Chapter 18

The proposal caught Tasuku completely off guard. The reason was obvious.

Tasuku hadn't been involved in the development of the LP Farming Method in the slightest.

"I’m not sure I follow. I haven't had anything to do with this development..."

"Until now, perhaps. But as we move forward with the expansion of the LP Farming Method, I will be using the Sumeragi name as its public face."

At those words, Tasuku recalled a detail from Yuno’s reports: “His behavior is different in front of his parents.”

He had originally assumed it was merely the typical difference between how one treats family versus outsiders, but a new possibility crossed his mind.

Harold was hiding his true capabilities from his parents. Had they known how truly competent Harold was, they surely would have used his brilliance as leverage during the engagement negotiations.

Furthermore, Harold had previously hinted at the decline of House Stokes in a letter. If that were the case...

"Harold-kun, do you believe it would be disadvantageous for your parents to learn of the LP Farming Method?"

"It seems you understand my parents’ true nature well enough."

If they learned of the LP Farming Method, the situation would almost certainly devolve into exactly what Tasuku feared. Harold was convinced of it. That was why he had come to seek cooperation from House Sumeragi.

"To put it simply, I lack pawns. If I increase the number of experimental farmers any further, I won't be able to keep them under proper surveillance."

"I see."

Tasuku finally understood Harold’s intent.

He wanted to expand this venture without his parents' knowledge, but he had reached the limits of what he could manage alone. A method this revolutionary required airtight management to prevent information leaks. He had brought the proposal to House Sumeragi because he lacked the manpower to maintain that security.

"But why come to me? With a discovery this lucrative, I imagine anyone would jump at the invitation."

"Of those who met my criteria, you were simply the most manageable opponent."

It was a bluff. If Tasuku refused him, Harold—who had no other connections—would be driven into a corner. However, Harold’s advantage lay in his complete grasp of the man’s character and weaknesses.

"If you refuse, I’ll simply move on to my second or third candidates. Though I doubt that will be necessary."

"You’re that certain I’ll accept?"

"Yes. You have no other choice."

His confidence was absolute. Tasuku wondered what could possibly drive a boy to such heights of certainty. He didn't seem like the type to take a strong stance without evidence; rather, he seemed like the type to logically seal off every one of his opponent's exits beforehand.

(Wait, seal off my exits? No... surely not!)

A cold, unpleasant sweat broke out on Tasuku's brow.

A sudden flash of insight connected the scattered pieces of the puzzle, forming a single, terrifying answer. The moment he reached that conclusion, a chill ran down his spine.

"Have you finally realized?"

The voice struck Tasuku’s ears with the chilling sharpness of a reaper’s scythe.

"...Did you foresee all of this from the very beginning?"

"And if I did? Does that change your answer?"

Tasuku lowered his gaze. Just as Harold said, the answer remained the same. Whether this was planned or not, with Erika’s future placed on the scales, he had no choice but to agree.

"So this is the 'provision of industrial technology' you mentioned in your letter..." Tasuku muttered, his shoulders slumping.

It all came back to the annulment of Erika's engagement. His beloved daughter had accepted a restricted future out of a sense of duty, not desire. In the letter Harold had sent previously, he had offered to annul the engagement himself.

The conditions were to synthesize and administer the resistance medicine to save the people, to establish a line of prevention based on the predicted spread of the miasma, and to use the provided industrial technology to restore their economic power.

At the time, Tasuku had dismissed it as the ramblings of a child or the honeyed words of some shadow puppet-master.

But if this boy had written every word of that letter himself, the situation was entirely different. Not as the head of a house, but as a father, those conditions were far too tempting to ignore. The fact that Harold’s proposal lacked any obvious downsides only pushed him further toward the decision.

The mature writing style, so ill-suited for a child, might have been a deliberate ploy. By using such a tone, Harold had hinted at the existence of a mastermind, leading Tasuku to believe someone else was pulling the strings. Because of that suspicion, he hadn't even considered the possibility that Harold was the true author—even with Yuno's reports in hand.

In other words, Tasuku had been dancing in the palm of Harold’s hand since the moment he received that letter. Just how long had this boy been moving to create this exact scenario?

Tasuku was aghast. The stones had been placed with such precision, it was as if Harold could see the future itself.

"It is certainly a tempting offer... but why go to such lengths for the Sumeragi?"

If he simply wanted a friendly relationship, what he had already provided was more than enough. Furthermore, there was no logical reason to annul the engagement, which would have been the strongest possible bond between them.

Tasuku’s confusion deepened as he failed to grasp Harold’s true motives.

But that was only natural. From beginning to end, Harold was acting solely to avoid the death flags that awaited him in the future. To anyone unaware of that fact, deciphering his intentions was a fool’s errand.

Harold had no intention of explaining, as he knew he wouldn't be believed anyway.

"Even if I told you... no, it is something no one but me could ever understand."

His tone was self-mocking. Tasuku, who hadn't expected such a vulnerable display after Harold’s earlier arrogance, was momentarily speechless.

Striking while the iron was hot, Harold pressed for a decision.

"Well? What will it be? If you don't trust me, we can end this conversation here."

If asked whether Harold was truly worthy of trust, Tasuku couldn't yet say yes. However, it didn't seem as though Harold intended to harm the Sumeragi. By accepting this proposal, House Sumeragi, its people, and Erika’s future could all be saved.

To put it another way, Harold had gone out of his way to help them. Even if he had simply demanded their absolute obedience, Tasuku would have had very little ground to stand on. Despite holding all the cards, Harold had presented this as a mutual proposal.

At first glance, it seemed Tasuku had no choice, but that wasn't strictly true. If he was willing to sacrifice Erika’s happiness, he could have refused. In that case, the bond between the Stokes and Sumeragi would have remained firm, and they would have simply received the support previously agreed upon without the LP Farming Method.

In this proposal, the one taking the risk was actually Harold—a risk he wouldn't have had to take under normal circumstances. Tasuku could only imagine the vast amount of time and money spent developing the resistance medicine. Harold had risked seeing all that effort come to nothing by leaving the final choice to Tasuku.

(It is a rare thing for a man to do...) Tasuku thought. He found himself genuinely impressed.

Looking back, Harold had consistently acted in a way where the Sumeragi suffered no losses. Normally, if someone offered a deal this good, you wouldn't just nod along; you would suspect them, look for hidden motives, and refuse if those doubts weren't cleared.

That hesitation might have caused Tasuku to let this massive profit slip through his fingers. To prevent that, Harold had offered the "annulment of the engagement" as a deliberate incentive to make the deal impossible to refuse.

One might argue Tasuku was being too optimistic, but there was no other explanation for why Harold would take such unnecessary risks just to maintain the facade of a fair negotiation.

(He might be using this very line of thinking to manipulate me, but if that’s the case, I’m outmatched regardless. Either way, this is my complete defeat.)

Tasuku took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He raised his head and looked Harold directly in the eye.

"I accept your proposal."

"A predictable answer, but I'll commend you for deciding quickly. Within the next few days, prepare a team of your own people and some fields owned by House Sumeragi. I’ll begin beating the know-how of the LP Farming Method into them immediately."

"Is that all you require?"

"According to the plan, I’ll need a large-scale trading company in a few years. Somewhere trustworthy that can keep a secret. I’ll leave that choice to you."

"I see. So we solidify the foundation first, then increase the number of managed fields in cooperation with a trading company, eventually selling the technology through them?"

"It seems you have a better head on your shoulders than my pawns."

Despite Harold’s condescending tone, he was secretly impressed by Tasuku’s quick wit. He was immensely satisfied to have gained such a reliable ally. He knew that Tasuku would understand his need to use the Sumeragi name to keep the technology hidden from his parents without him having to say it out loud.

"Is there anything else you need?"

"Also..." Harold started, then hesitated. He wondered if this was the right time to bring it up.

Noticing the hesitation, Tasuku offered his help with genuine kindness. "If there is something, please, do not hesitate to ask. If it is within my power, I will provide it."

"...Then find me some strong opponents. While I’m staying here, I intend to gain as much experience in interpersonal combat as possible."

The combat prowess required to survive this world was a necessity. In order to obtain the strength he could never gain at the Stokes Mansion, Harold took a resolute step forward.