Chapter 84

2/2

As the head of the Azuta Trading Company, I have now reached a temporary conclusion on the necessary responses.

The response to the blows received during the turmoil, and the response to the busyness after the situation has settled down.

Perhaps all that's left is to deal with the statements from other trading companies in my capacity as the acting lord. I've been steadily progressing with these tasks concurrently, so there should be only a little left.

However, what I'm doing now is different from the usual business... The fact that I've done so much work and yet haven't finished this at all is the real problem.

I leaned back deeply in my chair, threw the quill on the desk, and looked up.

Lately, I find myself in this position often when I'm tired or thinking about something.

"...Hey, Sei."

You didn't just come to collect the documents, did you... But since you came at a good time, I'll call you over.

"Yes, what is it?"

"In this situation, where Lord Ed has been working to get three trading companies to cause trouble for us, which one do you think would be best to acquire?"

At my words, Sei was momentarily startled. But in the next moment, after a brief pause, he seemed to have calmed down.

"...Why are you suddenly bringing this up? Until recently, you said that as long as the Second Prince has his backing, you didn't want to do anything that could be seen as retaliation and complicate matters further."

Correction. He's just pretending to be calm; inside, he seems to be on edge, wondering what I'll say next.

"Well, I do think that... No, let me rephrase. I think that with all three companies deteriorating so beautifully, it's difficult to keep an eye on everything. Moreover, considering the Second Prince's character, would he really keep fussing over something that has already failed? He would probably throw it away like a child who has grown tired of a toy, wouldn't he?"

As I said this, I couldn't help but laugh.

When we were engaged, I didn't realize this at all... No, I was just pretending not to see. But after the engagement was broken, I finally feel like I can truly see him for who he is.

"You can't deny that, but... Acting on speculation is dangerous. Why are you willing to take the risk for something that doesn't seem to offer much return?"

"During the excommunication incident, the tariffs on goods passing through the border from the Duchy of Armenia were raised by the trading companies based in the Duchy of Armenia, right? Since it was likely the work of a noble from the Second Prince's faction, I thought we might as well use the name of a trading company that was under the Second Prince's protection."

Even though the turmoil has settled, the tariffs haven't been lowered. Even when we try to negotiate, we hit a brick wall, and some won't even sit down at the negotiating table.

Well, I'm completely seen as an enemy by the Second Prince's faction... Even the name of the House of Armenia has no effect.

"In other words, when goods are being shipped to other territories, you want to put them in the forefront."

"Yes. We don't need to acquire the entire trading company; just a part of it would be enough. If we can manipulate the contracts to use the company's name, that would be even better. You know, Azuta Trading Company has a department that specializes in transportation, right? It would be interesting to merge it and make it independent."

"I see... So, the idea is that it's not necessarily the goods from the trading companies based in the Duchy of Armenia that are passing through, but rather the goods handled by a different trading company based in the capital. If this works out well, we should be able to get work from other trading companies based in the Duchy of Armenia... Is that the idea?"

"Yes. I heard that even large trading companies, unless they are of a considerable scale, hire guards to transport goods from city to city. By taking on this task, we can reduce costs, and then other trading companies should also use our services. In essence, I want to develop the business that Azuta Trading Company is currently doing."

As I spoke, I realized I was proposing to increase our workload... and I inwardly smiled wryly.

However, it's a fact that we need to consider other options given the difficulties we're facing in negotiations with the nobles of the Second Prince's faction.

Of course, I also see the potential for business expansion.

"...I will consider the business characteristics of each trading company and their closeness to the Second Prince to narrow down the one to acquire."

"Thank you."