Chapter 8

The resolution chapter is scheduled to be updated as usual tomorrow.

Regina Nieves is a young businesswoman who was once seen as the head of the three major chambers of commerce in Härden Turm, the Nieves Chamber of Commerce.

It was because of her that they were able to overcome the devastating blow of losing both their cargo and their chairman in a pirate attack, and manage to keep the chamber of commerce barely afloat.

No one in Härden Turm would deny this evaluation.

Even if there are no signs of improvement for the Nieves Chamber of Commerce.

The dress that covers her healthy, slightly tanned skin is a bright green one with plant embroidery. Although it gives a rather flashy impression, it suits her passionate eyes and luxurious blonde hair well.

While she was eating breakfast and reading a report in her private room, the elderly manager Cesk, who had served since her father's time, informed her of a visitor.

It wasn't exactly early morning, but it was still a bit early for business hours.

"So, who is it?"

To her very reasonable question, the old man answered carefully.

"They didn't give a name. They just said they wanted to discuss a transaction involving silver. And they were wearing a mage's robe..."

"What's the matter?"

"They were accompanied by a young girl."

"I'll see them immediately. Please bring them in."

Following her intuition, Regina ordered the elderly Cesk, whom she revered like a grandfather. This intuition had helped her avoid fatal crises many times before.

Although she had never welcomed a good opportunity through her intuition before, she had a feeling that this time would be the first.

Her heart raced like a love-struck girl's, and her cheeks flushed. Feeling thirsty from excitement, she reached for a cup of water.

"Ah, my hair?"

However, she put it back without drinking it and looked at the mirror hanging on the wall. She tried to fix her hair, which only she could tell was messy, but it was too late.

The loyal elderly Cesk, following his master's orders, returned quickly with the visitor.

The door was opened without much of a knock.

At the urging of the elderly Cesk, a black-haired boy wearing a black high-collared school uniform under a white mage's robe and carrying an infinite storage bag stepped into Regina's private space.

"Nice to meet you, Chairwoman Regina Nieves. I am Yuto Amakusa, the steward of the Istas family."

He tried to greet her politely, but it didn't seem very effective.

He probably knew that the sudden visitor would be Yuto.

While his actions in Mainz had not yet been reported, he had been openly preparing for the management of his territory in the capital, Sejour.

Even if not, it wouldn't be strange for them to have grasped the characteristics of the heroes who had destroyed the "Void Ledger."

Yuto glanced at Yona, who was with him.

That's right. There aren't many albinos around.

"It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Yuto Amakusa. I haven't even greeted your lordship yet, and you've come to see me, which is truly humbling."

"Not at all, the formal introduction will be later. Of course, I'll tell Sir Valtrode about you."

"Yuto, that's not your character."

"Didn't we agree to keep quiet, Yona?"

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

Seeing Yona's gesture of pretending not to understand, looking in a completely different direction, Regina's tense face broke into a smile appropriate for her age.

"Hehe. How about we speak frankly for the sake of the young lady?"

"That would be great."

Yuto agreed without hesitation. Then, before being invited, he sat down in a chair and crossed his legs.

"Let's start with a simple business talk, shall we?"

"I believe you mentioned silver?"

While directing the conversation to Yuto, Regina's mind was working busily.

She calculated the silver reserves in the chamber of commerce and the inventory of other chambers of commerce with which they had transactions, preparing to answer questions about quality and quantity.

However—

"Yes, powdered, about 750 kilograms."

"Seven hundred and fifty?"

The amount was an order of magnitude higher than expected.

She let out a lady-unlike exclamation, but even the usually fussy Cesk didn't scold her. It was that unexpected.

Especially considering the current size of the Nieves Chamber of Commerce.

Yuto didn't mind her inner shock.

(750 kilograms of powder sounds like a drug deal... Well, since it's automatically translated, the unit probably isn't "kilograms" in their understanding.)

He was thinking about irrelevant things.

Yona was even worse, looking around the room indifferently and then eyeing the unfinished breakfast on the table before inserting herself between Yuto and Regina.

"Grumble."

"Don't make your stomach growl with your mouth. Didn't you eat breakfast with Alcia?"

"Mmm."

"Speak properly. I'll treat you to something after we're done."

"Okay. If you lie, I'll cry to Alcia that Yuto was mean to me."

"That's low, man!"

Realizing that this was an important business negotiation, Yuto coughed and then inserted his hand under Yona's arm, lifting her like a crane to the adjacent chair. He didn't forget to instruct her to behave.

Then, he continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.

"Yes, the sooner the better, but the deadline is one month. You don't have to deliver it to Falv. If it's not on time, just let us know, and we'll come to pick it up."

"One month? That's..."

"Let's call it a trade-off."

He handed the infinite storage bag, which he had placed at his feet, to the elderly Cesk, who was standing behind him.

"It contains 15,000G. It's bulky, so I took the liberty of converting it all to platinum coins."

The currency system in Bluewars is extremely simple.

Ten copper coins make one silver coin, ten silver coins make one gold coin, and ten gold coins make one platinum coin. In other words, that bag contains 1,500 coins.

"Let me check."

The elderly Cesk cautiously put his hand into the bag and took out one of the money bags. The money bag, having regained its weight after coming out of the infinite storage bag, asserted its presence. Not just in weight, but also in its social value.

When he untied the string and opened the bag, the shine of the platinum coins captivated Regina and Cesk's vision and consciousness.

While a transaction of this total amount wasn't rare, receiving the full amount in cash without prior notice was something Regina had never experienced.

"But, in terms of the silver market, it's nearly double—"

"This is an investment."

Without changing his posture or expression, Yuto said.

Yuto wasn't particularly skilled at negotiation. He was originally just a high school student, and the party's negotiator was Alcia, so he hadn't accumulated much experience since coming to Bluewars.

However, by taking the initiative with the power of money and steering the conversation in the direction he had anticipated, he could overwhelm even a seasoned chairwoman.

(I hope he doesn't get a nickname like 'Cash Magician' or something.)

Again, he was thinking about irrelevant things, but he continued without showing his inner thoughts. This was the main event.

"And it's also a test. Regina Nieves, to see if you are the person who can replace Bruno Exdero's head."

"Replace the head of the Exdero Chamber of Commerce..."

Härden Turm, like other free cities, was governed by a council of the city's influential figures.

However, in practice, it was different. Currently, it was a regime close to a dictatorship by the Exdero Chamber of Commerce, which had risen in tandem with the decline of the Nieves Chamber of Commerce.

Regina had been repeatedly frustrated by the Exdero Chamber of Commerce.

Bruno Exdero, the chairman of the Exdero Chamber of Commerce, was a merchant in his fifties, described as toad-like, who had once been an employee of the Nieves Chamber of Commerce.

He proposed to Regina, the daughter of his former master, to become his second wife, drenched in gold, a man who, while possessing business acumen, was one of the worst in terms of character.

However, he wasn't someone the new lord could easily dismiss.

Regina had no idea what cards the steward of the earl in front of her was holding.

"I know there are several problems in this city right now. It might be like picking chestnuts out of the fire, but..."

"May I ask one thing?"

"Of course."

This was the turning point.

Regina, who had been overwhelmed by the rapid developments, took a deep breath and composed her thoughts.

She could see that he really needed the silver, even if she didn't understand its purpose. If it was just a test of the Nieves Chamber of Commerce, there would be no need to set such a tight deadline of one month.

She could understand the desire to create a counterbalance to the Exdero Chamber of Commerce, which effectively controlled Härden Turm for tax purposes, even if it wasn't to completely eliminate it.

However, she still didn't understand why the Nieves Chamber of Commerce.

"As a famous adventurer, Mr. Amakusa, wouldn't it have been possible to arrange the purchase of silver through a chamber of commerce in the capital, Sejour? Why here?"

"It's possible. But, it's not a company... it's a chamber of commerce. That wouldn't make sense."

It would be easier to talk to one of the several chambers of commerce in the capital, Sejour, with which he had a good relationship, and he could even expect a kickback.

However, Yuto dismissed this easily.

It wouldn't benefit the territory.

"I really do need the silver, and I want to start with a major cleanup. Also, the victims should be properly compensated."

"Victims?"

To Regina's question, Yuto did not answer.

"Of course, that's not all. I've had the chambers of commerce in this city investigated, and Regina, you were the best at balancing justice and profit."

It wasn't out of sympathy for a declining chamber of commerce, nor did he think she was easy to handle because she was a woman.

She had been chosen as a co-conspirator, and Regina felt a strange sense of elation.

She looked at Yuto with moist eyes.

However, Yuto brushed off her gaze and said calmly,

"I can't reveal everything right now. But, it won't be bad for this city. I guarantee it."

"As a hero?"

"As a person, maybe?"

With that answer, Regina decided to trust Yuto himself.

More than anything, this steward of the lord was young and understood economics and business. That's how she felt.

And for a merchant, there was no other criterion for judgment.

While Regina, who had been touching her well-shaped nose as if in thought, had already made up her mind, she just needed to voice her decision.

"I accept."

"...Thank you."

Relieved, Yuto's expression relaxed.

Seeing this, Regina also smiled, impressed.

While her beauty often gave her an advantage in negotiations, Yuto had treated her as a business partner, not as a beautiful woman.

This might have developed into a feeling called love if she had grown smoothly, but if she knew the truth that he was used to dealing with beautiful women like Valtrode and Alcia, it might not have.

While the elderly Cesk was preparing the contract, Yuto, who had been served tea late, moistened his tongue and did not forget to gather information about the port's closure by pirate ships and the damage from the storm.

The documents were completed in about half an hour. After a quick review, he signed both copies and stamped them with the signet ring he had received from Valtrode.

That was one task done.

On the way out.

"Oh, right."

Yuto took a letter from his uniform pocket and casually handed it to Regina.

"This... It's a summons to the council, isn't it?"

"Yes, I believe it starts in the afternoon today. I'm sorry for the short notice, but can you clear your schedule?"

Yuto's expression, as if inviting a woman on a date, was far too sadistic. He had a smile on his face like a predator in front of its prey.

Regarding the units of measurement, I considered creating a unique system but prioritized clarity in the current form.

Wow, your translation skills are impressive.