Next, Ella gave them a detailed account of the Sea Demons’ scheme regarding the Pearl Oyster.
First, they fabricated a lie about “Sacrificial Material” and handed over the exclusive processing rights to the Workshop Owner alone.
Judging by the situation of the Lalai Family, who serve as Governors, the Workshop Owner was probably running a “family business” as well.
After that, the Sea Demons provided fish catches to the humans in Harbor City, accepting only processed Pearl Oysters in exchange, thereby establishing a “Fish-Standard Currency System” based on Pearl Oysters.
As time went by, generation after generation of Harbor City’s residents inherited this system, and now, the young people had no idea what a Kingdom Gold Coin was—they only knew that Pearl Oysters were the hard currency here.
The older generation went with the flow, the snowy white Pearl Oysters replacing the golden glow in their memories.
With that, the preparations for the Ritual were complete.
“Dagon, that is, the Workshop Owner, must have tampered with the Pearl Oysters during processing, connecting them to the God of the Sea Demon Clan. That’s why people’s longing for money turns into a longing for the God’s blessing.”
Ella concluded.
Thankfully, Pearl Oysters served as an intermediary; with a middleman earning a cut, people’s desire for money wouldn’t be transformed one hundred percent into desire for Him.
Otherwise, the girls would have had to face the deity directly on their very first day.
Now, everyone more or less understood.
“If that’s the case, what should we do?”
Leah asked anxiously.
“Is it really too late for everything?”
To use such despicable means—truly the work of an Evil God, nothing like the Goddess of Light. But the Goddess can’t come down here!
She’s too upright, never attempts to invade the lower realms.
Celes was anxious too, but seeing the faint smile on Ella’s face, she relaxed a little inside.
“You have a way, don’t you?”
“Mhm~ Of course I do. That guy Kru said he’s been preparing for decades, and that we couldn’t possibly ruin it in just a few days—well, that’s just not true.”
Her slender fingers continued tapping the tabletop as Ella gave a soft laugh.
“Take this table, for example. From handcrafting each part, sanding off the burrs, painting, drying, and perfuming—it might take forty-nine days. But how long would it take to destroy it?”
Shhrrip—!
A flash of cold light, and Celes sheathed her sword: “Less than a second.”
Zero, standing to the side, silently put away the Silent Watcher.
She’d wanted to do it too, but was a step too late.
Looking at the large round table now split in two, Ella wiped the fragrant sweat from her brow, thinking, I didn’t actually mean for you to really chop it…
“It’s not quite that fast, but close enough. Still, we have to act now.”
She stood up and began giving orders.
“We’re short on people. You go get the Guards from the Governor’s Mansion to help, I’ll head to the Workshop again. Bring them over to find me.”
Once she’d spoken, she acted—decisive and swift. Leah gave her a strange look.
What’s going on?
She’s not even acting lazy today—so full of energy?
She was full of energy.
After letting the cost of inaction pile up to this point, Ella was determined—what she’d planned, she must achieve.
Harbor City must be hers—not even a god could take it!
The girls sprang into action.
Ella arranged for Leah to come with her to the Workshop, while the others went to find the Guards.
Zero wanted to go with her, but before she could speak up, Ella had already made arrangements and grabbed the golden-haired girl to dash away.
This scene caught the Assassin Girl’s eye, her feelings stirring.
Their relationship is really good. Ever since they’d lived at the church, they’d grown so close—just how close, she didn’t know.
But no matter how close, surely not as close as I was with her last night…
“Zero, let’s go. Or do you have something else to do?”
Celes called.
“I’m coming, I’ll go with you.”
On the way to the Workshop, Leah finally couldn’t hold back: “Why are you so motivated today?” “It’s urgent—tens of thousands of lives are at stake in the city.” Ella replied righteously. “How could I joke around?” “So you admit you usually slack off, huh?”
“No way, of course not. Hey, look, the door’s open.”
It turned out Ami had seen them from upstairs in the Workshop and opened the door early to welcome them.
Ella reached out her hand.
“Here, I promised to bring you some money today.”
“Thank you, big sister!”
Ami exclaimed in surprise, opening his hand to see, a hint of amazement on his face.
“What’s this?”
“Kingdom Gold Coin. Genuine. You can use it anywhere in the Human Kingdom.”
For Ami, who lived in Harbor City where the official currency had long since “vanished,” he was very curious.
He weighed it carefully in his hand, held it up to the sun to check its shine, though he didn’t really understand.
“I need a favor today,” Ella found a chair and sat down.
“Do you have any drums or similar instruments here?”
“There are some in the storeroom.”
“Good. Listen to my instructions. In a bit, do this, then this and that…”
After a while, Celes and the others arrived with reinforcements.
The Governor’s Mansion had over forty Guards in total; twenty came this time.
When they heard it was for the pink-haired, thunderous beauty, their enthusiasm soared.
Trust!
Even if what they were asked to do seemed strange.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Ella put her hands together, her voice sweet and soft.
“You’ll all be rewarded after, with Kingdom Gold Coins!”
As nominal soldiers of the Kingdom, they were different from ordinary residents—they understood the value of gold coins and could accept them more easily.
As for where the coins came from—some the girls had brought with them, the rest were taken from the Governor’s Mansion.
“No problem, Miss. When do we move?”
“Right now.”
Today wasn’t supposed to be anything special.
The sun shone as usual, the sea breeze blew as usual, and the fish Market was open as usual.
But nearing noon, people inside and outside the Market heard the beating of drums and gongs.
Looking up, they saw a group marching in step, shouting through brass trumpets:
“Dagon, Workshop Owner and sole master craftsman of Harbor City, passed away the day before yesterday. The Royal Envoy from the Royal City deeply appreciates his contributions to Harbor City. This afternoon, a memorial will be held for him on Market Street, and there will be an important announcement. Everyone who comes can receive a commemorative gift—one for every person!”
This unusual group sparked a flurry of discussion in the Market.
“Judging by their uniforms, they must be from the Governor’s Mansion.”
“Should be. I’ve seen them from afar before.”
“Officials? They rarely come here. Must be something important.”
“The Workshop Owner—wasn’t there a rumor yesterday? Something happened there, a big fight, they said.”
“Who cares, as long as there’s a gift, let’s go see.”
“Such a big event, we have to check it out.”
The Guards’ publicity team shouted all the way from the north end of the Market to the south, covering almost all of Harbor City’s busiest spots.
The place was packed.
In the afternoon, a huge crowd poured in.
Market Street, the broadest road in the area, was surrounded.
They saw a tall stage set up there, and a pink-haired girl standing atop it, drawing every gaze.
She was tall, she was beautiful, and she was—very tall.