In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 138

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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 138

Astana couldn’t close his gaping mouth as he entered the Debon Family’s business event hall.

“Wow….”

It felt like he had entered a whole new world.

Was it because of the completely different atmosphere and bustling crowd compared to ordinary banquets?

Or perhaps it was because of all the alcohol he had consumed while riding his horse to Lombardy Territory.

“Mother was wrong after all.”

She had called it a trivial banquet, but she was speaking without knowing anything.

Even though he had deliberately arrived quite late, the banquet hall was packed with people.

And everyone seemed highly excited, making it clear that whatever this business was, it was proceeding very successfully.

Tap.

Someone lightly bumped his shoulder as they passed by.

It was Astana’s fault for standing there dazed and blocking the way in such a busy space.

“Hey!”

Astana’s face scrunched up in anger as he called out to what appeared to be an ordinary noble, but the person looked Astana up and down with displeasure and entered the event hall.

“Damn it, this is what happens when I wear cheap clothes.”

He had put on shabby clothes to sneak out of the Imperial Palace unnoticed, so no one could recognize that Astana was the Crown Prince.

“Tch.”

Since he wasn’t carrying anything that could prove his identity, he couldn’t even grab that ruffian and intimidate him.

Astana moved his slightly staggering steps, affected by the alcohol, deeper into the event venue.

“Where can I apply for courier service?”

“How many of these items can I buy?”

People’s voices could be heard noisily from all directions.

“Hey, you there!”

Astana, who had been giggling while touring the inside of the banquet hall, roughly grabbed a servant who was passing nearby with champagne glasses on a tray.

“Whoa!”

Crash.

As a result, several champagne glasses fell to the floor and shattered, but Astana didn’t care about the mess he had caused.

He glanced at the flustered employee and continued his tour while sipping from the champagne glass in his hand.

Before long, Astana had positioned himself against a wall not far from the entrance.

It was because the alcohol had gotten to him too much, making it difficult to continue walking around.

“Impressive.”

However, Astana’s expression was quite different from before.

His face, which had been purely amazed and pleased, now showed signs of discomfort.

“Pirenthia Lombardi….”

This business and event were supposedly led by Gallahan Lombardi’s daughter.

“She’s been extraordinary since childhood.”

Starting from the day she threw Astana’s hat, Pirenthia had been involved in many strangely intertwined incidents.

So in his childhood, there were times when just hearing the name ‘Pirenthia’ would make him grind his teeth.

But things changed as he grew older.

While everyone else would grovel and try to please Astana, Pirenthia Lombardi did not.

That point bothered him while also being strangely irritating.

“Arrogant thing.”

He could see Pirenthia Lombardi in the distance.

Despite hosting an event with so many people gathered, she showed no signs of nervousness whatsoever.

“Annoying.”

He had never understood his mother’s dislike for the Lombardi Family, but at this moment, Astana felt he could understand that sentiment.

“Lombardi….”

Astana’s eyes, reddened from alcohol, took in the confident figure of Pirenthia and the splendid banquet hall.

Just then, a woman looking at the Lombardi Scholarship Foundation’s artworks caught Astana’s eye.

“Larane Lombardi?”

It was definitely Larane, Belesack’s sister.

Thin, weak-spirited, timid, and fearful.

In some ways, another Lombardi bloodline who was the complete opposite of Pirenthia.

Astana wore a bitter smile and was staggering toward Larane when it happened.

A sturdy hand firmly grasped Astana’s forearm.

“You seem quite drunk, please leave.”

It was a security guard hired for the event.

“Let go of this.”

Astana tried to shake off the hand with all his strength, but it wasn’t easy with his thoroughly intoxicated body.

“Do you know where you are to be causing trouble while drunk? I don’t know which family’s young master you are, but you can’t act like this in Lombardy. Don’t regret it when you sober up, just leave.”

“You, do you know who I am….”

Astana stopped speaking.

He had nothing that could prove he was the Crown Prince.

He could immediately call over a nearby Angenas noble to verify his identity, but then he didn’t know what kind of scolding he would receive from the Empress.

“…Tch.”

In the end, Astana shook off the security guard’s hand and walked out of the event venue on his own.

However, Astana’s gaze, which kept looking back, continued to focus on one place.

* * *

I walked back out to the presentation hall with Nosier.

“I’m sorry for taking up your precious time.”

Nosier continued to feel uncomfortable.

I knew that the Monark trading post belonged to Peres, but this was a misunderstanding that occurred because Nosier didn’t know whether I was aware of that fact.

“It’s fine. Don’t mention it.”

I had been curious about who had troubled Violet at the Triba tree auction.

For a merchant with long experience, Nosier was excessively honest.

He seemed to be the type who couldn’t act or hide his true feelings.

From what I learned through Beit, it seemed he had been betrayed by someone he trusted.

Despite having such an experience, Nosier still seemed to have faith in people.

It could be seen as foolish, but he was quick-witted and knew how to value and cherish his credibility as a merchant.

Moreover, with his wealth of experience, if he could learn some business acumen from Cleribane, he would likely get back on his feet quickly.

“It couldn’t have been easy to attempt such an innovative approach. Weren’t you afraid it might fail?”

Nosier asked me with a serious expression.

“I felt more anticipation than fear. It’s the same now. The courier business is a business designed to succeed.”

“Designed to succeed….”

“For example, like this.”

I quietly approached a noble nearby who was receiving an explanation from a Lombardi courier service employee.

Nosier followed behind me as well.

“Are you saying the items in this booklet can only be purchased through courier service?”

“That’s correct, sir. Also, starting today, you can try our courier service for free for exactly one month.”

“Oh, for free?”

“Yes, it’s a great opportunity to experience our Lombardi courier service.”

“What happens when the free trial period ends?”

“There are two options: paying an amount determined by the weight and distance of items each time you use the courier service, or purchasing an annual membership.”

“An annual membership….”

When the man showed signs of hesitation, the employee quickly added.

“If you purchase an annual membership today, you can use it for an additional three months for free.”

“Three months?”

I don’t know who this person is, but they’re really good at explaining and guiding appropriately.

I glanced at the employee’s name tag and looked at Nosier.

“Now I’m starting to understand.”

Nosier nodded his head.

And he said.

“The delivery service was something only possible because it’s the Lombardi Family.”

Sharp as expected.

I could somewhat understand what aspect of Nosier Peres saw when he decided to keep him by his side.

Nosier was right.

The delivery service was possible because it was Lombardi, and it’s a business that won’t fail because it’s Lombardi.

The capital power and infrastructure that other families can’t even imitate, and the support from various subsidiaries established in different fields made it possible.

I simply made good use of what the Lombardi Family had already built.

How could I not love Lombardi with all this.

Just then, I caught sight of someone’s back as they were leaving the banquet hall.

I could recognize them at a glance.

It was Grandfather.

Without informing me, it seemed he was quietly touring the business presentation with other vassal family heads before leaving.

I didn’t need to worry about whether Grandfather would approve of my first business venture.

“Aheheheheh!”

Because Grandfather’s distinctive laughter when he’s in a good mood could be heard even from where I stood far away.

* * *

The next morning.

The delivery service presentation ended successfully.

“Congratulations, Lady Pirenthia!”

Cleribane said with a bright smile.

“Delivery applications are flooding in and Pellet Trading Company’s sales are rising together! The same goes for Lombardi Trading Company and the scholarship foundation!”

The response was explosive enough for Cleribane, who rarely gets excited, to speak so enthusiastically.

“The regional territory presentations starting next week are also very important, so please take good care of them. They could become bigger clients for the delivery business than the central nobles.”

Cleribane nodded as if agreeing with my words.

“The one-month free trial period ahead will be the time that determines the final success. As orders come into the delivery company, please prepare products without delay at Pellet Trading Company. Let’s keep working hard.”

“Yes, Lady Pirenthia. The employees of Lombardi Transportation, who are hosting this, work so well that you can relax a bit.”

“Everyone seems to have accumulated a lot from being ignored all this time, and they seem to want to release that resentment this time.”

It took time for the newly recruited personnel to become familiar with the work.

But the employees of Lombardi Transportation were smoothly handling both their existing work and the delivery work.

“I should raise their salaries.”

Because excellent work performance isn’t maintained by company loyalty alone.

“What’s the reaction within the Lombardi Family?”

Cleribane asked me cautiously.

“There’s no particular reaction yet. Everyone will want to wait and see. How the delivery company establishes itself and how much money it starts earning.”

And when that time comes, they’ll be shocked and amazed.

“Once it’s established, there are few businesses that can generate as much profit with as little investment as the distribution industry.”

You can tell just by looking at how the only new expenses Lombardi incurred while preparing this delivery business were the costs of purchasing additional cargo wagons and recruiting people.

“And when the delivery business is established and my reputation is steadily rising, I’ll announce my next business. Then gradually, but steadily, perhaps my name will start being mentioned once or twice when vassal family heads gather.”

Just imagining it makes me so happy that I keep smiling.

“‘Pirenthia wouldn’t be bad as a successor to the family head.'”

Soon Shannet will announce her intention to withdraw from the succession competition.

It’s already obvious who the desperate Lombardi vassals will look to between me, who is young but has proven my abilities by succeeding in consecutive businesses, and Biejie.

“I hope that day comes soon.”

Cleribane also smiled while facing me.

Rumble.

Then the sound of thunder could be heard.

Whoosh-.

The sound of heavy rain pouring down as if the sky had burst open could also be heard.

“That’s tremendous rain.”

Cleribane said while looking up at the sky filled with dark clouds.

“It is the time for a short rainy season to pass before autumn, but such a downpour.”

People in the Imperial Capital don’t know yet, but such heavy rain has already been continuing for several days in the northern region.

The time for ‘that incident’ to happen has come.

“Did the letter I sent reach Violet safely?”

“Yes, I confirmed it was received the day before yesterday.”

Then that’s fortunate.

“Are you alright?”

Cleribane asked while examining my complexion.

“I’m fine.”

I had done everything I could to prepare for ‘that incident.’

But I couldn’t easily take my eyes off the window where thick raindrops were noisily beating against it.

* * *

“I need to have a drink.”

In front of the door connecting the waiting room to the grand meeting hall, Astana, unable to overcome his nervousness, gestured to his attendant and said.

Only after downing a glass of strong liquor could Astana finally calm down.

As if to prove that today’s agenda was an important matter, three times as many nobles as the last council meeting were in attendance.

“If I had known this would happen…”

I should have studied more instead of going to yesterday’s presentation.

Astana regretted it, but it was already too late.

“Uncle is putting too much pressure on me, that’s why this is happening!”

Astana snapped irritably at Duiji who was beside him.

“…Please calm down.”

Duiji, who was familiar with such situations, spoke in a calm voice.

But Astana, who couldn’t hear such words, was now about to bite his nails.

Then the door on the opposite side of the waiting room opened and Peres entered.

Step, step.

His stride, stretching his long legs, showed no impatience or nervousness.

And like Astana, he stood in front of the door leading to the grand meeting hall.

“Pathetic.”

It was a word Peres casually threw toward Astana.

“What?”

Astana glared at Peres with a burst of anger.

And just then, the door to the meeting room swung open and Peres immediately moved forward.

“Damn it.”

Astana also started moving in a hurry, but it was already too late and being much shorter than Peres, catching up was impossible.

In the end, Astana entered the meeting room packed with nobles, following behind Peres.

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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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