第１５１７堀：手土産を求めて (Part1)
Chapter 1517: Seeking a Souvenir
Side: Fiora
The situation has escalated far beyond what I had anticipated.
I was present at the meeting alongside Yuki-sama, yet I found myself unable to utter a single word.
My position is merely that of a diplomat for a minor nation; the machinations of great powers are quite outside my expertise.
That said, while one can hardly call them identical, the events starting from Suurus, followed by the current state of Hinsua, have left me deeply concerned for my homeland and the surrounding regions.
As these thoughts weighed on me, Yuki-sama turned his gaze in my direction.
"Fiora, take Orelia and investigate whether there is any unrest among the minor nations."
"Yes. Understood."
"Understood."
"Hovis, Yayui, you two will coordinate with the intelligence units—Kirika, Steve, and the others—to gather and organize information."
"Understood!"
It seems my anxieties were transparent to Yuki-sama, as he issued orders that felt as though they were tailored to address them.
However...
"Yuki-sama. What about the intelligence units at our disposal?"
The information the two of us could gather alone would be negligible. Certainly, we could solicit opinions from the high-ranking officials of various nations, but that would be the extent of it. In times like these, the voices of the common people are just as vital.
"Ah, I’ll have Kirika and Steve send over their reports. You can also rely on Eris and Ratz for information from their respective sectors. That alright with you?"
"Yes, that is perfectly fine. I’m counting on you, Fiora."
"I’ll be sure to send over my findings as well. Please check for them later."
"Understood. Thank you very much."
With that, Orelia and I departed from the room.
I doubt Yuki-sama and the others would have minded if we stayed to listen, but since the scope was only defined as "minor nations," the territory to cover is vast. Therefore, the intelligence provided by Eris-sama regarding finances and Ratz-sama regarding logistics will be invaluable.
Though, it does mean our workload will increase accordingly.
Contemplating this, I stopped by the accounting department to request their data before exiting the government building, where we both came to a halt.
"Well, we’ve left the building, but I believe we should stop by the Adventurer’s Guild and the open-air markets gathered from each continent. What do you think, Orelia?"
"I agree that we should stop by, but there is no need for both of us to go to the same places."
"True. In that case, I shall handle the Adventurer’s Guild, and you can take the markets. How does that sound?"
"Understood. That seems appropriate. The Adventurer’s Guild is where information from various nations tends to congregate, but the security there is tight. It would be better for Fiora-sama, who holds more authority than I, to handle it."
Orelia accepted my proposal immediately.
Among the three of them, she possesses the sharpest mind. Yuki-sama likely appointed her as my assistant with that very quality in mind.
Hovis and Yayui are certainly capable, but if one were to ask who is best suited for this intelligence gathering, it would undoubtedly be Orelia. Hovis is attentive, and Yayui is... well, she is average, though she is a skilled driver.
Yes, I shall make sure to properly evaluate Yayui’s strengths another time.
"Then, let us begin our operations. What shall we do about the time?"
"Let’s see. It is already three o'clock, having finished lunch, so I believe we should return by our scheduled time of five."
"Ah, is it that late already? Two hours feels short, but we must return on time. Understood. Then, let us gather in the office at five, have a brief discussion, and call it a day. Personally, I would prefer to pull an all-nighter to gather information, but..."
"Yuki-sama would not permit such a thing."
"Indeed."
He himself is willing to research until late into the night if necessary, yet he is remarkably indulgent toward us. Orelia offered a wry smile, clearly aware of this as well.
"Hah, it is no use complaining. All we can do is gather information as quickly as possible to create an environment where Yuki-sama can rest. For now, let us focus on the task at hand."
"Yes. If we can resolve the matter of the Dark Guild quickly, we might be able to get some rest as well."
With a mutual nod, we parted ways.
As I headed toward the Adventurer’s Guild, I contacted Milly.
『Yes? Fiora, what’s the matter?』
"My apologies for interrupting your work. The meeting at the government building has concluded, and I am calling to report on it and to ask for your cooperation."
『The meeting about the progress report on Canaria, right? The one where you had lunch together?』
"Yes, that is correct. There are some things I would like to confirm with the Adventurer’s Guild, and I was hoping to discuss them with you, including the contents of the meeting."
『Got it. I’m in my office, so it’s fine to come by. Do you only need me?』
"I am not in a position to judge, but since the topic concerns the movements of minor nations following the Suurus incident..."
『Ah, in that case, you should call Rock-san and Kina as well. Leave it to me; I’ll have them gathered.』
"Thank you. Oh, is there anything you need me to pick up on my way?"
Even if it is Yuki-sama’s order, it is only natural to want to bring something when asking Milly to spare her time. It is a matter of courtesy, even among friends.
『Let’s see... Alcohol is probably a no-go, so maybe some standard sweets? We’ll be discussing headache-inducing topics anyway, so we’ll want to replenish our sugar. Something Japanese-style rather than Western pastries, if you could.』
"Understood. I shall be there in about thirty minutes."
『That’s plenty of time. I’m sure everyone will be gathered by then.』
"Then, excuse me."
After securing the appointment with Milly, I headed off to purchase sweets for everyone. With only thirty minutes, there was no time for hesitation. Naturally, there was only one place to go.
"Welcome! Will you be dining in, or is this to go?"
A beautiful woman wearing a lovely apron greeted me with a smile.
"I need your advice. The people I am meeting are Milly, Rock-den, and Kina-den. I would like to provide some Japanese sweets."
"Hmm. You, along with those three?"
"Yes."
"The subject matter... doesn't sound like the type of gathering for chatting over sweets."
"Unfortunately, while Milly and Kina-den might be fine, when it comes to Rock-den, he might find himself on a bed of needles."
"I imagine so. In that case, *manju* would be best. For the filling, standard black bean paste and sweet potato paste should do. One of each per person, so eight in total. Shall I make it twelve to be safe? If there are leftovers, they can take them home."