Published: July 5, 2025
"Big catch, big catch"
The first duke looked pleased.
"Since it’s eighteen, let’s divide them equally into three each."
Ryo said this happily.
However, Captain Mora chuckled and said, "I’m sorry, Ryo-san. We cannot accept them."
"What? Why not?"
"If we take them, it becomes something obtained during the mission, so it must be delivered to the city."
"What did you say?"
Ryo was astonished.
Seeing Ryo's expression, Mora probably thought there was a misunderstanding.
"Since you were the one who fished them out, Ryo-san has the right to own all eighteen."
Omin explained this.
"That won’t do. Hmm..."
Ryo frowned.
It was unthinkable for him to monopolize it alone.
Since they all had obtained it together, they should share it... Ryo thought this way.
Although Ryo often uttered greedy remarks during conversations with Abel, he was actually not greedy at all.
Everyone around Ryo, including Abel, knew this.
Perhaps Ryo himself was the least aware of it...
((Abel, I need to consult with the king, Abel.))
((Ah, I heard you.))
((Then let’s get to the point. Can’t we do something about it?))
((This is a matter of the city or the law of the Western Nations Federation, right? There’s probably nothing we can do.))
Abel declared firmly.
((Can’t you do something about it? You always bend the law with the authority of the king, so you must know a good way.))
((Well, as a king, it’s my job to ensure that both I and my people follow the law. It wouldn’t be right for the king to break the law first.))
((Guuh...))
Abel’s logic crushed Ryo.
((There must be a good way to exploit a loophole in the law.))
((Hey...))
((If that’s impossible... then power talks and the law falls silent. As Cicero, a politician and philosopher, wrote in "On the Republic," if there’s power...))
((If Ryo says it, it won’t sound like a joke, so stop.))
((Hmm... I guess there’s no choice. I’ll think of a way to resolve this peacefully.))
Thus, by King Abel’s decision, the duke Rondo’s use of force was halted.
((By the way, in cases like this... for example, according to the laws of the Naitorei Kingdom, how will these magic stones be handled?))
((According to the law of the kingdom, it can be decided based on discussions among the six people, including Ryo.))
((Hohoh. I understand that, but what about them... even if it was obtained while engaged in national duties?))
((That’s right. Of course, there are times when requests come from the adventurers' guild, but there are exceptions where the ownership of the obtained items is determined beforehand.))
((I see, I see. It’s quite flexible, or rather, it’s great that the person who actually obtained the item can decide before the powers intervene.))
Ryo nodded.
((I think there’s a basic principle that considers the adventurers. I realized it after becoming an adventurer, but there’s considerable recognition of rights for those who actually obtain things.))
The Naitorei Kingdom is a nation of adventurers.
There are indeed those, like King Richard and Abel, who have become kings from being adventurers.
((I’m glad to be a citizen of the kingdom.))
Ryo nodded slightly.
((Sure, Ryo is a citizen of the kingdom, but this is the Western Nations Federation, so the laws of the federation will apply, right?))
((I understand that much. It would be troubling if you underestimate me, the lawyer Ryo.))
((What’s that supposed to mean?))
Abel was exasperated by Ryo’s usual nonsensical title.
As Ryo and his group headed towards the pointed mountain, the group from the Naitorei Kingdom centered around King Abel and the group from the Fundebie Kingdom centered around Pope Graham were also heading towards the mountain.
On the night of the second day after teleportation.
When Abel and Graham were in discussion, Cardinal Stefania came in with a report.
"Oh, so this place has been determined."
"Yes. We figured it out from the position of the stars, but as expected..."
"Two hundred kilometers southeast from Augé City. In other words, the central part of the dark continent."