In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 134

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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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This Life, I Will Become the Clan Head Episode 134

“What are all those carriages?”

Biejie, who had dressed up elaborately to go to the Imperial Palace and came out to board his carriage, asked his servant with dissatisfaction.

“The, the carriages of Heringga and the Dillard family…”

“I know that too! What I’m asking is what business they have coming to the manor. It’s not like there’s a clan head meeting today.”

The servant, who became the target of misplaced anger, made a tearful face and answered in a small voice.

“To, to meet Young Lady Pirenthia…”

“What?”

At Biejie’s sharp retort, the servant’s shoulders shrank considerably.

“So all that about being busy was a lie! What kind of important person are they meeting that they’d come directly to the manor!”

Biejie fumed angrily.

The servant waiting nearby to lower the carriage door and footstep was anxious, worried that the heads of the vassal families might come down to board their carriages and encounter Biejie.

But fortunately, such a thing didn’t happen.

Because Ceral, who had also finished his elaborate preparations, appeared.

“…People with no dignity. Right, dear?”

Ceral, who grasped the situation at a glance, soothed Biejie with a gentle voice.

“To come running just because a child called them. They must have their pride too.”

“Hmph. They all came out of curiosity, wondering what’s going on.”

Biejie said grumpily as he boarded the carriage.

Saying something completely different from his fiery anger just moments before.

But Ceral, accustomed to such behavior, also boarded the carriage and closed the door, speaking calmly.

“It’s a good day, and we’re entering the palace for good news, so don’t worry about such things, dear.”

“Ahem…”

Biejie cleared his throat and nodded at his wife’s words.

“Right. I was a bit sensitive. What does it matter anyway, that business that will fail and only bring shame upon itself.”

“Exactly. The Empress has practically already given permission, so let’s go give Her Majesty the gift she likes and have a good time.”

Ceral said, pointing to the carefully wrapped tea set placed on one side of the carriage seat.

“When people find out what kind of work you’ve secured for Lombardi Construction, everyone will probably be talking about you for days.”

“Right, such childish business ventures will become a laughingstock and be forgotten.”

With Biejie’s bitter words, the carriage departed for the Imperial Palace.

As the carriage running along the well-maintained road crossed the threshold of the Imperial Palace, Ceral suddenly asked.

“But don’t you need to inform Lombardi Construction, that is, the Bilkeiga family, in advance?”

At Ceral’s question, Biejie chuckled and answered.

“When using the authority of the clan head’s direct line, there’s no need to speak beforehand. If I had to seek permission for everything and then proceed, how would that be ‘authority’?”

“True…”

Ceral also nodded in agreement with Biejie’s words.

“Oh my, the Empress is out waiting!”

As the carriage began to slow down, Ceral looked out the window and exclaimed with joy.

Biejie also glanced and confirmed Empress Lavinia waiting for him in front of the Empress’ Quarters entrance, and the corners of his mouth slightly rose.

The sight of the Empire’s Empress personally coming out to greet him made Biejie’s shoulders rise with pride.

“You’ve come, Lombardi. Ceral, welcome as well.”

The Empress welcomed the two with a very pleased face.

As they climbed the stairs where not only the Empress greeting them warmly but also all the Empress’s maids had come out and stood in a row, Biejie’s mood soared sky-high.

The Empress was very pleased with the luxury tea set that Ceral had prepared.

Thanking them, she immediately used the new tea set right there and personally made tea for them.

“Did you say that Lombardi Construction wants to take on the Angenas development project?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The smile never left Biejie’s face as he answered eagerly.

“Certainly, with the experienced Lombardi Construction, the development project could be pushed forward much faster.”

“You speak truly. Moreover, buildings like the large quantity of luxury houses that will go into the resort require skilled workers, or they’ll consume a lot of time and materials. If you entrust it to Lombardi Construction, you won’t need to worry about such things.”

“Hmm…”

But the Empress’s reaction was a bit strange.

His wife had clearly said it was ‘practically already approved.’

At the sight of Empress Lavinia seeming to contemplate, a bead of sweat ran down Biejie’s back.

“If, if you could tell me what you’re concerned about, I could explain it to you.”

“Ah, I could certainly trust and entrust the work to Lombardi, who is Ceral’s husband, but there’s one condition.”

“What… is it?”

“When work begins, the payment is divided and paid several times from the start, is that correct?”

“Yes. Usually we receive it divided into three times: before starting, in the middle, and after completing construction.”

“Then could you adjust the payment to be made in the latter half of construction and after completion?”

“Pardon…?”

Biejie’s mind raced furiously.

Due to the nature of construction projects involving enormous sums, it was common to receive payment divided into four or five times rather than three.

This was a major construction project developing the entire territory of Angenas, not just building a few structures.

Saying they would pay such an enormous sum in the latter half of construction and after completion was an unreasonable request by any measure.

Biejie should have refused.

But the moment he saw the Empress’s eyes looking at him as if testing him, such courage vanished.

And in his mind flashed the words Shannet had said mockingly to him a few days ago.

“Don’t think about stopping that child, focus on achieving results yourself. That will be the only way you have a chance of winning.”

How dare Gallahan’s daughter think she could compare to me.

I’ll show the difference with this Angenas business rights.

Biejie made up his mind.

If this deal went through, no one would be able to disregard him again.

“I’ll do that, Your Majesty.”

Biejie said.

“If I don’t trust Angenas, my in-laws, who else would I trust?”

“Ah, what a relief. Thank you for understanding, Lombardi.”

The Empress smiled brightly and offered another cup of tea.

“Th, thank you.”

While Biejie gratefully received and drank the tea, Empress Lavinia and Ceral quietly exchanged glances.

And quiet smiles appeared on both their lips.

* * *

“…That concludes the general explanation of the delivery business. Of course, if you want, I can send a more detailed business plan to the guild.”

I finished my brief but refined explanation to Romasie Dillard, the head of the Lombardi Guild.

“Well now… That’s an ingenious idea.”

Romasie Dillard muttered as if impressed.

I knew he was genuinely admiring it.

Throughout my explanation, he had widened his eyes in surprise several times.

Nevertheless, Romasie Dillard was still hesitating.

“What concerns you, Guild Master?”

“Hmm. I understand it’s a good idea, but I question how practical it really is. How much will nobles actually use this completely unfamiliar thing called delivery…”

I shook my head and said.

“You’ve misunderstood one thing. The target customer base for the delivery business isn’t just nobles. ‘Money’ is no longer the exclusive domain of nobles in the current Empire, right? There are quite a number of commoners who have accumulated substantial wealth through guilds and imperial salaries.”

“That may be true, but…”

“Furthermore, I’m proposing that the Lombardi Guild, which shares the same roof, work together to create the ‘practicality’ of Lombardi Delivery that you just mentioned. After all, the variety of items available for purchase through delivery will be exactly what makes ‘delivery practical.'”

“Hmm.”

Romasie Dillard couldn’t quite make up his mind.

I also pondered for a moment.

The head of the Dillard family I knew wasn’t such an indecisive person.

He was someone who knew how to jump at opportunities without hesitation when he saw them.

That remained true even now in his old age.

Then there must be a reason why he was reluctant to shake hands with me as the head of the massive Lombardi Guild.

I asked Romasie Dillard directly.

“What concerns you, Guild Master—is it the delivery business, or is it me?”

“Th-that’s…”

The Guild Master’s face, clouded with bewilderment, was already giving me the answer.

Why even ask? I’m the one who’s not trustworthy.

I spoke in a calm voice.

“Please, I would appreciate it if you could speak honestly, Head of the Dillard family.”

“If you put it that way…”

Romasie Dillard hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make up his mind and began to speak.

“This new method of transportation called delivery is something probably no one else could have thought of. I knew Young Lady Pirenthia was clever from a young age, but to think you’d have business talent as well. I was quite surprised. However…”

Now comes the main point.

“I am a merchant. And merchants value experience above all else.”

Romasie Dillard said carefully.

“No matter how smart someone is, no matter how capable they are of ingenious thinking, if they lack experience, I don’t trust them.”

Not surprising at all.

It was a belief befitting a merchant who had cut his teeth in the field, treating experience gained through running around in actual practice as the most valuable asset.

Conversely, it also meant that Romasie Dillard trusted experienced merchants that much more.

That works out perfectly for me.

“So you’re saying my lack of experience is the only problem?”

“Yes, to be honest, that’s correct. This directly affects the profits and losses of the Lombardi Guild, so please understand…”

“Then there’s no problem at all.”

“Pardon?”

To Romasie Dillard, who asked back in bewilderment, I spoke clearly, word by word.

“I’m not entirely without experience, you see.”

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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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