Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 731

"This is... a pearl, isn't it?"

"What if I said you could produce... more accurately, cultivate that pearl?"

I smiled gently at Shia, who was astonished upon learning the contents of the bag.

However, he immediately frowned, slammed the table hard, and shouted angrily.

"Don't mock me! I've heard countless stories of attempts to produce them. But I've never heard of any success stories. Even if it were possible, how would Lord Rid from Baldia, which has no sea territory, know the cultivation methods?"

"Your point is well taken, Lord Shia. Let me rephrase. We haven't actually executed cultivation or established methods. But just between us, we've already deciphered the mechanism by which shellfish produce pearls in Baldia."

"Wh-what!? That's absurd! You've deciphered the mechanism by which shellfish produce pearls? I can hardly believe such a story!"

Shia raised his voice vehemently, but I remained unfazed and changed the subject.

"The pearls circulating on the continent. It's said they come mainly from two types of shellfish: 'Black Magic Butterfly Shells' and 'White Magic Butterfly Shells,' correct?"

Shia's eyebrow twitched slightly.

This is information you could find out if you investigated thoroughly, but conversely, it means you wouldn't know unless you researched meticulously.

Black and White Magic Butterfly Shells also appeared in "Tokirera" as material items.

Using them in the item menu gave a certain probability of obtaining pearls of corresponding colors, which were used as equipment materials.

Even the dwarves Ellen and Alex are eagerly awaiting successful pearl cultivation.

"Pearls... pearl cultivation!? After magic ore stones, charcoal, various magic stones, now even pearls. Ah, thanks to meeting Lord Rid, I also met Capella, I'm truly happy. Fufu, ufufufu."

"Sis, I understand you're happy, but your face is too relaxed."

Ellen, who came to mind, had a smug smile, and Alex, while cautioning her, also had a relaxed expression.

Given that only natural pearls circulate currently, pearls are among the most expensive categories of gems, so I understand their excitement.

"...You seem to have researched well. But mentioning that doesn't constitute proof of having deciphered it."

Shia sharpened his gaze, emitting an intimidating gleam.

But I inwardly smirked, feeling I'd hit the mark.

"Then if I show you proof of having deciphered it, will you agree to the 'full cooperation with all resources' that Lady Vene mentioned? Is that understanding correct?"

"Fine, very well. Lord Rid seems quite confident. If you go that far, show me this 'proof,' and I too will promise full cooperation like Vene."

"Thank you."

Yes, he's taken the bait.

As I bowed slightly while mentally making a victory pose, Vene's surprised voice echoed: "Oh...!?"

"It's rare for the old man to 'promise full cooperation.' He usually prepares an escape route."

"Don't say unnecessary things, Vene. If pearl cultivation is truly possible, anyone would jump at it. Well, that is if it's true."

Saying this, he narrowed his eyes like a benevolent grandfather.

"Lord Rid. I must add that if the pearl matter is judged to be false in any way, it will require considerable effort in future transactions to restore the Rabbit Tribe's trust."

"Yes, that's fine."

When I immediately agreed, Shia frowned "Hmm..." and looked at Chris.

"Lady Chris, Lord Rid says this, but the one actually representing our transactions should be the Christina Trading Company led by you. Are you really alright with such arbitrary agreements?"

"Yes, the Christina Trading Company has a deep cooperative relationship with the Baldia family. Also, I'm a merchant myself. If it were truly a business with no chance of success, I would have advised against it before proposing it here."

"So that means Lady Chris is here having fully understood Lord Rid's thinking."

"Yes, that's correct."

"I see. The connection between the Baldia family and Christina Trading Company seems stronger than the rumors suggest."

Shia shrugged, but his expression showed some understanding.

"Then, Lord Rid. May I see this proof you speak of?"

"Certainly. Then..."

I signaled Capella standing behind me and received a larger bag than before from him.

Then I deliberately tossed it over casually.

"Please look at the contents."

"The contents...?"

Catching the bag I threw with one hand, he suspiciously began taking out the contents.

"What is it, a paired White Magic Butterfly Shell? Seems like a slightly larger specimen, but nothing particularly special... hmm?"

At that moment, he apparently found the pearl rolling in the bottom of the bag, and his eyes widened rapidly.

"Wh-what is this? This size, beautiful roundness, glossy white pearl...!?"

"That is the proof of having deciphered the mechanism - a pearl born in Baldia."

"Wh-what...!? But you just said 'we haven't executed cultivation or established methods'!"

"Yes. We've deciphered the mechanism by which shellfish produce pearls, but we haven't been able to create cultivation methods for White and Black Magic Butterfly Shells at our house. We don't have a sea nearby."

"W-wait. That means if we succeed in cultivating White and Black Magic Butterfly Shells, we could mass-produce these pearls?"

Shia's voice grew heated as he pressed with questions.

I deliberately nodded calmly and matter-of-factly.

"Yes. Exactly so."

"Exactly so, you say? That's hard to believe immediately."

Shia leaned back in his chair looking astonished.

But he soon started.

"No, wait. This is a natural one prepared to make me believe. Haha, I almost fell for it."

"As expected of Lord Shia. I knew this level wouldn't make you believe."

"Of course. I told you to show me solid proof."

"Understood. Then please check this too."

Shia wore a triumphant expression.

I narrowed my eyes, signaled Capella, and received one after another bags similar to the previous one, tossing them to Shia.

"Wh-what is this? One after another..."

"Please examine them until you're satisfied."

"U-until satisfied...?"

Shia tilted his head, but his eyes widened greatly again as he checked the contents.

"Wh-wh-what is this!?"

After confirming the bag's contents, he began lining them up on the table one after another.

"White, pink, black, green, blue, purple, and even the rarely obtained gold color!? Moreover, the size, luster, shape are uniform... these are all top-quality grade!"

"What do you think, Lord Shia? One is a miracle, two is coincidence, three is inevitability, and by the fourth, this should constitute proof of reproducibility."

"That may be so. But, no, however..."

Even faced with reality, Shia still wouldn't nod in agreement.

Perhaps his years of experience as chief have become fixed concepts that are interfering.

Unfortunately, I'll have to use the method that Chris and Emma were tearfully stopping me from using.

"Then let me show you another proof that we've ensured reproducibility. Could you give the white pearl to Capella?"

"U-uh. Alright."

As instructed, Shia gave the white pearl to Capella.

When the pearl reached me, I slowly stood up.

"Then, for proof purposes, please permit me to activate Body Enhancement - Retsuka."

"Ah, ah. That's fine, but..."

"Thank you."

After bowing slightly, I activated Body Enhancement - Retsuka.

Magical waves swept through the room, and the walls and ceiling creaked under the magical pressure.

"Lord Rid, what exactly are you planning to do!?"

"Like this."

I made a fist with the hand holding the pearl and thrust it out so Shia could see clearly.

"N-no way...!? Stop, Lord Rid! Do you know how much value that has...!?"

"It's fine. As long as we have Lady Vene and Lord Shia's cooperation, we can make as many as we want going forward."

Shia tried to stop me with a changed expression, but I stated matter-of-factly and put strength into my fist.

The next moment, a small 'crack' sound came from my hand.

Then, when I opened my hand, the shattered pearl scattered onto the table.

"Noooooooooooo!? You did it, you really did it!? Do you understand how much value that pearl had!?"

"Yes. But this is necessary for proof."

Shia held his head with both arms, eyes wide open, with an expression as if he'd seen the end of the world.

But paying no mind, I signaled Capella and received the next pink pearl, enveloping it in my fist.

Actually, I'd secretly had Capella collect the other pearls from the table too.

"N-no way. When did you collect them?"

He looked around his surroundings startled, but only paired shells remained rolling about.

"By the way, these pearls. They were meant to be given to you if you agree to cooperate. If you want them, please answer quickly."

"Wh-what!? Wa-wait...!?"

As Shia hurriedly reached out to stop me, I mercilessly put strength into my fist.

Again a 'crack' sound came from my fist, and when I opened my hand, shattered pearl fragments scattered on the table.

"N-nooooooo!? With such a wonderful pink pearl, how much wealth do you think could be built!?"

"I understand the value, but we can make as many of these as we want going forward. Frankly, these are just mass-produced prototypes. No matter how many break, no matter how many we break, we can just make more. That's precisely the value of mass production. Now, if you don't stop me quickly, the pearls I was planning to give you will be gone."

Signaling Capella again, I enveloped the received black pearl in my fist.

"Ah, what a waste, what a waste, what a waste! Even if they can be mass-produced in the future, such high-quality pearls don't exist in the market now!"

"Please compose yourself, Lady Chris."

Perhaps not wanting to watch my actions, Chris covered her face with both hands while shaking her head.

Emma was patting her back.

"Haha, amazing. Even I, given my position, couldn't quite imitate what Rid's doing."

"I agree."

Vene's mouth twitched, and Amon smiled wryly while scratching his cheek.

"Sigh, watching large sums of money turn to dust before my eyes is bad for the heart. Lord Shia, if you'd just stop being stubborn and agree to cooperate..."

"That's right. But it seems it'll take a bit more."

Tink sighed with an exasperated expression, while Capella remained expressionless and matter-of-fact.

Witnessing our group's situation, Shia's face contorted and he faltered.

"Th-the values are too different. No, wait, this must be why Lord Rid is called the 'unconventional prodigy' and said to be impervious to common sense."

'Crack' - again a pearl shattered in my hand, fragments dancing on the table.

It's not like I'm doing this out of irritation at being called an unreasonable person or anything.

"Nooooooo!? Th-the black peaaaaarl!?"

"Didn't I tell you? If you want them, please answer quickly. There are four left, but let's make the next one the most valuable 'gold' one."

When I narrowed my eyes and smiled, Shia was speechless and turned pale.