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──What's going on here?
──As you can see, it seems Auditor Marcus has also come for the investment.
──Is Grandis Academy also trying to invest in the rock salt mine?
──I didn't know they would offer the investment opportunity to the royal family as well.
It was a rather sudden encounter, but it was actually a good thing.
It seemed like Count Anton had connections with the royal family. It was strange considering that it was the current king, Akendelminos, who ruined the Beryl family.
Of course, the real reason was that the Beryl family chose the wrong side in the civil war, but people don't always think rationally. I thought they would have some resentment towards the royal family.
'Is he that desperate for investment?'
It was a worthwhile investment for the royal family as well. It was like giving them a disease and then selling them the cure, but in the end, they would receive ten times the investment amount, so it was enough.
Moreover, they could gain influence over one of the few salt mines in the kingdom, so they would have readily accepted it.
The problem was the absurd 100-year installment plan.
"…So, Count Anton, you're offering a 100-year installment plan as a condition."
"It's a non-negotiable condition, even for the royal family."
"Hmm…"
Auditor Marcus's eyes turned towards me. He was asking if it was true. I answered by slightly rolling my eyes. It was true.
Damn it. Auditor Marcus, slightly turning his head away, definitely mouthed those words.
It was a condition that would make any professional curse.
It was fine for me since my position within the academy was secure, but…
'If the negotiation fails because of the condition, I'll be criticized for failing to secure the tenfold return on investment, and even if it succeeds, I'll be questioned about the absurdity of the 100-year plan.'
You might say it was the fault of Count Anton's ridiculous condition, and what did the professionals have to do with it? But overcoming such contradictions was part of this job. Even I, who wasn't responsible for the academy's near-bankruptcy, would be the first to be blamed if it actually went bankrupt.
It would be a problem even if the Headmistress desperately defended me. The kingdom would probably try to pin it all on me, saying I seduced the Headmistress, and kill me. Even if they imprisoned me, it would be like putting a leash on the Headmistress because of my existence.
This was why those in the field suffered. Those in high positions didn't understand… Well, the Headmistress did understand and ended up in this situation because of it.
Anyway, it was obvious that Auditor Marcus would face disciplinary action and attacks within his department if he returned like this.
'It seems like he was sent here with that intention in the first place.'
From the royal family's perspective, it would be good if he succeeded with the investment, and even if he failed, they could get rid of an auditor who was too rigid and out of touch.
I had felt it while he was sent to the academy for the audit, but it seemed like Marcus was also going through a lot of trouble, caught in the middle. It probably wasn't as bad as me, facing the threat of death because of the audit, but still.
And Marcus himself was well aware of that.
──Is it alright for you to return like this?
──Of course not. A protruding nail like me is also necessary for an organization, but there are quite a few people who dislike me.
──That must be quite difficult.
──It seems to be the same for you.
Perhaps because we were both Rank 1s and in similar positions, Marcus and I could somewhat understand each other's thoughts just by looking at each other.
After all, I was also favorable towards the investment, just not the conditions, and Auditor Marcus had to ease the conditions and secure the investment to protect his position.
So it was easy to come up with a plan without even exchanging a word.
"It seems like 100 years is impossible. I apologize."
"I see, I understand your decision. It's a shame, Grandis Academy would have been a great investor. To miss such an opportunity…"
"I'm a representative of Grandis Academy, but I'm also the Headmistress's agent."
"…Agent? You mean you came on behalf of the Headmistress, not as the Finance Director of the academy?"
"That's correct."
Within the academy, I was known as the Finance Director, the Headmistress's secret lover (?), and her closest confidant, but it would be difficult for Count Anton to know that. Even if he did, he would probably be suspicious, wondering how a mere Rank 1 could be her closest confidant.
The reason I specifically mentioned the Headmistress was simple.
In the public eye, 'Grandis Academy' and the 'Headmistress' were separate entities.
'I know that the academy is practically the Headmistress, and the Headmistress is the academy.'
But those outside, who still thought the Headmistress was the wealthiest person in the kingdom, simply believed that she was dedicated to education and could leave her position as Headmistress at any time.
In that situation, if the young man who was the Finance Director of the academy was also her closest confidant…
From Count Anton's perspective, it meant that the investment from both 'Grandis Academy' and the 'Headmistress' had fallen through. Professor Alon also didn't mention the Headmistress separately after suggesting the investment to me in the office. He distinguished between the academy's funds and the Headmistress's personal assets.
Of course, I couldn't pressure Count Anton with just these words. The reason I said these unnecessary things was…
To signal Auditor Marcus.
"It's the same for the royal family. You've given us a great opportunity, but I have no choice but to decline."
"Auditor Marcus, I don't think the royal family wants to miss this opportunity."
"How could I dare presume the intentions of His Majesty and the royal family? I am merely a lowly auditor, so I can only judge within my limited understanding."
Oh, is that the experience of a veteran? He naturally mentioned the king and the royal family, leaving no room for the opponent to refute.
Remembering the valuable tip, Auditor Marcus and I both stood up.
"…I see. It's truly a shame, but it can't be helped. I'll see you out."
"That's alright. I'll be staying at the inn tonight and returning tomorrow, so I'll come to see you again then."
"I'm also scheduled to return to the royal capital tomorrow, so I'll be imposing on your hospitality."
"Come visit again if you change your mind."
Come visit if you change your mind? I would. It would probably be you visiting us, though.
Count Anton had lost three major investors: Grandis Academy, the Headmistress, and the royal family. It must be a huge loss for the Count, but since he already had other investors, it would be manageable. However, he still left room for negotiation, perhaps with some lingering hope.
If that was Count Anton's carelessness, despite being an experienced negotiator and cunning noble despite being only Rank 2,
He failed to predict the thoughts of the two Rank 1s who climbed to high positions without power or status.
As we left the reception room after receiving the Count's farewell and walked down the hallway,
"Shall we go first?"
"Thank you for giving this junior a good opportunity."
"It would be easier for you to act, being favored by the Headmistress more than me. And if things go wrong, it reduces my responsibility."
"As expected, your sharp tongue is the same as when we met at the cabin."
"You also have quite the skill in setting the stage by mentioning the Headmistress."
"Haha!"
"Hahaha!!"
As the two Rank 1s burst into laughter behind them,
Only Chloe and Ruth, with their strange expressions, trembled with a sense of foreboding.
***
"…Hmm."
Anton Beryl opened his eyes to the cold morning air. It wasn't cold yet, but the sea breeze sometimes reached this far inland.
In a normal territory, they would use magic stones or firewood to heat the lord's castle, but…
Unfortunately, that wasn't possible in the Beryl County.
Gulp.
Anton drank the lukewarm water by his bedside and got up. The current state of the Count's family was such that they had to conserve even the firewood to heat the castle.
The money he had painstakingly saved for over ten years was all spent on buying the collapsed rock salt mine and the surrounding territory. He even had to borrow money because it wasn't enough.
There was no turning back now.
'It's cold.'
Was it cold because of the sea breeze, or because of the three big investors he missed today?
After the negotiations with the Finance Director of Grandis Academy and the royal auditor fell through…
Anton couldn't stand the regret of losing such huge investors.
'Grandis Academy, the Headmistress, and the royal family.'
Even if just one of the three invested, it would be an enormous amount. He hadn't expected the academy's Finance Director to be the Headmistress's representative as well.
It was an unexpected problem for Anton, who was planning to bring up negotiations with the Headmistress if the negotiations with the Finance Director failed. And they even refused the royal family.
They were rejecting the chance to gain influence over one of the few salt mines in the kingdom?
'Auditor Marcus Rutel.'
He heard he was a rigid and inflexible auditor. And that he had reached that position despite being a Rank 1.
Why did the royal family send Auditor Marcus as their representative?
It was a question that Anton, who was also Rank 2 but born a noble, couldn't easily understand.
'Easing the conditions… is still not possible.'
Honestly, even Anton thought 100 years was a bit shameless, but there were already merchants and nobles who had accepted that condition.
If he eased the conditions now just for the big players like the academy and the royal family, there would be complaints.
Moreover, if he shortened the period, the amount to be paid annually would increase exponentially.
…Actually, even then, 100 years was a bit excessive. Even if he reduced it by half, the profit from the mine itself would be sufficient.
But Anton was being greedy.
Greedy for the revival of his family.
'I have to minimize the expenses as much as possible.'
The Beryl family needed as much money as possible to regain their former glory.
In this life-or-death gamble of rebuilding the rock salt mine, Anton wanted to gain as much profit as possible.
It was only natural for someone to be overly greedy when faced with a rare opportunity, but…
Unfortunately for him, it was the same for others.
"C-Count!"
"Norman? What is it at this early hour?"
"The head of the Gartua Trading Company has come to see you!"
"The head of the Gartua Trading Company…?"
One of those who had already signed the investment contract.
Thanks to the down payment he received from them, he was able to hire Rank 5 mages and start the reconstruction immediately.
Why would the head of the trading company come at this hour?
Anton, feeling an instinctive sense of foreboding, quickly dressed and went down to the reception room.
"I apologize for coming at this hour, Count Anton."
"Don't worry about it. Of course, I have to welcome the head of the Gartua Trading Company when he visits urgently. So, what brings you here?"
The middle-aged merchant, with a determined look on his face, bowed to him.
After a moment of contemplation with his eyes closed…
The merchant soon looked at Anton.
"I want to withdraw my investment."
"What…? What happened!?"
"I'll pay the penalty as per the contract. I want to pull out of this."
"Wait, wait a minute. Please reconsider! More importantly, why did you suddenly make this decision?"
The penalty didn't matter. It would be a significant amount, but it was a drop in the bucket compared to the investment.
Moreover, the Gartua Trading Company was the largest investor. If they pulled out, even the hiring cost of the Rank 5 mages would be tight.
Anton, wide awake now, desperately questioned the head of the Gartua Trading Company, and…
…the merchant answered with a sigh.
"Count, I'm a humble merchant. I'm proud of my company, but it's still insignificant compared to the giants."
"What are you suddenly…?"
"That's why I decided to invest to grow my business. Even with a 100-year installment plan, I judged that it would be worthwhile if I could maintain the company until then. It was the biggest gamble of my life."
"Then why!"
"…I heard the news at the inn. That the Headmistress and the royal family refused to invest."
The Headmistress, and the royal family.
The faces of Adam Keynes and Marcus Rutel flashed through Anton's mind.
"I spent a long time thinking about what it meant that the Headmistress, a Rank 8 and the wealthiest person in the kingdom, and the royal family, didn't invest."
"Wait, Head of the Gartua Trading Company."
"I started to wonder if I had missed something. It must be that my capabilities were lacking. I apologize."
The merchant's words sounded somewhat convincing.
The Headmistress and the royal family were the biggest investors in the kingdom. If they didn't invest, there must be a good reason for it.
It was a plausible thought to withdraw the investment based on that.
But Anton gritted his teeth.
"Don't lie, Head of the Gartua Trading Company."
"What do you mean…?"
"As you just said, you're a merchant. And as a merchant, the fact that the Headmistress and the royal family didn't invest should be something to welcome."
"...…"
"Then you could solidify your position as the largest investor in the mine."
In fact, hadn't the head of the Gartua Trading Company invested a large amount for a company of their size, aiming for that very thing?
He also thoroughly examined all the documents related to the mine and even visited the collapsed rock salt mine for an inspection.
The Gartua Trading Company specialized in minerals. They wouldn't invest without knowledge and confidence in the mine.
Anton's experience and intuition were screaming.
That the merchant in front of him was lying.
"Be honest, Head of the Gartua Trading Company."
"...…"
"What's your motive?"
At Anton's question, the head of the Gartua Trading Company…
…feigned a clueless expression.
It was a merchant's act that Anton could easily see through.
"I apologize, but I don't understand what you're talking about. I'll be staying at the inn until this evening and leaving tomorrow."
"...…"
"I apologize for the disturbance at dawn."
Watching the merchant's back as he left the reception room,
Anton had a hunch about what was happening.
'The rumor he heard at the inn, the Gartua Trading Company's change of heart, and the time limit he gave at the end, as if leaving room for negotiation.'
At this point, it was practically the same as telling him to notice.
Adam Keynes and Marcus Rutel…
'Collusion!'
They had persuaded the head of the Gartua Trading Company and were colluding. The reason was, of course, to ease the investment conditions.
And the fact that they succeeded in persuading the biggest investor, who would welcome this situation…
"C-Count. The other investors… have also arrived."
"…Damn it."
…meant that the others would also come to withdraw their investments.
Anton's eyes gleamed coldly.