Ⅳ
The Communication Crystal connected.
But as though by tacit agreement, both sides remained silent.
Another three or four seconds passed before the Marquis of West Berlin spoke first-
"I would like to speak with Lord Credos alone."
At those words, everyone nearby dispersed.
Arthur, seemingly out of respect, walked off to one side alone.
"My apologies, Lord Credos.
This cooperation failed because of my mistake.
I will compensate you twice over for your losses."
The Marquis of West Berlin spoke with great sincerity.
"Thank you for your generosity, but some things cannot be made right once they have happened.
A mistake is a mistake.
How could a shattered mirror ever be whole again?"
Arthur drew out his words, looking regretful.
"We can discuss the revenue from Dordot Harbor further.
If a twenty percent share cannot make the broken mirror whole again, I believe another ten percent would allow us to find a better craftsman to make a better mirror."
The Marquis of West Berlin spoke with a smile.
"Of course.
With a sufficiently skilled craftsman, making an identical mirror is hardly impossible.
But another ten percent wouldn't be enough to find such a craftsman, would it?
I believe we'd need at least twenty percent."
Arthur readily agreed with the marquis, immediately nodding and smiling in return.
"A forty percent share would be enough to bring many more mirror buyers to Dordot Harbor."
The Marquis of West Berlin's smile faded, and his voice grew weightier as he emphasized his point.
"Yes, but which of those mirror buyers could be more sincere than I am?
We already have a foundation of cooperation, and...
Our recent cooperation has naturally put us in the same boat.
At the very least, that fellow in the Inner Bay hates me no less than he hates