CHAPTER 147
CHAPTER 147
The Art of Trade
“That would be the case. It’s probably to obtain the technological advantage possessed by Duke Idnia’s daughter. Perhaps if they take the starter culture from this cultivation liquid and grow it, they might be able to uncover the secret behind the taste of the food she makes….”
Of course, Rudolf still did not know about MSG. By common understanding, seasonings were pungent flavors derived from pepper, nutmeg, or other exotic plants. He could not have imagined that amino acids, the very essence of umami, could be produced by fermenting molasses residue.
However, it was also true that Idnia had used something made here to dramatically enhance the quality of meals….
“Then I shall also take some of this cultivation liquid for myself.”
Isolde carefully lifted the spilled cultivation liquid from the floor using telekinetic magic and placed it into her potion bottle.
Rudolf looked flustered.
“No, Isolde. If you do that, wouldn’t we also become spies?”
“Judging by the situation, it seems someone from Count Lorenzo’s side sent a spy who tampered with the cultivation vessel and caused it to explode. They would have already taken a sample of the cultivation liquid. If Count Lorenzo were to uncover the secret of the cultivation liquid and share the technology that Duke Idnia’s daughter had been monopolizing, the southern kingdoms, which have nearly monopolized the spice trade, would grow even more powerful, would they not?”
Isolde had quickly deduced who had interfered with Idnia’s cultivation vessel. Crown Prince Rudolf felt satisfied watching Isolde’s sharpness.
“My little sister is this intelligent….”
It was a feeling close to that.
When Idnia and Marie heard that the Wizard Ball practice room had turned into a mess, they appeared there.
“Ah….”
Isolde and Rudolf, who were present, greeted Idnia and were visibly flustered.
Isolde kept her composure well, but Rudolf, born as a crown prince, had never done anything like stealing before.
Worried that Isolde’s taking of Idnia’s cultivation liquid might be discovered, his expression was anything but composed.
‘Their expressions are strange. Hmm. Given Rudolf’s personality, he wouldn’t have touched my things. The one who must have interfered was likely Count Lorenzo’s subordinate… I see. Isolde must have taken the cultivation liquid.’
Idnia assessed the situation and clicked her tongue.
“It’s not that big of a deal. Causing trouble to many people by doing this at school was careless. I’ll have this cleaned up immediately.”
Using magic, Idnia cleared away the cultivation liquid and retrieved the vessel.
The metal cauldron had only lost its lid, but the glass-like ceramic cauldron had shattered into pieces.
“Are you alright, Idnia? This clearly looks like….”
Marie, though not very familiar with the ways of the world, could still tell that this was the result of espionage meant to uncover the secret of the seasoning Idnia had been using in her meals.
However, Idnia remained calm.
“It’s fine. The ceramic cauldron is broken, but I’ll just have Black Wolf purchase a replacement tomorrow.”
At first, Idnia had struggled with a lack of funds and had to strike the ground herself to create glass-like vessels. But now she had no need for that, as she had abundant wealth.
There was the payment from selling jeweled crosses through Farnelli, and future income from outsourcing meals to each dormitory.
“No, the cauldron isn’t the issue. This is clearly a scheme to steal the method of making your seasoning.”
Marie voiced her concern, but Idnia smiled.
“There’s no need to worry. The moment the cauldron exploded, I arranged it so that all the yeast inside would be killed.”
“What?”
“Ah, um….”
At that moment, Isolde, who had been listening, stepped forward and asked.
“Just to be clear, when Your Highness Rudolf and I arrived, it was already in this state. I mention this to avoid any unnecessary misunderstanding.”
“Yes. That would be the case.”
“However, Duke Idnia’s daughter. Isn’t this a serious matter? If the other side took the liquid inside, wouldn’t they be able to cultivate it again? May I ask why you are so confident?”
“I set a trap so that unless the cauldron is opened using the method I specified, all yeast inside would be destroyed by high heat. In addition, I also arranged for a poison to be inside.”
“A poison?”
“More precisely, not a poison but a disinfectant. It’s harmless in small amounts, but lethal in large quantities. I made it so that if the cauldron is forcibly opened, it would be dropped inside.”
Idnia had prepared sodium hypochlorite, obtained by electrolyzing saltwater, a disinfectant better known in Korea by the brand name bleach, along with magical traps that allowed the cauldron to be opened only in a specified way.
She had added it to ensure the yeast would be completely killed so the technology would not leak, and also to alter the pH of the cultivation liquid to prevent information about optimal growth conditions from being inferred. However, she spoke as if boasting, calling it poison.
‘Well, it’s true that consuming too much bleach can be fatal. And if sodium hypochlorite solution is exposed to high heat, it produces chlorine gas, which is actually a toxic gas.’
Idnia’s bluff worked.
Upon hearing that poison had been installed, Isolde lost any thought of attempting to cultivate or analyze the sample she had obtained.
‘Wow, that’s ruthless. Installing poison inside a vessel used for food… Is she insane? No, if you think about it, the seasoning is only made when no poison is present, and that seasoning is then added to food, so ordinary students’ meals wouldn’t be poisoned… still, that’s incredibly bold. As expected of Idnia. She’s terrifying.’
Isolde was astonished by Idnia’s meticulousness.
“…I will file a protest with Count Lorenzo. This has crossed the line.”
Crown Prince Rudolf stepped forward.
However, Idnia shook her head.
“Hmm. No. If you do that, they will likely place the blame on a single ordinary student. The student who would have to bear the burden is pitiful, and Count Lorenzo would be forced to make obvious false claims that everyone already knows are untrue, damaging his own reputation. Among families of the same elector status, forcing mutual loss of face would be like spitting into the wind, wouldn’t it?”
“I am amazed by your consideration, Duke Idnia. However, from my perspective, I find it somewhat enviable. Is there a reason Count Lorenzo deserves to receive such consideration from you?”
“Yes. Because he might become an investor.”
“An investor?”
“Yes. I intend to build facilities to mass-produce the seasoning used to improve the dormitory meals, and I would like to receive investment for that. However, given the current circumstances of the House of Grand Duke Betelgeuse… we have nothing to offer except technology.”
In this world, patent law did not yet exist.
Even if one created a technology, it could be leaked or reverse engineered by others and reproduced.
In such a situation, Idnia had researched how to produce MSG on her own, but ultimately concluded that MSG could not be monopolized for long if produced alone.
‘We can produce enough to feed the dormitory students by breaking down bread, but in terms of cost, it’s not competitive. It would be far better to use molasses from sugarcane, or at least molasses left over from extracting beet sugar….’
The House of Betelgeuse was located inland in the eastern region, making it difficult to obtain either sugar beets or sugarcane.
Even if MSG production were monopolized immediately, it would inevitably lose in production cost to regions trading in sugar beets and sugarcane such as Kaliestra, Oxbach, and Mazdari.
‘It’s far more advantageous to commercialize quickly and obtain shares. It’s unfortunate that I cannot monopolize MSG, but that isn’t the only thing I intend to sell….’
With that in mind, Idnia chose to make use of this opportunity instead.
“Well, since something like this has happened, as the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot, I’ll speak to each of the princes directly.”
“……”
Listening to Idnia, Rudolf felt a sense of regret inwardly.
‘So she wasn’t going to do this with me. Well, even if she had suggested it to me, I’m not sure I could have….’
Though he was the crown prince, Rudolf had neither personal wealth nor an estate.
Living entirely in the shadow of his father, Emperor Franz, he lacked the confidence to undertake such a large-scale business.
Because of that, when he looked at Lorenzo or Karl, he sometimes felt envious.
They had been granted a degree of authority by their parents and were able to command their subordinates independently.
Trust from parents, position within the family, everything was different.
It was not the same as himself, a mere puppet of the emperor….
Even if he understood it intellectually, he could not help but feel a sense of disappointment.
After all, his connection with her was deeper than with the other princes.
Moreover, Lorenzo had gone so far as to send spies to uncover her secrets, yet she intended to bring him to the negotiation table?
On the other hand, Isolde felt a sting of frustration as well. Even from the side, it was obvious that Rudolf felt slighted by Idnia.
‘Hmm… she’s completely playing with my brother’s emotions! If that’s the case, she shouldn’t have broken off the engagement… After tarnishing his reputation, now she shows off her abilities like this. That’s too much.’
Up until now, since Idnia had led the breakup, Rudolf was seen as the victim, while Idnia was regarded as an eccentric who never appeared in social circles.
However, the more Idnia displayed her abilities, the more Rudolf appeared to have some flaw.
Even if that was not Idnia’s intention, in the eyes of the gossip-loving social circles, it would become excellent material for ridicule.
“Um, then I….”
“Marie. If it’s alright, could you call Prince Karl and Count Lorenzo?”
Idnia seemed intent on striking while the iron was hot and summoned the princes.
The heads of each dormitory gathered in the Wizard Ball practice room.
“Ah, if this were the case, it would have been better to meet in our lounge instead of the practice room. The seating is more comfortable, and the food is quite well prepared.”
As Lorenzo said this, Karl, who had been surveying the room, scoffed.
“After shamelessly sending spies and getting caught, you say something like that?”
“Ah… I think there’s some misunderstanding. Of course, I am interested in Duke Idnia’s cultivation vessel, but I would never attempt to uncover it through improper means….”
“Let’s set that aside and get straight to the point.”
Idnia placed the seasoning she had created on the table.
“…This is it.”
“This is….”
“This is the secret of what is refined inside that. With what came out from the exploded cultivation vessel this time, it would be impossible to cultivate it again. I arranged it so that unless the vessel is opened in the prescribed manner, it will explode and release disinfectant inside.”
“……”
Lorenzo smiled bitterly.
What his spy had managed to retrieve had turned into an unidentifiable mixture of sour, foul liquid.
It was the result of opening it without knowing Idnia had set up security.
“So, what do you think the terms of the deal should be?”
Unexpectedly, it was Rudolf who asked about the conditions.
The formal negotiations had begun.