Evan hurried to get ready to move.
An unexpected and sudden schedule had come up.
Because of a guild-related business, he had to head to the Southern Region at once.
Evan asked Rozi,
“If it’s the Southern Region from here, isn’t it quite far? Couldn’t we get there instantly by using the Magic Tower?”
One thing he couldn’t understand was that they would travel by carriage.
Shaking his head, Rozi answered Evan’s question.
“The Magic Transmission Device doesn’t allow travel between kingdoms unless you have a special connection. At best, some exceptions are made for the Southern Region or the Holy Kingdoms. We could use the Magic Tower in Aethelan, the nearby Holy Kingdom, from here.”
The only way from the Ruphes Kingdom to the Southern Region was through the Holy Kingdom of Aethelan.
Moreover, most of the Southern Region was already under the Holy Union of Bellium.
Going to the Southern Region was essentially traveling to the Holy Union.
It was possible because the Holy Kingdoms were bound together in a federated system.
On the other hand, the Central Region was mostly made up of neutral kingdoms, so the use of Magic Towers between kingdoms was heavily restricted.
“And that’s an important factor in forming trade routes, too. It’s also good to know the relations between kingdoms regarding Magic Tower use. Of course, unless you’re a merchant, it’s not easy.”
“Understood.”
Evan felt a bit annoyed.
The restrictions on the Magic Transmission Device.
To use the Magic Transmission Device, one had to be aware of the complicated web of interests between kingdoms.
He wished he could move all at once, but for that to happen, the Magic Tower that Darwen’s side was working on would have to be completed quickly.
“Then, Young Master, get ready to leave right away. Just bring yourself—I’ve already prepared a carriage in front of the Count’s Household.”
It seemed Rozi had been planning to leave for the Southern Region with Evan even before coming here.
Evan nodded and asked for permission.
“Yes. But before that, would it be alright if I brought one more person?”
Ever since he heard Rozi’s plan, one person came to mind.
Someone who would be a huge help in this business.
Rozi replied as if it didn’t matter.
“If you trust them enough to bring along, it’s fine.”
“Thank you. I’ll go call them.”
Evan was thinking of Ayra, whose talents were being wasted in the Count’s Household.
He thought her exceptional memory would shine in this kind of field.
A long line of carriages stretched out.
Evan was traveling by carriage to the southern part of the continent with Ayra and Rozi, while Alan and Reynold followed on horseback outside the carriage.
Their destination was Crosson, the commercial city where the headquarters of the Adela Guild was located.
It was one of the cities most emblematic of Bellium.
Rozi spoke to Evan.
“Young Master, it’ll take some time before we arrive, so it’s best to use this chance to study up.”
The moment Evan climbed into the carriage, Rozi dumped a mountain of documents on him as if passing off a bomb.
He intended for them to make use of the travel time to the Southern Region.
Of course, it seemed Rozi had prepared for this in advance, knowing things would turn out this way.
“Wow, but this is quite a lot.”
“Haha, can’t be helped. You’ll need to know all this for the guild going forward.”
“……Why me, though.”
At that moment, the orange-haired girl sitting beside him spoke up, trembling.
She also held a stack of documents just like the ones Evan had received.
Pointing to the papers, Evan explained to Ayra,
“Ayra, it’s your time to shine. You’ll be one of the key players leading the guild’s future business. Don’t worry about the reward—it’ll be more than enough, so give it your all.”
At those words, Ayra’s eyes grew wide and her hands shook.
“M-me? How could someone as lowly as me possibly…”
Rozi looked at Ayra with curiosity at Evan’s words.
“Young Master, is this girl really that remarkable? She just seems ordinary.”
At Rozi’s remark, Evan turned his gaze to Ayra.
“I’ve heard Ayra has an excellent memory. Ayra, you’ve already memorized everything in that stack of documents you’re holding, haven’t you?”
At Evan’s question, Ayra nodded weakly.
“……Yes. This is all I can really do.”
Rozi couldn’t hide his surprise at Ayra’s words.
“Truly? Not only did you read it, but memorized it?”
Ayra shrank back at Rozi’s astonished reaction.
“Y-yes… It was a list of promising guilds with Guild Currency and information on market trends…”
When Ayra recited all the contents she’d seen, Rozi looked at her in awe.
“Young Master! She’s an incredible talent!”
“Indeed. She was a child the Count’s Household had been keeping an eye on.”
Ayra’s face turned as red as a carrot at their praise.
“I-it’s really nothing…”
She spoke in a voice as quiet as a mouse.
She felt like she was being overestimated somehow.
Evan shook his head at her words.
“No. Your talent will shine even brighter from now on. So, we’ll also draft a new contract.”
Rozi spoke up again.
“Since it seems both of you have at least glanced at the materials, let’s talk about the guild we’ll be building.”
He lifted the stack of papers from beside his seat.
“First, the guild name will be Rozi Guild, after myself. Any complaints?”
He was directly stepping up, so that much didn’t matter.
In truth, Rozi was handling everything himself.
When Evan nodded lightly in agreement, Rozi continued.
“From now on, our Rozi Guild is at a critical starting point. We’ll be heading to the Adela Guild for an evaluation, but we must secure the Main Transmission Tower. Whether we can carry out the Ruphes Kingdom’s expansion project depends on it.”
“That’s what you explained earlier, right?”
“Yeah. The Main Transmission Tower handles the ecosystem of Guild Currency. Just having that guarantees more than breaking even.”
He handed over a document containing records about the Adela Guild’s transmission tower.
“As you can see, astronomical sums flow through Adela every day. Adela also takes a fixed profit from that, so it’s substantial, and as the guild naturally accumulates more funds, stable credibility is built. At the very least, it means the guild won’t go bankrupt.”
Ayra, who’d been watching, cautiously spoke.
“E-excuse me… Is it really alright? According to the documents, there are more than 100 guilds that have gone bankrupt after trying to seize the Main Transmission Tower…”
At her words, Evan’s face went blank for a moment.
He hadn’t expected the risk to be so high.
If they failed, they’d have to be prepared to lose all their money and go under.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard about this?”
Rozi laughed as he answered Evan’s question.
“It can’t be helped. There are that many competitors and forces trying to keep each other in check. And without taking on that kind of risk, we can’t build the great power we’ve planned. Otherwise, it would take a very long time.”
“Understood. But are you confident?”
“Don’t worry. We’re starting with strong backers. The word will spread fast. And the one who can reduce the odds of failure is you, Young Master.”
They intended to use Evan’s heroic reputation in the Southern Region.
Evan spoke anxiously.
“Can we really succeed with just recognition?”
“It’s more than that. I’ve heard from our own agents who investigated the South that your influence is significant. If we can just draw in the Southern Region’s capital, not just the Ruphes Kingdom—perhaps even the Central Region could come under our grasp.”
At that, Ayra nodded as she pointed to a page in the documents.
“I-it seems possible enough. Here, after the Sacred Maiden said she liked the Adela Guild’s Guild Currency because it was pretty, its value jumped five times that day.”
Evan’s expression became even more distorted.
“What? She just said that? Isn’t the currency’s value determined by the height of the Transmission Tower?”
Rozi shook his head at that.
“That’s the fundamental issue, but there are all kinds of environmental factors at play. The Sacred Maiden is the de facto leader of the Southern Region and has the people’s full support. That’s why everyone pays attention to a single word from her.”
Ayra added to his words.
“On the other hand, when the Sacred Maiden criticized the guild master of the Vallon Guild for improper conduct, the value of their Guild Currency dropped four times in a single day.”
Evan shook his head in disbelief.
“I don’t get it. How can something like that…”
He was so dumbfounded, he was at a loss for words.
And seeing Rozi invest money in such a risky market was impressive in its own way.
Rozi was apparently investing about half his own fortune.
Of course, Evan wasn’t free of concern either. Since he had some of the Countdom’s finances supporting him, failure would be a serious problem.
And whether Clyd had passed word on or not, Darwen had joined in the investment as well.
Because of this, he was feeling considerable pressure.
“Is it really going to be alright?”
Rozi confidently thumped his chest.
“It’s fine. With your renown and the backing of our families, there’s no way this business won’t succeed.”
“……Alright. I’ll do everything I can.”
Rozi eyed Evan as he spoke.
“By the way, once we get to the Adela Guild, make sure to act familiar with the Order’s representatives as much as possible.”
“Understood. If it’s that…”
“I’ve heard from someone in Adela that securing the Main Transmission Tower is said to be as difficult as plucking a star from the sky. We need your friendly relations with the Order.”
“Speaking of the Order…”
Suddenly, something flashed through Evan’s mind.
A conversation with the Sacred Maiden back in the kingdom’s capital.
‘She asked me to visit the Southern Region once.’
Apparently, she wanted to discuss the contents of the Oracle.
Evan grew curious about what such a being as a god might have said about him.
“I might need to meet with the Sacred Maiden. I have to visit Seiram.”
At that moment, Rozi’s eyes went wide.
“The Sacred Maiden? Why, what’s going on? And even if you want to see her, it’s not like just anyone can.”
“She came to see me in the kingdom’s capital. She asked me to visit her in the Southern Region. It’s about the Oracle, but it didn’t seem to be anything bad.”
Rozi became agitated.
“What! Why are you only telling me this now? That’s huge news!”
Thinking back on what Rozi had said before, this was nothing short of a massive event with enormous influence over the guild.
“…Well, that’s true.”
“Even if you don’t know about the Oracle, just make sure to leave a good impression with the Sacred Maiden! I’ll use this chance to spread word around and plant people in the South.”
With even greater excitement, Rozi pulled something out from inside his clothes.
It was a coin with a gentle silvery gleam.
A cross was engraved on the front, and a cute bird on the back.
Handing it to Evan, he explained,
“It’s the guild’s currency. I included all the designs the Sacred Maiden likes, and above all, used the most Rozi-friendly environmental material. Take that and give it to the Sacred Maiden as a gift.”
He wasn’t about to miss any chance at promotion.
Once again, Evan was left speechless by Rozi’s words.