第１５６０堀：慈善事業の裏 (Part1)
Chapter 1560: Behind the Charity
Side: Agil
Kaya presented us with a list of the crops they intend to cultivate.
Once the explanation concluded, documents were distributed to each of us. The implication was clear: we were to return to our respective homelands, deliver these papers, and explain the project. While information would undoubtedly circulate through Weed’s own channels, it was vital that our nations heard the details directly from us. The agricultural development taking place here was, by any measure, shattering conventional wisdom.
Of course, if we had access to the farming machinery from Yuki’s home world, Earth, the results would be even more staggering. Yet, the true significance of this endeavor lay in the fact that it could be achieved solely through the mastery of local techniques.
Within the If Continent, we had already been coordinating—via Kaya and Weed—on which crops to cultivate and export, as this had become a vital source of revenue. Consequently, it was only natural that the nations of the If Continent had ceased their warring to focus their efforts on agricultural development.
In fact, data gathered over the past few years revealed that because the If Continent suffered relatively little damage from monsters, it was steadily establishing itself as the breadbasket of our alliance. The Rogari Continent, by contrast, was still teeming with monsters; while they managed to secure safety through subjugation, the constant mobilization of soldiers and adventurers made it difficult to expand farmland easily.
Then there was the Haiden region. While they, too, were free from monster threats, they remained unsettled due to the aftermath of the conflicts involving the Haiden Kingdom, the Findar Empire, and the Haire Church. Furthermore, Weed’s influence had yet to fully permeate nations like the Seasifo Kingdom, meaning agricultural reform there would take time.
Naturally, this wasn't just a one-way street where we forced our produce onto other continents. We were actively purchasing monster-derived materials, enchanted goods, and magic-imbued tools from the Rogari Continent, and engaging in the trade of seafood with the Haiden region.
And, of course, we continued to produce crops unique to each continent. We had to—if something were to happen to the If Continent, it could trigger a famine. Thus, every nation maintained its own production and trade networks. It was simply that the If Continent was on a much larger scale.
Returning to the topic at hand, I looked over the crops Kaya planned to introduce to the former royal capital of Vinosia in Hinsa...
"Wheat as the staple, ten types of vegetables, two fields for medicinal herbs, and two for spices, is it?"
As I read the list aloud, Yuki continued.
"Well, that’s reasonable. They’ll likely consume most of the wheat and vegetables themselves. The medicinal herbs and spices are the real commodities for trade. Both are primarily used in their dried forms, after all."
Indeed, as Yuki noted, the items intended for sale weren't fresh vegetables—which relied on speed—but rather goods that were processed, or in this case, dried. While there were limits to how much one could sell in terms of herbs and spices, they possessed a shelf life far superior to fresh produce. Specifically, if dried and stored correctly, they would easily last two or three years. This meant they could be transported and sold via overland routes from the Hinsa Kingdom without needing to rely on the Gates.
However, this alone wouldn't be enough to change the status quo.
"That’s true. But I assume the plan is to use this as a springboard to spread these methods throughout all of Hinsa, right?"
I directed my gaze toward Kaya.
She was right; two fields of herbs and two of spices wouldn't be enough to enrich Hinsa’s treasury. More to the point, I doubted it would even cover the necessary expenses for the people of this royal capital, let alone provide them with a living.
In other words, the true purpose of this project was...
"...That is the hope. But for now, the priority is to see if this place can get back on its feet. The ideal scenario is that this method succeeds here and then spreads outward."
Kaya watched as John’s subordinates worked the fields.
The primary objective of this mission was, of course, to capture the members of the Dark Guild. But this was also a strategic move to handle the non-aligned nations. Simply capturing or subjugating the Dark Guild might demonstrate our military might, but that was all it would achieve.
If these nations realized that they could enrich their countries simply by receiving our technical expertise—even if they didn't join the alliance—the resistance toward joining would surely diminish. If that happened, the alliance would grow stronger, and more non-aligned nations would likely become cooperative.
As for the Dark Guild, even if they escaped here or had other branches elsewhere, it would become incredibly difficult for them to regain their strength. They would have no choice but to continue their activities in the shadows, eking out a meager existence. By then, they would likely have abandoned the name "Dark Guild" entirely.
Yes, this was the conclusion reached after consulting with Seraria and the others. And, above all, the most terrifying aspect of this strategy was...
"That’s why, to ensure we don't fail, I want Sister Kunosia and the others to encourage the refugees in this capital to help with the farm work. I’ve already told them we won't be here forever. And Sister Kunosia’s place of work is, first and foremost, the church. While they are acting as representatives, this is not a field belonging to Litea; it is a field belonging to Hinsa. In other words, the people who live here are the ones who must maintain it."
We were maintaining a stance of cooperation, aid, and support, intending to peel away even the members of the Dark Guild. How? By hiring them as farmers to cultivate the land.
I had anticipated from the start that the other side—the Dark Guild—would attempt to sabotage us. So, what was our countermeasure?
If they turned hostile, we would crush them. But that was the final resort. Ideally, we would maneuver in such a way that they had no room to act.
Why such a lenient approach? Because, while half of the population in this former royal capital of Vinosia consisted of Dark Guild members, those members were not necessarily criminals.
I was shocked when I first heard it. I never imagined it would go this far. Yuki had told me that not every member of a Dark Guild was a skilled assassin, and that some were merely low-level personnel used for gathering information, but I hadn't expected the numbers to be this high.
When I asked Yuki why they remained members of the Dark Guild, he replied...
"Ah, I hate to say it, but even the Dark Guild provides jobs."
"???"
I didn't understand at all.
"Ah, this is a difficult one to explain. If you work, you get money, and you get food. You understand that, right?"
We nodded in response. It was a fundamental truth. That was how labor functioned.
"Likely, the people remaining in this former capital—the ones who became members—cooperated just to put food on the table. They aren't trying to harm us. They’re just gathering information. And by identifying themselves as members, they draw our attention. It’s not a lie that they are members, but they don't know any important information. There are so many of them. What would you do in a normal situation?"
I understood then.