Chapter 82

Episode 82

“I am a member of the church. When you say ‘business,’ you mean trade, which doesn’t seem to align with the church’s principles.”

His words were a lie, but his eyes couldn’t deceive me. I had already activated “Mind’s Eye.”

Mind’s Eye judged his statement about the church’s principles as “false.”

It meant he had an idea about the kind of business we were planning. He was indeed a formidable opponent.

“We’ve been tasked with creating a trading company under Lady Lucia’s orders.”

“I’ve heard about it. It’s not going well, is it?”

“I just came from the government office. To be honest, I believe obtaining a business license is just a matter of time. It’s always good to be prepared.”

Sir Godfrey stared at me intently, seemingly wary.

He must have sensed a kindred spirit.

We were both bound by the concept of “inspection.” Exploiting that connection would make the negotiation easier.

“But there’s some baggage between us, isn’t there? It wasn’t long ago that you pressured me by mentioning the family’s donations.”

“One needs a card up their sleeve to survive in this harsh world. If I hadn’t done that, we would still be stuck in Caribe. I apologize if I offended you.”

“Hmm.”

“Just as I act in the best interests of the family, I hope you can set aside your personal feelings and open your heart for the church.”

After a moment of contemplation, Godfrey nodded.

“I suppose I can hear you out. What kind of business are you planning? It must be something substantial if you’re creating a trading company.”

“You’re well aware of the recent surge in monster activity.”

Godfrey, being a paladin-turned-inquisitor, was more knowledgeable about monsters and demonic beasts than anyone else.

“The incident in Caribe is affecting the surrounding areas. Monsters are appearing more frequently. As a result, the number of mercenaries and adventurers hunting them has also increased.”

“You’re planning to enter the military industry.”

“To be precise, we’re planning to sell equipment. Our equipment will allow people to fight monsters and demonic beasts more effectively.”

“You’re creating specialized weapons?”

“To be precise, we’re imbuing existing weapons with divine power.”

The suspicion in Godfrey’s eyes finally cleared. Applying holy water to weapons and armor was common practice. The problem was the cost.

“We’ve found a way to maximize the effects of holy water while using less of it.”

I took out a small vial from my pocket and shook it. A mystical purple liquid swirled inside.

“Applying this potion to weapons will enhance their effectiveness against monsters and demonic beasts. The only drawback is that we have to do it ourselves.”

“Do you have a finished product?”

“Of course. Jericho, bring it here.”

Jericho returned a moment later with a longsword. It was placed on a luxurious red cloth, making it look impressive.

Presentation was important when dealing with items treated with holy water. We didn’t want to be accused of blasphemy.

The sword looked ordinary at first glance.

But a lot of effort had gone into its creation. The most difficult part was concealing the power of the Tulu family, Jericho’s lineage, with holy water.

Fortunately, the Tulu family’s power had been kept secret for generations, allowing us to conceal it.

Even power had a form.

Swordsmanship styles were a prime example. Families that valued ostentation had flashy styles, while those that valued practicality had simpler styles.

The same went for magic. Applied magic, excluding elemental magic, was generally secretive.

The Tulu family’s enchantment magic was so intricate and subtle that it was impossible to discern with the naked eye.

“I don’t sense anything different… How much holy water did you use?”

“We can enchant about thirty weapons like this with one bottle of holy water.”

“Thirty weapons with one bottle?”

A bottle of holy water contained about 300mL. In other words, we only needed 10mL per weapon.

*Hummm*

The sound of divine power resonated in the air. Godfrey’s body glowed white, and divine power flowed into the sword.

His eyes widened in surprise.

He hadn’t noticed it before, but the dormant magical power within the sword awakened when he infused it with divine power.

“The base is a potion, and the holy water acts as a catalyst. That’s why we can enchant many weapons with a small amount of holy water.”

“Unbelievable… But that wouldn’t be enough to amplify the divine power significantly. Is this a trick?”

“How could I deceive you, Sir Godfrey? If you’re skeptical, you can test its power yourself.”

“Do you have a monster prepared?”

“This way, please.”

We led Godfrey to the warehouse. In the middle of the cluttered space, a goblin with bloodshot eyes was caged.

“Grrrr!”

Defeating monsters was easy, but capturing them required considerable skill and experience.

But with Jericho and Selendis on our team, capturing them was a piece of cake.

The goblin bared its claws and glared at us as we approached. I opened the cage door, and it lunged at Godfrey.

*Slash!*

His swordsmanship was impeccable. He sliced the goblin in half with a single stroke.

He stared at his sword, now dripping with green blood. He seemed lost in thought.

“Well?”

The answer was obvious.

I had been surprised when I tested it myself. The holy water’s power had been amplified almost tenfold.

The power of the Tulu family was truly remarkable.

“It’s not bad, but… its application is limited.”

“Mind’s Eye” judged his statement as false. He was hiding his true thoughts.

He demanded honesty from others but didn’t follow his own rules.

We left Jericho to dispose of the goblin’s body and returned to the dining area.

“The reason you find it limited is probably because you’re strong, Sir Godfrey. How much saltier would the ocean become if you added a pinch of salt?”

My flattery seemed to work. He finally offered a positive comment.

“It’s definitely a useful weapon for ordinary people. And the reduced holy water consumption makes it commercially viable.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

“How did you create it? How did you amplify the holy water’s power? If the base is a potion, then you must have mixed in some herbs.”

“It’s a secret recipe we developed after years of research. I hope you understand that I can’t reveal the details.”

Godfrey examined the sword again and then spoke, “Alright. Tell me what you want.”

“We want to purchase holy water at wholesale prices. Can you help us?”

“Wholesale means you want a discount. That’s impossible. Holy water is a sacred liquid bestowed by Lamirach. How can we haggle over its price?”

His reaction was expected.

Godfrey mentioned the “regular price” because he wanted a bribe.

I approached the matter carefully, avoiding any misunderstandings.

“We don’t need a price lower than the cost. But if the price is inflated, it will affect our profitability. And it would be difficult to offer you a separate commission. That’s why I brought it up.”

In other words, he could take his cut discreetly.

I hoped Godfrey understood.

“I’m merely spreading Lamirach’s grace and the gospel. What use do I have for a commission? I’ll sell it to you at cost.”

“Excellent. We’ll deliver the payment directly to you, Sir Godfrey.”

I had created a system where he could embezzle funds without raising suspicion. Godfrey didn’t refuse, despite the extra effort it would require.

“But it wouldn’t be fair for the church to only receive the payment for the holy water. I would like to request a royalty for every enchanted weapon sold.”

He was greedier than I had anticipated.

“Of course. We’re willing to offer an 8:2 ratio. We’ll take 80%.”

“20% for the church seems a bit low… I can’t make that decision alone. I’ll report to the archbishop and let you know.”

“Understood. We’ll be waiting for good news.”

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Godfrey stood up without finishing the food and drinks we had prepared. He was clearly eager.

“Wow! The Inspector’s silver tongue is truly impressive! He managed to win over an inquisitor!”

“You’ve worked hard, Master.”

“Good work, everyone. Young master Eloan is coming soon, so prepare to negotiate with him. Even if it’s a bluff, it has to be convincing.”

“Yes, sir. We’ll prepare immediately.”

Jericho, being the clever man he was, would spread rumors about my connection with young master Eloan.

That would put pressure on young master Hylix and the bureaucrats. They were the ones who had obstructed the establishment of the trading company.

If word reached the Duke, they wouldn’t escape punishment.

I returned to my office and sat at my desk, taking a short break.

A book caught my eye.

“The Legend of Aldebaran.” The Lady had lent it to me during our trip to the capital.

‘It was more interesting than I expected. I noticed things I had missed when I reread it.’

Moreover, the current situation strangely mirrored the story, allowing me to immerse myself in the protagonist’s journey.

The protagonist of the book was the daughter of the Demon King, reborn in the body of a noble lady.

One day, the archdemon Diablo staged a rebellion in the demon realm, massacring the Demon King and his entire family.

The Demon King’s daughter, the sole survivor, was reincarnated in the human world with the help of her loyal servant, Alquines.

Pleiades, the Demon King’s daughter.

The story was told from her perspective, detailing her growth in human society and her quest to reclaim the demon realm.

Jericho had mentioned that this book was so popular that almost every noble in the capital had read it.

‘It’s too realistic. As if it were based on a true story.’

Perhaps the Lady had a reason for lending me this book.

‘Wait, a reason?’

I opened the book again. There was a part I wanted to confirm.

It was the scene where the protagonist created a secret organization. It was a branch of her family but also a crucial stepping stone for her invasion of the demon realm.

I had felt a strange sense of déjà vu when I read this part.

‘Crimson Blood. The members of this organization are all victims of demons.’

‘Crimson Blood’ later expanded into an organization called ‘Blood Revenge’.

There were those whose families had been massacred, those who had suffered grievous injuries, and even royalty whose kingdoms had been destroyed by demonic invasions.

The common thread among those who gathered around Pleiades, the Demon King’s daughter and noble lady, was “loss,” and the cause was demons.

Jericho’s past suddenly came to mind.

He was a descendant of demon hunters, a mage from a family that had been fighting demons for generations.

‘If I can apply the Inspection Unit to Crimson Blood…’

I closed the book and immediately left my office.

Perhaps I could unravel one of the key secrets of ‘Queen Maker’.

The key was Selendis.