At Kun’s words, Alon was bewildered behind a blank face.

He’d never given Kun anything like an “opportunity.”

‘If anything, shouldn’t I be the one thanking them?’

A merchant wasn’t a first-tier supplier.

Which meant that unless the merchant had already stockpiled the materials being offered to Alon in advance,

it would mean taking a truly massive loss.

“......”

Alon flicked a glance at Evan.

With a look that said, What is that even supposed to mean? Evan gave a small shrug.

No idea, it meant.

“First, let me ask.”

“Yes!”

“Is it true you can bring the materials exactly as written on this estimate?”

“It’s possible.”

“......”

Alon had asked just in case the estimate was pure fiction, but unfortunately, that didn’t seem to be it either.

Even more question marks popped up over Alon’s head, but Alon didn’t press further.

If someone was saying they’d take the loss themselves, there was no need to dig in and double-check it.

More importantly, the one taking the loss wasn’t Alon.

So.

“By when can you deliver the goods?”

“If I start gathering materials from now, I can do twenty percent in the first month. After that, I think three to four months will be enough.”

It was such a confident answer that Alon was a little surprised.

The amount of materials needed for expanding the territory was no small thing.

“Is there anything you need help with?”

“Help, you say?”

“Yes. If there’s something you need, I’ll provide support.”

Kun smiled and seemed to think carefully about something.

But only for a moment.

As if realizing something, Kun’s expression turned serious.

“Thank you very much for the offer, but I’ll handle this one on my own.”

“......You’re saying you won’t accept help?”

“Yes.”

That was the answer.

Startled inside, Alon asked again.

“......You really don’t need it?”

“I’m really fine.”

“......Really?”

“Yes.”

Kun nodded firmly.

Alon glanced at Evan.

Evan glanced back.

I seriously can’t tell what that person is even saying.

Me neither.

A brief exchange of identical eyes passed between them.

“If that’s the case... I’ll be counting on you.”

“Yes! I’ll do my best.”

In the end, Alon nodded, still feeling a little off about it.

Then, right after Kun stood up to coordinate the detailed schedule with Alexion—

Alon stopped Kun.

“Wait.”

Now that the negotiation was over, it felt like Alon had signed some kind of unfair contract.

Of course, the other side had wanted it, so the feeling was a little different—

but letting Kun just walk out still made Alon feel uneasy.

After shifting Alon’s gaze around for a moment, Alon suddenly spotted the statue on the desk.

The mini statue Sili had said she made yesterday as a test piece.

Alon did think, Something else might be better than this...

but there wasn’t anything else in the office that looked particularly valuable.

“Take this.”

Alon handed the statue over.

Kun’s eyes, which had been brimming with confidence until just a moment ago, went wide.

“Th-this... you mean this?”

Kun’s voice trembled slightly.

“Do you not want it?”

Alon awkwardly wondered if handing it over personally was a bit much and started to take it back—

“No, not at all!”

In the meantime, Kun rushed in like a fire and snatched the statue up.

“Really—really, I’ll work hard! Thank you so much!!”

Kun shouted loudly and bowed to Alon over and over.

Then, cradling the statue in both hands as if carrying something sacred, Kun hurried out of the office.

Right after Kun and Alexion left—

“Marquis.”

“What is it?”

“Did you, by any chance, learn hypnosis when I wasn’t looking?”

“Do you think I did?”

“That’s weird... That person was at the level of being straight-up hypnotized...”

Evan voiced the doubt.

‘...What is that, seriously?’

Alon couldn’t help tilting the head.

And at that moment.

While moving with Alexion, Kun—

‘Just like I thought. It was a test.’

Kun replayed what had just happened.

Marquis Palatio, only ever heard of through rumors.

The moment when the Marquis looked at Kun with those indifferent eyes—

...when they’d spoken so calmly just now.

“Whew—”

At first, Kun had been shocked by the Marquis’s reaction.

The estimate Kun had presented was, without exaggeration, an amount no merchant could offer no matter who came.

Of course it was.

That price point couldn’t exist unless a merchant accepted an absurd loss.

And yet, even after handing over an estimate that outrageous—

there wasn’t even the faintest trace of emotion on Marquis Palatio’s face.

As if it were only natural, the Marquis confirmed it and moved on to the next step.

And at that calm attitude, Kun thought—

wasn’t bringing in this estimate in the first place part of the Marquis’s test?

Marquis Palatio understood the position held in the world far more clearly than Kun had expected.

Clearly enough to know that even if a merchant like Kun took a massive loss right now—

as long as a contract with the Marquis went through, the ‘profit’ gained would far exceed it.

If the Marquis didn’t know that, there was no way the Marquis could react so casually, like it was obvious.

Of course, someone might raise a question.

Maybe Marquis Palatio just didn’t know anything at all.

But that was impossible.

Over the last few years, the Palatio marquisate had already become the largest commercial territory in all of Asteria.

And the owner of that enormous commercial territory didn’t know anything?

That didn’t make sense.

That was why Kun said there was no need when the Marquis asked if help was needed.

And the same when the question was asked again and again.

To Kun, that was the test.

Marquis Palatio knew, with perfect clarity, the value assigned among merchants.

Which meant the Marquis knew that merely choosing to contract was already help enough.

So Kun rejected the offer right away—

and passed the Marquis’s test.

And as proof, Kun received the statue.

A statue of Marquis Palatio.

“......”

With a fluttering heart, Kun carefully lifted the statue.

The information had already spread widely.

That the reason Caliban had been saved from Divine blood was because of the Marquis’s statue.

But Kun received a statue directly from the Marquis?

“......Wow.”

A small burst of awe slipped out.

Because Kun couldn’t help thinking that what had only been imagination yesterday—

might actually happen for real.

So.

‘No matter what it takes, I’ll finish this successfully...!’

Burning with motivation, Kun hugged the statue and let out an excited sound.

And Alexion, watching the entire scene from the side—

‘...Why is that person feeling things while staring at the statue...??’

—quietly took a few more steps away from Kun.

####

A full week after wrapping up the marquisate’s busy work, Alon stayed pretty busy preparing the proclamation ceremony.

Starting from the point when the ceremony was truly not far off—

“Hello, Teacher.”

“Yutia. Is your schedule all right?”

“This is something important to you, Teacher. I can’t exactly skip it.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“It’s nothing.”

Beginning with Yutia’s visit, important figures from each country came to the Palatio marquisate.

Of course, even with the sudden rush of visits, Alon didn’t panic.

Penia had already explained that this level of thing was simply etiquette.

Even so, there were two times Alon did get flustered, and the first was—

“Hello, Godfather.”

“...Rine?”

‘...You can come out now?’

‘Not yet. The interpretation isn’t finished, so I can’t use power outside, but I can move around on my own now.’

‘Thank you for coming all this way.’

‘It’s your event, Godfather. Of course I had to come. Though you did say you’d come find me first, and then you didn’t.’

‘......’

‘Of course I’m joking, Godfather. I knew you had things you had to do.’

‘Is that... so?’

‘Yes, of course. You said you were coming, so I secretly prepared a small gift, and I waited on top of the wall every day to see when you’d arrive, but still.’

‘......I’m sorry.’

Rine said it was a joke afterward with a faint smile, but it felt like it absolutely wasn’t a joke, so Alon ended up thinking Alon should make sure to take care of Rine in some way.

And the second time Alon was flustered—

was right now.

“......I didn’t expect the two of you to come in person.”

“No, of course we have to come. It’s your event, Marquis.”

“I’m the same. It’s your event—how could I not come?”

King Palmarian IV and Queen Torimavia of Raksas had come personally.

“Is... that so?”

“Of course. Have you needed help with anything lately? If you have, just say the word.”

“Oh my, I hear Caliban is struggling in all sorts of ways right now—this kind of thing is something a person with room to spare should do. Marquis Palatio, if there’s anything you need support with, please tell me without burden. I’ll help as much as I can, within what I’m able.”

“What are you talking about? Caliban is still prosperous.”

“Wouldn’t Raksas have more of what the Marquis needs than Caliban does?”

They were laughing politely on the surface, but the sight of two monarchs power-struggling while trying to sell Alon on I can help you better made Alon’s temples start to ache.

Penia had definitely said—

that while important figures from each country attended proclamation ceremonies as a matter of formality, royalty didn’t come in person.

So.

‘Isn’t it normal not to come?’

‘I don’t know either. Those two are weird...’

Alon and Penia exchanged a brief conversation with their eyes.

Then Alon got a grip and tried to steer the conversation with the two monarchs toward lighter topics.

Alon didn’t know why they’d come in person, but in the end, it wasn’t exactly bad for Alon.

Fortunately, while fairly normal, simple small talk continued—

“Mm-hm—”

Queen Torimavia suddenly cleared her throat lightly, then stared straight into Alon’s eyes and spoke.

“Marquis, may I ask you just one thing?”

“What is it?”

“You’re about to become a king of a nation soon—have you thought about marriage?”

“......Marriage?”

“Yes. The position of a partner is important.”

Alon was flustered, but at the same time, Alon understood what Torimavia meant.

For a king, marriage was essentially mandatory.

If you didn’t marry, unnecessary trouble could arise from below.

Still, from Alon’s perspective, the proclamation was right around the corner, so it felt too early. Alon was about to give a moderate answer—

“If you don’t have a suitable match, then how about my daughter?”

Torimavia cut in first.

“...Pardon?”

Along with Alon’s bewildered response, the green badge and red brooch on Alon’s chest began to glow ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) faintly.

...A little—no, quite a lot—like something that sent chills down your spine.