Chapter 71

<070. WOLF'S RAIL>

The Tristar family's study.

Revealing the family's inclinations, this study, which is for the head of the family, is filled more with magical tools than decorations, and more with grimoires than literature.

Only a few are allowed to enter: the head of the family, a very small number of servants who clean, and guests personally invited by the head.

Considering that most guests are received in the reception room and led to parties held in the hall, being invited to this study alone signifies that one is an important guest of the Tristar family.

And, in my opinion, this was indeed an important matter.

"Then, Your Highness, let's discuss the compensation."

"Hmm. Let's do that."

"First, the compensation is—"

"No, I would like to hear your proposal first."

"Yes? Yes."

Money is the most important thing in the world, isn't it?

Having the initiative in the compensation discussion, how happy can this be?

There's more to gain, and more that I want to gain than I expected.

Let's activate the skill.

"【Let's start the compensation discussion.】"

***

Glas Tristar, the Earl, felt the prince's aura change as if it were a physical sensation.

Just one phrase. The moment he suggested starting the compensation discussion, the young man in front of him seemed to grow immensely.

It was as if he carried the weight of an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.

To possess such pressure at such a young age.

"What I can offer is—"

"I've already said it. I will make a proposal."

"Ah, I'm sorry, Your Highness."

He must not be provoked. Let's probe first.

And it might just be a feeling. Perhaps he's just intimidated by the royal lineage.

Glas Tristar, the Earl, cautiously met Wolfram's eyes, and then...

"Isn't my track record and achievements already proven without saying?"

"Yes, they are."

Glas, the Earl, involuntarily averted his gaze.

Indeed.

He had proven it.

This young man, Wolfram von Loen格林, used an unknown secret technique to deal with the monsters.

This method spread quickly, allowing the slimes in the mines owned by the Tristar family to be handled.

It wasn't just the mines near this family. This mysterious method would spread to all the mines owned by the family.

In other words, he had sparked a revolution in the mining industry.

If this situation had not been stopped, the family would have suffered significant losses and placed a heavy burden on their daughters, who would inherit the family's future.

However, this young man, the man chosen to be Aila's companion, appeared naturally and solved the problem casually, as if he didn't realize the weight of what he had done.

Glas Tristar, the Earl, decided to throw out a bait.

"Before that, I must express my deepest gratitude. You've done a great thing."

Expressing gratitude here is a poor strategy as a merchant.

How could a debtor praise the creditor's contribution and express gratitude?

If Glas Tristar, the Earl, had received such a greeting, he would have certainly seized the opportunity to extract even more.

However, Wolfram smiled lightly and brushed it off.

"Not at all. It wasn't a big deal. I handled it easily with a bit of knowledge."

"Is that so..."

His words trailed off.

He realized that solving the slime problem was not a big deal to him.

This solution alone could devour any number of surrounding mines.

For example, spreading slimes intentionally, then buying mines that had been shut down at a low price, and using this method to solve the problem—how much money could be made annually... It would truly be a reforming wind in the mining industry.

"I have no intention of seeking petty gains."

"Indeed...!"

As if reprimanding Glas, the Earl, for his impure thoughts, Wolfram spoke in a deep voice.

"Glas Tristar, Earl. I want to give you an opportunity."

The words "give you an opportunity" made his heart race.

It was as if the words carried magic.

An offer that could not be refused.

"An opportunity, you say?"

"I'm not just talking about a simple exchange of goods for this job."

"I don't fully understand. Can you explain your true intentions?"

"I take pride in turning my small dreams into reality with my own hands."

"You're right. Just from what I've heard from Aila, I've been amazed several times."

"Sometimes, despite being confident that I can achieve something with my mind, it's unfortunately impossible without the necessary materials."

"That's what you mean..."

"By your side, supplying the materials I need, and seeing how far we can change the world. Don't you want to see that?"

"Ah..."

His heart nearly stopped.

And then it began to beat several times faster than before.

"On the stage of changing the world, there is a place for you, Earl."

"Oh, oh, oh...!"

Those words were enough.

Not just for profit, but to board a ship heading towards the future. That's what this young man was saying.

Like a creature that had obtained a boarding pass to the ship of the lord.

Glas, the Earl's eyes trembled endlessly, as if he were a believer who had witnessed a miracle.

"The things I will create will change Jefrin, the Empire, and eventually the world."

"Yes, that's right."

"Will you come with me?"

Glas, the Earl, did not answer with words.

A merchant's words are the lightest.

He simply knelt on one knee, placed his left hand over his heart, and extended his right hand to the young man.

It was a truly noble gesture, symbolizing the offering of his heart.

***

It worked.

Glas, the Earl's actions were the posture of a noble who values honor!

"Please stand up. I am far from worthy of your loyalty."

"Yes, yes. I understand, Your Highness."

This was actually the result of a deep understanding of this matter, my future, and the characteristics of the Tristar family.

Perhaps it was a combination of the original story and reality, leading to the most plausible outcome.

For example, in the original story, Aila Tristar torments Kelthers until Act 2, but her behavior changes in Act 3. She suddenly starts recruiting and poaching talents, leading to a rampage and a confrontation with Eve, resulting in her expulsion and being hunted by 'Regina Sierra' and Kelthers.

However, the Tristar family's finances were surprisingly healthy.

Aila's actions were likely triggered by the mine shutdown incident.

While the game doesn't provide detailed explanations, it's a reasonable guess.

Especially since Spica's basic equipment was inferior to that of other first-year students when recruited as a companion.

In short, a problem arose in Aila's family.

Aila believed that talent was the solution, leading to the formation of the Aila faction, which eventually clashed with Eve, involving Regina, and resulting in Aila's downfall.

The Tristar family was then in ruins, and Spica, though admitted to school, was in a poor situation.

But I don't like that.

Aila and Spica, and even this Glas, the Earl, are quite good people, aren't they?

So...

"First, what I desire is mutual exchange."

"Exchange, you say?"

"Yes. I want precious minerals and materials from the Tristar family, not money."

"Hmm. When you say precious minerals, which tier are you referring to?"

"From ordinary stones of Tier 9 to, if possible, Tier 1 Seven-King Stones."

"Indeed! But Seven-King Stones... aren't they just legends?"

"Exactly. What I want is, in short, the right to bid first on the minerals mined by the Tristar family."

"First bidding rights, you say?"

"Yes. I will pay for them. In return, I will share the information on the prototypes made from the minerals and the solutions to the mine monster problems provided by the Tristar family."

"From our side, this is a tremendous gain. We will cooperate."

I nodded slightly and cheered inwardly.

It worked.

He fell for it.

Actually, even if I received the payment now, it would be at most a few million rin. That's the maximum.

But the items that appear in the late game can't be bought for just a few million.

So I wanted the materials, and I got them. I secured the support of the Tristar family, which boasts the best mining industry in the west.

To gain such benefits from dealing with a few thousand slimes, this world is being too kind to me.

The dream I sold must have played a significant role.

What can I say, Aila is a rebel, Spica is a revolutionary, and the Earl is a reformer... I talked about my grand dreams and how it would be a loss not to invest now, and it worked quite well.

Of course, I have to pay for the bidding rights, but this is still a huge gain.

No matter how much money you have, there are things you can't get.

Thinking about this, I nodded, and then Glas, the Earl, said something strange.

"However, this is a fair trade. It's hard to think of it as a ticket to join Your Highness's dream."

"Is that so?"

What more could I receive? What more could he give?

Ha, I can't refuse what an elder offers. I'll accept it gratefully.

Let's see. What should I receive?

What my convenience store lacks the most right now is...

Ah, that's right.

"Do you do metal forming and processing? I also need a mage with the Golem Craft skill."

"I'll arrange it immediately. What do you