Eh....

We're a decent sized business. We especially value information. You may think that information is the only thing that matters, but we believe that information is the most important thing in order to win over our competitors. I can assure you, though, that we are the only country in the whole empire that realizes that it doesn't need food.

....

　Listen intently to what Silmeria has to say.
　I don't want to miss even the slightest bit of what I'm hearing. The dialogue with this woman might decide the future of this country--I can't help but remember that I even have such a premonition.
　The same is true for Drake and Jessica, and their eyes are serious.

It's a good idea to be able to have the same kind of information in the center of the empire, the great temple of the Mullerian religion, and the interior of the kingdom of Olvance. We are the ones who collect all this information. What the future plans of the Empire, the movements of the Müllerian High Priest, and the thoughts of the Kingdom of Orvans in front of you, Princess... well, I'll give you all the information you need.

It's a...

Well, we're not demons either. I'm not an ogre, but I'm willing to give you some simple information on the service. However, Amelia's merchants are stingy in common. We don't give out the information you want most, as long as the deal doesn't go through.

I'm listening.

Master Noah!

　I interjected as Drake and Jessica both stammered on.
　Silmeria has come to sell her value. And she has demonstrated her value here and now.
　Then it's my role to judge its value.

"You'll tell me what the service is all about. If so, you'll have to hear it first.

Yeah that's a good decision, my new demon king.

Noah Whitefield. Just Noah.

That's right, Mr. Noah. Well, it's not that great a piece of information, but you do know that the Empire has lowered its defense line to the barrier of Hydra, right?

I know that.

　That information was already given to me by Feliana. It's nothing new.
　If you say that's the information you can give out in the service--''

Well, listen. Here's what you need to know.

　Cooing, Silmeria contorts her lips.
　And those shapely lips.
　I couldn't believe it.

"This is your brother, Hydra. The guardian of this Hydra is your brother, Ray Whitefield.

　It was more than a relief that your brother was alive.
　I knew that I would have to fight my brother sooner or later.
　He told me.












"Well, it's good to see you, too.

Yes, please.

　The conversation moved along at a brisk pace.
　It was important for us to get the information first. We decided that someone who has a connection to the heart of the Empire and the Great Temple of Mullerianism and who can pass on information to us would be very valuable, so we began to do business with them.
　In the end, we paid ten gold coins every month to set up a fake food transport route for them, and they would pass on the information as needed. I feel like I was at the mercy of Silmeria until the very end, but I can say that I've settled into a place where I should have settled down for now.
　It's not a trustworthy business partner, but as long as the payment is good, it's someone you can trust.

''So... well, for the time being, this is how we'll do it.

Well, that's just as well. We won't ask you to give us something we don't have.

Well, you know.

And that's what we're here for to begin with. I didn't think I'd be able to get it on the first try, but with this, you're welcome to do whatever you want.

　While laughing, Silmeria holds up a sachet that makes a chirping sound.
　Naturally, there's no way there's any gold coins in it. Or rather, no matter where you search in this country, you won't find such a large sum of money as ten gold coins.
　What's in them are puppy scales.
　In the first place, the 'Demon Materials' that Silmeria offered - of which, it was the dragon scales that Silmeria first indicated the price. It's a good thing that we are able to get three puppy scales for an unbeatable price of one gold coin, so it's a relief for us.
　I'm going to ask Silmeria to take the puppy scales back to me for the time being, and this is how the deal is going to proceed.

''Also, the items you ordered will be delivered within ten days. And I'll take that on top of it, too.

Yeah. I'll wait for you.

Thanks again. Thank you for your continued patronage of the Nofault Trading Company, Silmeria Branch.

　I counted the puppy scales, and there were about forty of them.
　According to my calculations, the deal could have been done with thirty puppy scales, but I didn't want to leave the fractions, so I gave them all to him. As a substitute, there are a few items that I ordered.
　That's the executives' weapons.
　Milo's axe is very deteriorated, and Gilanka's machete (machete) is rusty. Chappie's club is also a cheap substitute, and I thought the bow would be stronger if it had some sort of retrofitted claw or something. I said a lot of things about that and asked Silmeria to stock it all up.
　Also, my sword, which was broken in the ruins of Rilkara, my sword. My sword will break easily if it's a bad one, so I chose a reasonably expensive one.

'You know what?'

Hmm?

I need to ask you one thing.

　That's what Silmeria called out to her as she turned on her heel and was about to leave.
　It's not really a big deal. But there's one thing that's been bothering me.

'Silmeria you said that no one but Silmeria knew that my country didn't need food.

Yeah, you said that.

Why?　Maybe other countries have information about this, too.

It's easy to do.

　Haha, Silmeria showed her white teeth and smiled pleasantly.
　She just assumed that such a question was expected.

I think it's been about seven days since you guys occupied the city. I didn't see any of you stocking up on groceries at that point. I thought this would be a good opportunity, so our company took a wholesale approach.

Eh....

Well, it was a gamble. I opened the lid and found that they hadn't stocked up on foodstuffs in 20 days or even 10 days. I thought for sure that the demon didn't eat, that's for sure. Well, it's my foresight.

....

The Empire is completely convinced that your country buys its foodstuffs from our commerce. All the other countries are the same. So I told them that no one else knew about it but us.

　Seriously?
　Silmeria, you knew all of this from the beginning, and you've already taken steps to do it?
　This is a total loss for us.

"Honana.

　With a whimper, Silmeria raises one hand and pulls on the reins of the carriage. With that, the carriage began to move.
　The shadow of the carriage gradually became farther and farther away, and at the point when it became as small as a grain of beans, a loud sigh escaped from my mouth.

"Haha........I've been completely beaten.

"Master Noah, I'm sorry I wasn't able to be of much help to you.

It's okay, Jessica. It's just that the other side was one or two better.

　Well, business meetings and such are not the domain of the military strategist.
　Jessica has a lot of work to do in the future. Badly. I'm not going to let this case diminish my reputation.
　That goes for Drake as well. I won't be angry at Silmeria for putting me through the ringer.
　I'm not angry that Silmeria put me through the ringer, but I guess the tuition was a bit high.
　That.
　But I have a few doubts.
　Jessica, I'm sure you didn't know that 'demons don't need to eat'.
　She didn't seem to be surprised by anything, but I wonder why.

''........''

　I look at Jessica, but it's business as usual.
　I guess that was it. It's the information that was given to you out of the blue, but you took it into account when you went around. As expected of a military strategist, I guess.
　Hmmm.
　I have to do what I have to do.

Well...

　I picture the puppy in my head and activate the skill.
　I've never used this skill before, but now would be exactly the time to use it. I don't even know where he is right now.
　With my powerful words, a white light is born in front of me, and it becomes a circle.
　Within that circle - slowly, a puppy appeared.

'Mm....?　What?　What the hell. Hey, boy, what did you do? I was supposed to be sleeping on that roost in the woods.

'Oh, puppy. I'm glad you're here.

What...?

　I snapped my fingers.
　With that, Puppy flinched slightly.

"Let's do it.

Hey, kid. I can't help but feel a bad feeling about this.

Don't worry. I'll make it hurt.

'Where's the okay factor in that word!　Hey, hey, you guys!

Goodbye, Mister Puppy.

Drake!　What does that mean?!

　I slowly approached the flustered puppy.
　I gave him a big smile.

"Puppy.

The kid...?

It's what I need to do. It's not like I hate Puppy, or that I'm going to punish you for being so cocky lately, or that I'm annoyed that you usually refuse my orders, or that I have a chance to legally torture you.

What do you mean by that?

So,

　Physical art level 88, approaching the puppy with all its might.

''Give me the scales!

'Why?