Chapter 67.2

Inside, she saw workers shivering as they toiled late into the night.

‘So they earn 35 coopers for all that?’

Carpe didn’t feel much as she watched them.

‘The world’s gotten so much better. Beggars and vagrants can earn a steady wage during the dead of winter.’

In truth, Carpe found it hard to complain about the Bishop Company’s factory system.

Where else could you find a place that took in people who would have otherwise died on the streets, fed them, gave them shelter, and even paid them?

Having experienced the brutal winters of the North as a child and crossed countless battlefields as an adult, she saw the very act of working in this “safe” factory as a luxury.

What she had seen at Arad Company in the High Tower, however, felt far more strange to her.

***

Arcadia was a world where crimes like counterfeiting gold and silver coins were surprisingly rare.

This was because the technology to measure the purity of gold and silver was more widespread and advanced than one might expect.

All it took to create a “currency tester” was to embed four small, low-grade magic stones with different attributes into an iron plate.

You’d simply place a gold coin or a silver coin on the plate.

If the coin was real, it would emit a distinct glow: a gold glow for gold coins, a silver glow for silver coins, and a dark brown glow for copper coins.

Even during the Dark Ages — Arcadia’s version of the Great Cultural Revolution — and the Age of Savagery — a period akin to the Mongol invasions and vandalism of Earth — this magic-based technology survived.

Capitalism had endured even the madness and destruction of zealotry and barbarism.

“Well, it helps that the production method is so simple and foolproof,” I muttered, placing a gold coin and a silver coin on the tester.

Shiiing! Shine! Shine!

A bright golden glow for the gold coin, a silver glow for the silver coin.

“Seriously, fantasy worlds are a cheat. Just throw in the concept of ‘mana,’ and suddenly, everything has a reasonable explanation. How convenient,” I said sarcastically as I continued checking the coins.

The process would continue until the magic stones embedded in the tester were worn out and needed to be replaced.

“President? Why are you suddenly testing coins?”

It was Mary, who had been quietly watching me for a while.

By the way, Director Te had already left early to go on a date with the woman he’d been seeing recently.

“Why am I doing this all of a sudden, you ask?”

“Yes, sir.”

“The Empire’s been too quiet lately.”

“…What?”

“Don’t you think we’ve been making too much money recently? Not just us, but even Bishop Company.”

I glanced at the new batch of gold and silver coins that had come in from the Empire and the Bishop Company.

“And yet, it’s been strangely quiet.”

“!!”

Hearing this, Mary’s face grew serious.

“That’s why I wondered if the Empire might have sent us a load of counterfeit currency. If I were Crown Prince Canbraman, I’d probably do something like that.”

“Hah, that does sound like something the Empire would do.”

Mary nodded with a look of deep understanding.

“So, what are the results?”

“Surprisingly, every single coin is genuine. Same goes for the coppers.”

“Should we be relieved or not?”

“Relieved, I guess. After all, if counterfeit coins flooded the North, it wouldn’t just be us who’d suffer — the Empire would take a hit too.”

“Plus, the Bishop Trading Company would never stay silent if they found out.”

“Right, that’s true.”

“Still, it’s odd, just like you said, President. The Empire isn’t the type to sit back and watch the North succeed without making a move.”

“Exactly. The fact that it’s so quiet is what makes it scary.”

“I agree.”

“For now, let’s keep a close watch. Worrying about something that hasn’t even happened yet is pointless.”

“Yes, sir. Let’s put our faith in Renslet’s knights and the Frost Knights.”

“Yeah, we should.”

I nodded and glanced at the large map hanging on the wall of my office.

The map depicted the entire continent of Arcadia, with a special focus on the North and the Empire.

‘Entir is doing a better job than I expected.’

My eyes lingered on the central-northern region of the Empire.

That’s where we’d planted the seed.

‘To think they copied our factory system so quickly. I’m impressed.’

I already knew exactly what Entir had done upon returning to the Empire.

‘It’s straight out of early Industrial Revolution Europe.’

The Bishop factory system was essentially a version of Arad Company’s factory system, but with all the welfare policies stripped away.

It was practically the perfect breeding ground for the Red Plague.

The thought made me grin.

‘Once I finish writing the Magic Engineering Handbook, I should also write a book introducing the red-flavored ideas of Earth. That’ll be fun.’

Just imagining the Red Plague spreading throughout the Empire gave me a thrill.

Unlike the North, the Empire had a much larger population of literate citizens.

That meant it would burn brighter, faster, and harder.

‘This is what they call soft power.’

It didn’t matter if it was republicanism or communism.

If something rose up and started harassing the Empire from within, it would be the best form of containment.

To me, Entir Bishop was the very definition of a Hidden Piece.

“Ah, right. Mary.”

While staring at the map, a thought popped into my head.

“The portrait session is scheduled for two days from now.”

“…I know, sir.”

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry too much. I had a very pleasant talk with Her Highness the Grand Duchess. Everything’s settled.”

“Thank you.”

“?”

She didn’t seem as happy as I’d expected, but I decided not to press the matter.

She was probably just exhausted from balancing her duties at the Academy and the company.

“Still, it took a while. We originally talked about doing the portrait last summer, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, I thought we’d just do it separately…”

“What was that?”

“Ah, nothing, sir. I’m looking forward to it, haha…”

“Yeah, me too.”

The plan to have our portraits painted had been delayed again and again.

It was only now, well into the next summer, that it was finally happening.

‘Everyone’s been so busy.’

Even I had nearly forgotten about it.

If Arina hadn’t summoned me for it, I might have let it slip my mind entirely.

‘This is the perfect chance to flex my MAX-level Painting skill.’

Feeling a wave of excitement, I started making plans in my head.

‘With my MAX-level Alchemy skill, I’ll develop oil paints that don’t exist in this world. Then I’ll paint a masterpiece with them. Everyone will be blown away!’

Just thinking about creating something from scratch made my hands tingle with anticipation.

‘I’m itching to get started. I should practice a bit before I head to the High Tower. I also need to develop oil paints.’

Even if it was just a “side skill,” my MAX-level Art and Crafting skills weren’t for show.

I hadn’t used them much lately due to managing the company.

‘Once the camera is invented, there won’t be much point in painting like this anymore, so I’d better enjoy it while I can.’

Sure, I could just make a magic engineering-based camera, but that would ruin the romance.

‘A portrait painted by the North’s genius, Arad Jin — now that’s romance.’

Besides, the artistic impact of a painting was far greater than that of a photo.

‘Even if I eventually leave this world, the portraits I poured my heart and soul into will remain here for centuries. Just like Mona Lisa back on Earth.’

Cooking, inventing, running a company — as if all that wasn’t enough, now I was about to achieve something in art too.

If you think about it, there was a figure like this on Earth too.

Leonardo da Vinci.

‘I wonder if people in this world will one day view me as a “mysterious figure of legend.” I bet I’ll be a staple topic on this world’s version of Unsolved Mysteries.’

This, too, was a form of legacy-building.