C407. Proclamation Ceremony (2)
At Tun's words, Alon Palatio was bewildered behind his expressionless face. He had never given Tun "opportunities."
'Shouldn't I be the one giving him a greeting?'
A merchant is not the primary supplier.
That is, unless Tun had already accumulated the materials he claimed to offer Alon...
...it meant he would suffer a truly enormous loss.
Alon slightly shifted his gaze toward Evan.
With a look asking "what is this guy saying?", to which Evan only shrugged minimally.
It meant: "No idea."
"I'll ask first."
"Yes!"
"Is it true that you can bring the materials according to this budget?"
"It is possible."
He asked just in case the budget was fictitious, but unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the case either.
More and more question marks floated above Alon's head, but he didn't delve further.
If the other party insisted on losing money of their own free will, there was no need to insist further. And above all, because the one losing wasn't him.
That's why:
"By when could you bring the goods?"
"If I start gathering the materials now, I could bring 20% within the first month. After that, about three or four months would be enough."
At his confident declaration, Alon was a bit surprised.
The amount of materials needed to expand a territory was no small matter.
"Is there any part where you need help?"
"Help... you say?"
"Yes. If there is anything you need, I can support you."
Tun smiled and seemed to reflect deeply.
But only for a moment.
As if he had understood something, Tun adopted a serious expression.
"I appreciate your words very much, but I would like to do it alone."
"......You won't accept help?"
"That is correct."
That was what he said.
Alon, surprised inwardly, asked once more:
"......Do you really not need it?"
"I'm fine, really."
"......Really?"
"Yes."
Tun nodded firmly.
Alon looked at Evan.
Evan looked at Alon.
"What the hell is this guy saying?"
"I don't know either."
That silent exchange passed fleetingly.
"In that case... I'm counting on you."
"Yes. I will do my best."
Alon ended up nodding with a strange taste in his mouth.
Then, when Tun stood up to adjust details with Alexion...
Alon stopped him.
"Wait."
Now that the negotiation was over, he had the feeling of having reached an unfair agreement.
Although it was the other person who insisted, it still felt weird to let him go like that.
He moved his gaze here and there, until it fixed on the small statue that was on his office desk.
It was the mini sculpture that Silly had made yesterday as a test.
He thought: "Something better would be more appropriate...", but he had nothing else in his office that seemed valuable.
"Take this."
He handed the sculpture to Tun.
Tun's eyes, which until a moment ago were brimming with confidence, opened wide.
"T-This...?"
His voice trembled slightly.
"You don't like it?"
Thinking that perhaps he had gone too far offering him that, Alon tried to withdraw it.
"N-No, it's not that!"
Tun, who had already dashed like lightning to take it, received the statue with both hands.
"I will do everything, absolutely everything possible! Thank you so much!!"
He exclaimed with a powerful voice, bowing repeatedly.
Then he left the office holding the sculpture as if it were a sacred object.
Just after Tun and Alexion left...
"My Lord."
"What is it?"
"Could you have learned hypnosis without me knowing?"
"How would I have learned that?"
"It's strange... that was as if he were hypnotized..."
Evan expressed his doubt.
'...What the hell was that?'
Alon could only tilt his head.
Meanwhile—
Tun, who was walking together with Alexion, thought:
'As expected, it was a test.'
He remembered what happened a moment ago.
The Marquis Palatio of whom so much was spoken in rumors.
The cold way he looked at him, the calm conversation, the impassive attitude.
"Phew..."
Tun, at first, had been surprised by the Marquis's reaction.
The budget he presented was, without a doubt, an amount that no merchant could offer.
It was obvious.
That price could only exist if the merchant suffered a ridiculous loss.
But even before an absolutely preposterous budget...
Marquis Palatio showed not a fragment of emotion.
As if that were the most natural thing in the world, he just confirmed and moved to the next point.
And seeing that impassive attitude, Tun thought: Perhaps bringing this budget was the Marquis's test.
The Marquis was very clear about his position.
He knew that even if a merchant like Tun suffered enormous losses, signing a contract with him would produce immensely superior benefits.
If he didn't know, he wouldn't have reacted so calmly.
Of course, some might think: "What if the Marquis simply understands nothing?"
Impossible.
In the last few years...
The Palatio House had become the largest commercial territory in Asteria.
And its owner wouldn't know anything? Impossible.
That's why, when Alon asked him if he needed help, Tun said no. And even when he insisted, he said no again.
Because he believed that was also part of the test.
The Marquis knew exactly the value he held among merchants. That is, he knew that simply agreeing to make a contract with someone was already an enormous help.
So Tun rejected it immediately. And passed the test.
And as proof... he received a sculpture.
The sculpture from Marquis Palatio.
Tun lifted it with excitement. It was already a widespread rumor: that Caliban had been saved thanks to a sculpture from the Marquis.
But receiving one directly from the Marquis himself?
Tun let out a marveled sigh.
What yesterday he could only imagine... perhaps today would become reality.
That's why—
'I will finish this job successfully, whatever the cost...!'
With burning determination, Tun hugged the sculpture. Alexion, who had seen it all, only thought:
'......Why is he feeling that... looking at a statue...?'
And he stepped a few paces away from Tun.
One week after having finished all the Marquis's urgent matters.
Alon was quite busy preparing for the Proclamation Ceremony.
When very little time remained...
"Hello, Master."
"Yutia. Do you have time?"
"It is an important matter for you. I couldn't miss it."
"Thank you for saying that."
"It is nothing."
Starting with the arrival of Yutia Bloodia, important figures from each nation began to arrive at the Palatio House.
Faced with that sudden flood, Alon wasn't too surprised.
Penia had already explained to him that this type of diplomatic presence was normal.
But there were two times when he was indeed surprised.
The first:
"Hello, Godfather."
"...Rine?"
It was Rine who had come.
'...Can you go out already?'
'No. I haven't finished the interpretation yet, so I can't use my power outside, but I can move freely.'
'Even so, thanks for coming.'
'It is my Godfather's business. Of course I had to come. Although my Godfather said he would come to see me first, but he didn't.'
'...It was a joke, right?'
'Of course, Godfather. I know you were busy. Although I had a small gift prepared for when you arrived, and I waited for it every day from the wall.'
'...I am sorry.'
Then she said it was a joke with a soft smile...
But evidently it was not a joke, so Alon started thinking about what he could gift her.
The second time he was surprised was—
Right now.
"...I didn't think both of you would come personally."
"It is nothing. It is the Marquis's business, of course I had to come."
"I say the same. How could I not come for a matter of the Marquis?"
They were Palmarian IV and Queen Torimavia of Laksas in person.
"R-Really?"
"Of course. Do you need help lately? Just say it."
"Oh, Caliban is going through difficult times, from what I understand. These things should be done by those who have margin. Marquis Palatio, if you need support, just tell me. I will help you with whatever I can."
"What are you talking about? Caliban continues to be prosperous."
"I believe the Marquis requires more things from Laksas than from Caliban."
They laughed on the outside, but inside...
Both were in a diplomatic duel trying to demonstrate who could support the Marquis better.
Alon began to feel a throb in his temple.
Penia had told him clearly:
In ceremonies like this important figures come, but no monarch comes in person.
So...
'Wouldn't it be normal for them not to come?'
'I don't know, they are very weird...'
While exchanging glances with Penia, Alon tried to steer the conversation toward light topics.
He didn't know why both monarchs had come, but it brought him nothing bad.
The chat continued calmly... until—
"Ahem."
Queen Torimavia cleared her throat softly and fixed her eyes on Alon.
"Marquis, may I ask you something?"
"What is it about?"
"Soon you will be king of a nation. Have you thought about marriage yet?"
"...Marriage?"
"Yes. The position of the partner is important."
Alon was surprised, but he understood the question.
For a monarch, marriage was practically mandatory.
If he didn't marry, it could generate internal chaos.
Alon was about to give a neutral answer, thinking it was still too soon, when—
"If you don't have an appropriate candidate, what do you think of my daughter?"
Torimavia stepped forward.
"...Pardon?"
At that moment...
The green insignia on his chest and the red brooch began to emit a faint glow.
...It was slightly, no, quite disturbing.
