"A deal?"
Carmen clearly hadn't expected Steven to say something so out of the blue. For a moment, he couldn't figure out what Steven was up to.
The key issue was that Steven's unpredictable and eccentric nature was well-known. Even if he were to suddenly turn around and try to sell back the two pork chop meals from the Inquisition earlier, Carmen wouldn't be surprised—it was entirely something Steven was capable of doing.
"Yes, a very good deal. Perhaps for you, for the Inquisition, and even for this nation you speak of, it could be a rather significant and beneficial deal."
With a mysterious yet confident smile on his face, Steven, as an experienced Minecraft player, knew exactly what he and his kind were best at—exploiting game mechanics.
At this moment, he had found a way to utilize a small trick to gain a higher World Acknowledgement Point.
"You two go check on the Penal Battalion first. Let me speak with Mr. Steven alone."
Seeing a level of seriousness in Steven's gaze that he had never seen before, Carmen hesitated for a moment before instructing Dario and Irene to step out.
Once all unrelated personnel had left, Steven and the old man entered an empty room together.
"Now then, Mr. Steven, can you tell me what kind of deal we can make?"
Carmen might have ignored Steven's claims of benefits for himself and the Inquisition, but when the conversation touched on the national level of Iberia, he had no choice but to take it seriously.
Even if Steven was likely just messing around, he couldn't afford to dismiss any possible chance to save this nation that was gradually falling into ruin.
"Relax, don't rush. I know you're anxious, but still—just take it easy for now."
Seeing the usually composed old man finally waver when the conversation shifted to national matters, Steven remained completely calm.
At worst, Kal'tsit, who was coming to pick him up, would just have to wait a little longer. He wasn't in any hurry.
"Before we proceed with the deal, I want to confirm one thing first. Mr. Carmen, can you make decisions on behalf of the entire Inquisition and the Iberian government?"
"The authority of a Saint does not extend that far. Representing the entire Iberian government would require the approval of the other Saints in the Inquisition."
Carmen furrowed his brows.
He had a feeling that Steven wasn't just speaking nonsense this time.
There was a real possibility that he was being completely serious.
"Alright then, though that's not a big problem. It'll take time either way."
After making some quick calculations in his head, Steven nodded in understanding.
"Then, Mr. Carmen, may I ask—just within this Sea Breeze Village, how many villagers have you identified as having ties to the Church of the Deep?"
It was a question that seemed completely unrelated to the conversation at hand, but the look in Steven's eyes told Carmen that he wasn't joking.
"…More than half. Aside from the elderly and children, most of the villagers are connected to them in some way."
Carmen answered in a low voice, giving a brutal figure.
His aged face remained expressionless, as if those villagers who had dealings with the Church of the Deep were no longer even human.
"And how many villages like this exist across the country?"
"Hundreds? Thousands? Or even more?"
Steven counted on his fingers, as if the number was too large to keep track of.
"Mr. Steven, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Carmen's frown deepened.
What Steven said was factual, but even he didn't want to hear what Steven was likely about to say next.
But Steven acted as if he hadn't heard Carmen's interruption and continued with his reasoning.
"I don't know exactly what happened in your country, but I do have a rough understanding of the situation in this village and that ocean."
"Without the marine resources they depend on to survive, how many more villages like Sea Breeze Village will take the wrong path?"
Steven shrugged.
"Mr. Carmen, if my reasoning is correct, wouldn't that prove that this country is gradually heading toward its demise? Perhaps the Inquisition can track down and eliminate every single Church of the Deep believer hidden among the people, but unless the root cause is addressed, you and I both know that you will never truly eradicate them, right?"
Carmen, who had wanted to refute him, fell silent instead.
As someone who stood at the highest levels of authority in this nation, how could he not understand the truth in Steven's words?
"Life will always find a way, even in the depths of despair—even if that path leads straight to hell."
Steven muttered something that even he found a little too cryptic.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, he scratched his head and cleared his throat, shaking off that overly dramatic mindset.
"What I mean is, if these villagers' survival problems aren't solved, they will eventually resort to desperate measures. Even if it violates the Iberian laws you speak of, as long as they can stay alive, who would actually care about that?"
Steven still clearly remembered the words shouted at him by the village chief of Sea Breeze Village.
The people at the bottom of this nation were truly living in misery.
If the chief hadn't made a move against Gladiia, he would probably side with him in the end.
"You… may not be wrong," Carmen admitted, his voice heavy. "But the issue with the ocean is beyond the Inquisition's ability to resolve. And with Iberia's current strength, we clearly cannot take care of every village."
After saying this, the aged saint seemed to wither even further, as if he had aged several more years in an instant. His previous vitality was all but gone.
"Ah, and that brings us to why I came looking for you," Steven said cheerfully. "Just because you can't solve it doesn't mean I can't."
Grinning widely, he grew even more pleased when Carmen had naturally led the conversation to the key issue.
"Hmm?"
"Don't look at me like that. In addition to being a traveler, I also happen to be a businessman."
Steven reached into his backpack and pulled out a fist-sized object, tossing it casually to Carmen.
"I can't deal with your Church of the Deep problem, nor do I know what difficulties the Inquisition is facing. But what I'm offering can at least help you solve a critical issue."
He paused, letting the old man examine the item in his hands.
"I believe that as long as people have food—enough to prevent their loved ones from starving—they wouldn't so easily choose to risk everything, don't you think?"
"So… this is what you want to make a deal with?"
"A… potato?"
Holding the utterly ordinary tuber in his hand, Carmen's aged face twisted slightly.
So all that talk… was just to sell him a potato?