Chapter 387
"Compared to the workshop being absorbed as part of Duke Matthias's military industry, I'm quite inclined to simply run away," Percy showed a surprisingly positive attitude.
"But the problem is, if we all start moving at once, they'll undoubtedly send troops after us.""Yes, the workshop is already under surveillance, and they have eyes on the merchants who supply our materials..."However, they immediately faced the issue. Percy frowned, and Miss Felt, following his lead, also looked troubled.
"It's a typical noble tactic. Use their power to pressure and cripple you, then when you surrender, make you obey under even worse conditions.""If it comes to that, even we will be at a loss."Precisely because the proportion of benevolent nobles is small, FBO never lacked for events named "trouble." And here, a similar event was about to happen right now.
"Considering that, if you can manage this somehow, I'm willing to take on the teaching job at your school. I'll leave the detailed negotiations to Felt, though.""That's fine, but 'manage this somehow,' you say..."Essentially, it felt like the moment an event quest titled 'The Percy Workshop Crisis!?' had just been triggered. I could almost hear the quest acceptance BGM from the game playing in my head, but for now, I needed to allocate my brain's resources to protecting Percy and his future.
"...Well. The safe option would be a feigned retreat, I suppose."I'm used to developments like this.For someone like me who has completed many similar events, coming up with a plan to deceive a noble is a piece of cake.
"Feigned retreat? I understand the nuance of the words, but what exactly do you plan to do?""The scenario is like this: The righteous Percy Workshop, unwilling as craftsmen to make only weapons forever, rejects the duke's recruitment. Upon learning this, Duke Matthias flies into a rage and declares, 'I will not forgive those who defy me!' He stops the supply of materials, spreads bad rumors to ruin their reputation, and declares he won't let them do business."Before going into details, I explained the flow in a somewhat deliberately theatrical, story-like manner.
"Now, now. The troubled Percy Workshop finally pays its craftsmen a small severance, and opts to scale down its business."The outward flow would be one that satisfies the noble, who, wielding his power, pressures the workshop into ruin, making an example of what happens to those who defy him.
"One by one, the workshop's craftsmen leave. The Percy Workshop finally goes bankrupt. The couple tearfully let go of their workshop, can no longer stay in this town, and set out on a journey."If we can execute this, from Duke Matthias's perspective, it becomes a development he can somewhat compromise with.
"And that's the outward action we'll show. In reality, if you refuse, something similar will likely happen, and you won't be able to do business anyway.""That's true. So, what will we do on the hidden side?""Secretly, we'll move you, your wife, and all your workshop employees to my territory. For the craftsmen who 'retired,' we'll deceive the eyes of the duke's agents. My organization's covert operatives will either disguise themselves as the craftsmen and leave town, or they'll simply disappear within the town.""If they can't recruit a single one of our craftsmen, they might resort to forceful measures, like capturing them.""That's where we'll spread rumors. We'll spread word to the eastern populace, the royal family, and the House of Edelgard about the tyranny of a noble who uses forceful measures to try and absorb the Percy Workshop."
Their ideal is to get all of Percy Workshop's personnel and establish their own foundation for producing magical weaponry.Their goal is likely to enhance their military power through this.
However, even if they can't get the people, if they can make an example—showing that even a large workshop like Percy's must fold its business if it doesn't obey the ducal house—that could be a reason for them to sheathe their sword.
"Being seen as forcing things on the people is bad for appearances right now. After all, a certain noble who ruled the northern territories made a huge mess, so the royal family currently can only monitor and caution nobles about their internal affairs. If a scandal were stirred up here, even the state would take notice. If they continue to overlook noble tyranny any further, it could lead to a situation where the populace might riot.""In that case, couldn't we inform the authorities first and have them stop this scheme?""That likely wouldn't satisfy Duke Matthias. True, the current royal family would reprimand and warn a noble forcing things on the people. However, at the same time, His Majesty the King wants to avoid increasing friction with the nobles any further. He wouldn't overlook outright criminal acts like abduction, but harassment stemming from scouting activities would likely be treated as a gray area leaning towards black, and he would turn a blind eye."
This time, we shouldn't achieve a complete victory.Or rather, we *could* win completely, but we *shouldn't* is more accurate.
"For merchants, harassment from a noble can disrupt their very livelihood tomorrow. Even if their lives are practically ruined, His Majesty wouldn't act?""If he were to raise his heavy hand even once, he would have to help all the kingdom's people equally. The royal family doesn't have the spare capacity to quarrel with territorial nobles right now. He can only take action under conditions where there is a just cause *and* a compromise point can be found.""How pathetic. I'd like to ask the King what he thinks of us common folk.""Should I ask him?""No, I'd prefer to remain a simple craftsman. I'll pass on that."
If we win perfectly without causing any apparent damage, we'll crush Duke Matthias's pride.That would make Percy Workshop completely hostile to Duke Matthias.
If their future sphere of activity were confined to our territory, that might be fine. But for now, we want to avoid antagonistic actions against this country.So, we want to keep it to a skirmish level, not a head-on collision.
If some noble overheard this conversation, we'd probably be punished for lèse-majesté.But the only noble here is Ingrid, standing quietly behind us.And even she shows no reaction.Ingrid, keeping her eyes downcast, maintains the posture of not hearing anything.
So, I ignore Percy's reaction of laughing as if amazed.
"We've gone off-topic. So, from the shadows, we will arrange supplies, mainly food. You, Mr. Percy and your people, will act out the role of a struggling workshop. Customers decrease, sales decline. The final touch of this flow will be closing the curtain by returning the merchant license to the Merchant's Guild."Delving deeper into talk about the King won't help now.So, I bring the discussion back on track and explain in detail what I need them to do.
"Returning the merchant license... That could hinder future business.""I will definitely compensate for that. Financially, of course, but also with a foundation from which to restart, sales channels, and an opportunity to clear your name."Now is the time to endure.We have the combat power to crush the ducal house head-on, but what would be the gain in making such a demon-king-like move?This territory will eventually perish like the north.I can't think of any merit in starting a war, raising a flag, and charging forward on such land.
It's more constructive to lay plans and wait for a chance to counterattack.Feigning the workshop's business failure and retreating is also a tactic to gain that chance for a counterattack.
"...Can we have that in writing, not just a verbal promise?""I can't give a written promise, but I can agree to a temple contract.""That might be best, but unfortunately, a temple contract is...""It can be done. That's why she is here."And the piece needed to execute this absolute, guaranteed contract is something I already possess.Thinking a contract of some sort might be necessary, I brought her along—the daughter of the trusted and credible Grule family.
My judgment to bring her, thinking a contract might be essential when dealing with merchants, was not mistaken.
"Her?"Since I haven't introduced her yet, Felt looks at Ingrid with suspicion, thinking she's just a maid.
"This is Ingrid, Ingrid Grule. She has strong connections with the temple.""The Grule family!?"When I introduce Ingrid, Miss Felt's eyes widen in surprise.I realize for the first time that the Grule family is quite famous.
"Huh, that famous?"However, the fact that the wife knows but the husband doesn't reveals that their fame is limited to certain circles.
"The Grule family, known for credit and trust. In merchant circles, it's said there's no family you can trust more to do business with.""Wow."And Percy maintains his attitude of 'I have no interest in nobles.'Typical of him, but he could show a little more interest.
"So, regarding the contract, I can definitely promise we can execute it without issue.""Understood. If the Grule family is cooperating, there could be no greater guarantee. Dear, I think we should proceed with the restart plan.""I just have one question for you. In your place, can I make magic items freely?""There might be requests, but if you can handle those...""Okay, that's fine. Ah, but please don't drown me in requests.""I won't."I had almost forgotten due to the significant deviation from the original, but he basically thinks only about magic items.Once he sensed the atmosphere that the problem might be solved, he skillfully slipped in his own desires.
"Regarding that point, let's include it in the contract. Now, shall we move on to compensation?""Yes. We also need to discuss what we want from you."However, I never imagined the negotiation would go as far as essentially acquiring an entire workshop.I slightly regretted not bringing Nell along to give her this negotiation experience, as I pulled presentation materials from my Magic Bag.
"First, here's what we can offer. Please have a look.""Let me see."The materials I took out were compiled documents useful for negotiation. I handed over a summary document that gives an overview first, then pulled out a thick stack of papers with detailed information.
"This is...""Looks like a good deal."Watching Miss Felt's surprised expression as she read and reread, Percy nodded contentedly and sipped his tea.
"'Good deal' is an understatement. You're offering a place larger than our current workshop? Plus a contract to build dedicated experimental facilities? And on top of that, a regular supply of materials we can hardly get our hands on, in this quantity!?""Hey, I'm a bit curious too. Felt, can you show me?"Seeing the materials I had prepared with utmost consideration, Felt began to get excited. Percy, drawn in, leaned over to look at the documents, was startled, and then silently ran his eyes over them.
"Well, well, Dwarven craftsmen are involved in the facility construction. The build quality looks sturdy, that's good.""How can you get such valuable materials in such large quantities? Eh, mining operations are starting too? Eh, this place is my ideal world?"In the couple's minds, they must have been envisioning something smaller than their current workshop.They were probably thinking about how to negotiate and maintain their current environment without downgrading too much.
But upon opening the lid, it was far better treatment than they imagined.It was like expecting a compact car as a gift and being given a luxury car instead. They were surprised and began dreaming of what they could do, filled with hope.
"So, is the compensation sufficient?""Sufficient? Are you really offering all this?""Yes. In return, as written in these documents, I'd like to request your educational support. And also, for you to create magic items in our territory."They began to doubt that such a sweet deal was real, but since we'll later make a contract at the temple, there's no benefit for me to lie.Having promised treatment surpassing even Duke Matthias in a way, I thus secured a connection with a magic item specialist.