My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 88

§ 88 – Nonstop Cash Pumping (1)

Lord’s Castle Lv.2, located in Ruben.

And Ciel’s office inside it.

Ciel sat in his chair and took out his smartphone.

Mobile Lord, resurrected like a dog after the emergency maintenance.

Thanks to that, he could cash pump again.

Ciel checked the gold in his inventory.

[Current Gold Holdings] – 2,570,000 G.

A whopping 2.57 million gold.

The existing 1.57 million gold.

Plus the 1 million gold he squeezed from Elena.

And here.

[Current Fame Points] – 30,100 P

Up to 30,100 Fame Points.

Converted to gold, it was worth 3 million gold.

In total, it was a whopping 5.58 million gold.

“Surely it won’t go into maintenance again, right?”

Thinking about it, it was possible.

The cost of the last Mobile Lord maintenance was 4.5 million gold.

But from now on, the amount to cash pump again is 5.58 million gold.

The key is how much stronger it became with the emergency maintenance….

It was entirely possible.

Resurrecting like a dog, then fainting like a dog.

Such an unprecedented situation could occur!

Ciel immediately launched Mobile Lord.

“First, the Fame Points.”

Fame Points that could enhance Arnaize perks.

Ciel entered the 【Fame Point Shop】 section.

Click.

With a light touch, the shop items were listed.

It’s just and .

There are only these two, but anyway.

“I can enhance it three times.”

10,000 points per enhancement.

Ciel had already thought about which items to enhance.

First, ‘Effect 4’ added in .

[Enhancement Effect 4] – You can purchase A-grade martial arts at the lord’s knight training center!

He had already enhanced it once along with adding the effect last time.

If he enhances it once more here, he will be able to purchase S-grade martial arts.

Moreover, up to ‘Effect 2’ in .

[Effect 2] – Equipment made in the lord’s smithy with skilled artisans or higher has B-grade quality!

If this effect is enhanced, A-grade equipment will come out.

And if enhanced once more, a whopping….

“S-grade equipment!”

The soldiers’ combat power would definitely increase significantly more than now.

What if they learn S-grade martial arts here?

And with the growth buff that has explosively increased through upgrades?

Then in 5 months.

He might be able to stand against Elantur’s White Wolf Knights!

And not only that!

Ciel’s equipment can also be enhanced almost without limit!

There was no reason to hesitate.

Ciel enhanced ‘Effect 4’ once.

And ‘Effect 2’ twice.

Goo-goo-goook.

《B, Buy…?!》

Then, Mobile Lord’s flustered notification window popped up.

Come to think of it, Ciel had just spent 30,000 Fame Points.

It was like using 3 million gold in gold.

It was a natural reaction in a way.

But it wasn’t a big fluster.

It didn’t pull any tricks like hacking or anything like last time.

Was it really strengthened by the emergency maintenance?

The tolerance for accepting causality seemed to have increased considerably.

Also, thinking about it, Mobile Lord fainted after exchanging 3 million gold last time.

In short, it was already aware of the causality.

“Hmm….”

Ciel checked the enhanced effects, soothing his slightly disappointed heart.

[Enhancement Effect 4](+2) – You can purchase S-grade martial arts at Knight Training Center Lv.5!

[Enhancement Effect 2](+2) – Equipment made in the lord’s smithy with master artisans or higher has S-grade quality!

He was hoping, but it was as expected!

A whopping S-grade equipment.

And he could obtain S-grade martial arts!

“Crazy!”

Ciel shouted without realizing it.

Then suddenly.

“······ Huh?”

He could find something strange.

First, .

“Knight Training Center Lv.5?”

The words Knight Training Center Lv.5 were attached in front.

Originally, it was just ‘At the Knight Training Center—.’

But this time, the specific words ‘Lv.5’ were attached.

Ciel, who had raised it to ‘Top-Tier Knight Training Center Lv.4’ through the last upgrade.

Almost 1.5 million gold went into that upgrade alone.

But what he needed was Lv.5.

Ciel checked the next upgrade.

And.

『《Knight Training Center Lv.5》 (4,000,000G).』

He could see a price of a whopping 4 million gold.

“······”

Ciel was momentarily speechless.

Even was strange.

“Master artisan or higher?”

A condition of master artisan or higher was attached.

At first, it was ‘skilled artisan’ or higher.

And in fact, even finding skilled artisans was difficult.

Would there be one or two in a typical territory?

But Ruben had no problem at all.

Dwarves, called the race of artisans, were Ruben’s territory residents.

That’s why they could mass-produce B-grade equipment.

But to make S-grade equipment, a master artisan or higher was needed.

As far as Ciel knew, it went skilled artisan, artisan, master artisan.

And the only one who could be called a master artisan in Ruben.

None other than Semir, the descendant of the Divine Smith Morkru.

That meant.

“Only Semir can make it?”

But fortunately, there was a way to improve the level of other dwarves.

《You can research ‘Morkru’s Metallurgy’ at Elodie’s Laboratory Lv.1!》

None other than the ‘Morkru’s Metallurgy’ research.

“There wasn’t anything like this before?”

Perhaps it was a condition that was only unlocked by enhancing perks.

Ciel immediately checked the research items in the laboratory.

[Morkru’s Metallurgy] – 500,000G

A whopping 500,000 gold research cost.

Considering that the existing research costs were around 10,000 gold, it was crazy.

But it was Morkru’s metallurgy, who was called the Divine Smith.

The Arnaize who made weapons for the Arnaizes.

Over the years, his metallurgy was lost.

Even his descendant Semir didn’t know it properly.

That’s why being able to research it was a huge deal.

It seemed Elodie had recorded everything about the Arnaizes.

Ciel immediately purchased the research.

He had 2.57 million gold in hand, so he was fearless.

But.

《Error: ‘Morkru’s Metallurgy’ research is not possible.》

An error window popped up?

Before he could wonder what it was.

A notification window about the error reason popped up.

《Error Reason: Research conditions not met.》

《’To research Morkru’s Metallurgy’, you need ‘Achievement: For the Best Weapon!’》

“I need an achievement?”

At Ciel’s words, information about the achievement popped up.

『[Achievement] – For the Best Weapon! (Not Achieved)

-Achievement Condition: Possess 1 SSS-grade equipment or fail enhancement 20 times.』

.

.

“What is this….”

Ciel was lost in thought for a moment.

Morkru’s legacy, Black Stone.

Ciel could enhance the equipment he had through the Black Stone.

The enhancement material was none other than the same grade of equipment.

In other words, to enhance SS-grade equipment, he had to have the same SS-grade equipment.

The current cost for Semir to make one S-grade equipment was 300,000 gold.

He had to have two of those S-grade equipment.

Because he had to enhance S-grade equipment to get SS-grade equipment.

So, even putting aside the enhancement cost.

It cost 600,000 gold per SS-grade equipment.

He had to enhance that SS-grade equipment to his current equipment to get SSS-grade equipment.

And the success rate of SSS-grade enhancement was 5%.

In other words, the expected value was 1 success in 20 enhancements.

Since it was all probability, he might succeed in one go.

But what if he failed all 20 times….

“12 million gold… This is crazy.”

The enhancement material cost alone would be a whopping 12 million gold.

He had to spend a whopping 12 million gold to get that achievement!

Right then.

Ding!

《When you’re stuck, try cash pumping!》

.

.

“Don’t you dare!!!”

Ciel shouted without realizing it.

This… Is this even possible!

12 million gold!

The gold Ciel currently had was 2.57 million gold.

It was nowhere near enough compared to 12 million gold!

Of course, he wouldn’t need all 12 million gold.

After all, it was probability.

He might really succeed in one go.

But conversely, couldn’t he fail more than 20 times!

“Crazy!”

His hands were trembling.

He couldn’t calm down at all.

How… How…!

Ding!

《When you’re stuck~♪, try cash pumping~!》

.

.

“Really….”

It was Mobile Lord, resurrected like a dog.

Ciel couldn’t come to his senses for a while.

After a long time passed.

“Hoo….”

Ciel let out a long sigh.

First, he had to earn gold.

2.57 million gold was woefully insufficient.

“2.57 million gold is not enough…?”

He couldn’t understand at all.

But it was so in front of Mobile Lord.

Anyway, Knight Training Center Lv.5 and.

Also to get that achievement.

He had to earn gold again.

He would have to ask Amelia to go on a trading trip right away.

Fortunately, the output had increased through upgrades.

Amelia would be able to earn millions of gold.

But even that was not enough.

The gold he needed now was in the tens of millions!

“How do I….”

Ciel’s head throbbed.

And right then.

A letter that came into view.

None other than a letter sent by Aria.

“Come to think of it….”

#

The Empire’s capital, Darkhan.

And the Imperial Palace located in Darkhan.

“Your Highness. Princess Elena has returned.”

“Elena?”

Crown Prince Conrad tilted his head at the chamberlain’s report.

That was because Elena shouldn’t have returned this early.

She had to return in about a week.

He had told Yale firmly to do so.

But she returned now?

“Bring her in.”

Conrad brought Elena in for now.

As the chamberlain disappeared.

Not long after, the office door reopened with a click.

And Elena appeared.

“Greetings to His Highness the Crown Prince─.”

“Put aside unnecessary formalities and come sit here.”

Conrad waved his hand.

Elena straightened her body and sat in front of Conrad.

“Why did you come back so soon?”

“That is….”

Elena trailed off when Conrad asked.

She didn’t know how to answer this.

But that event was not something only Elena herself knew.

All the Royal Knights watched it clearly.

Even if she didn’t say it, a report would come in anyway.

Elena slowly opened her mouth.

“······ I was kicked out.”

“What?”

Conrad momentarily made an absurd expression.

Kicked out? Who?

Elena?

“What does that mean…?”

Conrad couldn’t understand Elena’s words.

Looking at her gaze.

For some reason, Elena was avoiding Conrad’s gaze.

She looked slightly embarrassed, as if she had something on her mind.

Conrad was even more dumbfounded by Elena’s appearance.

In fact, Conrad thought Elena was not interested and came quickly.

He thought she had just delivered the letter to Ciel.

But Elena said she was kicked out.

And Elena’s expression now.

So Elena wanted to stay in Ruben longer but was kicked out?

Conrad looked at Elena with eyes asking for an explanation.

Elena couldn’t open her mouth easily.

After hesitating for a while, Elena slowly opened her mouth.

Conrad listened to Elena’s story quietly.

And immediately after all the stories ended.

“······”

Conrad was speechless.

First.

“Marriage upon meeting….”

Conrad didn’t know what to say about this.

She was his precious younger sister, but honestly….

“Are you in your right mind?”

She didn’t seem to be in her right mind this time.

“I thought my brother would like it….”

“Haa….”

Conrad sighed without realizing it.

And in fact, Elena seemed to be out of her mind.

Conrad understood why Elena was doing this.

The duty as a princess.

He told her it was okay to put down that duty.

But when you think about it, it was partly his fault.

Conrad didn’t say anything more about this.

“And there was such a thing between the Royal Knights and Ruben’s soldiers….”

Conrad had nothing to say about this.

But he didn’t think he had to kick her out.

Thinking from Ciel’s point of view, he thought he could do that enough.

Elena was nothing more than a nuisance in Ruben.

Still, kicking out a princess.

What nobleman in the world could do that?

They would be eager to look good.

Kicking her out was impossible.

So he was a little resentful.

But he also thought it was like Ciel.

That was because the reason was all for his people.

Knowing that it could harm him, Ciel was fearless.

Perhaps that’s why Conrad liked him more.

But….

Conrad quietly closed his eyes.

And calmly organized the situation.

The conclusion he came to.

He screwed up.

He screwed up big time.

He sent her to make a connection with Ciel.

But didn’t she just come back with a bad relationship!

He screwed up.

Conrad blamed his hasty actions.

He knew Elena’s personality but….

He never thought it would be like this.

He should have gone with her.

He sent her separately to spend time alone with a man and a woman.

He thought it would be difficult if an older brother went with her.

It was a mistake. He should have gone with her.

He should have controlled Elena.

He ruined the situation with a moment’s mistake.

“Haa….”

A deeper sigh.

But it didn’t seem completely ruined.

“What do you think, brother.”

Elena’s voice was heard with closed eyes.

When he opened his eyes slightly.

Elena lowered her gaze slightly and said.

“What kind of person is Ciel….”

Conrad was slightly surprised at those words.

Did Elena… ever do this?

Did she ever wonder about a man?

At least not in Conrad’s memory.

Of course, she was curious about the men who had been married.

But that was just curious about the man’s family.

She had never been interested in the person himself.

But now….

Conrad slowly opened his mouth.

“He was a true nobleman. A true nobleman who truly knew how to care for the people, a rare sight in this era.”

Elena didn’t answer.

Conrad knew Elena well.

But this time, he couldn’t know what that reaction meant.

“What kind of person did you see and feel?”

At Conrad’s question, Elena was lost in thought for a moment.

Her status as a princess.

Elena thought that the rights she enjoyed came with due obligations.

And it wasn’t just the status of a princess.

She thought everything in the world was like that.

The rights you enjoy come with due obligations.

This was Elena’s value.

But Ruben was not like that.

Ruben that Elena saw was not like that at all.

Obligations did not come with rights.

No, to be exact, they didn’t really force obligations.

Everyone worked voluntarily without being subject to obligations.

Not rights and obligations.

Favor without compensation.

That favor was rampant in Ruben.

That was quite shocking to Elena.

Besides.

‘It is these ordinary people who make the Empire great.’

Ciel’s words.

For some reason, those words kept leaving her head.

Ciel denied all the values that Elena thought were the answer.

A territory she had never seen before.

And a man she had never seen before.

That’s why.

“······ I don’t know.”

A person she couldn’t understand at all.

Conrad quietly looked at Elena.

“Do you want to know more about what kind of person he is?”

Elena paused for a moment before answering.

“······ Yes.”

Conrad widened his eyes.

What Elena was showing now was clear interest.

And that was something Elena had never shown before.

“But you were kicked out.”

“······”

Elena flinched without saying anything.

Conrad smiled slightly at Elena’s appearance.

Elena had always shown only a rigid appearance.

She knew how to show such a cute appearance.

Conrad himself, as well as the Emperor, could not do it….

Anyway, it was the first man Elena was interested in.

Although the first button was buttoned wrong….

“This brother will help you.”

How could he stay still as a brother?

“But it’s a bit like that right now. I’ll arrange a good position for you again soon.”

Elena nodded silently.

Conrad smiled once again at that appearance.

Soon Elena got up from her seat.

At that moment.

Stop.

Elena asked Conrad with a thought that suddenly came to mind.

“Brother. Did Emperor Charlotte have a younger sister?”

None other than the ghost Leia she encountered in Ruben.

Elena didn’t talk about Leia when she explained the events of Ruben to Conrad.

He wouldn’t believe it even if she told him.

What would she say when she herself didn’t believe it in the first place.

But she couldn’t just not believe it.

The secret of her room.

She couldn’t know that unless she used the room.

Conrad answered at Elena’s sudden question.

“Emperor Charlotte’s younger sister? Hmm… I think she did, but it’s been so long that I don’t know exactly. But why are you asking that suddenly?”

But Conrad didn’t seem to know well either.

Come to think of it, it was an event 1,000 years ago.

Even if it was related to Charlotte, he couldn’t know the details.

“Just… I suddenly became curious.”

“You’re curious about everything. If you’re really curious, go to the Imperial Palace Library. There are records left by the Great Emperor there.”

The Imperial Palace Library where the history of the Imperial Family is recorded.

“Thank you in many ways, brother.”

Elena thought she should go there.

#

Ciel held up the letter sent by Aria.

He had forgotten about Elena for a while.

To be exact, he had forgotten about it for a while because of that damn Mobile Lord.

With this letter, the story-linked quest ‘The Truth Kyle Faced’ had reacted.

But was it because Mobile Lord was under maintenance?

The contents of the quest had not changed.

But now that Mobile Lord had resurrected like a dog.

Ciel checked the contents of the quest again.

And.

『[Story-Linked Quest] – ‘The Truth Kyle Faced’.

▶Kyle, who faced some kind of truth and left suddenly.

But not long after.

Kyle goes to Muriel.

Kyle left again after a long conversation with Muriel.

And Muriel has hidden something related to that secret.

The secret sleeping in Muriel’s ruins!

What is that secret!?!

.

.

“Huh…?”

The contents of the quest that had not changed for so long had been changed.