Leoric's Breakthrough and Strategic Alliances
Is this bastard really the treacherous minister?
Three reasons explained why Leoric's groundbreaking technology had remained buried until now.
First, when Leoric first submitted his paper to the Magic Tower, the technology lacked any method for mass production.
Second, all attention from scientists, alchemists, and mages had been focused on teleportation techniques and magic stone processing, leaving fertilizer development as a relatively overlooked field.
Third, Leoric's research simply wasn't popular, so it received little funding.
Without colleagues or assistants, progress had been painfully slow.
"If mass production isn't possible, then fertilizer can only be made in small lab batches," Leoric said.
"The Tower Master asked what the point of the research was. He had a point."
With no budget and no popularity, no one helped him.
Still, he continued the work for ten years and finally discovered a mass-production method a few months ago.
Using an iron catalyst instead of osmium did the trick.
When I asked why he hadn't revealed the research sooner, Leoric smiled sheepishly.
He had planned to polish the paper a bit more before publishing, but I had arrived first.
In actual history, Fritz Haber discovered the ammonia synthesis method, yet it only impacted the real world after Carl Bosch developed the mass-production process.
Leoric had achieved both breakthroughs single-handedly.
After hearing everything, I turned to Princess Selene without hesitation.
"I want to take Leoric with me," I said.
"I'll build a fertilizer mass-production plant—enough to supply the entire Golden Plains and still have surplus."
"Do as you wish," Selene replied, nodding despite her surprise at my enthusiasm.
Leoric looked startled.
"My research?"
"That's right, Leoric! Your research!"
I explained my plans and how his fertilizer technology could be used.
Leoric's face lit up like a child's.
"My parents were farmers, so I started this hoping it might help," he said.
"Now it could help countless people! I'm so happy!"
"That's not all you'll be happy about," I told him.
"From today, you're in charge of the Merchant Guild's fertilizer production plants. You'll also receive annual royalties for using your research."
"Before long, you'll be the richest scientist in the world. You worked hard to develop this technology, so you deserve the reward."
Leoric's eyes welled up.
"Th-that's… Thank you!"
He bowed his head, too emotional to speak clearly.
I gave him a quick hug, told him to pack and prepare to establish the factory, then met with Princess Selene again.
"The Merchant Guild currently has about fifty million gold in reserves," I said.
"After taxes, that's the net profit. I'll give you ten million gold."
Selene frowned.
"Are you trying to bribe me?"
"Of course not. It's an investment."
"An investment?"
I looked up at the towering Magic Tower in the heart of the imperial palace.
It symbolized the Empire's magical engineering prowess—a hall of all knowledge and technology, the dream stage for scientists, alchemists, and mages alike.
"Use the money to do whatever you want," I told her.
"Don't hold back on promising technologies or scholars. If more useful inventions emerge for the Empire, it benefits me too."
"I believe you can handle it."
Selene stared at me in silence for a long moment.
"And if you hold the money, your control over the Magic Tower will grow even stronger," I continued.
"You're the Empire's greatest mind. With that wealth and wisdom, you'll bring tremendous progress."
"As for me, I only have money, so I'll support you with that."
She studied me with an uncomprehending expression before suddenly raising her voice.
"What exactly are you hoping to gain from all this?"
I smiled warmly at her.
To her, it probably looked like nothing more than the sly grin of a squinty-eyed treacherous minister.
"I simply want the Empire's people to live in a world where they can smile and be happy," I said honestly.
The part about avoiding being torn apart in the public square, I kept to myself.
"I'll take my leave now."
I gave a casual farewell and departed.
Selene couldn't hide her confused expression until I was gone.
She would have been even more shocked if she knew where I went next.
"Landor, you don't have to meet my brother right away…" Princess Karia said.
"No, Princess Karia. I must see him."
I went to meet the Prince of Gold, Adran.
Adran looked far more bewildered than Selene had.
"You want to hand over administration of the Portu Commercial District and the Elrond barony to my officials?"
"Yes. Honestly, both places are too large to manage with ordinary feudal methods," I explained.
"A single lord can't handle the volume of administrative work, and it will only increase."
I told him how peasants exhausted by noble exploitation were flooding into the Elrond barony and Portu Commercial City seeking new jobs and homes.
"An enormous amount of paperwork is pouring into the Merchant Guild every day," I said.
"Right now it's manageable in the early stages, but soon it will overwhelm the merchants."
"We need administrative experts and people who can enforce laws fairly. Ideally, someone who understands the value of these two cities and can draft proper policies."
"What's your goal?" Adran asked sharply.
It was understandable.
The Elrond barony and Portu Commercial City were the hottest topics in the Empire.
The Landor he knew would have monopolized their advantages for personal gain.
Yet here I was, willingly offering to let him oversee me.
"It's simple," I replied.
"I've never met anyone who handles administration and law as well as you."
Adran was destined to be the greatest ruler.
He enforced laws fairly, created new legislation suited to the times, abolished outdated ones, and streamlined procedures so the capital ran smoothly.
But in the original story, the efforts of the Prince of Gold had been ruined by Duke Pellings, the Vineyard Party, and my own trolling, leading the Empire to ruin.
"These two cities need you, Your Highness," I said.
"Only when they function properly will the Empire grow strong. I believe you understand that."
"Please help me."
Once again, I set aside my pride and bowed my head.
Honestly, just looking at the amount of paperwork the Merchant Guild was handling made me want to vomit.
And this was still the manageable stage.
Without Adran's help, merchants would start dying from overwork within three months.
"I'll be watching you," Adran said.
"Watch all you like."
"I'll conduct thorough tax audits to ensure your guild pays its dues."
"Please do."
"I'll also check whether you're exploiting the peasants and citizens."
"Please do."
"I'll collect every last coin of the seven and a half million gold that Duke Pellings couldn't uncover and send it to the treasury."
"Ah, add that as an additional fine to next quarter's taxes," I said.
"Honestly, the Merchant Guild can earn that much in two days."
Adran stared at me for a long time before finally speaking.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Landor."
"Your name and face match Landor, but you're not the Landor I know."
"Who the hell are you?"
It was a difficult question to answer.
Whenever this happened, I always used my patented escape line.
"Does that matter right now?" I asked.
"What's more important is placing your people in the Empire's two richest—and soon-to-be even richer—cities."
"Come collect plenty of taxes and spend them however you wish."
"The Emperor has already entrusted most administrative duties to you anyway."
"…That's true," Adran admitted.
"Let's make the Empire strong, Your Highness," I said, extending my hand.
"A country where the people can smile without hunger or exploitation."
"Will you help me?"
Adran stared at my outstretched hand for a long time.
He seemed to be torturously reviewing every scenario and possibility.
Finally, he closed his eyes tightly and took my hand.
"…I'll be watching you, Landor."
"It's an honor."
After settling things with Adran, I rushed straight to the crystal ball.
I had good news to deliver to Karl Hansen.
"I dumped all the administrative work!"
"I'd kiss you if I could, Lord Landor!"
"I don't want your kiss."
"Of course not. I wasn't actually going to do it anyway. It was just a figure of speech."
Karl Hansen's mouth stretched from ear to ear.
The merchants had been drowning in paperwork instead of doing business, and my move came at the perfect time.
"We've found a way to turn the Golden Plains into farmland," I told him.
"We'll be building something called a fertilizer plant soon. Think of it as extremely efficient manure."
Karl Hansen's eyes widened, then he nodded in understanding.
"I knew Princess Selene would have that kind of wisdom," he said.
"Whew. She really is impressive."
"True, but that's not the end of it, Karl. Did you do what I asked last time?"
"Ah… You mean gathering singers, theater troupes, and circuses?"
"That's the one. Did you do it?"
"They're all stationed in the Portu Commercial District under five-year contracts," Karl replied.
"The residents are thrilled to have entertainment. But why?"
"Build a large performance hall and concert house."
"A performance hall and concert house? You want a place where singers and theater troupes can perform professionally?"
I chuckled.
"That too, but I'm thinking of trying something much bigger."
"What exactly?"
I recalled a scene from the original novel.
Princess Selene would witness a rebel massacre that sparked an ugly war and plot to assassinate both the Emperor and me.
To stop the Wyvern Knights from interfering, she would use illusion stones made from processed magic stones to create lifelike illusions that deceived both the knights and Karia's Iron Blood Coalition.
While they were distracted, she would assassinate the Emperor and try to kill me.
Of course, it failed, and Selene was burned at the stake in front of everyone.
The key detail was the illusion stone.
According to the novel, it could record and play back various images.
"Karl Hansen, have you ever heard of something called a movie?"