Chapter 146 : Intermediary Trade - 2
Chapter 146: Intermediary Trade - 2
For a moment, a heavy silence flowed between us.
But soon, every single one of my Companions’ faces turned pale.
Sienne cried out as if shouting.
[That can’t be. The Empire’s Founding Emperor was clearly Drake Kerr Dneroum…….]
[That was the Emperor from 325 years ago. The second Emperor. There was a different Emperor 350 years ago.]
[No, that isn’t how it’s recorded in the history books. Not just in the records—within the memories of everyone across the Continent as well…… Ah!]
[Yes. Edgar said it before. As the condition to participate in the next Game, he offered the price of being erased from everyone’s memories.]
He had continuously wanted to participate in the Game.
So he had offered complete erasure from the world as the price.
The exact words Edgar had spoken back then were these:
-Except for those who fall under certain conditions, I wagered that my memories would be deleted from everyone else. So that I would remain in no one’s memory. I abandoned my own existence.
[He said those who fell under certain conditions were excluded.]
[Then don’t tell me?]
[Yes. I believe those who ascended to the Emperor’s throne of the Empire were precisely that condition. In other words, across the entire Continent, only one person—the Emperor—still remembers Edgar.]
Of course, it was unlikely that every Emperor throughout history had personally met Edgar.
Most likely, at the very moment one ascended the throne, Magireta had implanted the truth—‘The true Founding Emperor was Edgar.’—into the Emperor’s mind.
With Magireta’s Omnipotence, even without evidence, she could make him believe that ‘this is the truth.’
[It seems Edgar had no intention of completely severing ties with the Empire he built. Whenever he required the Emperor’s assistance, he likely contacted him through some means.]
[…….]
[And the Emperor would never publicly announce that the Empire’s Founding Emperor was in fact someone else. There’s no proof, and it would only cause chaos.]
[Wait, wait.]
Armelia shook her head, clearly bewildered.
[If that is true…… does that mean I am a descendant of Edgar?]
[…….]
[Please tell me that’s not the case. That’s far too horrifying.]
[Unfortunately, it is reality. That is, if His Majesty the current Emperor is truly Your Highness’s biological father.]
At those words, Armelia’s expression calmed slightly.
In a bitter tone, she muttered,
[Once, I wished he were my biological father. Now I pray he is not.]
[Your Highness.]
[I’m sorry. This isn’t about me right now. If Edgar truly was the Empire’s Founding Emperor, and if the Emperors throughout history all knew him…….]
[Yes. The current Emperor will also remember Edgar. More importantly…….]
We might be able to learn his ‘true name.’
Edgar’s true name—unknown to everyone, even Louis.
We might be able to hear it from the Emperor himself.
If we discovered his true name?
‘Then I’d be able to search it in the Encyclopedia lv.2.’
I would be able to learn every piece of information about Edgar.
Just then, Edgar’s voice rang out.
“Are you plotting something in your heads again? Your expressions have changed quite a bit.”
“…….”
“Hm. That’s the face of someone who realized something. What could it be?”
“That you’re a bastard?”
“How scathing.”
He took a small step back and continued.
“Anyway, I’ll be going to purchase the Tears of the Goddess. The rest of you, please decide on what to buy so that your categories don’t overlap.”
“…….”
“I’ll see you later.”
Edgar disappeared with leisurely steps.
As I watched his retreating figure, I thought,
‘We’ve found a lead.’
For the first Intermediary Trade, I chose a dress as my item.
Judging by B’s extravagant attire, I assumed that after jewels, clothing would be the next thing of interest.
Of course, that also meant the competition was fierce.
Quite a few Participants declared they would purchase dresses.
They tried to persuade me by saying, ‘There’s no guarantee that a dress is the correct answer anyway.’
Armelia introduced the largest and most famous clothing shop in the Capital and said,
“In this Game, it’s important to sell to B at a high price—but it’s equally important to purchase at a low price.”
“Of course.”
“So take this.”
She held out a palm-sized certificate badge.
“This is?”
“The shop I introduced also trades with the Imperial Household. This badge is issued to their most important customers. You’ll be able to purchase at a significantly discounted price.”
“Something so valuable…….”
“This is nothing. Compared to what you have done for me.”
With a gentle smile, I accepted it.
After that, we headed to the clothing shop together and examined various items.
Honestly, to my eyes, I couldn’t tell what was better or more expensive.
But for some reason, Armelia and Aina excitedly roamed around the store.
“Clerk! Bring me the most expensive outfit in this shop.”
“No. We cannot use that as the standard. There is no guarantee that the values of the human world apply to B.”
“Then what should we use as the standard?”
“Which design is the most aesthetically beautiful…….”
“There’s no guarantee that human-world aesthetics apply to B either.”
Unless it was my imagination, weren’t the two of them simply enjoying shopping right now?
Berseum waited patiently, but when their indecision stretched past ten minutes, he intervened.
“Your Highness the Princess. Please calm yourself.”
“I am not excited.”
“Ah, yes. In any case, not only Mason but all of us must complete our purchases within ten hours. We cannot afford to waste too much time here.”
“Th-that’s true.”
Her face reddened as she conceded.
In any case, in that manner, I was able to obtain a dress that even my untrained eyes could recognize as top-tier.
I had been worried whether it would fit B’s body size, but Armelia confidently declared that it would be perfect—almost as if tailor-made.
Well, during the Diet Game, she had deduced participants’ approximate weights just by looking at their appearances.
“Shall we move on to the next place?”
After that, Armelia visited the home of the most famous painter in the Empire.
Using her authority, she purchased what was called his masterpiece at a heavily discounted price.
The next destination was a bookstore.
We purchased a rare ancient book containing the history of the human world.
In truth, it would have been better to visit the Tower of Knowledge, but since the books there could not be ‘purchased,’ we had no choice but to give up.
Aina paid the gold coins for the book.
Next came ceramics. Berseum handled that.
Perfume was chosen by Sienne.
Toys were handled by Benjamin.
Karin prepared a fruit called ‘pineapple,’ whose taste was exceptional but was difficult to obtain on the Continent.
Every single item was of a quality that left nothing to be desired—worthy of being called the best.
‘I only hope the correct answer is among them.’
Just as everyone bustled about purchasing their goods.
Swoosh.
Our field of vision changed.
When I regained my senses, we were inside that same splendid building as before.
Not only my Companions but all Participants had returned, each holding the items they had purchased as planned.
Edgar included.
In his hand was a single dazzling jewel.
“Tears of the Goddess.”
Armelia muttered as she bit her lip.
Edgar smiled unpleasantly and said,
“Indeed. Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Are you saying His Majesty the Emperor truly handed that over to you?”
“‘Handed over’ is an inaccurate expression. I properly paid the price and purchased it.”
He tossed the jewel lightly into the air and caught it as he continued.
“Just one silver coin.”
“……? A silver coin? Not even a gold coin, but silver?”
“Yes. Cheap, isn’t it?”
“That’s ridiculous. I saw with my own eyes how much His Majesty treasured that jewel.”
“It’s a waste for a mere Emperor to be holding a jewel of this caliber. All things should belong to their rightful owner, after all.”
Was he saying he himself was the rightful owner?
Then was this bastard truly the Founding Emperor?
If the legend was true, Edgar would have been the very one who received the jewel from the Goddess.
At that moment, Magireta’s voice rang out.
“Everyone worked hard. Let’s proceed with the appraisal right away.”
“…….”
“B? I’ll leave it to you.”
Then B, who had been sitting in a dignified posture, opened her mouth.
“One by one, in order, place your items on the table in front of me.”
Edgar stepped forward.
With a confident attitude, he placed the Tears of the Goddess on the table.
“…….”
B narrowed her eyes and looked at the jewel.
Even to someone like me, who had no interest in jewels, it was dazzling enough to make one’s head spin.
But B spoke in an utterly unmoved tone.
“I will not buy this.”
……!
For once, bewilderment crossed Edgar’s face.
I, too, was quite surprised.
Benjamin muttered,
“Won’t buy it? Is that even allowed?”
Though it had been a murmur to himself, Magireta somehow heard it and replied,
“Of course. Why would you think it wouldn’t be allowed?”
“…….”
“In other words, B has paid 0 gold coins for Edgar’s jewel. In that case, it would look like this.”
Snap.
Magireta flicked her fingers.
A Mini Bulletin Board floated up in front of Edgar.
■ Edgar Tyler’s Profit
-Revenue: 0 gold coins 0 silver coins
-Cost: 0 gold coins 1 silver coin
-Profit: Minus 1 silver coin
Edgar scratched his head and said,
“This is rather troublesome. It seems I was far off from the correct answer.”
“…….”
“Diamond, sapphire, ruby……. I had been wondering which type of jewel suited your taste more, but it has all become meaningless.”
He soon shrugged and coolly stepped back.
B spoke.
“Next. Please place your prepared item on the table.”
It was me.
I placed the dress I had carefully prepared on the table.
Then B, just as she had with Edgar, spoke without any particular emotion.
“I will not buy this either.”
■ Mason Gear’s Profit
-Revenue: 0 gold coins 0 silver coins
-Cost: 2 gold coins 50 silver coins
-Profit: Minus 2 gold coins 50 silver coins
Damn it.
Edgar curved his lips into a faint smirk.
“Even though neither of us made any sales, I’m at the advantage. My purchase cost was overwhelmingly cheaper.”
“This is only the first Intermediary Trade. Don’t act like you’ve already won.”
“I have quite a bit of ill will toward you, Mason. It slips into my tone without me realizing it.”
“Are you really in a position to say that?”
Anyway, the appraisals continued after that.
Armelia, Aina, Berseum, Sienne, Benjamin.
Astonishingly, all 0 gold coins.
‘If it doesn’t suit her taste, it’s all zero, huh.’
She seemed to be a Monster with extremely firm preferences.
Then it happened.
Tap.
Karin placed the fruit she had prepared onto the table.
For the first time, B’s expression changed.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she spoke.
“I’ll buy this.”
“You’ll buy it?”
Since everyone before her had received 0 gold coins, Karin hadn’t expected much—her eyes widened in shock.
B nodded and continued,
“Yes. For this amount.”
As she spoke, B lightly tapped the armrest of her chair with her index finger.
Tick.
A Mini Bulletin Board appeared.
■ Karin Oblang’s Profit
-Revenue: 10 gold coins
-Cost: 0 gold coins 76 silver coins
-Profit: Plus 9 gold coins 24 silver coins
The fruit Karin had prepared was certainly rare, but no matter what, it couldn’t possibly be worth 10 gold coins.
It seemed that if something suited B’s taste, she would set the price regardless of market value.
At this moment, Karin proudly took first place.
She lifted her chin high and said,
“As expected, my eye for quality is exceptional.”
“That fruit was recommended by Her Highness the Princess. She said pineapples are rare and delicious, so you’d be able to sell it at a high price.”
“But I was the one who decided to purchase fruit.”
“Didn’t you originally say you’d choose books? You only changed because I claimed them first.”
“Do you want to keep nitpicking?”
At that moment.
Slide.
B reached her hand toward the fruit on the table.
She ran her red tongue once across her lips.
And then.
—Craack.
“Gasp.”
“Wh-what?”
“Aaaah!”
“How can her mouth open like that…….”
A pineapple was a fairly large fruit.
It was certainly not something that could be swallowed in a single bite.
Moreover, its peel was hard and covered in spikes. If you shoved it into your mouth as it was, your entire mouth would be torn apart.
“…….”
But to B, such common sense meant nothing.
Her lips, which had been wearing a cute and gentle smile all along.
They split open wider than the size of her own head and swallowed the pineapple whole in a single bite.
Her upper and lower teeth resembled massive awls…… no, to exaggerate slightly, they looked like overlapping blades.
—Crunch, crunch.
Each time she chewed the fruit, something splattered in all directions.
Juice, peel, leaves.
‘What a filthy way to eat.’
Soon, B closed her mouth and wiped the corner of her lips with a handkerchief.
Then, as if the horrific sight from moments ago had been a lie, she spoke in a soft voice.
“It was delicious. Thank you.”