Players Change the Empire

"If you don't know, forget it. I was only asking casually."

After carefully studying Fiona's expression, the Fourth Princess realized that she truly did not seem to be pretending. The girl genuinely did not know the duke's whereabouts.

Or rather, the duke had never intended to tell her about his actions.

"Still, Fiona, on the way here, I saw many things in your territory that differed from other cities in the empire. Could you tell me how you govern your territory?"

Ending the question with a charming smile, Oswivia once again steered the conversation toward something that interested her.

"Oh, you mean those Magic Constructs, Oswivia? I bought them all from my Fourth Brother Anvis's Construct Factory. He gave me a discount, so they're very cost-effective!"

At the mention of that, Fiona immediately became interested.

"And those Outsiders are quite interesting too. They came up with some very novel terms themselves, like stocks, futures, Surplus Value, and so on. The shops they open always have interesting things in them.

"Some Outsiders also wanted to give me the 'stocks' they issued, but I usually have my... Adjutant Boley handle those matters."

"Could you explain these Outsider terms in more detail, Fiona?"

Her gaze flickering slightly, Oswivia eagerly asked for specific information about the Outsiders. She truly had not paid much attention before to the detailed exchanges among them.

"Um, Adjutant Boley, please introduce them in detail."

Turning her head slightly, Fiona gestured to Anvis. She did not understand these things very well herself, and when it came to the specific details, she worried she would not explain them thoroughly enough.

"As you command, Lord."

Anvis nodded slightly and turned his gaze toward the Fourth Princess and the others.

"Your Highness, I will explain these terms as concisely as possible.

"Stocks represent