Chapter 80: Opening the Floodgates
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 80: Opening the Floodgates
As a man who dealt in human pleasure, Ahmed Hashim was one of the wealthiest individuals on the continent.
His first impression was surprisingly positive—so much so that it was hard to believe he was the lord of such a den of vice. His bronze skin was taut with lean muscle, and his eyes possessed a sharp, inner radiance. He was the polar opposite of the dull-eyed nobles commonly seen in Halim.
Ahmed personally handed Ferda the tea prepared by a maid.
"It is Assam tea. I heard rumors that you enjoy tea, so I brought this instead of wine."
"I shall enjoy it. Thank you."
"It is an honor to host you in such a private setting. Though I did not attend the Grand Council, I heard you made a very impressive speech. I sincerely hope for the prosperity of the Far East."
Talk is cheap, Ferda thought.
"I appreciate the sentiment."
"Sentiment? Would I, Ahmed Hashim, ever risk the wrath of Set with mere empty words?"
Set was the god of the southern desert. Ahmed stroked his long, flowing beard as he continued.
"I wish there were a gift I could offer the Regent directly. Ah." Ahmed snapped his fingers. "I have just the idea."
Ahmed whispered something to the maid fanning him. She nodded and stepped out of the room. Ahmed then turned back to Ferda with a smile.
"You are aware, I presume, that those who visit our city enjoy gambling?"
"Of course. I even tried my hand at it once since arriving."
"For those who find it regrettable to end their play simply because they’ve run out of cash, we have something prepared."
"A pawnshop?"
Ahmed nodded.
Though Ahmed was called the Lord of Halim, he only operated two of the twelve casinos in the city. Instead, every single pawnshop was run by his subordinates. From those alone, he earned three times the profit of all ten other casinos combined.
"We take collateral and give the owners six months. After that, I am free to dispose of the items as I see fit."
"So, you’re saying you’ll give me one of those items."
"Indeed. You won't be disappointed."
The auction following the current exhibition was likely to be centered around items from Ahmed’s pawnshops. By mentioning this, he was offering to hand over one of those treasures.
It’s more than just a pawnshop, Ferda realized.
The clients in Halim were mostly nobles and wealthy merchants. They pawned everything from simple jewels to rare heirlooms in times of desperation.
Of course, most families would take out loans just to recover their heirlooms.
Pawning an heirloom was essentially a deal with a loan shark. Most of the treasures left behind would be jewels or magic items with mediocre effects. Still, Ferda found himself curious. Since Ahmed was so confident, it was worth seeing what he had in store.
A moment later, four maids dressed in dancer’s attire entered, carefully carrying a palanquin. The care they took suggested that the object was a precious item no one was allowed to touch. Ferda couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.
Resting atop the palanquin was a long case, roughly the size of a dagger. Ahmed personally retrieved the item and laid it out on the table.
"This is..."
Ferda’s eyes widened. Having spent his life as a mage pursuing strength, he recognized it instantly.
"Do you recognize it?"
"Is this... a World Tree branch struck by Heaven-Defying Lightning?"
Ahmed looked surprised by Ferda’s guess.
"Precisely. You recognized it at a glance. Most people wouldn't have a clue..."
Until it is broken, a World Tree branch holds pure mana. If struck by lightning, its properties shift, amplifying its power. For a mage who specialized in lightning, it was an essential material for a staff. However, branches from a World Tree struck by ordinary lightning were relatively common—there were over a thousand of them—so their rarity was low.
But Heaven-Defying Lightning was different.
The lightning that only the first witch, Lucy Philias, could wield.
Lucy Philias was the witch who defied providence and possessed the only power capable of opposing the gods. Her signature power was Heaven-Defying Lightning. Unlike common blue lightning, it was crimson and pierced the heavens.
Only seven World Tree branches had ever been struck by that specific lightning. One was held by Erdes, one was in the Blue Eye, and the other five had been distributed among famous mage families. However, two of those families had vanished along with their legacies.
So this is one of the missing ones?
There were several possibilities. Perhaps a gambling-addicted scion had stolen the heirloom and pawned it, later claiming it was lost out of shame. Or perhaps a thief had stolen it and wagered it here. Regardless of how it got here, the shock of its existence outweighed everything else.
1.2 million Golden.
It was a sum that even most kings would find difficult to produce. Ferda remembered the price because it was so legendary. It was an incredibly rare material for mages who dealt with lightning magic.
"I have a question."
"Yes, yes. Please, ask."
"How much was this pawned for?"
Ahmed grinned, as if he had been waiting for the question.
"Ten thousand Golden."
A hundred-and-twenty-fold difference. Ferda was reminded once again of how gambling could ruin a person. To throw away something worth 1.2 million Golden for such a pittance...
But that wasn't the important part.
Ahmed knows how valuable this is.
Even if not 1.2 million, he must have known he could get at least 500,000 Golden for it. It was too heavy a gift to give away lightly. This meant Ahmed valued Ferda more than that massive sum of money. Ahmed had clearly finished his calculations.
"Is it truly alright to give me such a precious item?"
"An object eventually finds its true master. Is it not fitting to gift lightning to one who commands it?"
During the wolf monster incident, Ferda had used Lightning Spear and Lightning Bolt. Ahmed must have assumed he was a lightning mage.
Still, if I make a staff out of this, it will be a great help.
It was a material that would only ever be an asset, never a liability. Ferda accepted Ahmed’s gift.
"I accept it with gratitude. I’m not sure if I should remain idle after receiving such a gift."
"There is no need to worry. Should comrades in the same boat not help one another?"
"The same boat?"
"Yes. Are we not both in the position of having to build something from the ground up?"
Ahmed rose from his seat and walked toward the window. Ferda followed him. Looking out, he saw a wasteland stretching under the scorching sun.
"Halim was once just another dying city on a parched land. When mages were expanding their ambitions, our city was one of their targets."
Interference by mages in internal affairs was common in the south. Water was always scarce there. Therefore, anyone who could manipulate the element of water was treated with great respect. If they could handle ice as well, they could name their price.
"So, my grandfather worked tirelessly to revive Halim. He devoted himself to this land, which everyone believed the mages had cursed and God had abandoned."
Ahmed’s eyes grew misty, his expression filled with a deep-seated sorrow, as if he were reliving those grievances himself.
"Everyone cursed us, saying we would fail. But look at this! Everyone called this place profane and abandoned by God, yet we have grown so strong that no one can ignore us. This was achieved through human strength alone!"
A city of prosperity that defied the nature of the wasteland. While many small towns adapted to the southern desert, none had achieved the luxury and civilization of Halim.
"And my father, Abdul Hashim, always told me never to hesitate in helping a brother in the same situation. The Far East is our brother. It is a brother nation that walks the same path and deserves the same prosperity!"
Ahmed displayed a passion that seemed capable of setting the world on fire. It was an impressive display, enough to move anyone.
However, Ferda did not take it at face value. To survive in this mad land, one had to remain sane 365 days a year. It wasn't a choice; it was a necessity. It made no sense to show such favor simply out of gratitude.
He must have been impressed by Burnell.
Ahmed had recognized the value of Magitech. He didn't want to miss the chance to get his hands on weapons that could kill monsters in a single shot.
Having reached his conclusion, Ferda spoke.
"As it happens, I am currently constructing a village under Valdrova Castle to aid in the conquest of the Far East."
"I heard about that as well. I imagine labor and materials are in short supply. When is the scheduled completion date?"
"They say it will take a year for the foundation and the water and sewage systems. To fully enclose it with castle walls, it’s expected to take five years at the earliest."
"Five years!"
Ahmed stroked his beard, deep in thought. Then, he suddenly held up two fingers.
"Two years."
"Pardon?"
"We will provide the materials and labor to shorten the construction plan to two years."
The offer was so radical that Ferda couldn't even grasp its feasibility. To cut three years off the timeline... If Ahmed provided the missing materials and labor, the city’s construction would accelerate tremendously.
"For such urban planning, we must also develop a road leading directly to Valdrova Castle. We will support you in that as well."
"Is there not a road already?"
"That road goes through the Empire. It’s not a direct route. It’s cumbersome. And more importantly..." Ahmed suddenly leaned in, feigning the manner of a sycophant checking his surroundings. "Those in the Imperial Capital cannot be trusted."
Ferda silently agreed. Despite his exaggerated gestures, the depth of Ahmed’s thinking was beyond imagination.
Still, is it alright for him to make such a radical proposal?
Shortening the construction to two years and building a road went far beyond a mere noble’s promise to 'cooperate in development.'
Just as they say all roads lead to the Empire, all roads in the south lead to Halim.
Halim was the most active commercial hub, known for its entertainment. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that the finest goods in the south flowed here to be sold to the gathering nobles. In other words, Ferda had successfully secured a direct line of exchange with the south.
Burnell was even more helpful than I thought.
This was an opportunity that never would have existed if not for this meeting. The progress brought by the winds of innovation made Ferda smile in spite of himself.
However, Ferda remained on guard until the end. Ahmed’s true intention came next.
"Those were things I am offering. Now, I have a proposal for you." Ahmed reached out his hand. "How about forming a partnership with Halim?"
* * *
After finishing his conversation with Ahmed, Ferda returned to Stephan.
"Hahahaha!"
Meanwhile, Stephan was laughing like a madman while gripping Burnell’s hand.
"What is the matter?"
"Hahaha! We hit the jackpot! The jackpot!"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"Look at this!"
The stack of papers Stephan slammed onto the desk was a collection of investment proposals. They ranged from 100 Golden to 10,000 Golden, with the most expensive reaching 100,000 Golden.
"From merchants to nobles, everyone across the region is showing interest in our products!"
"Is that a good thing?"
"The fact that they even sent these documents means we hold the upper hand! To throw out such radical offers means they aren't making half-hearted proposals. It’s very significant!"
"You mean we’ve seized the initiative."
"Yes!"
Ferda, who had been pushed to the background, watched the scene quietly before speaking up.
"So, what do you plan to do?"
"Ah, Regent, you’re back. What else? It would be foolish to just accept them when they want it this badly! I have some great strategies for this situation. Would you like to hear them?"
Excitedly, Stephan handed Ferda a business model plan.
"The big players want us! First, since there’s interest from various places in Magitech weapons, I’ll consult with the new administrator to devise a strategy for real estate auctions and investments!"
All he talked about was money, money, money. These were the means to fill the coffers that Administrator Isabella had been so worried about.
"With this much capital, we could even establish a new merchant house. We could use the Far East as our headquarters—"
"A new merchant house?" Ferda interrupted.
"Yes. Not under the existing Pascal Trading Company, but a completely autonomous merchant house based in the East. The Duke would hold 31%, Mr. Burnell 20%, I would hold 20%, and the remaining 29% would be for outside investors."
"It’s our merchant house. Why do we need outsiders?"
"To secure trade terms with large merchant houses, they usually demand a certain percentage of the company’s shares. In return, we would buy a percentage of their company. It’s more like an exchange, so it’s not a major issue."
It was a complex matter involving professional merchants on both sides. Ferda didn't want to delve too deeply into it.
"What do you think?"
"I have no objection if it helps the village thrive... but I don't understand why you’re so excited."
Ferda looked through the details Stephan had provided once more. However, several of the strategies Stephan suggested seemed strange. Even though Ferda wasn't an expert in economics, he could sense something was off.
"Many of your proposals feel like you’re trying to start everything from scratch."
It felt like digging a new well when there was already one right next to them. It was as if he wanted to start everything anew on bare ground. Ferda’s intuition was correct.
"Yes. There are parts we need to start from the beginning."
"Why?"
"Because that way, I can control the merchant house without relying on the Pascal Trading Company."
"So..."
Ferda’s gaze sharpened at those words. Stephan couldn't help but feel a sudden tension.
"My question is, why are you not relying on Pascal?"
"That company... isn't mine yet. It’s my father’s. And..." The words were hard to say. But Ferda’s gaze forced the truth out of him. "There’s no real need for that company to become mine."
"I see."
Thwack!
Ferda tossed the documents he had been reading onto the table. To Stephan, the sound was as sharp as a slap to the face. Ferda’s blue eyes seemed to glow with an even colder light.
"Then you are of no use to me."