This Isn’t an E*otic Game?

The family meal was difficult to arrange.

It was no wonder, as all three of them were extremely busy.

However, the Karma family always made sure to carve out time to eat together on weekends.

"How are your social activities going?"

"I've been receiving so many invitations. I've been declining most of them unless absolutely necessary."

"Cecilia, you sure are popular."

"It's easy to read trends. The movements among noble families, capital flows, and so on. It's easy to get a grasp on it. Oh! By the way, how's your father doing? The Eleos Group thing?"

As Jonathan Karma poured sauce over the lamb, he smiled.

"Offering the elixir at a lower price than the market rate—who would turn that down? Oh, and by the way, the Crapton Railroad signed the documents this morning."

Cecilia stopped cutting the meat and widened her eyes.

Oliviere chuckled at his daughter’s reaction, finding it amusing.

"Really? Is that true?"

"Yes. In exchange for offering the elixir at half price for railway operations, they've agreed to drastically lower logistics costs. They're going to lay down new tracks and send the elixir throughout the empire based on that. To take over the elixir deals held by Tramata, we need to win in terms of speed and price of distribution."

"Excellent choice! Please take me with you when you close the deal with the southern region."

"It would be more convenient if you could bring the gossip from the social circles. Steel, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and heavy industries. We're almost there. Just a little more, and the Eleos Group will become a reality..."

Suddenly, a loud ringing came from the watch on Jonathan Karma’s wrist.

At those words, the three family members stopped speaking.

The communication method he had shared only with close associates was one that he had instructed to be used only in case of an urgent matter.

"Jonathan Karma here. Erfa, is that you?"

As Jonathan hurried to answer, a familiar voice echoed from the device.

[Jonathan Karma? Long time no hear. Do you recognize my voice...]

"Saint? Where are you right now, Lilia? Oh my God!! Are you safe?"

[Yes. I'm fine. But I wonder if you've heard the news?]

"What news?"

[Oh, you haven't heard yet. I'm in a bit of a troublesome situation.]

The Saint slowly, and in detail, explained the situation he was in.

And when the explanation ended, Jonathan Karma’s eyes were shining.

Anger.

And the ecstatic expression of a merchant who smelled the scent of money.

[I'm sorry for contacting you so suddenly after disappearing like that, but... I need Jonathan's help.]

"Saint, don't worry about anything. Just focus on healing the sick over there. I will take care of the rest."

[Hearing that gives me peace of mind. I’m counting on you, Jonathan. I'm sorry for contacting you so suddenly again.]

"No, no. It’s nothing. Rest assured and wait. I’ll come immediately."

[Thank you.]

The magic communication ended.

The three family members exchanged looks in silence.

"I'll handle the legislation. I'll spread the word in social circles. The Duke of Lima and the Marquis of Tuerentz have strong influence through their wives, so if we target these two families first, we can probably steer the overall flow in our favor."

Cecilia got up from her seat.

"I’ll check how much we can operate with from the company reserves. The quarterly revenue has increased threefold from last year, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} so there’s plenty of funds to work with."

Oliviere also stood up.

And Jonathan Karma too.

"The Saint has given us a good opportunity. There are only a few places in the empire with steel and magic metal mines, and now we can touch the biggest one. We have a good cause, and plenty of ammo. Let's get started."

He smiled.

It was a gentle and soft smile, but for the one on the receiving end of his fists, it would certainly have been a far scarier smile than that of the Demon King.

****

After the magic communication with Jonathan ended, Iomene and Almene, along with the interrogators from the Black Fortress and the people from the Temple of Gods, approached me.

"I have a lot to say, Saint."

Iomene and Almene carefully spoke to me.

"But now doesn't seem like the right time for that."

"We will help you, Saint. What can we do?"

The priests of the Silence Order also agreed with the two princesses' words.

"To prevent the resentments of the workers across the empire from leading to another event like today, we believe your argument must prevail. We will lend our strength as well."

The mages from the Mage Tower, including Erfa, also approached.

"We hope that the empire's largest magic metal mine will continue to operate well. Moreover, how much of the elixir we've been receiving for free from Karma Company... We too shall offer our help."

"The Mars Mage Tower in the capital is on your side, Saint. If necessary, we can mobilize mage towers from other regions as well."

Religion.

Economy.

Power.

Magic.

In reality, all four pillars of the empire were moving at my single word.

Some might feel pride in witnessing this scene, while others may become intoxicated with the thirst for power.

But I felt none of those emotions.

I was only reaffirming why Lilia wanted to throw me into Hell.

The immense trust and faith they had in me only made the power within me grow, and that thought filled me with greater fear.

I clenched my fist.

Only until the workers' living conditions in Scrap Yard improve.

Until then, this is just a temporary measure.

Once things stabilize, I must leave immediately.

“Iomene, Almene, both of you return to the capital. Go and inform the Temple and His Majesty the Emperor about the current situation. Please persuade the Senate to expedite the creation of new legislation.”

“Understood, Saint.”

“We can do that.”

This time, the mages from the Mage Tower were the next to speak.

“Erfa, and the mages of the Mage Tower. I know that you are the largest buyers of magic metals in the empire. Please persuade the Mage Towers across the country to stop purchasing the magic metals from Scrap Yard.”

The mages from the Mage Tower nodded in agreement.

“We may not be able to stop all purchases, but we can certainly persuade the Mage Towers that were considering additional purchases to hold off.”

“Releasing the surplus magic metals from the Mars Tower at a low price should be a feasible option.”

Next, it was the turn of the Temple.

“Please focus on maintaining order in the city. Help prevent violence between the knights and priests and the workers. Also, it would be appreciated if you could assist in treating the sick.”

“We will do so.”

Finally, it was my turn.

“I cannot do this alone. I need your help. I am counting on you.”

“We will make it happen as you wish.”

With that reassuring declaration, the people began to leave the meeting room, scattering in different directions.

Not long after, only I and Kal Lenaro, along with the labor theorists, remained in the room.

“We, who have neither capital nor power, what should we do, Saint?”

At those words, I shrugged.

“Do what you're good at. I will handle the healing. And you continue the general strike.”

The mention of a general strike sparked a fire in the eyes of the labor theorists.

“We can't just tell a story where the great Saint used capital and power to save the workers. We need a narrative where the workers themselves rise up and claim their rights. So, keep the strike going.”

I smiled at the labor theorists.

“Rally the workers so they can fight against the factory owners. As long as you don’t use guns or bombs, you can do whatever you want.”

Kal Lenaro burst into laughter at my words.

“Don’t worry, Saint. We’ll show you exactly what kind of people we are.”

It was a fearsome declaration from professional agitators and rioters who had spent their lives inciting rebellion and protests.

****

There are two people here.

One is the leader of the Black Fortress.

Otto Delmarck.

“You’re telling me you’re running a company legally? Legally? LEGALLY!? How dare you raise your voice to my Amayel!!”

He was in front of the two furious princesses.

It was a rare sight to see Almene, who was always gentle and kind, gnashing her teeth in anger, and Otto, while hiding his shock, was taken aback internally.

Almene then turned to Otto.

“You like the law so much, don’t you? Let’s try to use it legally, Otto.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“You were involved with Mammon’s followers, weren't you? It’s necessary to look into the background of this. Now that we have a cause, let’s begin a thorough tax investigation. Let’s see if the company was really being run properly, legally.”

Otto glanced at the inquisitors under his command.

They all silently nodded.

It was an order from the Emperor’s daughters; they had to follow it.

“We will proceed as you say.”

“And until the tax investigation is over, keep the factory owners, especially one named Bayers from the market, from fleeing Scrap Yard. There’s a risk they’ll escape.”

“Of course. We will carry out your orders.”

Otto quietly expressed his condolences for the factory owners in his mind.

And then, there was another person.

Johann, the head knight of the Grace Order.

He was so enraged that he was once again standing before Yodel, the High Priest who had turned into Mozgus.

“Head Knight.”

“Speak, High Priest.”

“It seems the factory owners in this city have forgotten that one of the largest steel users in the empire is located in the southern region, which is the headquarters of our Grace Order.”

The South.

It was the fertile and vast plains of the empire’s breadbasket, but not all land in the South was suitable for growing crops.

The huge wasteland near the empire’s center had not been good for farming, and it remained a barren area, but 30 years ago, the largest industrial complex in the empire was built there.

And most of the people in that complex were followers of Lilia.

“Use the excuse of the strike to delay payments for the goods.”

“...Understood.”

“And for the workers here in Scrap Yard, move them all out of the city. Take them out, feed and house them there. Use the Temple’s funds to bring in grain, vegetables, and fruits in bulk, and send them to Scrap Yard. I don’t want to see the workers here starving.”

“I will carry this out as well.”

“Until the factory owners give in. Or until Karma Company takes over this place entirely. Let’s make sure the workers here experience the Saint's grace, where they can live and eat without doing anything. Let’s see how stiff their necks will be when all their contracts are cut and there’s no one left to run the factories.”

It wasn’t just High Priest Yodel.

The priests and knights of the Grace Order, all enraged by the fact that Lilia, the goddess, had insulted her chosen one, were also furious.

Johann, the head knight, silently expressed his condolences for the factory owners.

‘They’ve messed with the wrong people.’

They had touched the wrong ones, and it was a grave mistake.