“Now, then, Volfred.” When he called out his full first name, Guido’s tone was affectionate—terribly so, and it sent a chill down Volf’s spine. “I am so happy that you have done as you promised and come to speak with me, and for that, I thank you. This would have become quite the nuisance had it gotten around to everyone’s ears. However, as long as you plan to be with Madam Rossetti, you must hold a higher ken.”
“‘A higher ken’? Forgive me, brother, I don’t think I understand.”
“If such good feed for sleipnirs were to be mass-produced, what do you think would happen?”
“It would enable the Order to travel during our expeditions and respond to emergencies much quicker. I believe it would also be very effective for transporting the injured back to the capital and managing supply lines too.”
“Yes, it certainly would. It would be very desirable not only for the Beast Hunters but also the other orders and people involved in transportation. However, there are not as many sleipnirs as there are regular horses. Well, even if more were caught or imported from Ehrlichia, they would still ordinarily eat pasture, hay, or other fodder. What do you think could arise from this?”
“Erm, perhaps sleipnirs would be captured in excessive numbers, there could be a potential for scrambles, or negatively affecting the breeding regimens and feed production for current horses?”
“Indeed. Well, the kingdom has a hand in the management of raising sleipnirs, so they would likely subsidize ranchers to acquire more of them and switch feed production to raising slimes. What, then, do you think would happen afterward, Ivano?”
Volf looked to his side—Ivano was pale in the face. “It would lead to military use.”
“Precisely. Those who make decisions in the kingdom would undoubtedly consider it. Terrifyingly fast horses that need not eat nor rest? Riders who can go wherever they please as long as the horses have a path? What could be better for ambushes and assaults? With just twenty sleipnirs, a squadron of advanced mages could storm and take any stronghold along the border. Then Ehrlichia would send out dragoons.”
Guido spoke with such detachment that it seemed no more than a hypothetical, but the threats were real. Then again, the advanced mages, mystic knights, and magic crystals of Ehrlichia were no less dangerous.
“Like with magic crystals, would it work if we get the kingdom to establish regulations, keep the manufacturing processes a secret, and set a maximum on the amount that can be sold? That way, it should not become a problem for our neighbors.”
“You have to understand that other nations will analyze the product. Besides, do you know how they use our crystals?”
“Do they use them differently elsewhere?”
“They in fact do. Fire crystals are used in war to set things and people ablaze, freezing rings are used for assassinations by freezing the inside of a target’s mouth, barrels with crystals of various elements can be thrown as bombs—the list goes on. There has even been a case in Išrana in which someone used fire and wind crystals to explode their emperor’s horned camel and themselves along with it, you know?” Magic crystals and magical tools were so commonplace in Ordine that Volf had never imagined they could be used that way; he gulped. “The Kingdom of Ordine is referred to as the crystal kingdom and Ehrlichia as the land of herders. There, they use magical lanterns on night patrols and waterproof cloth on the roofs for livestock. Those in the countryside who raise cattle, horses, sheep, and the like aspire to have all three—waterproof cloth tents, magical lanterns, and compact magical stoves. ‘Rossetti-mades’ are quite desirable too.”
As Volf thought how those words would please Dahlia, Ivano bowed. “I apologize for my indiscretion, Lord Guido.”
“No, no. Exporting wares and expanding one’s company is your duty as a merchant; it’s just that it happened much sooner than I had expected.”
Volf didn’t understand why an apology was warranted. But he did understand that if he’d been left out of this conversation, it was nothing good.
Guido saw through Volf and began again in a soft voice. “Allow me to explain, Volf. There are fewer advanced mages or mystic knights in Ehrlichia than in Ordine. They do, however, have many, many more sleipnirs. Once the Ehrlichians, who place such great importance on animals and monsters, find out about this slime-based feed, think of what they would do to learn how to make it for themselves—or even what they would do to acquire its inventor?”
“That won’t do!”
Volf hadn’t even considered the effects the product would have on international relations or equine husbandry. “Brother, I—I don’t wish to expose Dahlia to danger. Would it be best to set this matter aside?” Yes, he wanted it for the Beast Hunters, but absolutely not at the expense of her safety.
“I shall not ask you to give up on this project. If it can be produced once, it can be produced again; it would also be good to have something like this as emergency feed. Hmm, let’s see... How about keeping a limited supply for when emergencies arise, like dispatching orders or transporting the injured? It could be framed as something along the lines of a special sleipnir potion. There might also not be much of a choice but to feign that this was an experimental accident in order to delay its spread and adoption. It might also be wise to begin with reducing its efficacy as well.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“It would put us in a precarious situation if our Weapons Development Team were the sole party, so I shall speak to Lord Bernigi, as he is from a different faction, and see if we can come up with a way to disguise the product’s laboratory and development. We shall also need to bring in an alchemist skilled with medicinal herbs. And of course, the profits will be privileged to the Rossetti Trading Company, though, as whatever front we devise will receive all the credit, the company shall also be remunerated by coin or otherwise. Does that sound fair, Ivano?”
“Certainly, Lord Guido. Thank you very much, and we shall entrust this matter—”
“Would that keep Dahlia safe, Guido?”