The three purveying merchants were gathered at the luxury hotel where Liam was staying.

Thomas of the Henfrey Company, who had the longest association with Liam.

Elliot of the Klave Company, who did business on the Capital Planet.

Patrice of the Newlands Company, who conducted extensive business throughout the Empire.

All three were quite anxious.

"I-Is everything going to be alright? The Banfield family's main product is rare metals. If we can't trade them, it'll be a huge blow."

As Thomas looked uneasy, Patrice replied, though irritated.

"It's a huge blow for us, too. I have no standing within the Newlands Company. There are even executives saying they should cut me loose right now."

Elliot appeared calm, but he seemed to be panicking on the inside.

"It's the same for us. The executives are discussing a change in leadership. Still, to make an enemy of Prince Linus... what on earth is he thinking?"

The three were being tossed about by Liam's incomprehensible actions.

However, Thomas had experienced many things up to this point and was used to trouble involving Liam.

"About that, Lord Liam may say many things, but he is a man of integrity. There's also the matter of Lady Rosetta, so it's possible that's the case this time as well."

Patrice scoffed.

"We can't have him crushed over such a minor sense of duty and compassion. It would be proof that my judgment was flawed."

The enemy wasn't a noble house like the Berkley family, but a prince vying for the imperial throne.

Things wouldn't go as they had before.

Moreover, the nobles of Linus's faction had also become enemies.

Liam couldn't handle it alone.

Elliot's gaze was cold as well.

"We need to think about this seriously."

While the other two were considering abandoning Liam, Thomas was a little different.

"—I believe that Lord Liam might have some plan for this matter."

"What kind of plan?"

When Elliot asked, Thomas struggled for an answer.

But he had a feeling that Liam was plotting something.

"I don't know what, but something big—"

Liam strode unceremoniously into the room where the three were waiting.

"Glad you could all make it!"

Seeing the smiling Liam, Patrice and Elliot also plastered on smiles.

"You seem to be in quite a good mood for this situation, Lord Liam."

"One wouldn't think you were in conflict with His Highness Linus."

Liam was completely unfazed by their thorny words.

"The Second Prince? I couldn't care less about him."

He wasn't even on Liam's radar to begin with.

As Liam sat on the sofa, Thomas took over for the two tense merchants and asked a question.

"Lord Liam, what do you intend to do about this incident? I hear economic sanctions have been placed on your territory?"

"Economic sanctions? Oh, that. It's the result of the Second Prince picking a fight after I said I would fully support the Third Prince."

Hearing that, a chill ran down the spines of the three merchants.

Liam was smiling.

"I'm going to make Prince Cleo the emperor. You all will lend me a hand."

Thomas felt dizzy.

What on earth was this man saying? For a mere count to decide the emperor was more than just audacious; it was disrespectful.

"B-But is that really possible? To begin with, Lord Liam, your income has been hit by the economic sanctions—"

"I have a few ideas about that. The Empire isn't our only trading partner. This world is vast—there are plenty of others to trade with, right?"

Thomas's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

"D-Does that mean you intend to sell the Empire's designated rare metals to other countries? Th-That would be a serious crime, no matter how you slice it!"

Some nobles did sell rare metals to other countries, but the quantities were not very large.

They were only doing it secretly, on a small scale.

However, the amount of rare metals handled in Liam's territory was enormous.

If that much were moved, the Empire would notice immediately.

"It's Prince Linus's fault for picking a fight with me. Well, I don't intend to become a criminal. We'll just deal in metals and goods that aren't designated. Thomas, Patrice, you've both traded with foreign countries before, haven't you?"

Before becoming Liam's purveying merchant, Thomas had done business in various countries.

So he had connections.

"Y-Yes. However, even if you say trade, establishing regular deals would be a bit problematic."

Patrice felt the same.

"I can't say we have strong pipelines either. Just finding a trading partner would be difficult."

Was there a foreign country—and one that would want to trade with the Empire at that?

Even if one existed, could they trade openly?

They were at war with neighboring countries, and it could easily be seen as aiding the enemy.

The military wouldn't stay silent either.

In contrast to the two worried merchants, it was Elliot who was smiling.

"—There are, Lord Liam."

"What's this? It seems Elliot is more motivated."

Liam turned his body toward Elliot, urging him to continue.

Elliot began to speak of what he had heard on the Capital Planet.

"This is a rumor among the court nobles on the Capital Planet, but I believe it to be highly credible. It seems the countries surrounding the Empire are experiencing internal problems."

"Continue."

It seemed Liam was interested as well.

"They are scrambling to gather materials and various other things for war. They're even seeking cooperation from the Empire, their enemy."

They were in a situation where they couldn't afford to be picky.

The Empire's high command was also aware of this.

One of the reasons Calvin and Linus were escalating their factional disputes was that the enemy was unable to make any large-scale moves.

They were using the fact that the surrounding nations were immobilized to fight over the succession.

"What about the Imperial Army's movements?"

"They are neither cooperating nor attacking. After all, they don't know the full details of what's happening. But it's a fact that something is going on."

Thomas thought upon hearing Elliot's story.

(This is it. There are times when it seems heaven itself is on Lord Liam's side. In this desperate pinch, for the Empire's neighboring countries to be in turmoil—is this not truly a gift from the heavens?)

If this were a normal situation, Liam might have been checkmated.

It was as if some great power was trying to make Liam win.

"The three of you, support the neighboring countries so you can make a profit. I'll provide the goods."

When Liam said that, Patrice, having finished her mental calculations, was smiling.

Convinced she could make a profit, she seemed to be enjoying the situation.

"I will prepare a list later. Before that, please lend us your strength, Lord Liam."

"My strength?"

"We need an escort. A few hundred ships will do."

Elliot looked a little disappointed.

"My company has no connections abroad. I'll help prepare the goods, but—yes. I'd like to increase my personal guard. The executives are making such a fuss."

Liam nodded and immediately gave orders to prepare the escorts.

"Thomas, you'll need an escort too, won't you?"

"I-If I could trouble you."

"Of course. It would be a problem for me if you died, wouldn't it?"

Liam immediately left the room to have a detailed meeting with the military, but the three who remained began to talk business.

Elliot immediately began to confirm the necessary supplies.

"If rare metals are out, then it will have to be other goods. If we prepare them in large quantities, Prince Linus will eventually find out. We'll need a dummy."

"It's not a dummy, but some of our clients are nobles who want supplies. If we sell to them, we'll have an excuse. Also, I'd like you to leave the choice of trading partners to me."

"To you? Is there someone you're on close terms with?"

"Master Thomas and I will be the ones on the ground. We should at least be allowed to decide our trading partners, shouldn't we?"

"Shouldn't you rephrase that as 'the ones who will bring the most profit'?"

Unlike before, the two were now full of life.

Thomas managed to join the conversation.

"I'll try talking to a partner I've dealt with before. In any case, the area around the Empire has suddenly become very turbulent."

It was almost eerie.

Civil wars were not uncommon, but it was rare for large-scale civil wars to occur simultaneously.

An idea struck Patrice.

"That's it! The Imperial Army! There are fleets in the Imperial Army who are tired of the long-running conflict. If we use this opportunity to secretly broker a ceasefire, we can earn a favor from the Imperial Army!"

The Imperial Army could also take a break.

Not all of them were eager to fight, and the truth was that the military wanted to catch its breath.

Elliot had a few acquaintances in mind.

"I'll talk to some of my contacts. But will the pro-war faction stay quiet?"

"We'll just tell them to watch as the enemy weakens. If we call it a break before a major offensive, they'll wait and see."

They didn't know what was really happening.

But the instincts of the three told them there was a chance.

And at the same time, the three of them had no way back.

If Liam were to lose as things stood, their own positions and lives would be in danger.

They had to overcome this crisis no matter what.

And they could also see hope.

All that was left was to seize victory.

Thomas threw a word of caution to the two joyous merchants.

"Don't act too flamboyantly and incur Lord Liam's wrath. For all his talk, Lord Liam is sensitive to matters of duty and compassion. If he finds out you've dealt with someone who lacks a just cause, who knows what will happen."

Patrice hastily tried to smooth things over.

"O-Of course. We'll investigate that properly before making any deals."

Elliot was of the same mind.

"We mustn't just look at profit and choose the wrong partners. However, wouldn't he approve of us choosing a partner who is convenient for the Empire? Lord Liam also values practical benefits, after all."

He had told them to make a profit for themselves.

He understood very well what motivated merchants.

The fact that he didn't tell merchants to do business based on duty and compassion showed that he understood.

"That may be so, but—looking at his actions so far, it's wiser not to choose the wrong kind of partner. Once he gets angry and judges someone an enemy, he's the type to destroy them, just like the Berkley family."

The two decided to respect the opinion of Thomas, who had known Liam the longest.

"Fine. Let's support those with a justifiable cause. In any case, it's convenient for us if they fight. We can sell our name and favors that way."

Elliot nodded at Patrice's opinion.

"I will support whomever you two decide to back. So please, choose carefully."

In other words, he was telling them that their responsibility was great.

Then Elliot smiled.

"We're lucky. Incredibly lucky. This is very important. At this crucial moment, luck is on Lord Liam's side. The matter of the Third Prince is still unsettling, but this is not a bad start."

For the three of them, it was crucial that Liam remained in good standing.

Patrice shared the same opinion.

"Even if we fail, this is a chance to open branches in foreign countries. I'll gladly participate."

And if they could also form connections with other countries, it would be incredibly lucrative.

On top of that, if they could make Cleo, a figure no one had touched until now, win, the rewards would be enormous.

Both Patrice and Elliot were becoming interested in that gamble.

Young Tree-chan ( ゜д゜): "—That was long! It's complicated, so summarize it in three lines."

Brian (・ω・｀ ): "(What is this weird plant?) Thanks to a certain someone, foreign countries are in chaos, so this is a story about using that to make a profit. In three lines—
The economic sanctions are insane.
Foreign countries are in chaos, so we can make a profit!
The Guide is totally awesome—he is."

Young Tree-chan ( ゜∀゜): "I guess this is a 'Good Job, Mr. Guide!' moment, isn't it!"