Chapter 107 Profitable Business Trip – Part 5

"Things went quite well. It seems the existing investors were all dissatisfied with the 100-year condition."

"As expected, the name value of the Headmistress is impressive. It's admirable."

"But the royal family is also backing you, Auditor."

"It's not a name I can use as freely as you. I can use it as an excuse, but it's difficult to use it in this way."

While having an early breakfast with Auditor Marcus at the inn, I calmly looked out the window.

Outside, the city was still asleep in the early dawn, contrasting with the brightly lit lord's castle.

Count Anton must have realized how things were turning out by now. He was shameless, but he wasn't an idiot.

"It would be convenient if he believed the head of the Gartua Trading Company's fabricated excuse."

"That's unlikely. It was Count Anton Beryl who managed to revive the declining count family. He set the time limit with that in mind, didn't he?"

An experienced and cunning count like him wouldn't believe the head of the Gartua Trading Company's words at face value and would realize it was collusion.

No matter how much it had declined, this was still the Count's territory. Naturally, there were many ways for the Count to counter this scheme, and we were at a disadvantage.

That's why we set a time limit.

'Until tonight.'

Just one day wasn't enough time for the Count to fully grasp the collusion and respond. It must be a headache for him.

Of course, it wasn't all advantageous.

"However, our expenses were also significant."

"Well, collusion is a double-edged sword. The existing investors were practically betraying Count Anton, so we had to give them a guarantee."

What would happen if the negotiation failed even after all this? I would be fine whether the deal went through or not, but Auditor Marcus could be fired for his involvement.

And the situation would be even worse for the investors who betrayed Count Anton and colluded with us. The Count could extend the installment period to 200 years, or even if he didn't, their relationship would become very strained.

In other words, as the ones who proposed the collusion, Marcus and I had to give the investors a guarantee.

A guarantee that they would gain something even if the collusion failed.

And while it was understandable for Auditor Marcus, a public official, I had things I could offer.

"Still, it wasn't a monetary expense, so isn't it fine?"

"…I consider a direct line to the Headmistress quite monetary."

"That's true, but…"

It wasn't like I persuaded them solely with money.

It was true that collusion like this was most commonly maintained with money, but this was where the 'Headmistress's name value' that Auditor Marcus mentioned came into play.

What I offered as a condition for the failed collusion was a way to contact the Headmistress.

A means to directly contact the Headmistress of Grandis Academy, a Rank 8, even if just once.

Whether it was to make a deal with the Headmistress, ask for a favor, or build connections, the investors immediately accepted the condition, regardless of their motives.

'It's practically the right to speak directly to the king.'

As a bonus, I added that I, as the Finance Director, would provide conveniences if they had any business with the academy.

Considering that I was practically in cahoots with the Headmistress, it was something I could easily offer.

Then why didn't I use this valuable name value more often?

'Because I had to maintain its value.'

I couldn't offer contact with the Headmistress as a condition for every deal and negotiation. This opportunity was rare, which made it even more valuable.

That was also why I did my best to protect the Headmistress's authority. Everyone would covet this right only if the Headmistress maintained her authority as a Rank 8, the wealthiest person in the kingdom.

It was practically my trump card. Since I used it here, I couldn't use it again for a while to preserve its value.

However, this wasn't a perfect solution. There would be cases where small or medium-sized merchants or noble families needed immediate funds more than a conversation with a lofty figure like the Headmistress. What benefits could a small barony or a small trading company gain from meeting the king or the Headmistress?

Even so, it was certainly a right with enough value to form a collusion.

…Of course, Auditor Marcus, who didn't know that the Headmistress and I were practically married, was understandably worried. From his perspective, the Headmistress was a powerful figure who could easily discard someone like me.

'Wait, what did he just say?'

Married? I really was crazy.

I did receive a confession from the Headmistress, but how long would these slips of the tongue and thoughts continue?

I shook my head and took a spoonful of soup, and Chloe, who was sitting next to me and also eating, looked at me.

"Then, Finance Director, are we going back if the negotiations don't end today?"

"Ah, that…"

"…That can't be."

"What?"

"Student Ruth?"

Ruth, who had been picking at her soup, spoke up.

It was a strangely familiar answer.

"Ruth Spero, what do you mean?"

"If you were truly uninterested in investing, Finance Director, there would have been no need for this collusion."

"Hey, what do you know to say that?"

"The Finance Director used the 'Headmistress's' name, of all things. That means he's not taking this lightly. He sincerely wants to ease the conditions and succeed with the investment."

"...…"

"It would be nice if the negotiations were concluded within the time limit of tonight, but even if it passes, he'll change his approach, not give up… Isn't that right?"

"…That's correct. You're impressive, Student Ruth."

Was the protagonist knowledgeable in this area? We did form a collusion and set a time limit, but that didn't mean I was going to give up if we didn't finish everything by then. Rather, since we even went through with the collusion, I was determined to succeed with this investment.

Personally, the Headmistress's name didn't hold much weight for me, but as Finance Director Adam Keynes, I couldn't deny the significant influence the Headmistress's name carried externally.

"I'm just… used to it. This kind of method."

"Did you work for a trading company before coming to the academy?"

"…I was on the receiving end."

The receiving end? Of collusion?

Come to think of it, didn't she say she earned money from a mine before? Did she experience something similar then?

Anyway, Chloe, speechless against Ruth, just scooped up her soup with an irritated look.

But Ruth didn't stop talking.

"So there might be a difficult situation soon."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because the best response in this situation is already set."

"Hmm, as expected of Ruth. You have remarkable insight despite your young age. And you're Rank 6, I have high expectations for your future."

Auditor Marcus nodded with an impressed look, and I also nodded in agreement. She seemed to know a lot about these kinds of schemes, but she said she had experience, so it was fine.

I turned my gaze towards Chloe to explain, as she was the only one who couldn't follow the conversation.

"…Hey, tell me quietly. You would know, wouldn't you?"

"Student Chloe?"

"Huh? Ah, it's nothing!"

Really? It seemed like she was secretly talking to the air.

It must have been my imagination since it was just for a moment.

"What Student Ruth is talking about is Count Anton's response."

"Didn't we set a time limit to prevent him from responding?"

"That's right. But Count Anton must have realized that Auditor Marcus and I are determined to succeed with the investment. So, the best response he can take in this situation is with the time limit…"

Burst!

"Mr. Adam Keynes! It's the head of the Gartua Trading Company!"

"Head of the Trading Company, what's the matter?"

"…Count Anton has made his move."

"What kind of move?"

"He… closed the castle gates."

As expected.

Since he knew that Auditor Marcus and I wouldn't easily give up even in this situation, the only response that the experienced negotiator Count Anton could make was this.

A game of chicken.

One side colludes until the conditions are eased, and the other side refuses all negotiations and locks their doors.

As time passes, both sides become anxious. Our side's solidarity will gradually waver since it's a collusion, and the Count's side will not only be delayed in reconstruction but also run out of funds.

"It seems like it's a battle of who can endure longer now."

"I hope the Count's patience isn't that great."

And so…

…a week passed.

***

Damn it. That crazy stubborn bastard.

He's holding out for a week?

"…Auditor Marcus, how much longer can you stay here?"

"I applied for ten days of fieldwork, so I have two days left. And considering the time it takes to return, today is the last day…"

"What about the other investors?"

"As expected, they're wavering. It seems Butler Norman is contacting the investors through various channels."

This was the problem with collusion. Even if they shared a common goal, it was inherently fragile.

It was obvious what Butler Norman must have told the investors. He probably offered to negotiate with them under specially eased conditions if they betrayed the collusion and returned now.

If even one of them succumbed to that temptation, the collusion would crumble. And then it was obvious what would happen. If I and Auditor Marcus, the leaders of the collusion, wanted to invest, we would have to sign a contract with even harsher conditions than 100 years.

That's why collusion was a double-edged sword.

Even if I wanted to return since the investment failed…

'After reviewing the documents, visiting the mine where reconstruction was halted, and hearing from other investors, I'm certain. This is a successful investment.'

Count Anton closed the castle gates but diligently sent the documents about the mine's reconstruction to the inn. It was a tactic to shake our collusion.

And according to the head of the Gartua Trading Company, who was an expert on mines, and other investors, the possibility of successfully rebuilding the rock salt mine was quite high.

Even though I had bad memories of the rock salt mine, investment wasn't based on memories, but on information.

'It's too good of an opportunity to miss.'

If only the 100-year condition could be eased, it would be a huge help to the academy. With the installment payments, we could establish a long-term budget plan.

That's why we started this collusion, but…

This crazy game of chicken had continued not for one day, not for two days, but for a whole week.

Maintaining the collusion was reaching its limit.

'The head of the Gartua Trading Company secretly met with Butler Norman yesterday, right?'

If the head of the Gartua Trading Company, the former largest investor, betrayed us, the collusion would collapse.

I had to make a decision.

"I'll go to Count Anton."

"…I should stay here. The other investors will be anxious if you, the leader, leave."

"Please."

"I'll trust you. Considering your position, you can take a stronger stance than I can. My job depends on you."

I knew he was secretly writing a report behind my back, minimizing his responsibility as much as possible. Chloe told me about it; it was an astounding display of self-preservation.

If I had joined the royal family, would I have become like that as a fellow Rank 1…? Now that I thought about it, it seemed similar.

Anyway, since I had made up my mind, there was no time to waste. I headed straight to the lord's castle, taking Chloe and Ruth with me.

The investors' anxious gazes fell on me, but I remained confident. I had to settle this today, no matter what.

The castle gate, as it had been for the past week, was tightly closed, but…

Creak!

It opened as if waiting for me the moment I stood in front of it. Right, the Count must have also had a hard time enduring this past week.

There were no servants in sight. Not even Butler Norman.

I walked through the hallway, which was freezing cold as if they hadn't lit any firewood, without showing any reaction, and reached the reception room.

"Count Anton, it's Adam Keynes."

"…Come in."

Count Anton's appearance was clearly haggard.

His cheeks were sunken, and his hands were trembling.

I momentarily wondered if it was an act, but Ruth shook her head. It was real.

"It seems you've had a rough week."

"And… you as well."

Well, I just didn't get much sleep for a week?

I had brought the 'cigarettes,' so it was bearable. After all, overtime and all-nighters were commonplace for me when working.

But it was also true that my body was reaching its limit. I had run out of cigarettes, so if I wasn't careful, all the accumulated fatigue might hit me at once, and I could faint.

We were both exhausted to the extreme.

There was no need for long speeches.

"100 years."

"100 years is too long. Let's shorten the period."

"100 years."

"I noticed there weren't any servants on the way here. You didn't let them all go because you couldn't afford to pay their wages, did you?"

"100 years."

"The castle is cold. Shouldn't you be more mindful of your age, Count?"

"100 years."

"Professor Alon told me that the due date for the money you borrowed to buy the mine is today."

"…!!"

"I'm not trying to force you into an unreasonable deal through collusion. You know 100 years is too much, Count. I just want to bring it down to a reasonable level."

Finally, I smelled it from that cunning and sly noble.

The scent of weakness.

Now all I had to do was bite down on it.

"How's the credit rating of your territory? I heard you had to borrow money through unsavory channels because you were rejected by most merchants and financiers."

"...…"

"If you can't even repay that on time, where will you borrow money from? This investment is just the beginning. You never know what might happen while rebuilding the mine. You've already rolled the dice."

Count Anton had taken the drastic measure of buying the mine and the surrounding territory by even borrowing shady money. There was no turning back now.

So if he could just hold out until today, it would be Count Anton who surrendered, but…

I didn't want to push him that far.

'A cornered rat will bite the cat.'

Pushing him too hard wasn't good. It was a basic negotiation tactic I learned from books, and Count Anton also knew it well.

"I'll say this one last time. Twenty years. That's our offer."

"That's…!!"

"However, we'll introduce you to the trading company that has a contract with our academy. You're short on daily necessities, aren't you? And we'll support your territory's credit with the academy's name so you can properly borrow money."

"...…"

"What do you think?"

Please.

Please accept it. I was acting relaxed, but if the collusion broke down, the advantage would immediately shift to the Count.

The fact that the due date for the money the Count borrowed was today was something only Professor Alon, the Count, and I knew. Could the Count really take the gamble of rejecting my offer now?

If he couldn't persuade the head of the Gartua Trading Company by today, he wouldn't be able to repay the money. The head of the Gartua Trading Company didn't know that the due date was today, so he could take another day to think about it.

Those who lend money through unsavory channels might do anything to a fallen count family to get their money back.

In this extreme situation, Count Anton…

"…Thirty years. That's… my final offer."

"I accept."

He finally raised the white flag. Thirty years was much better than 100.

But seeing how desperate Count Anton was, I almost felt sympathy—

—…Actually, even ten years would be profitable, so he's quite satisfied with thirty years. That sly fox.

Was I completely fooled?

Well, it was fine. I didn't have much money to invest anyway.

The donations had to be used to normalize the academy's finances, so I didn't have much spare funds I could use without affecting things. He didn't even ask how much I was going to invest.

More importantly…

"Excuse me, but I need to use the restroom."

"…? Alright."

Count Anton was flustered by my sudden request, but he soon waved me off. He must have been relieved that the negotiations were over.

I went to the deserted restroom in the lord's castle and…

"Are you listening?"

—...

"Just now, and when I first met Count Anton, you gave me information knowing my situation."

I started talking to myself, which might seem crazy at first glance.

But I was certain. Someone was listening to me.

That it was the owner of the voice.

I could have waited until I returned to the inn, but since I could hear the voice now, it was best to try to communicate right away.

"Judging from how you helped me, you seem to be on my side, so shouldn't we introduce ourselves? You wouldn't like it if I kept treating you like a hallucination, would you?"

—...

"You seem to know about me. If you're truly trying to help me, you can answer, right?"

An unknown voice. Help with unknown intentions.

It was beneficial to me this time, but I couldn't blindly trust it without knowing the identity of this voice.

"What's your identity?"

There might be an answer, or there might not be. I could act accordingly.

I waited, and…

—I, I am…

"Yes, tell me."

—…The Goddess.

"…What?"

…Huh?