Chapter 23

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“Thank you for taking the time to meet us today, His Excellency Köniz.”

“Oh, I’ll be happy to meet your neighbor’s request, Lord Arkvist.”

Arnold Köniz, the head of the Viscount Köniz, met with the lord of the west, Baron Noein Arkvist, in the drawing room of the mansion.

As usual, Baron Arkvist had a knightly slave behind him and smiled like a good young man, but he was a savvy, alert aristocrat when talking about refugees in the past. Arnold couldn’t be more careful.

“So, I heard that there was a need for some kind of consultation?”

“Yes. Actually… I was wondering if you could introduce me to a mining engineer.”

With just that one word, Arnold saw everything.

“Yes. Did you also touch the Restio Mountains?”

“You’re right. The other day, I researched the Restio Mountains, which borders the Arkvist territory, and found one vein.”

In the northern part of the Kingdom of Rhodberg, the Restio Mountains are lined up like a lid, and there are other large and small mountains scattered around. Most northern aristocratic territories bordered some mountains, and mining development was one of the familiar projects for northern aristocrats.

It is a matter of course that Baron Arkvist set out to develop such a mine in order to raise funds for reclamation.

“Isn’t that good? Tell me what the vein is?”

“Yes. It was a vein from which rough lapis lazuli can be obtained.”

“…That’s right. That’s rare.”

Arnold replied with a calm tone, restraining himself from involuntarily raising his voice.

Speaking of lapis lazuli, although its value as a gem is not as good as that of precious stones such as ruby and sapphire, it is known to be extremely expensive as a raw material for a pigment called “Mother Sea Blue”.

It is one of the rarest ores in the Kingdom of Lordberg. It’s really lucky to discover it early.

“I would like to thank God for my good luck. However, I have no knowledge of mine development and no mentor such as craftsmen … His Excellency Köniz owns a copper mine and an iron mine and develops them. I have heard that you are working hard. I thought that you would like to introduce an engineer who can teach the knowledge of mining to the people of my territory, so I asked for it. “

“A technician who teaches the lords the knowledge of mining? Isn’t hiring laborers to develop it easier?”

Vein development usually employs a group of laborers, such as engineers, miners, and even craftsmen who process ore.

Arnold could send his breathtaking craftsmen under the name of “introduction” to the territory of Arkvist, seize the sales channel, purchase processed products cheaply, and in some cases make money by letting the rough stones flow sideways. Arkvist just thought that he would be able to do it.

However, it cannot be achieved simply by sending a technician as a mining instructor.

“My territory is still a small territory, and I and the young lord are terrible. I am ashamed to say that I do not have the ability to maintain and manage large-scale mining development. The other day, we signed a contract to mine and wholesale rough stones to Miles Shokai. “

“…”

Arnold wondered if he had taken the initiative.

If Baron Arkvist tried to force himself to handle the mining, processing, and sales of lapis lazuli rough, he could have sent a kid’s craftsman or engineer to make it economically like a Dependent. There would have been plenty of opportunities to take advantage of it.

If anything, I could forcefully sign a contract in favor of this, saying, “We will outsource the mining and processing business of the lapis lazuli vein to Viscount Köniz” under military pressure. Depending on the size of the lapis lazuli vein, it may be worthwhile to take such a tough attitude.

But that’s not the case if Baron Arkvist has already signed a contract with Miles Shokai, which also means “to wholesale the rough stones.”

If Viscount Köniz forcibly intervenes where the contract is officially signed, he will buy not only Baron Arkvist’s anger but also the resentment of Miles Shokai. From the perspective of Miles Shokai, the business of “processing and selling lapis lazuli rough”, which produces enormous profits, will be overwhelmed.

It is one of the largest companies in Köniz territory. It has sales channels and branches not only in the territory but throughout the northwestern part of the kingdom. Besides, it is one of the business partners for the Viscount family, and it is also an important business partner.

When it comes to consequences from such a company, it is too big a price to obtain one vein. If there is an economic conflict with the Miles Company, it will cause great damage to the Viscount’s finances, and it will be ugly if the rumors spread that “The Viscount Köniz will even put pressure on the merchants for the money at hand.”

So far, he has been struggling to get the reputation of being an “intelligent lord with good politics.” I don’t want to hurt the evaluation in such a place.

Baron Arkvist continued to talk about such thoughts. While he was talking, Arnold was busy thinking.

“For me, just wholesale of the rough stones is enough to make a profit to flourish my territory. Even if you are under His Excellency Köniz, if Miles Shokai makes a large profit from processing and selling lapis lazuli, it will be a big source of tax revenue. Kato. Isn’t it something that is beneficial to each other? “

“… That’s right. You’re right.”

Arnold has no choice but to agree.

As he says it, this is not a bad deal for the Viscount Köniz. Rather, it is profitable in which the economy of the territory can be greatly enriched and tax revenues can be expected to increase simply by doing nothing. All I have to do is introduce one mining engineer to Baron Arkvist.

While securing the profits for himself, he firmly presents profits to his opponent, Arnold, and even crushes other options in advance. It’s a way of going around that makes me feel uncomfortable, but there is no reason to complain as a side who has been presented with profits.

Involuntarily, a bitter smile makes its way onto his face.

“How can you trust me so much?”

“I’m afraid, I’m a young person, and I don’t understand what your Excellency is implying. I just want to help you as your new neighboring Lord for mutual prosperity.”

Baron Arkvist responds to Arnold, without breaking his smile.

“Haha, is that so?”

Of course, Arnold doesn’t take his words at face value either. While ostensibly saying this, it’s clear that Baron Arkvist doesn’t trust him.

They do not try to overcome hostilities because they do not trust them, nor do they want to be exploited in a reckless manner, but showing their interests to their opponents and strive for mutual prosperity. However, the source of profits is secured by oneself, and safety measures are taken by inserting a powerful third party called Daishokai there.

Is it because of the infamous Count Kivilleft’s child that shows such a twisted turn? Or is it a tactic that I devised on my own to survive as a nobleman without a backing?

“So … Can you give me a reply to your consultation?”

“Oh. Let’s ask a group of craftsmen I’m acquainted with and send a talented mining engineer as an instructor. Is it okay to have a reward for the engineer?”

“Of course. Thank you. Thank you very much for your kindness.”

“I don’t mind. You are smart. If I get along well with you, there may be good things in the future that we can both benefit from.”

“I am just a young man who doesn’t know much. I’d love to continue to borrow the help of His Excellency …”

Count Arkvist asked for a handshake with a lovely smile, but what is he thinking about this inwardly?

It wasn’t too bad when it came to accepting refugees, but this time it was nothing short of spectacular. After all, I had no choice but to nod to his proposal.

Arnold thought it would be more profitable to take care of it purely intimately than to try to prey on it.

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