Chapter 360
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Unlike Rinne, who usually preferred to stay close by Davey's side, Aeonitia and Amy, his lady-in-waiting, needed to study the economy to manage the territory.
"Wow. I bought them directly, but there are so many of them," Amy exclaimed, met with Aeonitia's silence as she looked at the herbs in the box with twinkling eyes.
"People perish when they hoard instead of giving."
The more money one made, the more one needed to keep it circulating.
"Aeonitia, what do you think is the biggest source of revenue for the Heins territory?"
"Exports," came the quick answer from Aeonitia, without needing deep consideration.
The Heins territory was rapidly expanding, but it was still a bit of a stretch to be self-sufficient. In the end, most of the money the Heins territory made was indeed from exports. It was essentially pulling money from outside since there was hardly anything to be self-sufficient about.
For now, it was good. Like the economic bubble of the Earth, the Heins territory could only become wealthier by living lavishly through exports. So far, so good.
"But it's not always good, you see. Why do you think that is?"
"Hmm... Why is that?" Amy cast a curious glance, while Aeonitia raised her hand with sparkling eyes.
"Me! I think I know!"
"Alright, Aeonitia. Give your answer."
"Exporting is about bringing in money from other places. Unless you're a philanthropist, other countries can't keep running a deficit to prop up the Heins territory. Eventually, they'll tighten their belts and try to reduce the volume of trade!"
"What else?" Davey's question left Aeonitia red-faced and silent as she had not thought any further.
On the contrary, Amy raised her hand and said, "I think I know! It's because the economic independence of the Heins territory's people would drop significantly, right? Heins territory is currently enjoying a huge boom. The land prices keep rising, surpassing the limit, and continuous investments are being made."
"Right. When people live too well, they tend to become lazy first. So, if an economic twist were to happen even once..."
Davey did not finish his sentence, but both, being quite sharp in economic matters, would understand what it meant.
"There may be no problems for now, or even for the next few decades, maintaining this situation. But that isn't the end, is it? What happens after? It'll be chaos."
Bubbles are bound to burst eventually. The Heins territory also had its share of bubbles.
The biggest disadvantage of the Heins territory's exports was that they were luxury goods, not necessities. They were not like Earth's oil, which was an essential element.
"So what should we do?"
"You have to maintain good diplomatic relationships. Quite ironic, isn't it? Now, that's enough advice for now. Aeonitia, separate the necessary materials and have them moved to the lab. Amy, unload the rest of the medicine in the central square of the castle." As Davey spoke, the two began to move quickly.
Afterward, Davey glanced around the massive warehouse where boxes of medicinal herbs were stacked several meters high. At the same time, a silver-haired girl poked her head out of his pocket. A miniaturization spell. It was one of the lower circle spells she could use, not originally a lower circle spell, but her magic system was a bit different from ordinary mages. As she was always sitting on his head, shoulder, or in his pocket, it seemed like this was more comfortable for her even when she got a physical body.
"How ironic, isn't it? Saying that a dictatorship could solve this easily."
"There were elder states in the past where I lived, Davey. The downside of those states was that as people's quality of life improved over time, patriotism plummeted."
"Ha... To protect their dictatorship, they develop the country and feed the people well. Humans are disgustingly cunning."
It was a matter of sacrificing the golden goose for immediate gain or feeding it for long-term prosperity. People who live in peace tend to forget danger. In some ways, the Heins territory was like walking a tightrope.
* * *
Davey returned to his private underground lab with Rinne, who had fetched all the bottles of reagents he needed from deep inside the warehouse. There, he could see the dwarven engineers struggling in the Avengers squadron workshop.
Mainly, Elder Golgoulda of the Yellow Rock Tribe, their foremost elder, was producing the doll golems of the Avenger squadron. He should have been focusing on the matters of the Yellow Rock Tribe. However, he was fascinated by the new golem technology, spending sleepless nights here and leaving his tasks aside.
"Oh! You're here! You've come at just the right time!"
Puzzled by Elder Golgoulda’s outcry, Davey asked, "Are there any problems?"
"No, no problem at all! Didn't you advise us to test the shard she left behind? So, we first successfully implemented it into an arm!"
Rarely did the dwarf get this excited, huffing and puffing with exhilaration.
"Wow…!" Davey’s face lit up.
If this was successful, and when the stone left behind at the Sanctuary of the Holy Kingdom was neutralized, it would be like creating another one.
"Wha-what are you trying...?" Perserque looked at Davey anxiously.
Davey declared confidently, "Let's test it right now!"
"Wait!"
Elder Golgoulda hastily woke up the sleeping dwarves, began barking orders, and swiftly gathered and arranged the equipment. They positioned a magical device adorned with a drawn magic circle, and carefully placed a small metal doll's arm on top. Though resembling a human arm on the surface, its internal structure was far from human. The Avengers squadron primarily consisted of specialized golems with limited combat capabilities. Therefore, despite their seemingly feeble appearance, they were practical in their own right. Anabel, in particular, was an optimally designed golem for covert missions and instilling widespread fear.
"Go! Start it now!" The elder dwarf proudly exclaimed, prompting one of the dwarves to insert a mana stone into the power slot of the equipment.
Wooong!!!
Simultaneously, a faint light spread out, causing the magic circle to glow, and the previously immobile doll's arm slowly began to move. So far, everything was going well.
"Huh? The form is..." Rinne, showing interest in the new body, gazed at it with sparkling eyes, her expressionless face revealing her fascination. Meanwhile, Perserque narrowed her eyes with a subtle unease.
And her intuition was correct. Suddenly, the area below the wrist started melting, gradually transforming into a slime-like liquid. Before long, the slimy hand morphed into numerous bundles of bluish tentacles.
"We've succeeded in creating such precise and abundant changes! If this continues..."
"That's good, although it's a bit unstable..."
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"But, Davey? What do you intend to do with that?" Perserque asked as she looked at Davey with a pale face.
In response, Davey flashed a bright smile. "I'll use that fellow whenever you don't listen."
His words were not entirely serious, but he hoped they would dissuade her from acting impulsively.
Perhaps due to her traumatic memories of the tentacle creature, Perserque grew even paler and retreated into her pocket. She trembled and pleaded, "P-Please..."
"Just watch," Davey calmly reassured her, though her unease persisted.
Of course, it wasn't as if he had no genuine desire to do so.
Pusheek!
"Wha... What?!"
For the experiment, a small amount of mana was injected into it, but the doll's tentacles hardened like plaster due to an overwhelming overcharge.
"T-This... is a failure..."
"Damn..."
Bitter words escaped the mouths of the dwarves and Davey. Perhaps it was because they had failed to utilize all the characteristics of the abyssal tentacle creature. Eventually, the doll's tentacles hardened, losing all the unique properties the creature possessed.
"Sir, I apologize. I can recreate it..."
"No, we don't have any more materials."
"That's unfortunate..."
"But it's alright. I'll acquire more powerful materials soon."
Before that, it seemed that Davey needed to make some adjustments to the blueprints.
"What will you do now?"
"For now, I need to go to the Pallan Empire. I have to contact the Coalition for Disease Control. As for the design... Well, I'll work on it there."
* * *
"Finance Minister, report."
"Yes, Lord. We are currently dispatching medicines from all directions to the Coalition for Disease Control, but due to our inadequate preparation, it is far from sufficient. Therefore, we are prioritizing major cities..."
The man, gesturing as he explained, fell silent as the Pallan Empire’s Crown Prince, Sullivan, opened his eyes to shoot a glare.
"Umm..."
"Finance Minister Grunui."
Upon hearing Crown Prince Sullivan's chilly voice, Grunui, with his short stature, trembled and looked at him.
Sullivan bore a striking resemblance to the Pallan Empire’s Emperor, who, despite his current frailty and near-death state, had achieved numerous accomplishments in his youth. Unlike the former Crown Prince, who was moderate, he, the current Crown Prince, was known for his merciless nature.
In fact, there were records of him fatally beating an aristocrat with his bare hands for engaging in illegal and corrupt activities not too long ago. His authority was anything but weak.
"Report again."
"Well, to be honest, our current financial situation is quite challenging. Providing blind support is virtually impossible at this point."
Sullivan rubbed his forehead upon hearing Grunui's report, knowing the Finance Minister's statement was correct. He then asked, "So, what do you suggest we do?"
"The Pallan Empire has long been the guardian of peace on the continent. Now, we need to relinquish that role and distribute the burden to others..."
"As soon as we do that, countries with different intentions will start to fragment. Are you suggesting that we undermine the peace my father has established?"
Finance Minister Grunui broke out in a cold sweat in response to that question. The air became thick with an intense energy, making it difficult for him to speak.
"T-There... There is one option."
Upon hearing those words, Sullivan nodded.
"Impose taxes on goods from the Heins territory in the Eastern Continent, which currently imports the largest amount of goods. If not, we will have no choice but to reduce the volume of imports."
"The Heins territory of the Rowane Kingdom heavily relies on exports for its revenue. Indeed, a significant amount of money flows out of our empire."
Grunui desperately tried to convince Sullivan, saying, "We have faced too many crises in rapid succession, from the war to this massive outbreak! My Lord, we must approach this rationally. Even with a military ally, there are economic aspects where we must not yield an inch."
Crown Prince Sullivan sighed at that. Would Prince Davey closely monitor this situation? It was rather amusing how the Pallan Empire had come to be concerned about the opinion of a prince overseeing a small territory.
'Well, he's not wrong.'
If the plague had come without a war, they would have been able to handle it more easily. However, it was the Pallan Empire that had to support the refugees from the two countries devastated by the war with vampires and demons, in addition to providing assistance for war recovery.
Now, they were also burdened with supporting the continent-wide outbreak of the plague. The situation was undeniably a string of misfortunes. If they were to relinquish their position now, the already precarious continental political situation would quickly deteriorate.
'I have no choice. I'll have to pacify Prince Davey’s anger somehow.'
"Very well. Then... About the Heins territory..."
"Your Highness. Prince Davey O’Rowane has arrived from the Rowane Kingdom."
At the sight of Davey, who appeared as though he had been observing the situation, Sullivan felt a chill run down his spine. It would not be surprising if he had overheard the conversation. Finance Minister Grunui turned pale upon hearing the news of Davey's arrival. The situation was downright comical.
"Let him in."
The giant doors creaked open, and Davey, dressed in formal attire, strode in. It was quite rare for an outsider to enter the national council hall, but this time the circumstances were somewhat unusual. The hearts of the nobles had already somewhat settled. No matter how friendly the Rowane Kingdom was, the Pallan Empire's priorities were its own. Therefore, they couldn't find pleasure in the arrival of the person responsible for their budget deficit.
"Welcome, Prince Davey."
"It's been a while, Crown Prince Sullivan."
The nobles wore uncomfortable expressions at Davey's display of decorum, calmly bowing his head. They knew he was a powerful figure. That was why they were tense, wondering what he might do.
"I've heard the news. It seems a large-scale epidemic has begun due to the aftermath of the war."
Sullivan groaned at these words. As he had suspected, it was because of this. He had no choice but to make concessions and rack his brains to secure as much as he could.
While Sullivan was pondering this, an unexpected question came.
"The Pallan Empire's finances aren't that abundant, are they?"
Stunned by the question, Sullivan froze, his face hardening. "What do you mean…?"
"I will provide most of the medicinal supplies from the Heins territory for this incident. Also, I will personally step in to treat this epidemic. It seems even the Coalition for Disease Control is having difficulty finding an easy cure for this illness."
Sullivan's eyes widened incredulously. "But why would you…?"
Davey did not seem obligated to hold any significant position on the continent, so why would he need to expend a massive amount of resources to address this situation? In response to Sullivan's doubts, Prince Davey gave a simple, yet unexpected, answer.
"If the Pallan Empire wobbles, it also causes us trouble. Moreover, are people more important, or is money? Money can be earned again, but if people die in droves, where will you recover the shattered public sentiment? For my sake, the Pallan Empire must continue to stand as the central guardian state."
"Prince Davey..."
"When it's time to step up, one should. Rinne."
Following Davey’s call, a small, silver-haired girl appeared from behind him, striding barefoot toward them. Then, she began to speak. "Total Prusilim sap, 7 tons, Efutika medicinal herb leaves, 2.5 tons..."
As the girl listed a staggering amount of medical supplies, prepared since who knew when, Crown Prince Sullivan rose abruptly from his seat. He felt a surge of gratitude, an overwhelming urge to rush to Davey, embrace him, and thank him repeatedly.
Prince Davey smiled as if he had anticipated this reaction.
Sullivan felt a chill run down his spine. It was shocking that this great empire had been manipulated by the mind of one man. But it was even more shocking to see himself and the loyal subjects of the Pallan Empire finding a beacon of hope in his words.
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Unlike Rinne, who usually preferred to stay close by Davey's side, Aeonitia and Amy, his lady-in-waiting, needed to study the economy to manage the territory.
"Wow. I bought them directly, but there are so many of them," Amy exclaimed, met with Aeonitia's silence as she looked at the herbs in the box with twinkling eyes.
"People perish when they hoard instead of giving."
The more money one made, the more one needed to keep it circulating.
"Aeonitia, what do you think is the biggest source of revenue for the Heins territory?"
"Exports," came the quick answer from Aeonitia, without needing deep consideration.
The Heins territory was rapidly expanding, but it was still a bit of a stretch to be self-sufficient. In the end, most of the money the Heins territory made was indeed from exports. It was essentially pulling money from outside since there was hardly anything to be self-sufficient about.
For now, it was good. Like the economic bubble of the Earth, the Heins territory could only become wealthier by living lavishly through exports. So far, so good.
"But it's not always good, you see. Why do you think that is?"
"Hmm... Why is that?" Amy cast a curious glance, while Aeonitia raised her hand with sparkling eyes.
"Me! I think I know!"
"Alright, Aeonitia. Give your answer."
"Exporting is about bringing in money from other places. Unless you're a philanthropist, other countries can't keep running a deficit to prop up the Heins territory. Eventually, they'll tighten their belts and try to reduce the volume of trade!"
"What else?" Davey's question left Aeonitia red-faced and silent as she had not thought any further.
On the contrary, Amy raised her hand and said, "I think I know! It's because the economic independence of the Heins territory's people would drop significantly, right? Heins territory is currently enjoying a huge boom. The land prices keep rising, surpassing the limit, and continuous investments are being made."
"Right. When people live too well, they tend to become lazy first. So, if an economic twist were to happen even once..."
Davey did not finish his sentence, but both, being quite sharp in economic matters, would understand what it meant.
"There may be no problems for now, or even for the next few decades, maintaining this situation. But that isn't the end, is it? What happens after? It'll be chaos."
Bubbles are bound to burst eventually. The Heins territory also had its share of bubbles.
The biggest disadvantage of the Heins territory's exports was that they were luxury goods, not necessities. They were not like Earth's oil, which was an essential element.
"So what should we do?"
"You have to maintain good diplomatic relationships. Quite ironic, isn't it? Now, that's enough advice for now. Aeonitia, separate the necessary materials and have them moved to the lab. Amy, unload the rest of the medicine in the central square of the castle." As Davey spoke, the two began to move quickly.
Afterward, Davey glanced around the massive warehouse where boxes of medicinal herbs were stacked several meters high. At the same time, a silver-haired girl poked her head out of his pocket. A miniaturization spell. It was one of the lower circle spells she could use, not originally a lower circle spell, but her magic system was a bit different from ordinary mages. As she was always sitting on his head, shoulder, or in his pocket, it seemed like this was more comfortable for her even when she got a physical body.
"How ironic, isn't it? Saying that a dictatorship could solve this easily."
"There were elder states in the past where I lived, Davey. The downside of those states was that as people's quality of life improved over time, patriotism plummeted."
"Ha... To protect their dictatorship, they develop the country and feed the people well. Humans are disgustingly cunning."
It was a matter of sacrificing the golden goose for immediate gain or feeding it for long-term prosperity. People who live in peace tend to forget danger. In some ways, the Heins territory was like walking a tightrope.
* * *
Davey returned to his private underground lab with Rinne, who had fetched all the bottles of reagents he needed from deep inside the warehouse. There, he could see the dwarven engineers struggling in the Avengers squadron workshop.
Mainly, Elder Golgoulda of the Yellow Rock Tribe, their foremost elder, was producing the doll golems of the Avenger squadron. He should have been focusing on the matters of the Yellow Rock Tribe. However, he was fascinated by the new golem technology, spending sleepless nights here and leaving his tasks aside.
"Oh! You're here! You've come at just the right time!"
Puzzled by Elder Golgoulda’s outcry, Davey asked, "Are there any problems?"
"No, no problem at all! Didn't you advise us to test the shard she left behind? So, we first successfully implemented it into an arm!"
Rarely did the dwarf get this excited, huffing and puffing with exhilaration.
"Wow…!" Davey’s face lit up.
If this was successful, and when the stone left behind at the Sanctuary of the Holy Kingdom was neutralized, it would be like creating another one.
"Wha-what are you trying...?" Perserque looked at Davey anxiously.
Davey declared confidently, "Let's test it right now!"
"Wait!"
Elder Golgoulda hastily woke up the sleeping dwarves, began barking orders, and swiftly gathered and arranged the equipment. They positioned a magical device adorned with a drawn magic circle, and carefully placed a small metal doll's arm on top. Though resembling a human arm on the surface, its internal structure was far from human. The Avengers squadron primarily consisted of specialized golems with limited combat capabilities. Therefore, despite their seemingly feeble appearance, they were practical in their own right. Anabel, in particular, was an optimally designed golem for covert missions and instilling widespread fear.
"Go! Start it now!" The elder dwarf proudly exclaimed, prompting one of the dwarves to insert a mana stone into the power slot of the equipment.
Wooong!!!
Simultaneously, a faint light spread out, causing the magic circle to glow, and the previously immobile doll's arm slowly began to move. So far, everything was going well.
"Huh? The form is..." Rinne, showing interest in the new body, gazed at it with sparkling eyes, her expressionless face revealing her fascination. Meanwhile, Perserque narrowed her eyes with a subtle unease.
And her intuition was correct. Suddenly, the area below the wrist started melting, gradually transforming into a slime-like liquid. Before long, the slimy hand morphed into numerous bundles of bluish tentacles.
"We've succeeded in creating such precise and abundant changes! If this continues..."
"That's good, although it's a bit unstable..."
Support us at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
"But, Davey? What do you intend to do with that?" Perserque asked as she looked at Davey with a pale face.
In response, Davey flashed a bright smile. "I'll use that fellow whenever you don't listen."
His words were not entirely serious, but he hoped they would dissuade her from acting impulsively.
Perhaps due to her traumatic memories of the tentacle creature, Perserque grew even paler and retreated into her pocket. She trembled and pleaded, "P-Please..."
"Just watch," Davey calmly reassured her, though her unease persisted.
Of course, it wasn't as if he had no genuine desire to do so.
Pusheek!
"Wha... What?!"
For the experiment, a small amount of mana was injected into it, but the doll's tentacles hardened like plaster due to an overwhelming overcharge.
"T-This... is a failure..."
"Damn..."
Bitter words escaped the mouths of the dwarves and Davey. Perhaps it was because they had failed to utilize all the characteristics of the abyssal tentacle creature. Eventually, the doll's tentacles hardened, losing all the unique properties the creature possessed.
"Sir, I apologize. I can recreate it..."
"No, we don't have any more materials."
"That's unfortunate..."
"But it's alright. I'll acquire more powerful materials soon."
Before that, it seemed that Davey needed to make some adjustments to the blueprints.
"What will you do now?"
"For now, I need to go to the Pallan Empire. I have to contact the Coalition for Disease Control. As for the design... Well, I'll work on it there."
* * *
"Finance Minister, report."
"Yes, Lord. We are currently dispatching medicines from all directions to the Coalition for Disease Control, but due to our inadequate preparation, it is far from sufficient. Therefore, we are prioritizing major cities..."
The man, gesturing as he explained, fell silent as the Pallan Empire’s Crown Prince, Sullivan, opened his eyes to shoot a glare.
"Umm..."
"Finance Minister Grunui."
Upon hearing Crown Prince Sullivan's chilly voice, Grunui, with his short stature, trembled and looked at him.
Sullivan bore a striking resemblance to the Pallan Empire’s Emperor, who, despite his current frailty and near-death state, had achieved numerous accomplishments in his youth. Unlike the former Crown Prince, who was moderate, he, the current Crown Prince, was known for his merciless nature.
In fact, there were records of him fatally beating an aristocrat with his bare hands for engaging in illegal and corrupt activities not too long ago. His authority was anything but weak.
"Report again."
"Well, to be honest, our current financial situation is quite challenging. Providing blind support is virtually impossible at this point."
Sullivan rubbed his forehead upon hearing Grunui's report, knowing the Finance Minister's statement was correct. He then asked, "So, what do you suggest we do?"
"The Pallan Empire has long been the guardian of peace on the continent. Now, we need to relinquish that role and distribute the burden to others..."
"As soon as we do that, countries with different intentions will start to fragment. Are you suggesting that we undermine the peace my father has established?"
Finance Minister Grunui broke out in a cold sweat in response to that question. The air became thick with an intense energy, making it difficult for him to speak.
"T-There... There is one option."
Upon hearing those words, Sullivan nodded.
"Impose taxes on goods from the Heins territory in the Eastern Continent, which currently imports the largest amount of goods. If not, we will have no choice but to reduce the volume of imports."
"The Heins territory of the Rowane Kingdom heavily relies on exports for its revenue. Indeed, a significant amount of money flows out of our empire."
Grunui desperately tried to convince Sullivan, saying, "We have faced too many crises in rapid succession, from the war to this massive outbreak! My Lord, we must approach this rationally. Even with a military ally, there are economic aspects where we must not yield an inch."
Crown Prince Sullivan sighed at that. Would Prince Davey closely monitor this situation? It was rather amusing how the Pallan Empire had come to be concerned about the opinion of a prince overseeing a small territory.
'Well, he's not wrong.'
If the plague had come without a war, they would have been able to handle it more easily. However, it was the Pallan Empire that had to support the refugees from the two countries devastated by the war with vampires and demons, in addition to providing assistance for war recovery.
Now, they were also burdened with supporting the continent-wide outbreak of the plague. The situation was undeniably a string of misfortunes. If they were to relinquish their position now, the already precarious continental political situation would quickly deteriorate.
'I have no choice. I'll have to pacify Prince Davey’s anger somehow.'
"Very well. Then... About the Heins territory..."
"Your Highness. Prince Davey O’Rowane has arrived from the Rowane Kingdom."
At the sight of Davey, who appeared as though he had been observing the situation, Sullivan felt a chill run down his spine. It would not be surprising if he had overheard the conversation. Finance Minister Grunui turned pale upon hearing the news of Davey's arrival. The situation was downright comical.
"Let him in."
The giant doors creaked open, and Davey, dressed in formal attire, strode in. It was quite rare for an outsider to enter the national council hall, but this time the circumstances were somewhat unusual. The hearts of the nobles had already somewhat settled. No matter how friendly the Rowane Kingdom was, the Pallan Empire's priorities were its own. Therefore, they couldn't find pleasure in the arrival of the person responsible for their budget deficit.
"Welcome, Prince Davey."
"It's been a while, Crown Prince Sullivan."
The nobles wore uncomfortable expressions at Davey's display of decorum, calmly bowing his head. They knew he was a powerful figure. That was why they were tense, wondering what he might do.
"I've heard the news. It seems a large-scale epidemic has begun due to the aftermath of the war."
Sullivan groaned at these words. As he had suspected, it was because of this. He had no choice but to make concessions and rack his brains to secure as much as he could.
While Sullivan was pondering this, an unexpected question came.
"The Pallan Empire's finances aren't that abundant, are they?"
Stunned by the question, Sullivan froze, his face hardening. "What do you mean…?"
"I will provide most of the medicinal supplies from the Heins territory for this incident. Also, I will personally step in to treat this epidemic. It seems even the Coalition for Disease Control is having difficulty finding an easy cure for this illness."
Sullivan's eyes widened incredulously. "But why would you…?"
Davey did not seem obligated to hold any significant position on the continent, so why would he need to expend a massive amount of resources to address this situation? In response to Sullivan's doubts, Prince Davey gave a simple, yet unexpected, answer.
"If the Pallan Empire wobbles, it also causes us trouble. Moreover, are people more important, or is money? Money can be earned again, but if people die in droves, where will you recover the shattered public sentiment? For my sake, the Pallan Empire must continue to stand as the central guardian state."
"Prince Davey..."
"When it's time to step up, one should. Rinne."
Following Davey’s call, a small, silver-haired girl appeared from behind him, striding barefoot toward them. Then, she began to speak. "Total Prusilim sap, 7 tons, Efutika medicinal herb leaves, 2.5 tons..."
As the girl listed a staggering amount of medical supplies, prepared since who knew when, Crown Prince Sullivan rose abruptly from his seat. He felt a surge of gratitude, an overwhelming urge to rush to Davey, embrace him, and thank him repeatedly.
Prince Davey smiled as if he had anticipated this reaction.
Sullivan felt a chill run down his spine. It was shocking that this great empire had been manipulated by the mind of one man. But it was even more shocking to see himself and the loyal subjects of the Pallan Empire finding a beacon of hope in his words.
Unlike Rinne, who usually preferred to stay close by Davey's side, Aeonitia and Amy, his lady-in-waiting, needed to study the economy to manage the territory."Wow. I bought them directly, but there are so many of them," Amy exclaimed, met with Aeonitia's silence as she looked at the herbs in the box with twinkling eyes."People perish when they hoard instead of giving."The more money one made, the more one needed to keep it circulating."Aeonitia, what do you think is the biggest source of revenue for the Heins territory?""Exports," came the quick answer from Aeonitia, without needing deep consideration.The Heins territory was rapidly expanding, but it was still a bit of a stretch to be self-sufficient. In the end, most of the money the Heins territory made was indeed from exports. It was essentially pulling money from outside since there was hardly anything to be self-sufficient about.For now, it was good. Like the economic bubble of the Earth, the Heins territory could only become wealthier by living lavishly through exports. So far, so good."But it's not always good, you see. Why do you think that is?""Hmm... Why is that?" Amy cast a curious glance, while Aeonitia raised her hand with sparkling eyes."Me! I think I know!""Alright, Aeonitia. Give your answer.""Exporting is about bringing in money from other places. Unless you're a philanthropist, other countries can't keep running a deficit to prop up the Heins territory. Eventually, they'll tighten their belts and try to reduce the volume of trade!""What else?" Davey's question left Aeonitia red-faced and silent as she had not thought any further.On the contrary, Amy raised her hand and said, "I think I know! It's because the economic independence of the Heins territory's people would drop significantly, right? Heins territory is currently enjoying a huge boom. The land prices keep rising, surpassing the limit, and continuous investments are being made.""Right. When people live too well, they tend to become lazy first. So, if an economic twist were to happen even once..."Davey did not finish his sentence, but both, being quite sharp in economic matters, would understand what it meant."There may be no problems for now, or even for the next few decades, maintaining this situation. But that isn't the end, is it? What happens after? It'll be chaos."Bubbles are bound to burst eventually. The Heins territory also had its share of bubbles.The biggest disadvantage of the Heins territory's exports was that they were luxury goods, not necessities. They were not like Earth's oil, which was an essential element."So what should we do?""You have to maintain good diplomatic relationships. Quite ironic, isn't it? Now, that's enough advice for now. Aeonitia, separate the necessary materials and have them moved to the lab. Amy, unload the rest of the medicine in the central square of the castle." As Davey spoke, the two began to move quickly.Afterward, Davey glanced around the massive warehouse where boxes of medicinal herbs were stacked several meters high. At the same time, a silver-haired girl poked her head out of his pocket. A miniaturization spell. It was one of the lower circle spells she could use, not originally a lower circle spell, but her magic system was a bit different from ordinary mages. As she was always sitting on his head, shoulder, or in his pocket, it seemed like this was more comfortable for her even when she got a physical body."How ironic, isn't it? Saying that a dictatorship could solve this easily.""There were elder states in the past where I lived, Davey. The downside of those states was that as people's quality of life improved over time, patriotism plummeted.""Ha... To protect their dictatorship, they develop the country and feed the people well. Humans are disgustingly cunning."It was a matter of sacrificing the golden goose for immediate gain or feeding it for long-term prosperity. People who live in peace tend to forget danger. In some ways, the Heins territory was like walking a tightrope.* * *Davey returned to his private underground lab with Rinne, who had fetched all the bottles of reagents he needed from deep inside the warehouse. There, he could see the dwarven engineers struggling in the Avengers squadron workshop.Mainly, Elder Golgoulda of the Yellow Rock Tribe, their foremost elder, was producing the doll golems of the Avenger squadron. He should have been focusing on the matters of the Yellow Rock Tribe. However, he was fascinated by the new golem technology, spending sleepless nights here and leaving his tasks aside."Oh! You're here! You've come at just the right time!"Puzzled by Elder Golgoulda's outcry, Davey asked, "Are there any problems?""No, no problem at all! Didn't you advise us to test the shard she left behind? So, we first successfully implemented it into an arm!"Rarely did the dwarf get this excited, huffing and puffing with exhilaration."Wow!" Davey's face lit up.If this was successful, and when the stone left behind at the Sanctuary of the Holy Kingdom was neutralized, it would be like creating another one."Wha-what are you trying...?" Perserque looked at Davey anxiously.Davey declared confidently, "Let's test it right now!""Wait!"Elder Golgoulda hastily woke up the sleeping dwarves, began barking orders, and swiftly gathered and arranged the equipment. They positioned a magical device adorned with a drawn magic circle, and carefully placed a small metal doll's arm on top. Though resembling a human arm on the surface, its internal structure was far from human. The Avengers squadron primarily consisted of specialized golems with limited combat capabilities. Therefore, despite their seemingly feeble appearance, they were practical in their own right. Anabel, in particular, was an optimally designed golem for covert missions and instilling widespread fear."Go! Start it now!" The elder dwarf proudly exclaimed, prompting one of the dwarves to insert a mana stone into the power slot of the equipment.Wooong!!!Simultaneously, a faint light spread out, causing the magic circle to glow, and the previously immobile doll's arm slowly began to move. So far, everything was going well."Huh? The form is..." Rinne, showing interest in the new body, gazed at it with sparkling eyes, her expressionless face revealing her fascination. Meanwhile, Perserque narrowed her eyes with a subtle unease.And her intuition was correct. Suddenly, the area below the wrist started melting, gradually transforming into a slime-like liquid. Before long, the slimy hand morphed into numerous bundles of bluish tentacles."We've succeeded in creating such precise and abundant changes! If this continues...""That's good, although it's a bit unstable..."Support us at bit.ly/3iBfjkV."But, Davey? What do you intend to do with that?" Perserque asked as she looked at Davey with a pale face.In response, Davey flashed a bright smile. "I'll use that fellow whenever you don't listen."His words were not entirely serious, but he hoped they would dissuade her from acting impulsively.Perhaps due to her traumatic memories of the tentacle creature, Perserque grew even paler and retreated into her pocket. She trembled and pleaded, "P-Please...""Just watch," Davey calmly reassured her, though her unease persisted.Of course, it wasn't as if he had no genuine desire to do so.Pusheek!"Wha... What?!"For the experiment, a small amount of mana was injected into it, but the doll's tentacles hardened like plaster due to an overwhelming overcharge."T-This... is a failure...""Damn..."Bitter words escaped the mouths of the dwarves and Davey. Perhaps it was because they had failed to utilize all the characteristics of the abyssal tentacle creature. Eventually, the doll's tentacles hardened, losing all the unique properties the creature possessed."Sir, I apologize. I can recreate it...""No, we don't have any more materials.""That's unfortunate...""But it's alright. I'll acquire more powerful materials soon."Before that, it seemed that Davey needed to make some adjustments to the blueprints."What will you do now?""For now, I need to go to the Pallan Empire. I have to contact the Coalition for Disease Control. As for the design... Well, I'll work on it there."* * *"Finance Minister, report.""Yes, Lord. We are currently dispatching medicines from all directions to the Coalition for Disease Control, but due to our inadequate preparation, it is far from sufficient. Therefore, we are prioritizing major cities..."The man, gesturing as he explained, fell silent as the Pallan Empire's Crown Prince, Sullivan, opened his eyes to shoot a glare."Umm...""Finance Minister Grunui."Upon hearing Crown Prince Sullivan's chilly voice, Grunui, with his short stature, trembled and looked at him.Sullivan bore a striking resemblance to the Pallan Empire's Emperor, who, despite his current frailty and near-death state, had achieved numerous accomplishments in his youth. Unlike the former Crown Prince, who was moderate, he, the current Crown Prince, was known for his merciless nature.In fact, there were records of him fatally beating an aristocrat with his bare hands for engaging in illegal and corrupt activities not too long ago. His authority was anything but weak."Report again.""Well, to be honest, our current financial situation is quite challenging. Providing blind support is virtually impossible at this point."Sullivan rubbed his forehead upon hearing Grunui's report, knowing the Finance Minister's statement was correct. He then asked, "So, what do you suggest we do?""The Pallan Empire has long been the guardian of peace on the continent. Now, we need to relinquish that role and distribute the burden to others...""As soon as we do that, countries with different intentions will start to fragment. Are you suggesting that we undermine the peace my father has established?"Finance Minister Grunui broke out in a cold sweat in response to that question. The air became thick with an intense energy, making it difficult for him to speak."T-There... There is one option."Upon hearing those words, Sullivan nodded."Impose taxes on goods from the Heins territory in the Eastern Continent, which currently imports the largest amount of goods. If not, we will have no choice but to reduce the volume of imports.""The Heins territory of the Rowane Kingdom heavily relies on exports for its revenue. Indeed, a significant amount of money flows out of our empire."Grunui desperately tried to convince Sullivan, saying, "We have faced too many crises in rapid succession, from the war to this massive outbreak! My Lord, we must approach this rationally. Even with a military ally, there are economic aspects where we must not yield an inch."Crown Prince Sullivan sighed at that. Would Prince Davey closely monitor this situation? It was rather amusing how the Pallan Empire had come to be concerned about the opinion of a prince overseeing a small territory.'Well, he's not wrong.'If the plague had come without a war, they would have been able to handle it more easily. However, it was the Pallan Empire that had to support the refugees from the two countries devastated by the war with vampires and demons, in addition to providing assistance for war recovery.Now, they were also burdened with supporting the continent-wide outbreak of the plague. The situation was undeniably a string of misfortunes. If they were to relinquish their position now, the already precarious continental political situation would quickly deteriorate.'I have no choice. I'll have to pacify Prince Davey's anger somehow.'"Very well. Then... About the Heins territory...""Your Highness. Prince Davey O'Rowane has arrived from the Rowane Kingdom."At the sight of Davey, who appeared as though he had been observing the situation, Sullivan felt a chill run down his spine. It would not be surprising if he had overheard the conversation. Finance Minister Grunui turned pale upon hearing the news of Davey's arrival. The situation was downright comical."Let him in."The giant doors creaked open, and Davey, dressed in formal attire, strode in. It was quite rare for an outsider to enter the national council hall, but this time the circumstances were somewhat unusual. The hearts of the nobles had already somewhat settled. No matter how friendly the Rowane Kingdom was, the Pallan Empire's priorities were its own. Therefore, they couldn't find pleasure in the arrival of the person responsible for their budget deficit."Welcome, Prince Davey.""It's been a while, Crown Prince Sullivan."The nobles wore uncomfortable expressions at Davey's display of decorum, calmly bowing his head. They knew he was a powerful figure. That was why they were tense, wondering what he might do."I've heard the news. It seems a large-scale epidemic has begun due to the aftermath of the war."Sullivan groaned at these words. As he had suspected, it was because of this. He had no choice but to make concessions and rack his brains to secure as much as he could.While Sullivan was pondering this, an unexpected question came."The Pallan Empire's finances aren't that abundant, are they?"Stunned by the question, Sullivan froze, his face hardening. "What do you mean?""I will provide most of the medicinal supplies from the Heins territory for this incident. Also, I will personally step in to treat this epidemic. It seems even the Coalition for Disease Control is having difficulty finding an easy cure for this illness."Sullivan's eyes widened incredulously. "But why would you?"Davey did not seem obligated to hold any significant position on the continent, so why would he need to expend a massive amount of resources to address this situation? In response to Sullivan's doubts, Prince Davey gave a simple, yet unexpected, answer."If the Pallan Empire wobbles, it also causes us trouble. Moreover, are people more important, or is money? Money can be earned again, but if people die in droves, where will you recover the shattered public sentiment? For my sake, the Pallan Empire must continue to stand as the central guardian state.""Prince Davey...""When it's time to step up, one should. Rinne."Following Davey's call, a small, silver-haired girl appeared from behind him, striding barefoot toward them. Then, she began to speak. "Total Prusilim sap, 7 tons, Efutika medicinal herb leaves, 2.5 tons..."As the girl listed a staggering amount of medical supplies, prepared since who knew when, Crown Prince Sullivan rose abruptly from his seat. He felt a surge of gratitude, an overwhelming urge to rush to Davey, embrace him, and thank him repeatedly.Prince Davey smiled as if he had anticipated this reaction.Sullivan felt a chill run down his spine. It was shocking that this great empire had been manipulated by the mind of one man. But it was even more shocking to see himself and the loyal subjects of the Pallan Empire finding a beacon of hope in his words.
