Higashino Makoto stood in the hall, staring at the closed door, and remained silent for a long time.
"Mr. Higashino."
Jircniv's voice came from behind.
Why did you choose to accept payment?
Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at him.
"Because I don't want them to think I'm free. I don't want to be seen as a pushover; 'pushover' is an insult where I'm from."
"Yeah."
You reap what you sow. Things given for free are never appreciated.
Higashino Makoto walked back to the chair and sat down.
"If I don't take money, they, and you all, will think I'm a good person. A good person will be depended on. Being depended on will lead to being held hostage."
He paused.
"I don't want to be kidnapped, even if it's useless to me. So I won't choose to be a good person. I prefer to be a businessman, to trade fairly, just like Leinas."
Jircniv looked at him for a long time.
"You're a really strange person."
"I know."
Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup and took a sip of black tea.
Outside the window, sunlight streamed onto the streets of the Imperial Capital, turning everything golden.
In the distance, Arche and her companions disappeared at the end of the street.
Higashino Makoto gazed in that direction, a soft light flashing in his dark eyes.
"Two months..."
He said in a low voice.
"Will you come back with money in two months?"
No one answered. Only the wind outside the window rustled the curtains softly.
Jircniv picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"You're not a good person, but you're not a bad person either."
Higashino Makoto glanced at him but said nothing more.
Jircniv put down his teacup, his deep purple eyes fixed on Higashino Makoto.
"Higashino. Higashino."
He spoke, his voice lower than before, carrying a solemnity that only comes when discussing truly important matters.
"Now, we can have a proper talk."
Higashino Makoto leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes fixed on him.
What should we talk about?
"That tomb, that powerful figure, and how should the Baharuth Empire deal with it?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Didn't you already decide to do nothing?"
"That's temporary."
Jircniv's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"Doing nothing means handing your fate over to others. I don't like that."
"Nobody likes it. But sometimes, doing nothing is the best option."
Jircniv looked pained; he hated this kind of thing.
Are you advising me to maintain the status quo?
"I'm telling you, the owner of that grave is not your enemy. At least not yet."
Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup and took a sip of the now-cold black tea.
He cared nothing for the rise and fall of human nations, for who unified the continent, or for who sat on the throne. He cared only for one thing: his home.
"That Great Tomb of Nazarick."
"Right."
Higashino Makoto put down his teacup.
"That was the legacy he and his companions left behind, the only thing he owned. He would do anything to protect it. Anything."
Jircniv's fingers stopped.
"Anything?"
Higashino Makoto looked at him for two seconds.
"Anything. Just like I destroyed the Orc army because I hated it, he'll probably do something even more outrageous than I did."
The hall fell silent.
His fingers began to tap again, at a faster pace than before.
You said you would communicate with him.
He finally spoke.
What are we communicating about?
"Tell him not to attack ordinary people indiscriminately."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"Of course, those who ventured into the graveyard were workers, adventurers, and desperate men driven by greed. They were not soldiers of the Baharuth Empire, priests of the Slane Theocracy, or regular troops of any nation. They were simply a group of people who would risk their lives for money."
He paused.
"Killing them is his right. But don't extend it to more ordinary people."
Jircniv's eyebrows rose slightly.
Do you think he'll listen?
"Probably."
Higashino Makoto's answer was concise and to the point.
"Because he's not a bloodthirsty madman; he just cares too much about his home. If someone threatens his home, he'll eliminate the threat without hesitation. But if no one threatens his home, he won't do anything uncontrollable."
Are you sure?
"It's basically confirmed."
Jircniv looked at him for a long time.
"Mr. Higashino, what exactly is your relationship with him?"
"Friend."
Higashino Makoto did not hesitate.
"Maybe not very close, but definitely friends."
Is it acceptable for friends to talk like this?
"Can."
Higashino Makoto leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes staring at the ceiling.
"Because I know him fairly well."
He paused.
"He's just too lonely."
Jircniv remained silent for a long time.
He looked at Higashino Makoto, at the calm, emotionless light in those dark eyes.
"Mr. Higashino."
He spoke, his voice low and deep.
"You just said that the owner of that tomb is not an enemy of the Baharuth Empire. But you also said that he would kill any intruder. If, and I mean if, some nobleman, or some merchant, or some fool of the Baharuth Empire accidentally stumbles into that tomb, is the Baharuth Empire responsible?"
Higashino Makoto looked at him.
What do you think?
I don't think it's necessary.
Jircniv's voice was calm.
"Because that was an individual act, not Baharuth Empire act."
"What if that person was sent by the Baharuth Empire?"
Jircniv's fingers stopped.
Are you testing me?
I'm telling you, don't test him.
Higashino Makoto sat up straight, his dark eyes staring directly at Jircniv.
He's my neighbor, someone I get along with fairly well. Neighbors should communicate, discuss things, and above all, respect each other.
He paused.
"But the neighbor has unruly kids. Unruly kids don't always listen to their parents. So, even if I manage to talk things out with him, it doesn't mean his men won't cause trouble. His children are incredibly loyal to him. But loyalty doesn't mean they won't act on their own. If they think someone is a threat to the Great Tomb of Nazarick, they'll act first and then report it. By the time he finds out, it might be too late."
Jircniv frowned.
"You mean, even if you reach an agreement with him, his subordinates might still—"
"Right."
Higashino Makoto nodded.
"Therefore, what the Baharuth Empire needs to do is not only not provoke him, but also not provoke his subordinates, and prevent anyone from provokeing his subordinates."
"That's impossible."
Jircniv shook his head.
"The Baharuth Empire has 15 million people; I can't manage every single one of them."
You don't need to worry about everyone.
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
"You only need to manage those who have the ability, courage, and motivation to explore the ruins. At the very least, issue clear orders prohibiting anyone from exploring the Great Tomb of Nazarick, and lead by example yourself."
"Don't even think about getting away with it; no one can keep a secret under the torture and magic of the Great Tomb of Nazarick."