Chapter 129 : Chapter 129
Chapter 129
“Thank you for the hospitality.”
“Before I am a lord, I am also the Butler of this place. I’m confident when it comes to receiving guests.”
“So you truly are as benevolent as I had heard.”
Benevolence and I weren’t exactly close companions. I assumed it was just empty flattery and sat down across from him. Since he had come from far away on business, I supposed we ought to talk about business.
“I heard that my estate had been left unattended for quite some time.”
“Oh, rather than unattended, I think the word self-governed would be more fitting, my lord.”
“My mistake.”
Come to think of it, if someone heard it described as unattended, the marquis or the Administrative Officer would probably be displeased.
He was an old man who said what he wanted quite readily. His name was Noer, wasn’t it? I had better remember it well, or I felt as though I would get an earful if I forgot.
“In any case, the Tordan Region will hereafter be called Medici, after my family name. But I would prefer to leave the village name as it is. There would be no gain in changing it, and the residents likely have their own wishes as well.”
“Thank you for your consideration. It will make all the villagers very happy.”
“What is the current situation there? I tried to learn about Tordan Village, but there was not much information. I’d like to know what the atmosphere is like and whether it has any specialties.”
“Shamefully, there is nothing especially worth reporting. It is simply peaceful and quiet. Since the terrain is rough, hunters and adventurers stop by often, but beyond that, there is nothing particularly noteworthy.”
“So it really is a mountain village, then.”
“That it is.”
“Are there no monster attacks?”
“We have organized a Vigilance Corps and are defending against them. I am concerned because the number of young people has decreased lately...... but for now, we are still managing.”
I nodded.
I had already given some thought to that part. I intended to discuss it with the Knight Commander and make Arthas my lieutenant outright.
To him, it might look as though his road to advancement was being cut off, but the reality was different. It would become the first step in drawing him into Metis.
If I sent Arthas to Tordan Village from time to time and had him train the villagers, it should produce some results.
Of course, becoming a Knight was still his goal in life.
But he also needed to think about the life that came after becoming a Knight.
I intended to grow Metis into the greatest company on the continent. If he became one of the core figures in that organization, would that not be better than becoming a Knight of some ordinary house?
This world did not have the sort of dual-employment clauses that existed where I used to live. He could just receive an appropriate title, then bury his bones in Metis and be done with it.
And if all else failed, I intended to connect him to the Bahamut Ducal House.
If he was going to receive a title anyway, one from the Bahamut Ducal House would be far better than one from the Adeline Marquis House.
“If there is nothing particularly urgent, then this will be easier to say. Village Chief. As you know, I am an Assigned Butler of Adeline. And at present, I am in a position where I must attend Young Lady Sapiela.”
“I know that well, my lord.”
“I would like to go to Tordan Village at once and speak with the residents, but I have to return to the Royal Capital as quickly as possible. So until I return, I would like you to continue managing the village well.”
Because I put it gently, Noer’s expression brightened as well.
“You need not worry. Just as I have until now, I will continue to do my utmost.”
“That’s reassuring. If you have anything to report, send a Messenger to the branch residence in the Royal Capital.”
“I shall do so.”
With that, the business was finished. After exchanging a little more polite conversation with the Village Chief, I left the mansion for a short while to carry out an important appointment and put on the Face Mask.
Now it was time to become Suhyeon and meet Young Master Hamel in private.
***
“Oh! Suhyeon. I heard you were in the Royal Capital, so when did you suddenly appear here?”
Young Master Hamel welcomed me with both arms spread wide. But rather than hospitality, there was a look on his face that suggested suspicion.
Which made sense. He had gone all the way to Metis not long ago only to leave empty-handed, so if I appeared like this now, anyone would be suspicious. This was not a distance that could be traveled in a day or two.
I bowed my head and cleared up the misunderstanding.
“I received word that the atmosphere in the Adeline territory was not normal, so I hurried my steps. I had only just arrived when I heard that Your Young Mastership had visited, and so I requested this meeting.”
“So news from the county reached even that far?”
“I have an information network of my own as well. It’s a basic virtue any merchant ought to possess.”
“Then I suppose this rumor has already spread all through the Royal Capital too.”
Even in a place without the internet, rumors spread quickly. There might not be real-time trending searches, but merchant companies, mercenary corps, and all kinds of messengers still carried countless pieces of information from place to place.
I wasn’t sure whether it had truly spread all the way to the Royal Capital, but there was no need to deny it, so I nodded.
“It’s probably already on the lips of idle gossipmongers. Hasn’t the kingdom been too peaceful until now? It may well be time for a war to break out.”
“Shut up! You peddler-like bastard. If war breaks out, won’t your kind be the only ones to profit? You’ll sell off your stockpiled goods at inflated prices and grow fat off it!”
“If you truly think that, then I’m disappointed.”
I tossed that out flatly, then stared directly at the Young Master.
Now it was time for a contest of wills.
If all I wanted was to listen to the Young Master’s complaints, I would not have come to meet him in such a hurry. I had something I needed from his help as well.
There were many types of people in the world, and the Third Young Master in particular was the sort who preferred clear give-and-take. If I extended goodwill for no reason, it would only come back to poison me. It would make him suspicious.
“Go on, then. Keep talking. It’s not as though you emptied your brain in the Royal Capital.”
“What matters most right now is not the large-scale military exercises in the count’s territory. It’s the movement of the Delfino Merchant Company.”
“Hm.”
“They’re using the strategy of making a feint to the east and striking in the west.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means they move as though they’ll strike in the east, only to suddenly hit the west instead. It refers to a strategy that pulls the other side’s attention elsewhere.”
By now, Young Master Hamel had propped his chin on his hand. That was proof he had not let my words pass by lightly.
In truth, I also believed the count’s house was making a move. The exercises were only exercises. In reality, the Delfino Merchant Company was creating an outside issue so that no one would notice them swallowing up the minor merchant companies based in Adeline.
By the time everyone came to their senses, Adeline’s commercial sphere would already have passed entirely into Delfino’s hands.
“So you’re saying they stirred up the military situation on purpose to play tricks?”
“It is nothing more than ceremonial training. What matters is reading the move hidden behind it.”
“And what move have you read?”
Young Master Hamel really was the best when it came to acting naturally. He had probably already grasped what was happening himself. That was likely why he had called for me in the first place.
Because the only way to stop money was with money of the same kind.
It seemed the time had finally come to tell him the real reason I had come.
“That is exactly why I wish to ask you something. Would you be willing to lend me your strength?”
“My strength, hm?”
“I need justification.”
“Justification. That would depend on what sort of justification it is. Picking the right one won’t be easy for a mere 1,200 Gold a month.”
My heart pounded.
Not from nerves. The thrill running from my head down my spine made it clear that I, too, was enjoying this conversation with the Young Master.
“Of course. Our company is fundamentally built on commerce. We weigh profit and loss thoroughly.”
“Get to the point.”
“Our Metis has decided to invest more actively in Young Master the Third.”
Interest flickered in the Third Young Master’s uncanny eyes.
“You mean you intend to push me as the successor?”
Instead of answering, I merely smiled. The Young Master rose from his seat and slowly approached me.
“The successor will be decided by His Excellency the Marquis. That is not for us to determine. I merely hope that Your Young Mastership will come to play a leading role within the Adeline House.”
“Good. Good! Then recite your plan.”
“Please help Metis grow.”
“Why should I?”
I smiled, baring just enough greed to match the way he smiled himself. People naturally gathered around those like themselves.
“Because only if we grow into a company that represents Adeline can we check the Delfino Merchant Company.”
“You’ve already been making this and that lately. Fountain pens, and so on. Aren’t you already famous enough?”
“Not nearly. In anything a person does, it is difficult to get far without a strong rope to hold onto.”
“Say what you want.”
“We want to conclude an exclusive supply contract with the Adeline House. Everything we are capable of supplying, from office supplies to foodstuffs.”
Young Master Hamel’s expression as he looked at me turned serious. His eyes grew sharper. But I was not prey laid before a wild beast. I was a lethal predator concealing both claws and fangs.
“After that, we too will advance into the House of Count Astria. In exactly the same way the Delfino bastards did, we’ll expand our influence from within their own base of operations.”
“You mean to fight against Delfino, one of the greatest merchant companies on the continent, using the same strategy they do?”
“We have more than enough chances of winning. We possess many things they do not.”
Starting with the fountain pen, then the ballpoint pen soon to be released, and after that the improved paper, stapler, adhesive, and Post-it that Eluna and Spinel would develop.
New products that could provide convenience to everyone, not merely those limited by noble status, would undoubtedly become a great source of strength for both Metis and the Adeline House.
“We will create not only higher-quality office supplies, but a variety of products people can use conveniently. I believe the fountain pen incident already proved that potential.”
The fountain pen was an unpleasant memory for him. Ever since the First Young Master got his hands on one, he had been subtly going around emphasizing that he was the true successor.
Had he finished calculating everything at that point?
The Young Master’s rough hand came down on my shoulder. At that instant, his Status Window appeared.
○ Hamel de Adeline
Rank: ★★★★★
Level: 33 (+2)
Traits: Acting A, Swordsmanship A, Tactics A, Stratagem A, Intuition B, Courage B, Dignity B, Politics C, Negotiation C, ???
Status: Flickering Like a Candle in the Wind
Areas of Interest: The future of the house. Concern and distrust toward neighboring territories. Longing for family who are far away.
Favorability: 85
Alignment: Very Good
[Not Unlocked]
......
Between his Areas of Interest, his Favorability, and even his Alignment, it seemed I really had judged him correctly. The more I looked, the more it seemed better for him to inherit the house after all.
I made my decision.
And it seemed Young Master Hamel had made his as well.
“Good. Then I’ll entrust my future, and the future of our house, to you.”
The Young Master returned to his seat, flicked his clothes once, and sat down with dignity. Then he continued.
“I’ll have the contract prepared. First, submit to me a full list of every item your company is capable of supplying. I’ll settle matters with the Administrative Officer myself.”
“Thank you for this grace.”
The meeting with the Third Young Master ended in the best possible scenario.
Now only the final step remained.
Once the audience was over, I went to find Eluna while still wearing the Face Mask.