CHAPTER 144: SWORDS CROSSED [2]

It seemed most plausible that Gerhard was just safety-first and always carried everything with him.

In fact, he always carried numerous potions, reagents, and artifacts in his pocket dimension.

"Begin!"

Meanwhile, the match had started.

Without any exploratory phase, both immediately spurred their horses.

─!

─!

─!

After exactly three collisions, they dismounted and drew their swords.

After exchanging hundreds of offensive and defensive moves, the outcome was decided.

"Balrosi lost."

"Last year’s champion is indeed strong."

His swordsmanship is almost perfected. It seems the Royal Knight thoroughly educated his grandson.

It was as Gardner said. From Aint’s perspective, Rob Kaellin had the upper hand throughout.

But something is strange.

’What do you mean?’

There’s no tension.

’What?’

That guy. He’s acting.

That’s when it happened.

"...Huh?"

Rob Kaellin pointing his sword at Balrosi’s neck...

It was the first time someone raised their momentum in an already concluded match.

==

"Who are you?"

Rob smiled. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not. He looked down at the fallen Balrosi with an icy gaze, cold as frost.

"What are you trying to do?"

"I’m confused by your words after you’ve defeated me, Senior."

"Do I look like a fool to you? Did you think I’d bow my head and say thank you for letting me win?"

From the outside, it looked fiercely competitive. It was so subtle that only those directly clashing swords, or even they barely, could notice.

"I don’t particularly want that, but I wouldn’t mind if you did. However, I did my best."

"You’ll insist till the end?"

Trudge trudge trudge—

The arena vibrated with the momentum Rob emitted.

"You’re incredibly insolent. You’ve insulted me, the academy, and by extension, the Empire."

"I did my best. But I lost because I was weaker than you, Senior."

"Till the end!"

"Stop!"

At that moment, the referee intervened, blocking between the two.

"The match is over, Rob Kaellin. What’s the matter?"

"..."

"I asked what the matter is."

To the referee’s words, Rob glared at Balrosi and after brief deliberation, answered.

"...It’s nothing. The battle was more intense than expected, and the aftereffect remains."

"Unexpected from you. Who would have thought? As expected of a Viston. Be careful from now on."

"Yes."

A moment later, the referee raised Rob’s arm.

"Winner! Rob Kaellin!"

Waaaaaaaaah—

"...I’m sorry, but I don’t have a hobby of doing meaningless things. Including putting effort into matters with predictable outcomes."

Balrosi’s soft murmur was buried in the hot cheers, and no one heard it.

==

During the festival at the academy, three or four banquets are held every day.

Sweet music pleases the ears, beautiful sculptures and chandeliers delight the eyes, and delicious alcohol and food make the tongue and mouth dance.

"Hmm."

In that place of pleasure and luxury, Gerhard stood a step apart.

Holding champagne in his mouth, he quietly stood in a corner of the banquet hall, observing people.

"Young Master Gerhard. What are you doing here?"

"Young Master Gerhard!"

"Gerhard, perhaps would you like to dance with me...?"

People who recognized him approached, but Gerhard gave light greetings and moved from place to place.

"Young master, he’s over there."

Hyde spotted a middle-aged man mingling with the crowd, engaging in various conversations.

Gerhard approached him and greeted.

"Pleased to meet you, Count Rodos. I am Gerhard Goldenheim."

"Goldenheim...? Ah, forgive me. I am Rodos Frans."

"It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve been wanting to meet you, Count."

"...Me?"

Count Rodos seemed confused by Gerhard’s sudden approach and blinked his eyes.

"Could we talk privately?"

"Talk?"

"Well, you see..."

Gerhard discreetly handed over a note.

Count Rodos’s pupils trembled as he confirmed the contents of the note.

"With me?"

"Yes."

"...This doesn’t seem like a conversation for this kind of place."

He said, checking his surroundings. Due to Gerhard’s sudden appearance, people had stepped back a bit and were murmuring.

"I have a place prepared. If it’s not too presumptuous, may I guide you there?"

"Alright."

Gerhard headed to the third floor of the banquet hall with Count Rodos.

The third floor had a lounge specially prepared for distinguished guests, and Gerhard had reserved it in advance.

"What kind of tea would you like?"

"I never expected to drink tea served by the son of Goldenheim, but I’ll take green tea."

Gerhard personally brewed the tea and handed it to him.

"Now, tell me. Golden Turtle wants to do business with me... Hmm, you brew tea quite well."

"Thank you for your compliment."

"As the lord of a territory, it’s awkward to say this, but there’s nothing special in our territory. It’s an unremarkable land."

He knew. Count Rodos Frans, or rather, the Frans county, was barren like most of the Pragia Kingdom.

There was little farmland, with many mountains and forests. And monsters that hadn’t been properly subjugated had nested all over.

Therefore, it was a poor territory without special local products.

"Knowing that, even the Golden Turtle Company has just established a single branch in the territory. But what kind of business are you talking about?"

"Nothing concrete has emerged yet. It’s just a plan. We believe there’s a vein of ore in the Frans county."

"A vein of ore?"

Count Rodos made a sour expression.

"I’m sorry to disappoint you, but yes, there are mines in our territory."

But they were already being developed and mined by Count Rodos.

However, they weren’t particularly profitable places. They barely yielded iron ore or copper at a level where the territory’s people could make a living.

Even that came with high maintenance costs due to monsters.

"And any places that could be worked on have already been worked on. To find and develop new veins, we’d need to go deeper into the mountain range. Naturally, there would be more monsters. Even if we found a good vein, the costs would outweigh the benefits..."

Count Rodos, who had been passionately explaining, stopped talking when his eyes met Gerhard’s, whose expression hadn’t changed at all.

"...I seem to have been talking nonsense in front of a merchant. Of course, you would know better than me."

"Not at all. I listened well to your good explanation."

"Yet, it seems you’re determined to push through with your intention."

"Yes."

"What is it? What kind of vein has the Golden Turtle Company discovered in my territory?"

It wasn’t discovered by the Golden Turtle Company.

It was discovered by Aint and Gardner in the prophecy book.

"To be frank, it’s black adamantite."

"Black adamantite...? Really?"

Count Rodos’s eyes were tinged with greed.

Though black adamantite couldn’t be compared to top-tier metals like mithril or adamant, it was still quite expensive.

"Yes. However, we need to further investigate how much there is, if it’s profitable, and how many monster nests are around."

"Where is the location?"

"I can’t tell you that. Not until we sign a contract."

"You search for veins in my territory without permission, and then force me to sign a contract? Do you think that makes sense?"

Gerhard shook his head.

"We didn’t search for veins. We also received a tip."

"Am I supposed to believe that?"

"Whether you believe it or not, the truth doesn’t change. And this is our proposal to you, Count."

Gerhard handed over a contract.

"This is ridiculous. I haven’t even said I would do it, yet you’re being so forceful. Is this how the Golden Turtle Company usually handles business?"

"Please read it first."

The contract was long, but the main points were five.

[The Golden Turtle Company shall be referred to as Party A, and Count Frans as Party B.

One. If Party A finds a vein in Party B’s territory, it has the right to develop it.

Two. Party B permanently leases the developed vein to Party A.

Three. Party A gives Party B 30% of the vein’s revenue as rent.

Four. Party A bears all costs for developing and defending the vein.

Five. If no vein is discovered within one year, this contract is automatically terminated.]

"The Golden Turtle Company will bear all the development and maintenance costs of the vein? No support is needed? And you’ll give me 30% of the revenue?"

Count Rodos immediately realized how advantageous this contract was for him.

Setting aside the fact that he didn’t know about the black adamantite vein, all developable veins in the territory had already been developed.

’The only place left is the Berdger Mountain Range...’

It was a place he had judged would cause more losses than gains because of the swarming monsters.

A place he lacked the resources to develop, where expenditures would exceed earnings, and that he couldn’t maintain due to insufficient resources.

The Golden Turtle Company was offering to drill such a place on its own and share a substantial amount of the profits.

Without any burden that the Frans county would have to share.

Above all, even in a state where it wasn’t confirmed that a black adamantite vein was definitely there.

"Is this really right?"

"Yes, it is."

Gerhard nodded.

A contract where the Golden Turtle Company bears all the burden. Normally, he would never write such a contract.

Nevertheless, there were two reasons for the current contract.

One was that he could be confident of the black adamantite’s existence through the prophecy book.

’In a situation where we don’t know when the demon will manifest, there’s no time to push and pull.’

The second was that the fortress in the prophecy book that the 64th demon, Flauros, would first encounter was right next to the Frans county.

It was a stroke of heavenly luck.

Both the information about the black adamantite vein in the prophecy book.

And that the vein was close to the location of the prophecy.

’Black adamantite is a quite valuable mineral, so even if the maintenance costs of the mine are a bit high, we can afford it.’

That wasn’t all.

’It’s a very good pretext.’

No one would find it strange that the company wanted to develop a vein.

So they could infiltrate without any obstacles. Even more so given that the Golden Turtle Company already had branches all over the Pragia Kingdom.

There were monsters overflowing around the vein to be developed, so a force was needed to protect it.

So it was sufficient as a pretext to station troops.

In an emergency, they could very naturally lead troops to fight the demon.

"The Golden Turtle Company aims for mutual prosperity. We’re seeking to obtain resources from the Frans county, so I think it’s only right to give you that much profit."

What will you do? Gerhard asked, elegantly lifting his coffee cup.

"Will you sign the contract?"

"...There’s no reason not to."

"An excellent choice."

Count Rodos signed the contract.

And immediately.

[I have a suggestion regarding the business... A new vein from the Golden Pillar...]

"Send it to father. Express."

The letter Gerhard wrote flew to the Goldenheim family.