Yukia was leaning against the window frame of her residence, gazing up at the pitch-black night sky. ‘I’m not certain. I can only vaguely trace the past based on his words and actions.’ The cold night wind brushed against her skin, and Entikkan's words echoed in her ears. 'However, Maximilian is a noble who understands the weight of words. There's no reason for him to add lies to such matters─' Adding that, Entikkan had said, ‘Exploration. Exploring the uncharted lands of the western Empire is a mandatory curriculum for Empire Point cadets. It’s also the main source of income for guides.’ For Yukia, who had once been a guide together with her father, it was an obvious fact. Come to think of it, that season will soon arrive. The time when cadets who are graduating from Empire Point swarm into the western Empire. 'It's hard to believe.' At Yukia’s reply, Entikkan let out a hollow laugh. 'I feel the same. So verify that necklace you said you saw.' Yukia lowered her head. The way the Yaken love their ‘carving’ differs from one Yaken to another. It can be called unique. ‘The method of carving. The grain when using a blade. The thing that remains with us like fingerprints─ you would know it, wouldn’t you.’ Yukia searched her memories. Her father’s rough hands as he carved wood. The appearance of objects being shaped with careless-looking yet precise strokes. “.......” She tried to recall the faint pattern of the necklace on Maximilian’s chest. For some reason, it did not feel unfamiliar to her eyes. ──Flap. Suddenly, a shadow that flew across the night sky landed on the window frame. An owl. A small letter was tied to its ankle. Yukia opened the dispatch. [ ◆◆◇◆◆◇◆◇◇◆◆◇◆◆ ] She applied the cipher table in her head and decoded it. The contents were concise. [Comrade. Report Maximilian's next destination.] It was an order that had come from the Revolutionary forces. *** Even late into the night, the party didn't end. Rather, it continued endlessly. Alcohol and conversation, dances and songs filled the gaps between them, various amusements mixed with desire. I relaxed moderately just enough and entrust my body to their flow, then when I grow tired of it, I step out onto the balcony. ──! ──! ───! I looked down below the railing. It was quite a noisy commotion. An undivided space, music that hardly sounds like music, many people tangled together as they dance. However, they and I are clearly separated. Was this also about status and class? The newborn republic that rose after the Empire’s downfall abolished the class system, and before long the entire continent did the same, but even then, the ‘invisible’ status remained unchanged. “.......” I gazed at Canilan's night view while downing my drink. Whoooosh....... The wind blowing from a country that will soon collapse is clear. Moreover, not even a trace of the Ezenheim could be felt in this country. That made it even cleaner. “Ezenheim.” It was a strange thing. As I went back and forth through Canilan and encountered countless types of people, I did not meet a single Ezenheim. Of course, I couldn't rule out the possibility that they were hiding deeper within, in more intimate inner circles or high-level political and financial circles. “Why.” For a moment, soaked in the alcohol, a hypothesis billowed up on its own. The more I think about it, the stranger it feels. Why do the Ezenheim not show their faces at all in Canilan? And yet, why do they stubbornly crawl into the Empire? Even when full-scale persecution began, those bastards deliberately dug burrows beneath the Empire’s land. If, as I expect, the Supreme Leader of the Eastern Union is an Ezenheim or their puppet, it would be far safer and easier for them to establish their headquarters in the East instead. “Terrain.......” Suddenly, my thoughts stop at that word. ‘The underground cities they dug, remember those? We thought they gathered there to survive, but they were developing dimensional gates. Those demonic bastards deceived us.’ Before my Regression, Edmon had spoken the word Dimensional gate. A gate to summon beings from another world. If so, is the reason their numbers are relatively small in Canilan because this land is unnecessary to their plan? If, to open a Dimensional gate, the land of the Empire, or something of the Empire that I cannot understand, is an essential condition....... “Here you are.” At that moment, a voice calling me from behind cut off my reverie. It was Ren. Her red hair was disheveled, and her face was flushed bright red. “Are you all right?” “Ah~ I’m fine~” She had been drinking quite a lot. Her alcohol tolerance might be comparable to that Sebestian's. “It seems you’re in a very good mood.” Ren let out a snort of laughter and leaned against the railing beside me. “Do~ you think~ Canilan’s prosperity is going to end~?” "Eventually. There's no party that lasts forever." I had been steadily dropping hints to her. “Haha~” However, she seemed to have no intention of taking them to heart. "I hear the Empire is preparing for war. It's common knowledge. Then wouldn't Canilan earn even more~?" The political situation was certainly like that. Ren blindly believed in Canilan's future precisely because she knew this. If Canilan’s economy had continued like this for just five more years, it might have had a chance to enjoy the wartime boom and economically subordinate the Empire. “.......” “.......” Silence flowed. The night wind brushed past between our quiet standoff. The sweet smell of alcohol lingered at the tip of my nose. I was slightly worried. What if Commander Ren was the type who valued a person's face greatly, and had felt a fateful attraction to me─ “By the way. Is Sebestian doing well?” It was unfounded worry. The hand holding my glass trembled. At some point, the drunkenness had vanished from Ren’s eyes. Pupils that had turned as cold as a blade seemed to pierce straight through me. “You recognized me from the start.” “Yeah.” She murmured while slowly swirling her glass. “I wondered whether to kill you or not. You don’t know this, but I hold a lot of grudges against Sebestian.” "If you had, I would have fought too." "Against me? Nah, you're still far from ready." Ren looked at me. It was strangely warm for a sneer. "The commander who pacified Genen. Maximilian, the knight of Ebenholtz. But there are no tanks here, kid." “.......” It is a truly irritating form of address. My actual age, including everything, should be far greater then hers. “I heard Commander Ren is still in her twenties. You must look older than your age, if you're calling someone like me a kid.” Ren's eyes narrowed. Her pupils contracted vertically. They were the eyes of a cat before its prey. However, she soon relaxed. "......Grudges shouldn't miss their mark. They shouldn't spread carelessly either." She let out a sigh and looked up at the sky. “I’ll keep your identity secret. I don’t particularly want to blab about it, and I have no intention of stopping my enemy’s son from throwing money into the trash.” Her revenge was limited solely to Sebestian. "That's a relief." "However...... never mind." Ren shook her head. “Let’s have a drink. To Canilan’s prosperity.” Ren raised her glass while looking at me. I followed and lifted mine as well. "If that can be so." Clink. The glasses collided, and the liquor sloshed. With a loosened expression, Ren downed the strong liquor. Watching her like that, I thought of the future. Before the Regression, Ren, the commander of Akarius, challenged Sebestian, but was defeated and died. Sebestian was that kind of man. Far more than you, Ren, could fathom, and far more than this continent could imagine── A monster. *** I conducted several meetings simultaneously via video call from the Canilan penthouse. This technology called ‘video conference’ was truly fascinating. In Canilan, through silver screens integrating magical engineering, one could have face-to-face conversations with someone hundreds of kilometers away. ─Can you hear me? Eight split screens floated on the silver screen. Within them, twelve executives from Canilan securities firms and banks with whom I had contracts were visible. “......I can hear you.” Their expressions alone were unpleasant. Every single one of them was arrogant and greedy, looking at me as if I were a sucker. ─Yes. Mr. Ebert. First, please take a look at this market situation. Volatility has exceeded the standard threshold. The man on the first screen began while chewing on a cigar. ─According to our company regulations, we have no choice but to raise the entrusted margin rate and fees once more. Your position is far too risky right now. ─That’s right. It’s the same for our Merilch as well. If you do not provide additional collateral, we will have no choice but to proceed with forced liquidation. ─Yes. This is Rekiano. We are also requesting a recalculation of the lending fee. Please understand that this is an unavoidable measure from a risk management perspective. ─If you’re short on funds, you could even pull out now, well. The procedures for breach of contract will be naive....... They chatter on as they please. Compared to these people, Russell was practically a gentleman. At the very least, he treated me like a VVIP customer for the amount of money I spend. “Shh.” Without changing my expression, I brought a hand to my mouth. “I will pay everything.” They hesitated. “I understand the volatility. Since Canilan has been posting strong gains day after day, it’s reasonable to accept the increased risk of the products I hold. Accordingly, I will deposit that much.” I glanced toward Dieter beside me. ─Kahaha! As expected, you’re very generous! ─Oh my, thank you. Seems we were worrying for nothing. ─Then we’ll end the communication here. May your investments be successful! Among them, a bald man who looked especially like a badger hurriedly tried to cut the connection, but─ “Wait.” I raised my hand. “Perhaps.” I slowly swept my gaze across the twelve faces on the screen. “I have a slightly different view, and since good faith is important in contracts, unilaterally changing conditions just because the market situation has changed goes against business ethics─” A brief silence passed. “─with that in mind, is there anyone who would like to proceed according to the original contract?” In fact, I would make money through their downfall. Since I would step over their corpses before long, I was giving them one last chance. Canilan is part of my plan, and I am not someone who enjoys playing money games. ─Uh...... No thanks. Take care. ─Good luck~ Take care~ ─This is a battlefield. Winning is justice. Hahaha. ─Honestly, the contract itself is the regulation, and those regulations change with volatility, you know. Good luck. Most of them sneered, and the badger-like guy snorted derisively. That was when. ─……Sigh. One man in the corner raised his hand with a sigh. He was the president of one of Canilan’s native banks, [Old Haven Bank]. Its size was relatively small, as reflected by its position in the corner of this video conference. ─We’ll just take it according to the contract. There’s no need to squeeze the customer dry. The other executives looked at him as if he were crazy. ─Oh my. How kind, President of Haven. Trying to run your bank into the ground like that? ─Leave him be. That’s why he’s old-fashioned. Hahahahaha. ─How very virtuous of you. There were many mocking remarks, but I nodded with a faint smile. “Understood. Old Haven Bank. I’ll remember it. The fees you’ve set will be deposited starting today.” ─Oh, thank─ I signaled to Dieter. Flash. The screen turned off immediately. "Dieter. Can't we use this kind of technology in the Empire?" “It is possible to use it, but the range is limited. In Canilan, where the land area is small, it can be used safely, but in the Empire, there is a high risk of mana waves being intercepted.” “That’s a shame.” I fiddled with my fingers and glanced at Dieter. “You said we need one more bank to acquire, right?” “Yes. Kronen is a special-purpose bank, so we need a bank that operates with the market and the private sector. Old Haven Bank should be sufficient.” “Good.” As the price for being the only ones who did not act out of greed, they will survive. “As for the rest, strip them to the bone. Especially that badger-looking guy…… you know, right?” “Yes. I understand.” Dieter said as he packed his bag. “Then, shall we depart now?” “Ah. What about the Ransom short selling? You said we can borrow and sell stocks that don't exist here.” “All positions have been entered.” He held out Canilan’s latest terminal. On a flat crystal screen, my asset status was displayed. “Canilan really has everything.” “Yes. Thanks to its geographical characteristics.” Dieter adjusted his glasses and explained. “Since Canilan is surrounded entirely by sea, the density of mana in the atmosphere is significantly higher and finer than in the Empire. This makes it advantageous to miniaturize such precise mana circuits. And because the national territory is small, the resources needed for security can also be reduced.” All communications across the continent, including these terminals, are based on mana. I don’t know the details, but roughly speaking, it means transmitting mana waves and receiving them. Thus, each country inevitably has different ways of using them. Mana’s properties change depending on the space. “I see. Let’s go back to the party hall now.” ....... Canilan Archipelago, Panulan Island. The entire island had turned into a single party venue. Airships flew through the sky, scattering multicolored smoke, and flags emblazoned with the [Ransom Corporation] logo fluttered on every street. [ The Largest Tech Summit on the Ground: Land Protocol ] An enormous crowd had gathered. Investors, technologists, journalists, and among them were quite a few Imperial nobles and Imperial Guard members as well. Among them, there was not a single Ezenheim. After unpacking my luggage at the finest hotel, I took a seat in the VVIP section of the open demonstration hall, with the sea as its backdrop. “Oh my~ You’ve arrived.” At some point, Russell appeared and extended his hand toward me. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Ebert. Shall I hand over the 100 dollars right away?” We had made a 100-dollar bet on whether this technology demonstration would succeed or fail. “When the result comes out.” “Ah~ yes. Let’s do that. Then I’ll be off now. I’ve got lots of friends. Let’s meet again later, around dinnertime!” Russell bustled around busily to manage his clients. Among them was Ren as well. When Ren’s eyes met mine, her eyebrows twitched upward. Boom───! Just then, a loud reverberation settled over the stage. A spotlight shone down on it. Accompanied by majestic music, the event was about to begin. ─Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the largest tech summit on the ground! The host’s voice, holding a microphone, echoed across the entire island through mana amplifiers. After that, a man wearing a turtleneck walked up to the center of the stage. The CEO of Ransom Corporation, Savin. ─Thank you all for coming such a long way. In particular, I would like to thank the distinguished guests who came all the way from the Empire. He gestured toward the VVIP seats where the Imperial nobles were gathered. ─Of course, in terms of national power, the great Empire is far ahead…… but when it comes to seeing the future, perhaps we in Canilan are a little sharper. Please don’t take offense. Aren’t we all here to make money together? A confident provocation. The audience cheered, and the Imperial nobles chuckled as if at ease. ─Now, everyone. Today, we have gathered here to write a new chapter in history. The CEO’s expression hardened into seriousness once more. He pointed to the silver screen spread out behind him. ─Community Land Protocol. Intricate magic circles and magi-tech blueprints crossed dazzlingly. Lines of mana spread out in blue. ─Before that, let me ask you one question. This Panulan Island you are standing on right now─ was this land originally here? The hall fell silent. He grinned and snapped his fingers. Snap. A map appeared on the silver screen. ─This is a map from five years ago. There was only the blue sea. No island existed. Not even reefs, just a vast open ocean. People began to murmur. ─And now. The screen changed to the ‘present’. It was an image of Panulan Island rising proudly from the sea. ─That’s right. At this very moment, you are standing on ‘created land’ that our Ransom Corporation secretly launched five years ago. Wooooah! As if on cue, exclamations burst from the audience. ─But we don't stop here. The CEO spread his arms wide. ─Today. Right here. Before your very eyes. A new land, wider and more vast than before, a land that did not previously exist, will rise from the sea. Everyone stood up from their seats and looked around. Pssssssssst──. The technology was activated. Thousands, tens of thousands of mana circuits began to glow from the seabed, intertwining like a net. Seawater frothed as if boiling, and the mana in the atmosphere swirled, drawing geometric magic circles across the surface of the sea. ──Boom! A heavy vibration was transmitted from beneath our feet. It was a stirring that shook the entire island. “Oh……! Oh!” “It’s rising! It’s really rising!” From beneath the parted surface of the sea, facets of land glowing blue began to bloom upward. A smooth artificial foundation, meticulously compressed and processed with mana. Kuuuurrrrr─ It grandly revealed its form above the ground, pouring seawater down like a waterfall...... “So?” At some point, Ren had approached me. She smiled as she gazed at the land being created on the far side of the island. “Do you still think Canilan is going to fall?” I did not answer. I simply waited quietly for what would come next. ──At that moment. Kudududududuk────! The sound of something breaking, unable to bear an unmanageable weight. A rupturing sound burst out that probably everyone here felt was ominous.