Knowing how enormous the loss was, he couldn’t help but laugh hollowly. He had anticipated sothing might happen, but for it to actually turn out like this...
Money, my precious money. It hurt too much.
"Hyde, send a letter. You know the content?"
"Yes, of course."
"Tell them to co as quickly as possible. So it doesn’t disrupt the schedule."
"They’re secretly following nearby, so it shouldn’t take long."
Since they were divided into many small groups to avoid detection, it would take ti to gather them, but it wouldn’t be too long.
"What does that an?"
Ariadne, who had been quietly listening, tilted her head.
"Did you anticipate this? Spirit Creatures?"
"I’ve encountered demons before. I made all preparations for this mission just in case."
Those preparations didn’t stop at simply increasing the number of guards and escort ships.
Procuring additional identical items. It was in preparation for when wagons are destroyed and supplies are lost.
"So that ans..."
"As soon as possible, identical supplies and the sa number of guards and workers will arrive. Then we’ll swap them out and continue the expedition."
Fortunately, the elves only have minor injuries.
"...When did you plan all this? If there had been no problems, wouldn’t it just be a loss?"
"These are all valuable items that would sell well anywhere. It’s not a loss."
The hint for this ca from the prophecy book.
I couldn’t tell if this was the original future or if it had changed due to my intervention. But at least for the family’s sake, this was the right answer.
"So, Ariadne. Rember this."
Gerhard looked into Ariadne’s eyes.
"Today, for us."
Nothing happened.
"Nothing happened."
It has to be that way.
That’s the right answer.
Ariadne didn’t respond imdiately. She just stared blankly at her reflection in Gerhard’s eyes.
Then she smiled brightly.
"Why should I do that? The World Tree branch was damaged, and there were problems with the promised supplies and the expedition. Isn’t that clearly Goldenheim’s fault?"
"So?"
"We could actually make a huge profit just by receiving compensation for the failure."
Yes, that’s why. The reason this incident needs to be buried as a secret.
To minimize losses and prevent damage to the company’s honor and trust.
"You never make things easy, do you?"
I thought I might get off easily due to the shared battle experience.
Gerhard sighed briefly.
"An invitation to the yacht club."
"It’s a bit small, but I’ll be satisfied with that for now!"
As you said, we do have the shared battle experience.
"Nothing happened to the expedition. Right?"
"Yes. That’s it."
Gerhard nodded.
***
It was exactly four days later when the expedition, transford back to its original pristine state with injured people and functioning ones swapped, and supplies replenished, set off again.
There had been no problems with the expedition. It was just delayed a bit due to rain.
"It all went exactly as you predicted, young master."
"Those demons wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this."
"I’ll make sure everyone keeps their mouths shut."
" too. I should earn what I was paid for."
There was no need to rush the expedition. The schedule had been set generously in anticipation of such incidents.
"Stay vigilant until the end. It might not end with just one attempt."
Especially at sea.
Having already experienced such chaos at sea once before, they could not afford to be careless.
"Did you record it well?"
"It was quite shaky since it was hanging around my neck, but not so much that the Spirit Creatures can’t be identified."
"Good. Make a copy and send it to father."
"Yes."
Evidence was continuing to accumulate. But it was still insufficient. He planned to reveal everything at once at the right timing when more, more definitive evidence was gathered.
"What are you talking about?"
"It’s not related to the expedition, so don’t worry about it and go."
"But it’s about demons. Despite everything, we fought together."
"That sense of camaraderie seems to fail when needed and work when unnecessary."
After that incident, the expedition safely arrived at Kaide without any further problems. However, Gerhard didn’t imdiately set sail.
Despite preparations being long completed, this was because of the World Tree branch.
"There, now it will grow well."
After digging the ground and placing several elixirs inside, they planted the World Tree branch.
The World Tree branch, absorbing the elixirs and receiving Ariadne’s dedicated care, restored its original form day by day.
"...How much does this tree cost anyway?"
"The Mother Tree’s value cannot be dared to be asured in money. It’s beyond that."
"The elixirs it consud can all be asured in money."
But still, it was much cheaper than the penalty for failing the expedition, so he had to swallow his bitter tears.
"But does it normally grow like this just by giving it elixir?"
"Of course not. This isn’t growth, it’s recovery. They’re fundantally different."
Indeed, if it suddenly grew just by giving it so elixir, would that even be the World Tree? It would just be a monster.
When the World Tree branch finally regained its original form, they loaded people and cargo onto three ships and departed.
They were accompanied by an excessive escort, a total of 10 battle ships.
"I still don’t like the sea. It’s truly an ugly and terrible place. I’ve known since it was that disgusting blue color, just by looking at it."
Contrary to concerns, there were no major problems at sea.
Except for all the elves becoming sses, vomiting all the moisture from their bodies like dried squid.
"So this is why elves rarely co to the sea?"
"Elves aren’t very friendly with the sea... bleeech! Are...not."
"You still want an invitation to the yacht club even with this?"
"That’s a separate matter!"
Gerhard took a step back. Droplets that had risen even higher were blocked by a barrier.
"Your vomit is splattering. Don’t act so unsightly."
"Who’s...bleeh!...unsightly!"
"You look pitiful. You’ll have to return to the academy as soon as we arrive."
"I’m not going back...bleech! Rather than taking a ship twice in a row, I’d rather go to hell!"
The faces of the 50 elves turned pale.
"Oh, by the way, Ariadne. I have sothing to request from you."
"Re...quest?"
Ariadne asked back with eyes like rotten fish. Gerhard frowned at the vomit stuck to the corner of her mouth.
"No, never mind. Let’s talk when we get off the ship."
And a few days later, the expedition fleet docked at the academy port.
’So far, there have been no problems.’
Whether this was the original flow of the prophecy book, or if Gerhard had changed the future.
Ti would tell.
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