Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

What if the greed route had a Subaru who was actually greedy?

[TIMELINE CHANGE: EMILIA AND SUBARU NEVER MEET, SUBARU IS GREEDIER.]

...

Two days have passed since the start of the royal selection.

The meeting went smoothly bar an interference by slum dweller donning the name Rom whom attempted to sabotage a candidate's speech. Five dragon maidens have been selected for potential ascendancy to the throne.

Priscilla Barrille, an arrogant but competent vollachian baroness.

Crusch Karsten, the militarist iron lady who declared her intention to end the volcanican contract.

Emilia, a naïve but kindhearted, knight-less half elf who advocates for equality.

Felt, an anarchist slum dweller discovered by the sword saint following an anonymous tip warning of the appearance of the gusteskan bowel hunter,

And finally, Anastasia Hoshin

The Kararagi candidate and chairwoman of the prolific hoshin company, a shrewd but competent merchant.

…

Anastasia Hoshin

Born to the unforgiving streets of Kararagi, the westernmost of the nations, she crawled her way out of the abyss over 20 years, managed to conquer her way to a business empire across 3 different nations.

She now finds herself strolling the streets of the commercial district, prospecting for potential investments but finds none worth the potential risks.

The distant horizon grows scarlet; the sun is setting.

Anastasia laments "No good, Too risky… overly reliant on foreign import… "

Uuuf!

Distracted by her thoughts, she bumps into a green-hatted man causing him to drop a couple of books onto the ground, one falls open.

"Ahh, Apologies ma'am, I wasn't paying attention. Are you ok?"

"Ah' I'm good, I was brooding too ya know, a gal like me can be clumsy at times."

"Haha, compatriots in overthinking."

She pauses; the open book catches her attention. The content is unremarkable; advice and information about effective foreign trading. The calligraphy catches her eye. The lugunican script is calligraphed in a very interesting way, the miniscule imperfections of hand-copied books are not present, the font is much too small to be the work of replication magic.

In the process of helping the green-hatter recover his goods, she flips to the boards of the book and sees a production stamp donning the name "Pleiades Company."

've Never' heard of a publishing company called the Pleiades company, to take the name of the watchtower s' gotta take some balls. We must be brothers in taking ballsy name choices.

"Mind me if I ask, do you know where I could find a book like this?"

"Ah, this was a gift from my new friend, told me "Read this and try not to screw up again!""

"…"

Anastasia thinks about it but decides not to press for more information. Books are of high value in lugunica, to gift books indicates affluence or intellectual ability, greenhatter must have a friend in a high place, good for him.

After helping Mr. greenhatter, who must be a merchant as indicated by the jingle of currency from his green hat, she leaves for the Juukulius manor.

From what her Information network can gather, the Pleiades company Is an older book workshop renamed. She doesn't find anything about it's potential new owners. Whatever, if something comes up, she'll know soon enough. She offhandedly orders a report to be delivered in 3 months detailing any significant changes or information about the company. Anyways, she has bigger issues to deal with; Russel fellow and the potential reappearance of the white whale.

3 months pass until she hears mention of the Pleiades corporation again.

In those 3 months, many things happened in Lugunica.

Crusch Karsten, the Valkyrie flew too close to the sun.

The first expedition against the white whale ended in failure, her forces were checked and their morale greatly lowered by the cognitohazardous effects of the white whale's piercing cry.

The lancer corps were hit by the fog of the forgotten. With her army deprived of ranged support, the tide of the battle turned when the ravenous beast split into a trisection.

The beast sent it's two copies against the enemy allowing for the 3rd to recuperate strength. Fearing the destruction of her army, she and the sword demon were able to successfully slay the first false whale, giving enough time for a strategic retreat. While she only lost around 1/5 of her army to the fog of the forgotten; the pyrrhic defeat was capitalized upon by Karsten's rivals and her support in the royal selection took a heavy blow.

Very shortly after the first failed assault against the white whale, a 2nd tragedy occurred.

A brutal assault against the Roswaal manor occurred. The assault, spearheaded by the archbishop of sloth Betelgeuse Romanii Contee, was partially checked by the reappearance of the margrave Roswaal, who had previously gone missing for unknown reasons.

The brutal invasion by the cultist forces lead to the deaths of many innocents, and was only defeated when the retreating white whale subjugation army commanded by the recently defeated crusch Karsten arrived in Coostul and were notified of the attack. Crusch, needing a victory to offset the political effects of her loss against the white whale, went on the assault against sloth and together, along with the surviving forces of the margrave, managed a slugfest victory against petelguese's fingers, finally ending when the sword demon slew petelguese by his own hand.

…or did he? There were unconfirmed reports of a man fleeing the area with properties suspiciously similar to that of the archbishop.

The victory over sloth managed to restore some of Karsten's lost political dignity and led to a small net increase in popularity.

One month after the first expedition, Negotiations spearheaded by the Hoshin camp united the Felt and Karsten camps to form a second coalition to pursue the white whale. Armed with knowledge from the previous expedition, The sword saint and the sword demon appeared to put aside their differences to successfully slay the beast.

Contrastingly, the truth of the situation was different, as Reinhard ended up doing most of the work, leaving the sword demon Wilhelm bitter and resentful towards his son at losing the opportunity to directly avenge his wife's death by his own hands.

However, fate decided it hadn't been cruel enough to the Karsten camp. On the journey back to the royal capitol, her convoy was ambushed by the witch cult resulting in Crusch Karsten losing her memories.

Those 3 months had been very good to Anastasia Hoshin.

"…And that's that, we'll be wrapping up with the renegotiations of our alliance with the Crusch camp."

The loss of Crusch's memories has transformed her into a vulnerable political opponent- a weak maiden stepping into boots of a long forgotten Valkyrie.

Anastasia Hoshin, along with many members of the public now saw the Crusch camp as a sinking ship. The sharpest rise in popularity had gone to the felt camp, the sword saint's successful slaying of the white whale and her improvements of the slums increased her support to be equivalent with that of priscilla, who remained steady in popularity. Anastasia Hoshin, while having contributed less in the battle and suffering no casualties enjoyed a relatively high rise in support compared to the actual battle contribution by the iron fang mercenaries.

"It feels kind of scrummy negotiating with an amnesiac." Remarks Ricardo

In this moment Anastasia finds herself quite pleased with her results in the negotiation

"A gal's does what she gotta do."

She gently caressed a mostly dormant echidna around her neck.

She had just mulled over reports from her information network, reports about Kirikitia, Russel Fellow, and many more prospective interests are processed in order of priority and potential returns on investment.

A report on the Emilia camp has also found its way onto Anastasia's desk.

The Roswaal mansion suffered many tragic events. The death of a senior maid and the loss many village children to curses, followed by a brutal assault at the hands of the witch cult. Anastasia mulled over the potential psychological effects of these tragedies on her political opponent, Emilia.

"Poor kids, may their od's be at peace."

Hours of work pass, reports and documents and more documents and reports, piles of work and inquiries; Running the Hoshin company almost reminds Ana of her slave-days. Bad memories, focus on work. There is much to do, Ana is about to take a break when a particular medium priority report catches her eye.

[Pleiades Company – Preliminary Report]

…Its vaguely familiar, Anastasia Hoshin is a busy woman, so she forgets things she perceives as unprofitable often. Perhaps she ordered this report then forgot about it in the piles of work towering over her petite body. The name is quite ballsy, to claim the name of Shaula's famous watchtower must take some amount of gall to do…

Owner: [Natsuki Subaru]

Age: Unknown [Est 17]

Ethnicity, Nationality: Unknown

Origin: Unknown- Information networks cannot find anything about this individual, no birth documents or transactional records until around 2 months ago, no tampering can be found in archives. No known documents or citizenship in Kararagi either.

…Huh? Strange, this is strange. Most people have at least some paper trails in this world…

No known affiliations, previous occupations, previous education…

…A Clean slate?

No known birth certificates, No known Relatives… No known…

Ana muses that if sees another "no known" she might just lose it

…His earliest first proof of existence was the purchase of the operational workshop of the former "Montag Printing" company, Renamed "Pleiades Company." His 2nd known documentation was a recruitment drive for carpenters.

Anastasia's business instincts tingle, carpenters in a bookshop? Perhaps a new technique or the production of some sort of mechanism to increase the efficiency of bookmaking?

…[Pleiades Company] appears highly profitable. Capable of producing High Quality Books and manuscripts. 3 Months ago, [Pleiades company] sold 102 Books in the Capitol. One Month ago, [Pleiades Company] appears to have sold 1052 books at around 20% above market value due. Profits may be in the thousands in holy golden coins.

Anastasia Hoshin wonders if her information network is playing a trick on her.

Its abnormal, this speed in the growth of a business. It took many years for Anastasia Hoshin to get her first thousand holy golden coins. She feels a pang of jealousy at this new company. This is overshadowed by her deep deep interest in the potential profits gained from a partnership with the upstart.

How could somebody who has never existed before, seemingly pop into existence like hoshin, start a business, and flourish greatly in 3 just months?

Perhaps this is an elaborate front company for some powerful organization, maybe it's the sages? Ana ponders as she continues reading.

…[Pleiades Company] appears to be affiliated with a mercenary group called "Seven Sisters Battalion" consisting of around 30~ crossbowmen.

She thinks little of it. Crossbowmen as mercenaries? Obsolete concept.

…5 days ago [Pleiades Company] entered a period of rapid expansion, purchasing six new workshops and two new distributaries. These purchases do not appear to be on credit. This company is also aggressively employing new carpenters, bookmakers and engineers, Indiscriminatory by race and sex. Pay is slightly above average.

"Damn" Anastasia remarks,

too late to nip a potential competitor in the bud to employ the talent to her side. The rapid expansion is quite interesting, perhaps it's a Ponzi scheme?

"At least they don't scowl at demihumans like certain other companies" muttered Anastasia.

[Report Conclusion]. Pleiades company is a rapidly expanding company based around the production of books. Perhaps they have invented a new method of book production? Their owner is a clean slate, unknown origins and motivations, unknown capabilities and skills. Pleiades company could potentially become a threat to profits within a couple of years if not allied with or pacified early.

She thinks about it for a while, her mercantile instincts tug at her to investigate further.

The rapid expansion, the mysterious name, the high profits and the mysterious owner.

A possible threat. Many plans formulate in her brain, plans to purchase, incorporate, isolate, exploit, observe, and or snuff out this new contender.

"I'll get my information network to try and focus more on tha' Natsuki Subaru character, I could send in an agent to gather information…"

Julius walks in. "Anastasia-Sama, my lady, you should take a break."

Turning the page to read further information on the back of the report, she glances at the 7 stars of the Pleiadian logo

"Hey Juli, Try an' get in contact with these people, maybe you could meet their owner and get to know some things about him before we start negotiations?"

She hands him the dossier.

"As you wish my lady."

Anastasia leaves to go socialize with the twins, filing away a copy of the report and putting it to the back of her mind. The rest of the day is uneventful. She ends the day at a bakery with Mimi and the twins. While walking down the street, she sees a book on a market stall bearing the 7 stars, briefly remembering that peculiar company.

She has no idea what a nightmare this little peculiarity will soon become for her.

Chapter Text

Subaru Natsuki's first day in Lugunica was not what one would call a desirable first impression.

After the initial shock of being raptured, the consequences of his fantastical preconceptions about the nature of transmigration manifested themselves as he aimlessly meandered around the inner districts, entering and promptly getting kicked out of places he wasn't meant to be in. Subaru's initial excitement at the prospect of an interdimensional deportation quickly vanished.

He now found himself bitterly conscious of his utter unpreparedness for life in "lugunica."

His stupid ass managed to get kicked out of two bars, a public bathhouse and an Appa merchant's store.

"Hey broke boy, get money or fuck off to some other place!." said Appa merchant

…

After getting blacklisted off multiple establishments, as if to add insult to injury…

"Cough it up."

"Everything you've got"

"Give us those strange clothes while you're at it."

…Tonchinkan appeared.

To survive this encounter Subaru decided to negotiate.

"You've got some balls talking like that to the son of the eastern nobility's most noble count."

Bandits, three of them, we'll call them dumb, dumbass, dumbassius the 8th of the dunderheads

Subaru Natsuki, now devoid of the delusion of isekai preferentialism, decided on bullshitting his way to safety. Confidently, he spindled a stream of haphazard medieval tropes.

"If you'd think we're dumb enough to buy that shit… cough it up quick and we might not hurt you."

"If he's really who he says he is -look at those soft hands- maybe we can get a ransom?"

"Fuck your noble father, is there even any notable nobility in the east?"

His attempt to bullshit backfired, as now the trio got even angrier. The middle thief [dumbass, unsheathing a weapon from his back, gazed with bloodlust.

Realizing his foolproof plan had failed, Subaru Natsuki followed Sun Tzu's most trustable Strategy…

"Hey what's that other there!"

"huh, what… " "SHIT"

"GET BACK HERE LITTLE BITCH"

…Strategic retreat.

Following a day of naïve idiocy, Subaru Natsuki eventually found an inn to sleep in near the slums. Bartering his corn-cottage chips and managing to bullshit value into the plastic bag, he had a place to sleep not on the streets.

Subaru Natsuki had no plan, no goals, no money, no common sense, no connections no…

Following a long time of brooding, the exhaustion of the day caught up with Subaru and he promptly fell asleep to dreams of Excalibur and isekai heroines, a wispy winter cool lulling him into a deep slumber.

He awoke not to the sounds of his cellphone alarm, but to a pissed Appa merchant screaming at the broke boy to go fuck off to some other place.

"…Huh?"

"Hey broke boy, get money or fuck off to some other place. "

"why am I here?"

"You're here because od decided to piss me off!"

"h-how many times have you seen me here?"

"once, and one to many times!"

Subaru Natsuki, not under a state of stress, realized quickly the partial nature of his ability.

"I see, some sort of groundhog day ability, maybe it's a precognition ability? Nah, it felt too real to be a vision."

"But why was I set back? Don't tell me I'm going to spend all eternity in a neverending loop!"

"Bullshit! I demand to speak to the isekai board of public directors, this is gross mismanagement! The blackest of incompetence!"

Deciding to put the potential ramifications of an eternity of looping the same day over and over again to the side, Subaru decided to instead put his mind on information gathering.

He learned the basic value of currency and was partially awakened to the dangers of unprepared bartering in his excursion to the mercantile district, where he watched some poor brown-haired mushroom/bowl cut boy that looked suspiciously like one of his muggers get scammed out of his money.

"WHEN I GET MY BOYS, I'M GONNA BEAT THE SHIT OU'TTA YA!" screamed the little mushroom.

He also discovered the extremely high prices of many commodities, particularly books and fabrics. Some Manuscripts seemed to be priced as high as 25 Holy golden coins.

Perhaps I could reinvent some earth technology to sell?

He took note of a relatively large vacant lot with a sign saying 30 Holy golden coins.

His escapades were interrupted by the sounds of piercing ice shards in the distance.

Magic is real after all?

He asked around. Apparently, there was an incident of pickpocketing. Subaru took note and decided to guard his belongings more closely.

Subaru also tried to barter off his Metia, asking around for places that bought and sold Metias, he found a couple of trading posts within the district, his first experience bartering sold his Metia for 15 Holy golden coins, when he learned a piece of property could be bought for 30, he thought it was a pretty good deal. Only to find out later that his same Metia was being successfully marketed 80 Holy gold coins. Watching from a distance, he seethed in envious jealousy as HIS metia was traded around the marketplace, even without showing the different functions it seemed its nascent value had been appraised.

After his infernal wrath subsidized, Subaru learned the basics about magic, the divine protections, and the history of the world.

The day was ending.

This time around, Subaru Natsuki was determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious circumstances regarding his transmigration, vowing to stay awake the entire night.

He once again found himself meandering towards the slum district. He found an old ruin with some shattered doric arches and some cover from the rain. A good place to rest.

As night fell, the air grew quite chilly in contrast to the previous temperate climate.

Subaru, writing a recap of the main events and information learned on a scrap of paper, noticed a sudden chill in the air which seemed to only increase with time. Wisps of snow began to fall and drafts of wind blowing deeper into the slums peaked Subaru's attention.

What is this? Could this be connected to what happened to me?

Getting up from the ruins, he began to walk in the direction of the wind.

…getting colder, should've have brought a true jacket. I thought I heard somebody talking about summer… …This feels unnatural.

Some slum dwellers began to exit their homes with torches to investigate.

Snow was piling on the ground.

It was getting very cold. threateningly cold…

Within the span of 30 seconds, the cold went from an average winter day to blizzardous conditions, as if the world demanded this land frozen.

Cold, its too cold, I need to find shelter… nobody has jackets on and they seem just as confused as I am. Too cold. Shit, its getting worse, I need to get out of here.

A blue arc of light flashed across the sky towards the direction of the windflow.

Exponentially, the temperature dropped. A thin layer of ice encroached upon Subaru Natsuki's skin.

Help, Help me, What the hell is this? Oh god no, help. Somebody help. Somebody? Its so cold, Its sooooo sooo cold. It burns, oh god it burns it b-

Subaru Natsuki tripped onto the ground. People were screaming all around him.

In the distance a massive line of blue light appeared from the ground towards the sky.

Its so cold.. its so… is this what caused me to go back? Did I die? Did I return back to that point because… don't think, too cold, just need to… just. Cold. Cold? What was I thinking about? Its not cold anymore, its warm, so warm… it feels good but I'm still scared. Help me. I'm scared. imscaredimscared imscaredimscared… what am I scared of? Why am I so at peace? What am i? what?

…

Subaru Natsuki died.

"Hey broke boy, get money or fuck off to some other place. "

…

The boy was clueless, but not stupid.

He had died; he had just broken the laws of nature and died.

Yet he lived.

"I actually got a time loop ability, the precondition being awful is so typical."

His first time in the Capital he must've died too.

"I'll call it [Return By Death]."

He still had his phone, his one source of potential money.

Good god, the fear of death still remains. Subaru Natsuki will forever despise the cold and love the warmth. That feeling of warmth and peace which came shortly before his death.

It took away the primeval terror, replacing it with a calm sense of peace.

No problems, no fear, no insecurities, no Natsuki Subaru,

…

He could get addicted to that feeling.

His new goal was simple,

Hightail out of the city as fast as possible, whatever metrological event was about to occur, he surely had no way to stop it. When faced with an unstoppable threat, one must maneuver around it.

Practically running to the city gate, he managed to catch a dragon carriage heading west, trading away the cottage chips to gain a merchant's goodwill.

As night fell, in the far horizon a blue flash could be seen, yet Natsuki Subaru still lived.

A weeks passed, Subaru natsuki once again found himself broke and clueless in a new city,

Her name was Pristella, a beautiful Watergate city situated in the middle of a lake.

He managed to barter away his cell phone successfully, hard-balling his way to 70 Holy golden coins.

After befriending some local pub owners, he managed to find a tiny apartment.

His day's were spent in a mix of menial labor, odd jobs, and intense study, as he forced himself to learn the basics of lugunican script at the pristellan library.

His life was on the uptrack. He learned the basics of language and now had enough financial literacy to not immediately fall victim to a scam or pilfering.

Then it all came crashing down.

He never did find out what killed him, one moment he was walking down an alley, only to hear a scream of absolute anger.

"WITCH CU-!"

Within the next instant of a second, he found himself standing before a man who told him to fuck off to some other place.

…Huh?

"Hey broke boy, get money or fuck off to some other place. "

Subaru Natsuki ran again from the Appa man's stall, his emotional state followed like this:

Confusion Despair rage bitterness reflexiveness acceptance residual bitterness.

Why am I back here, so much progress lost!

Well, I haven't really lost much, but how did I die?

To late to mull on it now.

His first and third experiences with RBD had been deceptively painless.

Subaru Natsuki once again left the city as fast as possible. Lying about his affiliation with a trading company, he managed to get a spot on another merchant caravan.

Fate would not be kind to Natsuki Subaru as it would be raided overrun by Redonas bandits on the road to Pristella.

A majority of the convoy were lost, but Subaru Natsuki's carriage managed to survive.

What seemed to be a bout of luck soon turned to misfortune, as when the merchant convoy arrived at Priestella…

"Well, spit it out! How many have we lost?" "7 convoys, 3 were empty."

"Damn you fucking dog! Useless, you're worse than that Picoutatte brat!"

After ruffing up the unfortunate merchant, the man then turned to see a mean-eyed boy get off one of the carts.

"Listen here Tramp, I gave strict orders to not pick up hitchhikers."

"…Boss, he told me he was with the company."

"Really? I've never seen the kid in my life!"

"He said it was essential he got on that cart; he looked desperate."

"…oh really?"

"Hey boy! Get over here, yes you, black haired ugly face!"

The owner of the company was a fat decrepit pig by the name of Sir Pyotr who enjoyed basking in the languish of the misfortunate. Accordingly, he, without a shroud of evidence, accused Subaru Natsuki of collaborating with the bandits.

"…Excuse me? You think I was in cahoots with those dogs? They tried to kill me!"

"Save it boy! How do you think you're going to compensate for these damages, even if your far fetched lie about not being in cahoots were true- and by the way I've seen this same tricks hundreds of times- how dare you trespass onto my property using my company name!"

Subaru gulped, he had truly fucked up and now had the ire and scorn of a powerful merchant against himself.

"you're going to have to work to dig yourself out of this mess, lest I sell you to the Kararagians,"

"Sell me? I'm not your property!" the silent boy suddenly retorted.

"You will be if you don't find a way to cough up enough to replace 7 earth dragons and wares! I lost a lot of good oil because of bastards like you; be thankful I'm not putting you to death like the vast majority of other merchants!"

It was all bullshit, simply ignoring the Company owner and entering the city would've escaped this mess, yet Subaru's lack of backbone led him to fall deeper and deeper into a pit as the pig realized just how naïve Subaru was.

Subaru found himself bound by indentured servitude. There was nobody who could help him, a stranger in a new world. The next weeks instilled an absolute distrust against high businessmen and corporate owners; his nativity was shattered to the cruel reality of the world.

Exploited worse than a Zaibatsu salaryman, he was slowly worn down, his ability to calculate numbers efficiently was discovered and he was promptly put to work on calculations. Often, he would intentionally miscalculate paperwork; a small revenge against the company which new held him in servitude.

His days consisted of brutal work, getting fed meager bread and sleeping in a servant's annex.

While it wasn't necessarily as brutal as the barbarity of Vollachia, it was still servitude nonetheless.

Eventually, a dream formed in his mind, He would have this bastard Pyotr begging at his feet. Crushed by his own hard work alone, his own strength, his own powerful company. It was a fantasy sure, or was it?

In his time as an indentured servant, he managed to learn many things, the inner workings of companies, when his arithmetic abilities were discovered, the shrewd bastard Pyotr, after learning of Subaru's illiteracy, ordered another servant to teach him to write. This wasn't out of goodwill, of course not, it was a way to squeeze more potential money out of the boy.

He also learned more about his masters. Firstly, it operated as a "Puppet Corporation" to a larger company. Some conglomerate called "HOSHIN COMPANY." Subaru had never heard this name before. Pyotr, while autonomously controlling his own company, had defer to a higher boss. Had too? He willingly served as a puppet to that higher company! Why? He had no clue.

Sometimes when he sweeped around in Pyotr's office, he could peer into a cabinet and see some small statuettes of suspiciously petite looking lilac haired women.

(Pyotr simp)

…it PAINS me to see that Pyotr has the same hobbies as I do! How dare you! You're an insult to NEETS everywhere!

Naturally, Subaru's vengeful dream of crushing Pyotr, the puppet could not be achieved without first engaging with the puppeteer.

One day, while delivering finished computations to one of the many offices of the "Pyotr Gustek-Tehk" Company, a document donning the name "Dragon Nation Newsletter" caught his eye.

…Emilia, one of the five Monarchical candidates to the throne of lugunica, was assassinated this week in the slums, her death appears to have been the cause of the recent blizzard which massacred the fourth and fifth districts… …owel hunter was suspected of orchestrating the-

-"Servant! What are you doing here, get back to work boy!"

Damn, so my death the result of political intrigue! Bullshit!

Suddenly bitter, Subaru exited the room with haste.

With the main work completed, Subaru was put to sweep the inner courtyard of the enclosed company annex.

His life in lugunica so far had been marred by a miserable series of fuckups and dead-ends.

His bitter stroll was coming to a close when a group of people entered into the annex.

"Ah, Lady Ana, right this way."

Subaru looked up from his sweeping to see a young petite woman of lilac hair wearing a fuzzy Ushanka hat, she looked like a mix between Loli-nobility and a merchant.

Pyotr had a barely concealed slobbering look.

Another merchant bastard like Pyotr? Or a haughty noble? Who gives a shit.

The Woman, keenly aware of the eyes on her, shot a look towards Subaru. It was neutral but seemed to have some pity laden in her eyes.

Subaru did not see this, as he had returned his focus to the dust on the courtyard.

…

…

The ravenous sounds of a ball could be heard.

Organized by Pyotr, many minor nobility and merchants had gathered.

"Cheers! Cheers to Gustek-Tekt prosperity!"

Drinks were poured.

One of Pyotr's underlings went to Subaru "Servant boy, I need you to take a small sip of this,"

Subaru obliged.

As he went to return to his post, he was suddenly overcome with an intense sense of nausea

The world became tunnel visioned, the sensation of getting up too swiftly overcame Subaru.

He suddenly vomited and collapsed in full view of the ball.

The music, as if on cue, stopped.

The sounds of conversation quickly subsidized.

Then.

"Mister Rafeal, What is the meaning of this!"

Pyotr shouted with indignation, no shock, just indignation.

"My poison tester lays dead on the ground from your offering of goodwill!"

"Slander! Lies and Slander, How dare you frame me for a cri-"

"Murderer!" "AYE!"

"I did not, this was not my doing, I was framed!"

"To hell with your framing, this drink was meant for me was it not?"

"Gaurds! Call the Royal gaurds!"

"You lecherous Parasite, my legal team will get to the bott-"

Are you kidding me? Did this bastard really just, No fucking way this basta- He did didn't he? Pretty smart if your ask me, his acting skills needs to be polished though,

Intense bickering permeated the ball, many guests began to leave, not because of the untimely fall of a servant, but due to the general air of displeasure which had overtaken the ball.

Subaru Natsuki's consciousness began to fade, the sounds of the crowd became like that of an ambient droning.

Damn it Damn it, im dying, this isn't the first time either, its scary, but atleast I'll be free from, that, that? Thaaat? Who? Who am I tal- ? who? Huh ? wha. a? ?

…

Subaru Natsuki died for the fourth time in the ball of a pristellan company house, used as a tool to publicly frame a rival company for murder.

"Hey broke boy, get money or fuck off to some other place. "

For the first 30 seconds before Subaru's complex thinking kicked in, he was a creature of wrath, wrath at Pyotr, who enslaved and murdered him, Wrath at the world which brought him here to die, wrath at himself for allowing himself to fall victim to the former.

But then, It clicked.

Wait, I'm back here?

The anger instantaneously nullified.

For the first time in his life, Subaru looked at his death not in despair or in fear, but in pure jubilation.

He was free! Free from the servitude! Free from the exploitation! Freedom!

I feel like an American! Maybe I should reinvent a gun someday!

He didn't have to listen to that bastard anymore!

Jubiliation!

He ran down the streets leaping giddy like a scene from the sound of music.

A vision of a newspaper flashed into his mind.

…the cause of the recent blizzard which massacred the fourth and fifth districts.

… assassinated this week in the slums… …A monarchical candidate by the name of emilia.

If I stop that assassination, I wont have to flee the city!

I'll do it! It cant be that hard right?

Subaru Natsuki Now possessed Three goals

He was going to find out the cause of the blizzard and stop it, if this truly was caused by an assassination, then maybe he could prevent it. He had an inkling that this event might've been connected to his summoning and his ability, Return By Death.

Secondly, he would strike it rich and create a company powerful enough to stomp out that bastard Pyotr's company, its master, and anybody else who tried to exploit him.

Retribution of his past life and stability for his future.

He was going to barter his metia for as much as possible, utilize as many techniques to increase it's selling value, and use the starting money to plant the seed of his own company. That Appa merchant had unknowingly given Subaru his first true goal in the new world. He already knew of a multitude of commodities he could replicate in lugunica, perhaps the printing press would work?

He already had a name and a brand logo in mind.

Thirdly, he was going to discover the truth behind his summoning and RBD, the biggest mystery of its origin, he resolved himself to find a way to use it. He didn't fear it anymore, 2 of his deaths were painless, one was miserable but had an ending sensation indescribable in it's ecstasy, and the other was purely nauseating, but absolutely liberating in it's results.

A fluffy Gusteken jacket caught his eye, A vision flashed of that frigid blizzard.

"I'll buy that later."

And so Natsuki Subaru set off, now with a goal and a determined will, a will boosted by the recent emancipation from servitude, the young boy vowed to never go broke again. (im sorry)

And so, he set off, from square one.

On second thought, no, from zero.

He set off pondering his new 3-word tool to make his goals into a reality.

INTRODUCTORY END.

Chapter Text

CAW! CAW CAW!

The crows are watching.

A man walks through the market district with a purpose.

The screech of birds announces to the world that the day is still young.

Merchants and peddlers take their time arranging their goods. Signs go up with and people drink their bocca tea. The few customers wandering around quickly buy up the early deals, their diligence is rewarded with lower prices and higher quality goods. Truly, a prelude to the impending chaos of midday in the markets.

Julius Juukulis, Knight of knights and sworn sword of Lady Anastasia walks with elegance in the market. Some idlers glance upwards, but most people are too busy enthralled in their labors to notice his signature figure. In his hands he holds a paper possessing the address of a new upstart in the districts. This company came into fruition with mysterious origins; it takes it's name from the name of the famous eastern monolith, the Pleiades watchtower. This particular company specializes in bookmaking, and has been expanding at an unusual speed.

Julius, under orders of Anastasia, has been sent to evaluate the company's leadership and potentially organize a meeting for negotiations. Depending on the contents of Julius's report, this company might be ignored, snuffed, purchased, incorporated, allied with, or puppeted by her ever-expanding conglomerate.

"Euculius! Good wares! High price, High quality!"

His name is well known in the royal capital, the sworn knight of the foreign merchant.

He walks by a bulletin board.

"Check it out, they've managed to mop up the bandits at Pzrushka's Pass!"

"…Really, a half devil, a Vollachian tits for brains and a Kararagi leech, is there really not a better choice?"

"I was going to vote for Crusch, but Od, I don't want the future on my country in the hands of a green Tato puppeteered by Fourier's fembo-"

Julius internally scoffs at the descriptions of his friend and lady, soon they will learn of her competent benevolence, it is just a matter of time of course!

Outwardly, his expression remains neutral.

"…Hell, I think I'm voting for thiefgirl! Somebody needs to kick the nobility off their high-dragon." "you can say that again!" "Da'hyaehhahahahaeh!"

Walking past the notary board, he finds a poster promising indiscriminatory employment for skilled slumdwellers and engineers, initially Julius thinks it to be from the Felt camp. Their initiatives to develop the slums have been admirable. An image flashes through his mind of the kingdom's mightiest sword, his friend, hauling bricks to rebuild shoddied housing and a newly ruined loothouse which felt decided on converting to their camp's 2nd headquarters.

Quite ironic that Reinhard would be rebuilding that hovel, as he was also the one to destroy it.

Turning the employment bulletin to it's back, he sees the same address to which he has been tasked to investigate.

Huh, at least they lack the blinding prejudices of many of my lady's colleagues, I'll take that into mind.

He turns the corner onto the street the street of the company.

A typical lugunican building, built in Fachwerkhäuser style, it is quite appealing in its appearance. It overlooks one of the main fountains in the 2nd district, Close to the river which flows towards the Aihiya swamp. The building is quarter office and three quarters factory, similar to the cottage industry in Coostul. There are a couple of warehouses half the size of the structure orbiting the main building, most likely meant as stores for the workshop. Two oxen are posted around the warehouses.

"Allright, in I go, meet the owner, find out what he's like and maybe take a look around his office, look for any peculiarities."

Entering from a smaller streetwards facing door, above on the keystone, the 7 star logo is proudly displayed above the lugunican script for Pleiades. Next to the keystone, a deactivated lamp could be seen.

A generic employee greets the knight as he walks in, a small reception area with a desk.

"On behalf of my Lady Anastasia, I have been tasked with meeting the owner of this establishment and establishing relations between your company and the hoshin company, we would be most grateful for the opportunity to meet on cordial terms."

The man nods. "Ah, down the hall to the right."

Julius walks down the hall. There are no pompous decorations, no paintings or flattery of wealth. The building's interior is plain and utilitarian.

Opening the door to the office…

There sits a boy, no a young man, with black hair and sanpuku eyes, in the moment Julius opens the door, he is gazing at a pocketwatch, as if awaiting his arrival. His other hand gently caresses a metal rectangular object about the size of a pocket-lighter, suspended from his neck by necklace. It is attached by a cap, and has a small glass window revealing its inner contents. There is liquid inside.

Peculiarly, the boy wears a heavy Gustekan styled jacket, fur trimmed at the collar and sleeve. There are faint repetitive geometric swirl patterns of orange and black embroiled onto the sleeve. The boy wears the jacket, despite the relatively warm weather.

His appearance is disarming and intriguing at the same time. His eyes, His eyes are those of one who has crossed the boundary of death many times and lived to tell the tale.

His expression is natural, there no surprise, reverence, fear, or blinding ambition. His face is relaxed, very unlike the seasoned expressions of trained merchants.

As soon as Julius enters the open doorway, he puts down the stopwatch and ceases to caress the metal object.

"Sir Julius I presume?"

There are many peculiar objects situated around the boy, In front of him there a plain executive desk, free of clutter. Behind him, there is a map of the districts of the royal capitol and the kingdom of lugunica. Several Thumbtacks can be seen on market buildings in the noble district. Several papers can be found on the farside of the executive desk, oriented in a manner that Julius can discern it's meaning

[…Potential expansion into noble district markets… …shifting to a business model to focus on specialized goods, high artistry bookmaking… …potential profi…]

A very big fish, as Anastasia would say, if this company has hopes to tap into the noble markets, My lady can then swoop in before with her superior resources and gain bargaining chips against this company. I might even win that bet with felix and acquire the title "Quarter of a merchant…"

He takes a mental picture of the map; it might be useful later.

"Correct, greetings, Sir Subaru is it not?"

"That's me, so what brings you here?"

He already knows why Julius is here.

"In accordance with my lady's will I have been sent here to open lines of communication with your company, I believe collaboration would best serve the interests of both the Hoshin company, and your establishment. My main goal is to schedule a meeting between my lady, and your corporation."

He glances to his left, Subaru's right. There is a window overlooking the workshop floor. The blinds are closed.

"Understood. I'll see what I can do."

Subaru snaps his fingers.

A maid walks in, a black-haired fox demi human. Placing tea onto the desk for the two of them, she left with haste.

So, the rumors are true, at least he isn't a creep like Roswaal.

"Now let us begin."

The next 30 minutes were spent discussing and consolidating the meeting location, specifications, and potential for different business dealings.

The boy, Subaru Natsuki, seemed to relax over the course of the meeting.

Until.

Once the set meeting and location was determined, Julius decided to pry for one more request.

"If I may be obliged, might I be granted the opportunity to tour-"

At the first pronunciation of tou, Subaru's hand discreetly shot towards a spot under his desk. His eyes lowered and a small undertone of frustration was displayed.

Julius noticed the subtle change but-

"AHHHHH! AEEHH!" "BAEESTSS!"

A woman-like scream interrupted his thoughts.

Quickly, Subaru's face contorted to surprise.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The two men quickly went out to the street.

Two bulls had suddenly wrangled onto the street, wrecking market stalls and causing a huge commotion!

Swiftly, Julius with the assistance of his spirits was able to subdue the out-of-control cattle, putting them to unconsciousness.

As the debacle concluded, Subaru and Julius met for a final time.

"Ah, it seems something urgent has come up for me in workshop, I must return. It was a pleasure speaking with you Sir Julius."

"Likewise, best of luck with your future endeavors Sir Subaru,"

"Once again, you can just call me Subaru!"

He smiles once more before returning to his workshop.

…

…

…

Not a bad company, his talent could be very useful for my lady Anastasia. He was very polite to speak with, and he must have a good heart as he doesn't appear to discriminate by race. I could see a good collaborative future. Shame I couldn't get a tour of the factory.

He briskly returned to his Capitoline manor, walking up the pristine steps, Julius entered his ladies' room right as she finished another batch of paperwork.

"So' howdihdyadoo?"

"Quite alright, I managed to get a meeting a month from today in one of our established negotiation areas."

"Not bad, juli, you're well on ya' way to becoming 1/10th of a merchant'"

"So how was he, this Natsuki fellow?"

"He was incredibly polite, hospitable, and honestly didn't seem flattered by my position as the knight of knights."

"The rumors must've also been true, it seems he trusts demi-humans; we were both served by a demi-human maid."

"oh' really? It could be flattery, everybody knows about my relationship with the cardo' and the triplets, what was he like? Like physically?"

"That boy, Subaru Natsuki, he looks to be around 17, maybe younger, mean eyes, black hair, wears a fur-jacket in late Red-sun." (summer)

Huh, Anastasia thought, Sounds like some sort of habitual reaction, even in this weather? Maybe he's Gustekan?

"His hands were very smooth, maybe he was a former noble or some other position of affluence? He looks to be weak physically as well."

Anastasia pondered the description, it wasn't unique, many merchants were exceedingly polite, most of the time it was a front.

"I could sense a not half bad-spiritual affinity within him. But I didn't sense any spirits contracted to his figure."

That's interesting information, maybe I could make him a platoon leader or a spirit arts specialist?

"His face and eyes, they looked Kararagi style, but his eyes, hmm, maybe Wilhelm-Dono would have some proverb to say about them… "

"Anyways, the negotiations went well, our parting got was unfortunately cut short by a mad bull in the plaza, but other than that it went well."

"Anything else ya find interesssing~?"

Julius pondered for a moment, suddenly remembering the thumbtacked map and the document.

"Actually yes, I have reason to believe that this company might be planning an expansion into the noble district markets."

Anastasia perked up, finally some good information! As a merchant, Julius was trash among fisherman, but even still, he could sometimes pull up a big fish.

"Tell me more."

"First, I'll need a map."

Julius found a map similar to the one in the factory. While marking the spots he recalled from memory at the office, he described discovering the document and it's details about the expansion into the noble district. A picture started to form, a company radically shifting it's demographics and consumer base. The map was fully marked in no time, and Anastasia pulled a registry to determine the significance of the locations. All were either struggling bookstores, Vacant high-end commercial lots, or a mix of the two.

"Well Julius, I think you've outta be promoted up to 2/10th merchant." Anastasia said with a smile. "G'ood job."

Julius smiled, a genuine smile.

"Now Julius, I've taught a man how to fish, and so you should reap the rewards of your catch, go out' with felix and rein' have some fun out in the city."

Anastasia was very pleased; her knight had gone above and beyond today. Information gathering was one of the key cornerstones of mercantilism, it seemed her skills were finally rubbing off onto Julius.

Julius's observations seemed to provide an explanation for a discrepancy -the static number of books sold- when compared to the rapidly expanding scope of their business. To Anastasia, the new explanation for this discrepancy in the number of sales was because the Pleiades were preparing to make a major shift in their business strategy and target market.

Now, if I swoop in and take control of their targets of expansion, I'll get a pretty good bargaining chip against their future prerogatives. This should put their expansion in check for the time, not bad at all, not bad at all. A good position for negotiations, I can already see myself getting a pretty~ favorable deal. Maybe even full ownership~

Anastasia, now alone in her office, let creep a small smile of greed.

…

…

…

Hey Brotto, is he actually gone?

"Yes Natsuki-San he's gone"

"Haæhhhhhahhhhahhaa yaeeeeyaa yaaaiii"

Immediately, the calm neutral façade collapses faster than Yugoslavia without Tito.

Subaru slumps into his chair, the mental exhaustion of putting up the neutral emotionless front hitting all at once.

"Hey Brottius maximus, You did good."

Otto, a merchant from the southern city of Picoutatte, now finds himself the secretary of the Pleiades company.

One day, at a bar in the capitol, otto was drinking himself to death out of his oil fueled-financer woes. A guy named Subaru appeared and over the course of a couple days, they became good chaps bonding over their shared loathing for the GUSTEK TEK oil distribution company. Within just a couple of weeks -along with a struggle with a notorious financer- they became brothers for life. The shared trauma of dealing with that bastard PYOTR having solidified a bond of steel.

His duties in the company involve internal management, merchant connections, and espionage.

"I'm glad we could distract him before he started prodding around and asking questions"

Underneath Subaru's desk, a button was pressed.

Otto, who was outside at the pavilion at the time, was intently watching a certain indicator light next to the logo of the company.

When the signal came, Otto acted quickly.

Utilizing his divine protection of Soul Language, he instructed the 2 bulls who had been tied to a post to fulfill their part of the deal.

[Bulls, do your thing] Otto spoke in cowspeak

Moo! Moo! Moooo! [You must uphold your end of the deal!] responded the two bulls as they began their rampage in the market. The woman who screamed wasn't actually a woman, it was Otto.

"Man, to think that wasn't even the hardest negotiations we had today."

…

\\\

[Flashback]

MOO MOO MOOOO […And what's in it for us?]

"They ask, and what's in it for us?"

Otto had now become the defacto translator between Subaru and 2 bulls.

The negotiations were the most intense in negotiating history. All other negotiations couldn't compare.

"tell them, 4 fine Heifers and a guarantee of safety and free-range grazing."

MOO MOO MOO~ [And how do we know this isn't just a scam? We demand a security Deposit!]

"They want to know how we'll uphold our part of the deal."

Subaru pondered hard, this was his first true negotiation, with a cow nonetheless, and he needed it as a contingency in case he needed a non-suspicious way to abruptly end the interview.

How did he know in advance about the interview?

He gently caressed the small vial suspended around his neck.

"We'll let you meet one heifer in the small barn, then you'll get to meet the other 4."

Moo MOOO! [And what if some knight slays us dead In the street?]

"They ask for assurances of safety against death" otto said.

"Tell them [Sometimes You've gotta risk your life for that puh!]" (im sorry)

Otto looked at him with disdain, begrudgingly, he translated it.

Moo moo~ [The black-haired human speaks wisely. Very well, we shall accept your deal.]

And so, Subaru Natsuki, Master of Bullshit, employed the assistance of two bulls.

Let it be known that their names were "Romulus and Remus." Shortened Rom and Rem. (gulp).

[Flashback end]

\\\

"You can say that again."

Subaru Natsuki had a couple of goals for this interview.

Firstly, he needed to buy as much time as possible to create the appearance of a company expanding slowly…

…while simultaneously hiding its increasing rates of production.

The plan was called, "operation SHEEPWOLF."

His company, The Pleiades, was publicly selling at a steady rate of around 1000 books monthly.

The profits from these books were being directly reinvested into constructing the means of production for more books. The rate of production for books had long exceeded 1000 books monthly, now he was producing upwards of 8000 to 12000 books monthly, yet his sales were kept artificially low. Instead, he was stockpiling.

He had already expanded from a single workshop to 4 major factories, and he was now filling warehouses with thousands of books. Books of all varieties, mostly targeted towards commoner audiences, along with a couple of original stories like "The oni who cried" and "Cinderella" being sprinkled in to increase profits.

This ever-expanding stockpile of books now sat idle in warehouses across the royal capitol and in cities like Pristella and Picouttete. Waiting.

By selling one thousand books at the exorbitant market prices, he was able to afford the materials required for the massive rates of production, along with the employees and the construction of the device which made all this possible.

The printing press.

It was remarkably easy to recreate, the standardized lugunican I-script was perfect for the printing press.

He found two good Demi-human carpentry-engineers thrown to the streets by fate. The first was an older cougar (figuratively and literally) by the name of Cyrenaica. Her talents lay in her experience, years of skill and dexterity with the works.

The other, was a younger chap by the name "Patton." His talents lay in his imaginative brain, possessing the ability to rotate not one but eight photorealistic appas at once.

It took many iterations, but eventually the concept proved to work and in just five days of sleepless nights, the first good prototype had been established.

In his factories, he now possessed around 100 printing presses.

In his first week after his emancipation, he managed to barter off his metia for 120 Holy golden coins. It took a huge amount of effort, showcasing every single feature, from the ringtone to the camera. But it worked, and he now had enough to start his new business.

Eventually, He found a dying paper workshop, it's owner – a man named Montag - had no relatives and was suffering from a defective gate, quite frankly he had grown tired of the struggle for survival, and had decided to sell off his company to go explore the world in his final years.

Subaru Managed to purchase partial administrative ownership of the company for 100 Holy golden coins, he would now manage it's operations and, within 5 months, deliver in installments of 30, a total of 150 extra holy golden coins, once this second payment of 150 holy golden coins was fulfilled, he would acquire full ownership of the company. The contract was signed under binding contract, ensuring it would not be broken.

Within 2 weeks, he found enough competent woodworkers and engineers to successfully rebuild a prototype of the printing press.

By a month, he managed to build 4, and was able to scrape up enough wealth to not only repay the previous owner, acquiring full ownership, but to also managed to rebuy his metia from the person he sold it to. He rebought it at a discount, as the new owner was completely clueless to actually operate the device.

Back to the present,

This interview also had many prerequisites for success.

firstly, Julius must observe and report a false persona to his master, Anastasia.

Subaru definitely didn't want a powerful, highly intelligent, highly competent merchant like Anastasia to know any true details about his own personality, goals, and capabilities. Therefore, he opted for a polite, unchanging expression similar to many different merchants and businessmen he had seen in his time under servitude.

There was also a secondary prerequisite to success.

Subaru picked up the document which lay on his desk-the one detailing a plan to expand into the noble district.

He then crumpled it up and shot a layup into the trashcan, gaining otto's approval.

He also took down the map with the thumbtacks on it.

His overarching goal in all of this was to hopefully make it seem like his company was planning to do one thing, when he'd suddenly do something different.

Subaru didn't hold any grand aspirations of fooling the most competent merchant of the two countries, but he hoped this small deception could throw them off his trail.

Anyways, he had big plans and couldn't let prying eyes threaten his future prosperity.

And finally, Subaru's most imperative prerequisite for success…

Subaru walked to the window in his room, opening the previously shut blinds to reveal a large high ceiling room filled with printing presses. Workers and press operators were busy producing books as fast as possible. On the far end of the factory-workshop, carpenters diligently created more printing presses.

Ensure Julius saw nothing.

Subaru's hands instinctually drifted to the vial.

…

\\\

"On behalf of my Lady Anastasia, I have been tasked with meeting the owner of this establishment and establishing relations between your company and the hoshin company, we would be most grateful for the opportunity to meet on cordial terms."

EHH?

Subaru Natsuki was immediately caught off guard by the appearance of Julius Jukuulius, knight of knights, standing before him in his lobby. Documents were strewn about. Blueprints and financial statements unprotected. His home language was pompously displayed on many different papers and sketches.

His office was covered in sensitive documents, the latest prototypes of printing presses and mechanical devices.

To Subaru, it seemed Julius's eyes soaked in everything.

To Julius, he felt like he had just stumbled into a madman's den.

A flustered Subaru clumsily stuffed whatever documents he could into a drawer.

"Hheh, how may I help you today?"

"I will reiterate, I come here on behalf of my lady to negotiate-"

Julius stopped midway. While absentmindedly strolling, he found himself at the window overlooking the workspace.

Get out of here, stop looking at my secrets knight dog,

"Might I ask what those mechanisms are?" Julius asked elegantly.

"Those are Corporate secrets, now now, you can't be seeing that, that's-"

Julius stopped suddenly, his eyes caught on a giant pile of books.

It was Julius's turn to lose composure.

"Is, How? You're a Booksmith right? Did those mechanisms create that many books!?"

Julius's elegant demeanor had evaporated instantly, his inner nerd finally broke free from it's confinement as he gawked at the rows of printing presses.

"This, This is incredible, you manage to produce that many books in such a short period of time! This, this is amazing, mr Subaru, Subaru-sama, you've created something that might revolutionize the world! "

Subaru's initial embarrassment soon turned to fear as he know realized his unpatented technology was free for the picking.

[He had feared patenting the technology would draw attention to his company and would inspire copycats. Therefore, he instead decided to operate his machines in utmost secrecy.]

Julius, now completely lacking composure, ran like an ape to the monolith into the workshop.

"Natsuki-san, who is that?" Otto asked as he saw Subaru chasing behind him

"A squatter! That's who he is! Somebody get him out! He'll steal my secrets! I don't want to end up like Nikola!" screamed Subaru, now chasing Julius between the rows of the printing presses.

"So-so many books, all being made," One could imagine drool dropping from his face,

Quite frankly he had long since lost any semblance of that "KNIGHT OF KNIGHTS" persona.

In this place he was a bookwork among worms.

It took many employees to chase out Julius Jukuulius from the workshop of the Pleiades company.

However, this proved to be another mistake as Julius immediately hightailed to Anastasia, running like a slobbering dog down the streets of lugunica, everybody who saw this image knew for a fact the "Knight of Knights" had truly been slain.

…

…

…

"ANA, ANA-BO, CODE HOSHIN! CODE HOSHIN"

A long time ago, Anastasia created a classification by the name of "CODE HOSHIN".

A code hoshin was something so unimaginably profitable, that it should be acquired at all costs.

Usually, it was seen as inside joke.

But…

Observing the most elegant knight on the continent reduced to a slobbering, sweaty mess was enough proof for even the stupidest of lifeforms to understand.

Anastasia dropped everything.

The people of lugunica were now treated to a second great scene.

Julius Jukuulius and Anastasia hoshin stumbling as fast as they could in the direction opposite of where Julius had gone just 10 minutes earlier. The people of lugunica understood well that on this day the moniker "Merchant of Merchants" also died and was buried alongside the "Knight of Knights."

When Anastasia finally arrived to the workshop,

"Awehhh aweaehhh aaeeehhh æhyaeh"

Noises akin to that of a potato being stabbed stammered from the purple petite.

The piles of books, the machines, the efficiency, the money! The PROFITS!

The sheer profitability of the workshop had caused Anastasia to faint twice. Eridna had to intervene to prevent her from collapsing.

It was like trekking to the center of Tarkovsky's Zone, a place where Anastasia's greatest wish had come true.

All this while a disheveled Subaru could only watch as his intellectual property [also stolen from Gutenberg and the Chinese] was brutally burglarized.

If historians could point to the greatest heist of all time, they would point to this event, as ideas worth hundreds of majillions of holy golden coins were snatched.

"Ex-Excuse me sir, do you know how one would aquire the rights to use this patent?" Julius asked to Subaru.

Another worker chimed in and decided to dig Subaru into a deeper pit, deeper than "kola".

"Didn't you say you were going to patent these puppies next month?"

Anastasia fainted for the third time.

As he watched his dream and plans collapse before his very eyes, Subaru despaired, as the only option to fix this damned scenario now rested on his neck.

He wondered if there would be any consequences for his impulsive action.

Without thinking of the consequences, of the potential of dying and leaving worlds behind...

Without thinking of the potential moral consequences of such an action, Subaru Natsuki made a very rash decision, motivated by shock, fear and angst.

He unscrewed the vial which lay at his neck and downed it like a shot glass.

Subaru learned many things that day,

Firstly, do not, under any circumstances let Anastasia or Julius see anything. Anything.

Secondly, he needed to get a doorman. He had just let an armed royal knight meander into his office without doing anything.

Thirdly, Subaru learned of the dangers of making rash decisions motivated by fear, as he had risked weeks of progress simply because somebody had derailed his plans.

Fourthly, he learned that Anastasia and Julius were actually nerds, interesting.

And finally,

He learned the true importance of preparation.

\\\

"Natsuki San!"

Subaru was brought out of his recollection by the sound of Otto, Brotto as he affectionately called him.

"We did good didn't we natsuki-san?"

"You can say that again Brottius king of the oil merchants"

"FUCK YOU!"

Subaru Natsuki's first negotiation was a resounding success

-Julius was tricked

-Julius was denied observation of anything of potential value

-Anastasia was fed false information

-Julius acquired a false character impression of [Natsuki Subaru]

-Even the cow plot was successful in preventing Subaru from needing to deny Julius a tour, thereby preventing suspicions.

As Subaru walked through his workshop, his mind filled with plans and ideas for the future,

He felt proud of himself, he had successfully hidden his underground kingdom from the eyes of the above ground empire, he met his goals! He even kept his promise to the bulls! If only Kenichi could see him now!

\\\

While reading an article about Spanish bullfighting, a grieving Kenichi coughed suddenly.

\\\

Out In the distance, in a barn, many loud noises could be heard, four heifers and two lucky bulls had entered. They hadn't exited in many days.

Otto struggled to work efficiently for many days. As if Od laguna decided to play a trick on the unlucky merchant, his divine protection seemed to suddenly work overtime, as he now had to perpetually listen to their… noises… constantly.

Otto really was the unluckiest merchant in lugunica.

Chapter Text

One month had passed since Julius's meeting.

Subaru established his own private mercenary group, the "Seven Sisters Battalion."

This private army was commanded by the "two Consuls", Subaru and Otto.

Otto, being an awful merchant, had shockingly competent strategic ability. Toto, as Subaru often teased, relied on other's skills well and had good instincts when it came to his subordinates. His pathetic demeanor instilled so much pity in those below him that they willingly followed him out of the aforementioned pity.

His divine protection essentially made the concepts of scouting, reconnaissance, espionage, and messengers obsolete. Subaru's imagination ran wild with fantastical ideas of bears with cannons strapped to their backs and zodda bugs directing entire units by otto's order.

Subaru bemused that Otto would've been a killer EU4 player back in Japan.

Of course, Otto often sulked when Subaru rambled about his potential, luckily for Subaru, Otto was an easy man to bribe. One good bottle of alcohol, and if he still complained, two.

His Mercany group consisted of sixty skilled crossbowmen and twenty swordsmen, and two strong bulls with a loyalty of steel. These bulls were the chariots, the war elephants of the mighty army. They enthusiastically allowed Subaru to ride, and begrudgingly allowed "the little green man who could never do what we did. (freaky ass cows)" to ride beside him.

The glorious general Subaru was now the first cowboy in Lugunican history.

Subaru had already fantasied a most glorious organizational structure (plagiarized directly from Ancient Rome) where each of his legions would be led by a general known as a baron, shortened Aldebaran, follower of the Pleiades. Each "baron" would also have its own Bull to ride, as 8 more were on the way as per the agreement. His Cowboy army would soon conquer the world.

(in this part of the story, subaru has no knowledge of Aldebaran, and is naming by astrological conventions, hence the name "follower of the Pleiades- Al-baron")

His recruitment and training was going well, as he prepared for his plans to come into fruition, his industrial growth continued and he began investing in convoys, along with connections in Costuul, Pristella, Picoutatte, and Flanders.

The time until Anastasia's interview was drawing near.

He was looking at his stopwatch when out of nowhere he jumped onto his Mahogony desk, made his stupid pose,

"HEY! TELLA-TAN! SET THE CHECKPOINT!"

He screamed while pointing at the sky, before suddenly downing the vial at his neck.

Otto, walking in to his office, was met with the ridiculous scene of his most trusted friend screaming out like a macaque to nobody.

When Subaru's eyes met with ottos,

A deep blush ripped across his face. For the next two months he would be called the tomato. (Tometo lore accurate.)

"YOU WEREN'T SPOUS'D TO SEE THAT!"

…

///

One week earlier.

The sky on this day was abnormally beautiful. The swirls of cirrocumulus clouds stretched until the horizon. Sunrays pierced through the porous sky cover. The air chilly and crisp and devoid of humidity.

Subaru Natsuki clad in his signature fur-trimmed jacket, layered over his older tracksuit, wandered the bustling avenues of the financial district.

Entering his favorite bakery.

"Morning Natsuki-san"

"Morning Padashak' "

Subaru went to the counter and found good pastries. He would certainly treat his head engineers; Kasha and Pens well. Otto wouldn't get any pastries today. Pastries were reserved for those who retained the cognizance to fully experience their flavour, and otto was too drunk to fall under those criteria.

Plunking 25 copper coins, he left the store with bags in hand.

He greeted Kadomon, "Hey Kado-Fuck outta my store-omon!"

"Aye Aye, Broke Fuck!" They greeted each other with the predator handshake.

He had discovered Kadomon was actually a pretty nice guy and was cranky that day because his child was lost and a zhewist banker had scammed him. Subaru forgave him, his incessant reminders to "STOP BEING BROKE" gave him a good goal that ensured that subaru did not "FUCK OFF TO SOME OTHER PLACE". The last time he did the latter; he got sold into slavery.

After buying some appas, lemoms, and other fruits, he went down his favorite shortcut when…

…

"Cough it up"

"Everything you've got"

"Give us those strange clothes while you're at it."

…

Deju Vu,

A new of Octet of idiots had inhabited this niche of the Lugunican criminal underworld after Felt apparently took in Tonchankin.

Eight boys of the bastardly bandits bared their teeth with Blunt bludgeoning Brute maces!

"Now now, I don't want to start a fight" Subaru deflated.

"Give us the goods then, boy."

He put down the bag of baked breads, and decided to walk past the bandits when.

Slice!

"..Hey! what the fuck is-" Subaru was cut off, the pain hit him at once.

Damn it Damn it, what the hell, it's a fatal wound,

I don't want to feel this pain, If I'm going to die, make it painless!

As he very slowly bled out, he tried to open the vial when-

"I'll be taking that."

The leader of the group, pompously grabbed it out of Subaru's hands and inspected it.

Methodically, as if rehearsed, Subaru cried out

"WAIT! That vial is important to me, it's, it's the last thing my late wife made in her winery before she died, please don't take her away from me!"

His face was anguished and distressed. To an outside observer, one might think this to be the lament a grief laden man losing his last memento of his lover.

To Subaru, he felt distress and anguish over the fact that he would now need to go out painfully.

"You got a wife so young? Damn you! I can't even pull!" said one pathetic bandit.

"Fuck you and your wife!" he said before downing the vial like a shot in front of Subaru with a shit-eating grin. Truly a pathetic attempt at NTR.

Only for his shit eating grin to suddenly switch to a contorted face of terror as the effects took hold over him

The look of anguish on Subaru's face evaporated in less than 30 milliseconds and now, the shit eating grin which had previously been on the pathetic bandit now could be seen on Subaru's face.

"This very trick has saved me from what, six bandit attacks already?" Subaru mused out loud

"They're all the same, jealous, greedy, and overall pathetic I say!"

The leader of the three bandits was already asleep.

"That made up sob story always seems to make them want to drink it in front of me. Maybe it's the feeling of crushing somebody? I'll never know." He slowly began to rise, much to the terror of the remaining seven bandits.

"What's the matter? I know your best bud just committed suicide in front of you, but cheer up! You can still escape with your lives intact!" Subaru said with a sadistic smile.

"Fuck this shit"

"Somebody go get a guard!"

They scurried off.

Subaru's fake sadism wore off, replaced with a face of acceptance and mild guilt.

His wound was too deep, he looked over at the blade, it was covered in some disgusting substance which subaru didn't want to touch. He wondered weather dying by Gout was common here.

He crawled over to the vial; a little bit was still in there. Enough.

He took the vial and tenderly licked whatever contents were left inside.

Next time around, I need to make sure I stay away from these idiots.

He felt his body peacefully fall into a slumber.

…

…

He felt himself floating in nothingness.

Aishteru

Who is telling me they love me?

Aishteru

I can't feel myself

Aishteru

This is seriously weird, hello?

…

He could feel the presence of somebody else, another person, and then it was over.

/

"Aye Aye, Broke Fuck!"

He had returned by death again this time to a different checkpoint.

"That time, I feel like a felt somebody meeting me…"

An idea popped into his mind. It was a Grimm idea, but…

Hmmmm…

...

Subaru found an empty lot far away.

He looked up at the sky, and then decided to try something, just this once.

"IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, PERSON IN CONTROL OF MY CHECKPOINTS, UPDATE MY CHECKPOINT HERE AND I'LL TAKE IT AS A YES!"

He had felt that the person behind his checkpoints possessed some level of intelligence, now that he had confirmation in the fact that his checkpoint was for a second time at the funny Appa merchant, he was convinced there was some sapience behind the checkpoints. If it were truly random, then it wouldn't have been at Kadomon's twice, right? So there had to be someone on the other side. Subaru was going to test this.

He then downed the vial. And collapsed

…

…

…

Did it work?

He looked down at the vial and the sloshed the fluids within it. He was now at the vacant lot, not at Kadomon's.

Confirmation.

"IT WORKS!"

Subaru now began "operation communication with…"

He found a couple of bricks and stacked them in rows like dominos.

He tipped one of them down and then said.

"ARE YOU THE SUPER CUTE HEROINE THAT SUMMONED ME?"

And then he took a swig.

To his utter shock, his checkpoint had been updated and the brick which he had felled, now lay upright again.

That meant…

"So it was a cute heroine, I wonder what she looks like? Hmmm maybe white hair, mmmmm-"

And so, communications began. If the checkpoint was updated, an answer was taken as a yes, if not, then it was a no.

And so…

"Are you always watching my every move?"

[YES] - The Checkpoint had been updated.

Subaru blushed and thought back to all the embarrassing things he did before

"Have you seen my other loops?"

[YES]

"Are you benevolent?"

[NO]

...gulp,

"Are you Malevolent?"

[NO]

Phew…

"Are you lying?"

[NO]

"That was a mean-spirited question fueled by my paranoid delusions and terror at dealing with the unknown and eldritch, I sincerely apologize for my actions, do you accept my apology?"

[YES]

"You are a girl, right?"

[NO]

"FUCK! You're lying right!"

[YES]

"Phew… well at least she can crack jokes,"

Wait, don't fuck with me! Are you also the one who pulled me from the ministop?

In a garden of shadows…

…

...S-Stop this…

Subaru Natsuki was confused. He was back here again.

"p-please~"

A grieving sob pierced the darkness.

The wail of a woman, her voice like a bell, permeated the air.

"~don't, don't do it, don't do this to yourself"

The grief was absolutely palpable.

…

"…Hello?"

Subaru had no body, but his soul asked

And then it was over.

[YES].

"Ah. I see."

Subaru Natsuki then died many more times.

"Are you related to me?" [Yes]

"Are you, my ally?" [Yes]

"Are you, my friend?" [Yes]

Subaru then had a stupid idea; he was about to test the waters…

"Are you interested in me… like… romantically?" [YES]

"VICTORY!" He did his stupid pose.

"Are you in love with me?" [YESS]

"HELL YEAH!"

…

Somewhere out there, [SUBARU NATSUKI] coughed

…

"Are you a goddess? You sure are one to me" [NO]

"Are you a witch, I've heard of them being talked about sometimes…" [YES]

"Do you associate with the witch cult?" [NO]

"Do you dislike the witch cult?" [YES]

"Do you hate the witch cult?" [YES]

"Do you like mayo?" [YES]

"Could you potentially set my checkpoints to help on my adventure?" [YES]

"Do you like the stars?" [YES]

Subaru pondered something, many archbishops were named after his home planet's stars…

Are you named after a star? (a.n latin word for stella fuck it we ball for plot) [Yes]

Somebody like me…

Do you have white hair? [YES]

"SCORE!"

Are you all powerful? [NO]

Does your name start with an a? [NO]

After 19 deaths, finally S? [YES]

So a star and S, hmm

And a witch too,

Is your name Satella? […yes]

He was not affected by this news very much. There was nothing he could really do about it. Quite frankly, this "Satella" had saved his life numerous times, therefore he was actually quite grateful. He scoffed at the public's irrational fear of a witch used to justify inefficient prejudice. Subaru had a pretty good heart, It wasn't fair for the Demi-humans.

"Did you "eat half the world" as they say?"

…

~STOP STOP! STOP PLEASE!

A wail. A wail of misery comparable to the combined misery of the survivors of Hiroshima could be heard.

"[Sob]… [Sob]…"

Buh-b-b'-Beloved~ my buh-b-eloved, cease defiling yourself to know some trash like m-me!

~PLEASE! D-don't – Da- No! NOO! No!

She was sobbing now. A beautiful sob, a sob of anguish. The sob of anguish from seeing the person you loved the most kill themselves in front of you over and over and over again for the foolish reason of "communication."

It pained her so much to change his checkpoints, it was a pain she never wanted to experience again. The choice of leaving her beloved in the dark, or cruelly indulging his inquisitive and increasingly suicidal nature.

Wait tore at her heart the most was how effortlessly he did it, how excited he seemed when he got a new piece of information, her heart practically broke when he discovered her true identity and reacted not with fear, fear for a monster like herself, a monster who destroyed everyone she held dear. No, he reacted with genuine curiosity.

My beloved killed himself to know me?

Envy was in absolute ecstasy at this moment. Jumping and twiddling her feet like a giddy schoolgirl after having drunk 20 quarts of red-40.

Why, why, why must you hurt yourself for me?

Sobs continued to echo in the shadowy place.

Subaru remembered the previous two encounters.

S-satella?

And then she pounced.

It was warm, tender, and beautiful. The love of 400 years of longing, ancient memories flashed through Subaru's mind, images like fleeting raindrops of the two.

The kiss lasted for a sixth of a minute. Subaru, even without his unsealed memories, returned the kiss. And then…

[SMACK]

"What was that for?"

The grief in her face was still evident.

Stop it.

"Stopit"

StopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopIt StopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopIt

StopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopItStopIt

…

"Stop hurting yourself~"

Her eyes, once manic, now filled with warmth. Her voice sounded angelic to Subaru,

"Don't, kill yourself!-"

"-Any more!" – stern like Naoko.

"I, c-command you love yourself, love who you are as my beloved…"

"I know you want answers, but to throw away your life to know something as trivial as my love for mayo? A small smile crept, but then she choked. Why? Beloved, you know better than to doubt my everlasting love for mayo~ "

A low angelic giggle. The mood lightened a bit

The scene changed.

Subaru's head lay upon her lap.

"is it fine if I call you Tella-Tan?"

Her flushed face was confirmation, "of course!"

Subaru Natsuki watched her, the residual sadness in her heart.

He felt as though his heart was collapsing seeing her like this.

And knowing his actions, his depravity was the cause…

It spurned him to no end.

…Hey Tella-Tan?"

"Yes my Beloved?"

And so, they talked. They talked about many things. About Japan, about lugunica, about the shadow garden and the authorities. He learned of ENVY, and was warned not to try and reveal RBD to others. The hours stretched. Their conversation shifted to the mundane, the stars, the moon, the people Subaru had met. Satella talked about many ancient things, about who Subaru was, about his past, his old alias and his beautiful earth dragon steed. Subaru listened, with eyes full of curiosity. The boy truly had a crush, one that was absolutely shared by Tella.

As the darkness began to distort, Subaru decided to say one more thing.

"Hey Tella tan?"

"I'm sorry."

She smiled as the Shadow Garden darkened.

The half elf was once again alone.

…

…

…

[YES].

"Did you Do this intentionally or with malevolent intent? Or was it something else like an accident?"

He brought the vial up to his mouth.

His soul, his mind, suddenly screamed fundamental rejection of the action he was about to take. Ancient instincts screamed to halt. Primeval instincts told him to stop the cycle of barbarity.

And in the back of his mind, he swore he could hear a bell like voice crying in the distance.

…

I'll continue this later…

Back to the present.

Subaru had many things to do.

He decided to hold off on using RBD for further communication, but still made rigorous preparations for the meeting. It was to take place at a downtrodden diner owned by a subsidiary of the Hoshin.

Subaru had sent otto to observe Anastasia with his divine protection before he plunged into the negotiation.

He had learned of her goals; she wanted to purchase the company.

Subaru needed to find a way to reject her without sparking a corporate war, instilling suspicion, or just generally appearing interesting.

The last thing he wanted was his inventions stolen or his plans leaked. If Anastasia suddenly began to focus on his company, all that could happen like dominos.

"Hey Ottomancer, any new information from Zodd?"

Zodd was the greatest information agent in lugunica, capable of acquiring inhuman feats of information gathering. This was because Zodd wasn't a human, but a collective of Zodda bugs.

Zodd's area of espionage was currently the Hoshin Company provisional headquarters in the capitol.

"Yes Natsuki-san, Zodd told me that Ana recently bought up many different bookstores in the noble district, reasons unknown"

Huh? Why would she be buying mercantile bookstores in a district of decadent fools who'd rather drink themselves to death at their balls than to improve themselves with knowledge?

"Huh, what might she be doing?"

"I don't know Natsuki-San, but it seems this is preparation for some major business move. She is being pretty quiet about it all."

Subaru had been experimenting with the possibilities of Zodda bugs. He had heard of the capabilities of Anastasia Hoshin, how she was able to deconstruct a person based solely off their facial reactions. It was quite scary to be going up against such a potential foe.

Subaru knew that refusing would only incite suspicion. He could already divinate what Anastasia might be thinking: "A man appears out of nowhere and goes from broke to medium sized corporate power in just a couple of months." And if Subaru delayed or refused, "Could that be the secret to that company's success? They might be hiding something, maybe a new technology? Perhaps that is the secret to their success?" and then Anastasia might send information agents, piece it together and it would all be over.

Subaru also ordered Otto do something cruel; for the last 2 days until the interview, at Anastasia sleep-quarters, Subaru ordered that a zodda bug routinely fly into the window at unpredictable intervals. This was a test on the potential way to dull her "Observational skills" and to prevent her from learning too much about Subaru Natsuki.

And so, Subaru put on his signature Fur trimmed jacket, vial on his neck, and old leather pants.

He set off, to the location with a goal in mind.

…

…

…

The place was a small diner at the edge of the civilized districts. Two stories and with a Fachwerkhausen Style. Many men in a gold-white uniform lingered around.

Anastasia was lingering about, checking the time, she mulled over what she knew.

"Hello! Im Mimi! Nice to meet you!" A small cat demi-human boisterously greeted the a young boy. The boy's name was Subaru, the man who Ana was waiting for.

Subaru, overcome with the overwhelming urge to pet such a bundle of cuteness, fell prey to his inner desires and scuffled Mimi's hair.

"Hey! You could've asked Mimi first! Mimi Loves head pats you know!"

First strategic victory! Fluffed Mimi's hair like a boss!

Many of the golden-white uniformed raised their eyebrows at the scene of a young boy wearing a fur coat patting the hair of their commander, his genuine smile brightened, a few were quite jealous.

"Heyy! Who's this cute bundle of joy?" Subaru asked into the crowd.

"That's our second in command for my private army -the Iron Fang- Mimi Pearlbaton."

From the far-side of the bar chimed a voice silky and refined. Anastasia Hoshin of the prolific Hoshin Company. She controlled a massive empire, her assets across two nations were equivalent in value to 1/4 of the Royal Lugunican Treasury.

Subaru faintly recognized the woman. He had heard few things about the woman for which Pyotr slobbered over. Now seeing her in person for the first time, he resolved to forever refer to Pyotr as "Pyedo." The reason for this being the fact that Ana, looked like a loli among lolis, the flattest of flatbreads. Subaru's cruel brain instantaneously crafted a barrage of nicknames that would likely get him hanged for disrespecting a royal candidate.

In the background, a tall Demi-human mercenary with a Pompadour haircut was lounging about, watching over the scene with vigilance.

Anastasia wore a tall Ushanka, a dress was of pure white, and furry scarf that Subaru observed to emit a strange afterglow. She was frail, with a body shape capable of finding the angle 180.

She was smiling the merchant's smile, this was a move often meant to ease the opponent into a false sense of security, thereby increasing the chances of error by the opposing negotiating party.

Subaru decided to start negotiation with a wise opener.

"Hey what's with the scarf?" he impulsively blurted out.

The air in the room very quickly shifted. Ricardo immediately perked up, now at full attention.

Subaru wasn't oblivious to this change in the air, but decided to push further. Perhaps this could throw them off guard and potentially lead to a better outcome.

Huh? How does this boy know about Echidna, Only Ricardo and a couple of others know about you,

Echidna responded, I think it's just his spiritual affinity tellin' him somethings up with me, try probing to see what he's talking about, maybe he just recognized the scarf as something else?

"Pardon?"

"It has this weird afterglow I've never seen before, it looks so cool! Is it a magic item? I'd love to get one!"

Phew, it seems he didn't recognize you chidna',

Told ya so.

"Ah, it's a Gustekan scarf I bought on impulse, its very fluffy you know! That afterglow is the magic infusion, keeping er' warm." Anastasia decided to gambit on the boy's seeming ignorance, Bullshit artillery was loaded into the lancer and fired.

"Oh really! It would go good with my jacket, its also from Gusteko you know!"

Huh, he mentioned Gusteko, I guess that settles it, he might be some minor nobility from the far north? Perhaps a victim of the mad prince? He doesn't look ethnically Gustek. But why else would somebody be wearing a jacket in this weather? But wait, that doesn't make any sense, wouldn't a Gustekan loathe the winter and abandon the jacket? Maybe it's a trauma response?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a small series of consecutive taps, two short one long.

Merchant code for [!].

She looked in the direction behind Subaru. It was Mimi.

Mimi then tapped twice, raised an eyebrow high, flexed the Adams apple, closed her eyes, and pointed to her throat then neck.

[DANGER[?[POISON-SLEEPER[HIGH[NECK]

The message was conveyed clearly. Within just half a second her eyes darted to Subaru's neck. On it there was a vial suspended by necklace. It wasn't hidden. Mimi's superior senses as a cat demihuman had detected the poison shortly after the negotiations had started.

Who in their right mind brings a poison vial to a business meeting?

This could be a very important card against Mr Subaru. I shudder to imagine who I might've just involved myself with. Its displayed much too prominently to be an offensive weapon. Fuck, could it be a suicide pill? Many shady organizations utilize such methods, If so, maybe I could coerce him out of it? Goodness, this just got very interesting.

"If you'd like to know where I got it I could tell ya' by the way, I forgot to introduce myself' Names' Anastasia Hoshina, Nice to meet ya!"

Julius might've missed something, that expansion in the noble districts? What the fuck could that've been about? My instincts lean towards some Internobility conflict of interests, but with books of all things? Books, perhaps information warfare? Should I Discard that card? Maybe I should abandon this Endeavor, associating with these people seems quite the risky prospect. But from what I can gather, this company seems to be hiding its production. Why? I think I'm missing something important. I'll need to push for more info.

"Likewise! The name's Natsuki Subaru!"

He is cheery, genuinely. Despite holding a deadly poison on his neck. I've never seen something like this, is he a madman? No- his emotions are genuine. He seems to be as Julius described, albeit a bit more eccentric. It isn't fake too, what the fuck did I just stumble into?

He has the spiritual affinity of a motherfucker too! To be able to easily see Echidna is quite the feat! Natsuki-Kun are you puppet or puppeteer?

"Alright, I'm a straightforward woman so I'll get to the point, I'd like to buy your company."

Maybe a couple of minutes ago I would've believed my own words, but who the FUCK walks into negotiations with a bottle of poison pompously displayed on one's neck. He isn't even trying to fake his expressions, genuinely. This and all the suspicious corporate activity, I haven't been able to pierce his company with a spy or informant. Every time I do, they get caught and for some FUCKASS reason. Is my own information network compromised?

"State your price."

Who the fuck, no what the fuck? Who the fuck walks into a foreign merchant's office and is offered corporate purchase and just goes "State your price"? He must've known beforehand about my intentions. But wait, could this be a rout? Could he be trying to intentionally throw me off by being unexpectedly receptive to my wishes? Wait, Could this entire thing be a feint? Wait wait wait, what if the poison bottle, the jacket, all of it, what if it's all a manipulation? The potent abilities of Demihumans in detecting poison is common knowledge, he must've known about Mimi before. If he wants me confused and brooding, then I am falling into his manipulation.

So far, this boy could be three things, a puppet of some larger noble conspiracy, a suicidal madman, or a mastermind of information control, emotional manipulation, and negotiations so great and confidential in their workings that even I haven't detected them. Goodness.

"I believe Around 18,000 worth in direct Holy golden coins should suffice as initial payment, with the 10 payments of 500 over 10 months, with a 6% interest rate, to culimate in an overall sale price of 23000 HGC. I can go as high as 23500 HGC."

…an average offer for a company of their size, a higher-than-average interest rate to see if the opponent would haggle, and a final selling price a bit higher than the market average. Lets see what you do Natsuki-Kun?

"Buenos Aires! That's a lot of coin!"

"Bwae nose aye rays?" asked Mimi, suddenly untrusting of the boy.

"Ah, that's a City from where I come from, in the land down south!"

PAUSE. Excuse me, what? Land down south? Is he Vollochian? That might explain the poison, but why the jacket? And what about this city "Buoy aye nos aye rays?" There isn't a city with that name in Vollochia or Gusteko! Is this another misinformation tactic? Maybe he is Kararagi like me? But there definitely isn't some lost city of that name in the west. Wait a minute, Wait Wait Wait, Could it be? Nah, that's too far-fetched. I Need to probe for more information.

"Might I ask, are ya from this' Buae nos aereyes?" Anastasia asked with a neutral expression

"Nope! Im from a small island nation east of here, a place called Japan! Even heard of it?"

There is no country east of here. Jahh Pahn? Wait a minute. Jahh pahn? Hold on hold on. ADDENDUM 21-DOCUMENT 4 PARTIALLY TRANSLATED DRUNKEN RAMBLING OF HOSHIN.

…Ayeum fruhm ah Lahnd Khalle' jahh pahn… …wahs' rhunni' from zh' po' leece' Afht'a I lolli'd tha' khan!

Hold the fucking metia, could this person be from the beyond the great waterfall like hoshin? That could explain why he's a blank slate! But why does he have that vial- wait a minute, could he be so distraught at losing his homeland that he has fallen into despair and could take his life at any moment! Profitable ideas are in danger! its Just like partially translated Hoshin-document 22, titled "Lamentations about the lah o' Khan'sent." But wait a minute. A fourth description is opening up! What if this boy is a waterfall victim so traumatized by his experience in our world that he comprehends suicide? He might be a Hoshin revolution in the making! Goodness! Subaru, who the fuck are you!

"There is no island nation east of here. Pardon me if I ask, but do you happen to be from a place beyond the great waterfall?"

"…the Great Waterfall? What's that?"

…

Yeah, I have no fucking clue anymore.

Ricardo chimes in. "You don't know? It's the end of the world, where the water flows down into the abyss."

"Waterfall? Wait is this world flat?" Subaru responds

He is the most clueless man I have ever seen. He's definitely from beyond the great waterfall. All his reactions and emotions so far have been completely real. Not a hint of flattery or deception. He has managed to throw me off 6, no maybe 7 times. Its only thanks to years of business skill that I haven't cracked a shocked expression

Lets get back to the main topic, do you have any qualms with the offer presented?

"No, actually, it's really quite a good deal, I never thought dealing like this in my life.

…I truly learned a lot from that bastard Pyotr." The last part was muttered under his breath.

…Pyotr? As in the Gustek Tek Pyotr? Huh? Did he meet with Pyotr before coming here to the royal capitol? My information network should've picked that up in the preliminary reports. I need to learn more. It seems he holds enmity for that company, I wonder why?

"Might I ask of your affiliation with Sir Pyotr?"

"Oh, he enslaved me for a couple months before trying to poison me at a ball."

…What?

That Pyotr did WHAT?

FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK FUHKKUHH! Anastasia screams internally; a noticeable flinch is displayed by her face. Ricardo and Mimi notice, uh oh.

THAT BASTARD DID WHATTTTT? Oh no oh Od no, I kept him around because he was the easiest pawn to control, but damn did that come to bite me in the ass; that creep masturbates to statuettes of me daily! Disgusting dog was a good source of income then, but oh crap am I going to pay for this now!

If Subaru was enslaved by him, od knows what that sadistic bastard did. Oh no, oh no no no. I know that Pyotr, god of the "slobberers" refers to his own company as "Anastasia's proudest pawn." Oh fuhhhhh, if Subaru, a potential Waterfall survivor, who has already gone from nothing to a moderate corporate empire in just a few months has kept his grudge against Pyotr! He might think I've forcefully puppeted and controlled Pyotr's company, if he seeks vengeance against Pyotr, he might also be going against me! Wait, could this be the reason why he is meeting with me today? Maybe information gathering to get his revenge against Pyotr? I thought I told that dog no SLAVERY! What the hell! Maybe his self-imposed leash wasn't as strong as I thought. Oh Pyotr, Im going to fucking kill you when im done, you might've just denied me a WATERFALL survivor from the land of HOSHIN! And to POISON HIM! That wasn't a lie either, Subaru was truly truthful. If that's the case then- wait, waiwaiwaiwawaiiiiii waitt a gahhhzhzhhhaammnn minute. Don't tell me. Don't, nono no don't. I have to ask this. I have to. If its what I think it is, then im going to hang that dog!

Echidna, who had been carefully monitoring Anastasia for the last couple of minutes, has seen her go from neutrality, to shock, to intense suspicion, to confusion, back to suspicion, but then suddenly to utter and complete shock followed by misery, anger, rage, and general unhappiness.

"Would I be wrong if that vial on your neck was the very same poison, he used to poison you?"

This is it, if this gambit is correct, then I've potentially lost access to a true Code Hoshin…

It's Subaru's turn to be shocked.

"H-How did you- Ho-"

Its all she needs to get her answer.

Anastasia locks eyes with a flabbergasted Mimi.

Tap tap tap tap, cheek twitch

[PRISTELLA]

A snort, then a flash of teeth.

[PIG[MERCHANT]

Two consecutive blinks on the left eye, followed by a forced pressurization change to the right ear.

[AFOREMENTIONED]

She draws a line discrete line against her throat. Her eyes dart to Subaru's neck

[ASSASINATE]V[POISON]

She then shoots a very quick signal via eyebrow raises.

[IMMIDIETLY]

Mimi's eyes widened "waooohhhhh, Ana don't joke like that.     …wait, was it a joke? Mimi wants to know!"

...

...

/ INTERLUDE

Pristellan Detective log – Murder of Pyotr.

Detective Rakh': "So who would have a motive to kill a man like Pyotr?"

Detective Patlabor: "he made many enemies, but that style of poisoning is quite peculiar."

Rakh: "There was an incident where a lowly magenta-haired servant died at his ball to an assassination attempt against Pyotr."

Patlabor: "Oh really? So was it the same type of attempted assassination?"

Rakh: "Actually, new evidence points to the opposite. With the dog dead, many former subordinates are speaking up." "he was a very cruel man it seems."

Patlabor: "So he made many enemies, but how does that tie in?"

Rakh: "They think the first incident was an intentional framing. The purchase records from that time are all suspiciously lost."

Rakh: "furthermore, it seems to have been the same poison used twice against Pyotr." "don't you think they'd switch it up after the first attempt failed?"

Patlabor: "Good point."

Rakh: "Well, we know Pyotr is capable of committing questionable activities."

Patlabor "Dya''hahah, remember that cabinet! Oh if ana could see this shit."

Rakh: "Look at his's cadaver right forearm muscle, "

Patlabor "What do you mean, OH oh shit! Damn boy!"

Patlabor: "I wonder if this is how that poor girl Lilliana feels having Kirikita slobbering at her every move."

Rakh: "Damn right."

Rakh: "Alright, so back to potential suspects?"

Patlabor: "Wait, what if we got this all wrong and Pyotr actually died doing the deed?"

Rakh: "Damn that would mean his idol killed him!"

Patlabor: "Cruel fucking irony, here lies Pyotr the meatslapper, died while white-whaling it to stattuetes of the petite Anastasia Hoshin."

In Kararagi, an overworked Anastasia Hoshin falls to a coughing fit of great intensity.

Rakh: "Welp, back to work. Patterlaborius, -DON'T CALL ME THAT- go check the servant quarters."

/ INTERLUDE END.

…

…

Anastasia hoshin had just had one really fucked up first half of an interview.

It was supposed to be a normal business interview.

Observe their reaction, take their mannerisms and if there was profit to be made, make it.

This was something else.

In walks a boy nominally prepared for negotiations.

Immediately, he pets the head of one of the most feared mercenary leaders in Kararagi like its nothing.

All is going according to plan until…

[POISON]- Mimi detects poison upon his figure. An unhidden vial, pompously displayed for the world to see.

The negotiation turns into threat assessment and control.

Until the boy casually dropped that he was from beyond the waterfall.

This changed everything, and to Anastasia's despair, she learned that he had fallen victim to a greedy lustful merchant in Pristella.

What happened next was less of a negotiation and more an interrogation.

"What happened! What did he do to you?" Her neutral façade cracked suddenly, some genuine concern actually flowing out.

"Oh it was at a ball, one of his cronies told me to drink a vial and I did, next thing I knew, I was convulsing on the ground. Then there was a lot of bickering; you did this, you framed that, my poison tester dead! Wahh wahhh and then I lost consciousness."

"When I woke up, I was dumped in an unfamiliar place with nothing but the clothes on my back."

A small tear was on his eye. Proof enough to Anastasia of its validity. She could easily see that dog doing something so vile.

"But how did you become a slave?"

"Hitchhiked on the wrong convoy, got attacked by bandits, nearly died, then got accused of working with the bandits."

This Pyotr, he isn't even worthy of being a pawn, I'm a merchant but I even I have a heart!

So that's why the boy wears that poison vial. Maybe is a reminder, maybe it's a symbol of freedom to him, maybe it's something to remind him of the events. To keep the vengeance hot. If it's the latter, then poor old Anastasia' now had a problem.

"Would you ever use that vial on any other person?"

–"HELL NO! I'd rather kill myself than willingly use that against somebody else."

…you'd rather WHAT!?

The first part was truth, but so was the second. This is very concerning, the effects of his time in slavery could've very well affected his mental state.

"Do you still hold dissent for Pyotr?"

"Welp, I know he was your puppet, and I really would love to kick the shit outta him,"

Anastasia winces, she knows she has lost a potential ally, one potentially from beyond the great waterfall.

The boy smiles meekly, "I'm sure you used your super-merchant body language skills to learn that already?"

Anastasia remains silent.

"I'm not going to sell my company to you."

It's a firm denial. Stern, Final. A good Merchant knows when its over.

"I don't want the thing I built from the ground up standing being placed on the same level as that abysmal place… I can't accept that." He smiles meekly once again.

"Your deal was good, if it was any other company, I might've accepted it, but… "

"I guess I can't help but hold some disdain for the puppeteer as well huh? Sorry."

Why is this boy apologizing? Excuse me? In his eyes, I'm one of the people who inflicted misery on him? Why apologize to me! Get mad!

Anastasia nods.

The room is in silence. The yellow-white robed men have seen a very rare instance of Anastasia breaking her neutral demeanor. Mimi has left to go do something. Ricardo watches vigilantly.

"One more question Natsuki-kun, Why do you hold that memory of what happened to you so closely?" She gestures to his neck.

The boy pauses, very briefly to contemplate his next move.

"Honestly, it's because it saves me the pain of d- GHHHKKKK!"

"-hey what the fuck was that tel-" the boy says angrily, he looks a bit betrayed.

He stops himself. The eyes of everybody in the room trained instinctively on him.

What? … who was he talking to? Huh? He looks in pain.

The air in the store changes. It is imperceptible. It is eldritch. Ricardo detects it, witches' miasma.

Anastasia initially believes that the mention of it brings back bad memories. But…

What? … That fear and shock on his face, what the hell was that? He's sweating like crazy, that fear isn't fear of economic loss, fear of Anastasia, no this is something else. I cant understand it. His alright poker-face has shattered completely. He's scared, more scared and looks a bit betrayed. Look at those eyes, oh my Od!

Echidna wakes from her dormancy with urgency.

Anastasia, what's going on? There is witch miasma in the air, I've missed a few things.

Excuse me? Witch miasma? The stuff that's on witch cultists? Wait a damn minute, It cant be from any one of ours. No way, did it come from-

I think it did Ana, are you sure this boy isn't a threat?

Ricardo gestures imperceptibly to the troops to stay on guard. Then he speaks.

"Subaru, are you associated with the witch cult?"

…

…

The diner is filled with silence.

"Witch Cult? You mean the terrorist organization?"

Thank god, that confusion and naïve nature is still there.

"Yes, the worshippers of the witch of envy, Satella, are you involved with them?"

There is a slight twitch on Subaru's eyebrow at the mention of Satella. Anastasia notices it.

Huh, his eye twitched, maybe the name brings back bad memories.

"If you want verbal confirmation -maybe you have a truth-detector in the crowd…"

Good, he thinks somebody in the crowd has the divine protection of wind reading, if he believed this since the start does that mean everything he has said was truth?

He gestures to the yellow-white robed men.

He then stands and makes a stupid pose.

"Then I'll say It out loud! I have never had any association with this "Witch Cult" I put it on the dragon as Lugunicans say!"

He is sincere. "as Lugunicans say" more evidence that he is a foreigner.

Ricardo presses further. "And have you any association with the witch Satella herself?"

It's a weird question based solely off a paranoid idea. Many of the yellow-whites look at Ricardo in confusion. Ricardo's gut feeling has been obeyed in this query.

Another eye twitch.

"Again, I'll say it for the record, I have never had any association with anybody named 'Satella!"

There was a slight pause, it felt like a half-truth. Wait a minute, it felt like a half-truth- what the fuck? He believes there is a wind reader in our midst, but he might've just lied right there? But does that mean he has some association with Satella? That cant be, no wait, maybe it could be? Maybe he was a victim of her or something? A curse? his eyes twitched a bit when they asked.

Echidna speaks

That was pretty much the truth, I don't sense any bloodlust or killing intent, had he been an archbishop or a member of the cult, he would've likely attacked after being outed.

The room is once again in silence.

…

Ricardo looks over to Anastasia, she gives the all-clear signal.

"Understood." Is all Ricardo says.

Within a couple of seconds, the tension in the room deescalates.

Sighs of relief are heard. Many of the yellow-whites were quite scared of the boy when the accusation by Ricardo was raised. Interestingly, the boy seemed to have no fear of the witch cult, just genuine confusion and curiosity.

///

The negotiations once again return to economics

The mood is noticeably lighter.

"While I'll concede the company, I'd like to invest around 4,000 HGC for 2% stock in your company's future profits."

"You're a smart girl, Ana" Subaru teases. Once the tension of the previous events was lifted, negotiations went forward much better.

Both sides had seen their respective merchant faces- crack. Subaru had done it many times, and Anastasia had done it once. This was enough to negotiate without the usual mind-games and deception of regular inter-merchant deals. For Anastasia, following months of soulless negotiating and the previous intense session, it was quite refreshing.

Drinks were served. The fact that Subaru didn't even think twice before downing the drink added to an air of nonchalance.

"You know that I'm gonna make it rich money-money!" Subaru says with a smile. It seems that being able to crack the false mask of the greatest merchant has done wonders for Subaru's pride.

"How much do you plan to make?"

"Millions!"

There is no point in trying to carefully observe the opponent's facial moves and hidden quips, when everything he says is so absolutely open; it's trivial to look deeper for hidden motives when the person before you literally tells you their goals.

"Oh really? Should I make it 3% and loot it up?"

"Malos Aires! I'll go broke by age 20!"

"Malos Aires?"

"Malos is Bad, Buenos is good, "

"you said Buenos Aires was a city, no?"

Subaru spends the next 10 minutes talking about the Argentine capitol, it's history, and the city itself. The conversation morphs to something about "FutBol" after a mention of a man named "Messy" Anastasia asks what that is. The next couple of minutes are spent explaining the sport.

2 Months after this conversation was made, "Futbol" goals and equipment could be found popping up in fields around the Capitol. Buy now at the stores of Hoshin Company.

"How old are you Natsuki-kun?"

"WHAA? I thought your merchant super network and mega-merchant abilities found the answer already- I'm 17!"

WHAT! Anastasia internally screams, I knew you were young, but I thought you were around my age!

"You know~ for someone who so young, you seem very confident in your future profits"

She gestures to one of the yellow-white robes, who gives her a dossier.

She then tosses it lightly onto the table.

Subaru looks at the papers blankly, they are some maps and purchase documents for places he doesn't recognize, or does he? Then it clicks in his mind:

Are these the locations indicated by those thumbtacks? Holy crap! Was she easily fooled by a simple misinformative map that she bought all these properties? Im shocked!

Subaru's face contorts in surprise

Anastasia muses in her head;

Ahhh, Julius Juli kully, you have been promoted to 3/10 of a merchant, congratulations! That look on his face tells me all I need to know. But why isn't he angry?

Subaru, looking shocked but without indignation asks

"How did you find out about this?"

"Oh, just my merchant information network, nothing more nothi-"

"What's that I smell? The smell of flames! Liar liar pants on fire!"

The brief friendly intermission between the first and second parts of the negotiations has ended, its back to ruthless moneygrabbers duking it out.

Ah, so he saw through that lie, not bad Natsuki-kun, not bad at all.

"It was Julius wasn't it?"

"Good eye Natsuki-kun"

The lilac haired merchant smiles. A small bit of genuine emotion is found In that smile. This is a well-known tactic, infusing and weaponizing true emotions to acquire one's goals.

Crap, he doesn't seem angry enough about it. Surprised but not angry. It might've been false information. Julius, you've demoted back down to 2/10.

"I've had my eye on many of these noble district properties for a while now and managed to purchase a good majority of them, of course I could spare some unprofitable storefronts for cheaper if ya want'" Anastasia probes.

Shit, looking at his face, he felt relief after hearing I had my eyes on those properties for a while now- which I did- but still. Its as if he said "no way you were dumb enough to buy those properties based off a hunch." Julu-juli you might've made me waste some money.

"1.5% of one year's profit, 4000 HGC investment spread out over 4 months in payments of 1000 HGC. How dya' think."

Subaru retorts "1.25% of future profits for a year, initial investment of 4000 HGC, I'll agree to back off on your claims to the noble district markets. It'll hurt my business a lot, but I'll have to improvise."

I see, he never planned to enter into the Noble district bookmarkets from the start. Not bad, not bad at all Mr. Subaru. Julius has been demoted back down 1/10th of a merchant. I want him to believe he fooled me into believing I actually fell for the noble district trap. Therefore, I shall accept this deal. The sun has already gone down and I have many other things to do. 4000 HGC is pocket change for somebody like me too.

"Verywell, I accept."

"EH?" No bartering?"

"Want me to back out?"

"Haell no! let's shake on it."

The deal ends; signatures are signed and many sighs go out from the yellow-white robers. They have been blessed with the unusual scene of their lady momentarily losing her stoicism. Of course, it was against a trivial opponent but it was still interesting to see nonetheless.

Subaru, now hungry eats a burger from the store while the Iron fang packs up.

As Anastasia is about to exit, Subaru asks one more question.

"Hey ana- how'd i' do?"

…

Anastasia pauses, eh why not?

"3/10 Of a merchant, you're well on your way"

"3/10? Halve that 10 and I'd get beaten up in the streets for racial undertones!"

"ROSARIO! See ya!"

The negotiations end. Subaru leaves in silence.

Anastasia orders a couple of iron-fang to tail him to his office. Simple information gathering.

Two information agents, one named Hosark and the other named Roman.

"Keep watch over him, tell me anything interesting bout' the boy."

And so, Hosark and Roman trail the boy as he walks.

Eventually after he getting a good distance away from the negotiation building, he slumps down onto a small wooden bench outside the capitol. The sun has gone down and the sky was a scarlet transitioning into lilac and purple.

The boy then suddenly sighed, releasing the tension of the previous quarter of a day.

"…ahhhhh, I hate negotiations."

He looks around, a brief eyeshot towards their general direction.

"Shoot, " Hosark mutters under his breath.

"Did he see us?" remarks Roman.

The answer comes as the boy returns to what he was doing.

From their vantage point, they can see as he begins to unscrew something from his neck.

"Wait a minute, is that the vial?" "Holy shit, that's the thing Ana told us to watch out for!"

"What's he gonna do?"

The boy tenderly holds the metal vial. Then whispers out into nothing, "…huh, could I have done any better?"

He slowly begins to bring the vial up to his mouth. It is at a precarious angle compared to his mouth. If he lowers the orientation by a little bit, the contents of the liquid shall pour out into his mouth.

"Shit, that's the poison, right?" Roman mutters "Should we do something? Shit! Hes gonna kill himself!" they whisper alarmedly.

He pauses, then slowly lowers the vial.

"I think I did pretty good don't' you think… Tella?"

"Oh thank Od, what the fuck is wrong wit- Tella? Who the fuck is tella?" says Hozark.

"Hosark, I think he's crazy, talking to himself in a park while- wait."

The boy stands, rescrewing the vial back onto its suspended cap.

"Sorry bout' that tella-tan, I hope I didn't make you too sad."

"Oh and one more thing, tella, that thing in the meeting, with the hands, what the fuck was that? That stung man! Shit was scary too."

Hosark and Roman look at each-other dumbfounded, "What the fuck is he talking about?"

"you can't be doing this to a poor boy, I thought ya loved me, you're gonna make me cry" he says in a half mocking tone. Faking tears from the eyes.

"I bet I was about to say something stupid, if that's the truth, thanks for stopping me…"

The boy continues into speaking to no one. "Seriously, the only reason I havent tried communicating is because I didn't want to lose the loop, I'll ask you in a couple weeks."

"well then…"

"Could you update the checkpoint, pweatyy-pwease!" the boy now makes puppy-dog eyes.

Roman is perplexed, what is he talking about? Update a checkpoint?

"Hosark, this guy might be looney, who the- tella? Wait waiwaiwait Satella? Hold the fuck up, is that why Ricardo asked that question?"

"Shit man, you might be right."

He then goes silent for ten seconds straight staring off into nothingness.

His expression visibly darkens; his eyes grow dangerous.

A Demi-human walking by suddenly turns with a disturbed look. Her Nostrils flair. she leaves quickly.

The boy continues looking off into the distance.

A small mischievous smile creeps onto his face.

...

Subaru Natsuki Had Returned by Death.

Chapter Text

Subaru Natsuki suddenly turns his head like Petelgeuse.

…Directly at the rock where two informants hide.

…

Subaru continues, "I think I'm being watched TelTel, cause a cough in the distance if you confirm." He says it in a way that fucking causes shivers to go down their spines.

Somebody sneezes across the river.

"Yup, somebody's watching me. I feel like Rockwell! Is it the IRS?" he smiles.

"Roman, he knows. He fucking knows, he went silent for ten seconds and now he fucking knows, we need to get the fuck out of here. NOW."

They scurry off with incredible haste, for that boy who seemed so down to earth was now rambling alone like a madman to somebody who may or may share the name of the witch of envy, and to make matters worse it seemed he knew of the two informants. This was borderline pants-pissing territory and those two informants were not paid nearly enough to do that shit.

And so, they fucked off as fast as they could, frequently checking over their corners to make sure he wasn't following.

They continued running until they found themselves in an alley.

A group of Eight common street thugs, the former Opps of Tonchinkan could be found.

"Well, well, well, look'ie here, what got you all so shooken up" "look at him, he perspirated all over" "johan what the fuck does perspirate mean" "demigga you' stupid" "you stupider to think I'd understand that noble ass language" "you make a good point you stupid ass macaque."

Roman and Hozark look at each other.

"Oh, I almost forgot, give us the loot" said one of the bandits.

The birds are watching them. A murder of crows flies in.

The two informants begrudge. They take out some funds and give it to the bandits when…

The air shifts. All the crows stop cawing at once. The two informants have their backs turned to the entrance of alley. The dusklight seeps in from the entrance of the alley, their shadows are cast far into the alleyway.

"Man we just got a good score," "You're right, we might- "

Suddenly, the group goes unnaturally silent.

Then, the strongest looking thug speaks "h-Hey man, we-we paid you back man, we're sorry truly. I swear, I swear it on the dragon man, you don't got to do this to us."

There is some sort of fear in their voices. "Yeah man, we learned our lesson."

The sound of footsteps can be heard. It echoes in the alley.

"Shit man, we need get out of here, fuck this shit" "Stay the fuck away from us man!"

The two recently robbed informants are still standing still.

Something in their gut tells them not to turn around. The reactions from the bandits are enough, there is someone at the entrance of the alley, it's shadow is being cast.

The bandits scurry off into the night.

The sound of footsteps continues, the crows are absolutely silent, watching their every move.

"Hozark, what the hell is going on?"

"I don't know man. "

From deeper in the alleyway, shouts and a quick scuffle can be heard, its too dark to see anything. Some yells and the sound of a few punches, Large oxen can be heard huffing.

Then he emerges from the darkness, the crows follow his eyes.

A Grey-haired frail man can be seen,

"Hello!" he says with a smile. His green hat flutters in the wind, his cape and robe seem out of place in such a draught alley.

"Phew man, you saved us from those bandits, thank you man."

"Ahh, there is no need to thank me, right Natsuki-san?" his eyes meander between the two bandits.

What.

Two arms suddenly fall on Hozark's and Roman's shoulders.

There is fluff trim on the ends. The grip is strong

"Your right Totto, You should be thanking me."

It's his voice. Why is he here? That kid, he's crazy, he managed to illicit such a reaction from Anastasia, he's crazy, no hes fucked up.

The two informants are trembling; they are truly perspiring.

"Now now, Settle down boys, Roman, Hozark, why don't we have a little talk?"

…

How does he know our names?

"h-HH—hhh-hey man, we're just doing our jobs man" Roman cowers.

"…we don't have any money to give or anything- hey, hey man…"

Subaru suddenly snaps his fingers "Right, totto!"

Otto gets the signal and tosses them a bag of money; it's the bag that the bandits had just stolen.

The crows continue to watch. It is dark now.

The two men slowly turn to see the man, Subaru Natsuki, smiling a genuine smile.

"I'm really sorry you got roped into that, I really am! Its just that, I cant let you report what you saw. It really does fuck up my profits ya' know."

…

"Allright, Hozark, Roman. I'm a busy man; I get my things done quickly and efficiently. Therefore, I'm going to tell you what you are going to say to Anastasia when you get back.

"You are going to wait, two days before returning to her office. Two. Two. If you make contact with them before that. Then I will be forced to take action."

"When you do return, you are to report nothing out of the ordinary. You will not mention a thing of what you had seen. You will take this to your grave. Do you Understand?"

…

…

There is silence.

"Hey Roman, Tallia is quite a lively little girl you know."

What. What. WHAT. How does this man know my daughter's name, Oh shit this isn't good.

He turns to Hoshark. His face is draught with absolute terror.

"Alexios is such a wildcard, running around the capitol dressed like a knight, he'll grow up to be a true warrior!" Subaru is smiling. "I'm sure you've taken care of good care of him after you found him on the streets so many years ago."

H-How does he know about my adopted son, this th-this isn't right. Goodness.

"Patty is the name of your grandmother right Hozark? And bart, what a funny name, that's your uncle no?"

Stop. StopitStopitStopitStopitStopitStopitStopit.

…

"Don't think I forgot about you Roman, your ma and pa, those old lovebirds on Cerras hill? They keep a spare key under their doormat, I think. Oh and your girlfriend, you got yourself a pretty nice tomboy, not bahhddd, I prefer my girls with white hair and reaallll powerful if you catch my drift."

He winks. Somewhere in the far east, a girl with the voice like a bell giggles happily.

"You all have such loving family, I think I miss my family." Subaru's face becomes visibly saddened.

Otto is neutral, but inside of him there is inner turmoil about using blackmail against enemy informants. It can be justified, but this may be too far. Opposite to this turmoil is the deep loyalty he holds for the man before him. Subaru has already explained everything. It's a cruel plan, but it will prevent their destruction.

Subaru checks the clock.

"if you don't do exactly as I say when I say it thentheyallmightgetheartdiseaseanddie."

"…that's all, toodles!"

He does the finger gun pose. Had he been in Japan, it could've been interpreted as a death threat.

…

…

…

The green haired merchant disappears into the shadows, the monster walks behind him.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Roman doesn't even notice the piss-stain on his pants.

That aura, it was something inhumane, as if he had already seen the outcome of the world's events. The boy looked so frail, so disarming. He was an anomaly in this world. He did not belong in it.

And.

How did he know?

There is no terror in their bodies now, no shock, only silence. Emotional Neutrality, the mind has willed fear out of their bodies. Now there is only shocked neutrality. The fear has been replaced with an exponentially larger sense of absolute unease. A different type of creeping feeling.

The crows have left.

…

…

/

Anastasia was finally done with the work.

She had finished the imperial tax reports; it was tax season and the servants of Satella had emerged from their dastardly breeding cocoons to steal 10% of the income.

Those ravenous taxcollectors - beasts of longnose- had been causing fucktons of problems with the tax reports for nearly all mercantile activity in Lugunica. Thanks to egregious sage council mismanagement and financial budget "Reacquisition" (Embezzlement) the imperial tax service had mutated into a corrupt being that would cause even Sekhmet to shudder.

She reminisced over the events of the day.

It was supposed to be a normal interview,

…Generic, she felt quite unprepared for the character that was Subaru Natsuki. The first thing he did was almost reveal one of Anastasia's well-kept secrets to the world.

Then, completely out of the blue, she was hit with the revelation that the boy had brought a vial of high-grade neurotoxin into a negotiation with a crown-candidate for the most powerful kingdom on the continent. What the fuck was he thinking? This was her reminiscence on that.

Had it have been any other candidate; he'd probably be rotting away in prison for treason.

He then causally dropped the fact that he was possibly from beyond the great waterfall.

In front of Anastasia Hoshin

A' Hoshin.

In a negotiation that could've costed made or broke his future prospects.

This boy was probably just impulsive, but if he truly meant every action he committed then he'd have been the ballsiest person on the continent. To take the Pleiades name from the sage, then ruffle the hair of a vice-commandant, march in with a vial of poison, challenging the greatest negotiator on this side of the Tigracy, yes truly, he was the ballsiest person in Lugunica.

Its said that the entire continental plane now lies at 5 degree angle pointing downwards towards the east. When a certain black haired boy made a business trip to Kararagi, it is said the world tilted west.

And then, he casually added that he was enslaved and implicated in a multi-company plot by the lowest of dogs, pyedo of the Gustek Tekh.

Surviving a poison vial and then keeping the vial as a memento mori of the event? What a lad.

(A.N its not the actual vial from the loop, but it's the same poison.)

Anastasia had deduced that Subaru held that vial on his neck for a couple of reasons, perhaps as a reminder to keep the anger fresh? Or perhaps as a liberating symbol of freedom? Perhaps he simply held onto it because he had the balls to do so. Or was it something else?

Had Anastasia knew the truth, she probably would've shit her pants at having to deal with a sage who was now becoming increasingly greedy every loop that passed, Jewish genes were reactivating. Not only that, but a sage with a sponsor and wingman being the most feared being on the continent, the Witch of envy herself, Satella.

Speaking of Satella, For some unknown reason, when Subaru was about to say something, he pained and miasma was released.

When that happened, the air in the room shifted so much. The negotiations really did become an interrogation for a bit!

But, when Ricardo had directly accused Subaru of being a witch cultist, nothing happened.

An archbishop would've activated his powers, ripped to room shreds and leave cackling like a madman.

It was the ultimate gesture of innocence. Being accused of having the power to kill the entire room, and yet doing nothing.

Subaru instead responded with confusion. In this conversation Ana found out the true extent of Subaru's seemingly clueless demeanor.

Tha'nk god he wasn't a cultist' that woudda' been bad.

Anastasia looked back fondly at the negotiations that followed. There was a brief intermission between the cultist accusation and the negotiation for an investment, and Subaru's character permitted Anastasia to reveal her true nature for a while.

Ricardo remarked that they bickered like a couple. How funny.

/

Cough! Two forgotten stars looked at each other with surprise. Holy shit. Is somebody t-t-talking about us? The Pale star was shocked; The Brightest star, -flattest of the flatbreads- was also Shocked. This wasn't supposed to happen, nobody in the world remembered them. They now had plausible evidence for multiverse theory in the form of interdimensional cough communication.

/

Eventually, the negotiations had concluded.

It wasn't a good deal but with the treasure trove of information Mr Natsuki gave to me, his mannerisms and peculiarities, I think I came out on top as the winner of the duel. And I also made him think the thumbtack-map gambit worked, I think.

Over the course of one day, Anastasia's perception of Subaru change from:

-A generic merchant

He is definitely not.

-A powerful Spiritualist capable of seeing echidna

Maybe not a spiritualist, but he could see my echidna.

-A clueless Spiritualist

Most definitely correct.

-A runaway Gustek' Noble

He wears a Gustek Coat, but isn't from Gusteko. This vexes me.

-A member of some shady organization

Way too open to be a pawn. Also hates pawns.

-A pawn to some wicked nobility plot or a front for their activity

probably not, he didn't seem to care about the noble district expansion. That was a feint.

-A master manipulator

I cant even see him being anything like that. But… if he was a master manipulator, he'd be the most masterful of all manipulators. Capable of manipulating manipulation!

A suicidal madman

Od I hope not.

-A vollochian Runaway

Too nice for a Vollochian.

-A great waterfall survivor

This, if this is truly correct, it explains the discrepancies about Subaru. His seemingly nonexistent past, his rapid expansion? I really need to get this boy on my side. He said many things like hoshin, "Jah Pahn" and such. Could he truly be a Code Hoshin? If he's actually from beyond the waterfall, then Julius, you've regained your promotion up to 4/10 of a merchant. Congratulations.

-A victim of Pyotr, seeking vengeance

This could be a problem, if he hates the guy, he'll hate what the guy likes and the guy liked me. Pyotr, if this man is truly a waterfall survivor and you've driven a wedge between us, I'm going to poison you in same way you poisoned Subaru.

-A WITCH Cultist, manipulating and preparing a dastardly plot

Most definitely not. He believed there was Wind-Readers in our midst and declared his innocence. Had he been a cultist, we'd all be dead. Thank you, Subaru, for your secular nature!

-The most clueless bastard on this side of the River Tigracy.

Absolutely.

-A young boy with an actually agreeable personality, fun to banter and jest with.

That's also true. He's 17 fuck he's practically a child! Go meander around in the innocence of youth!

- And finally, Who fucking knows? A complete and utter mystery.

This is the only correct answer, this boy is a mystery even I cant wrap my head around.

Anastasia reclines back on her chair.

She wonders if she should've been greedier. Maybe she could've. Too late now.

But oh, if only Anastasia had acted sooner, maybe hired the boy or gave him a highball offer for the company. He was considering selling the corporation; he'd just burn all the printing presses, documents, inventions, and any other ideas and technology before the corporate ownership transferred, leaving the company a stale and potential-less corporation. He'd then quickly start anew now with 20,000 or more HGC in his pocket. A true scammer.

But Anastasia had practiced sloth, she believed that she could come back and sweep up the company later. But Subaru was in this moment, like a grain of sand to her, falling through the cracks. Had she been a sieve, she wouldn't have made good spaghetti.

The opportunity had passed when,

ANASTASIA! This is urgent! Quickly, get on the Kararagi Metia!

A higher secretary had entered her office.

"Anastasia-Sama, its urgent, the Mogolade-Fusumi Tsubusihi and the Kyo-Manufactorum Tsubishi have made their move in tandem with the League of Cities governance against our assets." "Targetted is our intercity mercantile network, rest stops, convoy resupply stations, security depots, and inn network" "They're trying to keep our convoys grounded in the cities, and are aggressively buying up neutral rest-resupply shops for our trade convoys between the 7 cities. The league of 7 cities is chiming in their help to make bureaucratic processes for us more difficult." "Some of our smaller subsidiary corporations have taken the opportunity and broken off connections with our conglomerate."

"We've been anticipating some movement like this, which subsidiaries remain loyal?"

"Banan-Kyo Mercantile Conglomerate, Kanto Tsubishi, Costuul import Corp… …Blah blah blah… Pyotr… … "

Of course, that bastard Pyotr Is still loyal…

"…Girall Mining company, and finally the Tennmitsu Manufactorums.

Anastasia has taken in the information.

"Understood, get me a Ground-Dragon, the fastest one to get to Kyo. We're going to Kararagi. I leave administration of the Royal Capitol wing of Hoshin to Joshua."

"Very well my lady."

Julius walks in to her office. Her face is unhappy. This movement has been something she has been anticipating for a while. She knew there was a very good chance the hyenas of Kararagi would use her absence to try and carve holes into her company. Only the magnitude of the movement, it's organization and cohesion was surprising. There seemed to be a higher level of intercorporate cohesion between the companies that were targeting Hoshin assets. They were in Cahoots.

Those companies were most likely spurred on by the Banan-Kyo Mercantile Conglomerate, one of the major competitors in Kararagi. The cooperation with the 7-league governance reeked of bribes. Their plot was quite simple, but brutally effective. Instead of targeting selling spots, stores and high-cost real estate in major cities, they would instead target the essential rest stops, resupply towns, and caravan inns needed to keep the convoys moving. By denying services to Hoshin-Convoys, they would be able to starve out the Stores and high-cost Real estate in the capitol of their needed goods to operate. This would allow them to swoop in and purchase up the properties for cheaper. They would also gain major negotiating chips for when Anastasia returned to mop up the mess.

Anastasia was not a fool, she knew something like this was going to happen when she left, and therefore allocated operational savings funds for Hoshin-Company Storefronts and Mercantile stalls. This would buy her a month or two to fix the convoy problem and get goods into the hoshin stalls. She also owned her own network of Resupply; Convoy rest stops and inns but…

"It seems hired Shinobis are harassing those who use our network, in attempt to force our merchant convoys to take longer routes or relent to exorbitant prices at their own Rest-stops."

Anastasia absorbed the information well. She was now walking towards the carriage, the secretary was walking beside and telling her.

Julius had heard of her lady's order and was getting ready for the trip.

Things were moving quickly in Hoshin Company. Reactionary stimulus was being ordered out to the storefronts in the cities of Kararagi to survive the product drought, Some properties were to be strategically sold, while others were to be traded off in exchange for favors.

Anastasia also decided to put off the order to assassinate Pyotr until after the crisis had passed. It was a half-serious quipp at the time, and Mimi had seemed to understand the insincerity, but…

Maybe afterwards, she can ask an information agent to tell her the contents of Pyotr's cabinet. She was well aware of something diabolical lurking in that cabinet. She knew if she ever needed to gain the sudden conviction and bloodlust needed to order an actual assassination against Pyotr, she'd need to suddenly and shockingly learn the bitter specifics.

She got onto the cart, her mind momentarily returned to the events of the day.

"Anything from those two informants?"

"Nope, last I saw them they were drinking themselves to death at a bar."

"Shame, I never thought them to be drinkers, add that to their character sheets…"

She thought nothing more of it.

…

The carriage had begun it's journey westwards.

The ground dragon was a majestic and noble creature of the far north by the name of Rusuba.

Rusuba had recently meet with a group of crows.

These crows offered Rusuba a deal. There was one thing Rusuba coveted more than anything in this world and that was Strowberry rock candy. Rusuba's all-consuming greed for Strowberry rock candy had compelled him to take a deal. 1000 Rosuba candies and in exchange.

Rusuba was to simply be slow in his transit. Be lazy, Be slothful. Between two animals of high intelligence, it was a good deal.

Rusuba was foolish, his greed was too great and he accepted the deal without delay.

And so, Anastasia Julius and a group of loyal merchant-secretaries headed west.

Their convoy was slowed by a variety of things. It seemed the easily bribed Rusuba had suddenly become slothful and slow. The carriage driver had no clue why.

As they departed the gates of the city, a green hatted man was standing on a high place. There were broken columns in rows. The city could be seen, the large hill which was capped by the ancient royal palace lit up the night.

Otto Suwen, Subaru's Right-hand man watched as the carriage left.

Perhaps in another time, something important could've happened on this pavilion.

...

///

A maid outfit fluttered in the wind. Birds flew away.

"From Zero!"

The blue haired Oni then suddenly Coughed before hugging a restored Subaru Natsuki.

///

...

The crows had returned. Their leader landed atop Otto Suwen's hat.

CAW CAW! CAHH!

["We talked to Rusuba. He was easy.]

Otto responded [Very well, Im proud of you.]

[Thank you, brother.]

Their relationship had formed from nothing. The crows were one of the most intelligent non-human creatures on the continent bar earth-dragons and some species of bull. Otto had befriended an older crow many years ago in his travels across the continent. That old hag had many children. Crows remember.

With Subaru's help, Otto had turned his divine protection, which had once been a source of misery into an ability that made him one the most capable individuals on the continent.

Capable. Like If he wanted to, he could've torn apart Vollochia with this divine protection.

The divine protection of soul language, a seemingly cursed ability which drove many to madness, was now under Otto's full control. With this ability, he had eyes, ears, and remarkably good intelligence agents across every city in every town. Years of being a good chap to animals had paid off with their loyalty.

Subaru had explained everything. "At this alley, between a man named Kadomon's shop and a Fletcher's shop, Those two informants will meet a group of bandits. I need you to beat up those bandits. You can take Rom and Re'mus. Then, I am going to say some very terrifying things to those two information agents. The goal is to scare the shit out of them. I'll be threatening some of their family, its extortion. I need your help, Otto."

It went against everything he stood for as a pacifist merchant. But Otto was no longer a pacifist merchant. His experience with the damnation of poverty caused by his oil sale had been scarring. He was about to be sold into de-facto slavery in a backwater financer office when a boy named Subaru showed up. He seemed shockingly familiar with otto, despite having never met before.

For the first time in Otto's life; he found a brother by soul. Otto, having defied a very notoriously bad-tempered Financer had for the 2nd time in his life incurred the wrath of a powerful man. But this time, Otto would not run away.

Subaru, along with some of his new Mercenary group had managed to fend off a group of bandits meant to capture or even kill Otto for retribution against disrespecting the financer. Those 8 common thugs were those same bandits. Subaru and Otto triumphed and over the next season of corporate operation, their bond solidified. Otto would often hammer out the part of Subaru's personality that rejected depending on others. In exchange, Subaru would hammer out the part of Otto's personality that made him too weak to acquire his own goals and too cowardly to protect himself.

They drunk together, Laughed and teased, For such a man as Subaru, he seemed to actually trust Otto. And so, two chaps with unimaginable potential set off on their journey to financial salvation. They also loathed Gustek Tekh oil distributaries and made a vow to one day beat the shit out of Pyotr.

Back to the present. Subaru and Otto were looking out into the distance. The winds had died and the crows had left to go do what crows did.

"Sorry you had to see that man, I really hated having to say all that bullshit to those poor guys. Made me feel like a real villain."

Subaru had followed.

"Its alright Natsuki-San, I know you wouldn't actually do something so cruel and If you did I'd smack you till you didn't."

Otto said with a smile.

"Just incase you start snitching, I'll have to bribe you to be quiet. Come on King Tottovonius, lets drink to our success."

And so, they set out for the Sword-saint's drinkery down the road. They'd drink their doubts away. On the building right across the street from the drinkery, there was a smaller bar called "Hoffmans." Owned by a purple haired nobleman, in it on this night there were two information agents languishing and brooding over day's events. Hozark and Roman drunk themselves asleep.

The night ended, the bars were closed. Two people emerged from one bar, two from another.

They eyed each other. Both were a bit too drunk to be brought to fear or anger.

One shot a look, a shudder, then took another swig and smiled weakly.

The one next to him was mercifully too inebriated to comprehend the situation.

One the other side, a black-haired boy gave two fingergun motions while he held onto Otto like a sack of Tatos. Tottos. Toto.

They left with haste.

/

…

…

To Subaru, it was a necessary evil to threaten the lives and livelihoods of Hozark and Roman.

In First loop, the checkpoint being that bench by the river, he had found himself suddenly brought in by royal guards for questioning. There was a wind reader interrogator in the interrogation room's midst. Subaru did not know this.

"…Are you Associated with the Witch of Envy, Satella?"

"No."

"Holy shit, get out of there Alexis Johns, it's a cultist! Winds of untruth I hope to god you're not irking me!"

"I knew it! I knew it! you owe me a beer!" Said Alexis.

He now spent a long time languishing in a jail cell. No torture, bland food, but overall quite damning.

Somebody had found his vial and taken it.

"Is he a cultist? I don't know?" "He doesn't have a gospel, but that girl told us he seemed fucking weird." Gaurds were conversing. The boy didn't have a gospel, had committed no crime, but had tripped the sensor when it came to Satella. Interestingly, he had said he had no connection with the witch cult and there was no reaction. Therefore, he was held in limbo.

…

Otto had arrived on the other side of the bars. Two guards were next to him.

"Natsuki-san what the hell is going on?"

"Otto, they framed me, I don't know what the fuck is going on, but I need you to tell me something; who put me in this cell."

Otto trusted the boy, his eyes had been on him for months and there was absolutely no chance he was truly a part of some sinister organization. He could be sinister sometimes -those 8 bandits knew it well. But he wasn't a bad person.

"Listen Natsuki-san I'm going to get you out' of here, I'll get you some more information later. I trust you buddy."

And so, he left with haste.

A couple of days later, a crow with a letter tied to it's foot entered into Subaru's cell through a barred window.

"Dear Natsuki-san"

"You were trailed, Somebody submitted anonymous reports warning that you were talking to somebody you referred to as "Satella." This is most likely some slander from a rival company. I have reason to believe this might be Anastasia? But Anastasia has recently left for Kararagi with incredible haste, so I have my reasons to be doubtful." "I've already contracted lawyers and will be able to get you out soon." "On the back of this letter, there is a small chunk of graphite, use it to write anything you need to get back to me."

And so, Subaru wrote.

"There is a metal object in my Mahogony desk, I need you to somehow get it to me. Trust me, please."

The note was retied to the crow as to prevent suspicion and he flew away.

Half a day passed. Another crow arrived at the barred window.

The vial was in its hands.

And a note.

"Natsuki-san. I know what is in this vial."

Subaru had never told otto what was in the vial. It was his 2nd best kept secret.

"I tested it on a plant, it died quickly"

The note continued.

"I don't know what you plan to do with this."

"Even so, I trust you brother, just try not to kill anybody ok?"

Subaru was sobbing. He did not know why he was crying. Tears of joy? Sorrow?

It was perhaps the third time he'd cried in Lugunica.

He cried, for he now knew he had a brother who'd kill for him. A true brother. Had Subaru been wrathful, then he'd still be able to see Otto's green robe in the colorless world.

A guard seemed to notice the commotion. "Hey whats going on?"

He was running out of time.

Muttering under his breath. "Otto, Im sorry. Tella, Im sorry…"

"Otto, Thank you."

Before downing the contents.

/

The next loop was pure intelligence gathering. He ran and met up with otto, who found out about the information agents. They had a fixed path which got them into a scuffle with bandits. They were the same bandits that they had beaten up to save Otto.

The bandits were driven off and the two informants were cornered.

It was an interrogation.

A Successful interrogation should utilize unusual methods to be successful. Firstly, be strange to throw off their defense. Subaru whispered something into Otto's ear. Crows were around.

Every time that the two informants, Roman And Hozark seemed to evade something, Subaru would wink and all the crows in the area would Caw at once.

"AH, it seems you lie. Those are crows of truth, they caw when lies are uttered, speak the truth or you may find out why a group of crows is called that!"

The boy seemed to become more and more intimidating by the instant.

Roman and Hozark were informants, but they were relatively green horned and unready for interrogation.

Otto sent the birds to investigate their families, their properties, and the people that they cared for. Even some habits and personalities.

By dawn, Subaru now knew everything he needed to know.

Anastasia had sent them to trail Subaru. It was a pretty underhanded tactic he had to admit to himself. It seemed that Roman and Hozark had heard Subaru muttering like a madman to Satella, a habit he picked up on after the "Communication" Sessions gave him a death-count with 3 digits.

If somebody in the capitol had the Divine Protection of Deathsight, they'd puke.

They must've reported this. Ana seeing the chance to squash a potential rival, pounced and used it to have subaru questioned. This led to the problem with the Truthspeaker and the loss of the loop.

He now knew that in 2 days, Anastasia would leave the city. He needed to find a way to delay and silence the two information agents. Doing this would prevent them from leaking dangerous information. A plan was already forming in his mind. Quite the dastardly plan, but it would work.

After learning everything he needed to know, Subaru ended his own life via vial. He had died so many times to that liquid. It was too deceptively painless. Too quick. Subaru had forgotten he even died while drinking it.

///

In the Garden of Shadows, a forgotten interaction would occur.

…

"My beloved. "

"I understand your reasoning."

"I would do it in your position too."

"Please, I know its…"

She paused.

"…it hurts."

Her grief had mostly passed. She seemed to have accepted that Subaru would occasionally abuse RBD.

Tears could still be seen.

"I love you. Subaru."

And then it was over.

///

...

On the road to Pristella, the Lilac Merchant sleeps soundly by her knight's side. The stars were high. Seven stars stared back down at them.

Their stars were soon to be bad.

Chapter Text

“Caw Caw!”

In the Royal Capitol, The sky combusts into an amber-lilac contrast. As if a painter touched the sky and turned it into a fresco. The leaves of the city turn shades of crimson and burnt orange. It is very windy today too.

In this moment, the city is at peace. Mercantile convoys leave the city gates and briskly go in all directions. Men eat their breakfast before heading off to work. Crows vigilantly watch the city, Pidgeons gluttonously consume whatever falls to the ground. Doves fly from the river, symbols of the peace of morning.

The scene changes.

A banner can be seen.

“1 YEAR INTO THE ROYAL SELECTION. POLL RATINGS”

The calligraphy is unexpectedly refined for a political posting.

[FELT]-34%

[ANA]-31%

[CRU]-15%

[PRIS]-11%

[EMI]-9%

It is a fierce battle. At the current moment, Felt has enjoyed the highest increase in popularity. Her ballsy entrance at the royal selection put her on the map with everybody except the nobility. Her suspected Royal lineage and success against the White Whale has only added to her popularity.

Anastasia is closely next. She currently has lost a percentage point for having left Lugunica to go to Kararagi. In Kararagi, the situation has become less dire. Yet she has still been forced to take drastic measures to restabilize the lines of supply and pacify her enemies. This has led her to ignore Lugunican affairs. It will be a huge mistake.

Crusch is next. Despite having lost her memories, she still holds a loyal base and many hope for her recovery. The sharp decline in popularity has flattened out. She now remains more or less stuck at 15% no matter what she tries to do.

Priscilla, The baroness, is in the Vollochia. Her current activities are unknown and appear political. For this abandonment of duty, she has recently lost 2 percentage points in the polls.

Then there is Emilia. She has been stricken with the most misfortune in her campaign. Roswaal appears dejected and defeated. Ram too is broken by grief. There is a graveyard in Arlam, Petra is one of the only survivors and holds a hatred for the witch cult like that of guts. Too many have fallen in that town. Emilia has, in these horrible events, undergone trial by fire. She has been steadily increasing her competence and leadership ability, but will it be too little too late?

Many are indecisive. Most of the candidates have their flaws.

Many people look dejected. Perhaps there is another option?

Workers and manufacturers go to their respective workplaces. 

A man named Patton -Head engineer to the Pleiades company- walks past the fluttering banner. High winds have come on this day; leaves fly into people’s faces and stalls are tipped over.

To remedy this, Patton picks up the pace to his workshop.

It is the main complex of the Pleiades Company, the company he works for. It has grown very quickly via purchasing the surrounding offices and buildings. There is a main manufacturing building in the center of the complex. Surrounding it are warehouses. Security is quite tight here.

Patton greets the Guard, a burly man holding the sigil of the seven sisters’ battalion.

He then meets with Cyrenaica, the chief Bookmaker in the company.

“Everything all right with you?”

“Yup! Tomorrows the big day, remember that!”

They exchange pleasantries and leave to their respective destinations.

In the basement, a room double-locked and with extremely high security, Patton enters.

There are many blueprints strewn about. Prototypes and mechanisms. Magical innovations. All have come from one peculiar mind.

The information in that room is worth potentially Millions of HGC.

Machines of steam, war machines.

There are a couple of [MUKT] in the corner. Obsolete gunpowder weaponry purchased by Mr. Natsuki. Around the continent, only a couple remained from 400 years ago.

Mukt had already been a prevalent item in Lugunica for millennia but was seen as completely obsolete. It was so obsolete in fact, that there could be a day when on the entire continent, nobody had a thought or passing idea about them.

The era where magical knowledge was weak; an era which necessitated alternative weaponry had already passed. Therefore, the means of producing [MUKT] had been forgotten by nearly the entire population. The number of weaponsmiths who could reliably reproduce [MUKT] in the country could be counted on your ten fingers.

His hand has made these obsolete [MUKT], now VERY up to date.

Rifling techniques have increased accuracy disturbingly. Infusions of firestone, an innovation which Subaru’s flowering inventive spirit had directly created, now were produced. The Fire-stone bullets were unfortunately too volatile to mass produce. Therefore, its hand-crafted and stored deep within the bowels of the earth. These specialized bullets are meant only for commandants, enemy leadership, and enemy recon.

[BANG]! On a range, one of the 7-sisters mercs shoots a brand-new MUKT with a Rifled barrel. There is firestone embedded in the bullet, so when it hits the dummy, it explodes and rip’s him apart.

The power is chilling. 30 of the 150 newly recruited mercs of the 7 sisters battalion hold these weapons. These former crossbowmen have become good sharpshooters.

Patton quickly gets to work on his many respective projects. Time is money, and time is running out until Subaru’s big plan is put into place.

Patton turns to look as Subaru enters his workshop. The faint outline of a concealed rectangular object underneath his jacket catches his eye. Patton thinks nothing of it.

…

…

In this moment, there can be found two Unimaginably dangerous objects on Subaru’s Person.

The first is the vial. A fast-acting poison capable of downing a wolgarm.

The second is something else. Something New. Subaru’s own creation.

A plain book, Hardcover, with a cover size equivalent to a Binder.

There are no markings on the cover.

Inside of this book, there are two pages. Just two.

This book is the most dangerous object in Lugunica, perhaps even the continent.

It could be capable of killing even Cecilus Segmunt.

Its name?

[AUTHORITY OF THE SILENCER: BOOK OF DEATH].

///

It was the day after the Interview.

The interview had gone good enough.

Subaru had thought to [RETURN BY DEATH] and redo it, but decided against it. He had achieved his goals.

Subaru Believed that Anastasia had been more or less fooled by the Thumbtack-map plot. He briefly believed the loop to be lost when Ana found out about the vial, but thankfully, Subaru was able to make her believe that the vial was a Momento Mori from his time at Pyotr’s.

For some reason, they thought he was a cultist for a bit. Subaru was prepared for strange allegations, he knew he was a clean slate and was pretty suspicious, but had no idea why they thought he was a cultist. He was secular his entire life!

Thankfully, it seemed Anastasia’s super-merchant facial-movement interpretation skills seemed to put to rest this accusation.

Afterwards, a pretty good deal was struck and Subaru left the meeting 4000 HGC richer.

He had a crisis of Conscience about weather or not retry the interview. But a voice from within, instincts, told him the meeting had been more successful than it seemed. Therefore, Subaru decided to lock in the Loop as a true loop by asking Satella to set the new checkpoint.

What happened next was 3 loops of Bullshit. He got thrown in prison for questioning and for some reason, it seemed Anastasia was behind it. Why? Subaru had no clue.

For this bullshit in the prison, Subaru had grown to deeply distrust Anastasia. He now held a very palpable dislike for the shrewd merchant. To him, it seemed she had somehow wielded her vast influence to crush a financial rival by getting them arrested on false charges.

Had subaru known the truth- that the two informants were so scared shitless of subaru’s ramblings that they- like upstanding citizens, not bystanders complicit in crime- reported his actions directly to the guard station, Without anastasia’s knowledge. Had he known this, he might’ve been a bit more forgiving.

But now, Subaru had to find a way to silence the two informants. He did.

He reminisced that it was a truly shitty method to ensure silence. He loathed himself for stooping so low, but it was effective.

When Anastasia finally left the city and the two informants had kept their silence, Subaru decided to celebrate with his best bud Otto. They decided to head to a bunch of Bars and wineries; Subaru revealed his truly shocking alcohol tolerance levels to the world. Otto was supremely jealous.

This drunken fun would prove to be a huge error.

Shortly after the informants and Subaru+Otto had bumped into each other, Subaru and Otto had gone into another bar. This bar would become a reminder of one of the most traumatic experiences in Subaru’s life.

He didn’t remember much, About the conversation, or how the topic drifted…

But in some time during the night, a drunken Subaru made a horrible mistake

When he came to, His best friend was bleeding on the floor of the Bar, in his hands.

He slowly remembered what he had done. In his drunken state, he had tried to tell Otto about [Return By Death]. It seemed he had been too successful.

His best friend, The chap who would kill for him, the chap he saved from the financer, the chap who’d struggled like him against Pyotr, his brother was life.

Was dead.

He had killed him.

You had killed him, Subaru.

For 30 seconds, Subaru was in absolute shock. It was fucking horrifying. The pool of blood was expanding. Subaru’s drunken mind couldn’t comprehend what had happened. But he realized his friend was dead.

“N-huh? Huh… Oh GOD NO!”

“OTTO! OTTO TALK TO ME! TALK TO ME! PLEASE!”

Tears were falling

“I CAN FIX THIS, OTTO, TALK TO ME MAN!”

The vial on his neck was still secure, it wasn’t that.

“PLEASE! P-PLEASE!”

“I-I CANT – I CANT ACCEPT THIS NO. NO GOD NO.”

Otto was dead. Subaru was in the next moment Dead as well.

He poured the vial into a jug of ALKO and downed it as fast as he could.

…

Satella was an excellent wingman, She might’ve not had much common sense, but she had a good head on her neck. She knew what might happen if a drunken Subaru suddenly began rambling about his experiences. [ENVY] was not as kind as her. She’d kill to keep her beloved silent.

Shortly after the meeting between Hozark+Roman and Otto+Subaru, She’d acted on instinct and reset the checkpoint. She knew something was about to happen. She was right.

…

When subaru came to, he was standing before the entrance of the bar he had just entered into.

He looked down at his side. Otto was there. Alive.

He cried many hours that day.

Many tears of brotherhood. Joy, and grief. His chap looked at him with absolute confusion but decided to let his brother let it all out.

…

The morning had come. Subaru now had a clear mind.

He was at a vacant lot. The twilight was giving way to sunshine.

He looked up at the sky with an expression of indignance.

“Satella. What the FUCK was that.”

“Did you just try to kill my friend? What the fuck is wrong with you!”

“It was because I tried to tell him about [Return By Death] wasn’t it?”

“And that shit in the interview. Tell me Satella, What the fuck was that?”

“I’ll change up the answering format, Update the checkpoint if No. Leave it if yes. I don’t want to go back to that fucking bar again.”

“I have one question for you, Satella. Tell me, It was you, wasn’t it?”

 He downed the vial.

[NO].

He was back at that pavilion. The morning had come. Twilight was giving way to sunshine.

…

“Phewww, I thought you were fucking me over, then again you might be lying but I trust my gut that you’re a cute little maiden up in neverland madly in love with my amazing figure.”

“Now, I have a couple of questions.”

“Do you know who killed my friend Otto?”

[YES]

“Oh. Now tell me, Are you related to this person?”

[YES]

“Shit. Now tell me, were you complicit in what that bastard did?”

[NO].

“Good. Do you dislike that person?”

[YES]

“Do you hate that person?”

He was once again in the Shadow Garden.

Subaru had remembered the previous sessions in the Garden. How foolish had he been to accuse his beloved Tella of murdering his best friend! God I was being stupid!

Satell was there. Her expression was pained. There were faint scratches on her arms. She had been crying. Tears were dripping down her face, but she was no longer crying.

“I-I will tell you everything.”

And so, she explained. She explained her relationship with the [ENVY] witch-factor, How [ENVY] Would kill to silence Subaru. He learned of many different things. Envy was the one who silenced Subaru when he tried to speak of RBD. If anybody learned the truth, they would have their heart stopped. This was what happened to Otto.

Gradually, the storm of emotions within Subaru had subsided.

There was one more question.

“Satella, Is there a way to make me remember these meetings?”

She paused. It was possible. She’d have to concentrate huge segmentums of her Witch-factor to ensure his memories of the shadow garden remained, even for just a moment.

“Yes, but the memories will fade very quickly, so you’ll need to write it all down.”

“That’s ok, I have a pencil and paper in my coat.”

“You’ll have to be quick my beloved, maybe around a minute. I have only a minute where I can maintain a pocket dimension of the shadow garden localized where you are. I’ll try hard for 15 more seconds.”

And as the Shadow Garden collapsed, they shared one last kiss.

-

He had returned by-

QUICKLY- he gets his pencil, his paper, He writes down everything. Time is running out.

ENVY-BAD TELLA-GOOD TELLA HAS DISSO-IDENT-DISOR, 2 IN ONE. TEL CNTROL CHKPOINT, ENVY KILL OTTO. TEL FIGHTS ENVY. RBD RWINDS TIME, NO PARRALLEL. ENVY KILLS ANYBDY WHO LEARNS OF RBD. TEL IS AT 7STAR TOWER. TEL LOVE YOU. MEMORIES OF WRTING TS WILL BE LOS-

The feeling of [when one enters a room and forgets why they entered] permeates Subaru.

What was he doing again? He looks down at his hands. He has no memory of getting out the paper. Nor writing on it. He knows it is his handwriting.

He begins to read the paper. The text is scribbled as if he’d written it in a rush. He has a pencil in his hand. He must’ve written it.

Subaru puts it together; he must’ve found a way to remember meeting with the person on the other side. From the last line, it seems he was also aware that he’d forget writing the paper. He is able to understand most of what is written.

“Dissociative Identity Disorder, Two in one?” Subaru mutters to himself. “Ah, I see.” “So “ENVY” and Tella are different? Maybe the Witch of Envy is one soul and Tella is another?”

“Tel-Satella, Fights Envy. That’s good, I have an ally against whoever killed Brotto.”

“RBD rewinds time? Not parallel?”

Subaru pauses.

“SHIT! I never thought it could’ve been like that, oh thank fuck it’s not the case. Thaaaankkk fuck.”

(Disturbingly, Subaru had lied to himself in that moment of writing, so that he would continue to use rbd on a clear conscience. He fucking manipulated himself; he didn’t actually know jack about the specifics of rbd.)

“Tel at 7star tower? Pleiades? Pleiades Watchtower. I see.”

“Memories of writing this will be lost. I can see why I wrote that.”

“ENVY kills anybody who learns of RBD?”

He thinks about it.

Hmmmmmmm.

Anybody?

The scene shifts. Subaru is now at the holding-prison which he was previously kept at when he was interrogated. He looks at a list of prisoners and finds the most wicked of them. Then asks for visitation. When the guards ask why, he says he wants revenge on “that dog”.  The guards then nods and takes a couple coppers bribe.

 “Very well, come this way.”

It seems allowing people to take out their anger on prisoners is a common practice in lugunican Prisons. Get your revenge on archbishops and prisoners alike! Now for the Low low price of just a few copper!

Cough.

He turns to the cell where he was kept. Next to it, he remembers there was a notorious rapist held in prison before his execution. “            Jefferous hephestustein” is his name.

He is going to try something. It is a stupid idea; it probably won’t work.

Subaru is clutching a different piece of paper. There is something written on it.

“Hae-aye pretty-boy, what are you doing at my cell?” The pathetic rabble looks on lustfully.

Subaru recoils in disgust.

Thank you saying that to give me the motivation to do this. He says to himself.

“Read This.”

The man obliges.

“I Can Return by-” Whispers Subaru.  

“Heh-heh, … , What the Fuck are you talking about? Return? b-”

The world stops. Time is frozen. Subaru’s world is frozen.

From behind him, from the darkness of the dimmed cells, miasmatic hands snake towards the boy. Subaru’s soul braces for pain.

The Miasmatic hands gently caress Subaru’s body. There is no pain. Just a sting like a pinch on the cheek. In this moment, Subaru understands the difference between Satella and [ENVY].

There is a silent understanding between Subaru and the hands. The hands seem to be cognizant of Subaru’s motives in showing the Paedo the note. It seems that previous comment from the Paedo has also pissed off the hands. Only [ENVY] should be allowed to sexually harass her beloved!

Then, Suddenly, the hands cease to caress Subaru and shoot towards the dog. Time restarts.

Subaru Natsuki is alive. The paedo is dead. Blood is silently gushing from the orifices.

It’s quiet.

Subaru has now gone from the weakest person in the capitol to one of the most deadly beings on the continent, behind Reinhard, Satella, and maybe Cecilus.

(A.N had he fucking locked in after he killed emilia by challenging the taboo, canon subaru might’ve been able to mogg the entire w-cult.)

Subaru is now the sole lord of an [INFOHAZARD] capable of causing the 2^nd great calamity.

And he doesn’t even know it.

He drinks the vial and is sent back to the last communication session checkpoint.

He is smiling. He is smiling a smile of uncountable emotions.

In his arsenal, he now holds the ability to kill with anyone with [ENVY].

Anyone.

…

The contents of the Book of Death are simple. 

///

[My name is Subaru Natsuki.]

[I possess the ability Return By Death.]

[Every time I die, I am sent back in time to a certain point.]

[The activation trigger being my death.]

///

The hardcover book has a small lock on it.

Subaru Natsuki has a key on the necklace, next to the vial.

That key opens an infohazard that could feasibly annihilate the kingdom of Lugunica.

If somebody were to say, perhaps read the contents of the book out loud in front of the Pristellan broadcasting towers, then every citizen in Pristella would be ripped apart as bland hands shoot from the far east horizon to the city center.

It has a few weaknesses:

In the current moment one must read it in order for it to have effect, as Subaru is unable to challenge the taboo verbally.

Blind people are immune.

And Reinhard Van Astrea. He is immune too.

It can also kill allies just as easily as enemies.

But…

Bandits, Armies, Knights, Mages, Cities, everybody except Reinhard Van Astrea, everybody who reads this infohazard will fall because of it. Everybody except Subaru.

Subaru has already won the game. And he doesn’t even know it yet.

…

…

[AUTHORITY OF THE SILENCER, BOOK OF DEATH.]

Gang shit

Chapter Text

The boy sits atop a throne.

A throne of paper, leather, and knowledge.

…

…

Subaru Natsuki sits atop a massive pile of money. 

Hundreds of pallets (One of Subaru’s inventions) are efficiently stacked with books. 

Manuscripts and tomes, ancient knowledge and cookbooks. This huge amount of knowledge accumulation rivals even the Imperial Library of Lugunica. 

The vast majority of the books are targeted to commoners. Many original creations such as engineering guides, farming practice books, medicinal guides, historical records, and hundreds more utilitarian works have been created under the Pleiades Publishing name. 

The imperial library of Lugunica holds a little over 35,000 books. 

In this warehouse alone there is 70,000. Subaru owns 8 other warehouses in cities like Flanders, Coostul, Pristella, And Picoutatte, Each holding anywhere from 10,000-22,000 books respectively. Picoutatte in particular is the city with next largest stockpile. His influence in that city has grown thanks to Otto, the Pleiades are currently in alliance with the Suwen Company and Mazerun Suwen, Otto’s father. He even holds a minor stockpile of around 3000~ books as far west as Ivada. Furthermore, Subaru has made contact with a merchant as far west as Banan, a man named Riften. They are currently in Negotiations.

At each of these stockpiles across the continent, Sealed Envelopes containing specific instructions are awaiting the day they are to be opened.

All of this has been hidden from the world. The warehouses hold no windows. Guards patrol the entrances. Zodda bugs keep a close eye on workers that have the risk of leaking information. In this current moment, Subaru now owns 10% of all books and manuscripts on the entire continent. Quite the achievement.

At the current moment, The Pleiades has been operation increasingly on debt. Hundreds of Clerks and Administrators have been suddenly hired. Subaru has bought 8 new offices in the royal capitol alone. He now finds himself in around -45,000 HGC Debt on credit. To any outside observer, it appears the company is damned. But Subaru’s foresight says otherwise. He has also purchased a single branch office in each of the 4 other major cities. 

Otto has learned much and has become a much more competent merchant. Subaru looks at him with the pride of a father watching his son grow into success.

He has very quietly filed patents for the Printing Press and it’s adjundant Technologies.

While he has let his printer’s work day and night, he has also been hard at work in a new factory outside of the city. 

Pleiades Condiments is born. Mayo and Teriyaki shall flow across the rivers of the world, Evaporating at the great waterfall into pure money. Before raining down into Subaru’s pockets.

One more thing, He has made a very expensive purchase of a newspaper company called the “Dragon Nation Newsletter.” With skilled employees named Lululala, Shorty Megan, and Morgan Frantz a part of the deal. It cost 30,000 HGC and truly drained Subaru of much of his coin. This newsletter will play a key role in the coming events.

Otto stands before the pile and smiles pridefully, knowing his part in creating it.

Each book can be sold as high as 5-25 HGC.

Meaning Subaru is standing atop a pile of at most 1,750,000 HGC.

The National Lugunican Treasury holds around 10,500,000 HGC in actual coinage. The lugunican Kingdom actual fiscal wealth in assets is unknown chiefly due to the barbarous bureaucracy of the country.  

Subaru is already a very rich man. Of course, as these books are sold their value will rapidly decrease and demand will go down. Subaru estimates that flooding the market would yield at most only around ~600,000-700,000 HGC, as the prices would go down as demand was fulfilled.

…

Unless.

Demand is artificially increased.

Subaru’s masterplan of Six months is now coming into fruition. Months of Preparation and hard work have gone into this. 

A Tulip Mania will be engineered.

The Tulip Mania was a period of the Dutch golden age (Vlamingen zijn geen ras) where prices of Tulip bulbs, goods fiscally worth very little, reached exorbitant prices in a speculative bubble. Finally, after months of insane purchasing, the price collapsed like building 7.

Subaru will recreate this with books.

Anastasia is deep in Kararagi, as far west as Banan. Her initial plans for an intercamp meeting in Pristella have been delayed by the whim of the far-western corporations. It seems the butterfly effect has truly flapped it’s wings, causing economic disturbances in the far-west.

This will be the time to strike. 

There is just one more day until the Sealed envelopes are to be opened by their respective warehouse employees. 

Let the tulips bloom.

…

In the office of the Pristellan district distribution warehouse, a man named Dartz holds a sealed envelope with an opening time of the current date. At his friend Otto’s request, he’s joined the ever-expanding cast of the Pleiades company. Under his administration, he controls the Pristella Warehouse and Pleiades regional office, along with it’s corresponding recently purchased storefronts. 

The warehouse, is filled with the most books he’s ever seen in one place in his life. Absolute secrecy has been ordered until the day of the Envelope Opening. This secrecy is maintained via the use of discrete boxes which hide their contents, allowing convoys to head from the Capitol to the provincial cities without arising suspicion.

Dartz gets a file and uses it to open the envelope. Across lugunica, many other Pleiades Managers in similar regional selling offices are doing the same.

Dartz begins to read the document.

As he continues reading further down the document, a certain feeling begins to overtake him.

It is the feeling that follows when one successfully hides their DS in the night when their parents check to see if they are sleeping.

It is the feeling of anticipation before a prank on a friend.

It is best personified by Flightreact’s famous tongue emote. 

It is best Personified by Bocchi laughing alone at midnight staring up at the wallpaper.

It’s a feeling that makes you want to jump around, giggle madly, rub your hands together like a villainous madman and cackle into nothing. It is a feeling one gets when successfully fucking over the world and getting away with it.

The plan which is written on the paper, is so diabolical in it’s exploitation, its fucking flabbergasting.

Only a mind like Subaru, in his never-ending mischief and powerful production of bullshit (along with historical knowledge) could’ve devised such a dastardly plot. It is said that Subaru Natsuki could become the next Chaos god, Patron Deity of Bullshit. 

It is said Tzeentch trembled at this plot.

Dartz looks around to make sure nobody is looking.

“heh, hehhehe, Heh, Ohehahah, Oh my Od if this- If this shit go’s through- we’re going to – fuck we’re rich.”

Dartz has had a very good predictive history. He also has a good eye for profits.

His eyes are wide like a fatass in a candyshop.

///-The contents of the paper go a little bit like this.

[WEEK ONE-TWO].

[(I) Step One, Plant the first seeds of interest in the population. Run an article on the Lugunican Papers promoting Pleiades publishing. This will be the first necessary advertisement. Then, on the first mercantile morning of the week, Flood the markets with cheap books, around 1/5 th Market prices. Strictly FORBID merchants, higher corporations, and intercity mercantile convoys from directly purchasing from our shops and market-stalls. No exceptions. Only sell to COMMONERS . Flood the information-sphere of the Royal capitol with advertisements, rumors, and ensure that the commoners believe this to be a once in a lifetime chance to gain access to the commodity of books.]

…

…

The mercantile week begins with an upset.

On this day, the Lugunican Papers, (Now Pleiades Owned) Publishes it’s weekly paper. Lululala’s main depiction is of a scary eyed man holding books. There are 7 stars on those books. On the front of the cover, below the main news, “BOOKS 1-5 HGC AND LOWER” is printed boldly. The font is different to the rest of the headers as to attract the eye’s attention to that particular piece of information. There is also mention of limited supply.

Rumors are spun, Pleiades company employees are paid to spread false information in bars, taverns, and inns. Just this once, they wont have to do it again after the ball starts rolling.

“Cheap books, Soon to be GONE!” ”Good books for wares!” “Buy cheap, resell high!” “Once in a lifetime opportunity to buy books!” “I’ve already bought ten, I’ll get more soon.”

Curious Commoners and merchants begin to descend onto the Pleiades Marketstalls and sellshops. Many Commoners begin to buy books; different types of books are sold in different types of neighborhoods. In the neighborhood by the river; Books on Fishing and home-skills are sold. In the district of the knights, books on chivalry and swordsmanship will be found. In the district of the financers, the torah. In the district of the slums, books on provisional skills like knitting, woodworking, and anything that can lift oneself from destitution will be sold.

These books are being sold for cheap for a very important reason.

On each book, Every book, Every single book.

The first 3 pages are dedicated not the contents of it’s edition but rather to a box containing information about Pleiades.

This shall be Subaru’s secret weapon.

Information detailing the prices of books, Employment opportunities for very high pay [lies], and opportunities for would-be authors to come to the capitol and try their hand at the Noosphere of literature which permeates the districts. 

These three pages in front of every book shall detail that the Pleiades company’s cheap books are dwindling and that people should hurry to buy cheap books before supply runs out. The fear of missing out shall be Drilled into the Pyschosphere of the Lugunican people. These poor souls have had little exposure with modern advertising methods; their minds are not prepared for their pervasiveness. Like when the British Broadcasting Corp introduced TV advertisements to their respective viewers, their effectivity was insane when compared to their continental counterparts.

This will be Lugunica’s first taste in mass advertisement, social engineering, and Subaru Natsuki’s Laid-back genius.

He had developed this plan over a couple months of hard-work. Sometimes, thoughts and remembrances would pop into his mind and he’d write them down. “MARKET PRICE FLOODS” or “Modern mass advertising?” could be found. Over time, he’d begin to concoct many different ideas onto that paper. It was a slow process, he didn’t even know he was creating a plan as he created it. 

Then one day. It clicked. He had been walking through the streets of the capitol when a grachtenpanden building caught his eye.

“Dutch.”

His mind drifted to the origins of stock exchanges, banking, and Speculative- Speculative?

Speculative Bubbles- The Tulip Mania.

Lugunica had the industrial-level and economic development bar magic nearly equivalent to the 1600s Netherlands. If one country could replace Lugunica, it would be the Dutch. 

The more Subaru thought about it, the more “Dutch” Lugunica seemed to be. Sage-council = Estates general. Miktolov = stadtholder. Both countries’ economies and technology levels were practically the same excluding slavery and Indonesians. 

He reread his idea sheet with a newfound idea. Could he replicate that? And make it unimaginably rich off of it? He knew that even with his otherworldly knowledge, it would take many months or even years to truly become a powerful player. This was a shortcut. He could become the richest man in the Royal Capitol within just 8-12 weeks. His original idea was to engineer a speculative bubble then to learn of the exact date of the bubble’s popping and price collapse, then to Return by death to shortly before the price collapse and sell.

But as he thought about it more, brooded over the idea. He realized it’s true potential. He wouldn’t need RBD to make it rich. 

That boy decided he wouldn’t blow bubbles; he would instill madness on the Capitol. 

“Pleiadia Mania” – this is what he would call it.

He sat at his desk, consulting Otto and his secretaries. He rearranged events and slowly, a true plan worthy of even [TZEENTCH] came into fruition.

It had many prequalification’s to succeed, firstly, Nobody can find out about this.

Especially not Anastasia. Had Anastasia found out about it, Subaru could only shudder. Speaking of Anastasia, Subaru had begun to feel unsafe about sharing the markets with such a powerful corporate Entity. He feared he might be crushed on a whim. Just like when he was taken in for questioning in that one loop. He had never fully forgiven Ana for that, Even if the suspicion was justified-I mean who mutters in public talking to the most feared person on the continent- even still, it still stung.

Another prequalification was the need for books. Many of them. 

And so he had begun to produce. Hundreds of printers, Thousands of books. All was kept under wraps. It was a true information Mircale that nothing had been leaked. This was partly due to Otto’s incredible Diligence, false flags, and sheer luck to be honest.

A third prequalification was Manpower

He’d need Thousands of workers, sellers, and administrators for this idea to come into fruition. He’d need Secretaries who could hire good workers for him, he’d need them all and fast.

In another time, a manic and wrathful Subaru expanded his empire rapidly. Imagine how fast he could expand without blinding paranoia and distrust hampering his abilities.
To acquire such reserves of manpower, Subaru Pierced the heart of darkness and entered into the slums. Hundreds of workers came in from that destitute area. They were relegated to physical tasks sure, but it was still work pay and future for them.

All of this came at a terrifying price. At the current moment, Subaru was in deep shit financially. He had only 2 months of operation left before the debtcollecters, the true servants of [ENVY WITCH FACTOR] descended upon his assets like vultures and ripped them apart. 

Prometheus looked up Subaru and hoped he wouldn’t share the same fate.

Subaru was around -100,000 HGC in debt to hundreds of institutions, banks, financial organizations, Russel fellow, and even some of his employees. To any other corporation, it was over. Over I suppose. But not to Subaru. This debt had been incurred not in financial incompetence or in mismanagement, but in sheer purchase volume. The moment Anastasia left for Kararagi, Subaru had (after discovering his new ability) gone ahead and went on a spending spree of administrators, offices, sell shops, and many other necessities for business.

Subaru had Two months to make 100,000 HGC. To any other company, it was damning. Subaru had kept his finances secretive, but anybody looking from the outside in would see a picture of a company that had expanded way too fast for its own good and was going to rip itself apart doing so. Many plots and plans were created to divvy up and carve the upstart business empire by people such as Russel Fellow and bookmaking league of Lugunica.

The world believed Subaru was completely fucked. When Anastasia read some reports about Pleiades while in the throes of financial war with two large Kararagian companies, she believed their expansion would sputter out.

The world had no idea that Subaru would change position and start fucking the world itself. Raw

///

“Buy Buy! Cheap Manuscripts! Burden yourselfs with knowledge, Low prices for commoners!”

The crowd had grown very massive. People were clamoring for a chance at buying the cheap books. Seven Sisters battalion troops and a couple sharpshooters watched vigilantly from above the streets. Extremely rarely, a shot would ring out in the capitol when a thief or a pilferer tried running off into the crowd. BANG! and he’d be on the ground to a wooden MUKT-BALL. There were a few screw ups involving innocent people’s arms and family jewels; but overall, the accuracy had been good enough. 

This was a very fucked up way of property defense sure, but it worked. Of course, Lugunicans had no clue what was going when the shots were taken. 

For the first in lugunican history, the sights of musketeers were seen with their backs to the rising sun. Very macho Subaru.

“Good god, these are cheap as shit.”

“Have they always been this price? Those nobility dogs have been fucking us after all.”

“These readily available books are just further proof of a grand conspiracy by the nobility to keep the Lugunican population sheepish and conformist! Subaru Natsuki is a truth knight! Everybody knows that the Nobility are all corrupt witch-cultist Paedophiles who sacrifice babies to the witch!” Screamed a man named Alexander johns. 

(A.N Pyotr, hoffman, kirikitia? Bordeaux might be one in canon)

“Alexander Johns speaks the truth! Why were books so expensive before?”

“Man shut the fuck up! Fucking Feltists”

“The fuck you say about my Thiefgirl?”

A brawl was about to erupt. A circle had emerged and a mushroom haired kid from the Felt camp who should’ve been working to better the lives of his brethren was now screaming fight-fight-fight and was speaking sweet little lies as the master of instigation.

[Bang]! a wooden pelt into the ground between the Furious Feltist and the Pissed off other guy.

The two look up to see a burly man with a crow on his shoulder looking down at them with a smoking MUKT in his hands. He was very tired of the aura-farming atop the buildings and wanted to guy drink some [TIKO’S] and [JOCK DAMSEL’S].

“Fuck off both of you before I use this Mukt and fuck you both.” He boomed in anger, every bullshit event in the markets meant less time for his sacred drink.

They scurried off to some alley to continue their fight. The feltist won easily partially due to Reinhards powerful divine protection of giving anybody who fight’s in felt’s name a small boost.

The day was at midday, the people coming the mercantile district was increasingly exponentially. The reason for this was the 3 pages. Those 3 damned pages.

Every time a book was bought, the first 3 pages were read and then the people who read it became interested. It spread like an infection. For example, one might go to Arlam village with one Pleiades book. They’d show it around and the villagers would want more. They’d scrape up some funds and send a village representative to the capitol. Then he’d return with more books. The winner in this situation was Pleiades because they managed to sell.

In the rest-stops and mercantile districts. Merchants sat around and gazed jealously as the commoners’ buying books. It was very infuriating to their middle-class pride. Like watching into a candyshop and having enough more than money to buy, but being barred for no given reason.

There was no exceptions, no merchants allowed to buy. None.

The merchant class looked onwards as the Commoner class.

An interesting Phenomena began to emerge. Commoners began to buy and resell books to Merchants. The biggest problem with the commoner markets was that commoners did not have enough money to buy more books. How could Subaru remedy this? Simply engineer interclass pricing differences and have the commoners Resell their own books to the merchants. 

This right here was Subaru’s Masterpiece.

It would be studied in economic classrooms on the continent for years to come.

It has been omitted that on the 3 rd page of the Pleiades books; there was a GUIDE for commoners to resell to merchants . An actual guide, step by step instructions. Suggested pricing. Oh, Od was Subaru a dirty bastard. For example, a commoner might buy a Pleiades book for 5 HGC, He would then resell it to a merchant for 20 HGC, he’d reinvest the 20 HGC in 4 new books and resell them for 80~ HGC. A Cycle would be born, and the commoners would want more and more.

The commoners are running out of coin? Make them create their own coin.

Fucking genius.

He wasn’t selling books anymore. He was selling a ticket out of the Slums, a ticket to a better life. A get rich quick plot. A sensation of growth and fufillment. FOMO. He was selling bottled hope to the downtrodden. A way out, This would have no pricetag. But if it did have a price tag, it’d be uncountable. This was Lugunica’s first experience with a speculative bubble. Only the shrewdest could see where it was going.

And the social engineering which went into this, Goebbels would be proud. 

Oh, how that bottled hope would die like dogs when the prices came crashing down.

There was another problem, Eventually, commoner demand in the capitol would taper off. That was where the merchants came in. The merchants would never run out of demand for Pleiades books. The world was big, it’s markets even bigger. Therefore, merchants would buy from the commoners at high prices and head out from the royal capitol in all directions to find markets where the market price was still at high values compared to the Capitoline price, therefore making profit. It was pretty simple, buy for relatively cheap in Capitol, sell high in other cities, profit and the good life.

Commercial Markets with market prices like Fleur, Coostul, Pristella, Flanders and Picoutatte.

Read it again 

Fleur, Coostul, Pristella, Flanders, And Picoutatte.

…

…

[WEEK TWO-THREE]

[(II) Step Two. Warehouses in the Cities which orbit the Royal capitol, Sell all wares at lower than market prices. Sell All Wares, Ensure the Local Price collapses. This price collapse must occur before the first merchants from the royal Capitol arrive in the city to sell their wares. Coostul will sell their wares first, Ivara will sell it last. Don’t sell to merchants. In this Week, open the company for stock investments. 20% Of futures shall be sold.]

In the outlying cities, the markets awoke to Cheap books and many of them, once again merchants were barred from purchasing the books. The same cycle which occurred in the royal capitol begins to occur in the provincial cities.

But then.

“COOSTUL! HIGH QUALITY BOOKS FROM THE ROYAL CAPITOL! BUY NOW AT 25 HGC- wait a minute, wait waait an odddahm minute!”

“Oh my god, the prices here are down too! What are going to do!”

“We need to get to Kararagi, as fast as possible, it can’t be a global thing right?”

The merchants from the Royal Capitol arrive in the provincial cities and find not market prices where high profits could be found, but a saturated market where the book prices were similar to the capitol.

Oh shit they say. Many of the merchants do not have the financial resources to head farther away from the royal capitol. These poor merchants will be the FIRST OF SUBARU’S MANY VICTIMS. 

Many banks made fuckloads of repossession money that year.

Subaru has invested heavily in those same banks and purchased some of them too, so Jubaru gets a trickle of money in addition to the book sales.

Jubaru? … … …? 

… 

J-juh-juhjuuuh-Jubaru? Jewb-b-baru?

Jewbaru. JEWBARU! BARUJEW BARUBARUBAH BAH BAHRUJEW! BARUSJEW!!! JEWBAAHHHRU!

End Intermission. 

How did Subaru have this foresight? It wasn’t RBD, it was it the financial gods? Was is Satella? We will never know how Subaru was able to concoct such a plot.

Perhaps the only reason Subaru could concoct this plot was because it required unimaginable levels of bullshit to create, and only Subaru possessed the necessary bullshit production manufacturing equipment to support it.  

Those merchants now had two choices, resell into the saturated Pristella market or go further? Most chose to go further. This was the correct choice as Subaru’s influence had not reached that far (Ivara stockpile was only meant as supplementary profits, selling books at the high-prices before the convoys from the east stormed in.) These merchants headed in all directions; Most went west to try their hands at Kararagi. Others went north to try and crack the closed-border and access the untapped book markets of the Gustek State.

A few even went south.

Vollochia truly needed literature as seen in it’s abysmal government, abysmal society, abysmal politics, abysmal this, abysmal that, Vollochia was practically Made in the Abyss; Leaving Vollochia didn’t turn you Narahate but it gave you PTSD, a crazy preference for violence as the solution to all problems, and a much easier life when you finally got the hell out of dodge.

A merchant named Sigrum (canon) had fallen into this web of lies spun by the arachnid Subaru, but was the first to buy up and leave for Kararagi. He had a good head on his shoulders-

///

“…Tails -Cough- [SLICE] Oh, ueh… Kh. “

A colorblind king sat on his throne and seemed to have a lung infection.

///

Sigrum was a pretty intelligent merchant. He had Beelined to KYO city for unknown reasons and had sold around 100 books in the markets, making him a small fortune.

Anastasia was walking about.

Cruelly, fate decided that when she turned around, Sigrum’s Cart filled with books bearing that easily recognizable logo was obscured by a passing Earth-dragon.

Anastasia would remain blissfully unaware for just a little bit longer.

Back in the royal capitol, Pleiades Mania is rampant. Subaru’s masterful use of modern information and advertising creates a cycle of purchasing, reselling, and fluxations in price. The price which had been low before has now crept up back to it’s original price. But, Demand remains relatively high and will soon increase.

On another financial war-front, the Joint-Stock of the Pleiades company goes public for the first time. Meaning the average citizen, financer, or investor can pay cash for a share of yearly profits. The lugunican Mercantile District stock exchange is abuzz with energy. The stock price of Subaru’s company shoots up to Incredibly high levels. A purchased 0.25% reaches investment values of as high 8,000-10,000 HGC. The Investors are much shrewder than the commoners and merchants. They understand the potential of the Pleiades company. They understand that investing now means huge profits for their investment firms or themselves.

When the company first goes public. The first people to invest will make it rich.

2008 bitcoin rich.

20% company ownership stocks are up for grabs. For one who will purchase 1% stocks will gain 1% of the Pleiades profits for the duration of their ownership monthly.

When Anastasia invested 4000 HGC for just 1% in the company, it seemed like she was the one getting scammed, as she had previously offered ~30K HGC for the entire company.

When the storm passes, it will be revealed she actually got the best deal. 

Likewise, huge amounts of money are made for the Pleiades. Subaru will have already paid off his debt. He will now be operating net positive.

Eventually, the stock prices taper off a bit as they reach their plateau. They remain high and don’t fall. This gives a false sense of security to many commoners and merchants currently in the cycle of buying and reselling books.

Many commoners become increasingly rich. They reinvest haphazardly.

Of course, all this success means somebody in Lugunica other than their domestic merchants is suffering greatly. The total amount of money in the world is fixed, therefore when somebody is making it rich, somebody else is going broke. This is a fundamental law of economics in every country and world.

The Lugunican Bookmaking industry is being strangled violently. They simply cannot compete with the Exorbitantly low prices of their competitor. They try everything, 

Appeals to governance- that fails because the Sage council is too incompetent to see what is occurring. Mikotlov is worried though.

Appeals to the population’s conscience die thanks to the work of people like Alexis Johns. Why do business with the workshops that seemingly kept prices high to make themselves rich like pigs when you buy cheap AND have the opportunity to make some money yourself?

Intimidation doesn’t work- Subaru is too intimidating himself.

Assassination is too expensive for the increasingly broke bookmaking industry. A few ruined business owners try to kill Subaru Natsuki in the streets or in alleys, but they are later found dead by natural causes- Heart attacks , bleeding from many orifices . How peculiar. Subaru must be a really lucky man.

They even try appealing to the Sword Saint himself, but Felt has been fooled by Subaru’s mischievous antics, To the rest of the world, Subaru seems to have given the commoners and slumdwellers of lugunica hope, hope to crawl out from their conditions. Not only that but Subaru has made knowledge and wisdom accessible to all, a true dream for the people

He must be a hero!

“If the price of Educating and enlightening lugunica is just a few old fart bookmakers and some merchants, so be it.” she says.

They soon realize they are utterly and completely cooked. When a man drowns, they will grasp even at straws to save themselves. Their only salvation is to sell. But everybody is selling, so the selling prices are going down, but but, if they can’t sell their company, they’ll go broke and end up slum dwellers, what will they do? What will they do?

They can take up loans at the bank, some do, fools.

In the 2 nd week, Subaru has begun directing NEARLY ALL his incoming wealth into purchasing as many banks and financers as possible. He knows many people are about to lose everything and he is going to wring them dry wet rags in the hot sun. He is truly JEWBARU.

Soon enough, Subaru will appear with a deal to the destitute, Desperate bookmakers.

“I will buy your company, and in exchange, I will provide you with employment for life and good pay.”

It’s their only way out. The company which squashed them will now take them in. How utterly ironic. Those who are resentful of Subaru will end up in the slums penniless, poor and bitter before dying from gout. Those who are pragmatic will take up the offer and keep their relative middle-class status intact. 

Bookmakers read the books they create. They are usually educated. They usually have good heads on their neck. Most will take up the offer, as when compared to life in the slums or worse, indentured servitude to a financer, they’d rather take the easy way out.

In this way, Subaru now had a complete monopoly on the entire lugunican bookmaking industry.

He also by extension owned their skilled employees and craftsman.

It was getting better and better.

…

[WEEK 3-4]

[(III)- STEP THREE. The periphery Cities, their companies and mercantile class are now aware of a source of extremely profitable books originating in the capitol. While the domestic merchants from the capitol have either gone farther east or lost everything. These Companies and Merchants based in Fluer, Costuul, Flanders, Picoutatte and Pristella. They will send As many convoys as possible and load them with lots of funds and send them towards the Royal Capitol. Their goal is to Buy books in the Capitol, transport them to foreign countries, and resell them for profit. When these convoys arrive at the gates of the royal capitol, LIFT THE BAN ON SELLING DIRECTLY TO MERCHANTS. Furthermore, these convoys will likely be accompanied by the returning merchants ruined by recent economic movements. You will either offer to pay their debts in exchange for long term employer ship contracts, or you shall offer loans to the ruined merchants via the recently founded wing of the Pleiades, JUBA Bank. This shall put those merchants back into the cycle of selling and reselling .]

A royal guard stationed at the Walls by the Old loot house turned Felt HQ talks with Reinhard Van Astrea. Felt accompanies.

“I’ve heard about this, some new company taking its name from Shaula’s watchtower has been making pretty big waves in the capitol.”

“I’ve heard, some boy about 17 made a revolutionary bookmaking process and is making it rich too, not only that but he is only selling to us commoners, to ensure the merchants don’t exploit us!” Felt says with a smile. 

Just like Anastasia to hoshin, she has grown to admire and idolize this “Subaru Natsuki.”

Its better not to meet your heroes.

“I heard that the militant merchant of Picoutatte is his most important ally too!”

Otto Suwen’s name has in extension become a very well-known name. In Picoutatte, this same scene of selling and commoners reselling has played out, albeit to a smaller extent. Suwen’s company has grown rich and is now in permanent alliance with the Pleiades company. Oslo Suwen has been allocated control over the Flanders market. 

It is said that the sheer profits of the Suwen company allowed them to take their revenge on their nemesis, the Regundra family. Good for them.

At the current moment the operators of the market look like this.

Otto, Regin and Marone Lisbon operate in Picouttate.

Oslo operates in Flanders

Dartz in Pristella

Subaru Controls the Royal Capital markets.

And in Coostul Subaru had allocated a man named Wilson along with his merchant assistant Ketty Muttart to assist in managing the market.

Surely nothing bad could ever happen in Coostul.

COUGH 

Back to Felt and Reinhard, they look across at the hills, Convoys can be seen.

“Rein, Look at that! I’ve never seen so many Earth Dragons in one place!”

Reinhard’s many Divine protections sense a mixture of Despair and misery mixed with Greed and Avarice. How interesting.

The convoys enter the city, and all hell breaks loose .

Weeks of social engineering and rumor-creation has created a preconception In the eyes of the people. 

This is how the commoners see the current situation:

The Supply is about to run out!

There is even a sign on the side of the Pleiades HQ stating the number of books left. Everybody can see it. “OH MY GOODNESS! ITS DWINDLING! BUY QUICK! “

These are all complete lies. Subaru, God of the liars, still has like 10,000 books left in the stockpile.

Secondly, they now are aware of Foreign Merchants entering their city. The newspapers and rumors tell the commoners that these foreign merchants are coming in to steal the dwindling supply of books. The commoners cannot let this happen! They must quickly buy up the books as fast as possible to prevent the foreign merchants from doing the same!

From the POV of the foreign merchants, they too most acquire as many goods as quickly as possible and ensure their rivals get as few books as possible. They have been given large amounts of funding to meet these goals. There is lots of cash money in the royal capitol at this moment. 

Then there are the destitute merchants, the ones who lost everything in the initial price fluxations. They have two choices.

Sign yourself a contract with Pleiades, a financer, or a large merchant company and save yourself.

Or throw yourself back into the swirl like a gambler crawling back the machine in Vegas.

FOMO, Peer Pressure, Social pressure, all these things create an aura where those destitute merchants decide to put the poker chips all in and return themselves into the economic fray.

A very few will save themselves before the speculative bubble eventually pops. Just a few.

So many factors are swirling into the capitol Economic Maelstrom.

Book-Mania has overtaken the country.

The Commoners are scared of the lowered supply and foreign merchants

The Domestic merchants are scared of the foreign merchants and their futures

The Foreign merchants are scared of ending up like the domestic merchants.

Fear is like hot tropical water in the gulf. It is fuel.

Fuel for the perfect storm.

…

…

…

[WEEK 5-8]

[(IV) Step Four. With the combination of factors; The commoners’ paranoia, the Foreign merchants’ arrival, the book mania’ and the domestic merchant’s desperation, a perfect storm will emerge in the capitol and the speculative bubble will reach unimaginable highs. This week will be the week when Subaru Natsuki becomes one of the richest men on the continent. Let the bubble rise.]

“We need to buy up quick! The foreign merchants are gonna rob us blind!”

“If I don’t manage a purchase here, I’ll be a debt slave for life!”

“50 HGC, 60 because you pissed me off Feltist.”

“Oh you wanna go again boy? I’ll get you this time!”

“Still salty about that? Dyaehahahahaha!”

“Sir Pyotr will have me hanging if I don’t buy a good stock, goodness that man is cruel.”

“I’d like to buy 0.2% Pleiades stock at 3000 HGC on behalf of the Azimov Company” “DENIED!”

“1.5% 40,000 HGC For Muse Company investments!” “APPROVED!”

“Everybody else is reselling books, they got me outta the slums, im rich! Thank you Natsuki!”

“That dog has already bought up all the bookmakers, I’m the last one left! Its been in operation for 321 years and I cant let this die! Buy here! Quality over Quantity!”

“He’s giving out loans so we can continue to buy up!” “This Subaru Fellow truly cares about us!”

“KILL FOREIGN MERCHANTS!”

“Just 2000 books left, I could’ve sworn a day ago it was 1500, I must have memory issues.”

“SUBARU IS A VILLIAN WHO IS GOING TO SCAM THE SHIT OUT OF THE COUNTRY! HE HAS MET WITH SATELLA AND IS HATCHING AN EVIL PLOT TO BECOME RICH OFF THE BACKS OF THE LUGUNICAN PEOPLE!” 

(he changed his stance on Subaru after losing a lot of money)

“SHUT THE FUCK UP ALEXIS JOHNS!”

 “He’s a Hero! His company helped me out of the slums!”

“Yeah Alexis, you went too far man, you might be right with the sage council, but this guy is good I can feel it!”

These are some of the conversations heard on the streets of Lugunica.

Many times, in history, Hysteria has overtaken the people of a city or town.

Why did people dance to death in 1518?

Why did seemingly shrewd Dutchmen invest into tulip buds worth nothing?

Why did Overwatch get a sequel?

Hysteria of a different kind infects Lugunica. It is fueled by fear and opportunity, a deadly combination.

Fear of failure

Fear of missing out

Fear of bankruptcy

Fear of the foreign merchants

Fear of being uninformed

Fear of losing the opportunity to make it

Fear is the ultimate fuel. In this case, it will be turned into liquid fuel and burned out of the bottom of a rocket. That rocket is the Book price; the rocket will travel in a parabola. The peak is unknown.

30 HGC

50 HGC

112 HGC 

It keeps going up. People are madly buying the exorbitant prices. The sheepish conformist masses continue to drive up the prices to exorbitant levels.

162 HGC 

202 HGC

253 HGC

Some people begin to see the writing on the wall. The bubble has become clear. But the masses are not clear minded enough to see it.

299 HGC

360 HGC

441 HGC

It has become less about the books, and more about the money behind it. It is a commodity now, Lugunica’s first taste in mass economics.

500 HGC

550 HGC

560 HGC

Mind you we started at 5-25 HGC. Subaru’s production costs are 1 HGC per book.

572 HGC

598 HGC

612 HGC

A Metia was worth 20, a woman’s life was worth 10.

614 HGC

622 HGC

626 HGC

The prices have reached Exorbitant levels, in just a few weeks, the prices will reach as high as 20 times their original value. Subaru is selling books with the production cost of around 1 HGC for 625 HGC. This is a 62,400% increase in value. Therefore, Subaru has been making return on investment of 62,400%. This is likely the highest in the continent’s history. Holy shit.

Subaru is selling as much as possible as fast as possible, the new goal, empty the stockpile as soon as the bubble pops.

625 HGC

624 HGC

627 HGC

It plateauing. The smarter ones begin to sell their books and reinvest in Pleiades or other investments.

The fools continue their game of buying and reselling. 

The desperate continue to fall deeper into the abyss, not knowing the strains of ascent will quite literally kill them.

The Foreign merchants are buying and have begun to leave for their respective cities.

The commoners have no idea what is about to happen.

People who know what is about to happen are keeping their mouths shut. 

They know if they are the ones to speak, they might themselves be the cause of the bubble’s pop. Better to let the blissful idiots remain blissful.

A report reaches Anastasia’s desk. It has come from deep into the heart of darkness. It’s from Joshua. 

The first line reads.

[Mean Lugunican Book price = 625~ Holy Golden Coins]

…

[WEEK 9-11]

[Step 6. The Mania Gives way to Terror. At this point, you’ve made all that you can make. The deed Is done. It is time for mop up work. Exploit the newly ruined and bring them under your wing. Be aggressive so that when Anastasia Hoshin arrives, there will be no destitute left for her to exploit.]

…

…

A market seller on the streets of a well walked city market fails to sell any books on the market.

The people learn of this. It is the spark to the gasoline.

625 HGC

“SELL!”

599 HGC

“SELL QUICKLY!”

412 HGC

“SELL SELL SELL SELL TELL TO SELL!”

270 HGC

Satella is laughing her ass off in the shadow gardens. She has not laughed like this in a long long time. 

[Envy] is also laughing her ass off. They both hate each other’s guts, but in recognition of their beloved’s achievements they dance around with interlocked arms by the elbow. Russy style.

Russel has just rushed into the capitol as the bubble has popped and has been trying to get the sage council to:

“DO SOMETHING REF!”

But the idiots their bicker and whine like the us senate and do nothing.

102 HGC

45 HGC

20 HGC

It is the last opportunity for the rats to leap off the sinking ship. The mania has given way to Panic and Fear induced Hysteria. 

3 HGC

4 RGC

1 RGC

8 Silvers

7 Silvers

8 silvers

9 silvers

6 silvers

The price has stabilized. The speculative bubble has popped. 

Its over.

…

In the streets of the Royal Capitol. The sky is cloudy. It is windy today. Birmingham weather.

There are people on the steps of monuments, buildings and offices, sitting on the dirty ground without a care for its filth. Their eyes are those of one who has seen death and taxes many times and lived to tell the tale.

The market stalls are closed. 

The churches are open; attendance records are set. Churchbells ring 

Some are shellshocked, the 627-yard stare permeates the capitol.

The foreign merchants have left as fast as possible.

The domestic merchants are truly fucked. Most take contracts with their ruiner. Stockholm syndrome?

The commoners are split. Some had cash when the prices collapsed and have emerged from the situation as extremely wealthy people. They are celebrating on one side of the city. A jubilant street party can be heard from that side.

The other side, around 3/5 of the commoners involved, did not have cash but rather held books. These books are now practically worthless. These people have lost everything. They have loans to pay and guess who just bought all the banks?

Some people act quickly and hightail it out of the capitol as fast as humanly possible to reach markets where the price hasn’t collapsed yet.

The total economy of Lugunica has slowed noticeably.

A great chef In the city by the name of Dias Lepunzo Elemanso Oplane Fatsbalm VI cooks up meals for the merchants. They really need something to put their mind off of what has just happened. They gingerly eat their meals like death row inmates on the chopping block.

Alexis Johns was unfortunately right.

A petite lilac merchant arrives at the west gate.

…

…

…

A boy looks over the city at that pavilion with broken doric columns. 

A grey-haired merchant stands beside him. 

They are looking at their creation.

They only now think to ask themselves, only now after the deed has been completed. 

“Natsuki-san” Otto looks at Subaru. Subaru looks at Otto.

They have the expressions of somebody who has just run over a deer in their F-150, But are now realizing that their chariot did not hit a deer but rather a person. That type of look.

“W-What we have done?”

…

…

It is said that Subaru Natsuki’s nose grew double in size that day.

…

…