Alright, gather 'round, folks! Let's dive into the whirlwind that was How A Realist Hero Rebuilt A Kingdom Episode 12! Prepare for political maneuvering so slick, it'd make a used car salesman blush (in admiration, of course!).
Royal Rumble... of Negotiations!
Our boy Souma, bless his pragmatic heart, is still trying to drag this kingdom kicking and screaming into the 21st century – or, you know, whatever passes for the 21st century in a fantasy world.
This time, it's all about the war orphans. You know, those poor kids who got caught in the crossfire of somebody else's bad decisions.
Souma, being the genius he is, has a plan. A plan involving economics, societal reform, and, naturally, a healthy dose of good old-fashioned negotiation.
The Elfrieden Employment Agency (It's Totally Not That!)
Forget boring orphanages! Souma's cooking up something way more radical: giving these kids actual jobs. And not just any jobs! We're talking skilled labor, building things, contributing to society – basically, making them mini-moguls in training!
It's like if your lemonade stand dreams got supercharged with kingdom-level resources. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade!
Of course, nothing's ever that simple. Cue the skeptical nobles, the greedy merchants, and the general resistance to... well, anything new.
Politics: A Dish Best Served Cold (and With Lots of Paperwork)
Remember that used car salesman I mentioned earlier? Yeah, the nobles are even worse. They're haggling over everything. Who gets what share, how much to pay, whether the orphans are *actually* capable of doing anything (spoiler alert: they are!).
Souma has to use every ounce of his silver tongue to get them on board, which involves more meetings than you'd find at a Fortune 500 company.
It's basically Deal or No Deal, but instead of briefcases full of cash, it's the future of Elfrieden hanging in the balance.
Lisel: The Secret Weapon You Didn't See Coming
Enter Lisel, our favorite mermaid with a knack for getting things done! Turns out, she's not just good at singing and swimming; she's also a dab hand at... you guessed it... negotiating!
Who knew mermaids had such killer business skills? Makes you wonder what Ariel was up to all that time instead of making business deals.
Lisel manages to sway the merchants with her knowledge of the ocean. Turns out orphan's skilled labour is a better option than slave labor. BOOM!
Souma's Secret Weapon: Actual, You Know, *Logic*
What's truly amazing is how Souma wins people over. It's not with empty promises or grand speeches, but with cold, hard facts. He shows them how this whole orphan-employment thing isn't just good for the orphans, it's good for the entire kingdom.
It's like explaining to your parents why buying that new video game is actually a valuable investment in your future (because it improves hand-eye coordination, obviously!).
And you know what? It works! Sort of. Progress is made. Not all the nobles get it but we are moving forward!
So, what's the takeaway from Episode 12? Souma's still the man, Lisel's a surprising powerhouse, and politics is a never-ending game of chess, except the pieces keep changing the rules.
Tune in next week to see what economic miracle Souma pulls out of his hat next! Will he finally get the kingdom running like a well-oiled machine? Or will the nobles continue to be a pain in his royal behind? Only time will tell!
But one thing's for sure: it's going to be entertaining! Buckle up!
