Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Win-Win
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I couldn't choose just one of the two.
Freya was the daughter of the Callas Viscount.
The Callas Viscounty was a key strategic point connecting Monster Island to the continent.
Trade with the continent was vital to me, so my relationship with them mattered.
And Alensia from the Vampire Duke Family went without saying.
This is awkward.
To defuse the situation, I scanned the surroundings.
And one person caught my eye.
"Russell!"
"Ah, my lord!"
I rushed over to Russell.
And grabbed both his hands.
"What about the task I gave you?"
"Those three days off..."
"Ah! You pulled three all-nighters? I need to check on that right away. Please, both of you, take a moment to rest. I have some urgent business to attend to."
I entered the office with Russell.
"My lord, what is it?"
"Well, you see..."
I briefly explained what had just happened.
"I see that happened."
Russell pulled a piece of paper from his pocket.
"If you have time, could you take a look at this?"
The paper detailed Mercenary Street's income and expenditures.
"This is odd."
The numbers were strange.
The expenditures looked normal,
but the income was far higher than expected.
"Isn't this a miscalculation?"
"I double-checked it myself. It's accurate."
I read the document carefully.
As Russell said, there were no errors in the calculations.
That meant the mercenaries had spent that much money.
The customers at Mercenary Street were mercenaries, after all.
At this rate, they've spent almost everything they earned?
Income is generally used in two ways.
First, spending.
Second, saving.
The balance between spending and saving varies by personal tendencies and circumstances.
And mercenaries had an extremely high tendency to spend.
Is it because of their profession?
Mercenaries could die as early as tomorrow.
So they enjoyed today to the fullest.
I opened a drawer and pulled out the subsidy expenditure records.
Mercenary Street's net profit was almost exactly equal to the subsidy amount.
In other words, most of the subsidies had been recouped through Mercenary Street's shops.
"We're not in the red after all?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't expect this level of revenue from Mercenary Street."
"It's fine. I didn't expect it either."
"Then why not skip borrowing from them?"
Theoretically, I didn't need to borrow.
We weren't in deficit.
But...
Opportunities to borrow at 3% interest didn't come often.
Practically never.
Was I going to pass this up?
"Can't do that. I'll borrow from both. Russell, let's go!"
"Yes, my lord."
.
.
"Borrow from both?"
"Do you need that much money?"
The reason to borrow had vanished,
yet they still grumbled.
"After seeing Russell's report, the situation looks tight. So I'd like to borrow from both of you."
Maybe it was because I showed some distress.
They no longer pressed me to choose one.
"Russell."
"Yes, my lord."
I pulled out the paper from the office.
And drafted a contract on the spot.
It stated I would borrow money from both women at 3% interest.
"You must be in a real bind."
Alensia signed the contract without hesitation.
Seeing that, Freya signed as well.
Though unlike Alensia, her hand trembled faintly.
Once the contracts were done,
I led the two women to the dining hall.
"Eat as much as you like. We slaughtered a cow for you all!"
The head chef prepared dishes using the beef.
Being from the continent, the varieties were diverse.
As we ate,
Freya alone fidgeted restlessly.
She'd pick up her fork, then set it down repeatedly.
I feel a bit guilty...
Her behavior was surely because of the low-interest loan to me.
"Elwin-nim."
"Please speak, Freya-nim."
"I... I think I should head back early."
"To the viscounty?"
"Yes, there's... some business with Father anyway."
What business could it be?
Talk about the money she was lending me, no doubt.
If she goes like this, she'll get an earful?
A 3% ultra-low interest loan.
The economically savvy Callas Viscount would surely be furious.
"Freya-nim."
"I'm sorry, Elwin-nim."
"Let me tell you something from now on. Please relay it to the viscount."
"What is it?"
"When I met the viscount before, I spoke of a 'virtuous cycle.' What I have to say this time is..."
Clink.
I glanced sideways at the small sound.
Alensia and Jeffrey set down their forks, focusing on the conversation.
"Have you heard of 'zero-sum'?"
"Not really."
I made eye contact with Alensia and Jeffrey too.
They shook their heads, apparently hearing it for the first time.
"It means one side's gain is the other's loss, summing to zero."
The response came from Alensia.
"Isn't that obvious? If someone gains, someone else loses."
"You're right, Alensia-nim. But there are cases otherwise. We call them 'win-win.'"
"Win-win? Both win. Is that what it means?"
"Exactly. The empire's lords are in competition. If one grows strong, others weaken. But sometimes, both can grow strong. Like... the relationship between me and Viscount Callas."
I addressed Alensia, but finished looking at Freya.
"Should I relay that to Father?"
"Yes, then Freya-nim's worries will vanish."
Freya stood from her seat.
"Thank you. Can I... come again next time?"
"You're welcome anytime."
Freya and Jeffrey hurried out of the dining hall.
A moment later,
Alensia stood as well.
"Business here is done. Time to head back."
"Leaving already?"
Alensia looked down at me.
I was taller, but sitting while she stood.
"Do I look like I have time to kill?"
"Uh... well..."
I hadn't summoned her,
she'd come all the way to Terra herself.
Yet now she asks if she looks idle?
Anyone would think I was wasting her time.
"Don't worry about the money. I'll send it right away."
With Alensia gone too, silence settled over the dining hall.
As if the storm of the past day or two had been an illusion.
And with it came exhaustion.
Probably from the sudden release of tension.
Then,
A delicious aroma tickled my nose.
"Ah. What a waste. Barely touched the pricey beef. Hey! Call Russell and Isaac!"
Less than a minute after I called, Russell entered.
He must have been waiting outside the dining hall.
"Sit. There's plenty of food left."
"Thank you, my lord."
I started eating with Russell.
Since I didn't know when Isaac would arrive.
While we were eating,
Russell spoke up.
"My lord, what do you plan to use the borrowed money for?"
"Buy slaves, of course?"
I had plenty of land.
With slaves, I could farm, leading to increased revenue.
"No plans to expand the outpost?"
"Outpost?"
"Many mercenaries are subjugating trolls, stretching supply lines. The current outpost can't handle them."
Centered on the areas I'd annexed,
'West River' was at the southeast end.
'Terra' at the southwest end.
The troll territory, meanwhile, was to the north.
"You mean expand the northern outpost?"
"Yes. Shorter travel for mercenaries would speed up troll subjugation."
"But..."
I'd have to forgo revenue.
Whether mercenaries spent at the outpost or traveled to West River,
the money ended up in my pocket anyway.
Revenue and subjugation. Can't I chase both rabbits?
What if I turn the northern outpost into a village?
Not just supplies,
but form a village like Terra?
It could handle supplies while generating farm revenue.
But the borrowed money isn't enough...
"Russell, can't we get more funds?"
"Borrow more? Not a good idea. Others won't lend at low rates."
"True."
Even if farm income rose, high interest would negate it.
Any other sources of money...?
Someone once said
human greed knows no bounds.
Just yesterday, I'd wished only to break even.
Now, a day later, I wanted to build another village.
"I know what you're thinking, my lord. But you can't have it all. Focus on troll subjugation."
If choosing one, Russell was right.
But...
Money...
Money...
My thoughts sank deep into my subconscious.
I might have dozed off briefly.
Then, a voice jolted me awake.
"My lord, sorry I'm late."
"There you are! You are!"
I shot up.
And gripped Isaac's shoulder tightly.
"My lord?"
"Isaac, come here quick. Eat. Have seconds."
"Ah... thank you."
I rested my chin on my hand, watching Isaac.
The money was right here. So close.
"My lord?"
"It's fine. Eat up. Want more? Shall I have them slaughter another cow?"
"No need. This is plenty."
I waited until Isaac had eaten his fill.
And when he finished,
"Isaac, you know, the slaves have money, right?"
Slaves' money.
Generally, slaves don't hold personal property.
But I'd allowed my slaves personal property.
Even now, I paid them monthly wages, less than commoners but still.
"What if I hold onto that money for them?"
I eyed Isaac's reaction, pondering the interest rate.
How many percent?
"That's a great idea."
"Yeah? It is."
Isaac's response was positive.
I lowered the tentative rate a bit more.
"There have been several losses from misplacement. If you hold it, they'll feel secure."
"Right. But, you see..."
I trailed off, mulling the final decision.
5%? Too low? 6%?
"Are you thinking of charging a storage fee?"
"Storage fee?"