Seeing Lambert's dumbstruck expression, Francesca broke into a grin.
She had succeeded in rattling Lambert and gotten a little payback in the process.
That's for calling me a slacker!
Naturally, Francesca knew better than to overdo it. After thoroughly deflating Lambert and teaching her just how harsh the adult world could be, she changed tack.
"Well, I'm not exactly heartless. For Isis and the others' sake, let's add one condition.
Until you reach 3★, you won't receive the subsidy provided by the Merchant Guild. Naturally, you'll still receive every zenny of your standard quest pay from the Guild.
Once you advance to 3★, this restriction will be lifted, and you'll receive the same terms as any other 3★ Hunter. How does that sound?"
Lambert, who had already braced herself for two or three years of hardship, stared in surprise, then nodded repeatedly. The look she gave Francesca became considerably warmer.
Once Francesca finished drafting the contract, Lambert signed it without a second thought.
Standing off to the side, Altaïr fought the urge to cover his face. How are you actually grateful for this?
Never mind that the contract doesn't offer you any real benefits. The three of us haven't even agreed to join yet. If we can't come to terms and back out, you'll be sent off alone to pioneer some uninhabited island after signing your contract ahead of us.
After Lambert blew the ink dry, Francesca contentedly rolled up Lambert's copy of the contract.
"All right, don't look at me as though I'm some shady merchant." Francesca gave her own copy of the contract a casual toss. "Come on, you know me. If all of you decide not to go, I'll simply tear up her contract. That's all there is to it.
But I'm making a sincere offer. Whatever you need, don't hesitate to speak up!"
Isis and Nymera instinctively looked to Altaïr. Having anticipated this turn of events, he thought for a few seconds before speaking. "Francesca, before we make any requests, perhaps you could give us a more detailed briefing on this pioneering operation.
For instance, where exactly the island lies, what the Guild and Merchant Guild hope to achieve, how large the expedition team will be, what work the Hunters will handle, and what the general plan is."
"Heh, you really do think of everything." Francesca shifted into a more comfortable position and nestled into the sofa.
Altaïr's caution did not put her off. If everyone were as easy to sway as Lambert, or as ready as Isis to sign on after a single word, then Francesca would be the one to worry.
"I can't disclose the team's exact composition or the pioneering plan before you've officially joined. I'll stick to what I can tell you.
The target island lies in the South Sea, south of the Old World, near... Kagetsu, bring me the map!"
"That's not part of my job, you know." Kagetsu puffed out her cheeks in displeasure. "I'm only pretending to be your secretary. I'm not actually your secretary."
She had her pride, too. She was a 3★ Hunter, after all. Francesca could not simply order her around like that.
"A 500z bonus."
"Right away, boss. Shall I spread the map out on the coffee table for you, boss?" Kagetsu's expression changed in an instant. She scurried over with the map at a quick trot.
After carefully smoothing out the Old World map, she stood cheerfully behind Francesca.
Francesca crouched on the sofa and pointed at the map on the coffee table. "The expedition team's target island is here." Isis leaned in for a look as well. After studying it for a moment, she quietly asked Altaïr, "They're all in the South Sea. Isn't this island quite close to Moga Village?"
Altaïr studied the dotted lines charted across the ocean and answered casually, "Not at all. Even as the crow flies, it's probably still seven or eight hundred kilometers away."
"Then where are Deserted Island and Drumstick Island?"
"Those two are too small. They wouldn't appear on a map at this scale."
"All right." Unable to find the familiar islands, Isis looked a little disappointed.
"These dotted lines are trade routes, aren't they?" After studying them for a moment, Altaïr looked up at Francesca.
"Oh-ho, looks like you've found the key point."
"Yes. With the current routes, ships leaving Port Tanzia have to sail west and then north. They only reach the ElDe Region after stopping at Jumbo Village, which is an enormous detour.
If a safe port could be established on this island as a way station... I don't know much about ocean currents, but judging by distance alone, the route could be shortened by more than a third.
The route out of Rekusara could probably be improved as well, strengthening trade between the Old World's southern and eastern coasts and generating enormous profits.
No wonder the various Merchant Guilds are so eager to support the Guild's pioneering operation."
"That's the gist of it." Francesca propped her chin on her hand. "But building a port, let alone a new city, is at least ten years away, perhaps even decades.
Our expedition team's goal is to survey and explore the island, understand its environment and ecology, and establish a base camp in preparation for more extensive research and construction.
In short, our role is to chart the way and conduct research. Besides the construction crew, several scholars will be traveling with us.
You also asked how large the expedition team would be. The roster hasn't been finalized yet, but we should ultimately have between sixty and eighty people.
One more thing. We've arranged for an excellent team of smiths, a medical team, and even Felyne Chefs."
The number exceeded Altaïr's expectations. Somewhat surprised, he said, "That's a sizable expedition. Even the First Fleet of the New World Research Commission had only a hundred people in total."
"Oh, we can't compare ourselves to the Research Commission." Francesca waved dismissively. "The Research Commission had to cross thousands of kilometers of ocean to reach the New World.
During the First Fleet's early days in particular, communication, personnel rotations, and the transport of supplies all posed nearly insurmountable problems.
They had to rely entirely on themselves, so every member was handpicked, the very best of the best.
Although our expedition team is also investigating a giant island almost untouched by humanity, the difference in scale and distance is obvious.
Put it this way. A sea voyage from Rekusara or Port Tanzia would take roughly seven to ten days. From ElDe City, it might take only three to five.
Travel by Airship is faster still. You can reach Dundorma in two or three days, and messenger peregrine falcons can easily make the round trip. Communication won't be a problem, and transporting personnel and supplies will also be very convenient.
That's also the main reason the Guild isn't assigning us any High Rank Hunters. If a situation genuinely requires one, we can send an urgent message by peregrine falcon and temporarily bring one over by Airship.
After all, this operation has the strong backing of an alliance of Merchant Guilds. We have ample supplies, Airships, and ships. We don't need to scrimp and scrape as the Research Commission did in its early days."
"But didn't pioneering the New World generate enormous profits as well? Why did the Research Commission receive so little support from the Merchant Guilds back then?" Isis asked, looking puzzled.
Francesca curled her lip. "Because the risks were enormous. Hardly anyone had faith in the Research Commission's venture at first. Merchant Guilds did not begin investing until the Third Fleet, or perhaps even the Fourth. Our Merchant Guild was one of the major backers.
The Sterling Merchant Guild owes its present scale entirely to the old family head's decision to invest back then!"
Beside her, Altaïr added, "By comparison, the plan to pioneer this island carries almost no risk. The only questions are how smoothly the work will proceed and how long it will take.
Once the port is established, the potential profits will be obvious to everyone. That's why every Merchant Guild is scrambling to invest, right?"
Hearing Altaïr say this, Francesca could not help feeling a little awkward as a representative of the Merchant Guild. "Ahem, that's right. That's how merchants are. We avoid risks and chase profits."
Altaïr smiled. "I wasn't being sarcastic. The fact that this project has gained support from so many parties is good for us, too, isn't it?
By the way, does the island have a name?"
"It does. Scholars from the Royal Paleontology Scriveners previously conducted a brief survey of the island, but unfamiliar Monsters quickly drove them out. The island lies in tropical waters. Vast mangrove forests line its southern shore, and whenever the tide rises, the beaches and mangroves are submerged.
For that reason, the scholars named the enormous island Tidal Island."
(Translated by yourtl.app)