Opportunity in the Game Becomes Reality Episode 242
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Opportunity in the Game Becomes Reality Episode 242
54. Preparation
Maryang asked back, wondering if she had heard correctly.
"Did I hear that right Blood Donation Department? Drawing blood?"
"Yeah, that's right."
At that, Maryang had to wear a dumbfounded expression.
Why would such a department even be needed?
Storing blood might be a necessary undertaking, but is that really something that should involve Bug, who could be called Adrian's right-hand man, Maryang, a 8th Circle Spirit Master, and someone with Grandmaster-class combat power?
"The department's stated purpose is storing and preserving blood in preparation for large-scale disasters."
Rondel had developed healing techniques centered on magic, but the level of magic commoners could access and the level the upper class could access were vastly different.
This was due to the price of magic artifacts, which rose nearly tenfold each time a Mage's status and rank increased.
In situations where blood needed replenishing due to blood loss, a 6th Circle Great Heal could solve the problem in one go, but anything below that only treated wounds it didn't replenish blood.
In other words, when treating someone with 5th-circle or lower magic, if blood loss was severe, additional measures such as transfusions or potions were necessary.
And 5th-circle or lower magic was the best medical care a commoner could receive; anything above that was the exclusive domain of the upper class.
After all, the cost of a 6th Circle spell used by a high-ranking Mage was around 20 to 30 million Lute.
And portable one-use artifacts and scrolls cost at least three times that price.
Of course, using the church would allow for cheaper and adequate treatment, but the church's medical facilities were always full, requiring long waits.
Being able to summon a high-ranking priest of the church in an emergency meant you needed the connections and means for it.
"But the stated purpose is disaster preparedness, yet from what I can see, they're planning to use it for something else."
"Something else?"
Maryang understood the gist but still couldn't make sense of the personnel selection, so Bug cautiously approached her and whispered.
"That one took a considerable amount of blood. I'm wondering if blood is needed to bloom that flower of hers."
"Huh?"
If there existed a sinister flower that grew by feeding on blood, it could never be an ordinary plant.
It would likely be a type of monster or an artificial magical plant.
And if it were a magical plant, it would almost certainly be a form of dark magic rather than conventional magic.
Because of that, Maryang swallowed dryly.
It felt like she'd gotten caught up in something big.
"Good luck. I'm out."
Maryang attempted to flee.
But her escape was thwarted when two autonomous-type Vangas emerged from Bug's shadow and seized both her arms.
"H-Hey, let go!"
Everyone in the know was aware of the autonomous-type Vanga with Master-class combat power.
It was just that all those involved had been sworn to silence by Adrian, so nothing ever leaked outside.
To break free from those two autonomous-type Vangas, she'd have to use her abilities properly, but doing so would have consequences she dreaded.
So Maryang dangled in midair, kicking her legs.
The sight was so incongruously adorable that the agents of the Future Security Department, who had been sneaking glances at the two powerhouses, couldn't help but smile fondly like doting fathers.
"Let's go over and talk to her together."
"If you want to go, go alone."
"Aw, come on, I don't like it. Something about her feels off."
"Why should I do something you don't like!"
"You've got good defensive abilities. Like, you're my shield?"
"You bastard!"
And so Bug, along with the restrained Maryang, headed toward Arc Scarlet, who was tending to flowers in the garden.
"Hi?"
A moment later, Bug, pushing Maryang forward like a shield, approached Arc Scarlet, who was pulling weeds, and struck up a conversation.
"What are these?"
At Bug's greeting, Arc Scarlet straightened her back and narrowed her brow.
She was already furious at being treated like a gardener, and now weirdos approaching her only made her more annoyed.
"I'm 'Elise Ellenburg, Count,' the right hand of Grand Duke Lawrence, commonly called Bug, and this one here is 'Iris Maryagny,' the highest elder of the Elysian Coalition."
The sight of the fox beastkin hanging in midair with both arms held by two knights, and the human woman hiding behind the fox beastkin to speak, was bizarre.
Yet, seeing the people around them hurriedly bow their heads and offer greetings at the two's strange behavior, it was clear they were truly people of high status.
Arc Scarlet could not simply ignore Bug, who had introduced herself as Adrian's close associate.
Like it or not, she was currently bound to Adrian in a master-servant relationship.
"So, what business do those esteemed ones have here?"
"Adrian said he'd tie you and us together and create something called the Blood Donation Department. You know anything about it?"
It was only then that Arc Scarlet, realizing these two absurd-looking women were people connected to her, let out a snicker.
"It means you've been placed in a sinister and dangerous department."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
At her words, Bug and Maryang shrank back and froze in place.
Rather than simply being scared by the words, it would be more accurate to say they were suppressed by the aura Arc Scarlet unconsciously emitted.
But the two soon had to tilt their heads in confusion.
"Gyaaaah!"
Because Arc Scarlet suddenly shook violently as if electrocuted, then dropped to her knees on the ground.
"Hey, you okay?"
This was due to the restriction Adrian had placed on her.
A restriction that, unless it was to protect herself or someone else, she must not threaten others without Adrian's order.
Bug and Maryang happened to have bodies that were uncharacteristically tough and uncommon, but if they had been ordinary human women, they would have fainted from Arc Scarlet's aura.
At the sudden seizure-like appearance of Arc Scarlet, Marynyang and Bug had no choice but to misunderstand.
Seeing Arc Scarlet suddenly convulsing, Maryang and Bug couldn't help but misunderstand.
"Ah, so she's someone unwell." that was what they thought.
"Now I feel bad for her."
"What are you doing, you bug bastard? Apologize."
"Sorry."
At Maryang's scolding, Bug obediently lowered her head.
"But didn't you say she's Grandmaster level?"
"Well, there's no rule that a Grandmaster can't have a disability."
"Oh?"
"They say injuries related to aura points or the Aura Road, rather than ordinary physical wounds, are hard to treat."
She only looked like a girl Arc Scarlet was a being well over seven thousand years old.
But to the two of them, calling her 'kid' had already become the default.
"Agh! Damn it! Get lost!"
At that, Arc Scarlet, freed from Adrian's restriction at last, shouted.
But since pity had already taken root in the two, they weren't frightened instead they clung to her even more.
"What are you doing? We'll help."
"Me too."
Bug began pulling weeds to mimic what she had been doing, and Maryang, finally released from the restrained autonomous-type combat doll, snatched the watering can from Arc Scarlet's hand and sprinkled the flowers.
Arc Scarlet clicked her tongue at the two's meddling.
"So what did you mean by a sinister and dangerous department?"
Bug's question slipped in again.
In the end, Arc Scarlet let out a small sigh and gestured with her chin toward the flowers.
"I'm only growing a little as a trial for now, but once the Blood Donation Department gets on track, we'll grow these in bulk."
"Huh? What's that got to do with the Blood Donation Department?"
But at Arc Scarlet's following answer, Bug and Maryang, who had been diligently pulling weeds, stopped moving.
"Because these flowers grow by drinking blood."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"These are flowers called Bloody Marys. Bloodsucking flowers that need loads of blood to grow."
Their gazes shifted to the watering can they were holding.
What was in the watering can was transparent water.
But when Arc Scarlet snapped her fingers, that transparent water turned into bright red blood.
"I made it look like water because of prying eyes around."
Only then did the two realize something was seriously wrong and hurriedly backed away.
"Huh? Where are you going?"
Soon, Bug and Maryang fled from the spot as if competing with each other.
"Heh, foolish girls."
Arc Scarlet let out a hollow laugh at the sight of them.
* * *
[Lawrence Mage Tower's market cap finally surpasses Bringham Empire's Imperial Mage Tower! The world's largest mage tower!]
[The fact that Grand Duke Lawrence is a disciple of Grand Duke Lucas is an undeniable boon. Yet some assess that comparing revenue scale with the Bringham Imperial Mage Tower, there's a bit of inflation.]
[Massive orders continue pouring into Lawrence Mage Tower. Revenue scale is expected to catch up to the Bringham Imperial Mage Tower soon.]
[Adrian El Lawrence, king of the Rainhatz Empire and now Grand Duke of the Bringham Empire, plans to establish a second Mage Tower in the Bringham Empire as well.]
Currently, two pieces of news are dominating discussions in Rondel.
One is about the establishment and launch of the Rondel Peace Organization, and the other concerns the Mage Tower I operate.
Naturally, people couldn't help but take great interest in my actions as a Mage and disciple of Manuel Lucas.
You can tell just from the market cap of Lawrence Mage Tower, which became the world's largest without doing much of anything.
Unfortunately, however, I couldn't respond to the public's interest.
The reason was that I intended to focus on Grand Duke Lucas's technology in the military sector for a while.
"So this is what a Titan is."
I took in the sight of the new weapon at the secret research facility of Lawrence Mage Tower on Ophelia Island, letting out an exclamation of admiration.
Titan.
It's a weapon currently only fielded operationally by the Bringham Empire a combat robot that a human boards and pilots from within.
"Many among the researchers question the utility of this Titan."
That's understandable.
It's only because we can drastically reduce the cost of the Force Engine that things are as they are for a typical Mage Tower, producing even a single Titan would cost no less than 500 billion.
That was equivalent to the price of ten Vanguards, so it was only natural to be skeptical whether this Titan was truly worth ten Vanguards' value.
"Moreover, unlike armor-type Vanguards, which could produce nearly equal combat power when the user's level was similar, this one has to be piloted with a controller, so combat performance varies widely depending on the pilot's sense."
"What level was it in combat evaluations?"
"There were five test pilots. The worst fighter barely won against three Vanguards, while the most adaptable pilot defeated six Vanguards."
Price: ten times a Vanguard; combat power: equivalent to three to six Vanguards.
Those were indeed figures that made one question its utility.
But I thought that was more than good enough.
If you simply compared cost-efficiency, operating only Vanguards would be better than operating a Heaven-Piercing Fortress.
However, it had already been proven through countless battles that operating Heaven-Piercing Fortresses and Vanguards together was vastly superior.
In that regard, if it could average the combat power of six Vanguards, I considered that a solid number.
It fills a middle position between Vanguards and the Heaven-Piercing Fortress.
And do you know what?
If piloting sense greatly determines combat power, wouldn't those with the skill level of Korean pro gamers perform beyond their cost?
"Mass-produce it. Don't worry about the cost produce as many as you possibly can."
"Understood."
And so, setting aside the concerns of the Mage Tower researchers, I ordered the mass production of the weapon.
"I'll be returning to the ducal palace now. Good work, everyone."
"Yes, Your Highness. We'll do our best."
For the record, the reason I'm pouring effort into weapon development and military expansion is not because I fear armed conflict with Earth nations.
After the integration of Rondel and Earth, I'm strengthening our military to prepare for the possibility that Rondel nations might reveal their ambitions.
For now, we're joining forces to prepare for the Great Disaster, but once that disaster disappears, the situation is bound to change.
After all, the current Earth is hardly an easy opponent.
So I sought to possess sufficient power to prevent the integration of the two worlds from becoming the prelude to a new war.
It's ironic to prepare for war in order to prevent war, but there's no choice.
The peace proclaimed by the powerless and the peace proclaimed by the powerful carry different weights.
That is why I prepare, to become the more powerful one.
"Oh, Adrian!"
After visiting the research facility on Ophelia Island, I strolled leisurely through the Royal Palace of the Duchy of Lawrence.
Currently, the Royal Palace of the Duchy of Lawrence serves both as the royal seat and as the headquarters of the Rondel Peace Organization.
Because of that, you could frequently see not only the vassals of the Duchy of Lawrence in the palace corridors, but also administrators from the Rainhatz Empire and the Bringham Empire.
In such a place, someone openly called my name.
Very few in the duchy would dare do such a thing.
"What? Where did you sell off the 'Your Highness' title?"
Turning around, I saw Bug running toward me in haste, with Maryang in tow.
"That's not what matters right now! Is it true? That it drinks blood..."
Realizing what she was talking about, I quickly clamped my hand over her mouth and dragged the two of them into the office like I was kidnapping them.
Once we were in a place where we could talk without outside interference, I removed my hands from the mouths of Bug and Maryang, who I had been covering.
"W-what were you thinking, growing a flower like that? And out in the open like this, no less."
The two cried out, their faces pale.
It seemed the Demon King had thoroughly scared the both of them.
I let out a small chuckle and told them about the tremendous value of the flower known as Bloody Mary.