Chapter 64

Maseok is a precious asset that can completely change the situation of the estate with the contract money from the merchant alone. It wasn't just about making money. When the rumor spread that money was starting to circulate in Eilsford, many freemen flocked to the quiet rural estate, hoping to find work and earn money to establish a new home. Their hopes were not misplaced. The newly developed maseok mine always lacked manpower. Not only were miners important, but there was also a need for various other workers to prepare meals for the miners and provide the equipment they would use. As the influx of workers brought their families to Eilsford, the estate was becoming increasingly populated. Population is, in a sense, a form of competitiveness. With more people, merchants who smelled the money naturally flocked, and as merchants started to gather, the estate naturally began to thrive. The once poor rural estate, where only fallen leaves rolled around, was now unrecognizable.

'So, I must put my heart and soul into the maseok business.'

Since it affects so many areas, it cannot be handled carelessly.

"How about it, my lady?"

I carefully looked at the maseok Pavel had laid out on the table. It was easy to tell which maseok was from Eilsford and which was from other estates.

'It is said that maseok with higher purity emits a more brilliant light.'

The maseok on the left emitted a clear, radiant light like clear crystal, while the maseok on the right, though glossy, did not sparkle. The maseok from Eilsford, of course, was the one on the left that emitted a clear light.

"Indeed, the difference is noticeable."

"Yes, it can be visually distinguished."

The importance of visual effects cannot be overstated, as the saying goes, "seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times." Therefore, the clear visual difference is a positive factor.

"Even in the capital, where all the good things gather, it's hard to find such high-purity maseok. It's probably only used by the royal family and wealthy, powerful families."

Rare items are monopolized by those at the top. It's a natural principle.

'Here's where the problem arises.'

The powerful like to show off their superiority by possessing special items that others do not have. But what if that 'specialness' disappears? The maseok mine in Eilsford produces such high-purity maseok every day. High purity means high efficiency, but for those who like to show off, efficiency is not the most important factor. They will certainly regulate the supply to control the amount released to the market, but inevitably, the specialness will diminish. Seeing the high-quality maseok in front of me, I had a dark expression, and Pavel looked at me with a puzzled expression. Since there was no need to hide my thoughts, I frankly shared my concerns. Pavel, who had been listening quietly, stroked his chin with a serious face, admitting he hadn't thought of it that way.

"Indeed, I don't understand the nobles. If high-quality maseok can be easily obtained at a good price, it should be a good thing, but it could lead to rejection from the upper echelons."

"Those at the top value more than just convenience and efficiency."

"Then, what direction should we take for our business?"

"There are two common strategies."

I picked up a shining maseok and looked at its brilliant color before speaking.

"One is to give up on the top-tier consumers and target the market below them. Efficiency and convenience are important factors for them, so our maseok would be quite attractive. We can also gain a large market and become well-known to the public."

"What about the other one?"

"The opposite is to abandon the rest of the market and supply maseok only to the top-tier consumers. The market is smaller, and we won't be well-known to the public, but the profits will be greater. The top-tier spends a different amount of money."

"Hmm."

Pavel looked at the maseok thoughtfully, pondering which strategy would be better.

"If I were to choose, I would go with the former."

After a long deliberation, Pavel looked at me and said.

"Why?"

"Since our maseok is produced in large quantities, it will be difficult to maintain its specialness even if we regulate the supply. It will also be quite costly to market to the top-tier consumers."

"You're right. But the trends of the capital nobles follow the top-tier, ultimately following the royal family. To properly market to the nobles, we need the royal family to choose us."

"Then... are you giving up the former and choosing the latter?"

"Hmm. Do we have to give up one of them?"

When I asked ambiguously, Pavel tilted his head, not understanding.

"If we choose easily, we can pick one. But it would be better to pursue both, even if it's a bit more difficult."

"Of course, that would be better if possible..."

His eyes seemed to be asking if there was a way.

'Of course, I've thought about it.'

I've been pondering this since the maseok mine was discovered and have found a solution.

"Come, Pavel. Look at this."

I gestured for Pavel to come to the table. The table was piled with numerous maseok. Since he had prepared them, he must have seen them dozens or hundreds of times.

"Generally, the maseok from Eilsford and other estates are different. This is clear. But if you look closely... the maseok from Eilsford also has subtle differences. For example, this maseok is more brilliant than this one, right?"

I picked out the most and least brilliant maseok from the pile and showed them to Pavel. The difference was clear, and Pavel nodded. But he still looked puzzled about why this was important at this point. I decided to clarify the core of the issue.

"I mean, there are grades even among the maseok from Eilsford. We can divide our maseok into high-quality and low-quality items."

"Ah...!"

Pavel's eyes widened, and he adjusted his glasses, finally understanding what I was trying to say.

"You mean to grade the maseok like gemstones, distinguishing between items for the top-tier and those for general circulation?"

"Exactly."

"Really... I never thought of that. Grading maseok..."

Grading minerals is common. Even the most precious gemstone, the diamond, is priced differently based on its grade. The highest-grade diamonds command unimaginable prices, while the lowest-grade diamonds are worth less than rubies or sapphires. So, the same system can be applied to maseok.

"Until now, it wasn't possible. Maseok was so rare that it had value in itself. But with increased supply, we can certainly grade it."

The problem is that there are no standards for grading maseok and no experts to accurately judge it.

"So, what if we establish a new grading system for maseok? We can grade it ourselves and issue certificates. Then, Eilsford can truly become the center of the maseok industry."

And if we send the most excellent maseok, classified according to our standards, to the emperor as a gift...

'It will be a huge issue!'

I smiled broadly, imagining the exciting scenario, but Pavel looked a bit puzzled.

"...Pavel? Is there a problem?"

Worried that there might be something wrong with the plan, I called out to Pavel, and he quickly shook his head.

"No, I just find it a bit surprising."

"What do you mean?"

"You are usually quiet and don't speak much, but when you talk about business, you speak so well, like a different person."

"Well, that's...!"

A shy person may find it difficult to interact with others, but they are not stupid! Planning, reviewing, and pondering are my strengths. This is something I can do even if I'm not sociable.

'I can speak confidently because I've thought about it for a long time.'

Of course, if the person I was talking to was a stranger, I would have been too nervous to speak. But since it's Pavel, I can speak comfortably. The days of being shy around him are long gone.

"Anyway, that's my idea."

Realizing how I usually come across to Pavel, I felt a bit embarrassed and my face turned red.

"Of course, this is just an opinion, and Altair will review it further to create a solid plan."

Leading and directing is Altair's role as the leader. My role is to provide opinions and support from behind.

"By the way, Pavel. You said Blan returned, right?"

"Yes."

As I smoothly transitioned to a new topic, Pavel's smiling face suddenly stiffened.

"Yes, he just returned and is reporting to the lord."

***

Altair faced Blan with a serious expression. The atmosphere was heavy, and Blan, unlike his usual self, started his report with a serious attitude.

"During my investigation in the capital, I found several concerning points."

"What made you delay your return and continue the investigation?"

In fact, the investigation Altair had ordered was completed a long time ago. Altair had instructed Blan to find out how Nadia was treated by the von Baine family and whether the von Baine Duke had infringed on her rights during the inheritance process. Blan had competently and diligently completed the investigation. The results were already reported in writing, confirming that the von Baine Duke had treated Nadia worse than a servant and had unreasonably seized her personal property during the inheritance process. Reading the written report, Altair felt a chill run down his spine. 'How dare they treat my wife, the Lady of Eilsford, like that?' Of course, Nadia at the time was a complete stranger, not Altair's wife or the Lady of Eilsford, but he couldn't think rationally. He planned to ask Blan for more detailed information upon his return and formulate a plan, but his return was unexpectedly delayed. Knowing that Blan was not the type to waste time in the capital, Altair needed to pinpoint the reason for his delayed return. Blan, aware of Altair's piercing gaze, knew that insubordination was a serious matter and needed a solid reason. He was confident that the information he brought back would be the key to answering all questions.

"The von Baine Duke had a huge debt before inheriting the title. He managed to clear the debt when he inherited the title, but strangely, the family's wealth did not decrease after the debt was paid off."

"Wasn't it because he seized Nadia's personal property?"

"Of course, that's one reason, but the debt was at a level that couldn't be covered by that alone. This is what made me continue to investigate..."

"Continue to investigate?"

When Altair urged him with a question, Blan, who had been speaking cautiously, finally spoke.

"I found out that the previous Duke and his wife had a substantial life insurance policy."

"What?"

"The beneficiary was not the previous Duke's daughter, our lady, but his younger brother, the current von Baine Duke."