalligo Kingdom. They're building something huge. Not confirmed, but looks bad."
Brendel duke's eyes widened.
"What weapon?"
"Magic Bullet Launcher. Massively upgraded—revolutionary."
"Really...?"
"Totally. Range 20m longer than ours, without nerfing power."
Longer range was scary. Same numbers, they'd dominate from the start. Especially with launcher traits—vets fire three shots and retreat in 20m.
"How...?"
"Not all. Swappable Essence cartridges for sustained fire. Mana injection lets knights or mages refill on-site. No joke."
Brendel duke urgently asked.
"Solid intel?"
"Yeah. No blueprint yet, but info's good. Probably debuts next war."
"Hmm. What to do..."
"Check your end too. We'll share blueprint when we snag it."
"Yes. Thank you."
"No prob. Blood allies gotta help each other."
"Right."
"Catch ya later."
"Yes. Awaiting word."
Call ended, I pondered. How much to squeeze from the empire? Blood allies from last war—no gouging, tricky.
< Zenbe Uncle Who Came to the Office. > End