Chapter 104 Profitable Business Trip – Part 2

Actually, there was nothing strange about Professor Alon's proposal itself. It wasn't complete nonsense.

Investing in a rock salt mine in advance and securing the right of first refusal or physical goods. It was certainly possible.

Then what was the problem?

"Professor Alon. No, I'll address you as Alon Beryl for now. Alon Beryl, be honest."

"Honest? I'm not lying—"

"Then why are you telling me this?"

"Excuse me?"

"If it's such good information, why don't you invest yourself? Why are you coming to the Finance Director of your workplace to talk about it?"

Would anyone in their right mind recommend an investment to their superior? And not just any superior, but the Finance Director?

It wasn't like he was trying to get on his superior's good side by suggesting a good investment, he was suggesting using academy funds for it?

Why should I?

"That's because I truly love the academy…!!"

"Don't lie. After the incident at the entrance ceremony, you received investment funds, and you complained about how it was unfair that 40% of it was donated."

"...…"

"Silence doesn't make it go away."

How did I know? It was nothing special. The Illusion Magic Department had a lavish dinner party after becoming wealthy from the investment funds, and Professor Alon happened to complain about it while drunk, which was overheard by the restaurant owner.

Sometimes, if they brought good information or rumors, I would reduce the rent for the stores in the academy. I was collecting weaknesses of professors and students of interest to use at times like this.

Anyway, someone who was stingy even with a pre-arranged donation was saying what? That he loved the academy?

This was as obvious as day.

"Did Count Beryl put you up to this?"

"W-what are you talking about!"

"Cut the crap and stop with the lousy acting."

There was no need to read Professor Alon's expression or catch his slip of the tongue.

Just a few pieces of information I knew were enough.

"Then let me ask. As far as I know, the Beryl family is in quite a difficult financial situation. Where did they get the money to rebuild the mine?"

"Difficult financial situation! That's a bit harsh, even for the Finance Director!"

"What's harsh is the shamelessness of someone standing before me."

The Beryl family might hold the title of count, but they were in dire straits. They had the prestige befitting their name a few decades ago, but their status had plummeted since then.

Why? Because they chose the wrong side in the kingdom's civil war. It was the same civil war where the Headmistress emerged as a war hero. The family managed to survive, but their territory was reduced to less than half its original size.

It would have been better if they had even lost their title, but because they shamefully retained the title of count, the Beryl family was disgraced as a count family worse off than a baron family.

King Akendelminos had spared the Beryl family but completely destroyed their standing and pride as nobles.

"I'll ask another question. You said earlier that Count Beryl is your older brother."

"That's correct!"

"You're not the second or third son, are you? Which son are you?"

"…The seventh."

"I heard that the current Count Beryl is the eldest son, so you are indeed his brother."

A noble was still a noble, even if they were ruined and disgraced. If Professor Alon was proud of the name 'Beryl,' he would have made sure I remembered his full name.

But Professor Alon deliberately avoided mentioning his surname. He even wrote just "Alon" instead of "Alon Beryl" on the contract at the entrance ceremony, so that said it all.

In other words, he didn't like his family very much. It was only natural considering the situation of the count family and his practically non-existent standing as the seventh son.

"This is the last one."

"...…"

"That reconstruction project, when is it scheduled to begin?"

"…It will begin as soon as the conditions are met."

"It would be very disappointing if those conditions were 'investment from the academy.'"

Professor Alon didn't have good feelings towards the academy because of the 40% donation from the investment funds.

The Beryl family was in a bad financial situation.

Professor Alon didn't like his family very much.

And yet, he came here recommending an investment in the rock salt mine, or to be precise, the Beryl family, as a good opportunity?

There was no need for deduction. Anyone could see the whole story just by looking at those four lines of information.

"How much were you promised?"

"…Excuse me?"

"If Grandis Academy decided to invest according to that excellent proposal, how much would you get? You said you're the seventh son, so Count Beryl must have asked his other brothers as well. To find some investment opportunities."

Why?

"Because they have no money."

"...…"

"Even if Viscount Davis went bankrupt, buying the territory including the mine must have been quite expensive. Did the Count exhaust the family's assets there and is trying to cover the reconstruction costs through investments? While deliberately hiding this fact?"

The Count's thoughts? It was obvious. As mentioned before, most rock salt mines were concentrated in the north, so the recently discovered southern rock salt mine held relatively high value.

He must have thought that if he could rebuild the mine, he could regain his former glory. It wasn't a wrong thought. It would have been possible if he could actually do it.

If he could.

'The intention behind hiding the fact that he's seeking investment because he has no money is also obvious.'

Investing when you have money and investing when you don't were different matters. In the latter case, you could demand a much greater return than the former.

Count Beryl was reluctant to do that. Actually, he didn't lie about having enough money; he simply didn't mention whether he had money or not, so it was a word game where he could claim he didn't lie.

The problem was that his seventh brother was terrible at acting and negotiation.

"To summarize, you came to me and the Headmistress with a proposal that isn't even good information, doesn't guarantee reconstruction even with investment, and only offers the right of first refusal in exchange for investment. And you want to use the academy's funds for this."

"...…"

I felt sorry for Count Beryl. He took the risk of buying the mine and was seeking investment like this, so he seemed like an ambitious person who genuinely wanted to revive his family, but he had to ask even his seventh brother, who was practically abandoned by the family.

Professor Alon was an expert in illusion magic, not a proper noble or merchant. This was already proven during the deal at the entrance ceremony.

All the confidence Professor Alon had was gone now.

"Th-that is… Finance Director."

"Leave. We'll call you in later for disciplinary action."

The academy was somewhat stable now, so there was no reason to rely on such an uncertain investment.

Rather, we should be seeking ways to generate stable profits besides donations.

"Ten times!"

"…What did you just say?"

"The C-Count said! If the scheme is exposed, make this offer!"

"So, he'll return ten times the investment amount?"

"That's correct!"

It was quite infuriating that the condition was after the scheme was exposed.

…But for someone who managed money, such anger would immediately disappear at those words.

'Ten times? Ten times the investment?'

It might seem insignificant compared to the 50 times the rent that the protagonist offered, but this was different. That was just rent, but this was an investment in a rock salt mine.

The scale of the amount itself would be vastly different, and he was offering ten times that.

I felt like I understood how the Headmistress felt when she did the futures trading.

It was tempting to cling to the chance to solve all problems at once, rather than struggling endlessly.

"Certainly, that changes things."

"A-as expected! I knew the Finance Director, the Headmistress's secret lover, no, her closest confidant, would understand immediately! Then, Headmistress…?"

Is he asking to invest the Headmistress's money as well?

Well, it was a natural reaction since Alon thought the Headmistress was still the wealthiest person in the kingdom.

Of course, I drew a clear line, regardless of that.

"Don't assume we've already decided to invest. We're simply willing to listen to your proposal."

"Uh, then…"

"Let's start with the basics. I'd like to see the existing rock salt mine's estimate, blueprints, mining plan, estimated expenditure, cost details to date, and future reconstruction report."

"…Will that be enough?"

"Enough? Of course, we have to discuss the investment amount, the minimum guaranteed amount if you can't pay ten times the investment, whether it will be paid in installments or a lump sum, whether it can be substituted with salt or other goods, and there are many other things to discuss."

One of the reasons I was angry about the Headmistress's futures trading was that it was a unilateral decision, and she barely looked at these details. It was unavoidable since it was her first futures trading, but it would have been nice if she had at least told me before doing it.

For the record, the merchant and his trading company that recommended futures trading to the Headmistress also went bankrupt. It wasn't that they were trying to deceive the Headmistress; the merchant himself was confident in the futures trading.

Did he say he was trying to repay the favor he received from the Headmistress in his younger days? It turned into a grudge, not a favor, but anyway.

Professor Alon seemed quite flustered by my reasonable request.

"I-I can't discuss those things, even if I can provide the documents…"

"That's only natural. Please contact the Beryl family."

"Will it be alright if I call the person in charge?"

"No. I'll go there myself."

"Excuse me?"

It was a position where I rarely had to leave the academy, but this was beyond 'rare.'

If we were investing in the reconstruction of a rock salt mine, I had to visit the site myself. Frankly, if they tried to manipulate the documents or deceive me, there would be no way to counter it.

This was the Finance Director's job, after all.

"F-Finance Director…?"

"Headmistress, are you awake?"

"You're going? To that demonic mine?"

"It won't take long. It's not that far from the academy, and since it's collapsed, a detailed on-site inspection is impossible anyway."

I wasn't a mining expert. Naturally, I wouldn't know much even if I looked at everything carefully.

Even if it was my first business trip since becoming the Finance Director.

"Judging from how you rushed here, deceiving even the Head of Academic Affairs with illusion magic, is it an urgent matter?"

"Th-that's right. I don't know why, but Count Beryl told me to come as quickly as possible."

"Then there's no time to waste. Let's depart immediately."

"R-right now?"

"I'm a VIP who's willing to invest in the mine. How should you treat me?"

"…I'll prepare right away! I'll arrange a carriage, so please wait a moment!"

Dash!

Good. He has some sense.

Leaving Professor Alon, who ran off somewhere, I faced the Headmistress, who had woken up at some point.

I could tell just from her expression. The Headmistress was telling me not to go.

"Finance Director… why do you have to go to that mine…?"

"You heard him too, Headmistress. Ten times the investment amount is a figure worth considering, even excluding personal feelings."

"B-but…"

"…And…"

Oh, really.

I didn't know myself either.

"It's because it's a bit unsettling to see you constantly trembling at the mention of a mine."

"Finance Director…?"

"Please wait. I'll handle it cleanly and come back. Let's continue the conversation we were having in the room then."

It was true that the Headmistress was at fault. It was, but still, seeing her trembling like that… was unpleasant. That was all. I had also brought up the mine several times, but I didn't know the Headmistress would be this shaken.

If I resolved this properly this time, the Headmistress wouldn't be traumatized every time she heard about mines, right?

And I also needed time to think about the confession. I wanted some fresh air on this business trip.

"A-at least let me come with you."

"If you and I go together, who will handle the finances? Please trust and wait for me."

"…Then at least take someone else as an escort. It's not that I don't trust the Finance Director, but it's dangerous for a Rank 1."

"Alright."

It was inconvenient being a Rank 1 even at times like this. There was a reason why Auditor Marcus brought an escort knight.

But then who should I take…

"...…"

"…Hmm."

"Don't you want to see her?"

"…Alright."

Yes.

Chloe should be enough as an escort. The final exams were over, so there wouldn't be any problems with her grades even if she went out. I could take care of her attendance.

The Headmistress seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but it was true that Chloe was more convenient than bringing along another staff member or professor. She had a track record of entering the lab with me and resolving the hair-loss potion incident.

We were just going to check the site and have a discussion.

There wouldn't be any problems.

***

"Ruth Spero, don't you ever get called clueless?"

"…Not really."

"Really? Then your friends must be very considerate of you. Who was that again? Mina Glichen? Even just looking at her…"

"Don't you get called annoying? Rumors about Chloe Piste's temper have reached even the Martial Arts Department."

"Not really? No one dared to say that to my face."

"Then I guess I'm the first."

"...…"

"..."

"Both of you, stop looking at me. Staff members don't interfere in student disputes."

Why?

Why did things turn out like this…?