Dream Life

August 10.

Today is the day we receive a report from our informant, Cy Furman, on the results of our intelligence gathering.

The rhino began explaining the three requests.

"First of all, the Aurelia situation. So far, they don't talk about rubbing it in the shipping industry. Well, there's been a skirmish with Periples."

Periplus is an island country west of the Tria continent. Aurelia and I are fighting for maritime hegemony, and there has long been trade sabotage by state-approved pirate ships known as private looters (privatas). So far, Aurelia, who is superior in funding and in good relations with the Caerm Empire, the largest military state in the world, has an advantage, but the difference is said to be gradually narrowing.

"We found a Chamber of Commerce that's a shipper but never tied hands with Phototheism and has a lot of credibility."

"Ideal vendor, but if you're in trouble with Light God, I refuse."

"I'm fine with that point. The name of the Chamber of Commerce is the Deodard Chamber of Commerce. It is an emerging chamber of commerce with many large ships, but it is a comprehensive trading company that does so extensively from the United Kingdom of Lax Sartoos to Gilsor. I also have a branch in Luke, and on the surface I'm talking about doing well with Light Divinity."

"What does it mean to have a branch in Luke but never hold hands with Light Divinity?

"I'm just getting into this, and the founder there hates light theism. The reason is that the founder's wife, the current president of the Chamber of Commerce's mother, suffered from incurable illness. At that time, I was told by the miracle of light divinity that he had just taken the money and his wife died without proper treatment..."

I had heard of the corruption of the priests of the Light Divinity, but Liddy and the others are flaunting the story too badly.

"... I'm the chairman of that predecessor of commerce, and he told me not to interfere with business even if that happened. Except for business and personal thoughts. However, it seems that the employees are different..."

Cy's explanation was that the previous president of the Chamber of Commerce, Loris Deodard, was a very good proprietor, that many were intoxicated around the employees of ancient ginseng, and that many had resentments against the Holy King Luke and the Light Theocracy, which tormented their predecessors.

"... and that his predecessor died recently. Without being nursed by relatives on the journey. I talked to the branch manager of a branch in this city, and this seems to be because of the Light Divinity, and usually the warm branch manager was angry."

"I mean, on the face of it, there's no trouble with the Holy Kingdom, but the understanding is that those belonging to the Chamber of Commerce, including employees, don't have good feelings for light theism?

"That's the thing. I don't know if there's anything else, but as far as I can tell here, the Deoddard Chamber of Commerce was the best. I meant the second light god, but I didn't know what the big deal was. Sure, it seems true that people called hardliners are being sent out of the country, but it doesn't mean it's the result of a power struggle," he said.

"Don't you even know who's working on it?

"Oh, there's just one thing I care about"

"What do you care?

"Somehow, I feel that the vicinity of the Archbishop is aggressive or in a hurry. There is no such thing as this..."

There's no evidence, but I guess that's what I felt in analyzing the information.

"Got it. Please continue to investigate that. I'm talking about the former chancellor, what do you say?

I'm talking about former Speaker Worgman, but I haven't been to see him yet. Cy told me exactly how long I was going to be absent, and I have visited him twice or so in anticipation of that time. Because I felt strongly that I wanted to see you after I got the information.

"As you expected, they want information on the empire's senior nobles. The Chancellor, the Duke of Ezzalington, wants to know about Lawrence Ezzalington, the young lady, of course."

"I know about the Duke, but why about Lawrencia?

"You know about the reform of the Imperial Academy."

"Oh, it seems that Master Steven Etherington is in command of the reform under way... I see. Are you involved in that?"

Although Laurencia graduated chief from the Imperial Academy of Higher Studies, she has been heard to have been appointed secretary general of the Academy without getting married. Although he tilted his neck at that time, he was reportedly lamenting his inferiority to the school in the village of Rasmore when Dan visited the Academy.

"I don't know if Lawrencia is in the process of reforming...... but even so, why does Counsellor Worgman care?

"Hear that from me in person......" he says and laughs niggly.

"I just wanted to say, that doesn't mean I've ever done my job, so let me tell you. First of all, a lot of researchers in Doctus are coming to talk about pullouts. That is also on such terms as to be incomparable with current treatment. Exactly nothing like a massive number of lecturers from the Tilia School of Magic and the three major private schools, but some other private schools seem to have been pulled out so much that they are in a crisis of survival. As an advisor, I'd like to do something to maintain my position as an academic city, but the other person is the other person. If you move poorly and your father moves you, you won't be stylish. That's what I mean."

"I see. If that's why you told me, I could have gone to see him seriously."

"That's probably not all there is to it. I can't say any more."

They're asking me something, but I guess I can't talk to them because they're either stopped by Wargman or they hit inside information.

The next day I headed to the headquarters of the Mage's Guild to meet Wargman. I could have been the only one, but Sharon's better at this stuff, so he's asking me to come with him.

"She'll see you soon," she told the receptionist of her visit.

I've been waiting for hours before, so I asked you about it.

"I'm still busy with you. Because I have a surprise appointment to see you today. But Master Lockhart is told to put you through with the highest priority. It's very rare for an advisor to do these things..."

We head to Wargman's room with that talk.

Clerk-like officials were hiccups and outs in the same size as the previous Speaker's office.

As soon as I was put through to the reception room, Wargman arrived.

"You've finally met me," he said with a grin.

"I asked you about twice, but it didn't seem to be a good time and I ended up empty-handed"

"Haven't you been aiming to shake the sky? Well, that's good. Let's get down to business."

That's all I had to say. Kick out the secretaries, me and Sharon, it's just his three.

"I know you know what I want to hear because I seem to have been doing a lot of research, but first I want you to tell me who you are about the Imperial Chancellor. Of course, it's not free. Within my authority, I intend to pay the fair price."

I tried to take the lead just because I had so much information, but I was held hostage.

"It's the same," he laughed.

"It would be sufficient if you could make it convenient to match what I offered"

"That's the same with you," he laughs bitterly at my words. I realize what I said implicitly when I think about the future based on how convenient it will be.

"Well, let's talk as much as we can…"

Be alone with the Duke of Alexis Ezarrington and tell him what he can know, including political and military insights, power relations in the House of Lords, and provide information in the form of answers to further questions from him. However, keep the word cloudy about the Emperor's successor dispute and his relationship with former Chancellor Irving Feelobisher.

"... I see. So as long as he's a prime minister, it's unlikely he'll invade the Union of Urban States..."

After that whine,

"Then I'd also like you to tell me about the Duke of Laurencia Ezzarington's warrant. You know why?

"Yeah, I understand it's because she's reforming the Imperial Academy"

"Great. Let's talk about this situation first..."

The content was pretty much the same as what I heard from the rhinos.

"... the budget difference is too great. When you get serious about the Empire, we can't beat it alone. As it stands, there is even a risk that the value of Doctus will decline as an academic city..."

Apparently, not only the Imperial Government, but also the richest Duke of Ezarrington family in the Imperial aristocracy are fully backed up, with a growing budget year after year.

"Frankly, what do you think she's after?

"You think the enrichment of education will save the future of the Empire. I just heard that the educational standards of the Higher Academy, which is said to be the highest school in the Empire, seem to be too poor."

"Sure, I heard it's inferior to your village school, but if you say that, most of my Doctus private schools are inferior, too. But is that all?"

"Lawrencia is a very intelligent person, but not one with a back table. You can think of it as just worrying about the future of the Empire."

"Then let's see how it goes. Okay, I want to move on to the next story. This is what I want to discuss most…"

That's what I say and narrow my eyes.

"Frankly, do you think there's a full-scale invasion of the Demons? Your hometown has been invaded by the undead once. Plus there are rumors that ghosts are leaping. I'm familiar with Aquila, and I'd like your opinion."

It was an unexpected question. It is true that the demonic movement is of interest to the exchangers in this world, but Doctus is far from the Aquila Mountains and is unlikely to suffer direct damage even in the event of a demonic invasion.

"It's not a rush to answer, could you please let me know what your question is intended to be"

"Simply because you care doesn't seem to convince me... when I gather information about the Lockhart family, I feel wary of invading, or comparable to, the Demons. Naturally, there is you behind it. [M] I thought you might know something terrible."

I tried not to change my face. Worgman's words were so shocking.

First of all, I am concerned about the high level of interest in the Lockhart family, or me. Even though the Lockhart family has influence over the blacksmith guild and the Kaum kingdom, it is nothing more than a Viscount family in the Caerm Empire.

I felt threatened with surprise that the Sorcerer's Guild was collecting information.

I was surprised to learn more about it when I estimated from the information I got that we were demons or that we fought the enemies of the gods. And it turns out to be a very big thing.

You wouldn't even have noticed about the enemies of the gods exactly, but you learned feelings similar to fear in that insight.

"I don't know if we're Demons, but we're fighting Demon Generals (Arc Demons) in the mountains of Aquila. I managed to defeat him, but I don't know what he was trying to do, and I don't know who he was who summoned the Demon General. My home village of Rasmore is at the foot of Aquila. The same goes for the previous undead, but isn't it natural to be vigilant against enemies coming from Aquila"

"Sure, but that's not all there is to it"

"What does that mean?

"What you are doing is often at the national level. Skillfully incorporated into the Imperial seniors, making the Lockhart family's status firm. Even for an Adventurer's Guild. You've become second-degree adventurers, but the process was a way to get suspicious. I just think the Adventurer Alliance is trying to take you in. What's more, he also reaches out to the mercenary guild via his younger brothers. Not to mention the Blacksmith Guild and the Kingdom of Kaum, but even influenced the Imperial Elders, the Adventurer Guild, and the Mercenary Guild. Isn't it normal to think it's not just the demon invasion..."

When I'm silent, Worgman keeps talking.

"And these days I've been looking into phototheism and Aurelia. Oh, I didn't hear this from Furman. He never loses his credibility. I'm just keeping an eye on him..."

Worgman apparently doesn't rely solely on rhinos for information, but uses other informants to keep an eye on rhinos from betraying them.

"... it doesn't matter. I'm more concerned about your interest in phototheism and Aurelia than that. If it's just about protecting your homeland, then neither the Holy Kingdom nor your commercial guild matters. Although he seems to be cooperating in Professor Erbain's research, the professor's research should have been the subject of ancient civilization. I don't think intellectual curiosity is the only reason I'm going all the way to Jill Sole. I thought there might be something behind it."

"I have no doubt that I am interested in Professor Erbain's research. Ancient civilizations, which were very advanced, suddenly perished. If we can examine that mystery, we will also defend our civilization today. The brewery has calmed down, and I just wish there was something I could do, along with Professor Raspade's research."

"Do you realize you're the one who's driving the world? Your actions are of interest not only to me, but to many. Well, the Light Divinity and the Holy Kingdom won't be very interested, but at least the Imperial Chancellor and Queen Katrina are watching your actions."

"I only have a purely academic interest, even if you say so. First of all, what is there in Zirsole, the southern border? Both Luke and Aurelia are simply having the degree of threat on the move examined. I'm sure your advisor understands that I don't want to travel within the Empire?

"I understand that. If you go to the Imperial Capital today, there could be unwanted disturbances. Lord Ezarrington wouldn't want you to come either. I'd be extra vigilant if I didn't just go to you, but to Mrs. Sharon."

I don't know how far you know, but I do know Sharon caused a commotion. As always, he becomes more alert when he is a person who may have no bottom.

"So we use the sea route. In order to do this, you will need information on shippers and ports of call. Commercial guilds and Light Divinity are not going to get their hands on it because if you get your hands on it badly, it's a burn."

"So you really mean help with Professor Erbain's research? I can't believe it, but let's just say I can't get my hands on commercial guilds or phototheism."

"Well, it's a request from me, but it's not a big deal"

"That's the scariest time," Worgman laughs.

"Could you please send me periodically the analysis of each country that the advisor is conducting, as far as possible? We'll take care of how much information we give you."

"You're still not an insult," Worgman laughs bitterly.

"The quality of the information threatens to make us think about our future relationship."

"I have no intention of doing that. There will also be some information, so I just want to ask for as much information as I can."

"Let's just say that. I understand the matter. I'll leave it up to Furman to coordinate with you on how to get the information."

It makes sense that I made it into an analysis of Worgman individuals, not guilds.

The primary reason I want to know what Worgman thinks personally is, but other than that, I thought I would try to have a certain influence by showing my connection with Worgman within the Mage's Guild.

I'm trying to have influence over the Mage Guild, but it doesn't make a lot of sense. To the extent that it would be a deterrent when there was a conspiracy against the Lockhart family if shown externally to be in good relationship with the Mage Guild. Well, I don't expect much from a blacksmith's guild alone on this because it's enough.

After leaving Wargman's office, I asked Sharon what Wargman thought.

"Right......" After a little thought,

"Maybe you have some other information. It was abrupt that there was talk of demonic relations, so maybe he's getting confidential information from the Kingdom of Lax or the Kingdom of Sartooth."

"I see. That's certainly possible. The Aquila Mountains are also connected to Lax and Sartooth. I bet we've invaded from the north before, and maybe something's happened lately."

A few days later, I heard the answer from the rhino.

"A herd of orgasms appeared led by the Great Ghosts on the eastern border of Lax. They managed to repel the mercenaries who happened to be amazing, but they had an operator (Tamer) who led nearly thirty orgasms."

"East of Lax... you gave up Fort Toa? That's a small number. Yang Dynasty?"

"You don't have any information around here. Well, this time it seems good because there was an amazing regiment of mercenaries by accident, but without their activism, it seems likely that Fort Cheslock, a major impulse east of Lax, would have fallen. Fonce, the king's capital, seems to be getting very soft..."

Worgman seemed to want to hear about the Demons because he had that information.