Chapter 413: Money, Responsibility, and Scoops

My reason for providing Imron with information this time wasn't purely out of goodwill. Getting close to one of the most prominent blacksmiths among the player base was part of it, but... the main reason was to assist with the plan presented by the fiendish pencil.

It's true that the clan 'Black Wolf' was a top-tier clan, but considering they were essentially split in half and dealing with a terrible case of matching pump, it was basically just a 3-man opponent.
However, the Anti-Black Dragon Faction currently throwing their weight around on the New Continent is a massive force that cannot be contained within the framework of a single clan. Selling them a favor to buy their cooperation definitely won't be a waste.

"Fufufu... This kind of groundwork isn't so bad either."

I don't have an Evil alignment like Pencilgon, but as a gamer, I don't hate steadily preparing for a massive payoff.
Besides, if someone carrying an obviously incredible weapon like the Holy Hammer 【Mjolnir】 tells me they'll make a weapon for me, my lips are bound to loosen up a bit.

"Now then."

Thanks to obtaining the Gourmet Tongue title, I can clearly taste the high quality of the black tea served to me—who was being treated as a VIP. With Diale's help, I returned to Rabituza from the desert town I was in just moments ago, met up with Emul, and then came to Fifticia.

"Well, well, Sunraku-sama..."

"I just came for normal shopping this time, so you didn't have to go out of your way to come see me, you know..."

"What are you saying? Leaving this to a lowly apprentice would be a disgrace to the name of our trading company."

A half-naked man in a bird mask relaxing on a luxurious sofa, being treated as a VIP by the young master of a major trading company... it's a scene where pretty much everything is wrong, but the power of money sure is great, huh.
That being said, I really did just come for normal shopping this time, so I'm just gonna casually buy out all the furniture that looks like it's of decent quality.

"...By the way, Sunraku-sama, regarding that large gem..."

"Let's hear it. Oh, and also... the old gem is resting on the lap of the gods."

"Ooh... That is wonderful to hear. So, regarding that matter... It seems there is some movement from the Second Knight Order."

From the Second Knight Order? Does that mean the Second Knight Order is up next now that the Third Knight Order is being exiled to an island?
The Golden Scale Trading Company is huge, after all. When I casually asked, 'Can you guys do some spy-like stuff?' they actually pulled it off perfectly... Hmm, so the progression of the World Quest doesn't just stop at simply triggering Siegwurm's EX Scenario, huh?

"Yes... It appears they are procuring weapons."

"...For the New Continent?"

"Most likely. However... yes, this is strictly confidential, but there is a similar movement within the Tri-Divinity Church as well."

.........Wait a second, let me think.
Uhh? First, the Third Knight Order is exiled (forcibly repatriated) to an island, then the Second Knight Order prepares their military forces, and behind the scenes, the Tri-Divinity Church is making their move... This is no good, things are getting a little tangled up. If I just toss this info to Pencilgon later, she'll probably manage somehow. I don't care if it goes straight to the Demon Lord route; I'll sell that guy out.

"...Hmm, thank you, Antonio-kun. By the way, do you have a special someone?"

"Pardon? Ah, well... I have a wife."

"I see, I see... Then you should have a ring made out of this and give it to her."

I casually hand over a Tsar-Beryl Emperor Treasure Crystal as a present.

"This is...?"

"A gem from the New Continent......... Under the current circumstances, I'm probably the only one who can mine it."

"Haha, you've got me beat... Next time, I'll have to serve you something more than just black tea..."

Don't worry about it. We're close enough for that, aren't we...

"Yo Sunraku, ain't exactly been a long time, has it?"

"U-Ussu."

My pinky... No, surely I can play this off, right...?
What is with this drastic drop? I was just enjoying a billionaire roleplay moments ago, and now this... this is a scene straight out of a Yakuza movie where someone is about to take responsibility.
Being dragged away with a 'Now, now' by a smiling Emul to the Rabbit Palace in Rabituza only gave me a bad premonition to begin with, but the moment I met Vysache face-to-face, I braced myself for the loss of my pinky finger.

"I-It's a beautiful day today, isn't it..."

"Yer hidin' it, ain't ya?"

"H-why did you ound fut!?"

Impossible, there shouldn't be any reason for him to find out!? Wimpy-nine is practically under house arrest right in the middle of the Sigmonia Frontline Valley—at the very least, that's how I guided her there. There's no reason for the cave Sammy-chan-san made to be discovered. Why?

N-No, that's not it... There is only one thing I should do here. Why am I protecting a 'Goldunine,' and what do I plan to do from here on out? Including all of that...

"I'll cut off my finger...!!"

"I can't follow the flow of this conversation at all, desu wa!?"

"Hold yer horses, Sunraku. We (I) ain't askin' ya to take responsibility like that... But ya know, ya oughta at least drop a word 'fore ya do somethin' like this, don'tcha think?"

Why? How did he see through it? Is there some kind of tracker attached to me? That seems like a possible explanation, but... no, I feel like there's a different reason. At the very least, I don't think ShanFro would compromise by making a character 'somehow grasp events happening on the exact opposite side of the continent.' Is it some kind of ability Vysache himself possesses?

"I have no words in response to that... But Aniki, are you sure about this?"

"Yer well aware of it yerself, but that thing's got a troublesome body... That's why there ain't no point in gettin' all worked up over every little thing. But ya better be prepared to take proper Responsibility for it, ya hear?"

This is it, my only choice here is to push forward aggressively!

"Yeah. Depending on how things go, I might end up putting the Vorpal Bunnies on defense duty out of a job, though."

"Kukaka, well ain't that a problem! Guess I'll have to think up a new place for 'em to work!"

Yesss, perfect comms! This is perfect communication, right!?
Drawn in by Vysache's cackling laughter, I also floated a smile and...

Pon.

"Well, let's see what yer made of... If ya screw this up, don't think you'll be gettin' off with just dyin', ya hear?"

".........'ssu."

P-Please spare me from a character deletion...

───

─

"Ugh... the transition from the rich man's move to the Yakuza's responsibility move was way too fast..."

"What exactly did you do, Sunraku-san, desu wa?"

"Ah? I'm keeping a Goldunine as a pet."

"Hee... Heeeeee!?"

Eei, don't bring it up again, don't bring it up! I absolutely refuse to end up being exiled from Rabituza; I'm gonna dodge that no matter what, so you better be prepared.
Don't underestimate my capabilities as a Tamer...!!

"Enough is enough, desu wa... Worrying about it is just a waste of time. So, what are you going to do now, desu wa?"

"Hmm, heading to the frontline base."

"Got it!"

There's someone I want to see.

While deeply feeling the convenience of Emul's fast travel, I warped to the frontline base, and with Emul tagging along, I headed toward the place where a certain person should be, mindful of the public eye.

"Yo."

"Hmm...? Wha-, you're Sunra..."

"Shhh, quiet... I'm going incognito. Is the top brass of your group here?"

"N-No... The boss went to bed early saying they have an unavoidable errand tomorrow. No, wait! If I let you get away here, I'll be in trouble! The sub-leader is here, will that do...?"

The sub-leader, huh... hmm... well, whatever. Either way, I actually want this information to circulate to some extent.

"Understood, put me through to them."

"Hello, I am Seto. I've heard the rumors."

"May I ask what kind of rumors?"

"At least among us, you're known as the 'Walking Bag of Information'."

You said it. I can't even argue because it's the truth. That being said, I don't feel much joy in simply fleshing out a strategy wiki, and I don't want to easily part with information I put a decent amount of effort into obtaining.

"So? What brings you here today? Have you come to bless us at 'Library' with some information?"

"Don't be so sarcastic... It's a massive scoop. And on top of that, I have a request."

If you don't fight, you won't survive. In that case, I'll play a little dirty to ensure that wimpy snake survives.

"I triggered the EX Scenario for Goldunine the Inexhaustible."

Author's Afterword
Seto-san is an academic Professor-hardcore-fan to the point that the moment she found out the Professor started playing ShanFro, she immediately spent hundreds of thousands of yen that very day to buy all the VR equipment. If the Professor weren't married, she'd probably be making approaches in that direction too. By the way, she's also the one who recommended the Professor establish a clan.
Even so, as hardcore of a fan as Seto-san is, even her face twitched when her respected Professor turned into a magical girl.