A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

217 – War Is a Business (7)

After introducing the prepared slaves, or rather researchers, to Bathory.

“What is this? Am I dreaming?”

Bathory could hardly believe the current situation.

“Am I hallucinating? If not, am I dreaming?”

I understand.

When I first returned to the day my father declared treason, I felt that way for several days.

“Huge budget. Sophisticated laboratory. Even prepared engineers who can be used as research staff by taking them to the Magic Engineering Research Institute and raising them for about half a year. Even though they are all in their late teens or early twenties, they are at their most energetic. In addition, thanks to the training in Gibraltar, the low-quality physical strength typical of researchers is non-existent, and in fact, they have strong bodies that don’t seem to break down, and they even have extraterritorial rights that no one can say anything about even if they research until late at night…!”＜ Br＞

The legal issue of granting late-night research permission for researchers under the age of 20 does not yet exist in the kingdom.

“There is an environment prepared for me like this? Is this a dream? Be honest, Gray Gibraltar. You came from the future and prepared this to invite me here, right? Huh?”

“What kind of crazy talk is that?”

For a moment, I burst into laughter without realizing it.

‘Damn.’

Maybe it seemed like an overreaction to Bathory’s sudden words of her, and I stayed as calm as I could.

“I didn’t prepare it for you, but I prepared it for the ‘hero’ who understands and can research magic engineering the best on the continent.”

“Hero…”

“Yes, a hero. To use my father’s expression, an alchemy master.”

Although the fields are different, being recognized as a master in a field, especially by the strongest among masters, was not just a greeting.

He acknowledged that his father studied magic engineering and understood how difficult the field was.

Although he secretly set up a place underground in the wasteland of Nostrum, in just a few years he was able to prepare a facility that allowed him to compete with the first-time researcher at the Imperial Magic Engineering Research Institute.

Among the original books and materials they studied was a book written by Bathory Erzsebet.

Above all.

“They have talent, passion, and grit. If you like them, you can take them to the empire.”

Active support is provided in setting and executing the budget for researchers.

“But I need to make this one thing clear.”

“What is it?”

“If there is no result, someone else will take over this position. Either call another director of the Imperial Research Institute, or find someone at Orosol Academy and have him study for 10 years.”

“…Isn’t that kind of natural?”

Even if the condition put forward is to ‘show as much performance and ability as the budget has given’, there is no justification for rejection from the parties’ point of view.

Unless you hate Gibraltar.

“Okay. So what do you want?”

“Anything.”

We are willing to hand over the Caroline Production Center and Gibraltar Magic Engineering Research Institute that we created to the Empire’s magic engineering researchers.

“…What?”

“Of course, what needs to be done right now is ‘safety and efficiency.'”

For our safety and efficient victory.

“The most certain way to win a territory war while minimizing casualties among allies.”

“…”

“If that can be solved, and thanks to Major General Bathory, we can easily defeat St. Geo Nostrum, the Marquis of Barcel, and the countless other b*stards of the Empire, then you can research anything.”

“…Really, anything?”

The expression gradually becomes strange.

“No way.”

Now is the time for me to step forward.

“My father said that, but isn’t there such a thing as goodness?”

“Anything, no?”

“Nothing is allowed.”

Director Bathory looks disappointed.

He puffs out his cheeks as if to say that this is different from what he said a moment ago.

“If they say they are going to develop something like poison gas that will only kill the people of Nostrum, shouldn’t that be stopped?”

“…No, look, Master Gray Gibraltar. Do you think I would try to develop something like that?”

However, after seeing how far my ‘anything’ line goes, Director Bathory immediately put an end to it.

“I don’t go to that level.”

“Is that so? I’m glad.”

“What do you really think of me? Just what I want… Yes, it would be better to let me know in advance what my good is.”

Major General Bathory spreads his arms and raises his head.

“The end of magic.”

“…”

“To change the world so that all mankind can enjoy magic, not just the privileged few with the talent of mana.”

“It is also the ideology of magic engineering.”

It’s because the topic is ‘mana’, but if it is changed to another word, it becomes a bit subtle.

For example, status.

‘Actually, my status is correct to some extent.’

Nostrum is the ability to become a noble simply by having a talent for magic.

As magic engineering spreads in the empire, the presence of wizards has already decreased, and this is the same in the kingdom.

‘Because the group of wizards in the kingdom hate the empire the most.’

A person called a court mage was not even a master level, but if a high-ranking mage decides to do so, he has the power to fly on a flying dragon and shower a train with fireballs to cause terrorism.

The era of magic is coming to an end, but the wizards of Nostrum are not completely dead yet, just as it takes three years for a rich person to go bankrupt.

There are only masters in our time.

Master level only.

“What do you think? Are you, the master of Gibraltar, going to hire a technician with this kind of thinking as an advisor to the research institute?”

“No problem.”

“Oh, seriously?”

Director Bathory’s eyes are narrow.

“Maybe in the future there will come a time when knights fall with a single musket shot?”

“The knights of Gibraltar…”

“There may come a time when both the knight and the master, both you and me, die with one blow? Are you really okay with such a time coming?”

“…I will come. Absolutely.”

It will come.

In terms of years, it was less than 7 years ago, a specially manufactured musket-

‘It is questionable whether an object with a 2m barrel should be called a musket.’

There will come a time when master-level marksmen using specially made sniper muskets will pull the trigger from 2km away to assassinate people.

Even master-level people sometimes felt threatened for their lives, and as the decades go by, there may come a time when even masters die with a single musket shot.

“But not now.”

“…”

“And what if it comes? At that time, the descendants will adapt and live according to the situation.”

“To put it a little more calmly, what if your children and descendants might not be able to adapt to the times and be left behind?”

“That’s the problem of those children. I’m not asking them to do anything on the bare land with nothing, but what would I do if I passed on everything they had to me and it was all wasted? By that time, they would have all grown old, or died and been in a coffin somewhere “

“…It’s fun, really.”

Bathory smiles mischievously.

“You really don’t care what happens to Nostrum?”

“Then you thought I was talking nonsense?”

“I thought you were constantly talking about self-brainwashing to please Astasia and the Habsburg Emperor.”

“These are people who will understand if you tell a lie when you tell the truth.”

Pair.

“That’s it. If our goals are aligned, the rest is practical.”

Now that we know each other’s true intentions, it’s time to solve real-life problems.

“Please let me know if there is anything you would like to add or change about the plans our knights have made.”

“…Didn’t you say that drivers ride bikes instead of horses?”

Bathory put his her hand her her her in his her bosom her her her and-

“Are you planning on attacking me head on on your bike?”

“Yes. …Where do you get glasses like that?”

“A woman’s secret.”

I soon took out my glasses from a place that wasn’t even my pocket.

Not just any glasses, but rather large, round glasses.

“Is it by any chance a magic tool?”

“No? It’s just fashion.”

“…Does wearing glasses for fashion improve your knowledge and improve your ability to think?”

“It’s my personal research routine. It’s become a habit to always wear it to prevent something from splashing into my eyes while researching. When prosecutors wear their swords on their waists, they put them in a certain position, right? It’s similar.”

“I understand.”

If your routine is important, what does it matter whether you wear glasses or not?

All you have to do is show your abilities.

“Okay. Then where should we start? First of all, we have a bike. Does it have to be a bike?”

“No. Even if it’s not a bike, anything that can infiltrate the enemy lines as quickly as possible will suffice.”

I spread three fingers.

“Honestly, if the timing is right, I could take the knights and kill them all right now.”

“But what if there is a reason for delaying the timing… ?”

“Sir Mente, who went to declare war, has not returned yet.”

I think he’ll probably come back tomorrow.

As early as today, before midnight.

“And one more thing. If possible, I would like to take some more time and then make more of the cowards within the kingdom gather in the Marquis Territory.”

“Are you going to wait until the pus gathers and bursts?”

“It’s pus… Yes. It’s probably similar.”

Although it is not a very pleasant expression, it is not a wrong expression considering the healthy direction of the kingdom moving forward.

“And one more thing. Director Bathory needs to listen to this more seriously.”

“Hmm, what is it?”

“It’s about money.”

“…I don’t really like talking about money?”

Director Bathory waved his hand resolutely.

“Just give it to me.”

“…”

He stretched out his hand to me.

“Why don’t you give us a budget first so we can research to our heart’s content?”

“You received it from your father.”

“The more money you have, the better.” That’s the truth of life.”

“I know, but it’s a bit heartbreaking for someone who has to pay money.”

“If you know, give it to me. No, will you give it to me? Will you not give it to me? Yes?”

Director Bathory smiled mischievously and stretched out his hands to me.

I laughed out loud at that hateful smile that a child gave me as if he was asking for candy, but-

“I told you earlier. If only we achieved results…”

“You’ll get your money’s worth, so come on!”

“Yes. How much do you need?”

“First of all, lightly, 50 billion?”

“…”

Is it light?

I don’t know.

“Okay. About 50 billion…”

“Look, Gray Gibraltar.”

Director Bathory hardens his expression.

“To Thaler.”

“…Are you crazy?”

“I told you. The more money you have, the better.”

“Does 50 billion thalers make sense?”

“I don’t know. I’ll just buy it and see. I took advantage of it. Give me a 50% discount and only give me 25 billion thalers.”

“…”

I found it absurd that they were so proudly telling me to come up with a huge budget.

“I understand.”

“Uh, really?”

“I don’t know how much we’ll raise, but let’s try to raise funds. While Director Bathory is conducting research, we’ll raise research funds and increase our allies.”

“…Hmm, what are you planning again?”

“It’s not a big deal.”

I held my staff instead of my sword and extended it towards Major General Bathory.

“W-what are you going to do?”

“…Why are you so surprised?”

“I am a magic engineering master, not a monster like you?”

“…”

I guess so.

He looked really scared, so I withdrew my staff and extended my hand instead.

“In the name of the canyon and the sword.”

“…A knighthood ceremony, what is it?”

“I forgive your sins.”

“…What is it?”

“I will get paid for this.”

“…?”

“Well, to put it simply,”

From noble mtl dot come

I lightly flicked my finger at the emblem engraved on my suit.

“Have you ever heard of an indulgence sword?”

“Indulgence sword?”

“Yes. To put it another way, you could say ‘indulgence’. Or ‘examination’.”

It’s not that big of a deal.

“For those who bought the Sword of Indulgence, even if Gibraltar wins against the Marquis in the future, I will not hold them responsible or guilty. I plan to sell ‘Gibraltar’s forgiveness’ to all noble families in Nostrum.”

“…”

“This will sell better than you think.”

Because I sold it best.

“Some sins can be forgiven with money. A little, a lot of money.”