Stealing craftsmen and technology?

Berge gave a disbelieving laugh. It was utter, absolute bullshit.

“Explain it slowly, and in detail. So I can make sense of it.”

『This morning, an executive from the Black Toad Trading Company paid us an official visit.』

Accompanied by guards, the executive arrogantly demanded a private audience with Aman. But Aman was busy with other matters at the time, so Jetoson met him instead.

『At first, we had no idea why he had come.』

They wondered whether he wanted to buy mana cannons, but frankly, that made no sense. Black Toad was a major trading company that owned dozens of workshops and supplied the imperial army. It had produced over a thousand mana cannons alone.

Still, his visit did concern mana cannons. It was not, of course, to buy them.

* * *

“Your company head isn't coming out. Is this Golden Moon's position?”

“Your company head hasn't come either. Wouldn't it be ridiculous for ours to attend?”

“Do you think a company like Golden Moon is on the same level as Black Toad?”

“We're both ‘trading companies.’”

“... Fine, never mind. Your head will hear about this through you soon enough.”

The Black Toad executive launched into a lengthy explanation of why he had visited Golden Moon. Jetoson frowned.

“I'm having trouble understanding. What did you just say?”

“I said that the rights to those mana cannons belong to our company.”

He twisted his ratlike whiskers.

Jetoson snorted.

“That's amusing. In that case, all rights to your company belong to me.”

“What?”

“If you can covet someone else's property for no reason, surely we can do the same?”

“We're asserting our rightful claim to what was stolen from us!”

“Which is precisely why it's bullshit.”

“B-bullshit?”

“The mana cannons were made in-house at our workshops, and the Iasin royal family has certified them.”

“Hmph. Isn't royal certification just a matter of greasing a few palms?”

“At least it costs more than your baseless demands. All you've put into those is a little flying spit.”

“Is that Golden Moon Trading Company's answer?”

“We always treat people as they deserve. Courtesy for the courteous, nonsense for those who spout nonsense.”

“For a company executive, your language is utterly vulgar.”

“Naturally. I'm here to deal with you, after all.”

“You little...!”

The executive, who had been huffing with anger at Jetoson's remarks, struggled to steady his breathing before continuing.

“You say the mana cannons were made in-house at your workshops? Doesn't that strike you as a problem?”

“No, it doesn't.”

“The people in those precious workshops of yours are our craftsmen! They belonged to our company's workshops before disappearing roughly six months ago!”

“Hah...”

Jetoson heaved a deep sigh.

“We recruited our workshop craftsmen exclusively from Iasin, and cross-checked their identities thoroughly. Every one of them volunteered, too. What nonsense are you talking about?”

Jetoson knew this well, having been involved in part of the process himself.

“You can certainly claim that.”

“Must I answer another absurd claim with one of my own?”

“Absurd? Golden Moon really has installed a fraud as an executive. Your company clearly poached our craftsmen.”

“Well, let's hear you out, then.”

Jetoson crossed his legs and leaned back. He shrugged as if inviting the man to carry on to the bitter end.

“Six months ago, several craftsmen from the royal workshop vanished without a trace. The workshop searched for them for a long time, but couldn't find them.”

“Oh dear. Did it, now?”

“Then Golden Moon suddenly established workshops and began manufacturing and selling mana cannons. A company that had never had anything to do with mana cannons before.”

“So our company must have kidnapped your craftsmen. Is that what you're saying?”

“Exactly.”

“What is this? You're a major trading company, not a bunch of street thugs. Yet your baseless demands sound exactly like theirs.”

“... Are you finished?”

“Not yet.”

Jetoson leisurely savored the aroma of his coffee.

“Mana cannons aren't something you can make simply because you feel like it. Certainly not something a mere trading company with no foundation can throw together in just a few months.”

“Unless we poached your craftsmen, who were already involved in making mana cannons?”

“Now we're finally getting somewhere.”

“By that logic, every mana cannon in the world belongs to the Kingdom of Berft, so you must be thieves yourselves.”

“I won't indulge your word games any longer.”

“Who knows? Perhaps you simply worked your craftsmen so hard that they ran away.”

“Do you intend to deny it to the very end?”

“It's not a denial. It's the truth.”

The Black Toad executive ground his teeth.

“Very well. I formally request an inspection of all Golden Moon's workshops and craftsmen.”

“Ha! Listen here. This isn't your company. Who gave you the right?”

“An official letter from the Empire should already have reached the Kingdom of Iasin.”

Before long, knights from the Kingdom of Iasin visited the company. They demanded that it open its workshops to prove its innocence.

The matter had grown beyond Jetoson's ability to handle, leaving Aman no choice but to agree.

“... Very well. But if your claims prove false, you will pay an appropriate price.”

“Of course.”

Aman was confident. It had been less than a few months since they had begun recruiting craftsmen and building workshops, and they had thoroughly cross-checked everyone's identity.

Most importantly, the mana cannons weren't actually made in those workshops. They came from Berge. The workshops existed merely to keep up appearances, so they housed no craftsmen responsible for the cannons' core technology.

But then...

“M-Master Galio!”

“It's Master Galio...!”

The people who recognized the Black Toad executive were unquestionably among the craftsmen from Iasin. Or so Aman had believed.

“One day, I opened my eyes and found myself here... Sob.”

The craftsman now shedding streams of tears and claiming to have been kidnapped had volunteered, declaring that he wanted to spend the rest of his life at Golden Moon.

“There they are. Our company's craftsmen.”

The eyes of Galio, the Black Toad executive, turned cold.

“Why, what are these men doing here?”

Jetoson averted his gaze. Aman answered stiffly.

“They are citizens of Iasin who voluntarily applied to join our company. There must be some mistake...”

“They kidnapped us!”

“They threatened to kill us unless we handed over the technology for making mana cannons!”

“Greedy frauds!”

“There you have it. Will you still deny it?”

“Something is wrong here!”

“I checked myself. This can't be...”

“There's no need for excuses. Our company head entrusted me with two letters. One offers a formal apology and promises compensation should our claims prove mistaken. But it seems we won't be needing that.”

RIIIP

One letter fell in torn shreds.

“The other sets out what you must do should our claims prove true.”

The letter was handed to Aman. As he unfolded it, Galio recited its contents.

“First, return the kidnapped craftsmen.”

“Second, to prevent the technology from leaking, surrender every craftsman who has learned to make mana cannons to Black Toad Trading Company.”

“Third, pay compensation to the company and craftsmen who have suffered damages as a result.”

“Fourth, recover all profits earned from selling mana cannons and all mana cannons made using our technology, and return them to our company. That is all.”

“Should you refuse, our company will not hesitate to use force. I trust you will make the wise choice. And remember that the Empire stands behind us.”

Aman's face went deathly pale.

* * *

『... That's what happened.』

“... Unbelievable.”

“It sounds like a carefully designed trap.”

Berge nodded at Ernyan, who had been listening alongside him.

They had secretly planted spies when Golden Moon was recruiting craftsmen, then made them come forward with their accusations.

“When Golden Moon recruited craftsmen and established its workshops, there hadn't been so much as a mention of mana cannons.”

All Berge had done was verbally tell Aman that he would send him mana cannons.

“This is a deliberate scheme to bring down Golden Moon.”

“What could Black Toad possibly want from this?”

“That's what we'll have to find out. We need time.”

Berge nodded.

“First, find out more about those so-called craftsmen. Send people to the nobles and the royal family to ask for help, too.”

『Yes. I'll do so.』

Despite that answer, everyone present knew that obtaining Iasin's help would be no easy task.

And that even a great dam could collapse from a single small hole.

* * *

It began with the Iasin royal family.

“Had we known Golden Moon used such dishonest methods, we would never have invested in the first place.”

“You've been misled! We've been falsely accused!”

“Still denying it when the evidence is plain? There's no need for further discussion. His Highness the prince wishes to withdraw his entire investment.”

The Iasin royal family's investment was the first to be withdrawn. Once the royal family pulled out, other investors began demanding their money back, one after another.

“Please, give us just a little more time! We'll clear our name, I promise!”

“With the Empire taking action like that, what false accusations are you talking about? Just return my money.”

“My lord Count!”

“Let go of me!”

Money began draining away like the ebbing tide, and they had to wind down their ventures one by one to repay the investments.

Naturally, the fear grew, spreading beyond the executives to the employees. The company's operations were all but paralyzed, and every day brought relentless demands from creditors.

The one saving grace was that Hilderan had not asked for its investment back.

But most people believed it was merely a matter of time—and that the moment Hilderan did so would be the moment Golden Moon collapsed.

* * *

『Are you certain they did nothing of the sort?』

“Of course, Your Highness. If they were that sort of company, I would have acted first.”

『Then what about the mana cannons? Those can't be manufactured so quickly.』

“... Your Highness. Can you swear not to tell anyone what I'm about to say?”

『... So there is something behind this.』

“As you say, it makes no sense for a company with no foundation to manufacture mana cannons in just a few months. But wouldn't things be different if there were something more to it?”

『Are you offering to tell me?』

“If you help me, Your Highness, I certainly can.”

『...』

The answer came only after a long while.

『This is my older brother's doing.』

“... Your older brother?”

『Black Toad Trading Company belongs to House Osrian.』

『Given that House Osrian supports my brother wholeheartedly, it's safe to regard this as his will.』

“...!”

“... Why?”

『My brother showed a particular interest in you. Do you remember?』

“... Is that all?”

『He probably dislikes the fact that you're closer to me. And while he's at it, he can swallow the company and reap enormous profits.』

Martin murmured.

『Helping Golden Moon would mean entering an outright struggle with my brother. Is your secret worth that much?』

“It is.”

『Not a moment's hesitation.』

“There's no need for any. I can stake my name—Hillen Cargill's name—on it.”

『Your name does carry considerable value...』

Martin fell silent again. After a long while, he spoke.

『You have no reason to feed me nonsense.』

『Very well. If that secret proves as worthwhile as you say, I'll help you.』

“Thank you!”

『Nothing is decided yet. So what exactly is this secret?』

Hillen cautiously lowered his voice. As the atmosphere inexplicably grew heavy, Martin swallowed without realizing it.

Then...

“Your Highness, do you know of a dwarf named Logger, who caused such a stir across the continent?”

『...!』