I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 33

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 033

33. For Trade

【For Trade 1】

Content: The estate’s situation where self-sufficiency is still difficult!

Trade is an essential condition to resolve the estate’s difficulties.

As a lord, secure the resources lacking in the estate through trade!

Conditions

-Recruit manager (0/1 person)

-Appoint escort personnel (10/10 people)

-Appoint porters (5/5 people)

-Secure funds (8,000/1,000 gold)

-Secure carts (3/3)

Rewards

-Lord experience 50

-Estate experience 100

-Can perform For Trade 2

The Quest that had appeared before Cliff.

So from Cliff’s perspective, appointing a manager was absolutely necessary.

But the Quest only said to appoint a manager.

‘It doesn’t necessarily have to be that young man named Jaide.’

Even so, Cliff was secretly confident.

Jaide would likely end up becoming Cliff’s person eventually.

And he himself preferred Jaide if possible.

If he lacked ability it would be different, but he had talent.

‘He’s someone who could grow an organization if put in charge of one.’

That was Cliff’s assessment of Jaide.

But Cliff had come to the slave market now.

“I’d prefer someone with experience and prudence if possible.”

“You mean… it would be fine if they’re a bit older?”

The Slave Merchant looked back and forth between Cliff and Jaide.

Jaide.

He was fairly well-known in Serfal. He was from Serfal originally, and was connected to Tom’s Shop, a mid-sized trading guild from the homeland.

Not just Jaide, but Maribel was also quite famous.

‘From what I can see, this lord seems to want to recruit Jaide… I see. That’s why he’s looking for someone experienced and prudent even if they’re older. These qualities are what Jaide lacks.’

But looking at Jaide’s face, he didn’t seem to notice this.

Jaide still lacked experience.

Even if he was a brilliant genius, the psychological limitations from that lack of experience were evident.

What was remarkable was Cliff.

‘It feels like I’m facing a seasoned merchant… no, a bureaucrat.’

Cliff had the scent of a politician about him.

His appearance looked similar in age to Jaide.

But with that face, he was handling the clever Jaide who lived for his own brilliance from a position above.

He had grasped Jaide’s strengths and limitations quite clearly.

This meant his insight was considerable. Watching this, the Slave Merchant thought of the most suitable slave.

Of course, his words were different.

“Hmm. That’s difficult. The kind of slave you’re looking for rarely appears on the market.”

A seasoned merchant.

How often would such a person become a slave?

It was a perfectly reasonable statement.

But Cliff frowned.

‘Where is this fellow trying to pull a fast one?’

Even if it wasn’t wrong, Cliff was certain. The troubled expression the other was making was an act.

And the feeling that flashed in his eyes for just an instant.

‘He has one.’

Upon hearing his words, this merchant had immediately thought of a suitable person.

He could tell thanks to maximizing his senses by declaring his domain from the moment he entered here.

“Tsk.”

Cliff clicked his tongue.

At the same time, the Slave Merchant’s face in front of him turned pale.

“But you do have one, right? No, you must have one. Your eyes are telling me so.”

“Gasp. Of, of course our trading guild does have someone we could recommend.”

A face filled with terror.

This was the effect of Cliff’s intimidation skill.

The oppressive feeling that had been weighing on him quickly disappeared, but that actually made the Slave Merchant more afraid.

‘He looks like he’s barely in his early twenties, yet he’s this skilled at manipulating his aura?’

Was he some superhuman who had achieved the legendary body change?

The Slave Merchant looked at Cliff like he was a monster.

“Phew. But my lord. That particular merchandise has some flaws.”

“Flaws?”

“He has a family.”

The words that he had a family.

Cliff’s expression changed.

“…Family slaves?”

Family slaves.

This referred to cases where an entire family was bound together as slaves.

In such cases, even as slaves, they couldn’t be sold individually. To buy them, you had to purchase them together as a set.

It meant that to buy the person he wanted, he’d have to pay for the family’s price as well.

“Yes…”

The Slave Merchant answered while gauging Cliff’s reaction.

Usually people didn’t like it when told they were family slaves.

He worried if Cliff would be the same. But Cliff showed no negative expression even at those words.

“What’s the family composition?”

“He has a wife and a son and daughter.”

“Hmm.”

Cliff nodded slowly.

Incidentally, in this case, while the virgin daughter was one thing, he couldn’t touch his wife.

Because he couldn’t violate God’s commandment not to covet another man’s wife.

This was also classified as a disadvantage of family merchandise.

“How much?”

“The mother and daughter’s looks aren’t bad, and the daughter is a seventeen-year-old virgin. That’s the age when her price would be highest. The son is also twelve, so he’s at an age where he’ll be very useful going forward, isn’t he?”

“And the father is a talented individual with business acumen?”

“That’s right.”

A merchant was indeed a merchant.

The Slave Merchant continued speaking to Cliff as if his fear from moments ago had been a lie.

The merchant listed the advantages that family possessed one by one.

Cliff asked.

“There are no other defects, right?”

“Of course. Without credibility in this business, it’s hard to survive long.”

“Good. Then I’ll decide to purchase them.”

The price for all four of them together was 350 gold coins.

Cliff didn’t particularly haggle over their prices.

“I’d appreciate it if you could dress them in decent clothes and have them visit the Elimis Family Mansion at Shelter of the Waves.”

“I shall do so.”

“I suppose everyday clothes would be included as a service?”

“Haha. Of course, that much is only natural.”

The slave merchant laughed as he saw off his customer.

Besides this, Cliff also discussed other slaves.

The Elimis Domain was severely lacking in manpower.

He had to buy slaves to fill the shortage.

‘The problem is that now I need to secure food to support them…’

For this reason alone, operating a trading guild was only natural.

The name of the slave purchased for the purpose of running the trading guild was Edan.

“It is an honor to serve you as my master.”

Edan’s appearance clearly showed his age.

Compared to him, his wife was considerably young.

After observing the woman who bowed her head slightly, Cliff spoke.

“I have very high expectations for you.”

With a smiling face, Cliff welcomed Edan’s family.

Lack of experience.

The inexperience that resulted from it.

Jaide let out a sigh. As time passed, he was realizing his mistakes.

“Sigh.”

His heart felt heavy.

Perhaps this couldn’t be seen as merely a lack of experience.

‘I was arrogant.’

He had thought that Cliff would have no choice but to select him.

He had judged every situation favorably for himself. But thinking about it, Cliff had plenty of substitutes for him.

‘Even without me, he could make full use of connections with Father. No, rather than me, who might have an uncomfortable relationship with my half-brothers, it might actually be better.’

The more he reviewed, the fewer advantages he had.

Of course, he was excellent. But the reason his conclusion wasn’t good was because he had inwardly evaluated Cliff as beneath him.

Due to that, his most important judgment was delayed.

The relationship he truly wanted to form with Cliff.

He had failed to clarify how deep that should be.

‘He’ll probably buy the current stock I have. But that won’t be a groundbreaking profit. Future dealings with him will also be difficult…’

Tom might also be disappointed and choose Edan rather than deal with Jaide.

No, Tom would certainly do that.

“…I never thought I’d make such a fatal mistake.”

A kind of carelessness.

And arrogance.

Yes, it was arrogance.

He had already known through Tom’s reaction that Cliff possessed ability. So he had imagined that if Cliff was capable, wouldn’t he recognize his talent and cling to him?

Such arrogance in thinking he was above Cliff.

‘Pride goes before destruction, and humility before honor, as they say.’

How foolish it was to assert his pride before a noble.

If he had realized his foolishness, he should have changed quickly.

Here was where he felt conflicted.

‘Really… is it right to serve that baron’s deputy?’

He still wasn’t sure.

Tom had said that Cliff could become the lord who would rule the Yusta Peninsula in the future. Jaide could guess why Tom had such thoughts.

The Shadow Wolves.

Cliff handled those spirit beasts, said to be untameable, like his own limbs.

‘There are three here now. But that can’t be all of them. No, there must definitely be more. Including them, if the Elimis Domain were to operate a mobile unit…’

Would there be any force in the Yusta Peninsula that could still ignore the Elimis Family?

That was the thought that crossed Jaide’s mind. But still, it was difficult to follow Cliff based on that alone.

Around that time, there was a knock.

It was Maribel who came in.

“Why are you here instead of sleeping at this late hour?”

“…I thought you might be having similar concerns as me, brother.”

“What?”

“Brother.”

Maribel, who always wore a light and cheerful expression.

But at this moment, Maribel’s expression was also serious. Jaide also began to listen earnestly to her changed attitude.

“You know the new guests who came this time.”

“Yes.”

“They were bright.”

“…?”

Jaide didn’t understand Maribel’s words at first.

He couldn’t grasp her intention.

Bright? Why would she say that?

But soon Jaide’s expression hardened.

‘…All those from Elimis had dark complexions and didn’t want to return to their hometown.’

It was strange.

That they had no nostalgia for their hometown while living as slaves.

This meant that the domain’s situation was that bleak. Perhaps they thought living as slaves in foreign lands was better than life in their hometown.

Only then did Jaide realize.

Meeting and talking with such slaves, Jaide had also unconsciously developed prejudices toward the Elimis Domain.

“…The workers from the domain had bright expressions?”

“Yes. They said the domain changed a lot when the new lord’s deputy came. There’s been a lot of support from the homeland, and the lord’s deputy even held a festival in winter. They talked especially much about the winter festival. They said it was the first time they’d had such a happy winter.”

Cliff had selected domain soldiers to escort the trading guild, and also people to use as workers for the trading guild.

Maribel had heard their stories while serving in the inn’s dining room.

Picking up people’s conversations was originally her habit and specialty.

“They…”

And Maribel seemed to have formed some judgment after observing them.

“They looked happy.”

That’s how she described them.

“Perhaps even more than us…”

Only then did Jaide realize his similar mistake.

Once again trying to judge Cliff and the Elimis Domain within his own limitations.

‘That’s not it.’

Tom hadn’t seen him as the lord of the Yusta Peninsula simply because he commanded a few Shadow Wolves.

This was something Jaide couldn’t realize because he hadn’t properly observed the people there.

Jaide made his decision.

Knock knock.

Morning had come.

And Jaide had come to visit.

Cliff looked at him.

“I’m thinking of buying the necessary supplies today and returning to the domain immediately. In that matter, Jaide, your assistance was significant. I’ve decided to purchase all the rabbits and slaves you prepared in advance.”

Cliff’s words, mixed with goodwill, sounded rather cold instead.

Just that much.

If he didn’t seize this moment, there would never be another chance to take Cliff’s hand again.

Thud.

Jaide knelt down in front of Cliff.

A glint of interest flashed in Cliff’s eyes.

“…It seems you’ve made your decision?”

“I apologize. I tried to judge the Baron’s Deputy with my inadequate eyes. But now I understand. The Baron’s Deputy is someone so great that a lowly person like me cannot dare to judge.”

When hearing such words, Cliff also felt awkward and embarrassed.

‘Come to think of it… is this actually the first time?’

Teobaldt and Leticia were both slaves.

So he had easily gained their submission.

Nigel wasn’t a slave, but he was an elder who had served the Elimis Family longer than himself. So perhaps this was the first time.

The first time he had made an outsider bow their head like this through his own will.

“If you would permit it… I would like to serve the Baron’s Deputy.”

So Cliff’s course of action was practically predetermined.

“Of course I permit it.”

Finally, he had obtained the administrator he had desired.

-Quest completed

-Lord experience points increased

-Estate experience points increased

-Executing For Trade 2

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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