– So what if I accept your offer?
“In that case, we will award you with the gold medal of the animal claw.
– A medal?
– Yes. The Gold Medal of the Animal Claw is awarded to those who have accomplished particularly significant feats for the state. Medal of the highest rank. But for her feat, Mrs. Kiara received the same medal posthumously. If Fran receives this medal, she will become its first living owner in 300 years.
This award is more impressive than I thought. Apparently, the presentation of the medal to Kiara is similar to the presentation of posthumous medals to heroic personalities on Earth. Is it too stressful?
– This medal is not only a sign of honor in the country. The awarded will also be entitled to a certain amount. There is no upper limit for this award, so we can reward Ms. Fran as it should be.
It seems that since the time when this medal appeared, the exchange rate has changed more than once, and therefore the exact amount of the award has not been established.
– This time we have planned a reward of 10,000,000 gold.
– Yeah. Got it.
Stop, stop, stop, stop! Hey Fran? Have you listened to everything? That's 10 million! By earthly standards, that's over one hundred million yen! Maybe even now you will show at least a little emotion?
– Fran! He said "10 million"! I shouted.
– Yeah.
Hmm, incurable coldness. Now I feel like a fool to rejoice so much in the reward. Or are you helping me to understand my own shortcomings in this way? Eh, Fran. I would like you to remain the same pure and naive forever.
– Can you buy a whole grocery store for this? Fran asked me.
– A grocery store is definitely possible!
– Mmm, food aaa.
It is clear, she simply did not understand how large this amount is. Only one question remained – maybe I shouldn't have told her this?
– I did not expect anything less. And she didn't raise an eyebrow when she heard such a sum …
You're wrong, she just cares exclusively about battles and food.
“Also, if possible, I would like some of my money to be given to help the people of the Black Cat.
– Hmm? That's it … As His Majesty said, you are truly a selfless person.
Gvisa thought for a moment.
– Okay, let's figure it out.
– Yeah.
– Although I see that you are not against the medal, in fact, you have another choice.
– In terms of?
“The proposal I was talking about would be for the good of my country and Mrs. Nemea. Of course, you, Mrs. Fran, also do not remain empty-handed. But there is one organization besides my country that could offer you an award.
– Organization?
– Adventurer's Guild.
What we didn’t expect to hear from Gvisa was this. But we didn’t receive any instructions from them related to the war, and indeed, does the guild interfere in wars? I thought that their position was not to support any side, not to take part in the country's defense, and even more so not to issue any awards …
– During this war, the guild did not achieve much. Although they themselves took part in hostilities as adventurers, but only in the role of ordinary volunteers. Without a doubt, in the event that their city was attacked, they would have helped in the defense and evacuation, but this, in fact, is the duty of all residents of the city.
The guild is a neutral organization, so there is nothing to do. Speaking of the lack of guild achievements, Raymond and Gvisa did not change their faces at all. So it was clear that this behavior of the guild seemed natural to them.
“However, at the same time, the top leadership of the guild was concerned about the current situation.
– Concerned?
– The way the kingdom of Bashar took control of many demonic beasts from the dungeon. After all, dungeons and demonic beasts are run by the Adventurer's Guild.
– Although the country is in second place for them, since no responsibility has been established for the guild before it, the guild reserves the right to act at its own discretion.
Hmm, that's what it is about. Still, this war was fought not only against people, from the north, hordes of animals from the dungeon invaded us like a tornado. No wonder the Adventurer's Guild has gone into action.
– It is not a fact that in the future the history of this passage will remain firmly in the people's memory. In this case, the guild will not be interesting to anyone. We, as the country's leadership, have no complaints about the adventurers taking part in this war. But the guild would probably like to eliminate unpleasant rumors in the future while improving their public image.
Yes, the guild took not the worst position in this war, but it realizes that better decisions could have been made. And then it turns out that Fran, who became famous as a hero, is an adventurer. If the directions for Fran's actions came from them, then they could take a piece of this glory.
“But the war is over, and all the demonic beasts are driven back. Now the guild has no tools left to influence the situation.
“Only Fran can lend a helping hand to the guild.
– In terms of?
Fran made a questioning expression in response to Gwisa's words.
– Yes. Well, the situation is almost the same as with our country's proposal. Only we asked to arrange everything as if Princess Nimea had issued a special order to fight the beasts, and in the case of the guild, it would be a special instruction from the guild.
So furnish it as a guild directive.
– The disadvantage of such a choice, first of all, is that the country would receive a much greater reward. And since the princess has nothing to do with it, you can also forget about the medal. In addition, the cash reward from the guild will be approximately 5 million gold. That is, even the monetary reward is much less.
We're talking about serious money here. It is not known what it will be like to negotiate with the guild. And even if everything goes smoothly, the disadvantage is a much smaller reward. Besides, rejecting an entire state’s proposal will leave a bad impression.
– The advantage is that you get prospects to raise your rank, and improve your position in the guild. Sharing the glory of saving an entire country with an Adventurer's Guild is serious business. It will definitely pull up to rank B.
Here it is. Although we suffer financial losses, it is not often that there is an opportunity to raise the rank. Considering that the check becomes stricter with each rank, having risen from rank "C" to "B", we have the opportunity to jump over most adventurers and stand out from the crowd.
Moreover, we will get the favor of the guild. Since Fran is an adventurer, it can be said to be worth more than any money.
– We, as representatives of the country, give you a choice.
– Think hard.
As Raymond and Gvisa spoke these words, they were smiling. I think, as representatives of the country, they would like us to choose a medal, right? It seems that they are completely benevolent towards Fran, but still they are officials in the service of their country, what are the limits of their benevolence? No, that's not the point.
Maybe their politeness is just trying to get Fran to their side.
And all these explanations of the advantages and disadvantages were needed only to establish a connection with the interlocutor. Moreover, they offered an option that is not beneficial for themselves. Apparently, in this way Fran should feel a kinship with the country of the Half-Beasts. In addition, since the proposal was made not by someone, but by such a noble aristocrat as Gvisa, it is more difficult to reject him. Apparently, they decided that if he were an ordinary employee, Fran would not get the impression that the offer was better not rejected. Well thought out.
– Mentor?
“Fran, whatever you choose, I'll take it all.
– Good. I realized.
Well, it doesn't look like anyone was trying to trick us. On the contrary, there were normal negotiations. All options have their advantages. It would be better for me to trust what Fran herself desires.
– Since the decision is serious, I give you a night to think.
– Tomorrow morning you can report your decision …
– No. Everything is fine. I choose a medal.
– Hmm? Are you sure?
Fran answered immediately. I myself did not expect. Actually, I thought she would choose the guild. Since she is definitely not of the character to desire a medal, it was easy to think that she would choose a promotion.
– The medal will be better. Like Kiara.
– Received. We will begin preparations immediately.
– Yeah.
What is the reason for this choice? So I thought they were just waiting all this time to present the medal to Fran.
– Well, let's try to contact the guild.
Of course, they seem to have already spoken to the guild. Thus, both proposals could be submitted. Since Gwisa was also tasked with handing over the guild proposal and negotiation, the Land of the Half-Beasts was definitely favored.
– Mrs. Fran, I heard that in battle you got a certain amount of trophies from demonic beasts, would you like to sell them in the guild?
– But I have no time.
It's already night, and tomorrow I have to hit the road. I think that even to just sell something, you have to go to another city. Although we have butchered many animals in Aristea's mansion, there are still plenty of uncut ones.
“I think that since you turn down the guild's offer, it would be nice to do them a little favor and sell the materials to them. You have nothing against selling them, do you?
– Yeah.
– Then I'll invite a man from the guild to the palace. I will also send cutters and evaluators. You can use the training ground of the palace for cutting. For my part, I promise to provide assistants. How about this?
I thought so, they were well prepared. Well, here it would be even indecent to refuse. I don’t even know why they worked so hard. But, if they help us with cutting and selling, we will only be grateful.
“Let's accept this offer,” I said to Fran.
– Yeah. Got it. It will be better this way.
– Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
