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Translator: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes
Meeting Disruptor
Turning off his Stealth, Hikaru stepped out into the open. Man, Lawrence’s six points on Instinct is a pain in the neck as always, he thought. Judging from how the captain glanced at him the moment he undid his Stealth, he knew Hikaru was around, but didn’t know his exact location.
The conference room stirred as soon as Hikaru—Silver Face—showed up.
「Where have you been?」Lawrence asked sharply.「The city you saved was in grave danger.」
Hikaru simply gave a shrug. He had already informed Grucel about his interaction with Koukimaru. After successfully fending off the monsters, the Dream Maker commander mobilized a search party to find the traitor. So far, though, their search had turned up nothing.
Hikaru asked Grucel to keep it a secret, so no one but the people from Dream Maker should know about it.
「Well, no matter. So how about sharing other intel you might have?」
「I don’t know much, actually.」
「There are no more giant dragon stones in this vicinity. Isn’t that right?」Lawrence asked.
The top leaders looked stunned.
「It’s not confirmed yet, but you’re most likely right.」
「What?! That wasn’t what the intel said!」Quinbland’s Vice Commander half-rose to his feet.「We formed an expedition force this large because we expected to get dragon stones!」
The other leaders nodded.
「Renji Red Orchid, Pepper Leaves, Golden Flying Insects, Wolf Grass… Do you know what these things are?」Hikaru asked.
「Where’d that come from? I have no idea what those are.」
「They’re rare materials found in the forest. They’re used to protect against infectious diseases. Some are delicacies, magic items, and also used to make special kinds of jewelry. Am I right, Adventurers Guild?」
The Adventurers Guild’s representative nodded.
「Sir Silver Face is right. They’re traded at high prices in the guild. You can find their superior versions here.」
「But those are nothing compared to dragon—」
「Wait a minute, Vice Commander.」Gerhardt, who was quiet for some time, interjected.「Once you take a dragon stone, it’s gone. But materials will grow again. Is that what you’re saying?」
「Th-That is correct, O’ wise Beastman King.」The guild representative answered, his voice trembling. He probably didn’t expect a direct exchange with the king.
Apparently, Quinbland’s vice commander finally understood what Silver Face was getting at. Not just him, but the other military personnel as well. Warriors like them tend to be not too familiar with calculating profits.
In short, Hikaru was saying that a new industry would soon rise on this continent. If the forest’s bounties were harvested with care, profits could be generated every year. The diversity of the forest would lead to new scientific advances.
The benefits were incomparable to that of the dragon stones, which you could only collect one time.
Well, I didn’t expect it to be this great either.
Hikaru did some survey work for the Adventurers Guild. When submitting his report, he was able to talk with some experts. He had done harvest commissions before, but appraising new species was best done by actual professionals. Hikaru’s report surprised them. They even went as far as saying the forest was a treasure house.
「If the route between Grand Dream and the Vireocean can be used, then we can make great profit continuously. That sounds exciting.」Lawrence said.
In fact, most of the people present had flushed cheeks, trying to calculate the immense benefit that the forest here could bring. Although they were basically counting their chickens before the eggs hatched.
「This is bullshit!」Gerhardt snarled.「I didn’t come here to make money!」
The Beastman King snapped, despite the fact that he was the one who explained the benefit they could get from the forest. Gotthold, who was sitting next to him, was at his wits’ end. After all, Einbeast came here to make money.
「I came here to fight monsters! No way am I going out there to pick weeds!」
That’s your problem. No one asked you to tag along, Hikaru thought. He stayed silent, though, as he didn’t want to add fuel to the fire.
「Fight me, Silver Face.」
「What?」
「If you win, I’ll help with the weeding. But if I win, bring me back some monsters.」
「That’s ridiculous.」
「It’s not. You’re the one who brought up that stupid idea, and now you want to stay in the sidelines?」
「There’s no need for a match.」
「What?!」
「Chill, man. Sheesh. Want me to take your throne again?」
「Why you…!」
「Oops.」Hikaru put his hand over his mouth. His tongue slipped.
Hikaru once snuck into the middle of Einbeast, and sat on the king’s throne right in front of Gerhardt’s eyes. He basically lightly mocked an enraged Gerhardt, which is why the king flared up at him like this.
Gerhardt got up, but was held down by Gotthold from behind and the members of Polar Tiger from both sides. The fact that he still moved forward little by little was a testament to his ridiculous strength.
Hikaru knew he had to play the villain here. Gerhardt was, after all, impulsive but also easy to handle. And if the discussion continued on like this, the continent would be squeezed dry. There was still a threat lurking in the northern side of the continent.
「I’ll have you fight a monster.」Hikaru said.
「Oh, really? They better be enough to satisfy me.」
「But not right away. So for now, let’s have you fight Grucel here.」
「Huh?」
「What?」
Grucel gave a start.
「If you win, I’ll fight you next.」Hikaru continued.「But if Grucel wins, you will fight according to my instructions. Either way, I’ll take you to the monster. That is, if you don’t die.」
「Ohh… Me? Die in a fight?! Interesting. I’ll beat tall, dark, and handsome over here quick and come for your ass next!」
「But Silver Face, I—」
「Grucel. You owe me a debt of gratitude. For a lot of things. Am I wrong?」
Grucel was silent. Hikaru saved Doriachi, flushed out the traitors, helped evacuate the people of Dream Maker, and gave them food in Vireocean.
「It’s more than just a debt. Very well. If you say so, I will fight.」
「Ha! Quit putting on airs!」Gerhardt said.
「But are you sure I can go all out?」Grucel asked casually.
Rage filled Gerhardt’s vicinity that even Gotthold and the others turned pale. Hikaru laughed as he watched the king becoming agitated.
The match took place immediately.
There would definitely be an uproar if spectators were allowed, so they decided to conduct the match with only the people present in the meeting. At least that was the plan. Spectators filled Dream Maker’s training grounds.
Many of them were Einbeast soldiers who admired Gerhardt, Dream Maker soldiers who revered Grucel. There were a few soldiers from different countries. Adventurers, whose ears pick up word of fights faster than anyone else, gathered as well.
「Whooooo! Lord Gerhardt!」
「I want to see Lord Gerhardt go all out!」
『Is Lord Grucel strong? I’ve never seen him fight. He was already a commander when I became a soldier.』
『Lord Grucel is adored like crazy by his subordinates, right? It’s almost terrifying.』
「How did it come to a slugfest?」
「Let’s bet!」
「That’s a good idea.」
People were hyped. A crowd of spectators had gathered around the training ground, which was just bare, hard-packed ground. The building overlooking it belonged to the military, so the Dream Maker soldiers watched from the windows there.
「How did so much people gather in such a short amount of time?!」
The commander of Bios raised his eyebrows. He couldn’t do anything about it now, however.
「Let’s get on with it already! Get ready!」
Gerhardt was carrying a huge sword that must have been three centimeters thick. The blade focused more on destructive power rather than sharpness. He held the weapon with ease.
『Silver Face set this up. He must have something in mind.』
Looking puzzled, Grucel held a long spear, his weapon of specialty. Hikaru, a.k.a. Silver Face, was sitting on the roof of a building alongside Lavia and Paula.
「Do you want a sandwich?」Hikaru asked.
「Sure.」
「Yay.」
He was on spectator mode.