act7mini

Ah, well, let me welcome you in advance!

H-Hello...

Right, in conclusion, this was a lighthouse.

Hm? A lighthouse? Did I hear that right? Our informant said it was 'really complicated by the looks.'

(I thought it was some important facility...)

It was built before that disaster in Iberia.

I get it now...

The inner structure is still pretty intact, though the related technologies suffered heavy damage. We don't know for sure how much we can retrieve from here.

And let the engineering team following this up know—

This place has the potential to become a new Rhodes Island office.

Okay...

*Sigh*... If this actually ends up becoming a new office, I will probably have to run back and forth all the time, won't I?

And it's so close to that place too...

Well, I guess we don't exactly have much choice. We aren't the only ones that need this, either. The informant said there's been some refugees who escaped the destroyed towns to the south. They have a tough journey ahead, and they'll need someone to look out for them.

Right. Perhaps this lighthouse... will end up being fairly useful.

We can provide medical services for the Infected in the area and help those in need, and we can... watch the tides that draw towards the land closer and closer day after day.

It may not shine upon the area anymore... but it can still watch over this coastline.

Please wait here for a moment. We'll have someone bring you the contract.

All the fine points of this collaboration are detailed in here. Please bring it back and have the Count read it over.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask... Miss Carnelian? Are you listening?

Hmm?

Oh... Sorry, I spaced out a little.

So, as I was saying, do you have any questions about this collaboration?

Not for the moment. I will bring this back to Count Hohenlohe so that he may make his decision.

Wonderful. I look forward to the Count arriving at a decision that will benefit us both.

Are you leaving already? If you have no other plans, Sir Feuerbach told me to accompany...

You needn't worry. Do let Sir Feuerbach know how thankful I am for his generosity.

Since I am here, I will take a stroll around the city to see the sights.

Ah, would you like a guide, then? I can arrange for one right away.

Please don't worry yourself. I will just be strolling about.

Oh, this reminds me... I visited before when I represented the Count on our last collaboration. I believe that was before the Empresses' last banquet?

Precisely.

If I remember correctly, this place was filled with the horns of other species as decorations. Are we trying out new style?

Hmm, take this ornament for example. You don't see its quality and lustrousness every day. If I have to guess, they must be made from Solidified Origincrystals.

That is correct.

Miss Carnelian, I must say, you have a good eye, and far more so than before.

You flatter me.

As far as I know, stable crystals such as these can only be mined in the deepest parts of Originium veins, and most of them are buried inside the Originium itself. That makes them extraordinarily rare.

And these crystals are far harder than stone. Normal carving processes cannot so much as make a dent on them.

Considering the difficulty of the process, I suppose it must have taken Sir Feuerbach some effort to amass such a massive collection of fine decorations?

It's not actually that difficult. Master Feuerbach found this collection of Originium art pieces by coincidence when he diligently inspected his territory.

He thought that their black luster is full of appeal and mystique, making them prime for viewing, and so he had us place them here so that they may be appreciated by all our visitors.

In that case, I guess we should raise a glass to his generosity.

Miss Carnelian, you seem to be familiar with the subject.

I can't say I'm familiar with them... Though... Hm... I've seen how these are produced before, so it does stir my emotions a little.

Take a look at this. For just a small chunk of Origincrystal like this, you must dig several hundreds, if not thousands of meters deep. If you lose your footing on your way down, you will most certainly die.

I heard the mining sites in this territory have had quite a few accidents of late? It's such a small trinket, but the amount of blood spilled for its mining could perhaps fill the knight's bathtub.

Miss Carnelian, I believe you are mistaken...

Oh?

For most, these items are indeed difficult to obtain, but they are merely seasonal decorations for Sir Feuerbach.

Such considerations simply do not matter to him.

Whatever his wish is, all he has to do is give the order. That is why we stand here.

Heh...

Do you perhaps see it differently?

I'm afraid you wouldn't want to know how I see it.

With all due respect, Miss Carnelian... You are indebted to the Count's kindness.

Hm.

The world was shocked when, two years ago, we found an outsider whom none of us have heard of serving the then-underage Count Hohenlohe as his attendant. This has never happened before.

You should be more careful and consider the Count's position and reputation before you act.

It sounds like you're not very fond with the way I do things.

And before you deny it, I've actually met plenty of people who antagonize me as well as those who see the Count as an outsider among the nobles.

So, am I more or less on point?

It is no simple task to have the entire Leithanien be so accepting of an outsider.

But you don't seem to mind those rumors at all. Certainly, you are no less talented than what the rumors suggest. You are bold as well. Anything I say can only hold you in high esteem.

Hah, you certainly have a way with words, but I will take that as a compliment.

As for the accident that occurred at the mines... You needn't worry. Our guards and Casters are already on the case.

You are right. We indeed need to be more careful given the situation. This accident will be dealt with accordingly. No one will be able to use it against the Count.

Oh, you think that's what I'm worried about?

Okay, let's say that's how it is, then. Though, as far as I know, the way you deal with things accordingly isn't generally very peaceful.

We're merely ridding our blankets of dust.

Oh, so you're saying taking out everyone involved is a way of solving problems?

It looks like I'm overstaying my welcome. Please excuse me.

Before I go, let me remind you that while Sir Feuerbach is free to ignore the sick in his territory, the Empresses are no gentle little lambs. Looking down on them will not serve you well.

Oh, no no. You must be mistaken, Miss Carnelian, we have never looked down upon the Empresses.

The Empresses need authority. They need a stronger, authoritative rule. They want to be obeyed, not followed. They have already turned their attention toward us and made the time to deal with us.

Understandable. All rulers eventually walk down this path.

It's hardly a surprise. We are very familiar with how each other think.

Looks like you are pretty confident.

You are fearful because you haven't experienced Leithanien's past, Miss Carnelian.

The Empresses, whether the golden or the black, simply do not compare to the shadows that once shrouded Leithanien.

And that is despite the fact it was them who overthrew those shadows.

You are saying...?

I lived through that era myself. The red crystals hung high above the towers became a symbol of terror that parents would use it to force their children to behave.

The Witch King...

We don't speak that name these days.

Indeed, I seldom hear of anything on the subject, only some rumors here and there. I heard the legend that a red glow illuminating the entire night sky and how it could be seen all across Leithanien.

The older generation seems to never have forgotten this, yet they are always mum on the subject.

This is normal... Aside from trust, fear is also an effective way to silence men.

I witnessed that sea of red too... And on the second day, the townsmen found that the people of the next town over were all dead. There, dead fowlbeasts were scattered all across the ground, with their feet torn.

No one knows why. All they know is there were a red glow and the countless corpses it left behind.

This sounds like a horror story.

Alas, it is also nothing more than a story.

There exists no reason, no regularity, and no explanation. No one dared to discuss it. Leithanien used to be like that.

Of course, the Empresses' rule is hardly lax either, but we at least know what we are dealing with.

At the very least, we are not afraid to extend our greetings at balls and banquets unlike that era. We would cower underneath the throne's imposing presence and frightfully worry whether we would be so unfortunate to witness that unreasonableness firsthand.

It's hard to imagine...

It is indeed difficult if you haven't seen it with your own eyes.

We don't talk about the past anymore. Now... we have a bright future ahead of us all.

A bright future, huh?

Perhaps you are right. There is much that we can do.