Chapter 94: A deal

Chapter 94: A deal

"In this life, you are either a king or a pawn."— Napoleon Bonaparte once famously quoted.

The underlying analogy suggests that in various situations and societies, some people wield power and control—the kings.

While others are under their influence and control—the pawns.

It draws attention to the dichotomy between those who hold authority and those who are subject to it.

But personally, I dislike this saying.

No... dislike might not be the right word.

I should say ,"I don't have much faith in this saying."

Kings and pawns? Seriously? The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Are we merely chess pieces? And if so, who is the one playing the game?

Many people enjoy identifying themselves as kings or likening life to a game of chess.

I mean I get it, who wouldn't like to identify themselves as a king?

But, I wholeheartedly reject the notion that life is like a chess game.

It is not only flawed but also a weak concept.

Let's for a moment entertain the idea that this world operates like a chessboard, with its pawns and kings.

But what happens if...let's say an anomaly—an entity that doesn't belong to this chess set or in this case, world, enters the scene?

In my experience, the world and life is something you cannot put an ,'This is it.' to.

And those who believe themselves to be kings of this chess set and views others as nothing more than pawns are weak.

Those who think that other people are merely tools to be utilized...such a flawed thinking process.

I mean I get the ideology behind such a thinking process — 'Being a winner and nothing else'

All people are tools... doing anything to get to your goals.

But such a flawed ideology can only lead towards the path to catastrophic events like World War 3 or The Great Cataclysms.

There are numerous ideologies that I strongly dislike, such as the notion of equality, which is built upon the superficial concept of equity.

Personally I have a different belief: "For those who fail to understand that their actions are harmful, not only to themselves but also towards the society, for such people punishment becomes mercy. Mercy towards them and towards the society "

Therefore, I am inclined to extend mercy to these self-proclaimed kings who believe they have the right to rule the world.

Clearing my throat, I gathered my thoughts and spoke with a newfound determination, "Ahem. Inform him that we will fulfill that part of the deal, and he shall receive appropriate compensation as agreed upon in the original terms. However, add an additional condition: I require a healthy colony of honeybees before proceeding."

["But-"] Nathan began to protest, only for me to swiftly interject, "Let's meet at the workshop. I understand that the formalities are still underway, and the place may not be fully prepared, but let's meet there nonetheless. Bring Alice Bailey with you."

After a brief pause, he finally replied, ["Fine... when?"]

"The day after tomorrow," I declared, swiftly ending the call with a decisive —click!

"Nano, I need you to search for facilities or laboratories that specialize in large-scale insect rearing," I instructed.

"Especially those inclined to take on discreet third-party projects. Also, gather their complete history, documenting any past unethical activities. I must have a contingency plan in place in case they ever attempt to expose my part."

[Affirmative]— Nano responded, its voice devoid of any identifiable gender, emitting a robotic tone that echoed in my head.

"Haaa! "—With a heavy sigh, I sank into the plush chair pulled up near the window of my second-floor room.

From this vantage point, I could gaze upon the serene scenery outside, allowing it to provide a temporary respite for my restless mind.

As I watched the scenery outside my mind revised my scheme.

I have crafted a very simple scheme.

In order to strike a deal with Jailer Rodion Romanovitch, acquiring a steady supply of discreet criminals, I needed to assist him in eliminating his family business's competitors.

The Romanovitch family, rooted in the art of crafting natural, unadulterated honey, held sway over a product of remarkable value. Their honey, sought after for diverse culinary uses, potion-making, and even pharmaceutical endeavors, commanded exorbitant prices.

However, the family's success remained constrained by their status as a local enterprise, hindered by their dependence on Maple Z Company, which controlled half of the honey demand due to their monopoly on maple syrup production.

My plan was simple.

I will eradicate the very foundation of Maple Z Company's operations: the maple trees thriving upon their agricultural land.

To execute this, I would employ the aid of a cunning intruder, an invasive insect species known as Caelifera.

I was planning to acquire these Caeliferas from an insect rearing company with a questionable third-party supply chain history. Leveraging this dark history, I would have a contingency plan in case they ever turned against me.

The other part of my deal involved obtaining specialized honey bees from the Romanovitch family.

Through experimentation, I aim to replicate a cure for a specific type of cancer with the help of Nano – it was a cure already discovered in my world.

Despite the presence of magic in this world , diseases like cancer remained deadly without a known cure.

But I possessed the knowledge and means to provide that cure.

The importance of this plan extended beyond the potential honor of being the first to discover a cure for cancer.

A successful outcome would earn me the trust and favor of the esteemed Great Mage Seraphina Darkthorn.

Seraphina's daughter faced a crippling battle with cancer.

By saving her life, I hoped to secure Seraphina's unwavering support, positioning her as my trusted benefactor.