Today's bombing went off without any problems, except for the fact that I was almost late for lunch because the sugar production took an unexpectedly long time.
　Now I'm free until the recapture of Brokens, which will start in about six days.
　But first, I have to make some arrangements with the mayor to get permission to grow sugar cane.
　When I went to the guild to report, the mayor was just there.

"Excuse me, I have a favor to ask.

"What is it?　What is it?" "Well, I've been assured that my rank will be raised to C, which means I'll be able to move up in the Fallen Guild.

Why don't I go to the Decibatore guild?

Yeah, in the Decibatore guild the adventurer rank is just a decoration. 　The color of the guild card changes from C rank, but we didn't have the luxury of carrying equipment and materials for that purpose.

　The reason for the past tense is because I'll be transporting all of it now.
　And even then, I'm not sure it's a good idea to reduce the guild's equipment. ......

Well, that's not what I'm asking for. I'm planning to grow sugar cane on the island, and I need your permission to do so.

"Sugar cane?　Isn't agriculture supposed to be under the jurisdiction of the Commercial Guild?

Yes. 　But I heard that the town mayor will be consulted regarding the sugar cane, so I came to consult with him.

...... I'll have to talk to him. 　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

　Well, as the ruler of the city, it's only natural.
　Even if almost all of the inhabitants of that small town are adventurers who could be the main force in any other city.

"How many kilometers away from here should we be to avoid any impact?

Well, ......, I believe the impact distance for sugar cane is about two hundred kilometers, but if we're talking about an island, we're talking about forty kilometers from the front lines because of the ocean in between.

　The impact distance is probably the radius of the impact of sugarcane.
　If it's the ocean, it's a fifth of the distance, but that's still a long way. ......

By front line, do you mean the border between the cut and uncut areas?

"Generally, yes. 　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm sure I'll be able to do it.

So, you're saying we're in Desibatore now, and when we take Brokens back, we'll be in Brokens?

That's what I'm saying.

The island we're going to use is about 60 kilometers from Desibatore. 　I don't think it's even close to Brokens.

Well, that's not a problem. 　I'll let them know you're okay with using an island that's at least 40 kilometers from both Brokens and Desibatore. 　If you want to do it faster, I'll write you a letter and you can take it with you.

　Oh, I got permission.
　Now if we don't get blocked by other bureaus, the application will go through.

I'd be grateful if you could do that. 　Speaking of which, when and where should we go to retake Brokens?

"You still haven't told me. 　Six days from today, in the morning, you can pick up your belongings at the Photoren Guild and then come to our guild.

　As he said this, the mayor took out a piece of paper from somewhere, wrote something on it, folded it in four, and went into the back.
　When the mayor came out a little later, he was holding a folded piece of paper with a blue magic circle imprinted on it, glued tightly shut.
　Part of the pattern of the magic circle was a coat of arms like the one seen near Desibatore.
　I wondered if it was something like the way a letter is sealed with a seal.

Is it paper?

"Hmm?　Yeah, it's demon skin paper. 　It's a bit pricey, but carrying heavy writing implements here would be costly. 　I don't charge for it.

　It's a bit pricey, but carrying heavy writing materials here would cost a lot.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
　I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but I think it's a good idea.

Thank you very much. 　See you in six days.

Yeah, you got it.

　I thanked the mayor and left the guild.
　It's not yet night yet, you'd better go back to Phothren now and deliver this paper to the Commercial Guild.
　It's unlikely that they'll give you a permit as soon as the paper arrives, so the sooner you give it to them, the sooner they'll give it to you.

　So, I'm going back to Photoren, going back the way I came a while ago.
　With my current magic power, I can break through the speed of sound easily, but I won't have much chance to use it because of the damage to the surroundings.
　Even so, the acceleration is still different from before, and it takes less than three minutes to reach subsonic speed.
　As a result, we will arrive at Photon in less than 40 minutes.
　You go straight to the Commercial Guild.

　Unlike the Guild, there are only two reception areas at the Commercial Guild.
　You tell the receptionist at the nearest one what you want.

"Excuse me, I have a letter from the mayor of Desibatore, what should I do?

　I show her the letter, which still has the magic circle floating on it.

It is indeed from Desibatore. 　Please wait a moment.

　Soon after, the receptionist retreated into the back of the room and a small, fat, calm-looking man came out.
　I don't know if he's actually calm or not, but he's not going to be the head of the branch just because he's calm.
　However, he was not a stranger, he was the head of the commercial guild, Photoren, who I had talked to the last time I came to get permission to grow sugar cane.

"Oh, it's you, Kaede. 　That letter is about the effects on demons?

Yes, I was able to get your permission, but with conditions.

　As I handed the letter to him, he held a magic stone over the letter.
　Then the magic circle changes from blue to red and the letter is unfastened.
　After reading it, the branch manager nodded lightly and began to talk to me.



I understand, I can give you the go-ahead, but I'll tell you about the taxes and such now, if that's okay with you?

　That's very fast, much faster than I expected.
　He originally said that he could get the permit by himself, and maybe he just wanted my opinion as a reference.
　It's also possible that he wanted the money, but also wanted a target to shift the blame to in case of damage.
　He kept the letter in his pocket as if he had finished reading it.

"Oh, can I bring Mercia?　I'm sure Mercia will take care of that.

"Okay, I'll be waiting.

　It's no laughing matter that while adventuring or traveling, you might accidentally become a wanted man for tax evasion.
　Even in some games, tax evasion is a Karma 60 minus, and you will be hounded by bounty hunters and guards as a criminal.
　The tax office in Japan is also scary. Although you won't be killed, if you accidentally spend the amount of tax you evaded, you will have to pay almost 15% interest per year in addition to the additional amount, and you can't escape the tax even if you go bankrupt.
　In short, you should pay your taxes.

　Mercia had finished supervising the dismantling of the demon and was at the Kaede Trading Company.
　She might have been training the employees, judging from the way she was watching the shopkeepers at the corner of the store.

Mercia, is this a good time?　We've got a permit to grow sugar cane, and they want to talk to us about taxes and stuff.

"Okay, I'm on my way. 　Okay, I'm on my way. Make sure you do everything I say.

"Yes, sir!

　When I told her what I wanted, Mercia instructed the clerks and then followed me.
　It seems she was training the newcomers after all.
　I hurried back to the Commercial Guild and found the branch manager sitting near the entrance, waiting for me.

"Would you two like to hear the explanation?

"Yes, I'll be there.

Yes, I'll join you.

　He then stood up and walked into one of the back rooms at a slow speed befitting his size, and after making sure we were in the room, he soundproofed it.

It's going to take a while, so please have a seat.

　After making sure we were seated, the head of the branch started talking about the conditions.
　The talk was not as long as I expected, but it was not short either.
　It was not as long as I expected, but it was not short either.

　The company would take 20% of the gross profit minus an amount determined by the number of employees.
　The fixed amount depends on the rank of the employee. 10,000 Tel per month is deducted for each slave, and 20,000 Tel per month for each regular employee.
　In other words, if you hire a lot of people for the same size of business, the tax will be lower.
　However, you will have to feed them, which will result in higher costs.

　In addition, sugar is taxed at 1000 tels per kilo.
　If you import sugar from outside the country, you will have to pay a tax of 10,000 tels per kilogram.
　It is normal to impose a tax on imports from abroad, but the reason for imposing a tax on domestic sugar cane is that, due to the nature of sugar cane, the cultivation of sugar cane needs to be managed, so the tax is said to be a way to cover the cost.

　Finally, there is a port charge of 20,000 Tel per month for the size of the ship I ordered.
　I'm not sure if this is a tax or not, but it doesn't make any difference to the payer.

　That's all about the taxes, and now I'm going to introduce you to someone who knows a lot about growing sugar cane.
　He said that he was the grandson of a man who used to grow sugar cane near Desibatore, and that he was interested in sugar cane cultivation.
　Not only is he interested in it, but he has also heard about the technique from his grandfather, and is sure to find it useful.
　He is currently working as an ordinary farmer in a small village a little inland from Phothren, but the commercial guild is willing to persuade him.
　The price of a three-year contract, including fees, is a whopping 10 million ter.

...... Isn't that a lot of money?

"All technologies that are worth money are expensive. 　You can sell something and make a new one, but you can't sell information twice, you know.

Are you confident about your ability to persuade and be useful?　I don't know the man.

I can assure you of that.

　I can assure you of that.
　Mercia is sitting there listening, not participating in these negotiations, as if she thinks it's my decision to make.

So, what if I follow his instructions here and don't succeed?

Well, I can't compensate you for the loss, but I can reduce your fee to one million.

You'll take one million?

Yes, because he has a life of his own, not to mention the guild.

　Well, it would be cruel to drag out a farmer and then say, 'You failed, so no reward.
　Let's do it.

"All right, then. 　Can I pay with my Decibatore card?

"No problem, thank you again.

　I paid the money like that, and also opened an account for the store at the Commercial Guild, and deposited about 500 million Tel there.
　Preparations for sugar cane cultivation are going well.
　By the way, I haven't raised my guild rank yet.