I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 6

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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 006

6. A Way to Win-Win

The promise that Cliff made when he became lord.

The commoners waited for this. The hope that support would come was their reason for living.

And it came.

‘Just as the Lord’s representative said!’

‘To think so many supplies would come into the estate…!’

What the merchants brought were basic grains.

Besides that, they also brought livestock like geese.

Since the procession was quite long, the commoners naturally assumed it was the mainland support that Cliff had mentioned.

‘Even if that’s not actually the case, everyone will think so…’

Nigel greeted the merchant procession with a stern face.

While the person in charge there moved with Cliff, he guided them to the storehouse as Cliff had instructed.

“Oh?”

A mid-level executive of this trading expedition came to the storehouse and let out an exclamation of admiration.

“To have secured such quality goods… and in such large quantities. Our trading guild will purchase everything.”

Perfect.

They could now dispose of the inventory that was slowly becoming a burden.

“Hmm. What would be a good price?”

“Well. We also have distribution costs… For rope, 6 copper coins per 1 got (about 150cm) length, and for baskets… roughly 8 copper coins each, how does that sound?”

It was indeed a disappointing price.

But it wasn’t bad either.

From the estate’s perspective, they didn’t need more than this anyway.

Most importantly, this level of inventory could be gathered quickly.

“Hmm. I’ll propose this to the Lord’s representative.”

“Haha. More than that, this is impressive. With this quantity, it seems like you’ve been stockpiling for 3 years… yet all the items are maintained like new.”

“Heh heh heh.”

Nigel just let out a laugh.

In this era, everything was cottage industry.

Even though baskets and rope were relatively easy to make, it was difficult to accumulate this much quantity. And most of it was well-made with good quality.

At this level, it was normal to think they had been collecting inventory for a long time.

‘To think this quantity accumulated in less than a month… even having seen it myself, it’s hard to believe.’

Even during all this, the commoners’ hands were gradually becoming more skilled.

Nigel realized for the first time.

The fact that their craftsmanship was this good.

Anyway, this generated some money. But there was still something that made Nigel’s heart uncomfortable.

‘Hmm. These people didn’t come to provide us with the grains and livestock they brought. In the end, we can only receive goods equivalent to the quantity in our storehouse.’

They came for trade.

It wasn’t support supplies as the commoners expected. It was already surprising that this many trade goods had come, but if they emptied their carts and returned with them as they were…

‘Hmm.’

Perhaps chaos would arise in the estate.

That chaos could quickly lead to riots. The estate even lacked security forces to control such situations.

Nigel turned his head toward the Lord’s Manor.

‘The Lord’s representative will have to handle this well.’

The confident face of the Lord’s representative.

Nigel could only hope that he would resolve this problem smoothly.

In fact, there was nothing else he could do.

“…I’ll take responsibility for the escort and travel expenses during the journey. But that’s all I can do for you. From now on, you are no longer my son.”

The Duke’s last words to Cliff.

After hearing those words, Cliff’s mind was busy as he came out.

‘Even though he was promised entry into central politics, it’s not easy for a lord to sell off his own estate and only daughter. This must mean that from that lord’s perspective, the estate’s situation is that hopeless.’

Otherwise, he would have aimed for entry into central politics with the estate’s power.

Without needing to make such a deal.

But the lord chose to abandon his estate.

An estate that was surely so miserable.

“…What would I need to go to such a place?”

The Duke had clearly said there would be no more help as a father.

But Cliff didn’t think that way.

‘Rather, it’s better than when I was his son.’

Cliff had somehow come to that judgment.

The Duke said he would take responsibility for travel expenses and escort.

He could use the Duke’s family crest.

With that crest, there was no one he couldn’t meet.

Much less a mid-level merchant, not even a major trading guild of the Kingdom.

‘Even if father finds out later how I used this… he’ll think I did well with this much. Rather, he might be disappointed if I couldn’t do this much?’

Because that’s the kind of person he is.

In any case, the result of that had now arrived.

“I congratulate you on gaining a beautiful lady as your wife and taking office as Lord’s representative.”

Mid-level merchant Tom.

He looked haggard from the fatigue of travel.

He showed no other emotions besides that.

But Cliff could guess what he was thinking. He was probably disappointed right now.

“I don’t particularly enjoy congratulations that are only words.”

Cliff spoke.

At those words, Tom’s expression hardened. He had brought many supplies because of Cliff’s orders.

Adding the costs consumed while procuring these and coming here, it was already a tremendous loss. From what he could confirm, this estate couldn’t consume the supplies he had brought.

‘So you’ll use your authority to pressure me and take all my goods?’

To Tom’s ears, Cliff’s words sounded exactly like this.

So for a moment, his expression couldn’t be pleasant. But he quickly calculated gains and losses.

Confronting a noble here was not advisable.

Cliff also knew this fact, which is why he spoke those words.

“At the Lord’s representative’s request, I procured ten carts each of wheat and barley, and 50 geese mixed male and female. I will gladly offer them to the Lord’s representative with a heart celebrating your marriage and appointment.”

Tom bowed his head.

The loss would be great, but here he submitted to Cliff.

If he didn’t, he, the victim, might instead become the target of punishment.

‘This is the difference between nobles and commoners. It’s truly a situation where the class system reigns supreme…’

The corners of Cliff’s mouth rose.

In noble society, who was right or wrong didn’t matter.

Tom, a merchant, had hurt his pride as a noble.

The moment this became known among nobles, Tom could no longer conduct trade in the Kingdom.

‘It seems he has that level of judgment.’

But even Cliff shouldn’t just rob Tom’s goods.

He could, but that would be the worst strategy.

Surely Tom’s feelings toward him right now weren’t good.

‘Just as Tom would be in danger if I spread bad rumors about him in noble society, our estate would also be ruined if this fellow spreads bad rumors about our estate among merchants.’

The moment rumors spread, no merchant would want to visit this estate.

It might not be a problem if the estate could be self-sufficient. Considering the ability he had gained, self-sufficiency might be possible in the future. However, to grow even larger, still.

‘Making enemies of the merchant world would be foolish.’

He had to make a proper deal with Tom.

So in this way.

“Considering your gracious heart, I shall gladly accept it.”

Upon hearing his words, Tom smiled.

“If I can be of help to the Lord Deputy, that itself would be an honor.”

He shouldn’t be fooled by that smile.

This was a finishing blow.

A smile of severance. He had already made his judgment about him.

But Cliff still had more to say.

“Hmm. I don’t just send away those who help me empty-handed.”

At Cliff’s grinning words, Tom’s eyebrows twitched.

‘He wants to make a deal in this situation?’

Just moments ago, it was clearly extortion.

But if Cliff offered compensation for this, things could change. However, in his opinion, there was nothing Cliff could give him.

The same words came from Cliff’s mouth.

“Though I can’t give money that would please a merchant from this poor domain…”

Of course not.

Tom concluded that Cliff’s words were just for show or bluffing.

“Your words alone are sufficient for this humble one.”

Perhaps this was what Cliff wanted to hear from him.

And the young noble lord who had just come of age would be satisfied and move on with just these words.

‘No merchant will ever enter this domain again!’

Cliff grinned and opened his mouth.

“No. I just thought of something I can give you.”

“…What might that be?”

“I’ll give you the opportunity to run errands for me.”

Tom nearly lost his composure for a moment.

‘What a sight to behold.’

After already making Tom gather supplies, then robbing him of those goods, now he wanted to use him as an errand boy.

He could guess what kind of errands they would be.

He would ask him to procure supplies once more like this time. And when he brought them, he would steal them again just like now.

It was malicious but admittedly a meticulous scheme.

‘I should never have come here in the first place.’

This would spread rumors among merchants that Cliff was malicious, but Tom would find it difficult to escape his clutches.

Rejecting an opportunity given by a noble?

If he didn’t want such rumors to spread, he would have to reluctantly follow Cliff’s orders.

‘Now, to minimize damage, I need to hand over the supplies and get out. I can’t let the damage increase!’

A shackle he couldn’t escape until death.

It gave him chills that a mere 20-year-old young noble had thought of such a snare.

He thought this until Cliff opened his mouth again.

“It’s delivering my letter.”

“…A letter, you say?”

A more normal(?) errand than expected came up.

“Yes. I’m thinking of sending a letter of gratitude to the prestigious House of Aidrun, who lent me their crest.”

Cliff smiled.

Tom’s expression gradually changed.

‘I can guess what he was thinking. But I’m not that vicious.’

He had no intention of setting a snare for him.

Even if he forced him using noble authority, it would be like cutting open the belly of a goose that laid golden eggs.

There was definitely a way for him to escape.

Rather, it was simple. The next time they met, when he tried to give him another errand, he could just say this:

-Baron So-and-so has given me orders…

Then he would no longer be able to force him using noble authority.

The story might be different if he were stronger than that noble, but the Ellemis Domain was weaker than any other domain in the Kingdom.

So he would make a deal.

“Will you deliver my letter?”

Tom’s eyes changed.

He would have already investigated him. Even if not, he was the man who had come here bearing the crest of House Aidrun.

He could deliver a letter to the Duke’s house.

And if some kind of positive connection was made with House Aidrun.

‘It might not be impossible for our trading guild to leap forward as a major guild in the Kingdom.’

Of course, this was merely an opportunity.

A justification to visit the Duke’s house.

And a chance to meet with people from the Duke’s house.

Whether he could gain profit from it or not was completely unknown. But there were plenty of merchants who wanted to seize that one opportunity.

That was why Tom had gathered supplies and come here at Cliff’s request.

“If I can work for the Lord Deputy, this humble one would simply be delighted.”

His heart pounded.

Cliff’s lips curved into a smile.

‘Good.’

With this, all the supplies the merchants brought are mine.

Because I paid the price.

But still, this alone wasn’t satisfying. He wanted more.

And he had already thought of a way to obtain it.

A method where both he and Tom could win.

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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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