Chapter 9

My name is Moneda. I serve as the Deputy Accountant of the Armenia Territory Commercial Guild. If you ask what a Deputy Accountant does, it's essentially the accounting role at headquarters.

The Commercial Guild, in essence, is an organization that handles the mediation of personnel, arbitration between merchants, and other tasks to manage the merchant community.

Merchants must join the Commercial Guild and, in return for its protection, pay taxes. The Deputy Accountant is responsible for managing the taxes that member merchants pay to the Commercial Guild and overseeing the financial operations of the guild.

The job is busy, but it's quite fulfilling and enjoyable.

In the midst of this, I had a meeting scheduled. The person I was to meet was Iris Larna Armenia, the daughter of the lord of the territory where I live, who had once picked me up as an orphan and shown me great kindness.

However, to be honest, I initially thought it would be a hassle. Yes, I owe her a debt of gratitude, but business is business. I don't mix personal and professional matters. I knew through the merchant network that she had returned after breaking off her engagement, so I suspected she would ask me to do something troublesome.

...But.

"Is that so? I thought trade with the capital had significantly decreased?"

When I was about to ask about the purpose of the meeting, I was hit with a bombshell.

Why does she know this... The first thing that came to mind was this question. Indeed, it's something that only those who know would understand, but that's only if you spend every day scrutinizing the books.

For her, who had nothing to do with such matters, and who had been surrounded by noble young men and women in the capital, to say such a thing was unexpected.

If I underestimate her, I'll be eaten alive. The same tension I felt when facing seasoned professionals on the front lines ran through me. However, I realized it too late. She had already taken control of the conversation.

Having lost the first round, I tried to steer the conversation again, and she seized the opportunity to make her "request." Indeed, she was waiting for the right moment to attack.

I was surprised by this, and even more so by her request.

Reform of the domain? Long-term reform? I never thought a young lady would say such things.

It was interesting, I thought. If she had said this in the past, I would have dismissed it as a mere fantasy, but from our conversation, I was made acutely aware that she had a firm grasp of the current situation. However, that was all. I decided to buy time and consider it. Because I didn't think she had the authority to make personnel decisions, meaning I couldn't see a clear path forward.

But she had already cleared that hurdle.

I never thought she would be the acting lord!

She played her strongest card. There was no need to consider further.

...From there, things moved quickly. I immediately agreed, and after she left, I began the handover process.

I look forward to hearing her plans three days later.