Published at 25th of January 2021 06:09:17 AM
Chapter 161: 161
Evan D . Sherden makes his Gorgeous Debut (1)
On the day that Evan and Anastasia’s deal took place, Evan asked her to agree to a business proposal . He would teach her how to train as a druid, and in exchange, he would make her the next duchess of Leonine . If she became the next duchess, Matthew wouldn’t dare challenge the kingship .
“I heard that the duke has educated his children to divide and manage parts of the Duchy, correct?”
“Yeah . ”
Just as the Sherden family gave their children tasks, the duke gave assignments to his children . The only difference was that the Sherden family was educating their children, while the tasks given to the Leonine children were used to gauge their abilities .
‘As a bonus, it has practical benefits outside of education . The mass of land they occupy is too large to govern with the power of one alone . Even decades after the Duchy was declared, they didn’t fully understand that until now . ’
A significant portion of the Duchy’s territory was like an unclaimed treasure chest that hadn’t been opened . Valuable gold and silver awaited inside of it .
“The princess is fifteen years old this year . ”
“Yeah . This year, I will be given an assignment…that’s why I wanted to be strong . ”
Anastasia cautiously nodded in agreement . At the age of fifteen, she would be assigned a manor management task, no matter how much she wanted to stay in that garden . She would be driven out of the duke’s residence to live outside . But before that had happened, she had met Shine and, through him, Evan .
“It isn’t completely safe yet . Battles with natives trying to regain their home happen from time to time and monsters often invade…”
“Why are they throwing their child into such a place?”
“Yes, it is a bit tough for a kid of fifteen . ”
The Sherden family greatly differed from the Leonine family in that regard . However, it made this operation possible . If she could prove her ability, she could set herself up for the future .
“If you manage and develop the province well enough to provide a huge benefit to the Leonine’s, we will be able to change who the successor is . ”
“Really…is that possible?”
Anastasia seemed anxious at the bold claims, but Evan nodded without a second thought
“It would be weird for you not to become the next duke if you did something Matthew couldn’t compare to . ”
“But I…I haven’t done anything yet . ”
“We will do it now . Then, let’s talk in earnest . Of course, on the condition, you don’t question where I got the information . ”
Evan’s knowledge of the Yo-ma Great War series was absurd . With it, it would be easy to become number one on the continent . However, he had no intention of attracting the world’s attention that much . The businesses he had now were making enough money for him .
‘It will be an overwhelming benefit in the long run to have a reliable collaborator to distribute the benefits!’
At the time of Yo-ma Great War 4, a vein of absurdly valuable magic metal would be found in the abandoned land of the Duchy . After the duke’s death, it was occupied by the pseudo-church that kept a tight regulation on it . There was only one way to find the weapons or armor made from it, but that didn’t matter . What was important was that Evan remembered the exact location of the vein .
“You can ask for this area, near Menaton . It’s a barren and dangerous environment that isn’t valuable, so you should get it . ”
“A barren and dangerous environment…can I survive it?”
“You have more than half a year . During that time, if you practice according to the training method I teach you, you will be safe . Or, if you can stop by the dungeon city and level up . Yes, that would be nice . ”
It was only a three-day carriage ride to reach the dungeon city from the Duchy . Of course, it would take her another day or so with the number of retainers that would have to join her, but it was a feasible journey .
“The duke won’t send a princess alone . You would need an escort, and perhaps some merchants to conduct business . ”
“But…”
“The princess also knows, the Duchy’s people live in Menaton . It’s dangerous, but it is also a place where ordinary people live . ”
“Ugh . ”
As an aristocrat, Anastasia knew it wouldn’t look good to avoid the places where her people lived .
“Shine…”
“Yeah? Oh, don’t worry too much . The master often orders us to do crazy things, but we never die . You’ll be safe . ”
“Hey, you . Say something more comforting than that . ”
“No, but it’s true . I’ve never lost by listening to the master’s advice . ”
“…hrk . ”
Anastasia, who had been depressed by the challenges awaiting her, burst into laughter at Shine . Shortly after, she took in a deep breath and raised her head, pulling together her tattered courage . She looked straight at Evan .
“Yes, I will . So…you want the vein?”
“Yeah . What I want is to trade for that metal . The Duchy has no ability to process it, so you’ll have no choice but to export it . Then I can sell the weapons made by processing it cheap . ” The processing would be done by Evan and other alchemists . They would have a practical monopoly on the magic metal and items crafted from it, which was a business deal like no other .
“If we really do that…”
“If I had offered this directly to the duke, he would be carrying me around the Duchy by now . This alone will increase your position, I bet . ”
The Duchy, which had a lot of enemies to fight, needed the highest quality weapons . What if they could be regularly supplied with weapons from the famous dungeon city?
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“But is that okay? I heard that the dungeon city shouldn’t interfere with other provinces…”
“It’s okay if we’re not sending troops or giving away free weapons . And I’m not here as the second son of the Sherden family, but as the representative of the Brotherhood Corporation . ”
It skirted the lines, but it didn’t violate the rules of the dungeon city . Evan’s merchant house wasn’t subordinate to the city .
“Of course, it would be strange for anyone to find a vein of metal as soon as the manor was built . There is also a possibility you might be used . So first, let’s sign a construction contract . In the middle of building an excellent building for you, we found a vein, and you signed an additional contract with
us . ”
“I can do that…you really are as smart as people say . ”
“It only seems that way because I have some information that others don’t . I’m just a kid . ”
Evan bitterly smiled at the princess’s admiration and wrote a contract on the spot . He was planning to intensively manage the Brotherhood Corporations business, including the construction of the estate .
“Oh, I also need to make a fake contract . Because we can’t expose our real purposes to the duke from now on, the real thing should be kept secret by you . It’s a contract written by a druid, so it’s possible . ”
“Yeah . ”
Evan had been quite good at contracts even back on earth . Of course, it wouldn’t hurt her, but it was a favorable deal for the corporation .
“Then, with this…is it done?”
“The first step is . It’s still a bit weak . The second step will be to make our relationship stronger . Until then, you’ll have to practice diligently . ”
How far ahead had this child planned? He was reliable but a little scary . Anastasia healed her heart by glancing over at Shine . It was even lovely how he tilted his head in confusion at her gaze . She clenched her fists .
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“There are additional provisions I want . ”
“Ah . ”
Her assertion was weak, but Evan listened to it . Nothing could be achieved without a little greed .
“What is it? I will be happy to listen to it if it’s not too much . ”
“That’s…here . ”
As she did when they first met, she took out a small note, scribbling on it, and handed it over to Evan . Once more, he checked it without letting Shine see it .
I would like you to send Shine regularly . ’
“Hm . ”
He couldn’t let Shine go at any time she wanted…but he might be able to work around that easily enough . Evan gladly nodded .
“Not often, but occasionally if you can get consent . ”
“Ah, thank you! Thank you very much!”
“Huh…snrk . ”
Evan burst into laughter at the sight of her rejoicing boldly . It was especially funny that Shine had no clue what was happening .
In this way, the great work of the Brotherhood Corporation continued .