The Count's Favor
A restaurant district in the commercial sector of Hanes County.
Jeron felt as though he had experienced something truly remarkable today.
Until now, he had mindlessly assumed this world was simply backward. Coming to the most developed city in the north, however, shattered that preconception.
Of course, the bustling city streets were as filthy as they were crowded.
Down by the docks in particular, fish entrails rolled about in the open, to the point where one might worry about an outbreak of plague. Fortunately, priests patrolled the area to perform purifications.
The restaurant district in the commercial sector was no less chaotic.
Jeron had at least sought out a high-end establishment. Though the food was expensive, the sparse crowd made it tolerable.
"I feel like I can finally breathe. What a chaotic mess."
"It makes me think the Farrow Territory is actually a better place to live, my lord. The population is so dense here that many areas seem completely neglected."
This was Sir Leila's brief assessment.
It was obvious that vast sums of money flowed through the city.
However, the resulting accumulation of waste and sewage disposal seemed to be a chronic issue for the county.
It felt as though they were desperately managing the symptoms just to keep a plague from breaking out.
Jeron knew this was merely a temporary band-aid, not a fundamental solution. But bringing up the concept of sanitation to the people of this era would only look like meddlesome interference.
This was, after all, someone else's territory.
Even if they were allies within the Crown Prince faction, he could not interfere in the county's administration.
Seated in a corner on the fourth floor of the restaurant were Jeron, Sir Leila, Sir Birken, and Lady Seria.
Jeron ordered roast duck.
Though it was a world where one could hardly expect culinary excellence, he figured a simple roast without strange additives would at least be edible.
They began with the soup served as an appetizer. However, everyone's expression quickly soured.
"To think they charge money for this."
It was a foul taste that made one's tongue curl.
Unidentifiable chunks of fish floated alongside wilted vegetables.
Jeron took a single spoonful and immediately set his utensil down.
He gave up on the food entirely. It seemed far more productive to discuss business.
"Did the Count's estate assist you in establishing the branch?"
"Yes, it was quite astonishing, my lord. The administrator in charge was extremely helpful with the paperwork. He even introduced us to a building owned by the Count in the city center that we could purchase. If you give the command, I will proceed with the acquisition."
"What kind of building is it?"
"It is that three-story building visible in the center of the district, my lord."
"Not bad."
Though a bit weathered, it was a stone structure.
In this era, a stone building of that scale would have required a massive amount of labor, as every single block had to be shaped and carved by hand.
Count Hanes was indeed providing significant assistance, just as promised.
He must have taken a great liking to the fountain pen.
"The land is on a ten-year lease, but the building itself will belong entirely to you, my lord. According to local merchants, the market price is roughly one hundred thousand gold. The administration office is offering it to us for seventy thousand gold, which is a considerable favor."
"Seventy thousand?!"
Jeron nearly choked on his water.
What kind of building cost seventy thousand gold?
The annual budget of the Farrow Territory was three hundred thousand gold.
Compared to that, the real estate prices here were astronomical.
"It cannot be helped, my lord. Being in the center of the district with high foot traffic naturally drives the prices up."
"Good grief. If a building in a county is this expensive, the capital must be absurd."
"In the capital, you cannot even secure a building in the center. Even if one becomes available, it would easily cost hundreds of thousands."
"So the market price is shaped by the law of supply and demand."
"Supply and demand... That is a very fitting analogy, my lord."
Nothing was ever easy.
Even purchasing the building did not mean owning the land permanently.
In principle, all land belonged to the lord. Private sale of land was legally forbidden. The only exception was contracts between nobles holding feudal rights.
However, individuals could lease land, and the structures built upon it belonged to the tenant.
Once the lease expired, it had to be renewed. If the land happened to fall under a territory development zone, the building would be demolished immediately.
It was a contract heavily weighted in favor of the lord.
Jeron clicked his tongue and looked at Seria.
"Seria, I saw you doing quite well with the sales earlier. How much did you make?"
"Yes! We made fifty thousand gold from selling the flowerpots, and another thirty thousand from various other goods."
"So the revenue is eighty thousand?"
"Since fifty percent of that goes to taxes, our net sales come to forty thousand gold."
"..."
It was a truly staggering tax rate.
And this was despite Count Hanes's tax rates being considered relatively low.
Sir Birken spoke up regarding the taxes.
"I discussed the taxes with the administration office. Since you will soon receive the trade rights, my lord, they have agreed to exempt the tax on those goods."
"How much is that?"
"Thirty percent."
Jeron shook his head in disbelief.
He realized once again just how immensely valuable those trade rights were.
At this rate, showering Duke Langton and the Crown Prince faction nobles with even more bribes would be well worth the cost.
"Seria, your role is crucial. Once you head upriver on the swift ship, seek out Duke Langton first to deliver the wine. Then, move quickly to secure the support of the entire Crown Prince faction."
"Leave it to me. That's my specialty."
Seria gave a subtle wink.
Perhaps thinking she had grown quite close to Jeron, she behaved in a rather flirtatious manner.
He really needed to disabuse her of such notions before it went any further.
While they conversed, the roast duck was served.
It smelled decent enough.
Seria stood up, carved the duck, and placed a piece on Jeron's plate.
It was a thick slice of breast meat.
How would it taste?
"Pah, pah."
Jeron had to spit it out immediately.
He had no idea how they had roasted the duck to make it taste so bitter.
The gamey smell typical of meat on the Karen Continent lingered subtly inside the duck, accompanied by a greasy odor. He seriously doubted if this was even the roast duck he knew.
The skin was the only tolerable part, but even that was undercooked and lacked any crispiness.
When he rinsed his mouth with the cheap wine, a sour and astringent taste washed over his tongue.
"Ha, to think I have to eat this stuff to survive."
"Tell me about it. I miss fried chicken so much."
"Ahem, it is difficult for me to eat as well. The heavenly delicacy you bestowed upon us recently keeps floating before my eyes, my lord."
Only Sir Leila silently stuffed the duck into her mouth. She seemed to be chewing hastily and swallowing just to replenish her energy.
I didn't want to waste it here, but I have no choice.
Jeron reached into his coat and pulled out roasted salt and black pepper.
He had scavenged them from the base camp on Earth and saved them for times when the local food was absolutely intolerable.
He soaked the duck in wine to cut the gamey smell, then sprinkled it with salt and pepper.
He cut a small piece and tried it again.
"Much better."
It didn't mean it was delicious.
It was just that the restaurant's food was completely inedible on its own.
The others followed suit, sprinkling the salt and pepper over their portions.
Exclamations immediately followed.
"Wow, this is delicious!"
"What a unique spice, my lord."
Though he wanted to use it generously, he had to ration it as much as possible.
Even for Jeron, roasted salt and pepper were highly precious commodities.
After leaving the restaurant, the group went to inspect the building the Count's estate was selling.
Overall, it wasn't bad.
Although the interior and exterior materials would need to be stripped and renovated, the mere absence of rats and insects inside was enough to pass inspection.
Jeron made the decision to purchase the building immediately.
"Use the profits from today's trade to buy the building. However, we will need additional funds to renovate it."
"You need not worry about that, my lord. The Count has shown us great favor, and we have received confirmation that the remaining balance can be paid after the construction is complete."
"He has taken care of quite a few details for us."
"It is all thanks to your connections, my lord."
In this world, it was truly difficult to survive without connections.
Noble society was so insular that connections were everything, and even small favors like this were only possible through them.
If Jeron had not won the Count's favor, even the process of purchasing the building would have been a nightmare.
"You will handle the contract on my behalf, Sir Birken."
"Is that acceptable, my lord?"
"You are the one who must manage the merchant group anyway. I will write you a power of attorney so you can act on my behalf for major transactions."
"I will work myself to the bone to ensure I do not disappoint you!"
Sir Birken prostrated himself right then and there.
Fortunately, they were not on the busy street outside.
With all the filth rolling around out there, it was hardly an environment where one could kneel.
The group decided to part ways at this point.
"Lady Seria, send a letter as soon as you handle the matters upriver."
"Yes! I'll miss you, my lord!"
"Ahem, what insolence is this? You must not behave like this in the future."
"What? I'm just showing my loyalty to the Lord in my own way."
"Loyalty?"
"Yes, brother. Did you think I would actually try to flirt with the Lord?"
"..."
So that was it?
If so, that was a relief.
Seria was well aware of the difference in status between herself and Jeron.
Since it was merely her way of showing loyalty, he was glad he hadn't spoken harshly to deter her.
At this point, Jeron could simply laugh it off.
"Very well. Everyone has their own way of showing loyalty."
"Indeed, the Lord's heart is as wide as the ocean. To tolerate my foolish sister to this extent..."
"Seria, depart immediately. Sir Birken, report to me tomorrow after you finish your tasks."
"Yes, my lord!"
***
Jeron and Sir Leila were entering the pleasure district.
Such districts existed in every city.
Those that paid taxes to the lord were managed relatively well, but every city had its dark side.
It was an inevitable reality of the era.
Unlike the city center, which was regularly purified by priests, the illegal pleasure districts bordering the slums smelled entirely different.
It was reminiscent of the Farrow Territory's slums before the three-year development plan was implemented.
All kinds of pests and rats scurried about, and piles of uncollected garbage lay scattered everywhere.
Whether drugged or drunk, quite a few people lay collapsed on the streets, completely out of it.
Dilapidated buildings stood crammed together.
Narrow alleys and all sorts of shady characters populated the area.
It was dark, damp, and gloomy, to the point where one could not predict what might happen upon entering.
Before stepping fully into the city's underbelly, Jeron stopped and looked at Sir Leila.
"From this moment on, you are entering the absolute secret of our family. What you see and hear from now on must remain a lifelong secret, and this applies even to your own family."
Sir Leila's eyes wavered slightly.
Jeron was heading to meet the Dark Moon.
Since he could not constantly oversee the Dark Moon himself, he needed someone to manage them on his behalf.
He needed a proxy who could directly execute his orders and travel back and forth to the city.
Although the Farrow family had about twenty knights, Jeron had selected this taciturn, loyal, and young knight, Sir Leila.
This was the very reason he had brought her along despite the ongoing development of the territory.
"From now on, you will act as my shadow and carry out vital missions. If you lack the confidence, speak now."
Sir Leila immediately prepared to kneel on the filthy ground.
"Hold on, don't do that. Do you intend to stand beside me smelling like that?"
"If it is your will, my lord, I would not hesitate to plunge into the fires of hell."
Her gaze was firm, and her posture unwavering.
She had always shown unwavering loyalty, but at this moment, she looked ready to sacrifice everything.
Jeron nodded slightly.
"If you have that level of resolve, that is enough. Follow me."