A week later, Viscount Medicine was once again receiving a visit from Marquis Greed.
"Have you made up your mind? I don't see Lady Annie here — surely you're not refusing? You won't be getting your hands on that dragon."
"I can't hand over my daughter…"
"Hmph, can the Alchemists' Guild even hold out? Business must be tough. Get the dragon and you'll turn things around in one stroke."
"That's… I'll absolutely repay the debt another way, so please, not my daughter!"
"Dad, it's fine. I don't mind. I'll go to Lord Greed's place."
Just as Viscount Medicine was desperately trying to find some other method of assistance, Annie entered the room.
"Annie! I told you not to come in here!"
"Oh my… What a sensible young lady. And beautiful without a shred of makeup, too. She'd make a fine concubine for my son — no, a proper wife."
"Stop it, Annie! Do you even understand what this means?!"
"Father, I'm not a child anymore either… I know that if this situation where we can't get our materials continues, everyone who works with us will end up on the streets. It's okay — even if I go to Lord Greed's place, I'll keep practicing alchemy."
"Annie…"
"Bwahahaha! Splendid! It really is money! There's nothing money can't buy!"
"Money, money, money — aren't you ashamed to call yourself a noble?!"
"Who's there?!"
"My name's Alan, adventurer. Viscount Medicine, sorry for the intrusion, but good day to you. And Marquis Greed — goodbye. Shortly,
you
won't
be—"
You won't get away."
The guards will come and arrest you."
And then, the guards stormed in.
◇◇◇
Several days earlier, at the royal palace.
"What is this letter? 'Counterfeit gold coins were used in the taxes Marquis Greed paid to the royal family. This must be investigated immediately'..."
A certain civil official stared in astonishment at the contents of a document that had somehow appeared on his desk.
His superior, noticing the man's reaction, walked over and peered at the document.
"What's wrong? Let me see it. ...This must be investigated at once!"
"But if we trust this suspicious anonymous letter and it turns out to be wrong, the consequences could be dire..."
"And what if it's true? What happens if it comes out that we swept this under the rug? Can you not tell which is more terrifying — the royal family or the marquis's house?"
"Y-Yes! I'll have it investigated immediately!"
The pale-faced official hurried out of the room.
"Lord Geese, this should be satisfactory, I trust."
The superior who murmured those words to himself was a member of the duke's faction.
◇◇◇
Alan had asked Duke Geese to arrange for Marquis Greed to be investigated.
Of course, even Marquis Greed would never use counterfeit gold coins in the taxes he paid to the royal family.
However, Alan had used [Reverse] on all the gold coins Marquis Greed's house had paid to the royal family, transforming every last one of them into counterfeits.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Gentleman Thief] [Dark Magic] [Rock-Iron Magic] [Sacred Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Blazing Magic] [Freezing Ice Magic] [Magic Hand] [Seduction] [Pain Relief] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Fire Spirit's Protection] [Phantom Demon] [Lightning Speed] [Dark Spirit's Protection] [Monstrous Strength] [Thunder God Sword] [Good Fortune] [Clear Storm Magic] [Humility]
Rank: Silver (Alisa: Gold)