Chapter 97: I’m Sorry, Father (3)
Chapter 97: I’m Sorry, Father (3)
Matthew might not have known…
But Patrick was born into a noble family and had received formal lessons in etiquette and culture.
And though it might seem unexpected—no, it was truly surprising—Patrick had been remarkably "diligent" in those lessons.
While he would skip out on Brian whenever told to practice swordsmanship, he attended his cultural and etiquette classes faithfully and practiced them properly.
Seeing this, Butler Lawrence, who was teaching Patrick etiquette at the time, asked in surprise:
[Young Master, you are working very hard on your cultural studies. Is there a particular reason?]
[When I was younger, I would have snorted at stuff like this. I would’ve thought, ‘What kind of bullshit is this?’]
[Ah… I see…]
[But you see, after living a bit, I realized there are times when you actually need this stuff. Sigh… Why didn’t I know that when I was young?]
[Ah… Yes. I suppose so.]
The butler carefully held his tongue.
This had happened when Patrick was only six years old.
In any case, thanks to that, Patrick was able to drink his tea according to protocol without a hint of rudeness.
After taking a sip, Patrick spoke with a faint smile.
“The aroma of the tea is magnificent. The flavor is perfectly balanced as well.”
“Ho, you can tell?”
“Yes. Your skill is clearly beyond that of a mere hobbyist.”
“Hahaha. This young man certainly knows how to give lip service.”
Aaron laughed it off, but Patrick nodded inwardly.
‘As a rule, no one who is obsessed with a hobby is unhappy when their skills are praised.’
Even if a man was a terrible fisherman and caught a single minnow, you had to be able to stand beside him and say, ‘Wow, that’s incredible. As expected of an elder like yourself.’
That was the kind of hospitality required during a consultation.
However, his opponent was the kingdom’s greatest merchant.
He wasn’t someone who would simply melt and go soft under such obvious flattery.
“So, Patrick Schneider. What is the reason you sought me out today?”
Aaron brought up the main point in a gentle tone.
As he continued to brew another cup of tea using the tea set, he spoke to Patrick.
“If you went through the trouble of requesting a meeting through my son, you must have a fitting reason, yes?”
“Of course.”
“I am curious to hear it. Will you tell me?”
Of course, Aaron had a guess.
‘It’s probably money.’
What other reason would a noble have for seeking out a merchant?
In fact, considering he was his son’s friend and the brilliance this genius had recently displayed, Aaron was willing to agree to a certain level of investment.
However, Patrick’s next words were completely unexpected.
“I have come to ask you to handle the distribution of specialty goods produced in our territory.”
“…Hmm.”
Instead of answering, Aaron picked up the teacup in front of him and sipped slowly.
It was a habitual action he took whenever he needed time to think during a conversation.
‘I didn’t expect this.’
He never imagined they would be talking business.
Patrick Schneider was the genius of the sword who had recently made a name for himself in White Town.
Naturally, Aaron thought Patrick would use his own value as leverage to establish a relationship with the Elvador Merchant Group.
But now, Patrick was bringing up a business deal.
After setting down his teacup, Aaron spoke.
“As far as I know, the Schneider fief doesn’t exactly have any specialty goods?”
“You are familiar with our territory?”
“Is it not the fief located at the easternmost edge of the kingdom? Most of the land borders the Great Forest.”
“Oh, do you know anything else?”
“It’s a place with many difficulties in agriculture. The land is barren, and monster interference is far too frequent. However, I heard that things have improved slightly recently by selling monster byproducts.”
“You know more than I expected.”
“A merchant who is ignorant of information should close up shop.”
Even so, Patrick hadn't expected him to know details about the Schneider fief, a backwater in the East.
Having confirmed the Elvador Merchant Group leader’s capability, Patrick said with a smile:
“As you said, our territory hasn't had anything worth calling a specialty until now. Key word being until now.”
“Ho, does that mean you have one now?”
“Yes. It will take some time before full-scale mass production begins, but a sample is ready.”
“Ho, that means you’ve brought the item here with you.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Patrick snapped his fingers at April, who was standing behind him. She brought over a bag and placed it on the table.
Patrick gestured with an open palm, looking relaxed.
“Please, open it.”
“You seem quite confident.”
“You won’t be disappointed once you see it.”
With a hint of curiosity, Aaron opened the bag.
What kind of product would this overconfident genius present? Inside the bag he opened was…
“Fabric?”
Inside was a roll of white fabric.
He lifted it to inspect the item more closely. At that moment…
“Ohhh.”
He was startled.
The sensation against his skin was fantastic.
A feeling bordering on pleasure, where softness and smoothness coexisted.
It felt as if he were stroking a maiden’s cheek.
Despite the bag being full, it was incredibly light.
“Hoooo…”
The moment he unrolled and spread the fabric, the white cloth fluttered elegantly through the air.
There was no need for further evaluation.
He knew exactly what this was.
“This is silk.”
“……”
“This is a specialty of the elves. Are you telling me you’re producing this yourself in your territory? How?”
“That’s a secret.”
Patrick replied with a calm smile.
But that was only on the outside.
Internally, he was quite flustered.
‘What? Silk already exists in this world?’
This was a fact he hadn't known.
However, showing that wouldn't do him any good here.
Patrick’s mind raced.
If the product already existed, there was no need to explain its value in detail.
In that case, he would change his approach.
Patrick spoke with a confident smile.
“I cannot disclose the source of the manufacturing method.”
“Mm, I suppose not.”
“But it is certain that this silk was produced in our territory.”
“Oh… You’ve discovered a way to produce silk?”
“I swear it on my honor.”
“Mmm, then I shall believe you.”
Watching Aaron nod, Matthew thought to himself:
‘Patrick’s honor. Patrick’s honor… Does such a thing even exist?’
Patrick Schneider and honor?
It was a combination of words far too awkward to exist in a single sentence.
Regardless of Matthew’s thoughts…
‘Oh… Silk. And the quality looks excellent.’
Surprise was written all over Aaron’s face. He had discovered the manufacturing method and succeeded in producing the actual product.
That meant a goose that laid golden eggs had been born in that backwater eastern fief.
He immediately acted as a merchant.
“Would you be willing to sell that production method?”
“Hahaha, it’s a method we obtained with great difficulty, so…”
“I will pay 100,000 gold.”
“Co—cough, cough.”
For a moment, Patrick desperately composed himself after nearly shouting ‘Deal!’
‘This old man is a big spender.’
100,000 gold?
The amount was so absurd that Patrick had to do his best to pull his wandering mind back into place.
“The production method is not for sale.”
“100,000 gold is a fortune. Even if you succeed in production, it would take you over twenty years to earn that much.”
“That may be true, or it may not.”
“I don’t understand. Don’t you realize I’m making an offer where I take a loss?”
“Hahahahaha…”
Patrick let out a hearty laugh.
Meanwhile, he thought to himself:
‘Who are you trying to play?’
One of the things Patrick trusted least was a merchant saying they were taking a loss.
I mean, why be a merchant if you’re going to trade at a loss?
Just go into charity work.
In the end, the "losses" merchants claimed to endure were mostly lies told to make the other party feel good. If not that, it was an investment made to secure even greater value in the future.
Otherwise, a merchant would never do something that resulted in a loss.
‘A merchant taking a loss? It’d be more believable to hear a Wudang monk chanting "Amitabha."’
Patrick continued in a relaxed voice.
“Guild Leader. What I want is a merchant group to handle the distribution of the silk produced in our territory.”
“So you’re saying the production method is absolutely off the table?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…200,000 gold.”
“It’s not a matter of money.”
“For a young man, you are quite detached from wealth.”
“I hear that often.”
Matthew’s jaw dropped.
‘Justice and conscience are dead in this world.’
How could he say that without even blinking?
At least put some spit on your lips before you lie…
Ah, he was doing it right now.
That wicked bastard.
Regardless, Aaron thought with a serious expression.
The abacus in his head was working furiously.
Silk.
A specialty made by the elves of the North, an item that only entered the world in very small quantities.
Light, durable, and above all, possessing a texture and color so fantastic that it had no fixed price.
It was literally worth whatever one asked for it. High-ranking nobles of the Empire, in particular, would gladly pay astronomical sums for a single dress made of this silk.
And he had the production method for such silk?
One wouldn't be a merchant if they didn't covet it.
‘Even if I have to use force… No, no. It’s impossible.’
Patrick Schneider wasn't just the heir to some backwater eastern fief.
He was a rising star with talent that was not only standing out at the Academy but might soon make a name for himself across the entire kingdom—no, the entire continent.
It would be madness to form a bad relationship with such a person…
“Ah!”
Reaching this point in his thoughts, Aaron realized something.
He looked back at the date Matthew had asked him to meet his friend, the date he had given his answer, and the date Patrick Schneider had shown that unbelievable performance during the midterm evaluation.
‘The midterm evaluation happened after the meeting with me was confirmed. And before that, even I didn't know the name Patrick Schneider. If so…’
Having finished his thoughts, Aaron looked at Patrick and said:
“You are no ordinary person.”
“Ahem!”
Patrick lifted his chin and acted smug.
Normally, people would scold Patrick for such behavior, but Aaron looked at him as if he were looking at a monster.
‘Everything was for today’s meeting.’
If Patrick had appeared with only the background of being Matthew’s friend and proposed the same deal, Aaron would have tried to obtain the silk manufacturing method by any means necessary.
Whether by offering a massive sum to buy it, planting spies to dig up information, or if necessary, using money to mobilize high-ranking nobles and the power of authority…
There were many ways if he set his mind to it.
But the situation changed if the trading partner was the current Patrick Schneider.
A young genius who had overwhelmed distinguished professors at an age before he had even held his coming-of-age ceremony.
No, a monster beyond a genius.
What would the future of such a monster be?
The 7-Star realm, the Supreme Realm, would not be far for him.
Perhaps he would even step into a realm beyond that, like the few monsters on the continent who reigned above the law.
He couldn't steal the silk manufacturing method at the cost of making an enemy of a young man who would become such a monster.
That would be an act of risking future ruin for immediate profit.
In other words, Patrick had looked this far ahead and asserted his presence so strongly during the midterm evaluation.
To clearly show who he was.
And what kind of person he was.
“That was a close call.”
“Oh, come on. What could have happened?”
“That means…”
“You’re my friend’s father, and I know where to draw the line. I would’ve gone easy on you. Just a bit.”
Aaron wore a bewildered expression at Patrick’s attitude, which seemed to say, ‘I’m the one doing you a favor.’
‘What nerve…’
Even the high nobles of the Atronia Kingdom couldn't easily say such things to Aaron.
Yet this young man was saying it to him nonchalantly.
Even more so, the claim that he was "going easy" sounded quite plausible to Aaron’s ears.
‘He’s not someone to turn into an enemy.’
The conclusion was reached.
A person who must not be made an enemy.
And a person with whom one could gain immense profit by partnering.
Aaron trusted his own insight.
Therefore, he quickly shifted his stance.
“What is the production volume?”
“Ho, does that mean…?”
“Let’s adjust the specific terms of the deal.”
“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.”
It was the moment the consultation was established.
‘I can’t believe it. He actually persuaded my father.’