Chapter 304
(Kyle Calendar Year 514: Age 21)
Traps Laid All Around
Translator : PolterGlast
While Sieghart and Takuhir were repeating an
invisible battle under the pretext of confirming the inventory, the
confirmation of the gold coins to be paid as ransom by the Empire side was also
finished.
When the Third Prince Grat and the First Princess Clarice
signed the signing document and the seals of both countries were affixed, the
ceasefire agreement was formally concluded, and the cession of territory,
payment of compensation, and return of prisoners became effective.
"Now, first of all, congratulations! With this, the two
countries that fought each other for many years have gloriously joined hands,
and will mutually walk towards a new future."
"Indeed, Your Highness. From us, to commemorate this
peace, and also to celebrate Your Highness Grat's succession to the
throne, we have prepared a gift."
Saying so, Her Highness Clarice made eye contact with
the attendant waiting beside her. After a while, two attendants carefully
carried something like a statue covered with a cloth into the meeting room.
"We believe this is a masterpiece truly fitting for Your
Highness Grat, who is highly renowned as a warrior."
Saying so, Her Highness vigorously removed the covering
cloth.
"Oh!" "Th-This is..."
"S-Splendid." "The armor is... shining brightly in rainbow
colors."
The Empire side, especially the military officials, had
their eyes shining and were leaking words of admiration.
"It is the finest article crafted with all their heart
by the artisans of the Kyle Kingdom. For the material, the scales of a Klimt,
which King Fearalt, Archduke Westlights, and I myself entered the
Demon Territory together to subjugate, are used abundantly. It will
surely become armor protecting the important person who will become
Emperor."
Her Highness was showing off the item with a smug face. Huh?
Come to think of it...
Didn't Her Highness say she was going to give the Klimt
armor to her father, King Kyle, to add grace to the victory ceremony?
"It's good medicine for that obstinate person."
To me, who had a complicated expression, Her Highness
muttered quietly. Did another dispute happen at the Royal Palace without my
knowledge regarding the wedding?
The image of His Majesty the King with teary eyes floated in
my mind, but I dared to ignore it. The Old Raccoon probably knows the
circumstances. He has a pale face and is sweating cold sweat.
"Her Highness personally entered the Demon Territory?
The armor of a Klimt, said to be a legendary monster... for me?"
His Highness Grat stood up from his seat out of sheer
surprise and was gazing at the armor as if to devour it. With an expression of
an elated state...
"Hmm, the meaning of this gift is significant. With
this, it is equivalent to the Kyle Kingdom, the Westlights Demon Territory
Dukedom, and the Fearalt Principality publicly declaring that they
acknowledge and support Your Highness Grat's succession to the
throne."
At the Commander's words, I too realized its meaning anew.
That's certainly true. But well, this is also a predetermined course already
decided by the Kingdom. Since the rebel army and the First Prince's camp were
tied, the Fearalt Principality
probably has the same conclusion. However...
"Your Highness, um... what about the approval to the Principality side?"
"I received His Majesty Krieger's consent. We
have continued to exchange letters frequently since then, after all. That's
why, when I took the trouble to go to Salaam..."
I SEE... thank you for the meal. I'll pretend I didn't hear
that last sentence.
"Her Highness Clarice, I offer my deep, deep gratitude
again. Something that can never be obtained just by desiring it, that is the
armor of a Klimt. For one advancing on the path of martial arts, this
can be said to be the greatest gift."
『Eh?
Is that so? ...』
I knew its value was high and its defensive power
unparalleled, but to think what I was doing, handing it out left and right to
my important wives, relatives, and Mages...
"Your Highness Grat, as one aspiring to the same
path of martial arts, my past self felt the same. When I was gifted this armor,
if I had been proposed to at the same time, I would have definitely taken that
person's hand. Well, now... that is a story that doesn't matter anymore,
though."
"A story that doesn't matter anymore... I see."
"To Her Highness Clarice, I will arrange a messenger
with courtesy and have an item of return gratitude prepared anew. The feelings
of the three countries, I have certainly engraved them in my heart with this
armor!"
Along with
His Highness Grat's words filled
with myriad feelings, the signing ceremony concluded.
Now, the ceremony between country and country is over. But
for me, this is where the real thing begins. Because the battle for the future,
a commercial battle without swords, is about to begin...
While the reception office unit of over 100 people directed
by Claire and Yoltia was confirming the acceptance of families
and conducting interviews with each family, I was to meet with the merchants Sieghart
had gathered.
I myself, excluding the Tia Trading Company, almost
never interact directly with merchants. Even up until now, I have basically
proceeded with responses through some comrade as an intermediary, and even with
the retained merchants from long ago, the only time we speak directly
face-to-face is around the New Year's banquet.
It's partly because I was that busy, but the main reason is
that Bart, Yoltia, Raphael, and the others are excellent,
and there was nothing for me to do.
Therefore, the merchants, much less the merchants placing
weight on the Empire, don't even know my face in the first place. Even if they
hypothetically know what I look like, if I change into plain clothes and mingle
with Raphael and Bart, from common sense, the other party wouldn't possibly think I'm a Archduke.
"Now then, shall we ascertain their true intentions...
No, would it be more correct to say we're going to tear his trap to
pieces?"
While jokingly speaking to Bart and Raphael who
were moving with me, we entered the tent Sieghart had prepared.
"Thank you all very much for taking the trouble to come
today. The reason you have gathered this time is a request for procurement
related to the development project of the territory we newly obtained within
the Empire."
Greeting them so at the beginning, I slowly looked over the
faces of those gathered. Everyone, like sly, battle-hardened merchants, was
floating full smiles on the surface, but they were all men whose thoughts were
unreadable.
"Since we took the time to come all the way here. We
expect business negotiations that will wake us up from our sleepiness, you
know."
One representing them spoke to me with wording that felt
condescending no matter how you look at it. Well, I suppose this much was as
expected.
"Yes, I will do my best to accommodate. First, what we
want to order is food provisions for a scale of 20,000 people for the next
three months, materials and daily necessities for 10,000 temporary houses, and
construction materials related to city development and flood control works. The
detailed order contents are described in the documents to be distributed now,
so please look at those first."
Saying so, the list of items scheduled to be ordered was
distributed to the people of nearly 50 large and small trading companies
gathered there. However, the voices raised by those who received it were entirely
negative.
"The timing is bad. With winter over and before the
harvest, grains are pretty expensive, let alone in this quantity."
"Even being told today of all days, whether we can
gather it... well, you'll have to be prepared for corresponding compensation."
"This is why bureaucratic work is no good, there's a
thing called proper procedure, you know."
"Construction materials have been bought up to a
certain extent, so procuring them will be a painstaking effort, sir."
Such voices arising was rather within the range of
expectations. While everyone was saying it was difficult, their eyes said
otherwise. They had the look of someone with a delicious prey right in front of
them.
"Boss, what is this 'estimated price'?"
"Of course, it is exactly as written. This is the price
and unit price we assume on our side upon procurement."
"Ah, this is why
amateurs are no good. Listen, Boss, in business, price is a relative thing. If
demand rises, the price goes up, and if there are no goods, it goes up even
more. If you're going to purchase it all at once, stock will hit rock bottom,
and the price will multiply several times over."
"It seems you gentlemen do not understand the thing
called distribution either. Sugar, which even commoners can somehow afford in
the Sura Principality, becomes a ridiculous price when
wholesaled to northern countries via the Empire. Cargo cannot be transported
for free; hands and horses, food and lodging for those people and horses, and
the taxes necessary to pass through various places are also added. You haven't
considered that entirely at all."
"Right, if there's a guy who trades at such a price,
I'd like to see it. Creating a deficit in business on purpose, it's
presumptuous to even call oneself a merchant. Even estimating optimistically,
at least double this estimated price will probably be necessary."
Yes, yes... I understood very well. Groundwork has been laid
heavily, hasn't it. No, maybe it's better to say they have been disciplined
properly?
Because we are speaking after calculating the estimated
price by adding a fair profit, upon meticulously calculating the market,
prices, and distribution expenses with the cooperation of Bart and the
merchants we've had direct involvement with so far.
"I will continue. Procurement will basically be
conducted in units of three months, and we will change the estimated price each
time looking at the market situation. First is the first round of recruitment,
but we will place orders with multiple trading companies and..."
"That is why we are saying that estimated price is
wrong! There is no one within the Empire who will respond at such a
price."
"Are you sure, Bosses? At this rate, you won't be able
to procure anything, and it'll cause trouble for your Lord too. "
No, no, when it's this blatant, conversely, I almost burst
out laughing. From the middle, my thoughts had shifted to: 『How far should I drag this out and
enjoy it?』
"Is that so? We also investigated the market
and..."
"No, no, which market? Don't tell me... not the Kyle
Kingdom market, right?"
"Moreover, even if you investigated, don't tell me it's
Teigoon or something? It's completely different from the prices of a
self-sufficient city. At this time of year with that quantity, food and such
must be scraped together from all over the Empire. You don't understand that,
do you?"
But, is it about time? I want to go see how Claire
and Yoltia are doing soon too, and I can't just keep playing here
forever.
Then, shall we begin the time for educational guidance... I decided to intentionally switch the switch inside myself.
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