Chapter One Hundred and Eighteen: Public Statement
“Karen, you’re going to the Alchemists’ Guild today, right?”
“Yep. For the supporter interviews.”
Tim, who had come out of the bath, said "Hmm" and put his hand to his chin.
“…Then I’ll go call a carriage.”
“I can walk there, you know?”
“Uh, well, it might rain.”
“Wait, so the reason you were soaking wet this morning was a sudden shower?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
For some reason, Tim had shown up soaked from head to toe this morning. She had thought he’d been taking a bath somewhere, but apparently it had been raining. Now that she thought about it, the sky did seem dark. There was no such thing as weather forecasts, so there was no way to know the chance of rain.
“Harald, you’re staying home with me. Let’s skip going out today.”
“Good idea. If it might rain, you both better stay in.”
“Alright, I’ll go call a carriage!”
With that, Tim ran off to call a carriage and came back.
“Karen, about the adventurer supporter interviews—they’ve been cancelled.”
“You mean the person who was scheduled for an interview today couldn’t make it?”
Karen, who had made it to the Alchemists’ Guild, blinked in surprise at Natalia’s words.
“Not just that person—every single adventurer who had interview appointments scheduled cancelled their interviews.”
“…Could this be related to the Gubert Trading Company?”
“So you do have some idea what this is about, Karen.”
Natalia sighed.
“You know about the dungeon investigation team being formed, right? The Gubert Trading Company is apparently participating in it. Something about the son making atonement for the crime he committed against His Majesty the King—they declared they would refuse all rewards and spare no private funds to dedicate themselves to investigating the cause of the dungeon’s anomalies.”
“I see. So the King decided to forgive Isaac for that.”
For the country, it was like gaining a useful piece they could work to the bone in the face of the dungeon anomalies—a situation that could potentially destroy the nation. For the Gubert Trading Company, even if it was nominally atonement, it was participation in a national project.
Even if the costs came out of their own pocket and the reason was having committed a grave crime, if they could demonstrate sufficient performance in the actual national project to save the country, it would become a stepping stone for the B-rank Gubert Trading Company to rise to A-rank.
No matter how much one struggles, this world is built on merit and ability. If you can secure a chance to prove your ability, the gains can outweigh even the losses from committing a crime.
“And that Gubert Trading Company apparently issued a statement.”
Natalia held out a paper that seemed to contain the written statement to Karen.
Seeing it, Karen’s eyes widened.
“Is it true that you demanded the Gubert Trading Company apologize for trying to kill Harald, that you told them to issue an apology statement?”
“It’s true.”
“Oh no, I didn’t want to believe it, but it’s a fact…”
“Hmm. The demands I requested are properly written here.”
The statement Natalia showed her contained the circumstances of how the Gubert Trading Company had risen to face the national crisis, how they had caused trouble for Karen in the process, and Karen’s demands regarding that.
The Gubert Trading Company was prepared to apologize for the trouble they had caused E-rank alchemist Karen, but they could not accept such demands from Karen; however, they would continue to strive to have their apology accepted, it concluded.
“What’s wrong with this?”
“How can you not understand?! This is why criticism is gathering against you! The other party is the Gubert Trading Company, you know? And now they’re also a key presence in the dungeon investigation that might determine the nation’s survival. You’re telling such a massive trading company to apologize for the sake of some powerless child. An E-rank alchemist is troubling the Gubert Trading Company. All for the sake of some orphan child? That’s not something that should be allowed, and especially among adventurers, distrust toward you is spreading at an unbelievable speed!”
“…So that’s how the story goes.”
“The Gubert Trading Company is probably secretly agitating to create that kind of atmosphere. But even I can understand the criticism. Karen, let’s go to the Gubert Trading Company together! We need to reconcile and have them retract this statement!”
Karen was pulled by Natalia, put into an Alchemists’ Guild carriage, and taken to the Gubert Trading Company.
It was a massive trading company that occupied a prime location at the intersection of the Merchants’ Guild Street and the main boulevard.
When Karen and Natalia visited and gave their names, the employees welcomed them inside despite having no appointment scheduled.
The desk in the reception room they were led to was, if Karen wasn’t mistaken, a beautiful amber-colored desk made from cross-sections of World Tree branches that had been shaped and polished, and Karen secretly widened her eyes at using such a desk in a place that wasn’t even a laboratory.
“Thank you for coming, Ms. Karen. And you are—”
“I am Natalia, a guild member of the Alchemists’ Guild serving as alchemist Karen’s representative. Karen had something to discuss with you, Mister Gubert, so I accompanied her to witness it.”
“Ms. Natalia, pleased to meet you. We are currently busy with the great national project, so I apologize, but I would like to hear your business directly.”
“Karen.”
Prompted by Natalia, Karen looked straight at Eugene. Eugene wore a faint smile. He had probably known from the beginning that things would turn out this way. Isaac aside, how much of this had been Eugene’s plan from start to finish?
“President Gubert—thank you for issuing the statement this time.”
“Karen!? What are you saying!”
After apologizing to the flustered Natalia with just her eyes, Karen turned toward Eugene and smiled. It was Karen’s genuine smile from the heart. There was no way Eugene, who had overcome countless trials and tribulations, wouldn’t understand that.
Therefore, Eugene frowned with genuine bewilderment.
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