第１７６２堀：寒村とパーティーについて (Part2)
"Indeed. It seems that was included as well."
"I see."
So, the sheer scale of that sum was bolstered by embezzled funds. For Litea, this was a way to launder the money—or perhaps, in their eyes, to sanctify it.
"Well, it seems they didn't know the exact source of the funds, but this incident made it clear that a portion of it originated from Vinoshia."
"In a sense, that means it’s already been dealt with."
"Exactly. But to return to the main point: Litea intends to tighten their grip on internal affairs, and they’ve arranged to discuss this with the sects on other continents as well. After all, it would be unnatural for them to gather if not for an event like the completion party."
"True enough. I suppose this party turned out to be quite convenient for them."
"Precisely."
For us, the completion party at Glass Port Town was a multifaceted affair involving the pursuit of the dark guild, the deployment of naval forces, and the investigation of sea monsters. For the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance, however, it also served as a venue to establish methods for maritime operations.
Behind the scenes, it was also meant to facilitate consultations between the Kingdom of Usano and the Kingdom of Aue, report on the discovery of the New Continent, and discuss future plans. It was hardly strange for religious matters to be woven into such a summit.
Or rather...
"I’m sure you realize that after seeing the completion of this port town, other nations will begin drafting their own construction plans. We’ve already received requests to reserve conference rooms in advance."
"We haven't even sent out the party invitations yet, have we?"
"They can figure that out just by showing up here and gathering intelligence. You haven't exactly been hiding the progress of Glass Port Town from the public, have you?"
"Ah, I suppose you're right. We’ve been putting out magazines through Mikos and soliciting immigration applications via the Glass Port Town pamphlets, so they can piece it together from that."
We only kept the military port under a news blackout; everything else was open to the public.
"In that sense, we can't really drag our feet. Besides, since the Adventurer’s Guild has already mobilized for that backwater village, it would be best for us to move in tandem."
"That’s fair. Understood. I’ll get back to drafting the invitations."
Honestly, while Weed handles everything electronically via computers, other nations still rely on handwritten letters. Thanks to that, we can never truly let go of paper documentation. The storage space required for these files grows every year.
Naturally, the official invitations I issue must be archived, and letters from royalty of that caliber must be kept permanently. It’s a genuine headache.
"I’ll leave it to you. Now, about the New Continent—I heard you managed to secure land on the southern side?"
"Well, no—it’s more that I received permission, or rather, encouragement from the Aue side. Unfortunately, they haven't touched anything south of the forest. They haven't laid any claim to the land, so it’s essentially a free-for-all for whoever decides to develop it."
"...That’s a delicate situation. If there were established ownership, that would be a hassle in its own right..."
"It’s a double-edged sword either way. There’s a chance someone might emerge claiming ownership of that southern territory, or perhaps no one will. I suppose we should just be grateful that we have the autonomy to handle it as Weed sees fit."
Either way, there are pros and cons. For now, we have to operate under the assumption that it’s a promising location. It’s not as if Aue is simply abandoning it, after all.
"True. That part is fine. Now, who is going to manage the base—the fort, I mean? You and Labyris were already stretched thin, weren't you?"
"I’ve got a deputy, at least. Reye stepped up, saying she’d handle the maintenance of the fort and the orders for the troops."
"Reye? That’s unexpected. She’s the quiet type, isn't she?"
"Well, she’s significantly older than Seraria, you know. As far as experience as a dungeon master goes, she’s more seasoned than I am."
"If she hasn't produced results, she’s still a fledgling. Well, if you vouch for her, I have no objections. But does Deryu know about this?"
"I haven't told her. If it’s to be conveyed, it’s better if Reye does it herself."
"That’s true. And as for the rest..."
And so, the meeting with Seraria continued. Yuki has a mountain of tasks piling up. There’s nothing to do but tackle them one by one, but, well—it’s quite the ordeal.