Vol 3 Chapter 14 (2/2)
The Earl needed gold, that hy he misappropriated the salt vein
Even though it would’ve been a legitimate request had Ryouma asked the Earl to pay him off, the Earl wouldn’t have nicely and peacefully handed the gold over
Ryouh the Earl’s facade and discerned that he was a true rubber
Confirht by way of the expression the Earl currently displayed
”Baron Mikoshi+ba-sama, I still can't understand the value of these documents Can you please elaborate?”
The Earl's wife, as born fro political acumen
She married into the Earl’s household in order to establish fa with business related issues
From her point of view, these docue amount of money Yet, she told Ryouma that she didn’t know of their worth
This was in order to ascertain two concerns of hers:
Firstly, to see if Ryouma actually knew the value of these documents or not, and, secondly, whether or not this idea had come from Ryouma himself or somebody else
She suspected that sos from behind
”I don't believe there's the need forwell versed in this kind of thing, a?”
Ryouether with a smile on his face
A silent exchange took place between the two of them
(Don't get shaken His answer does not seem to be a lie He really believes that from the bottom of his heart)
”Fine then I will admit that your proposal is hile But I’d like to have a little bit of time to consult this matter with my husband”
”Very well We shall stop here for today Please let me knohenever you are ready”
The couple nodded their heads following Ryouma's words
Neither side wanted the negotiations to conclude so soon Therefore, no one present showed any sign of dejection
(Well, I guess it was natural Besides, I also wanted to add some new conditions as well It would have been terrible if we had signed the deal today That way, I wouldn’t have had enough ti properly)
The Earl seemed interested in Ryourab it with both hands
(Please do take your ti about it)
”Alright ill go with that Let's ain another day”
After finishi+ng their talk Ryouma bowed towards the couple and left theoutside the door
”He left But still, is it alright like this?”
Earl Salzberg, as staring at the carriage Ryou on the sofa
”Yes, he should also understand everything already Well, there's also the possibility that what he said was all an act, but if that is the case then he is a really great actor”
The Earl's wife shrugged her shoulders
She had an absolute confidence when it ca people
Let alone the tihter of an affluent merchant, after she athered around her had increased
And as a result of ular basis, she beca people’s intentions
”I see For h, but, what do you think Yuria?”
The Earl spoke hisin front of his wife His tone was not that of someone who held the true poithin the fa himself
But that could be explained easily The Earl was a warrior at heart
He preferred aggressive action and had a ruthless personality But he also knew that he was not perfect
Especially when it came to diploard could at best be considered mediocre
He strongly felt that it was only wise of him to ask for his wife’s opinion on such matters
His ho had seen many kinds of people for many years was the most reliable partner for the Earl
”There’s so that I'm worried about”
”Worried? Is it about that woman from the Christoph firm?”
For the Earl, thematter was about that
The firm that had lost its position as the leader of the business alliance Originally, they should have been crushed a long tih their business scale had been shrinking as of late
But, the thing that the Earl's wife said next defied the Earl's expectations
”No, it's so else The one that worries me the most is that man, and his true intentions”
”About Mikoshi+ba? Certainly, he's eable compared to the norood head on his shoulders Forbut You think he isn’t?”
”No, I also felt that way Even during today’s negotiations, I didn’t feel that he had an ulterior motive It's just”
The Earl looked at his as being vague with a wondering expression
”It's just, what? What are you worried about?”
”Soht actually crush us”
”Khu, Khuhahahahahaha Yuria, your wisdom has helped us a lot of ti like that to happen, isn't that impossible? How much power difference do you think exists between us and Mikoshi+ba? It ht be different if we talk about 100 years later, but even if we talk about 10 or 20 years later, I don't think there would that much of a difference from the current situation”
The Earl laughed off his wife’s concern He thought that for her worries to come true the impossible had to happen
There was a clear power gap between Mikoshi+ba Ryou
Economic power, political power, diplomatic force, and military power
The Earl overwhelmed Ryouma in every aspect
And the biggest difference lied in their power bases, that is, their fiefs or territories over which they ruled
The territory Ryou another kingdom, but it was also a territory filled with rand total of 0 citizens in it
It was a difference that was not even worth co
”I guess so Yes, you're right”
”Of course I a too h, I feel refreshed If you are still worried, send the maid from that time and let her spy on him You let him have her first for that reason after all How about that? Still worried?”
Hearing the Earl's words, his wife nodded her head
She still felt not entirely convinced of so
However, it was soue even for herself That hy she tried to brush it off just like her husband told her to
Since she was not a Goddess that could predict everything
”Fine Let's just do that Well then, let's see how many conditions will be added before we seal this deal with him If we can officially secure the salt vein, we can finally relax”
”Umu I will leave that to you then”
This decision would decide the fate of the Earl’s household
Mikoshi+ba Ryoue for the salt vein, and the Earl who gained the vein without even spending a single coin At the tiained the most But all that would be revealed at a later date, that is, the day the two of theainst each other And this story shall also be told