Chapter 20

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Chapter 20

Now that we have found a source of funding in the form of a lapis lazuli vein, the next step was to secure a sales channel to convert it into a large amount of money.

So, the day after Noein received the report from the survey team, he loaded the lapis lazuli gemstone onto a wagon and left for Retvik to get into talks with the Miles Trading Company. This time he was accompanied by Matilda, Radley, and Edgar.

Noein and the group arrived at Retvik in the early afternoon.

“Well, then let’s go to a company that sells precious metals and gems before we go to the Miles Trading Company.”

He said.

“Aren’t we going to the Miles Trading Company first?”

“Before that, I want to know the current price of lapis lazuli gemstones. That’s why I want to go and collect information. I’m going to go into a random store, look at some accessories, and ask around while we chat.”

“… Does that mean that the chairman of the Miles Trading Company could decieve those of us who are not familiar with minerals, Noein-sama?”

“Very perceptive, Matilda. You’re right.”

Noein explained what Matilda meant to Radley and Edgar, who didn’t seem to get it after hearing their conversation.

“In other words, if you don’t know the current market price of lapis lazuli gemstones in advance, we may very well risk it selling at an unreasonably low price to Miles Trading Company.”

“Well… would a major company do such a thing?”

“I’m sure they won’t try to cheat us since we’ve already established a good relationship with them, but this is a big deal. It’s scary to talk to them without some important information. There’s no need to be too cautious.”

Noein replies to Edgar’s surprised remark with a grin and sneer. He gulped as he thought, ‘You have to think of all your business partners as enemies who try to cheat you.’

・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・

“Welcome. What can I do for you today?”

“Thank you. Actually, I was thinking of getting a gift for a woman I know. Maybe something like ornaments.”

Noein, when approached by a man who seemed to be the owner of a luxury goods store that he entered to gather information, gave an appropriate reason for his visit.

He had everyone else wait at a distance and came to the store alone. He was not dressed in his usual aristocratic attire, but he still looked like a slightly wealthy commoner at best, so no one seemed to notice that he was the ‘Baron of the Forest’.

“I see, certainly. Do you have any requests for the design or colour of the ornaments?”

“I’m pretty sure she said she likes blue, so if there’s something with blue gems, I’d like to see…”

“Well then, let me show you some.”

As he said this, the owner took out about three items and put them on the counter.

One was a pair of earrings with an impressive transparent blue gem. They were probably sapphire.

The other is a ring with a stone that is mainly blue, but with some other colors mixed in, such as green and yellow. This one was probably an opal.

The last item placed on the table was a necklace with a round polished stone of a deep blue color that seemed to be absorbed into the center of the necklace. Noein was certain that this was lapis lazuli. Noein remembers his late mother showing it to him, Noein was pretty sure it was a gemstone that looked similar to this one.

“This necklace is very beautiful. What kind of gem is it?”

“This is lapis lazuli. It is also known as ‘the gem of good luck’.”

I hit it right on the mark.

“Excuse my rudeness but is the person you’re giving this to someone you’re in love with?”

“Ahaha, I’m embarrassed that I am. This is my first gift to her.”

Noein replied along with a smile that could only be seen on a young innocent man in his early years. If Yuri were here, he would have said, ‘What’s with that fake face?’

The shopkeeper, who had no idea that Noein was lying, said with a smile, “In that case, the lapis lazuli necklace would be the perfect item for you.”

“What is the price of this necklace?”

“This will cost you 800 leburos.”

“Is that so… it’s a small jewel, but it’s expensive.”

“It is so rare…… that it is in great demand not only as a gemstone but also as a colour pigment. You may have heard of the ‘Blue of the Mother Sea’?”

“ah, I think I have.”

Noein kept his naive charade going as he probed around for more information on the mineral.

“When the mineral gemstone is processed and ground into powder, it becomes a blue pigment. Since it is rare and expensive, it is one pigment that painters long for!”

“That’s an interesting story… Does it mean it is quite expensive even when it’s raw stone before processing?”

“That’s right. If you were to buy it, you would have to pay almost 2,000 leburos for 1kg. Maybe even more.”

“So much……”

“The gemstones are also popular as an object of art because of their deep blue colour and mysteriousness.”

After that, Noein pretended to be interested in the product and told him that, “It seems to be a little over my budget amount, so I’ll come back later with some more money to buy it”. Noein told the owner that he was sorry and left. He also apologized in his heart knowing he wouldn’t be coming back.

And then, he met up with Matilda and the others at the square that they had designated as their meeting place in advance.

“I’m back. I was able to get the price of the gemstone safely. It’s the selling price, but if we can figure out a wholesale price based on that, I don’t think we’ll make that many mistakes in the business negotiation.”

“As expected of Noein-sama.”

“Thank you, Matilda. Next stop, Miles Trading Company. We’ll have to do this wisely.”

・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・

It’s been a while since Noein had met Benedict, the chairman of the Miles Trading Company, as he tends not to show up for their usual fur trades.

They were taken to the same reception room as last time. Today, Matilda was standing behind Noein, and Radley and Edgar accompanied them to the reception room carrying the mined lapis lazuli with utmost care.

“His Excellency, Baron Arkvist, it has been a long time. I have been told that you have some special matters to discuss with me today.”

“It’s been a while, Mr. Benedict. Sorry to take up some of your time.”

“No, no, I am honoured to be of assistance to none other than His Excellency Baron Arkvist. May I ask what you wish to discuss so urgently?”

“Yes, actually, I was wondering if I could ask Miles Trading Company to trade for this.”

As Noein looked at him, Radley and Edgar placed a heavy lump wrapped in cloth on the table. The table, made of fine wood, did not falter when the lump was placed on it.

The two of them open the cloth to show what’s inside.

“This is … lapis lazuli ore?”

Noein thought to himself about the fact that benedict was the head of the large trading company. Of Course he could tell what it was at a glance.

He was indeed a little surprised at the discovery of a rare gemstone that too of a considerable size.

“Where did you get this?… I see, is it the Restio Mountains?”

“That’s right. The other day, we investigated the foothills of the Restio Mountains bordering the Arkvist territory, and found a place that seemed to be a vein of lapis lazuli. I’m an amateur when it comes to mining, so I don’t know how much we’ll be able to mine. But……”

Benedict sighs involuntarily when he hears Noein’s story.

From what Noein had read in his books in the past, there were particularly few mines in the Kingdom of Lordberg where lapis lazuli could be found. The discovery of a vein in the mountains of the immediately neighbouring territory would be a surprising story to Benedict. His sigh was not one of disinterest but an exhale of astonishment.

“Oh, I beg your pardon. So, are you saying that you want to sell this ore today?”

“Yes, for the time being. And if possible, I would like to sell the lapis lazuli ore mined in my territory exclusively to Miles Trading Company in the future.”

Benedict was surprised at Noein’s suggestion, this time with his eyes wide open.

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