Chapter 120 - 120 At the Orphanage
The Snake Head Knights Order was taken away by the guards and knights.
After calming down, Steve spoke to the flower-selling girl. When she told him her name, it was Amber.
"Well then, Amber."
"Y-yes."
"Where did you get these flowers?"
At Steve's question, Amber's face stiffened.
"It's not like I stole them."
Hearing that reply, Steve regretted that his way of asking was poor.
And, making a smile, he asked the question again.
"I'm not suspecting Amber at all. I just want more of these flowers. Of course, I intend to pay money. Can you sell me more of these flowers?"
"Understood."
The girl nodded.
"Ah, but I have to ask Teacher Mary first."
"Teacher?"
"She is our orphanage's teacher. Since the flowers bloom in the orphanage, if Teacher Mary says it's okay, we might be able to sell them all."
Amber is an orphan and currently lives in an orphanage. It seems she is selling flowers to earn operating funds for the orphanage.
Bella pulled Steve's sleeve.
"Your identity is already revealed; if we go there suddenly, the other party will be startled, right?"
"Oh, that's true."
Steve thought a little after being told by Bella.
"Amber, could you tell the teacher that I'll be visiting the orphanage tomorrow?"
"Understood."
"Then, can you just tell me the location for today?"
"It's fine."
Steve asked Amber only for the location of the orphanage and parted ways.
Ellie asked Steve what kind of product the flowers he was holding would become.
"President, do you intend to sell those flowers? As what kind of product?"
"I don't intend to sell these flowers as they are. What's important is the component contained in these flowers."
"Component... is it?"
"Yes. These flowers contain a component that kills pests. I'm thinking of extracting it to make a medicine that drives away mosquitoes and flies. By adding that component to incense and burning it, it becomes a fine insecticide."
Mosquito coils spread that component via smoke. And incense was also used in the Kingdom of Cascade. It was used more to enjoy the scent than for religious rituals, but the manufacturing method was established. And its general shape was incense.
So, even with this explanation, Ellie understood.
"The President is quite knowledgeable. I've thought so for a while, but I never imagined that flower contained such components."
"Well, it's knowledge I read in a book."
He lied like that.
"I think if we cultivate these flowers and increase the quantity, we can sell them."
"But, wouldn't that be easily imitated?"
"Well, yes. The manufacturing method is the same as incense. But, I intend to mass-produce this and lower the costs. If we mechanize it, I think we won't lose in a price war."
Steve was already thinking in his head about the mass-production line for mosquito coils. How to create a line that others cannot imitate.
As if to stop Steve's thoughts, Ellie asked again.
"I understand making incense, but while awake it's fine, but I want to do something about that mosquito buzzing sound when sleeping."
"Of course, that's my intention too."
"But, the time it takes for incense to burn out is short, isn't it? Getting up many times all night to light the incense is tough."
"There is a way to solve that."
"What kind of method is that?"
"Let's make that our homework. To level up as a product designer. There is still plenty of time to prepare for mass production, so just give me the answer by then."
"Yes! I'll do my best!"
Ellie answered energetically.
After that, the three of them thought about going for a stroll to find other ideas, but since Steve's identity was revealed and the townspeople were embarrassed, they decided to call it a day.
Since Steve had time, he visited the knights' order investigating the Snake Head Knights Order and the guards.
"Hey, how are the interrogations going?"
"My Lord, since there are many people, it is taking time, but we found that the leader of the Snake Head Knights Order is August Brennan, the second son of Viscount Brennan. There was also a request for release from the Viscount, so the death penalty is impossible."
Viscount Brennan was a viscount without land in the Royal Capital. The news of his son's arrest reached that viscount, and he demanded immediate release from the knights' order.
The knights' order intended to continue the interrogation due to Steve's request, but they were troubled by the pressure from Viscount Brennan.
"Well, it can't be helped. I don't need to kill them, but I'd like them to rebuild their spirits in the army for about three years. If they still have complaints, tell the viscount to come complain to me."
"There are no nobles in this Kingdom of Cascade who can complain to My Lord."
The knight said that and laughed. And continued.
"Besides the protection money, it seems they were also involved in drug trafficking and operating unlicensed brothels, so the low-ranking members will face serious crimes."
"Drugs?"
"Well, that's a past story as they couldn't procure supplies recently. They tried to make it themselves but it seems it didn't go well. We will search their hideout after this, so evidence might turn up."
Because the supply from the church stopped, they couldn't sell drugs anymore. It was discovered because the captured gang members confessed to that.
Still, the children of nobles are likely to be acquitted. Only the low-ranking henchmen will be punished.
That is why Steve is putting up with the punishment of rebuilding their spirits in the army.
"Well then, thank you."
"Understood."
Steve left the knights' order.
And on that day, the noble children were released. However, from two days later, they would be forcibly inducted into the army. This was a formal punishment, and if they resisted, a heavier punishment awaited them this time.
The next day, Steve visited the orphanage as promised with Amber. The members were three, just like yesterday.
The director, Mary, welcomed them. Mary's age was 42. Her appearance matched that, with brown hair mixed with some white.
"My Lord, welcome to our humble place. It is not a fine place to welcome My Lord."
"No, don't worry about it. I just came to buy white flowers today."
"Yes. We heard from Amber. Will you really buy them all?"
"Of course. Where do they bloom?"
"Over here."
Mary guided Steve and the others to the courtyard. There was a flower bed, and Dalmatian Chrysanthemums bloomed all over. The area of the flower bed was as wide as a elementary school swimming pool.
"Oh."
Steve let out a voice of emotion.
"My Lord, are these flowers really okay?"
"Yes."
Mary was confused by Steve's answer.
"Is it out of sympathy?"
"It's not like that. These flowers are necessary for me. Besides, I don't know any circumstances that would warrant sympathy."
"Didn't you hear from Amber?"
"No, not at all."
Mary seemed to misunderstand that Steve offered to buy all the flowers out of sympathy. So, the conversation was off.
"So, do you have circumstances that warrant sympathy?"
"Yes."
Mary explained the situation of the orphanage to Steve.
Orphanages in the Royal Capital received only the minimum funding from the country. How they operated was that orphanages raising orphans with magical talent received a bounty from the country.
If one mage was produced, operating funds for about five years could be obtained. All orphanages operated like that. Emily's orphanage had not produced a mage for many years, so it was caught up in financial difficulties.
Emily thought Steve sympathized with that.
But in reality, that was not the case.
Steve simply wanted Dalmatian Chrysanthemums.
"I understand the situation. However, war refugees should have disappeared, yet orphans are still appearing."
"Recently, many prostitutes leave behind children