Chapter 5
Chapter 5. Ugly Flower (1)
The Alcand Empire, the eternal rival of the Britannia Kingdom.
Like any neighboring countries, the two nations are historical enemies.
What's somewhat special is that because both are such great powers, they fought a war lasting over 100 years for continental hegemony, not just a piece of land.
Currently, they have signed a peace treaty, but since diplomatic envoys from both countries shook hands, the invisible war has never stopped even once.
Alcand Empire, Imperial Intelligence Bureau (IIB) headquarters directly under the Emperor.
IIB Director 'Conrad Von Stiller' looked at the report with a grave expression.
"...Are you certain?"
"Yes, Director. We've cross-confirmed through multiple sources. Hanbin Ainsworth, core member of Britannia's cabinet, is missing. Officially processed as extended leave, but he's stepped down from all positions and his whereabouts are unknown."
"Discord with the royal family... or defeat in a power struggle... Well, either way doesn't matter."
It's merely a report about one person.
Yet the meeting room buzzed with joyful excitement.
In this world, there exist game changers who can alter major situations through individual power alone.
Hanbin was such an existence, and even the Empire's Emperor was wary of him.
Since he voluntarily stepped down from the chess board, there could be no better fortune.
"Gentlemen, the time has come. Immediately execute Phase 1 of 'The One' project. Contact Lofo and have him deliver the 'reagent.'"
'The One' project is a plan the IIB has secretly worked on for years.
To unify Soltera's drug cartels and weaken national power by making Britannia's interior rot with drugs.
Probably Lofo of the Montagra Cartel would become the Empire's vanguard contaminating Britannia without even knowing what he was doing.
From the victim's perspective, it's a meticulous and vicious scheme whose origin and planner are unknowable.
This is why Conrad is called the 'Dark Chancellor.'
"We'll handle it as ordered."
Just as they were about to execute the first stage of the plan like toppling dominoes.
"Urgent report! The Mo-Mo-Montagra Cartel has... voluntarily disbanded their organization...!"
"...What?"
"All organization members changed careers to become farmers and started farming..."
The operations center that had been heated with patriotic fervor turned cold.
"What about Lofo? What does our contact say? They just let that happen?"
"He's adamant. 'I'll never do criminal organization stuff again. I'll become a healthy farmer and live a new life'... He even says he'll donate part of his monthly profits..."
At the report that sprinkled ash on fully baked bread, all IIB executives wore expressions of disbelief.
A plan that crumbled at the perfect moment.
"Don't be shaken."
Despite the major plan going awry just before its start, Conrad maintained his composure.
At least outwardly.
Perhaps everything could be coincidence.
Lofo, whom they'd been cultivating underwater, might have suddenly reformed and disbanded his organization.
But of all times.
At this very moment when Hanbin's disappearance was confirmed.
The first domino block disappeared at the perfect timing.
All of this is absolutely not coincidence.
Rather, it's close to a warning.
Just as the IIB watches Hanbin, he too is watching the IIB.
"We got outmaneuvered again."
Conrad wore a bitter smile.
"Halt the operation and postpone the project. Investigate Hanbin Ainsworth once more."
As I said again, that man is.
Someone worth this level of wariness.
***
When making something modern in this other world.
Especially when trying to lower its unit cost, considerable effort is required.
It's simple logic.
Items easily obtainable in the modern world can be treasures in this world.
Aluminum, plastic - the list goes on endlessly.
Sometimes, no matter how much knowledge you use and twist your body, it's impossible...
But this Soltera expedition was a great success.
"With this, collection of the most difficult material is complete."
He obtained coca leaves at bargain prices, which would have comprised a significant portion of the unit cost according to calculations.
Not because large quantities are needed, but because coca leaves are extremely expensive.
Though the troublesome process of extracting only flavor while removing drug components remains, it's a vast inventory sufficient to make hundreds of thousands of cola bottles.
Having also cleaned up a startup cartel that was bound to become troublesome, he could somewhat reduce the guilt of abandoning his Minister of Internal Affairs position.
That said, he can't rob all materials, so the remaining ingredients can be purchased legally.
"Hmm, it won't be easy."
However, problems arise again here.
Jurgen has no money.
Moreover, having laundered his identity, he has no credit either.
Even in Nortaris where commerce and banking are developed, they won't lend a penny to a small business owner with nothing.
"Additional materials I need to obtain are sugar and various spices..."
Especially these spices were troublesome.
Sugar's unit cost isn't that high, so he could use anything as collateral to buy it.
If worst comes to worst, couldn't he grab the hem of his wealthy-looking regular customer Penelope and beg for investment?
But spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla beans are quite expensive.
He needs a way to obtain them more cheaply.
When Hanbin changed his identity to Jurgen, he had anticipated such difficulties early on.
So the new starting point he selected is this very Nortaris.
The Labyrinth Demon Realm, a land of opportunity where not only monsters but all kinds of precious ingredients pour out abundantly.
"I'll need to pack my backpack again."
Several years ago.
During Britannia's monster elimination project, the 'Great Subjugation,' it was also a place as familiar as home to Jurgen, who stood at the front lines.
***
While Jurgen was smashing emerging cartels and harvesting coca leaves, Penelope visited the shop like a routine.
That is, Penelope's resentment from being repeatedly stood up grew proportionally to her wasted trips.
"Closed again today?"
"Does he even want to do business?"
"Hah...! I...! Really...! This is absurd."
Hoping against hope, she visited the general store only to touch the door handle of an empty shop and return for three days.
She felt self-loathing wondering what's so special about that cola to be acting like this, and burned with ambition to thoroughly scold the inconsiderate owner who neglects regular customers.
However, when the waiting exceeded three days to become four, anxiety began to sprout.
"...Did he flee in the night?"
It's a reasonable assumption.
Though Brellum Shopping Street's rent is cheap compared to central commercial areas, it's still rent that must be paid.
Penelope doesn't know exactly how much the rent is, but she understands the concept that occasional customers are needed to maintain a business.
And Penelope has no memory of seeing any other customers besides herself at the general store.
How many options does a foreign merchant with poor business and overdue rent have?
"Did he really run away?"
No, then what about cola?
Does this mean she can never drink cola or espresso again?
"If things were bad enough to flee at night, he should have at least complained."
Penelope clicked her tongue at the unpleasant situation.
If he said he was struggling, she would have lent him the rent money.
Come to think of it, there's something regrettable.
Jurgen doesn't know that Penelope is the eldest daughter of the Rosemore Count family.
Because Penelope didn't tell him.
If she had known this would happen, she should have just told him.
Then Jurgen would have grabbed regular customer Penelope instead of a straw.
Irritation gradually changed to anxiety, and Penelope could only bite her innocent handkerchief.
Still not giving up a glimmer of hope, Penelope visited the shopping district today too.
She planned to leave a note saying she'd lend him money in case he returned.
"This frustrating per...son? Huh?"
Exclamation marks popped above Penelope's head as she was about to pass by the general store, naturally assuming it would be empty.
Because she could see a human figure moving around through the shop window.
Hastily checking the door handle, she found the [On Vacation] sign had changed to [Open for Business].
"Ah shit...!"
Emotions surged like mixing various colored paints into water at once.
Relief that it wasn't a midnight flight after all.
Embarrassment that her worry had been pointless.
Anger at Jurgen for making her worry.
Joy that she could drink cola and coffee again.
Among the four emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, Penelope felt all except sorrow, then hesitated at the door.
"......"
Wait a moment.
Wouldn't it look bad if she entered like this?
If she enters as soon as the shop that was closed for days opens, anyone would think she was desperately waiting.
Though it's not 'seemed like waiting' but actually waited with a craned neck, truth isn't that important to a noble young lady originally.
Truth must accommodate the noble young lady.
Penelope, whose eyebrows twitched dramatically, eventually opened the door boldly.
She thought that after suffering this much mentally, she needed to eat cola right now to be compensated.
"Hey you, taking vacation without a word like that...?"
Then she discovered Jurgen with a large backpack on his back, ready to leave immediately.
It wasn't a midnight flight but preparation for a bold midday flight.
"Oh, Miss Penelope. It's been a while!"
"Wait!"
"Hmm?"
"First, put down the backpack."
Even if you're going, put out the cola first!
Penelope hastily grabbed Jurgen's sleeve.
The intuition that this was her last chance was strong enough to push the young lady's dignity aside temporarily.
After all, cola was so delicious!
"I roughly understand the situation. You need money, right? I'll lend it to you."
"Miss Penelope, though I don't have money, I'm not at the point of borrowing from customers."
"Don't feel too burdened. Since you're a regular, I can do that much for you, right?"
"What does Miss Penelope being a regular have to do with lending money?"
"...Huh?"
As I said again, Penelope is a noble young lady.
Therefore, Penelope's perception isn't just perception, but sharp perception honed in high society.
Seeing Jurgen's blank reaction, Penelope immediately realized there had been a misunderstanding.
She quickly let go of his sleeve and returned to her usual prickly young lady mode.
"You'd better forget what just happened. It's advice for your sake."
"I don't know what it's about, but I'll keep it in mind."
"One cup of coffee, and what was it called? Ah, right. One cola too, please."
"Don't you see I was just about to leave?"
"So? If you have complaints, say them somewhere I can't hear."
Though the conversation flow was somewhat unnatural, if a noble young lady says that's how it originally is, then nothing happened.
Penelope naturally took her regular seat while Jurgen felt reluctant about her high-handed attitude.
But it can't be helped.
Shops that treat regulars poorly don't last long.
Seeing her stubbornly insist, he temporarily put down his backpack and turned on the coffee machine.
"Ah, Miss Penelope. I can serve coffee anytime, but there's no cola."
"What?!"
Penelope struck the table boldly and stood up.
"What does that mean? Then what becomes of my waiting for over a week?"
"Don't tell me you came to the shop during the entire vacation?"
"I didn't come! I didn't wait!"
"Why are you angry? Here, drink coffee first."
"Why is there no cola?"
"Well, you see."
While she drank coffee, Jurgen explained the current situation that 'cola stock is gone' and the plan that 'I'll now obtain remaining materials and make cola.'
Though Penelope felt wronged and even more wronged because she couldn't properly express that wrongness due to dignity, she sipped coffee and regained appropriate composure.
Perhaps caffeine deficiency also contributed to her anger.
"I understand the plan well. Where will you get the materials? You said you have no money."
"Isn't this Nortaris? Of course, the Labyrinth Demon Realm."
"Hmm, so the owner knows how to joke?"
Penelope was about to snicker at the silly joke when she stopped.
Because she recalled that his tone was utterly serious and that he had just been trying to pack his backpack.
"...That wasn't a joke?"
"Is there some problem?"
"Of course it's a problem. Isn't your sense of reality too lacking?"
This owner seemed a bit dim-witted, but he's someone who'd cause big trouble.
It was fortunate she entered the shop regardless of dignity.
"The spices you need to get are vanilla beans, cinnamon, and so on, right?"
"That's right."
"Do you know what floor of the demon realm those come from?"
"Spices in general are from the 4th floor."
At the unexpectedly smooth answer, Penelope was even more dumbfounded.
He did some research, I see.
But half-knowledge is more frightening, and this commoner clearly doesn't understand what he's saying.
Even if the demon realm became relatively safer after the Great Subjugation, it's only 'relatively' so.
If an ordinary merchant steps foot in the demon realm alone, they become monster food in an instant.
"Before that, do you have a permit?"
"Permit? What's that?"
"The demon realm entry permit issued by the Merchant Union or Guild."
"What, you need permits to go beat up monsters?"
Though Jurgen had never heard of this, listening to Penelope's explanation, it seemed the world had changed somewhat in the meantime.
In the past, the demon realm was literally a demon realm.
But now that Britannia has mostly eliminated the seeds of high-grade monsters, it seems to be treated like a good hunting ground in an RPG game.
The Merchant Union and Adventurer Guild issue permits and secure interests.
"Highway robbery is nothing compared to this."
"That's not all."
"What more is there?"
"From the 4th floor you're targeting, you need a Silver-grade or higher permit. Because if just anyone goes and dies randomly, it gets complicated with rescue teams and such."
"Huh......"
In the past, they used to give money to adventurers entering demon realms instead.
While Jurgen felt the changing times.
Penelope thought.
'Wait. Isn't this an opportunity?'
If she helps with his cola production, she gets legitimate grounds to receive cola.
Most importantly, it's a golden opportunity to show competence in front of this obtuse owner.
"Ahem."
Penelope crossed her arms and cleared her throat loudly to draw attention.
"For reference, Silver-grade or higher permits aren't issued to just anyone. Only to adventurers with sufficiently verified experience. Or sometimes provided to nobles as special cases."
"Don't tell me?"
"That's right, I have one. Not just a Silver grade either. It's an Emerald permit that can take up to three companions."
Tariff reduction benefits for goods exported from demon realms!
Discount benefits when purchasing products at stores connected to unions!
Free use of designated shelters in demon realms!
Swift and accurate rescue service provided by the Adventurer Guild!
Additional allowances and points when performing guild requests!
Priority bidding rights for higher-grade requests!
And so on and so forth!
Penelope listed the various benefits attached to this tremendously great Emerald permit.
"...Well, about this much."
"Ooooh."
Now, how about that?
Each benefit would make adventurers drool.
Would they readily offer such benefits to just anyone?
Really, really, by this point the owner must have noticed.
Penelope glanced sideways at Jurgen's reaction.
"Miss Penelope had such an amazing thing. I didn't realize you were such a skilled alchemist."
"No! Why does it turn out that way?!"
"Ah, were you a Knight rather than an alchemist?"
"You know everything and you're doing this on purpose, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ah..."
Penelope was devastated.
So devastated that she ended up crouching down.
After that, there was a minor incident where sulky Penelope grumbled about just going home...
"Hurry up and come out."
"Ah, I've packed everything."
A negotiation was dramatically concluded where Penelope takes Jurgen to the demon realm's 4th floor and protects him, while Jurgen provides completed cola to Penelope.
"Will you be okay in those clothes?"
"What about my clothes?"
"Though less than usual, they're still too flashy."
"Do I look that way? To me, these are cheap clothes I could wear once and throw away."
"Hearing you say that, it does seem that way."
"......Never mind. Forget it."
Simple preparation completed, the expedition departed.
You might think this is too casual, but there shouldn't be major problems.
According to our regular young lady's claims, she's a 4th-rank Alchemist.
In other words, she's skilled enough to subjugate monsters inhabiting the 4th floor without difficulty.
Though he has no intention of showing his skills because he's hiding his identity, he could take care of her in emergencies...
Most importantly, if he asks 'Vic,' ordinary monsters wouldn't even dare approach.
This time, Jurgen's role is to ride the bus as an ordinary shop owner.
Thus arriving at the demon realm portal next to Lichfield Square.
The two people who went through the premium lounge available only to adventurers with Emerald permits...
"It's like some airport first-class lounge."
"Airport? First-class lounge?"
"Such things exist."
"...Could you not show off? I know that much too."
Stepped into the portal leading to the Labyrinth Demon Realm's 1st floor.