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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Santa Claus Operation
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“I’ll start by showering them with gifts.”
The first step was what I called Operation Santa Claus.
The mages probably couldn’t leave their sanctuary easily. Having been cooped up at home for a while myself, I knew exactly what that was like.
There are so many things you miss out on when you're stuck at home. Unless you're a wealthy noble like me, it's hard to even secure food, clothing, and shelter as you wish, let alone enjoy any hobbies.
I had chosen to stay home, but I still craved the things one could enjoy outside.
‘Things like plays or operas.’
I have a tool that can record and play them back.
That's right. I’m the one who invented this method of entertainment!
What I can record isn't limited to just arts and culture.
Mountains, the sea. I can vividly deliver any scene from this empire.
It could be a precious gift for those who can't go outside easily, or for children who have never seen such places.
That's not all.
I could also take pictures and create photo albums for the children who must be living cooped up there.
Bringing them out myself would be possible later, but not while I'm still just trying to earn their favor.
And using magic tools like this will also help with the contract I'll make with them later.
They'll all get a good impression of magic tools. It's killing two birds with one stone for me.
Of course, the videos and photos were only a very small part of my gift.
I wanted to make a first impression on them that no other noble could match.
Usually, one chooses between quantity and quality, but I'm different.
I compete with both. I can't give up on either one.
Just thinking about it was thrilling. The time had come.
In other words, it was time to go on a long-overdue spending spree.
And for that, I needed to offload some magic stones.
***
I was the owner of a magic stone mine, but I didn't know anything about their distribution or the specific mining cycles and yields.
I'd never thought I needed to know.
So this was the first time I was getting proper information.
A portion of the magic stones from my mine is supplied to the imperial palace, while most of it is piled up in a warehouse.
The imperial family mined and used the largest quantity of magic stones. Marquis Etoile was cooperating with the palace, and so was Marquis Epekel.
Nothing was publicly known about Marquis Epekel's magic stones, but there was no way he wasn't supplying them to the palace like Marquis Etoile and I were.
The imperial palace strictly managed the distribution of magic stones.
The largest volume of distributed magic stones came from Marquis Epekel's mine, followed by Marquis Etoile's. My magic stones weren't distributed on a regular basis.
This made my questions even bigger.
Wands that amplify a mage's power can be made using magic stones.
This means the imperial family could control everything from the production to the distribution of these wands.
‘Most of the mages who fought Darcy probably didn’t have wands.’
Wouldn't that create a huge difference in their combat power?
And yet, the fight between the mages and the imperial family continued? It didn't make sense.
Of course, the citizens weren't fools. They had found their own ways to rationalize it.
‘There are rumors that the mages found their own mine.’
It was plausible, but I didn't believe it.
Because nothing of the sort was mentioned in the book.
In the original story, magic stones were materials for the magic tools that strengthened the bond between Ryan and Reshuan. If there had been a hidden magic stone mine, it surely would have been mentioned.
…Probably.
I shook my head. *Let's not overthink this right now.*
‘These questions will probably be answered once I get there.’
I'd find out once I met the mages in person anyway.
I couldn't be more relieved that Darcy at least knew where the mages were.
I went to the warehouse and checked the magic stones, which were piled up like mountains.
Before I was reincarnated, Marso had been busy contacting merchants privately to satisfy her vanity, but I had simply been stockpiling magic stones until I spoke with Darcy.
It was gratifying to think that this was all mine.
‘I probably have five warehouses filled like this.’
This was why it was fine to give Darcy so much.
But I needed to get a grasp on the scale of my personal assets, separate from the mine I currently owned.
Before I go, I should also talk to the administrator in charge of my magic stone mine.
I needed to check the current mining yield and figure out how much I could commit to the contract.
My plan was to supply them with magic stones monthly, rather than giving them a large lump sum as payment for the contract.
‘Do they live in a forest?’
Could it be a mystical forest like in *X Reporter*? A place untouched by human feet.
I put a bundle of magic stones into a bag and finished getting ready to go out. I had my maids apply some light makeup, but I wore a comfortable dress.
My body, having changed during my time as a homebody, struggled with corsets.
In any case, starting today, I was going to make thorough preparations to impress the mages.
I hadn't met them yet, so I didn't know what they were like, but I had no fear that my preparations would be in vain.
Weren't these the people who had stood firm against Kies's condemnation for a long time, fighting for what was theirs?
Besides, they were the ones Darcy felt guilty about. People Darcy felt that way about couldn't possibly be evil.
***
I put on a hood to avoid people's gazes and got into the carriage.
My first destination was the back alleys. A place one might consider too rough for a noble lady, but one that Marso was quite familiar with.
With the distribution of magic stones so strictly controlled, the only places to trade them privately were with illegal back-alley merchants.
I didn't bother looking for a new place. I decided to just use the one Marso used to frequent.
To be honest, the process of finding another merchant was quite a hassle.
And I figured getting to know the back-alley folks might be useful later.
…Of course, this was pretty much my first visit since becoming Marso.
‘It’s such a relief that the book mentioned Marso visiting this place.’
Otherwise, I wouldn't have even known how to get here.
A cheap carriage, different from the one I usually rode in, and a coachman who emerged from the stables as if on cue. Even the meticulousness of weaving through alley after alley to shake off any potential surveillance.
These were things that would have been impossible for me to plan from scratch.
‘Marso was definitely no ordinary person.’
To think I'd find something to be thankful for among the things Marso did. It was nothing short of astonishing.
Accompanied by my knights, I opened the door to a general store that looked incredibly gloomy from the outside.
With the jingle of a bell, I stepped inside. The knights, as if this were routine, waited for me outside.
“Welcome…”
An old woman spoke to me from behind the counter. Her benevolent appearance, which clashed with the eerie atmosphere, created a sense of unease.
“I’m here to make a trade.”
“I understand.”
This was my first time at the scene of an under-the-table deal. The clandestine conversation was also an unfamiliar experience, so I felt nervous.
The lack of questions was good. I had nothing to say even if she asked.
“Here’s the payment.”
I set down the pouch of magic stones.
“Please wait a moment.”
The old woman checked the magic stones inside, weighed them, then disappeared behind a curtain behind the counter.
Now, once this woman brings back the money for the magic stones, the deal is done. The simple transaction process was very much to my liking.
No questions asked. This is great.
I waited quietly for the old woman to return, but was taken aback to see her empty-handed.
What, was this a scam operation?
I wouldn't have come if I'd known. As I narrowed my eyes, the woman began to sweat profusely and explained.
“The head of the merchant guild wishes to see you in person, Lady Etoile.”
“The guild master?”
“Yes. She says she has something to tell you herself…”
What could the guild master possibly have to say to me? I couldn't think of anything.
Is she going to complain that I haven't been here in a while?
“It won’t take long. In exchange, we’ve decided to pay you double the usual price. We know your time is money.”
The woman flattered me naturally.
To offer double the already high price for magic stones… the guild master must be truly desperate.
I figured it was a connection worth having anyway.
Meeting her in person would be beneficial for me too.
“I don’t have much time.”
“Of course. We understand.”
Come to think of it, there was no mention of Marso ever meeting the guild master in person.
Or was it just not mentioned?
I wondered what I would do if they already knew each other. The sudden question was quite valid.
I paused, then asked a vague question.
“…Why does she insist on seeing me?”
“I don’t know that myself. I understand you’re surprised, as this is the first time, but she says it will only be a moment.”
Thankfully, it seemed they had never met.
And offering double the price wasn't bad. I wasn't planning on frequenting this place anyway, so I eventually nodded.
‘I’ll just make an appearance, then.’
A door next to the counter opened.
I followed the woman behind the curtain.
The passage connected to the back door was like a maze, with multiple branching paths. It seemed all the houses in the surrounding alleys were connected.
“This way.”
Presently, the woman led me to a room, and inside, I saw a familiar face.
My expression hardened in an instant.
‘I shouldn’t have come.’
The moment our eyes met, I turned to leave without a second thought. She called out to me urgently.
“Lady Marso!”
“You should at least say hello before you go…”
But my escape was blocked by the woman who had accompanied me. She was much stronger than she looked.
She was no ordinary old woman.
I was trapped. It was clear they wouldn't let me leave until our conversation was over.
I furrowed my brow.
I crossed my arms and asked in a low voice.
“What are you doing here?”
There were no better words for the situation.
The head of the back-alley merchant guild that Marso often used.
Was Leticia, the traitor who had been serving me until just recently.
Leticia, who had been by my side as Ryan’s trusted subordinate to watch over me.
