“Damn brat…”
Inside the carriage heading to the royal road, Gord clicked his tongue briefly.
“How dare that upstart noble’s kid treat me like this?”
If it were up to him, he wanted to cut off all supplies heading to the Count’s Domain, but he couldn’t do that.
A deal that ensures stable supply of monstrous beast byproducts.
The value of that was beyond words.
No matter how many monstrous beasts are captured in a year in the kingdom, it was no more than a handful at best.
Yet the value of monstrous beasts was so immense that their byproducts were traded at prices that overwhelmed luxury items like gems or spices.
To think he could receive stable supplies of those byproducts every quarter?
Considering the first-mover advantage, this deal was one he had to secure at all costs.
“If this deal goes well… I might just be able to push that damn brat aside.”
The position of headquarters manager, which should have been his in the first place.
Through this deal, he was planning to advance his agenda significantly.
Just then, as Gord contemplated his future plans…
“Uh… Manager?”
“What is it?”
The secretary sitting in front of him, reviewing documents, asked, and Gord shot him an irritated glare.
“Well… there’s a part that concerns me.”
“Speak.”
“This penalty for breach of contract… isn’t it a bit high for a standard transaction?”
As he spoke, the secretary pointed out a section of the document to him.
It stated that if the Gold Rush Trading Guild failed to meet the delivery date for any reason, they would have to pay a penalty to the Weinstein County.
That amount was a staggering ten times more than previous transactions.
However…
“You foolish idiot.”
“…”
Without even glancing at the contract, Gord cursed at the secretary.
At his outburst, the secretary shrank back with wide eyes…
“Do you really think our Gold Rush Trading Guild would ever fail to secure such goods?!”
“That’s not it, but…”
“Instead of worrying about unnecessary risks, contact the clients. The time is tight, but we can find what we need!”
“A-Understood.”
With his head bowed, the secretary began organizing the prepared documents, while Gord clicked his tongue at the sight.
In large transactions, risks tend to come hand in hand.
Considering the scale and future potential of this transaction, such a risk was worth bearing.
“Hehe…”
If this transaction went smoothly, his ambitions would finally come to fruition.
Imagining the sweet, dreamlike scene, he wore a greedy smile.
*
Meanwhile, at the mansion of the Weinstein County.
“So, what happened?”
“They’re already caught in the net, all that’s left is to reel it in.”
In response to Carlos’ question, Rudell said with a faint smile.
The moment they signed the contract, everything was practically over.
All that remained was to wait for the right time to pull in the net.
“Don’t go too far, remember we can’t do anything without them.”
Although Bering’s Beringnote Trading Guild became the exclusive guild for the Count’s House, the amount of goods his guild could supply had limitations.
If his guild grew like the larger guilds, things would be different, but that would require a lot of time.
Meaning no matter how much they disliked them, they could not completely sever ties with the big guilds.
“Don’t worry, my goal is singular.”
At Carlos’ remark, Rudell nodded.
He would squeeze out some money, but he intended to handle things with other guilds within reasonable limits.
However, there was one guild.
“I will never let the Gold Rush Trading Guild go easy.”
Even if he was from another world, the Weinstein Count’s Domain was undeniably his home.
He was not lenient enough to let anyone meddle openly with the Count’s Domain.
“The Gold Rush Trading Guild. I won’t let those bastards off the hook.”
No matter what, he intended to drag down Gord, the branch manager of the Gold Rush Trading Guild in Priscillium.
“It’s only natural to repay kindness or enmity double, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, you’re right. Sometimes I think you’re better than me.”
Smirking, Rudell replied, and Carlos said…
“Don’t say that, I have a long way to go compared to my father.”
“You little… flattering.”
With a gentle smile, Carlos approached Rudell and pulled him into an embrace.
“Ah, Father?”
“I’m really proud of you for being my son.”
As Rudell looked at him, startled, Carlos tightened his embrace even more.
Simultaneously, Rudell felt something welling up within him.
But he kept it hidden and said, “Yes, Father.”
Thus, the night deepened at the Weinstein Count’s House.
*
A few days after Weinstein County held talks with the large guilds, at the Gold Rush Trading Guild’s Priscillium branch.
“Do you really think that makes sense!? Where did all that grain go!!”
Receiving a report, Gord jumped to his feet, throwing whatever he could grab at the secretary, yelling.
“Uh, um… It’s because small to medium guilds have been buying up everything recently…!!”
“Do you think it makes sense that we have no inventory just because of that?!”
“And not just that, the Lagrind Duchy has declared that they won’t trade this quarter due to preparations for famine…”
“What the heck is that…?”
At the secretary’s continued explanation, Gord let out a voice filled with disbelief.
What kind of place is the Lagrind Duchy?
It’s a blessed land that has never experienced famine since the kingdom’s history began, thanks to its warm climate and fertile soil, dominating the kingdom’s grain production.
And now they decided to reduce grain sales to prepare for famine?
It was an utterly nonsensical story.
“Convey to the Lagrind Duchy! If they won’t sell their grain, we’ll impose the penalty for breach of contract!!”
“Uh, um… They’ve already declared a breach of contract and paid the penalty.”
“Wh-What!?”
With that, Gord’s face went pale as he looked at the secretary.
The fact that they had paid the penalty meant they were essentially declaring a complete contract severance.
That meant he would be unable to obtain the necessary grain by any means.
“AAAHH!!”
As Gord realized the situation, he slammed his fist down on the desk with a furious red face. The secretary recoiled, carefully watching his reaction.
“Find a way to get it! If you can’t bring it in within two days, I’ll have your head!!”
“U-Understood!!”
As Gord shouted with a fierce tone, the secretary bowed and hurriedly left the room, as Gord simmered in anger before finally taking a seat.
“Damn… damn!!”
It made no logical sense.
The Lagrind Duchy had been a blessing since the beginning of the kingdom’s history, never experiencing any famine.
And now, they intend to stop grain sales citing preparation for famine?
No matter how he thought about it, it was incomprehensible from his standpoint.
“What the hell is going on… why!!!”
He had a significant opportunity right before him…!!
Thinking this, he gritted his teeth with grind, grind sounds.
The only possibility he could think of now was, oddly enough, Weinstein County.
After all, this deal had been made at the behest of the duke who invested in the Weinstein County.
Delaying such a deal would undoubtedly prompt any action from the duke.
But why now? And why like this?
Until recently, the Weinstein Count’s House had been a mere backwater noble family that amounted to nothing.
There was nothing in that land worthy of notice; it was a wasteland of wastelands.
To even consider throwing away a huge penalty and cutting ties with such a count was unthinkable in his mind.
“Damn…!! Damn!”
As Gord was gritting his teeth, trying to figure out a way to turn the situation around…
“Hey~ Manager. You look busy?”
“Branch manager.”
What the hell did that good-for-nothing want now?
With that thought, Gord stood up and bowed to Gilbert.
“Um… it’s not a big deal, but I heard you’re in quite a bind?”
“That’s not something you need to worry about, Branch Manager.”
If Gilbert, the eldest son of the Oberthas House, one of the five dukes in the kingdom, took action, there was nothing that couldn’t be solved.
However, Gord wanted to avoid that at all costs.
The position of headquarters manager he currently occupied was one he intended to claim for himself someday.
Yet seeking his help?
That was something Gord could never accept.
“Really? Looks like you’re not in as much trouble as I thought.”
“…”
At Gord’s reaction, Gilbert chuckled lowly, and Gord shot him a sharp glare.
“Don’t look at me like that, I came here to help.”
“I already told you, it’s not something you need to worry about, Branch Manager.”
“Yeah, yeah. If you say so, then. Here, take this.”
With a big grin, Gilbert pulled something from his pocket and handed it to him.
“What is this?”
It was an old, small box that looked like it would break at any moment.
“This is a little gift for you. Save it for the very last moment; open it if you end up in a real jam.”
“No thanks…”
Gord shook his head at Gilbert, who wore a faint smile.
What he needed right now wasn’t some unknown old box but grain to supply to the Count’s House.
“Just take it; you never know.”
“Alright, I’ll take it…”
The troublesome brat.
With that thought, Gord shoved the box into his pocket, and Gilbert looked at him with a satisfied expression.
“If you’ve got nothing else, I’d like you to leave. I’m busy with supply issues.”
“I was about to, anyway. Take care.”
Waving his hand, Gilbert headed out…
As the room fell silent, Gord wore a sharp expression while clicking his tongue briefly.
