Licia returned to the salon after dinner—the very same one Ulysses had reserved in its entirety. She had returned because Sera had invited her.
"It’s definitely suspicious! They’re hiding something, I know it!"
Sera had been struck by a powerful sense of wrongness regarding the flow of money and had called Licia to discuss it. Licia wasn't the only one summoned, either. Sera had reached out to Fiona as well, wanting to pool their information. In truth, without Fiona, neither Sera nor Licia would have been able to set foot in this exclusive salon.
It was typical of Sera—a member of the Hero Faction who was nevertheless close with Licia of the Neutral Faction—to act without regard for political divisions. It was clear that she was even starting to relax slightly around Fiona.
The three girls sat on the sofas and continued their conversation.
"Lady Riohalde? Lady Licia and I also suspect the matter is dubious, but what is it you intend to do?" Fiona asked, looking somewhat wide-eyed and curious.
"The Summer Incident only just happened! We should be investigating this with everything we have!"
"U-Um...?"
"Sera, you’re troubling Lady Fiona," Licia said, letting out a sigh. She had lost count of how many times she had sighed that day.
"What I’m trying to say is that if there’s a suspicion of corruption, we should dig deeper! When I think that illicit funds might be flowing to the Demon King Cult, I simply can't sit still!"
Licia and Fiona understood her feelings, but the two of them shared a certain conviction. In this particular case, the Demon King Cult was likely not involved. Their certainty stemmed from one fact: the movements of Ulysses and the other adults were too sluggish.
Right, Lady Fiona?
Yes. I believe we are of the same mind, Lady Licia.
The two shared their thoughts through a silent exchange of glances. Since surviving the Summer Incident together, the stiff formality between them had subsided, even if they still held certain feelings they refused to compromise on.
"Don't you agree, Lady Ignat?"
"U-Um... I understand your passion, but how do you plan to investigate, Lady Riohalde?" Fiona asked with a troubled, wry smile, her eyes seeking help from Licia.
Licia felt she had no choice but to tell Sera to give up.
"At this point, we should just go in and scrutinize the Norman Company’s accounting line by line—"
"Under what pretext?" Licia interrupted. "If we cast suspicion recklessly and find nothing, it will turn into a massive headache. Besides, there’s no way evidence of corruption would be visible in the public records."
If men like Ulysses or Lezard pursued the matter, they could uncover the truth no matter how well it was hidden. However, the three girls currently lacked the necessary influence to make such a move.
"Ugh... then what are we supposed to do?"
"Even if we suspect an illicit flow of money, we can't act until we know why the money was paid and why it was necessary. Our fathers wouldn't dream of giving us permission to act on our own."
"So it’s no use after all?"
"Sera, think back to when you were a child and that boy named Vane saved you. If you’re planning to be that reckless again, I’m going to have to stop you."
Sera, who had been so boisterous, fell silent at Licia's rebuke. She slumped over as if her spirit had been broken.
"Goodness... just tell me one thing. What were you actually planning to do?"
"I heard from my father about the items the Norman Company purchased in secret. I thought I might find a lead there..."
Licia and Fiona exchanged a look. If she had an actual clue, they wished she had mentioned it from the start. Fiona offered a helpless smile, while Licia laughed softly, her breath catching in another sigh.
"Lady Riohalde, would you mind telling us what those items were?"
Sera, who was still slumped face-down on the table, spoke with a drained voice. "Magic tools for ground-leveling and chemicals for hardening soil."
"That just sounds like materials for expanding the Magic Ship Dock," Fiona noted. "They could also be used for road maintenance. I don't see anything particularly suspicious about them."
"But apparently, Viscount Gargagia had already prepared all the materials necessary for those projects."
"Oh? Then why would they buy more...?"
Fiona rested her cheek on her hand, looking thoughtful and elegant. Licia almost found herself mesmerized by Fiona's profile before she shook her head and considered Sera's words.
Is it for their own use, or for resale? I suppose that’s the question.
Licia first explored the former possibility.
"If they bought them for their own use, it’s still strange. They already paid out funds that far exceed the company's scale, and now they’re spending even more. Where is all that money coming from?"
"I was thinking the same thing, Lady Licia," Fiona agreed. "It’s hard to imagine this is unrelated to the suspicious flow of money we've already seen."
The problem was that proving the connection would be a Herculean task. They sat in silence, racking their brains over the dilemma.
"Actually..."
Radius began to speak as he spread a map of the Gargazia region on the table between him and Ren. They had just finished discussing the suspicious flow of money.
"What’s this?"
"A map of the Gargazia Territory from several centuries ago. As you can see, hot spring water has flowed beneath this land since ancient times. This region once flourished as a place for travelers to enjoy those waters."
Radius pointed to a mountain near the Town of Gargagia.
"There was an underground water vein where the hot spring waters converged. Until about a century ago, it was a common stop for Elfen Followers on their pilgrimages. I’m told the springs healed many weary travelers."
"If it was 'until a century ago,' that means the water stopped."
"Exactly. The landowning family that has held the mountain for generations has lamented that loss ever since. They’ve prayed for the water to return through every change in leadership, right down to the current generation."
In the past, they had profited immensely from the springs, making them wealthier than many nobles. Without that income, they had spent decades paying taxes on land that generated no profit.
"Viscount Gargagia originally intended to buy the entire mountain."
"But the family refused because they couldn't let go of their past glory," Ren guessed.
"Precisely. Most other landowners in the area sold their property decades ago, once it was clear the water wasn't coming back. Only this one family persisted."
Since they paid their taxes, neither the Empire nor the Viscount had any reason to complain.
"However, because this is now a public project, they couldn't refuse the sale entirely. Furthermore, because the amount offered for the land was significantly higher than the market rate, they reportedly agreed to sell a portion of it."
"They should have just sold the whole thing and been done with it."
"I agree. But as it turns out, the landowning family’s wish might have actually come true."
"Wait. Are you saying there’s a chance the water will flow again?"
Radius shook his head. The geological surveys suggested the chance was zero.
"A different story surfaced between the Norman Company, who handled the geological survey, and the landowning family."
Ren didn't have to think very long to realize what that "different story" entailed. He felt a sense of pride in his own growth; in the past, he would have been clueless about such political maneuvering, but he had evidently gained quite a few experience points in the art of the scheme.
"I see... and do you have proof yet?"
"I can't be certain until I investigate, but it’s as good as settled. All that remains is the source of the illicit funds, and I already have a very good idea about that."
"Do you intend to get involved in that too, Radius?"
In response to Ren's question, Radius crossed his arms and tapped his chin. He stood up, turned his back to Ren, and walked to a bar area in the corner of the room. He poured two drinks and returned to the table.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. Now, as for whether I'll get involved..."
Returning to his seat, a cool, confident smile spread across Radius's handsome face.
The following morning, the invited guests gathered at the Magic Ship Dock. A small ceremony was being held to celebrate the expansion before the main party.
The dock, now expanded to one and a half times its original size, was teeming with people. The excitement of the event had spilled over into the town itself.
"On this auspicious occasion, I thank you all..."
Viscount Gargagia, a man over seventy, delivered the standard greetings in a raspy voice. Licia and the others were watching from inside the dock building. Through a massive, crystal-clear window, they could see every corner of the newly expanded facility. They had been given special seats in a room resembling a control tower, allowing them to look down upon the ceremony.
The three young ladies were spending the day together once again. They sat in their own private observation area, separate from their fathers.
"Sera, you still look like you have something on your mind."
"Of course I do! If we investigated, the corruption would be exposed! Don't you think so, Lady Ignat?"
"Yes. I believe we could certainly do so, but..." Fiona trailed off.
Neither Licia nor Fiona wanted to cause a scene or trouble their families by acting on a whim. However...
If Ren were here, what would he do? Licia wondered.
He would undoubtedly act according to his own sense of justice. It wasn't that Licia lacked such a sense; she understood her duties as a noble and was prepared for self-sacrifice. She was the very image of a Saint. But she feared that a reckless move on their part would only make things worse.
Perhaps sensing Licia's hesitation, Fiona spoke up. "Lady Licia, why don't we try talking to our fathers?"
Fiona was thinking the same thing as Licia. They knew their fathers were likely already moving behind the scenes, but their own consciences wouldn't allow them to ignore the situation.
"We should tell them what we've discovered and ask for their guidance," Licia agreed.
Their fathers were in a different VIP section, so the girls left their observation room and made their way to the other suite. There were several such private rooms prepared for the event. They weren't worried about the propriety of gathering together despite their different factions; during large public projects like this, it was common for nobles to work together regardless of politics. It was rare to see open hostility at a formal ceremony, especially between these three particular families.
The daughters found their fathers in the other VIP room and each reported what they had deduced. None of the three men looked surprised; they listened to their daughters with grave, earnest expressions.
Finally, Ulysses spoke for the group. "Haha! The three of you together are quite formidable!"
Everyone turned to look at him. Licia and Fiona noticed that Ulysses's current jovial attitude was a bit of a performance. They also realized that this entire situation had unfolded exactly as he had anticipated.
"Then I have a proposal," Ulysses continued. "I want to see if you can expose the corruption between the Norman Company and the landowners yourselves—without any help from the adults."
"Father?! What are you saying?!" Fiona cried. "Please don't suggest things that will cause trouble for the Riohalde and Clausel families as well!"
"It’s no trouble," Elck replied. "As far as I’m concerned, if this keeps Sera from acting recklessly on her own, I see no reason to stop it."
"Lady Ignat, I, Lezard, am of the same mind."
None of the three fathers objected; they all fell in line with Ulysses's proposal. To Fiona, this felt incredibly suspicious. She stared into her father’s eyes, trying to find his true intent, but "Strong-Armed" Ulysses Ignat was not a man who allowed his secrets to be read so easily.
"Goodness... Father, what are you planning?"
"All sorts of things."
"I wanted to know what those 'all sorts of things' were, but you aren't going to tell me, are you?"
Ulysses simply shrugged and offered a wry smile. He wouldn't say another word. Further questioning was clearly pointless.
"Lady Fiona, what should we do?" Licia asked.
"Well... now that they've told us we can investigate, it makes me feel even more uncertain," Sera admitted.
Fiona turned her attention away from Ulysses and looked at her friends. "It seems my father and your fathers have something in mind."
They wanted to know the hidden motive, but the adults weren't talking. To entrust a major investigation to three young ladies—all high-ranking daughters of the nobility—was unheard of for a typical noble.
But then, these were not typical nobles.
Ulysses was far beyond the norm. Lezard had grown significantly in power and capability, earning even Ulysses's respect. And Elck was the head of one of the Seven Great Archduke Families and a descendant of Gajil Riohalde, a hero among heroes.
Perhaps it wasn't so strange for them to give their daughters a major task within a controlled environment.
Sera let out a long breath. "Well, I was surprised, but it’s not a bad deal. If our fathers say it’s okay, then we should just do it. I won't allow anyone to commit corruption in this country saved by the Seven Heroes."
Licia nodded at Sera's fiery declaration.
She’s right.
Licia had wondered what Ren would do. If she was allowed to move like him, then she should do so without hesitation.
"Are you alright with this, Lady Fiona?"
Fiona felt the same. She, too, had thought of how Ren would act and decided to follow his example.
"Of course. Let us combine our strengths."
Despite the sudden shift in the situation, one thing was clear: their fathers had a specific purpose in mind when they pushed the three of them into this. It might have been obvious from the start, but as Licia, Fiona, and Sera began to see through the adults' game, they found themselves filled with the resolve to play along.
They wouldn't just say, "We'll leave it to you," after being handed such an opportunity. If they were going to play the game, they were going to uncover the truth.
If this were a scene from The Legend of the Seven Heroes, it might look something like this:
[A Sub-quest has been generated] Expose the Illicit Flow of Money. Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ Accept? <Yes> / No
"Edgar, I'll leave the rest to you."
"As you wish. I shall coordinate with the others and watch over the young ladies as they gain this valuable experience."
Calling it a "boxed garden" might have been a bit cynical, so Ulysses preferred to think of it as an educational opportunity. He knew he couldn't protect his daughter forever. Everyone dies eventually, and with that reality in mind, he had always looked for ways to let Fiona gain experience. This incident was the perfect chance.
Lezard and Elck agreed. As long as the adults were there to take responsibility and ensure their safety, this would serve as a great catalyst for the girls' growth.
"To think our daughters would join hands across factional lines," Elck remarked with a complex expression, neither entirely positive nor negative.
"My Licia is on very good terms with your daughters. As a member of the Neutral Faction, I find this very gratifying. Even if you call me a dreamer, we are all nobles for the sake of Leomel," Lezard replied.
It might have been an idealistic dream to hope for cooperation regardless of faction, but the leaders of the Imperial and Hero Factions listened to Lezard's words in silence.
As the three young ladies left the VIP suite and headed into the town, Edgar prepared to follow them secretly. A subordinate who hadn't been part of the traveling party approached him.
"Oh? Why are you here?" Edgar asked.
"A message has arrived from a certain location."
"I see. Let me have it."
Edgar opened the letter and scanned the contents. A soft, professional smile touched his lips.
"It seems they have made their move as well," he murmured meaningfully.