Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Negotiations and Instincts
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Wang-sik stayed at the boring party until the very end.
The party officially ended with another greeting from the host, but it was common for it to continue for another two hours.
The real politics, in fact, began now.
This was the time for people with intertwined interests to gather separately and talk. It was also the time the children of the nobility had been waiting for.
Once their parents or high-ranking officials left the party hall, the younger generation could enjoy themselves without having to watch their every move.
That's why it was called the 'Hour of the Rose.'
It was a time when love could blossom, or when hurt feelings could lead to incidents.
"Let's go."
Wang-sik had no reason to enjoy this time, and as he turned to leave, someone approached him.
"Leaving already?"
It was Rohan Leit.
The man Wang-sik had pawned the women off on. As a son of the host family, he was looking after many of the guests.
"I'm not used to this yet, so I'm a bit tired."
"The real party is just getting started. What a shame. Still, would you care for a glass of wine before you go?"
Leit offered one of the two glasses of wine he was holding.
Wang-sik didn't refuse. He took the glass, they clinked them together lightly, and he downed it in one go.
"Just as spirited as I'd heard. I've heard the rumors, you know. That you've acquired some very strong private soldiers?"
"I was lucky."
Being part of a knightly order, he was more interested in monster subjugation than political topics.
"No matter how strong a small group of private soldiers is, it's not a place one can conquer without casualties. I imagine Count Vega's power played a large part."
"I appreciate you thinking so."
"Would it be alright if I arranged a meeting sometime? I'd love to hear the story."
This was an invitation to a private gathering.
'Not a bad idea.'
Wang-sik smiled and shook his hand, leaving the possibility open.
As he boarded the carriage leaving the party hall, the first thing Wang-sik did was let out a long sigh.
"Not easy, is it?"
Wang-sik nodded at Oh Min-jae's words, who was sitting across from him.
"Finding things to praise is the hardest part. They're all just bastards who need to be killed."
The people gathered at today's party were all, directly or indirectly, involved in the Gate business.
It was only natural, as it had long been considered the most important industry.
"One day, we'll wipe them all out."
Oh Min-jae shared that same anger toward them.
"So, how did it go with Bellard?"
"He showed interest in the Seven Islands. Things might get easier."
"He's no pushover. He's the master of the continent's top trading company."
"That's why it's easy. We're not trying to scam him. We just need to give each other what we want, and that's it."
"That's true."
Bellard wanted the Seven Islands, and Wang-sik wanted the Blood Fragments.
"No matter how precious the Blood Fragments are, they can't compare to the Seven Islands business."
"Shouldn't we get more out of it, then?"
"You figure that out."
"Really? Can I?"
Oh Min-jae's eyes lit up.
"Don't tell me you're planning to go head-to-head with the Pandea Trading Company?"
"Actually, there's one place I haven't been able to break into, even while expanding our scale."
Wang-sik knew about that problem too.
"The capital?"
"That's right. The only ones with headquarters there are the Pandea Trading Company and the Lian Trading Company, which the empire has a stake in."
The two trading companies that represented Azelan.
One was Pandea, and the other was the Lian Trading Company, which monopolized goods for government offices.
The royal family held shares in the Lian Trading Company, and since it operated mainly for government offices and the military, it wasn't a competitor in the general market.
Since the Lian Trading Company had a strong political color anyway, Pandea was effectively the top trading company on the continent among the regular ones.
"I'm blocked from building a branch. They absolutely won't grant a permit. Small retail stores. That's as far as I can go."
"Isn't that enough to do business?"
"We can only sell permitted items at the retail stores. For our company, we only got permits for the 'Amaranth' jewelry store and a clothing store. And we only got those after lobbying with luxury goods."
"Isn't that too much of a monopoly?"
"Not really. They divide things up a little bit among various companies like this, so on the surface, there aren't many monopolized goods."
It was a culture that had been established long ago, so the barrier was incredibly solid.
"So that Bellard fellow isn't just a figurehead."
"Of course not. This business is fiercely competitive."
Wang-sik recalled Bellard, with whom he had spoken briefly.
"Is there something you want?"
"Wheat."
It wasn't the answer he'd expected.
Oh Min-jae usually preferred high-priced goods.
"Honestly, that's the only thing I can dig into. Bellard would never accept anything else."
Wheat was the staple food of the Azelan Continent. Because they preferred bread.
Besides that, wheat-based soups and cakes were used in high-end cuisine.
"If you go in half-cocked, you'll just get taken for a ride, won't you?"
"I'm confident in the quality."
"Gate trade?"
"Yep. I've already finished the quality comparison. The wheat on the Azelan Continent developed with a focus on quantity. It's gotten to the point where there's a separate type of wheat produced just for the nobility. That's why the confectionery industry has developed in two separate directions."
In fact, there were separate bakeries run just for the nobility.
"The wheat the nobles eat has low production efficiency. But even that can't be called tasty compared to Earth's wheat. They have their different characteristics, but overall, Earth's wheat is far superior."
"What are the chances of the Gate trade being exposed through that?"
"That's why I'm planning to go with bakeries, not just wheat. If we process it into bread and sell it, no one will know. The nobles go crazy for delicious food. Soups are a given, but if we also develop main courses and desserts, we can definitely make an impact."
"Will Bellard accept?"
"He will. The truth is, they're not that interested in confectionery. It's not very profitable, and the Lian Trading Company has it pretty much locked down under the pretext of it being a food resource. Their market share in the capital is about ten percent, but nationwide, it's less than three percent. It's not one of their core businesses."
Since it was a foodstuff, the Lian Trading Company, which the state could manage, had a firm grip on it.
"So it'll be an acquisition, not a permit."
"Exactly. We'll acquire the Pandea Trading Company's confectionery business. I'll recruit bakers from Earth to create food that suits the Azelan Continent. Earth is especially dominant when it comes to the variety and design of desserts. If this goes well, we might even monopolize the food for social gatherings in the future."
"Then let's do this."
Wang-sik made a decision.
"We'll go with establishing a joint trading company between Mirje and Pandea on the Seven Islands. Use that negotiation to work things out."
"Great. That's more than enough. I just need to gain in the capital what we give up on the Seven Islands."
Since they both wanted different things, putting that on the negotiation table meant there was no reason for a bad outcome. Regardless of their relationship, trading companies were ultimately profit-driven groups. If something aligned with their interests, there was no reason to refuse.
"But how much more money are you planning to make? This is enough, isn't it?"
"For the same reason you're still trying to get stronger."
Wang-sik understood immediately.
"By the way, were there any women at the party you liked?"
"I can overcome differences in race, but there's one thing I can never accept."
"What is it?"
"An Azelan woman."
They were firm words, but Oh Min-jae understood. However, he didn't completely agree.
"I'm a little different."
"I'm not forcing it on you."
"That's not it. I don't like Azelan women either. But to be precise, I don't like human women from Azelan."
"What do you mean?"
"Hehe. I mean Beastkin women are okay."
One person came to Wang-sik's mind.
"Aisi is wonderful, of course."
"Please take good care of her. It's your little brother's first love."
"It's not your first love. When you were seven..."
"Stop! Are you trying to mock my pure heart?"
"Wasn't your love at seven pure?"
"That's called childishness."
"So that's why you stole her panties."
"I didn't steal them! I was trying to help with the laundry and...!"
Oh Min-jae's first love was a teacher at his orphanage.
"You confessed to someone a whole twenty-four years older than you. What was it you said?"
"I said stop!"
"If you keep yelling at your older brother, I'm telling Aisi."
Oh Min-jae shut his mouth at the chilling threat. Wang-sik found the sight adorable and couldn't help but laugh.
"Just take good care of Aisi. I'm worried sick."
"Don't worry. She has the best instructors."
Wang-sik found his little brother, who had just awakened to love, to be nothing but cute.
* * *
The Decartes Mountains.
A white shadow attacked the lair of the Blood Wolves, the masters of this Grade 4 region.
The white shadow let out a great roar as if to announce its arrival, then swung a forepaw at a Blood Wolf emerging from the cave.
*SLASH!*
Unable to even scream, the Blood Wolf was torn apart like paper, and the surroundings instantly erupted into chaos.
*ROOOOAR!*
The Blood Wolves flinched at the roar that seemed to rupture the air, but they soon began to surround the attacker. Reflected in their eyes was a saber tiger, similar in size to their alpha.
Despite being surrounded, the saber tiger stood its ground confidently, its gaze fixed on the alpha.
It was the saber tiger that ended the standoff.
Closing the distance in a single leap, the saber tiger's paw aimed for the Blood Wolf alpha's head. The Blood Wolf dodged quickly, but it couldn't completely avoid the blade-like claws.
Blood gushing from the wound was just the beginning.
The Blood Wolves charged all at once, and a brawl erupted.
Min Ha-na and Sa Seon-gi were watching the battle from a spot where they could jump in at a moment's notice.
"Amazing."
The two, who had remained tense just in case, soon realized there was nothing for them to do.
"Her instincts have completely awakened. When she transforms, she's not like a person, but a real beast."
Sa Seon-gi nodded in agreement.
The training that had begun in a Grade 3 region had now progressed to Grade 4.
"At this rate, she'll be more than capable of handling an A-rank boss monster."
For three months, aside from brief meetings with Oh Min-jae, Aisi never left the Decartes Mountains.
At first, she had followed their advice down to the most basic details, but at some point, her instincts awoke, and their advice began to feel pointless. It was now hard to believe she was the same person as when she was in human form.
The Beastkin instinct to enjoy battle itself.
There was a dangerous side to it, but neither of them stopped her. They both knew well what was necessary to become stronger.
And so, by the third month, Aisi had become the strongest beast in the Grade 4 region.
"And she'll get even stronger after her coming-of-age ceremony, right?"
Min Ha-na recalled what Aisi had said.
—*I haven't finished growing yet.*
Even though her transformed body was twice the size of Min Ha-na, she had said it was equivalent to a human adolescent.
"Aren't you excited?"
"It's interesting."
For Sa Seon-gi to give such an answer meant he was incredibly excited.
"Is this the joy of teaching?"
"Wang-sik must have felt this way."
"Do you have to connect everything to Wang-sik? Is he all you see? Give me some friendship too, huh?"
"Alright."
"Jeez, now I have to beg for friendship."
While they were talking, the battle in the lair was drawing to a close.
The alpha's head had already been crushed, and the few remaining wolves were attacking in waves, but it was nothing more than a pointless struggle.
Aisi swiftly subdued the rest and let out a heated roar.
"Shouldn't we start preparing for her coming-of-age ceremony?"
"Not yet."
Sa Seon-gi shook his head and said.
"To be safe, she needs to grow a little more."
"Well... you're right. Let's eliminate even the slightest risk. I don't want to see Aisi get hurt."
Time hadn't only improved Aisi's skills.
"Big sis! Big bro!"
Having finished the battle, Aisi returned to her human form and waved. Despite the fierce fight, she showed no signs of exhaustion.
If anything, her expression seemed brighter.
"Yeah, our little sister. You worked hard."
Min Ha-na waved back.
They were becoming more than friends; they were becoming a family.