"What's the issue then?" (Mizuki)
Alara nods apologetically.
"The first issue is that I don't want to take labor jobs away from elves. The second is…getting all those wolf-kin here. They'd need royal permission, and it's an incredibly long journey. This is to say nothing of the notoriety from an entire labor force of wolf-kin marching through the kingdom into my territory. Even if Lady Nedonera flew them, it would have to be in small groups, and it would probably take days each way." (Alara)
Those are all excellent points, and they're laced with surprisingly minimal discrimination against the wolf-kin.
"Oh, don't worry about the elves losing jobs. Hire every single elf you can for construction, and some for agriculture too, so long as they'll work alongside and train wolf-kin. I'll cover everyone's pay, and you can even double the normal rate. As for getting the wolf-kin here…I'll handle it. Elira will approve their travel if I ask, and I'll just teleport them directly to where you need them. It will be done in under an hour, and nobody else in your kingdom would even see them." (Mizuki)
Alara's eyes go wide in shock, and it's obvious that she doesn't know which piece of information to clarify first.
"Mizuki…you can teleport that many people over that great a distance? Truly?" (Alara)
I just nod patiently with a smile.
"Unbelievable…so…are you the one who taught Ilina?" (Alara)
Sharper than I gave her credit for.
"In a way…but it's best if you just forget about any strange magic you see. There are certain rules of this world that even I must obey. Those abilities that Ilina displayed, and her using them without incantations…you can't pursue that knowledge or tell anyone else about it. I'll be direct – if you don't heed my advice, I'll have no choice but to kill you and anyone you tell. Do you understand?" (Mizuki)
I glare at her seriously, and she gets the message. Her face goes pale, and she nods meekly. Good, I don't like murder. After a few minutes, she recovers and sighs deeply.
"You'll really pay for all these laborers at double the normal rate, with no hiring limit?" (Alara)
I nod patiently again.
"Yes. The more laborers, the faster the labor is done. Even a couple hundred workers for three months at double pay…I'm guessing that's between five and ten platinum coins, right?" (Mizuki)
Alara looks at me like I just suggested purchasing a country. Eventually, she gathers her thoughts.
"Mizuki…I…no offense, but do you know how much money that is?" (Alara)
"Hmm…if memory serves, that'd be about one to two centuries of wages for a serving girl at a tavern. Is that incorrect?" (Mizuki)
Alara looks surprised, then thoughtful for a moment.
"Uhm…no…that sounds correct…my apologies. It's just that…I'm only getting five platinum coins from the palace. Even that is considered way more than normal for a new noble – I'm only getting that much because I'm a former princess and my territory is completely undeveloped. How would you have that much money?" (Alara)
I really can't resist the opportunity. I know it's mean, but…she'll live. I put on a very relaxed face, then respond to her nonchalantly.
"Oh, that? It's easy if you just threaten to blow up some of the human cities and extort them for money. I've built up quite the coin purse that way." (Mizuki)
Alara goes pale, and she doesn't know how to respond. I begin laughing, and Zara follows suit.
"Hahahaha…your reaction was priceless, Alara! I'm just kidding – I'd never do that. I'm surprised you were so sympathetic to humans, though, I thought you hated them?" (Mizuki)
I smirk at her. I expect annoyance, but she just breathes a sigh of relief.
"That wasn't funny, Mizuki. I'd feel sorry for anyone that was faced with that, even if they were human. More importantly, I thought I'd severely misjudged you for a moment, and it terrified me." (Alara)
I smile at her apologetically.
"Okay, you're right. I'm sorry for scaring you. The truth is that I can…locate and mine…platinum easily using my abilities. I'll just…exchange…that pure platinum for money. If you're worried about the natural resources coming from your country, I could just take it from the Delmura Forest in Nina's area." (Mizuki)
I could, but I won't. The dirt in Alara's territory will be fine, but she doesn't need to know that. Alara just stares at me in exasperation for a while before responding.
"You're truly absurd, Mizuki. I'm just going to agree with your terms before the surprises get any worse. I'll leave those plans, and my gratitude, with you. You have my blessing as the noble of the territory." (Alara)
I nod at her appreciatively.
"Alright then! Well, shall we go meet up with the other nobles and get this final meeting underway? I don't particularly care about the result, so hopefully it's quick. Since you've agreed to her terms, Zara can begin her duties at this noble meeting so that you aren't alone, Alara." (Mizuki)
Alara nods approvingly, and then Zara and I say our farewells and head back to collect the others. As we walk, Zara looks up at me curiously.
"Mizuki, is what you said to Alara true, about how you acquire money? If so, does that mean you could just make yourself rich and live out your days peacefully, somewhere remote?" (Zara)
I cast a silencing spell over us.
"Well, it's half true. I could do what I told her as well, but it's unnecessary. I can turn even regular dirt directly into platinum coins. It's true I could do as you describe, but that would be boring, and I'd miss out on all this world has to offer. I only make money when I need it." (Mizuki)
Zara smiles at my response about being bored, but then her face becomes confused.
"It doesn't seem like you're trying to hide your abilities from Alara anymore, so why not just tell her you could directly make the platinum coins?" (Zara)
"Well, I want to keep that specific spell hidden from everyone other than my inner circle. More importantly, the elves and humans consider it a crime for normal people to make coins from the raw materials. Telling her seemed like it'd be a hassle." (Mizuki)
Zara's confusion only intensifies.
"Mizuki, why would that matter to them? Would they not pay you large sums of money for the materials and then convert them into coins anyway?" (Zara)
I flash Zara a huge grin. I knew I liked her.