kscans

Chapter 164 - Episode 4: Part One, What Are the New City's Specialties?

Surrounding the royal palace were rows of government offices and noble residences. Clinging to their outer perimeter stood the headquarters of various Commercial Guilds. Among them, the conspicuously large building was our very own Food Guild.

It might seem like a hotbed of special interest groups and lobbyists, and that's not entirely wrong. Frankly, considering the speed and accuracy of information transmission in this country, organizations of this sort can only be called a necessary evil.

While necessary, these necessary evils retain their inherently malicious nature, causing genuine harm. In other words, the organization becomes rigid, centered on the vested interest of information monopolization. It's fair to say that Dorefano and Calest Company were born as a result of this.

Personally, I believed that the information monopoly should be loosened somewhat. With the flashy change in leadership, cracks have appeared in the organization's rigidity, making now an opportune moment. However, thanks to the Empire attacking without reading the room, the plan was moved forward by more than ten years.

"Giverny Company aside, are Natoas Company considered new members of Central Garden, then?" Jean asked. His gaze was fixed on Natalie and Vinaldira.

As expected of an heir to generations of gold merchant companies, they carried themselves with dignity even within the Food Guild headquarters. While not strictly hereditary, if things went smoothly, they would also be heirs to the Guild Master.

Incidentally, this was my first time entering the headquarters. It wasn't that I was shirking my guild duties by leaving them to my father, it was simply that the chairman of a merchant company naturally handles the company's affairs. Well, after all the rather intense places I frequented during the war, I wouldn't be nervous in a mere guild headquarters, or so I thought.

For someone like me, my body stiffens unconditionally in new places. It's not a bug, it's a feature.

Fortunately, this meeting was centered around Central Garden, so I knew more people here.

"They are new members of the new Central Garden."

"I see."

"And Belmini and Plural Company are involved with her, Natalie-san, who is under Vinder Company, so I suppose that goes without saying." Jean said, looking at Sherry. Incidentally, Natalie and Vinaldira were surrounded by Jean's father, the Food Guild Master, and my own father. They seemed to be asking about Yellow Sugar.

"The sales of green tea are also gradually increasing. Since it's become an ultra-luxury item, paired with Yokan, the unit price is unbelievably high. My father treats the tea leaves like gold," Sherry said. With the wartime economy over, the economy must be returning to normal.

"That's amazing. Plural Company and Dalgan Company have also been promoted to gold merchant companies. No, since it's a project involving Ricardo, I shouldn't be surprised by just that."

"...Indeed," Sherry replied.

"Belmini will probably follow suit. Though it feels a bit awkward for one of our subsidiaries to be a gold merchant company." Come to think of it, Rilka and Sherry's families were under Kenwell Company. Kenwell Company would have to play a central role in this matter.

"My father wants to separate the Vinder Company-related business, and entrust it to me," Sherry said.

"That sounds like a lot of work."

"I can't let my younger brother stand on the front lines for Vinder Company." The topic was somehow veering in an odd direction.

"Speaking of which, thank you so much for your help during Mia's time."

"I didn't intend to help you depose the Second Prince, though. Well, if I had to choose between making an enemy of you or the Second Prince, the Second Prince was the lesser of two evils. Now, jokes aside, for the guild, restoring food trade with the Empire quickly is an urgent issue. I'm grateful that you pushed for the peace treaty. However, as a scheme for that, building a new city, and across the river at that, was quite a flashy move, even for you."

"Originally, it was a plan for ten, no, twenty years from now," I said. How many people had I given this excuse to? It wasn't me, it was the Empire's fault.

"Even as a twenty-year plan, to even conceive of such a thing... Well, in any case, I'm looking forward to today's explanation. You're far too late in stepping forward at the guild, you know."

"There's someone more suitable than me," I said, looking at my father. I'm unsuited for the task, someone who can't even consistently match faces to names. A suspicious, newly-emerged former copper merchant was cheerfully interacting with the established, traditional gold and silver merchant companies gathered at the guild.

"Indeed, it certainly doesn't suit you. After all..." Jean's eyes turned towards the entrance. The sound of numerous hooves approached the building.

"Summoning His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the one and only Grand Duchess Bertold to the guild headquarters. Isn't that a bit too flashy as a performance for your guild debut? My father was clutching his head." Jean said. At his words, Sherry flinched, as if remembering something.

The merchants present all gathered at the entrance. Two carriages, guarded by a large number of knights, had arrived in front of the headquarters.

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"It is the greatest honor to welcome His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Her Grace Grand Duchess Bertold to the guild headquarters." At Jean's father's voice, everyone knelt before their desks.

A raised platform had been prepared in the conference room, where two magnificent chairs, specially brought in, were placed. I heard that the chairs set out for us merchants were deliberately of a lower grade than those usually used in this conference room.

Of course, all participants had been searched for weapons at the conference room entrance. Come to think of it, Alfina wasn't here. I thought she would come with Euphillia.

"Just to be clear, why did you specifically call us here? Surely it would be natural for us to go and explain to a subordinate of His Royal Highness's subordinates."

"That was my intention. I said I would finalize things at the guild and then report, but it was His Royal Highness who insisted on being involved from the start. However, this project is meaningless unless it's merchant-led, isn't it? If you want to know more than a report can tell, I suggested you come here."

"You said that to the future King?"

"A knight I didn't recognize, standing beside His Royal Highness, almost drew his sword." I shrugged. If the triangular tip of the sword was just barely still in its scabbard, then "almost drew" should be accurate. I tried to say it as politely as possible, but as expected of Craig's chosen subordinates, they understood the meaning of my words perfectly.

Even now, one of them, protecting Craig's back, was giving me a wary look. It was misplaced resentment. Because...

"In other words, I find myself here today because my words were twisted against me." Yes, that's how it happened, with "Then let's do that. It would be good to see the Commercial Guild once."

"As always, you're talking about something that gives me a headache," Plural Company said. Next to her, Dalgan Company nodded. It was the first time I'd seen them since their graduation. I had been relying on Plural Company for Natalie's affairs, as well as Dalgan Company.

"Then let us hear the plan for the new city to be built north of the river. After all, Ricardo negotiated directly with the Empire to acquire it. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of picture you'll paint this time."

He raised an already high bar to the absolute limit. At Craig's introduction, everyone's gaze concentrated on me.

"I will now state my thoughts on how to best utilize this new land, obtained through the efforts of His Majesty the King and all members of the Royalty, for the development of the kingdom." I stood up, bowed to Craig, and retorted.

Simply building a new city was a massive project. Furthermore, its location was virtually outside the country. The retreat to the kingdom was blocked by the river, to the west lay the Empire with which we had just been at war, and to the north and east were the Blood Mountains. Truce negotiations couldn't be made with magic beasts. The word "death trap" might not even be an overstatement. Well, if it weren't, such land wouldn't remain untouched.

After signaling Natalie, who was beside me, I stepped forward. I had asked her to assist me this time.

As I walked, I looked at the merchants gathered here, including Kenwell Company, Dalgan Company, and Plural Company.

These were the people who had agreed to invest capital and human resources in this death trap. Regardless of what I said to Craig or complained about the Empire, I bore responsibility towards them.

As I positioned myself next to the stone tablet, Natalie affixed a map to it. Yes, she was certainly more dignified than when she assisted Fulsy in the palace meetings. Vinaldira, seated next to the Natoas Company president, whom I had just met today, squeezed her friend's hands as if to encourage her.

I wished someone would encourage me. After all, the theme I had devised after much thought on how to explain things had turned out to be somewhat insane.

"If a new city were built between the Kingdom and the Empire, what would be the biggest product handled there?" I began with a question. When introducing a new topic, one must not start while the audience's minds are still confused. This would make each person ponder their own thoughts. It is human nature to instinctively think of an answer when asked a question.

Incidentally, in such a situation, if "my own questions" about the query swarm in one's mind, that's what defines someone with poor communication skills, like me. It truly shows I'm not suited to be a merchant.

"Would it be the grains the Empire needs? Or the minerals the Kingdom needs? Or perhaps a new product with which we currently have no trade with the Empire?" I continued my questioning, looking at each merchant. Given the candidates, each person began to narrow down their answers.

"None of them are correct. The biggest product handled in this city... is information." And then, I denied that in the next moment.

Everyone looked puzzled, hit with an unexpected answer. As merchants, they of course understood the importance of information. And important, highly fluid information is not treated as a commodity, it is kept secret.

"Let me explain specifically." Facing the audience, who had begun to murmur, I spoke. When bringing up a new topic, it's troublesome if the audience becomes confused on their own, but confusing them oneself can be a tactic. As long as it's used within limits, for a legitimate purpose.