Volume 2 Chapter 27 Signs of a Three-Day Reign
"'Cedal Alliance' decided to go by 'Alvaro Alliance' now... Not that I care, but, man, those guys have really let it go to their heads."
Horace muttered that as he skimmed the newspaper.
"I get that they wanted to put on airs, play high-class, and dazzle the merchants in Jewel City Lapis──just to get their hands on more metal..."
"But now Tiaris and Ramella have started pawing through those ancient relics they found in the ruins dungeon. The stuff's honestly top-tier──the tableware and clothes just scream luxury. Some of it's even ended up in the palace."
Ellie and Rangella could only trade awkward, exasperated glances at the situation.
"That high-end, win-them-over strategy? Yeah, won't last. They'll burn through their tricks soon enough... The real headache is the Adventurers."
"Right, Master. Organized protests everywhere, denying metal monopolies. And inside the Great Mine of Gold World──they're pulling off mass occupations now."
"Also, these things usually sputter out once supplies run dry... but this time, it's dragging on. That's got to be Alvaro's worst nightmare."
"...Hmm? Ellie, am I the only one here who thinks we're looking at this from totally different angles?"
Stuff like occupying territory or staging protests always costs money, you know.
And when they hole up inside a dungeon, the price tag shoots through the roof.
You don't get 'safe zones' in dungeons.
Sure, nothing'll spawn right within ten meters of you──that's just how these places work──but there's no spot you'll never be attacked.
Not a single one.
If you want any place like that, you'd have to bring in a barrier magic tool from outside.
And those burn through massive amounts of mana.
But the Cedal Alliance was so focused on boosting its numbers when it formed, they filled their ranks with a ton of low-level Adventurers.
So really, "They've got the bodies, but almost none of them have much mana." Meaning: every time they set up a barrier, it costs a pile of gold.
Even when he's buying supplies, he's gonna need coins, but maintaining this 'barrier' is the biggest drain on our funds in occupation.
So far, that's been more or less a 'given', but from here on out, there's a noticeable difference between Horace and Ellie.
Rangella doesn't even understand the basics.
"...The current Alvaro Alliance is primarily led by the S-rank guild 'Parasite,' and their methods of handling coins are... unconventional, to say the least, Master."
"Handling coins?"
"Yes, a bit of background knowledge is necessary."
That's how she started to explain it.
It seems she quickly thought of an example.
"Rangella, let's say I borrow 100 coins from you. In that case, when Rangella hands over the 100 coins, a contract is drawn up stating, 'Rangella has lent Ellie 100 coins.'"
"Of course."
"And then, if you later need to pay Master 100 coins, but you're lent them all to me and has none left, what do you think you should do?"
"Go dungeon diving."
"..."
Ellie's face clearly says, 'That's not what I'm getting at.'
"Anyway, just change the lender's name on your 'contract' to the master's. That's all it takes."
"I see, because then the person who gets paid back later switches from me to the master."
"Yes. If this move is possible, in other words, a contract that says 'lent 100 coins' can effectively create the movement of '100 coins worth' of value."
"...I see."
"In short, if you somehow get your hands on 100 coins, you can effectively create 100 coins worth of money out of thin air."
Ellie explains up to this point and glances at Rangella's expression.
Is she getting it, or not?
It's a bit tricky to tell, but she decides to continue.
"...The guild 'Parasite' collects money and issues bonds, creating a market for trade among associated merchant guilds. They use coins for small transactions, but for large sums, they prefer to use the bonds."
"Hmmm..."
"What happens if we harness this coin system, do you think?"
"...What would happen?"
"Well, one thing's for sure──you've lost every shred of trust. My condolences."
Ellie said it like it was nothing, casually sipping her tea.
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