Volume 3 Chapter 6 (1/2)
Chapter 3 Episode 6
Editor:Youtuber boi Cruiser(Please Like and Subscribe, 1 like = 1 edit)(TLN: 80% Edited, oi cruiser, where are you going?)
Western continent calendar August 8, 2812: (Toward the peninsula 6)
”So, Genou shall I hear your report now?”
Ryouma directed his gaze towards Genou.Only Genou’s and the Marfisto sister’s reports remained but since Ryouma had a bad feeling about Genou’s report he chose to prioritize it over the sisters who were in charge of reporting about the merchants who they should purchase goods from.
However, Genou shook his head.
”No... I will be reporting last... Laura-sama should give their report first.”
There seems to be something wrong.
Ryouma nods his head while feeling doubtful and asks the Marfisto sisters to begin their report.
”Hmm... Fine, there's seems to be some reason for you to say that... Laura, Sara. Please give your report first.”
”Understood... Well then...”
After nodding her head Laura begins her report, the contents of the report dropped Ryouma’s optimism to the depths of an abyss.
”In conclusion, most of the business here have strong ties with Earl Salzberg.”
”Strong relations.h.i.+p?”
Ryouma tilted his head due to Laura's words. From her way of saying it, it felt more than just the ordinary relations.h.i.+p between a lord and merchants.
”Yes, in fact, it is a very close relations.h.i.+p...”
Saying so, Sara spreads out a map on the table.
”This is... The map of Epiroz?”
”Yes, And these red dots represent the places where the merchants conduct their businesses...”
Sara pointed out all the red dots on the map.
There are ten of them. That is the number of shops located in this fortified city of Epiroz.
”Mistel Firm... Rafiel Firm...”
Sara reads the name of the shops written next to the dots.
”All ten of these businesses are united, they are in full control of the economy within Epiroz.... The problem is that the *daughter of Mistel firm* is the Earl's wife, and Mistel Firm is the acting representative of the coalition.”
”Is that true?”
Ryouma complexion changes. It was natural for him to be surprised.
When he entered Wortenia peninsula, he knew he wouldn’t be able to be immediately self-sufficient in terms of food, in other words he had to temporarily rely on Epiroz city for food until he was able to produce enough food for themselves.
Although monsters can be eaten, hunting was not an option for him as a majority of the monsters within his territory are inedible. It was a precarious situation since food and water was not something they could easily disregard.
If he were to get on the bad side of the Earl’s wife’s family whom has large influence over the economy… it was something that even Ryouma did not want to imagine.
”Yes... To steadily purchase more than a certain amount of food, there's no choice but to have trade negotiation with one of these ten shops... But the problem is the Earl's wife is the daughter of the leader of this business coalition...”
Laura cut her words shorts, because even without saying it everyone understood.
This means Ryouma can’t disregard Earl Salzberg no matter how small the matter was since if the Earl were to apply pressure on their trades then everything would be over as Ryouma would starve to death in the peninsula.
”It seems like the one who leads Mistel Firm is someone who has big ambition... The representative of the coalition was originally Christoph Firm. However, due to the daughter who is married to the Earl, Mistel firm seems to have taken over the seat.”
”Well, I guess if one's daughter got married to a n.o.bleman, it was no wonder for them to expand using the influence.... That's good and all, I can understand...”
Everyone nodded their head hearing Ryouma's words.
Sure that was not an uncommon story. It even happens back at his original worlds.
”But still... Do n.o.bles in this country usually take daughters of merchants as their wives??”
When it comes to social status, Merchants are just a commoner. No matter how much money they have, they still a commoner.
Yet, one of their daughters manages to become a n.o.ble wife. It is natural for Ryouma to feel puzzled over it, since the daughter did not become the n.o.ble's concubine or mistress, but rather the legal wife.
”I've investigated regarding that as well... But it seems like the Earl’s finances is under considerable pressure...”
”Fuuh... That's means he borrowed some money? In the first place, why did his finance deteriorate so much, could it be due to military expenses?”
The Earl found himself with enough financial problems to make him marry the daughter of a merchant… such a move could be considered quite bold among n.o.bles.
The question is why the Earl suffers such a crisis...
”Yes... The Earl needed a big budget for his military because of his territory near the border, and countermeasures against the monsters that occasionally invade from the peninsula.”
Everyone present nodded in understanding.
The military is always something that cost a very considerable sum of money to maintain.
It does not produce anything, but always consumed a lot of resources. It was a gluttonous monster called 'The Military'.
The stronger the military becomes, the bigger the budget they needed.
Starting with the soldier’s salary all the way down to their armaments as well as continuous supplies to maintain a soldier’s health such as food and medical supplies.
Besides, that is the story of a 'normal' situation. When such military enter a war, they will consume even more supplies. No matter how much money is poured into them, it’s never enough.
But even with that, one should always prepare a budget for the military. That is because the military is the one who protects the people.
If a n.o.bleman was entrusted to a territory nearing the border then the responsibility becomes much heavier, it was not unusual for the Earl to be facing financial difficulties in such a situation.
”Well, I guess that's natural? After all his territory is bordered with Zalda, and not only that, he also needs to be vigilant when it comes to the monsters living within the peninsula.”
”According to the doc.u.ments I've investigated... It seems that there's a large scale of monsters invasion once every ten years.”
Lione nodded in agreement with Bolts statement.
”And as you can see, this land is not suitable for agricultural development. A land that does not have any specialty… can be called a poor land.”
”Then what about the salt? Yesterday when I talked with them, apparently they have found a rock salt vein.”
In respond to Genou's words, Ryouma gave out a question.
Considering their attire when welcoming him yesterday, they don't seem to have any financial difficulty.
Although there's also the possibility that they done something like that to protect their pride, but there is a limit even for things like that.
Whether it be their attire or meals, the Earl indeed looks like he does not have any trouble with money. The dishes atop the table was also not something ordinary.
Moreover, those dishes also used a lot of spices. If he was really in trouble with money, he would be unable to do that.
That's why he suspects it might be due to the rock salt vein. Although the salt price is not that high, but because it is needed for daily life, the demand is constant. If the Earl really in the possession of it, he should be able to recover from his financial situation.
”No... There are no rock salt vein within Earl's territory.”
Genou shook his head while showing a meaningful smile.
(What does that mean? If there's no rock salt vein how did he manage to handle his finance? Does he have some kind of other industries?)
Ryouma thought of the various possibilities.
(If he has other resources, why did his wife lied to me and told me that they have rock salt vein?...)
A good way to lie is by mixing some truth in with said lie.
It is surprisingly difficult to tell something that is 100% a lie. Because in reality, a 100% lie is something that always easy to crumbles.