Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: A Traitorous Subject Has Its Uses
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The unexpected visitor was a middle-aged man with neatly combed brown hair streaked with white. His attire wasn't particularly lavish, but a gold-rimmed monocle and the glimpse of an ornate watch and ring on his wrist subtly signaled that he was a man of considerable means.
He removed his hat, bowed, and introduced himself first.
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Beonald. I am Rahidi of the Orwell Trading Company. It is an honor to meet you like this."
"I see. The pleasure is mine. May I ask what brings you here?"
"Our Orwell Trading Company primarily deals with adventurer guilds, purchasing monster materials and supplying necessary goods. However, Lord Beonald, you have recently accepted various commissions and have not sold any of the monster materials you've hunted to the adventurer guilds at all... We were wondering if something was the matter, so we came to inquire."
"There's nothing particularly the matter. Every drop of blood, even the excrement-filled intestines—I have a use for it all. After all, I only receive the reward for the commission; how I dispose of the materials is the client's freedom."
"That is true, but... Well, a special demand has arisen at our company, and we lack the items that match it. Coincidentally, you happen to possess those very items."
He didn't say it directly, but if the items he had recently obtained and they were eyeing were what they seemed, they were undoubtedly the materials and magic stones from the high-risk monsters he had been hunting so extensively lately.
These items were notoriously hard to acquire, so it wasn't uncommon for merchants to go door-to-door like this to negotiate when there were buyers wanting to purchase but no goods available.
"That special demand... is it from the Daina Kingdom?"
"...Hah, hahaha. It is taboo to disclose information about our major clients."
"I'll take that as a yes. I had no intention of selling in the first place, but given my current position under the Valderian family, I cannot sell to the Daina Kingdom."
"Hmm, even if we offer a much better price? From our perspective, we have compelling reasons why we absolutely must acquire them."
This was why Beonald disliked merchants.
He had clearly stated his position, yet they clung on tenaciously, coveting what was his.
He couldn't just draw his sword and eliminate them, so all Beonald could do was frown in frustration and glare at him, dropping the formal speech as he began to speak.
"If you can't understand what people are saying, should I widen those earholes of yours a bit? Once I dig out all the filthy blood and earwax, you might~ finally be able to comprehend words, don't you think?"
"It's not that I don't understand. But as you anticipated, the situation in the Daina Kingdom is rather serious. Their demand for magic stones is excessively high. They are pressing for purchases to an unreasonable degree. So, from our perspective, it's a living hell."
"...Well, I've heard they are a nation of magic fanatics, so that figures."
"However, the quantity they've suddenly started demanding recently has increased dramatically."
"And? Fulfilling that is your problem, isn't it? I also have many uses for magic stones. Moreover, as I said, selling magic stones to the Daina Kingdom while being aligned with the Valderian family, who are their enemies? That would be a fatal mistake."
He turned away, reiterating his refusal, but the merchant named Rahidi changed his expression and tone at this point and spoke to Beonald.
"That's precisely why it could become a problem conversely. The Daina Kingdom wants magic stones... but they are here, and you won't sell them? What do you think will happen?"
It was a veiled threat: if they couldn't buy it with money, they could just invade and take it by force. But Beonald was not so weak as to yield to such intimidation.
Furthermore, if he started selling here, they would continually pressure him to hunt monsters and sell magic stones.
"I get the gist. But I still won't sell. In any case, hunting high-risk monsters won't proceed further without negotiating with the Church and the western development plans."
"If that's your stance, then there's nothing we can do. However, incurring the wrath of 'mages' is a rather frightening affair. In an instant, magic could rain down upon your head, and everything could go kwaaaang~ and vanish, you see."
'How laughable. Daring to threaten me, once one of the pillars of the Magic Tower, with magic...'
Pfft.
This was too much to hold back laughter, so Beonald couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
For ordinary people, magic might seem so mysterious that such threats could work, but Beonald was, in fact, a Grand Alchemist who had participated in the highest councils of the Magic Tower.
Moreover, with his expertise in spellcrafting and magical tool creation, his knowledge of magic far surpassed that of mediocre mages. To him, this threat was utterly pathetic.
"Well, be careful then. If your business is concluded, I'll take my leave. I have much work to do."
"...Very well."
Seeing Beonald show not a hint of agitation, Rahidi felt something was off, but there was nothing he could discern.
And Beonald returned to his room, thinking he should also prepare countermeasures against the Daina Kingdom, guessing what they might do.
'It's not like they haven't been conducting magic experiments left and right... Anyway, as long as I prepare properly, it should be fine. I need the magic stones for myself too.'
Magic stones were essential for the spellcrafting embedded in the frames of magic armor, and since they could be used to create various other magical tools, they were particularly precious.
Gold is good, but in these turbulent times, a sword to protect the treasury is more important.
If one lacked the capability to use them, selling might be an option, but Beonald already had countless uses for them, so there was no need for that.
'Anyway, the fact that the Daina Kingdom scum are up to something... I'll keep that in mind. And now, back to work...'
Vrrrm!
Just as he was about to pick up his pen again, a faint resonant sound reached Beonald's ears.
The ring given by his daughter, Lara von Neumel—now the Prime Minister of the Garkan Republic—had vibrated, receiving a communication.
Beonald immediately locked the door and accepted the contact from his daughter.
"You called?"
『...It's been a while, Bo. So, how's the situation there?』
"There's no major change, really. Anticipating a food shortage this year, I stockpiled through various means last year, so we got through it well. However, the Valderian family seems to be plotting something strange. Recently, the hunting of high-risk monsters has increased as well."
『Hmm, hunting high-risk monsters. Hmm...』
'To build trust, one must share information.'
First, share transparent information that can be disclosed to build trust.
Since he's known to be just a common soldier, it wouldn't be strange if he couldn't provide crucial information. Prime Minister Neumel also didn't have high expectations of this soldier named Bo and was merely using him for cross-verification of data.
A comfortable setup where trust can be gained as long as no false information is given. In fact, it was advantageous for Beonald to throw out bait and gather information.
"By the way... How is the situation with that 'Grave of Molting'? Is there anything I can help with?"
『Hmm, not yet. Right now, just securing that territory is keeping us busy enough. But don't worry; we are monitoring whether anyone is laying hands on Father's legacy.』
'Ah, they need time to digest it. Just the fact that they're watching is enough to not worry. I hope my name hasn't spread to the Kermel family...?'
One thing that worried him slightly was whether she had noticed that someone named Beonald had saved Duke Kermel. He was a little concerned, but not overly worried.
No matter how much they understood each other, publicly broadcasting that the head of the Kermel family was saved by someone from the Valderian family would only tarnish the family's prestige, so they'd likely gloss over it appropriately.
'Besides, information tends to get scattered and distorted. Even if questioned... since it's his legacy, I can just claim I used his name.'
『Anyway, continue to monitor the situation.』
"Yes! Everything for the great Neumel family!"
With that, the communication ended. While it would be a headache for the Empire, from Beonald's perspective, it seemed he wouldn't have to worry about the movements of the Garkan Republic or the 'Grave of Molting' for the time being, which was a relief.
And during this quiet, peaceful period, he needed to achieve maximum prosperity to prepare for future major crises. So, Beonald refocused and resumed the tasks of growing this budding city.
About half a year later, the season of autumn arrived.
Beonald was once again feeling that the expertise he had cultivated while ruling the entire Empire had not faded, as he looked with satisfaction upon the rapidly prospering territory of Heidi.
There had been various difficulties, but in truth, the major upheavals in human society were roughly similar, and most were things Beonald had already experienced in his previous life.
'We don't have enough workers!'
'Post recruitment advertisements in the Valderian territory and neighboring territories. If we pay wages, it will eventually become tax revenue for the nobles of other territories anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem for them.'
'It's the busy farming season, so we're at our limit!'
'Hire mercenaries. Since we've cleared out the major monsters, they'll have no work and be desperate anyway. Or mobilize criminals... Ah! Commissioning the capture of bandits is also a good idea. We need manpower. Actively consider purchasing slaves as well.'
After driving out the notoriously vicious high-risk monsters to the west and hunting the predators beneath them for stabilization, commissions for mercenaries and adventurers had decreased tremendously.
So much so that they were about to leave for other places after losing their work, but coincidentally, there was a shortage of labor for the city's prosperity, leading to many job openings. Thus, they ended up staying and working instead of going elsewhere.
'Since it was practically a village with almost nothing, it's actually easier to redesign and build cleanly from scratch.'
And here, Beonald flaunted the know-how in city planning he had accumulated while creating the territory of Benofis to his heart's content.
His own city, created because he wanted to leave the city marked by Felix's legacy! The decades of experience he had poured into creating his masterpiece, 'Benofis,' were immediately put to use, even drafting the city's blueprint.
It wasn't merely expanding what was there into a larger city; the focus was on creating a city that was pleasant to live in and prosperous.
However, just because everything was running smoothly didn't mean it was all good.
"...This is utterly baffling. What in the world are you? Where did you learn all this?"
When people witness something beyond their understanding and knowledge, they often fall into shock and awe.
Count Valderian, seeing what he had accomplished in just a few months, initially thought it was remarkable. But upon further reflection, it was so absurd that his face turned pale, and he looked at Beonald as if facing a monster.
"Hmm... It's nothing special, really."
"That! How can you say that's nothing special?"
He had come to congratulate Beonald on his achievements after a long time, but upon arrival, the reality was utterly preposterous.
The village that had been nothing but small farmsteads now had the atmosphere of a city. The road connecting to the Valderian territory was neatly paved, and unfamiliar people bustled about everywhere.
"I suppose that's my talent. And... it's not like I created something from nothing. I used everything that was available... Is there a problem?"
"Sigh..."
"To be honest, there were several crises. Securing manpower, other nobles growing envious as wealth and assets suddenly accumulated, backlash from adventurers who lost their work... But thanks to the Count's patronage, we achieved these results. Ah, and this year's estimated tax revenue from this territory is probably... this much?"
"The surprises never end. I'm starting to see you as a demon. No, really... To this extent..."
Cold sweat was now pouring down Count Valderian's face and back.
Having a competent subordinate is good, but this was excessive.
If it had been built gradually over five or ten years, maybe. But this defied common sense.
As rulers often are, keeping a subordinate who is so outstanding that he might usurp the Valderian family's position was far too dangerous. He couldn't help but hesitate over whether to let Beonald live.
'...Hmm, it's the anguish a noble must naturally harbor, but he's showing it too plainly, which is ridiculous. Originally, he should hide it behind a smile as much as possible and then stab me in the back~ Is it because his nature is that of a knight?'
And Beonald, seeing Count Valderian's transparent inner thoughts, was somewhat disappointed that he didn't live up to the magnanimity he had expected. But since this was how it was, he thought there was no helping it and decided to alleviate his unease.