Scholar
Sylua’s first ever birthday party ended up being a fun time once she returned to her senses─well, almost. She was still short-circuiting a bit. The total cost of the party was one millionth of Adelaide’s and Beatrice’s birthday party─not including presents─but she was probably just as happy.
How do I know that? Because that stone-faced Sylua actually showed some emotion! Excitement, joy, and even gratitude.
Mitsuha left the party but Rudina and Sylua kept celebrating; they lived there and didn’t have work the next day. It was important for a boss to give their employees time to relax and have fun on their own.
I didn’t read all those office worker novels for nothing. Or the office lady manga.
Anyway, I have an appointment with someone tomorrow and should hit the hay. I wonder if I should sleep at my Japanese house tonight… Sabine might be waiting to ambush me at the general store, and I know I won’t get any sleep if she’s there. My house is safer.
Giving Sabine a key might’ve been a mistake…
Mitsuha was in a private booth of an upscale café on Earth. Across from her sat an elderly man whom she had invited for tea.
They met up at a different location first─in the capital of the country that she always relied on for aerial reconnaissance─and then jumped to the café that was in another country. This way, she wouldn’t have to worry about hidden listening devices or spies disguised as employees. Jumping to a different country almost certainly shook off anyone who may have been tailing them too.
It’d be terrifying if they did manage to follow us!
The old man was one of the scholars on the reconnaissance flight. He already knew about her world-jumping ability so there was no need to hide it. They were in a country with a different official language from his, which meant none of the employees or customers would be able to understand their conversation─unless one of them happened to be fluent in a language that was being spoken halfway across the world.
“Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me today, sir,” said Mitsuha.
As a person who could jump to any point on Earth instantaneously, she truly was grateful to anyone who set aside time and money to see her. Travel always bore the risk of getting in an accident, and this renowned senior academic had limited time to spare. It meant a lot that he accepted her invitation.
“No, I should be thanking you,” he replied. “An exclusive meeting with Her Royal Highness and Viscountess Nanoha─the older sister of a king from another world, she who set Earth’s academic world ablaze. What an immeasurable honor. How fortunate I am to be here… So let’s waste no time on trivial pleasantries!”
“Trivial,” huh? He’s much older and highly intellectual, but he doesn’t seem very interested in manners and formality. Well, his words were polite. I guess he’s just so passionate about his research that he doesn’t care much for those things. The more time we waste on small talk, the less time he’d have for questions. He wants to get to the meat of our conversation as quickly as possible.
Not that I’m offended. That’s probably just how academics are. And this goes to show that no matter how old a man gets, he’s a boy at heart. I don’t think he has any ill will. He’s not belittling me as if I’m a woman or a child. He seems like just another boy who’s absorbed in pursuing his dreams.
“Very well,” said Mitsuha. “I’ll get right to it. In the interest of saving time and clarity, I’d like to avoid any overly polite speech or beating around the bush. I’d prefer to speak frankly, if that’s okay with you.”
“That’s music to my ears! May I start by asking why you wanted to meet with me?”
“Yes, certainly.”
I know I said we should speak frankly, but I don’t want to be rude. I value respecting elders. That was mostly just a safety measure in case I slip up and say something impudent. I don’t exactly have a ton of experience speaking to famous academics. He probably only ever interacts with subordinates, disciples, and students who are way below him on the totem pole, so I was afraid I might offend him given my appearance, age, and general lack of class.
Well, it’s unlikely any slip of the tongue will send him into a blind rage considering our respective positions, but I don’t want to make him uncomfortable. There’s no going wrong with trying to build a friendly relationship.
Anyway, it’s time we get gabbing!
“Hmm, that’s a hard question…” The scholar furrowed his brow.
Mitsuha had just asked him how much the animals, plants, and minerals she’d been handing out were worth. She wanted to know their financial, academic, and political value.
The man continued, “I can’t even begin to imagine what might be discovered from the samples we currently have. They might wield something as consequential as a new material, drug, or genome. If they were to be put up for auction, bidders would compete to no end until they’re literally priceless. Researchers in the relevant fields wouldn’t hesitate to kill a few dozen people to get their hands on just one piece of a sample.”
“Good lord!” Mitsuha cried out. Oh yeah, I remember Lady Iris telling me something similar about what would happen if I put the pearl necklace up for auction.
“There’s no guarantee the samples will make anyone money immediately, of course, but significant long-term profits are highly likely. Their academic value is enormous, and gaining exclusive rights to any one sample would make that person very powerful indeed.
“Imagine what would happen if someone were to make a groundbreaking discovery. Even if they honor your rule not to monopolize their findings, just being at the forefront of the research will give them a massive lead over everyone else and allow them to get patents and other things that would lead to untold riches.
“Many discoveries have already been made from the dragon samples─the most-studied object out of all your gifts. Do you have any idea how much a specimen sample from another world would be worth if a country had exclusive rights to it, unlike the dragon parts that were shared among various countries?”
Ahh… I might’ve been handing out samples a bit too lavishly. At least I’ve only been offering one per request rather than one per flight.
“As an aside, I recall you only let the air force and navy take pictures in the other world. Meanwhile, you let the crew members of the army helicopter take home valuable animal, plant, mineral, and soil samples, and you even gave them the honor of setting foot there. They received medals for that accomplishment when they got home. Would you mind giving the air force and navy a similar experience so they don’t feel left out?”
Are you serious… I mean, I guess it is unfair for me to treat one better than the other─hey, wait a second!
“Soil samples? I didn’t approve of any─”
“Did you not notice?” he said. “Everyone was purposely falling and getting their feet caught in soft dirt and mud.
“Ah…”
AAAAH! I’ve been had! I checked them for any concealed plant or mineral samples─and made sure to exclude them from the world-jump to Earth─but I didn’t think about the dirt and mud on their clothes! I removed the insects, bacteria, and viruses, but I wasn’t about to give them a full cleaning service…
Argh, I’m so mad!