Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Chapter 88
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Game Opportunity Becomes Reality Chapter 88
24. Holy Sword or Lightsaber (3)
Prius Republic State Council Chairman, Garcia Valen.
Naturally, as someone from President Catro Fairmont's faction, he is a public official whose disposition is not much different from other politicians of the Republic.
This time, he is close friends with Prime Minister Aust who fell from power after providing the pretext for the revolutionary army's rise; if the Prime Minister is something like the President's chief of staff and vice president who exerts influence over the entire administration, then the State Council Chairman is the head of the State Council that decides national administrative policy.
Alongside the Prime Minister and the National Defense Committee Chairman, excluding the President, he is one of the three pillars that form the Prius Republic government, so he can be called the most powerful of the powerful in the Republic.
He holds no Title, but since his position is equivalent to an Imperial Duke, it rankled me that he used 'Sia Rin' Princess as bait to ask for a meeting with me.
'Well, that's only natural the Prius Republic government has far too much to feel guilty about.'
Not to mention the fake Opportunity Seeker Lewis Fairmont, but they've also been secretly supporting the Republic's revolutionary army.
Last time, they even helped Young Lady Michelle Otis and Count Acres, who had connected to Lewis Fairmont's fake Opportunity believing it was real and copied data from it, to escape.
Because of that, I wanted to avoid getting entangled with the Republic government whenever possible.
I took Garcia State Council Chairman's outstretched hand for a handshake and frankly expressed my reluctance.
"I was looking forward to a date with the beautiful Princess Sia, but an unexpected intruder has appeared."
"Haha, is that so?"
At that, Garcia State Council Chairman's eyebrow twitched, but I wasn't the least bit intimidated.
The Prius Republic belongs to the group of nations described as the world's four great powers, or four great empires, but it is not the Bringham Empire.
Our Kingdom of Rhinehearts is a great power that closely trails the Empire.
It is a nation powerful enough to treat the Croysen Empire as a hostile state and even wage wars against it on a regular basis.
I had no reason to lose confidence even when facing a Duke of the Croysen Empire, so there was absolutely no need to be daunted by a public official with a fixed term of office, no matter how Duke-equivalent his position might be.
After all, I too was a power holder with nothing to be ashamed of.
"I thought it was a choice for a discreet approach, but it seems it caused you displeasure. I offer my formal apologies."
Princess Sia Rin was flustered by my sharp reaction, but she looked startled when her Sponsor and the State Council Chairman of the Prius Republic, which holds enormous influence over the Triton Continent, bowed his head right away.
The Roberto Kingdom she belongs to is called the hegemon of the Triton Continent.
But if the hegemon among the six nations of the Triton Continent were to cross over to our Defteron Continent, it would become a mediocre nation competing for last place.
The six nations of the Triton Continent all have nothing but large populations, with national strength being roughly on par, and some of them lack their own Vanguard and Skyship production facilities, relying on imports.
Perhaps even if the six nations of the Triton Continent joined forces, they'd only be slightly better than our Kingdom of Rhinehearts?
Perhaps that was why she appeared to be gauging the mood of the powerful Prius Republic's authority figure.
'So he came to ask a favor.'
If he had something to pressure me with, he wouldn't have shown such an attitude.
Having roughly inferred his purpose from Garcia State Council Chairman's demeanor, I let out a silent sigh of relief inwardly, without showing it outwardly.
"You must be busy these days with the war against the Bringham Empire what business brings you to me?"
As I brought the aperitif wine to my lips and asked, he put on a friendly, cunning smile like a snake and deflected for a moment.
"How about we discuss things slowly over the meal? There's still plenty of time."
Having promised to dine with Princess Sia Rin meant he had set aside at least three hours.
That's why, without even asking my opinion, he says there's plenty of time.
Now that it's come to this, I can't just get up from my seat because I don't like him, so I nodded with a resigned expression.
A moment later, the appetizer was served.
A dish of crab meat tossed with herbs, along with a cool, tangy soup made from fermented pickled vegetables, came out together.
"Oh?"
I took the food to my mouth without much thought and had to put on a surprised expression, because the food from the Kingdom of Roberto, which isn't very famous on the Defteron Continent, had a very strong Korean feel to it.
The crab meat salad seasoned with salt, garlic, and sesame oil was like that too, and the aged pickled vegetable broth was so similar to dongchimi.
"My, this is really delicious."
Even the chili paste-based braised fish that came next, the porridge made by boiling clams and rice thoroughly, and the dish of wrapping pickled vegetables in boiled meat I was so lost in the taste of home found in this world that I was busy savoring every bite.
And when the main dishes came out galbi-jjim and something with a 99% sync rate with gejang I couldn't help but let out an exclamation.
"Heh heh!"
At that, Princess Sia Rin covered her mouth with her wide sleeve and let out a laugh, and only then did I come to my senses belatedly, able to see State Council Chairman Garcia staring with a blank expression.
Princess Sia Rin's attire, which bore an uncanny resemblance to Goryeo-era hanbok, had already felt familiar, but who would have thought the food would be Korean too.
Thanks to that, I had momentarily forgotten State Council Chairman Garcia's presence.
"I apologize. The food of the Kingdom of Roberto, which I've tried for the first time, suits my palate far too well..."
"Haha, it's fine. As the host, I'm merely pleased."
Despite saying that, he had a look on his face like 'What the hell is this guy?'
I placed one piece of galbi and one piece of gejang onto Arcia's plate as I spoke.
"Now then, shouldn't I be allowed to hear why this seat was arranged? If I miss the timing, I'm afraid I'll just go back to focusing on eating."
Princess Sia Rin seemed quite pleased to see me genuinely enjoying my homeland's food, grinning softly, until State Council Chairman Garcia's cough brought her back to her senses and she glanced at him cautiously.
"In truth, something very unfavorable is happening in our Republic."
"I'd imagine so. You're at war with none other than the Bringham Empire, after all."
"No, it's more than that it's a domestic issue."
He's talking like a man with a full belly.
In a situation where the Bringham Empire should be the top priority and still not get enough attention, what worse domestic issue could there possibly be?
"In truth, we've been racking our brains lately over the activities of an anti-government group calling itself the Revolutionary Army."
Could it be that the Revolutionary Army, which threatens their positions, is a bigger problem to them than the Bringham Empire, which threatens the nation?
I nodded as if listening attentively, but my expression couldn't have been less agreeable.
"Surprisingly, this anti-government group has been producing Vanguard equipment on its own, would you believe it?"
What, judging by the atmosphere, I thought this wasn't a seat to interrogate me was I mistaken?
"But we've discovered that their equipment shares no small number of commonalities with the core of the Panther 1.0 currently being newly produced at the Lawrence Mage Tower."
"That means you've taken apart our Mage Tower's Force equipment."
"My apologies. But I believe intelligence organizations around the world have done such things knowingly or unknowingly."
In truth, this is nothing new.
If another country develops a new weapon, our nation's intelligence agency would do the same thing too.
"Regrettably, whatever commonalities there may be between the Revolutionary Army's equipment and our Mage Tower's equipment, they are not the same item."
But in the Force Core, the most crucial parts are made so that without the Mage Tower's special equipment, they're encrypted and cannot be disassembled.
This encryption program was created by Grand Duke Lucas, so even decades later, it has been impossible for any Mage Tower to arbitrarily disassemble it without equipment made by inputting specific values.
They might have somehow found superficial similarities, but they wouldn't have properly verified the core's most essential technology layer.
"It's not that I came here specifically suspecting Marquis Lawrence."
At my denial, he didn't press further but instead conceded.
So after all, he hadn't approached me because he'd noticed I sold the technology to the Revolutionary Army.
"But wouldn't you still be able to make a claim?"
"A claim, you say?"
"That they stole Marquis Lawrence's technology."
They hadn't come to find the source of the Vanguard equipment the Revolutionary Army had started producing.
They had come to get their hands on a card to make trouble for the Revolutionary Army.
"In other words, you want me to file an accusation that the group called the Republic's Revolutionary Army stole my technology?"
"Indeed. Our Republic is currently at war with the Bringham Empire. Yet that immoral group is shaking the Republic from within even in this time of crisis."
For people with many skeletons in their closet, the sense of crisis they feel toward the Revolutionary Army which rises up by inciting the people must be immense.
That's why they want to frame them, to trample on the Justification/Cause of the Revolutionary Army, which champions justice.
What they want is a scandal.
A scandal to break the people's trust in the Revolutionary Army.
'Good grief...'
They're a lot who are quite clever when it comes to underhanded schemes.
"If I were to hear you out, what would I get in return?"
"Haha! We intend to pay a sum that won't leave you disappointed. In the name of the Republic's Army, we will purchase 1,000 units of Force equipment from Lawrence Mage Tower. And at 10% above the regular retail price, at that."
"Well now, that's a tempting offer."
He seems to think I've already taken the bait.
I suppose offering to buy 1,000 Vanguards at 10% above retail means they're essentially gifting me the cost of about 100 units.
This was blatant bribery.
But I don't think they'll hand it over so readily.
As much as they're paying a premium, they'll certainly expect a kickback in return.
Of course, since this is a deal bound by mutual interests, the kickback demand will be quite low but for these people, kickbacks are so routine that the rate may be low, yet it won't be absent entirely.
'I recall the average kickback rate is about 5% of the settlement amount, right? Then they'll likely demand about 2 3% from me.'
Even though they share the title of the same Kingdom, when a mere noble house not even the royal family was offered a massive deal exceeding 50 trillion, surprise and bewilderment colored Princess Sia Rin's expression.
"What do you think, Princess?"
"Pardon?"
Princess Sia Rin, who hadn't expected me to suddenly ask her a question in the middle of the deal talk with State Council Chairman Garsia, tilted her head with a dazed expression.
"Do you think I should accept this offer, Princess?"
And at the repeated question, she was left speechless.
"I'm wondering whether it's right to strike a blow at the Revolutionary Army for the sake of the politicians of the Prius Republic."
She must know how the citizens of the Prius Republic are living.
And why the Revolutionary Army came to exist in the first place.
At my questioning tone, as if testing her, she stared at me for a moment, then showed a thoughtful look before letting out a small sigh and shaking her head.
"I believe this is not a matter I dare to meddle in."
"Princess?"
Princess Sia Rin avoided answering.
At that, I smiled, and State Council Chairman Garsia frowned.
She dodged the question.
But dodging the question itself could be interpreted as her disapproving of this deal.
After all, the government of the Prius Republic is her steadfast Sponsor.
It would have been only natural for her to side with him.
"However, as one who represents the nation, I support the choice of the Prius Republic's government."
Yet in the end, she voiced her support for the Republic's government, and at that, State Council Chairman Garsia's expression softened considerably.
'Quite a skillful way to wrap it up.'
She took the Republic's side by invoking the nation's position, but never once gave her personal opinion.
Seeing her like that, I couldn't help but feel a bitter pang as it mirrored my old home on Earth, always treading carefully around the great powers but my estimation of Princess Sia Rin rose all the more.
"You'll accept my offer, of course?"
State Council Chairman Garsia had an air of, 'There's no need to say anything more, is there?'
Staring at him, I nodded and smiled.
But the answer that followed was not what he expected.
"What's so certain about that?"
"What?"
"I'll decline that offer."
-BANG!
"What is the meaning of this!?"
At the unexpected refusal, he lost his composure in a way unbefitting a politician.
He slammed his hand on the table, splattering food broth everywhere.
But I snapped my fingers in time to form a barrier, so my clothes weren't soiled.
"You'll need to properly convince me."
If I'm not convinced, is he going to threaten me or something?
I let out a snicker and pointed at his chair with my finger.
Then, forced by magic, he was seated back in his chair, his face growing even redder.
"You seem to be mistaken. This is the Defteron Continent."
"What do you mean?"
"Why would you think I'd do something that harms the Bringham Empire? In this war, I'm rooting for the Bringham Empire, which belongs to the same continent. That means I have no reason to resolve the internal problems of the Prius Republic that would work in the Bringham Empire's favor."
When I stated the simple reason, his complexion quickly drained and embarrassment crept onto his face.
And as if he'd never been angry, he continued speaking calmly, trying to persuade me.
"Isn't that just a matter between other nations anyway? Wouldn't it be better for Marquis Lawrence to consider the profits you stand to gain?"
"In the long term, offending the Bringham Empire seems like the greater loss."
He probably never expected me to push back like this.
Faced with the all-purpose shield that is the Bringham Empire, he ultimately lost his words.
I leisurely took a bite of the ribs and washed it down with wine.
"And shouldn't domestic issues be handled by the government itself? If the people are lending their ears to impure factions, there must be a reason for it. I think that if you stepped in to resolve it, it would be a simple fix."
"...."
It was the right argument, but if that were possible, they wouldn't have planned something like this in the first place.
After all, corruption in the current Republic government was something that couldn't be separated no matter how hard one tried.
"Oh? You're leaving?"
Garsia, the State Council Chairman who had greeted me so triumphantly, rose from his seat and left the restaurant without looking back.
"What a rude person."
He even left behind his companion, Princess Sia Rin.
When I said that while looking at Princess Sia Rin, she gave me an awkward smile.
"Since things have turned out this way, how about we enjoy ourselves alone, without the meddler?"
She seemed to be deliberating whether she should rise from her seat to follow her Sponsor, but soon, perhaps thinking it was discourteous to stand up first while leaving the invited guest seated, she accepted my offer with a look of resignation.
Only after Garsia, the State Council Chairman, disappeared were we finally able to enjoy the meal with peace of mind.
* * *
And that evening.
I posted a single entry on my online diary (SNS).
[I had an appointment to meet Princess Sia Rin today, but out of nowhere, the Republic's State Council Chairman Garsia showed up.]
#Baseless Demands #This Is Exactly a Conspiracy #The Bringham Empire Is Scary
My humble post spread across the world through my massive following of 20 million.
Naturally, the Prius Republic was thrown into chaos, and the royal family of our Kingdom of Rhinehearts was thrown into chaos as well.