Perhaps because there were so many participants, a lectern and a blackboard had been set up at the front of the large conference hall, with desks and chairs lined up behind them. The layout was exactly like a school classroom.
Once everyone was seated, the man who had initially called out to the crowd stepped up to the lectern and opened his mouth.
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to be here today. My name is Wands, the organizer of this meeting. I am but a novice in these matters, but I will be serving as your facilitator today. I look forward to working with you all."
As Wands gave a polite bow, a scattered round of applause rose from the audience.
"Thank you. Now, let’s dive right in. How do you all feel about the current state of public safety in this city?"
With that opening question, he launched into a speech that emphasized just how dangerous Gimul had become and how desperately we needed cooperation and countermeasures.
"Gimul's Guard Force isn't incompetent," someone occasionally called out in protest. "I’ve heard they’ve even increased their numbers and are strengthening their security protocols."
Wands was ready for them.
"I have indeed heard about the personnel increase and the strengthening of the system, and I do not believe for a moment that our Guard Force is incompetent. However! Why were those reinforcements necessary in the first place? Was it not because the existing number of guards couldn't keep up with the rising crime? Was it not because they couldn't prevent the incidents from occurring? Is it not a fact that the Guard Force itself judged these measures to be necessary?"
"Well, I mean..."
"An increase in personnel and security born of necessity—these are desperate measures. Furthermore, the guards who were hastily recruited are still poorly trained. There are increasing reports of them letting criminals slip through their fingers or, worse, being overpowered by the very people they're trying to catch.
"Of course, I’m sure they’re doing their best. I acknowledge that. But! It is a harsh reality that the guards who are supposed to protect the citizens are becoming victims themselves! Can any of you truly say everything is fine as long as we leave it to the Guard Force? Can you say we are absolutely safe? Do you really trust the current Guard Force that much?"
"B-but still..."
"There is no 'but'! If that trust is betrayed even once, the one who suffers might be you—or worse, one of your precious loved ones."
"..."
In this manner, Wands talked them down. Every time he won an exchange, he planted more seeds of anxiety in both his opponent and the rest of the participants.
In a sense, I was similar to him; I always considered the worst-case scenario.
Perhaps that was why, while I understood the logic of his words, I also felt a powerful sense of wrongness.
When I considered the source of that dissonance, the difference between myself and Wands became clear.
I tended to obsess over "just in case" possibilities because I wanted to be prepared to handle them if they occurred. However, I never felt the need to force that mindset onto others.
Wands, on the other hand, appeared to be urging the participants to think deeply and prepare... but in reality, he was merely stoking their fears by painting a bleak future based on nothing but hypotheses and possibilities.
Furthermore, he continued:
"This year, I was finally allowed to go independent from the shop where I apprenticed for so many years. I am a novice who has only just left the nest, and I am a newcomer to Gimul. Unfortunately, I am not a man brave enough to sit back and leave the city's fate entirely to the Guard Force. Although I’ve managed to open my shop, I—just like all of you—constantly feel a sense of dread regarding the state of the city."
"It's true that the city is getting rough," someone murmured.
"I was just thinking it was time for some crime prevention measures," another added.
Wands voiced his anxiety using inclusive terms like "we" and "just like everyone." With every murmur of agreement, the number of people following his lead—lapping up his every word—steadily grew.
Stoking anxiety... could this be some kind of predatory business scam?
Watching the meeting proceed, I began to harbor serious suspicions. As the counterarguments against Wands' words faded, I realized something else.
I knew this atmosphere. I had seen it before.
This was a pro-forma meeting designed solely to make a decision that the upper management had already made appear as if it had been reached through a democratic process.
It was labeled a "meeting," but no one was actually expected to offer new ideas, nor was it a forum for debate. Anyone who voiced an opposing opinion would be ignored or silenced; either way, it was a waste of breath. A simple report would have sufficed.
They say laying the groundwork is important, but this was beyond that; it was a scripted performance. Without a doubt, the people who were the first to voice their enthusiastic support had already been bought and paid for by Wands.
Stoking anxiety, seizing the initiative, and steering the conversation exactly where Wands and his associates intended—the air in the room was already thick with the expectation of a "unanimous" agreement to cooperate.
He was still playing it safe for now, but if this continued, it would get ugly.
The more I thought about it, the more alarm bells rang in my head.
There was already a possibility that nobles were pulling the strings behind the scenes in Gimul. If Wands and his cronies were somehow involved in the city's declining safety, then this entire gathering was a trap. What exactly were they planning to make us do under the guise of "mutual cooperation"?
"As fellow business owners in the same city, let us join forces to overcome this crisis!"
A round of applause, louder and more fervent than the first, erupted from the crowd.
I turned to the man beside me.
"Calm-san."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry."
"Wh—huh?"
"If I may say one thing."
Leaving him in a state of confusion, I raised my hand. My voice drew every eye in the room toward me, but since I was in the very back row, it took a moment before I caught Wands' attention.
"Er, who might you be? Your face is a bit..."
"I am Ryoma Takebayashi. I run a laundry shop called Bamboo Forest near the residential district on the west side of Gimul."
"Well, well! Thank you for the introduction. Even I, a newcomer, have heard of you—the brilliant young entrepreneur. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner."
An apology followed by a pleasant smile. Faint laughter rippled through the room.
"A single child among adults, and tucked away in the back... it can’t be helped, I suppose."
"I appreciate your understanding. Was there something you wanted to ask?"
"Yes. First, thank you for your speech. It was quite fascinating... especially since I only opened my shop in Gimul this spring. Like you, I’m a newcomer with very few lateral connections. I saw this as a good chance to meet my seniors in the business community. Naturally, I’m concerned about the city's safety, and I had hoped to build good relationships and cooperate with everyone."
That much was true. I didn't have many business acquaintances yet, and if I could build positive ties with the community, I wanted to. Perhaps it was the "harmony" I valued from my previous life as a Japanese person.
...But that was only if the person was actually worth cooperating with.
"Oh! In that case, you too—"
"That is exactly why!" I cut him off.
"!"
"I would like to know. You spoke of cooperation, but specifically, what measures do you intend to take? What exactly will we be doing?"
For the briefest of instants, Wands' expression stiffened.
It was gone in a flash. If I hadn't been watching him like a hawk, I would have missed it entirely. My usual self might not have caught it at all.
"Oops! A natural question. My apologies."
Wands began to speak again, but his words weren't really an answer for me. They were a performance designed to sway the crowd.
Exchanging information, close communication, night patrols, self-defense classes, crime prevention seminars for staff... It was all plausible-sounding fluff mixed with appeals to their sense of duty and pride, like "We can't just rely on the Guard Force!"
Four or five participants who were clearly in league with him took turns voicing their support to keep the momentum going. If I were to give my honest impression—
"Now, that concludes my proposal. What do you all think?"
"Wonder—"
"This is out of the question."
I spoke clearly, cutting off the man who was about to cheer.
The room fell into a deathly silence. I felt waves of hostility coming from several directions.
"Out of the question? What do you mean by that, Master Takebayashi?"
"I mean exactly what I said. Those sorts of things only work when they're part of a continuous, daily routine. Starting them now out of panic won't have any immediate effect."
"Perhaps not immediately. However! If we don't start now, we'll never gain anything."
"He's right!"
"What kind of person gives up before they even start?"
"Honestly, youth today have no backbone..."
The predictable attacks for opposing Wands began. I had to go all in.
"Is this entire room just a gathering of fools?"
"Wh—"
I spoke with deliberate provocation. The people trying to shout me down were momentarily stunned, likely not expecting a child to insult them so bluntly.
"Store Manager!?"
"Calm, shut up."
"!? ..."
I felt terrible for speaking to Calm-san that way, but I needed him to stay out of it. He was a sharp man; he seemed to realize I was playing a part because of the jarring shift in my tone. Though he looked troubled, he chose to trust me and remained silent.
"We are talking about a situation where the city's safety is deteriorating right now," I said. "How can you ignore the need for immediate results?"
"It's still better than doing nothing!"
"Learning self-defense is never a waste!"
"What's wrong with doing patrols?"
Agreement rippled through the room. One man raised his voice to drown out any dissent, and soon the chamber was a cacophony of noise.
"Now, now, everyone please calm down," Wands said smoothly. "I appreciate the active participation. We've heard many opinions. Personally, I believe patrols offer the best prospect for immediate results, and as some of you mentioned, self-defense is a valuable skill. What do you think?"
"If you want to patrol, patrol. If you want to learn self-defense, learn it. I don't care what you do on your own time," I said. "However, regarding self-defense... Master Wands, didn't you just say that the new guards are poorly trained and are being overpowered or killed?
"That is a fact. Those are the results when people with half-baked skills face off against armed thugs or robbers. Even the Guard Force, who are professionals dedicated to security, suffer casualties in the field. And yet you, a group of merchants, think you can learn self-defense in your spare time and actually handle a violent encounter? I don't think so. Oh... and didn't you also say that effort is meaningless if it doesn't lead to results? I happen to agree with you completely."
"..."
The same logic applied to the night patrols.
"Sure, a visible presence can deter crime. But what happens when you actually encounter a criminal or a home invasion? You might find yourself in a fight for your life. Some criminals commit robberies with the intent to kill, and others might panic and try to murder any witnesses they find.
"The same problem remains: do you really think you can handle that? Look around you."
I didn't care about the gender divide; some were overweight, some were frail, and many were elderly. They were merchants, and it was obvious that more than half of them never exerted themselves physically.
"Furthermore, night patrols mean poor visibility and fewer witnesses. I don't know how many of you know this, but I am an active adventurer. From my perspective, you are all underestimating the reality of combat far too much."
Even in a world where magic and weapons were common, these people lived their lives within the city walls. They expected the Guard Force to save them and had never known a situation where their lives were truly on the line.
Do you even understand? Do you want to die? Do you want your families to die? With those questions in my eyes, I shifted my gaze from Wands and his cronies to the rest of the participants.
As people shrank back from my stare, a man two rows ahead of me stood up slowly and looked me in the eye. It was Darson-san.
"Ryoma, I know how you feel, but you need to settle down. Pull back that killing intent. If you intimidate them this much, no one will be able to say a word."
"With all due respect, Darson-san, if they are silenced by the mere 'intimidation' of a child, then they have no business being here. They’re talking about learning self-defense to handle things themselves, aren't they? Anyone who accepts this plan is choosing to take up arms. They’re choosing a path where they—or their families—might be killed, or where they might have to kill someone else. Do they actually have the resolve for that?"
"The kind of pressure you’re putting out isn't something a child... No, you have a point." Darson-san grimaced and turned toward the facilitator. "Master Wands, I’m a former adventurer, and I have to agree with Ryoma. Regardless of the reason, fighting someone means it's kill or be killed. I’m not against learning self-defense, but thinking it makes you safe is dangerously optimistic."
"Exactly," I added. "'Self-defense' is a last resort. It’s what you use after you've already done everything else possible to prevent a crime and still find yourself in a life-or-death situation. The first priority is to stay away from danger. If you assume you're going to fight from the start, that isn't self-defense. That’s just combat. Don't confuse the two."
"I see, I see... Valuable opinions from those who know the front lines." Wands nodded as if impressed. I was starting to realize he was a master of this; he would always pretend to accept an opinion before moving to dismantle it. He was clearly very experienced in manipulation. "Then what would you two suggest? What should we do? I’d love to hear the 'expert' opinion."
"That's a good idea!"
"I'm sure you have a brilliant answer for us."
"Hire adventurers or mercenaries," I said without a moment's hesitation. "Current or former, it doesn't matter. Just hire a significant number of people who actually know how to fight. Set up regular patrols and a rapid-response system. If everyone here pools their money, we can raise a substantial sum, and the individual cost will be much lower than if we tried to go it alone. You’re merchants, aren't you? Then use a merchant's solution. There’s no need for you to play at being adventurers."
Since I had just discussed something similar the other day, the answer came naturally.
A few sounds of agreement rippled through the room as people began to discuss it with their neighbors, but then—
"Sigh... I wondered what you were going to say, but that’s disappointing."
"Is there a problem?"
"Hiring adventurers and pooling money... yes, that might sound good on paper. It would solve the issue of funds and combat power. However! Your proposal has a gaping hole!"
He went out of his way to emphasize those words.
"Spare me the drama. What's the problem?"
"I'll be blunt. If you do it your way, the nobles will have you in their sights."
The room erupted into frantic murmurs.
"Have you ever considered the raison d'être of the Guilds? Or perhaps I should say, their purpose from the perspective of the nobility."
"The management of the commoners' wealth and combat potential," I said.
This was also something I had learned recently. Since he was being so smug, I decided to take the wind out of his sails. Wands looked genuinely shaken for a moment.
"...You knew that? You knew that and still made that proposal?"
"Is there something strange about knowing the truth?"
"Hey! Talk so the rest of us can understand!" someone shouted.
"My apologies!" Wands said, quickly reclaiming control. "First, you must understand that there is one thing nobles always fear: a popular uprising. Of course, they protect themselves with their wealth, powerful weapons, and private armies. However! In terms of pure numbers, nobles are a minority, making up less than ten percent of the population.
"History is full of examples where commoners united to overthrow the absolute authority of the nobility. To prevent this, the nobles must ensure the commoners do not unite."
Wands began to pace like a stage actor, projecting his voice to the entire room.
"The Guilds are authorized by the King and operate under the state's supervision. Therefore, even nobles cannot easily interfere. But who manages the state? The nobility. In other words, the Guilds are indirectly under their control.
"The Commerce Guild tracks our wealth; the Adventurer and Mercenary Guilds track our combat power. While we receive many benefits, we are also being monitored. And if too much power or combat potential is concentrated in one place... well, you can imagine. As long as a united force is small, the nobles can handle it. But if we pool our strength..."
"B-but, Master Wands? No one here is thinking about a rebellion," someone said. "And neither is that boy, Ryoma."
"Of course not! None of us have such intentions. However! To a noble, an organization that gathers more combat power than necessary is a threat. To us, it’s 'defense,' but to them, it looks like 'preparation.' That is the nature of power. Our intentions don't matter; what matters is how it looks to them! If we gather a large force, the nobles will see us as a united threat—and all of us who provided the funds will be labeled conspirators!"
Wands' story was an exaggeration, but it was enough to terrify the participants.
"Is that true?" "I never thought of that..." "What if he's right?"
But I wasn't finished.
"I’m sorry to ruin your grand performance, but that concern is unnecessary."
"What did you say?"
"I’ve been told that anyone with a modicum of sense and common sense will understand that these forces are for protecting our businesses and the city. They will permit it."
Wands' information was, as I suspected, biased toward the worst possible interpretation. While it was true that gathering too much power could lead to suspicion, it was common for villages or groups to pool money to hire protection. As long as one maintained moderation, there was no issue.
"Besides, as some of you may know, I am on close terms with the Jamil Ducal House, the lords of this land. I can contact them in advance to explain that there is no hostile intent."
I stated this with total confidence—but the reaction was not what I expected.
"...Doesn't that just mean you'll be the only one safe?"
"Wait, is such a thing even possible?"
"I heard he had a connection, but..."
"He sounds so sure of himself, but can a child really negotiate with a Duke?"
The room was filled with skepticism. It was useless.
"Heh... Pardon me, Master Ryoma, but you clearly don't understand the feelings of ordinary merchants like us."
"Must be nice, having a Duke to hide behind. No wonder he isn't afraid."
"He's just a lucky kid who managed to open a shop."
"Wait, you shouldn't say such things... even if it's true his future is handed to him on a silver platter."
...I see. I understood now.
Even though they were fellow business owners, they were nothing like Serge-san, Pioro-san, or Oresto-san. Those three would stand their ground against anyone, even a noble, if it concerned their business. That was how they had built their empires.
These people had none of that. They had their one little shop in the city, earned a stable income, and lived comfortable lives. They were satisfied. They saw any interaction with the nobility as a terrifying risk to be avoided. They were successful enough to be called "mid-tier," but they were not the elite who sought greater heights.
And I clearly didn't have the presence to overcome their fear of the nobility.
"It seems talking any further is a waste of time."
I stood up.
"Oh? Are you leaving?"
"Yes. I don't care to waste any more time, and I have no intention of cooperating with this."
"After all that talk, you never intended to cooperate, did you?"
"That's not the attitude of a team player."
Wands and his cronies spoke up loudly, making sure everyone could hear. I decided to give them one last thing to think about.
"I could say the same to the majority of you. I won't name names, but from the moment I entered this room, haven't you been sizing me up and looking down on me?"
I swept my gaze across the room. Many participants looked away or hung their heads.
I had felt that gaze since I walked in. They smiled, but they had no intention of treating me as an equal or showing me any real respect. In that regard, they were the exact opposite of Serge-san or Pioro-san. That was why I had felt such a strong sense of rejection the moment I stepped inside.
To be fair, I am a child, and I do rely on Calm for much of the management. My own skills are probably nothing special yet, and I could have accepted that. I thought that if I kept working with them, they would eventually come to understand my worth.
I was wrong.
"Since I'm leaving, let me be clear. It’s true that I’m a child, and I rely on Calm here for much of the expertise. It’s also true that I’ve been blessed with extraordinary luck and a connection to the Ducal House.
"However, the fact that I was invited to a meeting for 'Medium-sized Stores' means my shop’s scale and profits are equal to or greater than yours. I have the capital, and I have the results.
"Whether you think I’m just a lucky brat or a puppet of the nobility... I don't care. But I’d appreciate it if you didn't underestimate me too much. If you can't understand just how powerful capital and connections are in the world of business—or if you're the type to call it 'unfair'—then you have no business being a merchant. I recommend you quit immediately."
I said it with a bright, razor-sharp smile. No one said a word. I thought at least one person would try to argue, but they just sat there.
"Let's go, Calm."
"Y-yes!"
I shook Calm-san, who was as stunned as the rest, and walked out of the Commerce Guild without looking back.