Is it East-West Trade ......?

　It was Garnett, acting as Alma, who asked that back in response to Sakura's explanation.

　It's impossible that Garnett is not familiar with the Purple Jade Order, so she must be acting to appear to be a naive young lady.

　Or maybe he's trying to divert the topic away from himself to the Purple Jade Order entirely.

''The relationship between the East and the West is complicated, but it continues to be roughly 'mutually vigilant but still trading'. The Purple Joint Knights are in charge of the west side, so to speak, and the ships I crossed into the west were also controlled by them.

　As an adventurer, I've mainly worked in the center of the continent, so I don't know much about the eastern edge of the western continent or the eastern continent.

　However, I've seen at least a rough world map, and I can easily picture the rough location of the two continents.

　The two continents are adjacent to each other across the sea, but the sea routes have been cut off by sea monsters that have appeared from multiple undersea dungeons, and the exchange between the two continents has been disrupted for a long time.

　That state of disconnection has improved in recent years due to improvements in shipbuilding and navigational technology, and trade has gradually resumed over the past thirty years or so.

''I don't know much about the East, but there are several countries on the Eastern Continent, right?
'Of course. Above all, the most influential states would be the 'Empire' and the 'Imperial State'. The former is the largest in the east in terms of land and national power, but recently they have been wary of the western continent and have refrained from trading with it. The latter is my hometown and, contrary to the empire, is expanding its trade to the west.

　Come to think of it, this might be the first time I've heard about Sakura's country of birth.

　It's not that there was any reason why it was difficult to ask.
　It's just that I didn't have the opportunity, or rather I lost sight of the timing to ask again.

　Sakura turned to Sylvia, who was listening with interest, and also mentioned a story that was deeply related to her.

''The East is a major producer of tea leaves, so it's not a land that's unfamiliar to the Spring Young Leaf Pavilion. If trade hadn't resumed, we wouldn't have been able to enjoy tea in Green Hollow.
Wow!　Then I'll have to thank the Knights for that!

　The Knights of the Eastern Continent, which is far away, and a group of knights who are responsible for missions related only to it.

　Although it is often thought that ordinary citizens have little to do with it, they actually have a deep relationship with it, mainly in terms of their diet.

　When the topic of the Purple Joint Knights was about to end, Garnett smiled and clapped his hands.

''It's almost time for the carriage to arrive. Since we're leaving for today, you all have a good night's rest in your rooms. ......
Miss, your time is not up yet.
'Yes, sir!　We'll tell you more!

　Garnett stiffened as Abigail and Sylvia pinned him from side to side, his shoulders shaking with a jolt.

　If they were trying to get off the subject and be forgotten, then the mission was a disaster.

　At least with Abigail with me, I'm sure she won't have a fatal rag, and I'm sure she'll be able to give me an appropriate helping hand if it's in danger.
　I trust Abigail in that area too.

　I chuckled at Garnett as he and Sakura were pulled into the lounge, and then decided to ask her another question.

''Hey, Sakura. You know a lot about the Purple Joint Knights, right?
I don't want you to ask me about ...... technicalities, though. At least I think I'm more knowledgeable than the average citizen in the west.
Good enough. Then you know more about it than I do. I'm sorry, but there's a lot you can tell me about this.
It's ...... still bothering you about your brother?

　Sakura instantly saw my intentions and asked back with a sincere tone of voice.

　It's a perfect figurehead.
　What kind of organization is the knight's order that Mark has trained and will serve from now on - I was inevitably curious about that area.

　But the reason why I couldn't immediately answer 'yes' to that is probably because I still felt uncomfortable about being an unworthy brother.

　Why do you pretend to care about your brother now?
　It's hard to complain about being ostracized as such.

I don't mind, but if it's information about the knight's corps, I think it's best to ask Garnett and the silver wing people for certain. Are you sure?

　Perhaps taking the silence as an affirmation, Sakura actively tried to move the conversation forward on her own.

''Yeah. This guy is only a personal matter. If you carry the title of a knight commander on your back and ask a knight in his day job, the problem might grow to nothing, right?
'I see, I understand. Besides, I'm sure Garnett has a lot on his plate, and I can't afford any unnecessary inconvenience.

　Sakura's expression loosened as she smiled and then explained what she knew about the Purple Joint Order.

'The name of the knight commander is Justin Easton. The main duty is the defense of the eastern end of the continent on the premise of vigilance against the eastern countries, as well as escorting and monitoring the trade between the east and west. Due to their duties, the members of the Order often visit the East: ......
Wait a minute. Easton?　My brother took that family name, too.
If you ask me, I don't know what to tell you.
'...... sure you do. Sorry, carry on.

　Is it a family name given to a new member of the group from a civilian background, or is it closely related to the leader of the group, Sir Justin?

　This is the only case where you should rely on your main job without saying a word.

Then continue. The members of the Purple Joint Order often visit the East as escorts for trade ships. The reason why I thought, 'A western alchemist might be able to fulfill the processing of scarlet gold,' is also because I got information about alchemy from them.

　I see, it seems that the Purple Jade Knights were involved in the fundamental part of how Sakura visited the West.

　A large part of the reason I'm doing this now is because I met Sylvia and Sakura right after I escaped from the A-ranked dungeon, The Thousand Year Corridor of the Abyss.

　Otherwise, they would surely have encountered and killed the dragon unprotected, and would not have survived the many battles that followed.

　It was a strange connection that his brother Mark had joined such an oddly related knightly order.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're in the market. However, it would be much more reliable to ask the people around the Silver Wing to help you.
Thanks. I'll let you know if I need help.

　I replied, and Sakura nodded with satisfaction.