Mautravers looked at the handsome young man standing before him.
Logard had called him "hope."
This was different from when he had introduced that troublemaking bastard, Akito.
When Logard introduced Akito, he had simply said he was a figure from the human side who came to prevent war, so Mautravers should meet him and hear him out.
He had suggested that the boy might solve the mining problem, but as he said, it was only a "might."
Akito had been incredibly indecisive, playing both sides—including Mortagne—only to end up testing the waters without committing. In the meantime, all the preparations that had been underway came to a halt. The timing was lost, resulting in massive losses.
Mortagne suffered as well, but the situation reached a point where two Zvoni Lords looked like they were being toyed with by a single human. They had no choice but to kick him out.
Due to Akito's failure, Logard's credibility plummeted.
Later, Mautravers heard that Akito had been wandering through other territories, committing strange acts that tarnished the reputation and trust Logard had built over a lifetime.
Furthermore, the one stirring up trouble in each territory and ruining things instead of solving them was a human.
Since the human brought by Logard—the leader of the moderates who preached peace with humanity—was acting that way, opinions began to lean even more heavily toward war.
That was why Mautravers had intended to refuse this meeting.
Even now, Logard was being cursed as a human puppet and a traitor who would sell out the Zvoni. His honor was in tatters, yet he had brought another human?
If this human failed as well, Logard would never be able to recover, and the moderates would collapse.
Then, a war would break out where either the humans or the Zvoni would be annihilated.
One wrong move would lead them straight to hell, so Mautravers had tried to avoid the meeting out of fear of failure.
In fact, he had tried his best to persuade Logard, who had come to convince him.
He asked if Logard had lost his mind, bringing another human despite knowing the current situation, and warned that if this one failed, everything would be over. He tried to reason with him, worrying for the future of the Zvoni and his friend's well-being, but Logard simply shook his head.
『He is the hope that will save the Zvoni.』
『...Is he the one who will bring the new hope?』
There was a legend passed down in the Zvoni world.
The one who released Lilia's seal would be the one to bring a new hope to save their world.
Since Lilia—the legitimate successor of the ancient imperial Norbert family and their ancestor—had appeared, it meant the new hope had arrived as well.
Logard shook his head.
Since Akito had already earned the hatred of the Lords, Logard couldn't claim that he was the one from the legend.
『Must it only be the person from the legend who brings hope? I do not believe that destiny is set in stone.』
It was a statement typical of the progressive Logard.
Wasn't the man himself running around and putting in every effort to save the Zvoni world and find hope?
If it weren't for him, war would have already broken out. Since he had managed to hold it back this far, he was one of those hopes himself.
Before the hope Logard held could be extinguished, he was doing his best to fan the embers of a new one.
In the end, Mautravers met Seo Yeon-woo.
As a Lord, Mautravers had to save his territorial people and help the Zvoni as a whole.
If Logard failed again here, there would be no turning back.
So, if Seo Yeon-woo could provide even the smallest justification, or even a tiny bit of help to save his people, Mautravers intended to pretend to be overcome and side with them.
Swaaaaaaa—
However, this young human, who seemed to know nothing of etiquette, made a proposal he never could have imagined.
Fertilizer poured out of the containers, forming a small hill. Against that backdrop, the young man wore an arrogant smile.
"Let's trade. I will revive your land. In exchange, you save the lives of the Zvoni and the humans."
He claimed the price of the trade was each other's lives.
The former benefited Mautravers, but the latter was a benefit for the whole.
The honor of striving to prevent war was magnificent, but the more Seo Yeon-woo traded, the more financial loss he would incur.
How much of that material would have to be poured in to remove the contamination from the entire territory?
If that stuff called fertilizer was real, he would have to spend an astronomical amount of money.
Yet, for the sake of peace, he was willingly accepting the loss without hesitation.
'How honorable...'
To the Zvoni, honor was more precious than anything.
Mautravers couldn't help but feel respect for the actions shown by this cocky young human.
However, he didn't let it show and intentionally hardened his expression.
"Why go through the trouble of digging in a mine? That all costs money. Building facilities, paying workers, quarrying, and processing—do you think that's cheap? Just import our fertilizer at a low price. And use the leftover money for welfare, since you love your people so much. If you build a sports center or an oriental medicine hospital in front of their houses, your approval rating will skyrocket."
Even though he would be the one suffering the financial loss, he spoke like a merchant who only cared about profit.
Looking at Seo Yeon-woo, who performed such an honorable act while behaving so vulgarly, Mautravers asked:
"Setting aside whether that resource actually removes contamination, if I accept your proposal, I will become subordinate to you."
Since Seo Yeon-woo was the only one who could bring the fertilizer, it was a monopoly.
Moreover, it wasn't something they could just live without; it was a precious resource that determined whether they lived or died.
If he accepted the proposal and handed the mine over to Mortagne, Mautravers would become dependent on Seo Yeon-woo and would have no choice but to follow whatever he said.
"Of course. I can't have you stabbing me in the back while I'm saving the world, can I? I need to hold at least one hostage."
Mautravers barely managed to hold back a burst of laughter.
To admit it so casually—this young man was truly delightful.
He performed the most honorable deeds while acting more despicably than anyone.
Conflicting traits existed within this one man's body.
"Do you intend to control me as you please?"
"Just let yourself be controlled for a little while. We're going to achieve peace, aren't we? That stuff is a pretty common resource in the human world. Though the processing costs are a bit high."
"... ..."
Mautravers understood Seo Yeon-woo's words.
Once peace arrived, the next step would be exchange between the worlds.
Resources lacking here might be abundant there, and resources abundant here might be lacking there.
As exchange continued, Seo Yeon-woo's monopoly would vanish, and various routes would open up.
Though he spoke with a brazen tone, the content of his words was pointing Mautravers in the right direction, much like a sage.
"Haaa..."
He was completely defeated.
He had intended to give in if provided with even a small justification, but the opponent had brought a perfect alternative.
It was a proposal that couldn't be refused, one that anyone would acknowledge.
By becoming subordinate to Seo Yeon-woo and crying out for peace, once peace was achieved, there would be no need to worry about subordination or contamination.
Mautravers wondered if there had ever been a time in his life when he had been so led by another's intentions.
It was his first such experience, but surprisingly, it didn't feel bad.
Exhaling a sigh, Mautravers soon broke into a smile and looked at Seo Yeon-woo.
"I am Mautravers ben Paulo. On the honor of my family, I shall follow you, Seo Yeon-woo."
"Um... you don't really need to go that far. Anyway, it was a good deal."
Seo Yeon-woo smiled and shook hands with Mautravers.
The strength in the grip showed respect and trust toward Seo Yeon-woo, and the two shook their joined hands for a long time.
"...? Excuse me? Could you let go now...?"
"Are you married, by any chance?"
"What?"
"My daughter is very beautiful. Her personality is good, and her abilities are excellent."
"What?"
"What do you think you're doing? We have more important matters at hand. Set aside such trivial affairs."
Suddenly, Logard cut in and pried their hands apart.
He practically pushed Mautravers away, leading him off. Seo Yeon-woo watched them blankly before turning around.
"What are you doing? We have to deliver because the customer is waiting. Hurry up and put back what was spilled."
"If we're just going to put it back, why did you tell me to pour it out?"
"It creates an impact. Business is all about the presentation."
Kicking the grumbling Rio's buttocks, they began to scoop up the spilled fertilizer and put it back into the container.
I persuaded Mautravers.
Why do these Zvoni bastards love playing matchmaker so much?
Since she's a Lord's daughter, I'm a bit tempted, but that old man is probably going to get his throat slit by Yukina soon anyway.
Now Logard will negotiate with Mortagne.
He'll probably tell him to join the anti-war side in exchange for handing over the mine without a conflict.
Thinking about it, it's better to have both of them on my side rather than choosing just one.
There are only seven Lords to begin with, so if two of them become my allies, I gain that much influence.
They might be independent in the game, but this is reality, so they can't help but be influenced by the general trend, friendships, and connections.
Thinking that way, I can understand why Akito tried to persuade both of them.
Maybe that bastard was thinking of something like this too?
...Actually, he's such a professional busybody that he probably just did it without thinking.
Anyway, I persuaded both of them at once.
Originally, one of them would disappear depending on the choice, so the fact that I still have to persuade four more doesn't change.
As I was busily shoveling fertilizer back into the container, I felt a gaze and turned around to see the Zvoni staring at me.
"See? I did the persuasion you said was impossible in no time, didn't I?"
"...You just did it with money."
"Do you have that kind of money? Financial power is an ability too."
"Akito could have done it too!"
Ah, these Akito parents are really frustrating.
Now that Akito's heroines have shut their mouths, the Zvoni extras are making a fuss.
Just how did Akito brainwash these guys? His protagonist buff is too strong.
However, when people take your side so blindly, it only makes a person with a conscience feel more embarrassed.
Right? You haven't lost your conscience yet, have you, Akito?
I glanced over, and Akito had his head turned, pretending not to hear this conversation.
Teacher...? Conscience...?
"If Akito had known, he would have solved it too."
Since I used a money cheat, Akito might have been able to solve it if he had known.
But do they think this can be solved just by having money?
Trade and industry aren't that easy, you amateur bastards.
Do you know how much I was ground down and scolded under my Team Leader-nim?
You can't just get this much volume immediately just because you have money.
The reason I could pressure Rebecca and the other merchants was thanks to the rapport and business connections I've built up until now, and I could process it to fit the local situation immediately because I gathered a bunch of geniuses in the laboratory.
Of course... it might have been better if I had handed this to Akito and sent him...
But back then, I thought it was easy enough to just choose between the two, so I didn't even think of fertilizer.
"Yeah, it's all thanks to Akito."
"Are you mocking me?"
Nooo~ parents. If you coddle the kid too much, you'll spoil him.
In reality, the people of the world will credit Akito.
Only Mautravers and Mortagne will know that I helped, and I plan to announce to the Zvoni that Akito solved it.
That way, he'll become the hero of the Zvoni world, and when war breaks out, Akito will step forward to achieve peace.
Ah—must be nice. Akito has someone to clean up even when he shits, and he becomes a hero just by standing still.
It's annoying, but the story got twisted because I exist, so I have to do this to save the world.
He's just getting what he was originally supposed to have.
...Hurry up and rationalize it like that. If I keep thinking about it, I'm the only one who feels wronged. Let's rationalize. Rationalize.
I wonder who I should persuade next.
I suppose it'll be easier if I start with the easy Lords to create a trend.
In that case, it'll be our giantess, Beatrix.