Cornelia returned to her private quarters after the grueling family meeting, looking completely drained. She took small, cautious sips of the tea Anne had brewed—a specific blend known for its efficacy in soothing stomach pain.
"Just six months ago," Cornelia murmured, "my family’s standing was so unnecessarily high that I was considered too much of a liability for a political marriage. Yet, because we weren't involved in any major trading interests, there was no real profit to be found in a match. I was in a position where people whispered that nobody would even bother putting their name forward as a candidate for my hand."
"And now?" Anne replied. "Now you are the head of a trading company destined for astronomical growth. You hold countless connections and the status of being a close friend to Miyama Kaito-sama—a man of truly infinite potential. From employment slots in the expanding Victor Trading Company to surging profits and ties with legendary figures... you have become a friend to the very Singularity of the World."
"I really am like the goose that lays golden eggs. Though, in reality... I’m just a leaf being blown away by the storm Kaito-sama has stirred up. He’s like a giant dragon taking flight. I’m certain Her Majesty Chris is clutching her head in despair right now, too."
"The power balance between the factions, I assume?" Anne remarked. Having formerly served at the Imperial Castle before joining the Sharon Count House, she was an elite maid with a sharp grasp of noble politics. She understood exactly what Cornelia was hinting at.
Cornelia nodded solemnly. "The Reformist Faction is hardly a monolith. Sub-factions are inevitable, but lately, the Hamilton Marquis House has gained far too much momentum. Our house is seeing it, too, but the Hamiltons' influence is ballooning. It's only a matter of time before low-ranking nobles start jumping ship to join whichever faction has the most wind in its sails."
"It is an inevitable shift, but the high-ranking nobles leading other factions won't take it lying down. We are looking at serious friction between the groups."
"Elis-sama likely didn't expect this... or rather, she underestimated the shockwaves Kaito-sama sends through society. Then again, she could not exactly invite ladies from rival factions to that last tea party. It was a bound to be an unavoidable result."
Currently, within the Arclesia Empire, the influence of the Hamilton Marquis House had exploded. Empress Chris, who preferred the power balance between factions to remain equal, and Marquis Hamilton, who wished to avoid unnecessary friction, were both moving to make adjustments. However, the pace at which Kaito caused new incidents was so rapid that they were currently stuck playing a desperate game of catch-up.
"Even so," Cornelia sighed, "who could have predicted that a simple trip to see specialized brushes would lead to a chance encounter with the Dragon King and the Four Great Magic Dragons? And that they’d all take an interest? It’s absurd."
"That city was vast, yet you encountered them at a timing so perfect it felt as if it were the only possible moment, despite having no prior appointment."
"I am truly struck with admiration for Kaito-sama's ability to pull on the threads of fate... but the profit potential is staggering," Cornelia said. "Still, my father is going to have a hard time with the upfront investment for the workshop expansions. I wish we had a more direct source of funding. The Sharon Trading Company is stable, but this whole mess isn't its specialty, so profits won't grow there as easily. Maybe the brand recognition will help, but... what about that tool Kaito-sama uses? The one that converts magic power wavelengths? Could we replicate that as a magic tool?"
"It is likely impossible," Anne replied firmly. "Manipulating magic power wavelengths is an incredibly advanced discipline. I cannot even fathom how many technological breakthroughs would be required to make a magic tool perform that task. It is only possible because it is a divine work belonging to the God at Miyama Kaito-sama’s side."
"I am not particularly well-versed in the creation of magic tools, but if you say so, Anne, then it must be difficult."
Here, they were both laboring under a massive misunderstanding. Neither Cornelia nor Anne had seen the actual item created by Canalis; they only knew about it from Kaito's letters. To them, it was a divine artifact belonging to an omniscient and omnipotent God, placing it far beyond the reach of mortal reproduction.
They never dreamed that the device was actually built within the established technological laws of this world. They had no idea that by analyzing it, they could replicate it—and that the underlying technology would trigger a literal revolution in magic tool engineering.
Furthermore, because Kaito had casually mentioned wanting the Seditch Magic Tool Trading Company to look out for Cornelia and the Victor Trading Company, the giants of the industry were already preparing a proposal for a joint development project. The day Cornelia would finally lose consciousness and foam at the mouth was only forty-eight hours away.
Cornelia: "It’s going to be a lot of work, but my father will handle the expansion and the money. I’ll just focus on studying how to run the company and handle the logistics, like prioritizing orders until the expansion is complete. I'll be fine."
Stomach Pain Devil: "Oh? And what gave you that idea?"
Cornelia: "Hyeh?"
Stomach Pain Devil: "The Body-Stomach Blow Phase is just getting started! We've got a magic tool revolution, the New Light of the Winged Race, and a mountain of orders from Magic Beast-type Demons headed your way!"