This is a story from when Liam was subjected to economic sanctions.
At the Seventh Weapons Factory, which Liam favored, the Empire had placed various demands on their transactions.
If you receive an order from the Banfield family, raise the taxes.
Do not buy rare metals from the Banfield family.
Postpone orders from the Banfield family—in short, detailed instructions had arrived.
In response to this, Nias wore a cold expression.
"Our only major client is Count Banfield's family! We don't get enough orders to postpone them anyway."
The Seventh Weapons Factory, which manufactures weapons with performance pushed to the extreme, is not popular within the Empire.
It was precisely because they were the developers of Avid, Liam's mobile knight, that Liam had done business with them until now.
If they were to say, "The Empire told us to, so we're giving you the cold shoulder now!" the economic loss to the Seventh Weapons Factory would be immeasurable.
"Besides, they don't even send any rare metals our way! If they had money, they'd just order from the popular weapons factories in a heartbeat!"
It was infuriating beyond belief.
Seeing Nias like this, her junior colleague asked about what they should do.
"What should we do? We're supposed to deliver three fortress-class ships to the Banfield family by the end of the year."
For the Seventh Weapons Factory, Liam, who paid without hesitation and made continuous purchases, was their number one customer.
They couldn't cut ties with him now.
If they did, the Seventh Weapons Factory would be finished.
"—We have no reason to be ordered around for orders placed before the directive came."
"But we just received an order today to prepare a thousand ships."
These were the vessels to be prepared for Cedric.
"—If you're sending them to the military, why not just put them under the military's name?"
"Is that okay?"
"It's not okay. It's not, but if we cut off the Count, we're done for!"
There was a reason Nias was so insistent on Liam.
It was because of the next-generation ship that Nias was developing.
When she tried to build a prototype ship indulging her every whim, the amount of rare metals required turned out to be an astronomical figure.
In the Empire, only Liam could provide that many rare metals.
Many nobles possessed rare metals, but only Liam would provide such a quantity for a hobby project.
Personally, too, she absolutely could not cut ties with Liam.
"Senior—you're going too far just to complete your own battleship."
"I'm betting my life on this child! I will absolutely see this project through to completion!"
The battleship Nias was developing was a culmination of the Seventh Weapons Factory's finest technology.
She was determined to complete it.
"Are you really sure about this?"
"I know it's bad, but there's nothing we can do. Besides, the situation will just change on a whim soon enough anyway. If you take it seriously every time, you'll just end up looking like a fool."
In this vast Empire, such things were not uncommon.
Even the Berkley family, which held immense power, was easily destroyed by Liam.
Situations could change easily.
Just then, a call came in for Nias from Liam.
"Ah, Lord Liam~"
Answering the call with a wheedling voice, Nias began to make a request to Liam.
"Nias wants some rare metals~"
Seeing her senior act like this, the junior colleague had a distant look in her eyes.
Liam on the other side of the screen was also exasperated.
"I just sent you some the other day."
"I want more! I want to try out a new technology!"
"You're always—well, fine. I'll send you more. More importantly, how is the construction of the fortress-class ships coming along?"
"As for that, they're already about sixty percent complete. Building three ships at the same time... we're really short on manpower."
"We're short-staffed over here, too. A slight delay might actually be for the best."
Liam then asked Nias about Avid.
"More importantly, how is Avid doing?"
The Machine Heart—he had requested a detailed inspection of Avid, which was equipped with it, from the Seventh Weapons Factory.
Nias's expression turned serious.
"There are no problems, but my personal evaluation is that it's truly fascinating."
"Fascinating?"
"I believe it can be handled without issue as a mobile knight, but the Machine Heart is gradually encroaching upon Avid. No, it's more like it's spreading its nerves throughout. It's slowly fusing, trying to become one completely."
"Is that okay?"
"No problem at all. In fact, its performance is improving. It will likely continue to improve, so please think of it as a machine that grows."
"That's true romance."
"Ah, you get it? Yes, it's romance!"
The two of them got excited talking about Avid, and the conversation concluded with her receiving the additional rare metals.
When the call ended, her junior asked Nias.
"Is it okay? To buy rare metals from the Count?"
"Oh? You're mistaken. This time, I'm receiving the rare metals. In other words, they're free!"
"—But you did inspect Avid in exchange, didn't you? Still, the Count really finds some incredible things. A Machine Heart is the stuff of legends."
"I know, right? I wish he'd told me before he used it. The Machine Heart—I wanted to see it. And examine it. And while I was at it, I wanted to take it apart."
Her junior—agreed with Nias.
She was a kindred spirit.
"Right?!"
Brian (´；ω；｀)ノシ "This brings Chapter Five to a close. To everyone, thank you for joining me for this chapter. The release of Chapter Six is still undecided, but until we meet again."
Sapling-chan ( ゜∀゜) "It's not over yet! My time in the spotlight isn't finished! If you enjoyed it, please leave your impressions and comments! Don't forget to rate it, too! Everyone, let's promote Sapling-chan's great deeds more and—"
(´；ω；｀)r鹵~＜≪巛;゜Д゜)ノ WGYAAAH!