First Encounter
I spotted a girl in the plaza holding a staff taller than herself.
She approached with a rather serious expression and spoke to me.
Are you the Captain in charge of my [Journey]?
And if I am?
Then I've come to the right place.
Allow me to introduce myself.
I am the great Duchy of Monastir's rightful—
Rightful?
...
Quartermaster Frey, of the Monastir Knights.
...Does a quartermaster even need to be rightful?
Anyway! If I say I do, then I do!
Don't go nitpicking everything I say.
Let's skip the boring chatter and get to the real reason I'm here.
Just to check...
Would you be interested in making some money?
Money? Can't say I really need it...
What a hopeless thing to say!
You can never have too much money! The more, the better!
No one on this planet hates money! It's humanity's greatest invention!
Without it, you'd still be bartering with seashells!
Okay, okay, calm down.
...Whew. Got a little carried away there.
Just one more question.
Do you invest?
Don't tell me you just let your salary sit in the bank.
That's exactly what I do...
*Sigh*
How tragic.
Letting perfectly good money sit idle is practically a crime.
But don't worry.
You're looking at the best financial mind in the Duchy of Monastir, no, in all of Lavistar!
I've come up with the perfect investment opportunity just for you.
Perfect investment opportunity?
Have you ever heard of securities?
Securities?
Hmm. To put it simply, it's a certificate that proves you have a right to something.
The plan is to issue securities based on Saviors' futures and sell them.
We create securities named after promising up-and-comers, and people bet on their future!
As they rise to fame, the value of the securities go up.
And if we give 1% of the earnings back to the Savior whose name we used...
Everyone will be lining up to have securities issued in their name!
And the other 99%?
Obviously, I keep it as the transaction fee.
Honestly, for all my effort, that cut feels a bit low... but I'll allow it.
Because in business, it's important to consider the greater good.
This is absolutely doomed to fail...
Of course you'd say that!
You clearly have no vision for entrepreneurship.
But it's fine. I was prepared for this much.
But even someone like you can understand one thing.
What this business truly needs to succeed.
And that is connections!
We need people who can bring us underappreciated Saviors. That's the key.
And why are you telling me this?
I heard you got your job through connections?
Dropped right into the heart of NOA as the Journey Captain...
That kind of thing doesn't happen without serious connections.
You must have some powerful backers!
Someone like the Grand Witch Alicia... or maybe the Chair of Polaris...
So! Introduce me!
And in return, I'll give you an exclusive discount on purchasing our securities.
You can shout all you want... but I still don't know anyone...
Liar! Don't lie to me!
I did my research! Now introduce me! I said introduce ME!!
Doesn't matter how loud you yell, I still don't know anyone.
No way...
Don't you have another plan? Any business should have a Plan B.
Huh? Of course I...
I...
Uh...
Looks like you didn't think that far.
Quiet! I'll just come up with one now!
I'll go brainstorm my Plan B.
Don't worry. I'll be back with a brilliant new business proposal!
Make sure you've got some funds ready to invest!
With that, Frey dashed off without even looking back.
Hmm...
I had a feeling my wallet was going to be in serious danger very soon...