第１４８６堀：オークション参加計画状況 (Part1)
**Chapter 1486: Auction Participation Planning Status**
**Side: Yuki**
After discussing the matter with Taiki and Taizo, we finalized the rumors to be circulated at the auction venue.
I had already broached the subject with our allies, and they were in full agreement regarding driving up the price of the former princess.
As for the capital to be consumed, while the sum is indeed substantial, it can be considered a bargain when viewed as a countermeasure against the Dark Guilds and other Dungeon Masters.
Of course, if we had that budget, we could hire more personnel and conduct a broader investigation, but there is no guarantee that such an approach would yield the answers we seek.
Incidentally, the International Investigation Team—what they might call an "Interpol" back on Earth—is currently operational, but their scope is not limited to the Rogari Dark Guilds.
The world is home to many hostile organizations, and each requires appropriate investigation.
Naturally, they are also gathering intelligence on the mana depletion phenomenon, so we cannot simply concentrate all their forces solely on the Dark Guilds.
That is precisely why we decided to circulate these rumors: to inflate the value of the former princess and lure the Dark Guilds into our trap.
Of course, as per the intelligence provided by Lowell, we could also track the Dark Guilds through the connections gained by infiltrating the non-aligned Ewai Kingdom.
"That part is fine. Well, it’s as underhanded as always, but in the end, the ones heading out from Weed will be you, me, and..."
Seraria, having listened to my explanation while massaging her brow, asked who would be joining us.
"Right. Setting aside Orelia and the others for security... I’d like Ratz and Eris to come along..."
"I agree. Those two are necessary. And for the last one... shall we bring Samantha?"
Seraria says this while casting a glance toward Samantha.
Samantha is exceptionally capable when it comes to diplomatic affairs.
As the daughter of a Duke, she handles both superiors and subordinates with practiced ease.
It is a testament to how much information she keeps stored in her head.
However...
"No, I must decline. There are already representatives from Roday. For the selection, we should exclude diplomats, especially those who hail from other nations."
"““Ah...””"
Everyone is immediately convinced by her refusal.
Indeed, many people from allied nations will be gathering for this event.
They are, after all, citizens of their respective countries.
Well, there may be those with mixed blood, but the country they were born and raised in is still their primary affiliation.
If that weren't the case, they would be subject to all sorts of suspicion.
Well, it would be unavoidable if there were a pressing reason, but Weed is different.
"In that case... Milly is out of the question, then."
"That’s right. My ties to the Adventurer Guild are too strong, and since the headquarters are in Litea, they’ve already announced that the Adventurer Guild will be participating under Litea’s quota."
Milly says, sounding disappointed.
Because we are making such a spectacle of this, the Adventurer Guild is participating under the slot provided by Litea.
Therefore, it is best to avoid having the Adventurer District Representative, Milly, participate directly.
"As the Queen of Weed, you as my consort, Eris for finance, and Ratz for logistics—that should be sufficient for our entourage. Should we force someone else to join for the experience, or leave the spot open? What do you think?"
"That’s a tough one. It’s certainly enough as a team. Lia, do you want to join?"
"Eh? Me? I’m fine just acting as security. Besides, at the dinners and social gatherings afterward, people will inevitably bring up those kinds of topics, right?"
"That is certainly true."
"If I go, I might give a clumsy answer and end up making some strange promise, so I’ll pass."
She refuses without hesitation.
No one wants to be dragged into those kinds of negotiations.
And if she were forced to join and ended up making a binding promise, she would have to deal with the fallout, which would indeed be a headache.
"Then, shall we leave the spot open?"
"Yes, let’s."
I thought we had reached a consensus that there was no need to force anyone into the role, but...
"Excuse me, would it be acceptable if I participated?"
The one who raised her hand, surprisingly, was Rurua.
"No, Rurua, wouldn't it be difficult given your ties to Litea?"
Rurua holds the position of a diplomat, but she is also the former head of Litea—the Saintess—and the current authority and leader of medicine within our alliance.
Her influence is far greater than Samantha’s.
I assume she realizes that...
"I understand that, but this is an auction in a non-aligned territory. We do not know how the slaves are being treated, and there is a possibility they may carry strange pathogens. Therefore, I wish to represent the alliance to..."
"Ah, I see. That works. What do you think?"
"It works. If anything, it provides peace of mind. That way, no one can claim that Weed or Litea is showing favoritism. It also serves as a guarantee for the health of the slaves."
As Seraria says, the fact that Rurua has performed a medical examination is something that even non-aligned nations would trust.
After all, within the Rogari continent, she is known as the Saintess.
Her name carries far more weight than any healer from some random clinic.
"Then, Rurua will accompany us. I’ll notify the auction organizers."
"Please do. Now, with the members decided, what is the status of the construction and the area around the auction venue?"
"According to Steve’s report, everything is proceeding without issue. Actually, the data should have been sent over here already."
I say this and call up the data for the facility being built in the town of Wean via *Dig-Dig-Woof*.
Since the town of Wean is already under the dungeon's control, I can view the information immediately.
As we all look at the data...
"It’s finished, isn’t it~"
"Indeed."
As Ratz and Eris say, the construction appears to be complete.
The buildings are all in place, and the defensive walls are properly installed.
"I see. It seems there will be no issues with our accommodations. Now, what about the area near the auction venue?"
"Wait a moment."
I shift the map from our lodging to the town center, displaying the area centered on the auction venue.
There is nothing particularly unusual shown there.
It is simply a theater facing the main street of the commercial district.
"It’s not that there are no surrounding buildings, but there are few that are directly adjacent."
"Looking at it, since it’s on the corner of the main street, there are only two adjacent buildings. There is also a large inn across the way. How are the negotiations with the owners of these buildings going?"
"Lowell went out of her way to tell them to clear out for the three days surrounding the auction. As for the inn, we’ve arranged for it to accept the non-aligned nations participating in the auction."
As I say this, Ratz opens her mouth to supplement the explanation.
"Regarding the buildings on either side of the theater, they are shops, so we have agreed to pay them the equivalent of ten days' worth of sales. It seems they want to pitch their own goods, but the details haven't been finalized yet."
"Well, if they manage to catch the eye of royalty from some country, it could be a lucrative deal. Though, conversely, one wrong step and they could fall from grace. They certainly have guts."