First Encounter (3)
“......It seems like the young master trusts him a bit too much.”
In Sector 1 of Libra Aerial Garden, Belingham Kantar, who lives there with his kin, is having a conversation with Libra’s eldest daughter, ‘Johanna’.
“I’ve read the file too. His abilities are evident.”
The topic was Shion Ascal.
A soon-to-be university student currently participating in Libra’s internship.
He had detected Libra’s double spy planted in the cartel, and saved the youngest, Zia, from the fortress.
Although his achievements were only these two, they were of high quality.
“He’s also an excellent candidate in terms of his mindset.”
“......Yes. Mindset. I like this word more than anything else.”
Johanna pointed to a paragraph in the file. Among the report contents described by the intern inspector ‘Bell Moore’, there was a statement made by Shion Ascal.
─’I do not give opportunities to those who have betrayed Libra even once,’ he said, cutting off their heads......
“Yes. Right now, Shion Ascal’s aptitude is a perfect ‘Balancer’.”
Balancer.
Literally, ‘one who balances’.
They are the elite agents of Libra.Witness the debut of this chapter, unveiled through Ñôv€l--B1n.
However, they are not assigned to any particular independent department, but are simply embedded within Libra.
The purpose of a Balancer is to detect internal sabotage and external threats.
In other words, to weed out and execute harmful candidates inside and outside Libra.
“Has it been about 3~4 years since the Balancer lineage was broken?”
“Yes. Because......”
“Because they’re all untrustworthy.”
The recruitment of Balancers is so important that the direct line makes the final decision. They must maintain balance politically while weeding out internal enemies.
“These days, people are too influenced by SNS or whatever. They have too many delusions.”
“That’s true.”
“But, this Shion Ascal is going to the youngest?”
“Yes. It seems the young master also wants to send him to the youngest.”
Shion Ascal is going to Zia.
Rather, it’s a good thing. If it’s youngest, who has no influence on the succession structure, it means that the balance is politically maintained.
“It’s been a while since a promising guy showed up. I’ll have to watch him for 2~3 more years.”
“Is it okay? Even if he doesn’t serve Johanna.”
“From the beginning, all ‘Balancers’ belong to the direct line of Libra. Especially if they belong to the youngest. After all, the successor ends up owning everything.”
Johanna looked at Shion Ascal in the file and chuckled.
“He’s a bit intriguing. I’ll have to invite him to my casino later......”
* * *
[Trick City, traces of Raquel Dra found......]
[Who is Raquel Dra?]
[Continent’s No. 1 security force ‘Iron Shield’, permanent security contract signed with Amota Senator.]
Underworld. The deep and damp heart of that dark city.
While observing the surface world’s news, ‘Salruka,’ the consigliere and executive of the Master Cartel, furrowed his brow in concern.
“The boss must be worried.”
The subordinates behind Salruka bowed their heads again.
“......We apologize. The monster association also said it was an unexpected variable.”
“We should have killed Amota.”
The Cartel may be flat on the underworld, but it’s always eyeing the surface world. There’s no future if they stay in the underworld.
In that regard, the money they fed to the Trick City Section Senators under the pretext of ‘business’ is close to the budget of a decent country.
─I think Trick City will have learned a lot from this incident. That Amota will pay attention to the enactment of hero-related laws with the Section Senators of Trick City......
“That damned woman.”
Senator Amota picks fights over everything. Neither threats nor persuasion work, and she even tries to cut off all the Cartel’s dirty businesses.
“Are we sure it was Raquel Dra’s doing?”
The monster who led the barrier hacking is ‘Getto’, dispatched directly from the monster association. A monster close to A+ grade.
“We assume so, based on the circumstances...... but there’s no evidence. Everything was burned.”
Trick City and the Cartel have very different views on this incident.
For Trick City, it was suspected that ‘Raquel Dra caused the Boundary Error’.
For the Cartel and the monster association, it was assumed that ‘Raquel Dra slaughtered all the monsters’.
“But since his traces were found inside the Barrier...... it’s probably his doing. There’s no other group or individual with a reason to attack us.”
Salruka glared sharply at him.
“‘He’? What do you mean by ‘him’? Are you speaking to a gentleman?”
“Ah. I apologize. ‘That bastard’s’ traces were found inside the Barrier......”
“More importantly. Why did he pick a fight with us? No, this is at the scale of a war, not just a fight.”
“Perhaps, because we released the hitman......?”
Raquel Dra. The villain bastard killed B-Section entrepreneurs, D-Section religious people, and philanthropists in Trick City, all of whom were related to the Cartel.
So, the Cartel dispatched a hitman to kill him before he could do more damage.
“......Call off the hitman. Do you think the bastard who killed Getto will be killed by a hitman?”
We don’t know where he suddenly popped out from, or what kind of life he’s led, but now even the Cartel has to be on guard.
It’s been quite a while since such a ‘big shot’ has appeared.
“I’d like to get rid of him as soon as possible...... but let’s leave that to Trick City.”
Fortunately, Senator Amota and Trick City are moving on their behalf.
The Hero Special Law.
The Cartel tried to stop it even by lobbying, but if they catch Raquel Dra, it wouldn’t be such a bad trade-off.
* * *
The next day.
I was sick for almost a day due to the side effects of the Severing Sword. Thanks to that, Soliette had a hard time. She put a wet towel on my forehead and bought me fever reducers...
“......Thank you.”
“Yes. Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah.”
I was almost dead at the time, but my recovery wasn’t too bad, so I was fine after a day’s rest.
“But, Shion. Sir Raelro has contacted us.”
“From Sir Raelro?”
“Yes. He said the operation will start soon.”
I nodded my head.
“Are you ready?”
“......Yes.”
Soliette’s expression hardened.
“......Yes. You’re a good driver. Shall we go?”
“Yeah.”
At a window seat in the Parallion Hotel restaurant, a man in noble attire was cutting into a steak.
We approached him.
“Hmm. You must be Miss Riley.”
He asked without looking at us.
“Yes. I’m Riley who spoke to you over the phone.”
“Sit down.”
We took our seats. The Count glanced at Riley, and she handed him her business card.
For the record, I don’t have a business card yet.
“......An intern?”
The Count’s brow furrowed as he looked at the card.
“This is something.”
He leaned back in his chair, clearly displeased.
“The team leader personally approved this matter. However-”
─It’s disappointing. An intern shows up for a meeting.
The Count cut her off. It was a sudden foreign language, and Riley perked up her ears with a slightly surprised look.
─So uncultured. Suddenly showing up, what is this?
I scratched the back of my neck and hid a smile.
─I wonder if she even understands this.
The Count spoke proudly, flaunting a language that was all too familiar to me.
It was ‘Latinel.’
But it seemed a bit difficult for Riley.
─I apologize.
She responded in Latinel, albeit clumsily, but that was all she could manage.
─Does an apology suffice? What do you think of a noble’s authority?
When the Count spoke a little faster, she just shifted her gaze, completely unable to understand.
─Ha! This is ridiculous. I should go-”
─Count Tono.
I stopped him. The Count paused awkwardly, about to stand.
─I apologize for only having interns, but we did not intend to disrespect you.
At that, Count Tono’s eyes flickered slightly. Riley quickly laid the contract on the table.
─......Is that so?
─Yes. We are not ordinary interns.
─If you’re not ordinary interns, then what are you?
─If Count Tono wanted merely a manager or team leader from Libra Station. I would like to say that they are nothing more than frogs in a well. We are going up. I am connected directly to Libra.
I pointed to my tie.
─This tie. Jade personally gifted it to me.
─......Really? That noble-like man?
─Yes.
Jade is surprisingly well-regarded in noble society. Not only his appearance, but his unique sense of nobility fits very well with people living in a class-based country.
This means Riley did a great job of securing the item, even though she doesn’t seem to fully understand its value.
“Hmm. Well, if you say so. I have no doubts considering your manners and etiquette. However, if we are to trade, I want 35 Ren per gram.”
I looked back at Riley.
“He’s asking for 35 Ren per gram for the extreme mana stone.”
Riley’s lips slightly frowned.
“...That’s too expensive compared to the market price. The current line is 15-16 Ren per gram.”
I relayed Riley’s words.
“15 Ren per gram is the market price, isn’t that too expensive?”
“Hmph. Then buy it from them. Our territory is abundant anyway. There’s no need to put in the effort and trouble to mine one more ore.”
He’s right. For a noble who owns the territory itself, a mana stone ore is nothing more than insurance.
He seems to be a noble with some discernment.
“How about 30 Ren per gram?”
I spoke to both Riley and the Count.
“Considering the trend of high stone prices will continue for the next 10 years.”
Extreme mana stones will be worth 100 Ren per gram in just 1-2 years. If we can somehow finalize the contract now, it will be a great achievement.
“It’s not for us to decide. If we make a mistake, the company could lose-”
“30 Ren is fine.”
The Count changed his mind. He looked at me and smiled.
“...But do you have that much power?”
It must have been a stimulus for the Count. From his point of view, 30 Ren per gram would be a tremendous profit.
I told him,
“I always do what’s beneficial for Libra.”
“Haha. Then I’ll be back in a moment, to the restroom. It would be nice if we could contract today.”
The Count stood up as if to consult with someone, and Riley turned to me.
“If it’s 30 Ren per gram, we’ll lose money as soon as we buy it. The deal won’t be concluded.”
Riley’s forehead furrowed.
“Miss Riley. Shall we bet?”
“...Bet?”
“Yes. Extreme mana stones have potential. No, all new types of mana stones have potential.”
“...”
Riley scanned me with a slightly doubtful face.
“Do you have any insider information?”
“It’s just my long-held theory.”
“The company is not a casino. You can’t bet just based on a theory.”
“Should I write a report?”
“Of course. We need approval from above.”
“...”
“When can you write it?”
Riley asked as if interrogating.
I was slightly flustered, but I had a memory of how extreme mana stones became more valuable than gold. I had read the report.
In fact, even the re-evaluation of extreme mana stones was carried out by ‘Libra Research Institute’.
“...I’ll try to recall my memory.”
It was originally something that would happen in 1-2 years, but I might be able to pull it forward.