Chapter 12: In the Royal Capital – 18
After leaving the castle in the early afternoon, we decided to do some shopping in the bustling streets of the Royal Capital in preparation for our journey to escort Lady Shizuna.
That said, we already had most of the camping supplies we needed, so our main focus was on food. As expected from the Royal Capital, the quality and quantity of the ingredients displayed at the shops were overwhelming. With Sfenia and Mariane being quite skilled in cooking, we consulted them and ended up buying a plethora of ingredients. Thanks to the recent influx of income from “Soul’s Guidance,” our finances were more than sufficient, which encouraged our extravagant spending.
Once our shopping was complete, we headed to the Toronto Trading Company’s office. In fact, I had been asked by His Majesty the King to handle the matter of the playing cards, so I decided to request the Toronto Trading Company to produce and present them.
“Oh, if it isn’t Lord Soushi! And the esteemed members of ‘Soul’s Guidance’ as well. Welcome!”
To our good fortune, Mr. Toronto greeted us at the trading company. He led us all to the reception room.
“So, what brings you here today? Are you in need of something, or perhaps more information?”
“No, actually, I have a favor to ask.”
I took out the handmade playing cards from my Item Box and spread them out on the table. Mr. Toronto’s eyes sharpened as he examined them.
“What we have here… is this some kind of card? The material is from a Giant Centipede shell… and the surface has a unique pattern burned into it… Hmm, this is a design I’ve never seen before. Quite intriguing, but I assume this item is related to your request, Lord Soushi?”
“Exactly. I would like you to produce a set identical to these cards for presentation to the royal family. This is also a request from His Majesty the King.”
“Now that’s quite a significant request… But since it comes from you, the Twilight Slayer, I take it you’re not joking. Could you explain what these cards are intended for?”
“Of course.”
With that, we included Mr. Toronto in our party and played a few games using the cards.
As we played, I noticed Mr. Toronto’s expression change, and he quickly called for his secretary to jot down the rules of the game and copy the card designs.
Before long, he was instructing his son to buy up all the Giant Centipede shells available. His swift actions were a testament to his prowess as a merchant, but I couldn’t help but worry if he was moving too quickly.
“Mr. Toronto, there’s no need to rush…”
“Fufufu, Lord Soushi, these will sell! My experience and instincts as a merchant tell me so.”
“I believe they will sell well since they’re something new to this country, but is it really that significant?”
“Not at all! The key point is that these are offerings to the royal family. Once the royal family plays with them, word will spread among the nobles. Nobles are incredibly busy individuals, but they are always on the lookout for a little diversion. This product fits that need perfectly. Without a doubt, these cards will become a sensation among the nobility in no time. Naturally, the common folk will follow suit. I predict that within six months, the Royal Capital will be flooded with people seeking these cards.”
“Even so, I doubt the price will rise that much, and the profit might not be substantial.”
“Ah, but that can be managed by adding value. If other trading companies start producing similar items, the price may indeed drop, but the fact that these were presented to the royal family will serve as a powerful added value.”
“Ah, I see. So you plan to brand the cards as products of the Toronto Trading Company?”
“Branding, yes! I see you’re quite knowledgeable, Lord Soushi.”
“No, I’ve just heard the term before… So, can I take that as a yes for my request?”
“Absolutely! In fact, I insist on making this happen. Rest assured, I will reward you handsomely for this.”
“Let’s agree that the reward will come once there’s a profit. We’ll be embarking on a longer journey starting tomorrow, so I’m not sure when we’ll meet again, but we will definitely return to the Royal Capital.”
“Where are you headed on this journey?”
“To the south. I hope you can understand the rest.”
“To the south… I see, so that’s the situation. It seems that as a devoted adventurer, the tasks you are entrusted with are of a different caliber.”
Mr. Toronto, having likely deduced our circumstances with near accuracy, nodded in apparent admiration.
With that, our business transaction was successfully concluded. Following Mr. Toronto’s instructions, I signed a contract-like document to formalize our agreement. I had initially thought the card idea would be a one-time purchase, but the contract was structured to provide ongoing rewards based on sales. It seemed Mr. Toronto was not overly greedy… Perhaps he wished to maintain a good relationship with “Soul’s Guidance.”
In any case, we had secured a rather exceptional source of side income as adventurers, and we left the trading company.
I couldn’t help but wonder how Mr. Toronto would react if I showed him the Immovable Fortress Wall next time we met. It might be amusing to unveil it as a conversation starter.
Early the next morning, we headed to the royal castle to meet with Lady Shizuna.
As we waited in the Audience Chamber, guided by Mr. Raylot, Lady Shizuna entered alongside His Majesty the King, the Prime Minister, the Princess, and the usual two guards.
Once everyone was present, His Majesty personally handed me a letter.
“I would like you to deliver this to the High Priestess Miona of the Oz Country. It contains details regarding the recent events, but nothing more, so if she hesitates to accept it, please convey that to her.”
“Understood. I will ensure it is delivered.”
“I trust you understand that the matter concerning Lady Shizuna likely involves other nations. Ideally, the country should send an envoy to escort her, but due to political relations, that is exceedingly difficult. With Lady Shizuna’s wishes in mind, we are relying on you, but please exercise utmost caution.”
“Yes. I will act with the possibility of interference in mind.”
“Indeed. We have determined that entrusting this task to you is the most appropriate course of action. I appreciate your assistance.”
“Of course.”
From His Majesty’s words, it seemed that the relationships between the Kingdom of Vermillion, the Oz Country, and the meddlesome Mecalinan Country were quite delicate.
Using adventurers to send Lady Shizuna back to the Oz Country must have been a challenging decision. Ultimately, it appeared that through our interactions over the past few days, “Soul’s Guidance” had been deemed a reliable adventurer party.
After nodding at me, His Majesty turned his attention to Lady Shizuna.
“Lady Shizuna, I apologize for having kept you here for so long. You will be returning to your country, but I would be delighted if you could visit us again as an adventurer.”
“I must admit, I bear some responsibility for this incident. I have always felt well treated by you and the people of this country, so I am the one who should be expressing my gratitude.”
“Please take great care on your journey. I pray for your safe return to your homeland.”
With those words, His Majesty glanced briefly at the Princess. The Princess approached Lady Shizuna and, with a tearful voice, said, “Please stay safe. I will never forget our conversations, and I hope you will visit us again.” It seemed that they had grown quite close in such a short time. Perhaps Lady Shizuna possessed exceptional communication skills.
Once all the necessary greetings and exchanges were completed, I received a travel permit from the Prime Minister for crossing the borders. With that, everything we needed was in place.
“Well then, Lord Soushi, I look forward to your successful completion of this task.”
“I will certainly see to it.”
After responding to His Majesty, we were prompted by Mr. Raylot to exit the room.
As I walked toward the exit, gradually releasing the tension, I spotted a man in a robe approaching from the opposite direction. His plump figure and the distinctive whiskers on his chin were familiar. He was the cardinal of the Arshuram Religion I had glimpsed the other day.
Moreover, behind him were the four members of the “Supreme Radiance.” The young Garsonia made a face of utter distaste upon seeing me, but they simply passed by without a word. Only the warrior-like woman offered a slight nod, though she still bore a weary expression, suggesting she was going through hardships.
They were likely here to propose a new deal to His Majesty regarding the Elixir. I wondered how they would react upon learning that the Queen, whom they had used as leverage, had recovered. However, I had no desire to involve myself with them, so I wasn’t particularly interested in their reactions.
More importantly, I had the task of escorting Lady Shizuna to the Oz Country. Despite being a task, visiting an unknown country would inevitably feel more like a sightseeing trip for “Soul’s Guidance.” Personally, I was looking forward to visiting the somewhat traditional Oz Country, even if troublesome events awaited us there.