Western Continent Calendar, August 9, 2812 [To the Peninsula], Vol. 8:

　Ryojin's eyes narrowed when he saw the tea the maid had prepared for him.

''Here you go. It's made from Kirtantyre's specialty leaves.

　The finest carefully processed tea leaves. It is only when the tea is poured into the pot from a high position, causing a convection called jumping, that the mellow fragrance is opened.
　The way to control the sweetness of the cookies served with tea is a true artisanal technique.

It's........delicious!　The quality of the tea leaves is top notch, but the brewing process is perfect! And the cookies are just the right amount of sweetness... whoever prepared these is a master at it.

　It's not that he can't guess where it comes from, like some foodies, but Ryoma's taste buds are discerning.
　This is because his grandfather was a very wayward person.
　Well, even if you don't put those things aside, good food is good no matter who you are.
　In fact, the sisters beside him who sipped from their cups widened their eyes in surprise.

'Well!　You know what I'm talking about?　The Baron is very well educated, isn't he?

　Simone smiles admiringly.

'Cultured?　Well, it's about as good or bad as you can judge.

Well..........the underworld must be very rich.

　Ryouma struggled to hold back the turmoil in his heart. He couldn't just affirm her words here.
(This woman........how much do you know?)

What are you talking about?

　Liang Zhen asked that without changing his face.

''There's no need to hide anything else.......His Excellency the Baron's that wisdom......it's something that a mere commoner could never possess. That would make him a nobleman, but no matter how much I searched for information about His Excellency the Baron's past, I couldn't find any information at all until he registered with the guild about eight months ago. Originally, that's impossible........even if I couldn't find any proof, I have enough information in my information network to investigate it in a certain way. Even if the subject is the illegitimate child of a royal family. And yet, nothing about your past has come up.......that's exactly what it is.......unless you suddenly appear in this world.... And it was in the imperial capital of Oltmere that Baron-sama was registered with the guild. Perhaps he was summoned to Oltmere?　

I see........it seems like it's impossible to fall in love with him if he knows that much about you.

　Ryoma gives a look of resignation.
(d*mn this sucks, I guess I'll just have to kill him... I don't want to kill too many women...)
　I don't mean to pretend to be a feminist. But Ryoma didn't have the twisted propensity to kill women willingly.

　She couldn't look into Ryouma's past. That's why she expected that Ryoma would be a person summoned from another world.
　That is to say, it is nothing but that she has put her absolute trust in the information network she possesses.

''Yes ... but to be honest, I didn't think it was really an otherworldly person. Although I thought the possibility was high, but........normally, they would be summoned and immediately restrained by a restraint technique to prevent them from escaping......

I see..... So what do we do now?　Do you want to antagonize me?

　Killing intent gushed from Ryouma's body.
　Of course, this was a threat. If he really intended to kill her, he would have slammed a piercing hand into her throat without saying a word.
　That's probably what Simone understands as well. She should have been properly exposed to the killing intent emanating from Ryoma, but she didn't move a single muscle.

''No I didn't mean to do that. The reason I've been honest with you about this story is because I wanted you to know the value of our intelligence network and to prove that we have no intention of antagonizing you, Baroness.

　Indeed, to say that they would be honest with the other party about the information they got is a sign of no hostility.
　If Simone had hostility, she wouldn't tell it honestly to Ryoma.

''I see.......it seems that we should talk to each other through our stomachs.

　Ryouma stops the killing spree.

''Quicksilver.......it was so strong that I couldn't even move.......''

You look like you have plenty of room for it, though, don't you?

'I knew the Baron wasn't serious...'

　Simone's face broke into a suspicious smile, like a mischievous child.

'I see ... but I guess that's not what the person inside the walls who's breathing down your neck doesn't think so ... I'm sensing a presence, eh?

'You can't blame me. There are those of Mystor's hand in the dark and it is out of concern for me. I beg you to spare me and let them go.

　After saying that, Simone bowed her head deeply.
　With that, the strong presence I felt through the walls disappears.

''Is that the man who showed us around earlier?''

Yes, sir. He's my aide and bodyguard and yes, I must apologize for leaving my sword in his care.

I don't mind. I'd feel more comfortable with someone who cares that much about protecting his family.

　Hearing Ryoma's words, Simone chuckled and sat back down on the sofa.

''Then let's begin the business meeting. We have some understanding of the Baron-sama's requests here as well. He is thinking of purchasing food supplies from Ipyros until we can become self-sufficient in the Worthenian Peninsula. How would you like to do so?

　Simone's expression remained smiling. However, when she entered the business meeting, her presence of mind changed completely.
　A sharp, fresh air, like a sharpened sword.

''Oh ... and I'm thinking of building a port on the peninsula for trade in the future. I'd like to entrust the Kristoff Trading Company with the procurement of supplies and the sale of trade goods as our exclusive supplier in the future.

　Simone's expression moves at Ryoma's words.
　She probably didn't think of it as a plan to that extent either.

''It's ... a grand plan ... if it can be realized, the peninsula will be extremely rich in financial resources ... and a semi-permanent withering away. You're going to entrust me with helping to finance something that has never been done before?　

　Simone's voice was trembling. That was not surprising.
　If Liang Shin's story came to fruition, the Christophe Trading Company that had helped it come to fruition would be granted an enormous amount of wealth and privileges that were incomparable to other trading companies.
　A plan that a merchant with no power would laugh off as unfeasible and not deal with. But Simone had a clear picture in her mind of the port that had been built on the Worthenian peninsula.

'It would just take a lot of time and money to do it and we can't get off in the middle of it. Which means that if you're going to fund it, we're all in it together.

　Liangzhen's story is only about the future.
　In order to get there, we need to build a town on the peninsula and secure trade routes.
　How many years from now! It's not like that.
　If he was going to take Ryojin's story, he would have to bet the fate of the Christophe Trading Company on Ryojin.
　But in Simone's mind, the conclusion had already been reached.
　No, if Ryoma didn't say anything, she was going to offer to fund it.

''That's fine.......I was planning to do that from the beginning.......well, I didn't think it would be such a big deal, but.......''

I see........you were still on the edge, weren't you?

　Ryoma looked at Simone with a probing look.
　The shop is neatly maintained, and the expensive furnishings that must have been handed down over the years are still intact.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has been in crisis.
　But it can't be.
　They have lost all of their customers and cannot develop even new ones.

We had to make a decision before then. Do we abandon Iphiroth and seek a new land, or do we build up enough strength to compete with the Count and the Mystor Chamber of Commerce...

'I see ... then we need to talk about it some more.

　Simone nodded at Ryoma's words.

'Yes we need to get to know each other a little better.

　Liang Shin's purpose and future prospects have been stated.
　All that's left is to get Simone to admit that she has the power to make it happen.
　In order to do so, he had to demonstrate Ryoushin's power.


''By the way, why do you have access to Kirtantyre's tea leaves?　Kirtantyre is a large country in the western part of the continent. Shouldn't it take quite a few days to get there, whether by sea or by land?

　After being briefed on the current state of the Kristoff Trading Company, Ryoma put the question that had been bothering him from earlier to Simone.
　Things carried from far away are expensive. This is because the cost of transportation is reflected in the price.
　Christophe's company is in financial difficulties and he uses expensive tea leaves, which come from Kilsantia.
　They used tea leaves from Kirsantia. That's why Ryoujin sensed that there was a hidden agenda.

"Did you notice that the tea I'm offering you was imported from Fursard the other day.

　After saying that, Simone spread a map on the tabletop.

''Have you heard of the trading city of Fulzard in the Mist Kingdom?''

Yes. I was there once.

　Simone nodded at Ryouma's words and pointed to the left side of the map.

''The tea leaf I offered you is one of the best in the country of Kirtantyre. It's a product that is sold for a very high price in other countries as well... this tea is produced here, in the northwestern city of Kirtantyre.

　She pointed to a city in the mountains, a short distance from the coastline.

The tea produced here would be transported by ship to the nearby trading city of Lorcana, where it would be shipped to the east.

　With that, Simone's fingers move from Lorcana to Fulzard in a circle around the south of the continent.
　Lorcana's location is in the northwest corner of Kirtantia. Obviously, it looks like we are only taking the long way around.
　In fact, we've sailed nearly two-thirds of the way around the western continent.
　Ryouma looked at Simone quizzically.

''Have you noticed........''

'How could you go this far... no, wait!　Oh, right, the Worthenian Peninsula!

Exactly. The main reason for the detour is the Woltenia peninsula which is the main reason we can't use the northern route.

　Even before the pirates were on the scene, the northern route was avoided by sailors.
　The reason is simple. There are no supply ports on the peninsula.
　That's why they can't expect any help in an emergency.
　You never know what's going to happen at sea.
　Even though it's a coastal area, there are monsters that live in the sea, and it's possible to encounter a storm.
　The rudder could even be broken by a spur of the moment.
　In such cases, landing on a peninsula to wait for repairs or rescue is not an option.
　It would take seven to 10 days to cross the peninsula in a normal vessel.
　Given the level of danger during that time, it was not surprising that sailors would not choose the northern route.

Moreover, it's now a pirate stronghold. Of course, the northbound route is no longer in use....

Put another way, it would be very profitable for us to build a replenishment port on the Warthenian Peninsula to deter the pirates. Simone, you're here to talk to us, and you're here to tell us how much trouble you're in with the Kirtantyre tea. So you were going to build a port on the peninsula from the start, weren't you?

'Yes ... a port on the peninsula would allow us to do more than just Kirtantyre. We can trade with Elnesgulla and the other continents and the peninsula will be transformed into a veritable treasure trove.

　Simone's eyes glowed bewitchingly.
　It was exactly what she was betting on. On Ryojin's wisdom and ideas.

'I see ... I didn't test you ... you tested me, did you?

　This meeting was an opportunity to understand her plans and see if she could help.
　And if Ryoma was a fool, she was ready to leave Ipyros.

'To be honest, I didn't expect the Baroness to be that good. I didn't expect you to be thinking the same way I was........ In that case, I'm ready to bet the Christoph Trading Company on it.

Does that mean I've passed?

　At Ryoma's words, Simone smiled calmly and held out her right hand.

''Of course. We would love to have your help with our Kristoff Trading Company.''

　Her smile was stern and beautiful.
　It was the face of a noble warrior that only those who were prepared to fight had.