7th Time Loop WN Vol. 6 Fan Translation

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Rishe furrowed her brow and explained to Yoel the reason for her unease. "In the first place, Sharga is too far from Galkhein. The longer the voyage, the more the dangers and costs increase."

When war broke out for the sixth time in their lives, the king of Sharga, whom Rishe and others served, had judged that there was still time before engaging in conflict with Galkhein.

Although it was a miscalculation, the thought behind it was not shallow. If Emperor Arnold Hain hadn't acquired ships from Sharga, the invasion would have taken even longer.

"In contrast, the profit from selling slaves is too low."

Yoel tilted his head at Rishe's explanation.

"Don't slaves sell for a high price...? I've heard about it from our king. Not only nobles and royalty from various countries, but also wealthy individuals buy them. The demand is huge. If you catch a suspicious ship in the nearby seas, it's filled with people who've been abducted."

Arnold succinctly replied to Yoel's words. "That might be the case for typical slave traders. But the indiscriminate gathering and selling of vast numbers of people and this incident are different."

"Yes, Your Highness Arnold." That was precisely why Rishe had volunteered to act as bait. "After all, the targets are only unmarried noble daughters."

Yoel blinked in surprise. "...So you're making those who want them into customers?"

"While it's possible that such customers exist when buying and selling people, we cannot deny the possibility of traders responding to such specific requests."

Rishe knew firsthand that there were traders who imposed difficult conditions. "What needs to be considered here is how many traders actually act upon such demands."

"...Even if there are people willing to pay high amounts and those willing to take risks to procure them, it's not guaranteed, right?" 

In business, every action must result in profit.

Rishe continued explaining. "Even if I were to dip my hands into the sin of being a slave trader, I wouldn't focus on such transactions. ...Unless it's 'by the way' for something else."

"...I see." Yoel replied.

Rishe continued. "In the first place, the act of abducting in Sharga and selling in Galkhein is not 'efficient' behavior for a trader. Even in Galkhain, where they went to sell, it's minimally efficient to gather and procure people..."

Slave traders were making such moves, evidence that they were acting based on some calculations as traders.

"But even so, it doesn't pay off in a voyage fraught with high costs, manpower, and danger."

"Understood." Rubbing his eyes, Yoel spoke with a slightly clearer voice than before.

"So, it's really just 'by the way.' ...Or, selling girls is also part of a larger plan?"

"Likely." Rishe looked up at Arnold and asked from the perspective of Galkeain. "Your Highness Arnold. Regarding this matter, Sharga has officially requested cooperation with Galkhein, correct?"

"Yes. The duke of Sharga came as an envoy and delivered a letter signed by the king."

"...Then. It wasn't received by Your Highness Arnold, but..." Arnold probably understood everything Rishe wanted to confirm.

A dark light flickered in Arnold's blue eyes. He smiled faintly and said what Rishe expected. "...My father, the Emperor."

(...Just as I thought...)

She cleared her throat softly.

(...The official letter from the king would naturally be delivered to Emperor Arnold. But, in reality, it's His Highness Arnold who's taking action...)

This conversation took place on the first day they arrived in this canal city, investigating human trafficking.

"Is His Majesty the Emperor handling this matter discreetly?" she asked.

"It would be troublesome if he heard about it. I roughly anticipate what that man's intentions might be." Arnold said bluntly.

That didn't mean that only Arnold knew about this matter.

(The Emperor crushed the official cooperation request from Sharga.)

With Yoel and Raul present, Rishe didn't articulate it directly. But Arnold probably understood Rishe's thoughts.

(There could be several reasons for him to do that. But, considering the stories I've heard from His Highness Arnold so far, one of the Emperor's purposes could be...)

Rishe paused for a moment and rephrased it deliberately.

"The man who goes by the name 'Sadias' is a slave trader, but it seems that the main purpose of this slave trade is not for that. What they're trying to do is worsen the decisive relationship between Sharga and Galkhein that arises from this incident..."

She gripped her dress tightly and murmured as she bowed her head.

"...To scatter the seeds of war..."

This incident is leading to the war that Arnold will initiate in the future.