At the Shin Kingdom palace grounds,
Precious, Bit, several guards, and an informer were standing.
Precious said in an annoyed tone,
"What…? Another king is here?! Oh man…"
(Thinking sharply)
Anyway… let him come.
Just then, King Deku arrived along with Damyaan.
Deku spoke casually,
"Yeah… one more king."
Everyone turned toward him.
Precious said jokingly,
"I don't have your soldier's dead body… so you can go back. -_-"
Deku waved his hand,
"No, no… I'm not here for that."
Bit looked confused and asked,
"What dead soldier are you talking about?"
Precious replied,
"Uncle Bit, remember those two lights you saw in the sky during the party night in Blegree Kingdom?"
"Yeah…?"
"One of them was a high-ranking member of Deku's kingdom. He was fighting someone… and died in that battle. So I burned his body."
"Oh…"
Precious looked back at Deku.
"So if you're not here for your soldier… why are you here?"
Deku replied,
"I heard your kingdom has some modern weapons. I came to buy them at a high price."
Precious slightly straightened his posture, his tone turning serious.
"Oh? And what is your 'high price'?"
Deku answered,
"30 emerald coins. And on top of that, my kingdom will cover export and import fees."
Precious smirked.
"Not bad… but you see, I just signed a deal with the PM of Naco Country."
Deku became slightly serious.
"No problem. You can still make a deal with me."
Precious laughed.
"Hahaha… I think you misunderstood. I'm saying I signed that deal at an even higher price."
Deku frowned.
"How much is PM Yatransh paying?"
Precious replied calmly,
"I'm charging per weapon.
1 grenade = 1 emerald coin."
"He ordered 50 grenades, 20 AK-47s, and 4 nukes."
"Total: 130 emerald coins."
Deku was shocked.
"1…130 emerald coins?! How will he even pay that much?"
Precious replied,
"I know it's a huge amount. So I allowed installments."
"First payment: 40 emerald coins."
"Then every month: 20,000 gold coins."
He looked directly at Deku.
"So… think again. How much can you really spend?"
(Deku thinking)
Damn this brat…!
Deku said,
"Alright. Give me some time to think."
Bit nodded,
"Of course. You can stay in our palace as a guest until then."
"Thank you, King Bit."
Night — Deku's Room
Deku sat on a sofa while Damyaan stood beside him.
"Milord, what have you decided?"
"I'm still thinking… but where will that much money come from?"
"I can collect from Dima, Zinau, and Kulkata Kingdoms… but will it be enough?"
Damyaan hesitated.
"Milord… I have a doubt."
"Go on."
"I know you're very smart… so maybe I don't understand, but—"
"Why do we even need to buy those weapons?"
Deku smiled slightly.
"The answer… was already given by PM Yatransh."
Damyaan frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Deku explained,
"Naco Country is the most modern nation."
"They have TVs, cars, helicopters… all created by Yatransh."
"So tell me—can't such an advanced country create its own weapons?"
Damyaan stayed silent.
"They can," Deku continued.
"Then why are they buying from Shin Kingdom?"
"Because Shin Kingdom's weapons have something… that even Yatransh cannot create."
"That means those weapons are either far more advanced… or extremely complex."
"So indirectly… we must buy them."
"And their value is already proven—by Yatransh himself."
Damyaan nodded in admiration.
"I see… as expected, you're smarter than anyone, milord!"
(Deku thinking)
Even then… that damn brat always plays me…
Next Morning — Palace Corridor
Deku and Damyaan were walking.
A butler passed by. Deku stopped him.
"Where is King Bit?"
"Sorry, King Deku… King Bit is not in the palace."
"What?! Where did he go?"
"He had urgent work in the northern region of Shin Kingdom."
"When will he return?"
"In 2–3 days."
Deku frowned.
"…What about my meeting?"
"We apologize. But if it's important, you may meet Prince Precious instead."
"King Bit instructed us to send you to him."
(Deku thinking)
Damn…!
"Alright. Where is Prince Precious?"
They arrived at a door.
Damyaan knocked.
From inside, a calm voice came—
"Come in."
They entered.
Inside, Precious was sitting on a sofa.
On the opposite sofa sat someone else—
Rana.
Deku froze in shock.
Rana also noticed Deku… and slowly stood up, equally shocked.
(Deku thinking, tense)
What the hell… what is he doing here…?!
I'm dead now…