In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 139

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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 139

The office of Lombardi Construction, operated by the Bilkei family.

Rmabaou Bilkei, who at forty years old was among the younger clan heads of the vassal families, was having a conversation with Clang Debon, with whom he was usually close.

“Is it really to that extent?”

“That person is a genius.”

To Rmabaou’s question, Clang answered with a face as serious as stone.

“Do you know how many difficult situations arose throughout this project? But Lady Pirenthia…”

“I’ve heard many times since she was young that she was smart.”

“That person has transcended the mere dimension of being ‘smart,’ you know? Just look at how she came up with the concept of delivery service in this world.”

“That’s true.”

“But her real weapon isn’t her smart mind.”

“Then what?”

“How should I put it. The ability to see a bigger picture that ordinary people cannot see.”

Clang cursed his own poor expressive abilities for not being able to explain it properly.

However, Rmabaou seemed to understand what his words meant.

“Someone who cannot see the forest and only gropes at the trees before their eyes makes even those who follow behind feel lost.”

“Yes! That’s exactly what I mean! Throughout working with Lady Pirenthia, my body was exhausted, but my mind couldn’t have been more at ease!”

Clang said, slapping his knee.

“I had asked why she tried to persuade me instead of simply using her direct lineage authority to give orders. At that time, Lady Pirenthia said something to me.”

Clang had a somewhat dreamy expression on his face.

“I have countless ways to develop Lombardy, so I don’t want to drag in unwilling families just to make them successful.”

Clang, who had been searching his memory, soon burst into loud laughter, “Uhaha!”

“Isn’t Lady Pirenthia truly wonderful!”

Watching Clang laugh heartily like someone without a care in the world, Rmabaou honestly felt his stomach churn.

While someone was suffering through this ordeal entangled with Biejie, someone else was…

Though they were old friends, at this very moment, Clang was so annoying he couldn’t stand the sight of him.

That’s how much he detested Biejie, who had exercised his rights over Lombardi Construction of all things.

Since his family’s original duty was managing real estate, he had expected something like this might happen someday, but…

“Sigh…”

Rmabaou Bilkei eventually let out a heavy sigh.

Just then, someone burst through the office door.

“When there’s a mountain of work piled up, do you have time to sit around chatting like this?”

It was Biejie with a scowling face.

His expression had never been pleasant to begin with, but today it was particularly severe.

The reason was obvious.

His stomach must be churning over Pirenthia Lombardi’s conspicuous success.

“You’ve arrived, Lord Biejie.”

Clang Debon quickly stood up and greeted him, but Biejie ignored him and deliberately bumped his shoulder as he passed, speaking to Rmabaou.

“We’ll be holding a meeting, so gather the executives.”

Bothering people who were working perfectly fine with a meeting would only decrease efficiency.

“…Yes, understood.”

Rmabaou Bilkei swallowed the words that were trying to push up his throat and answered.

* * *

Peres, who was sitting beside the Emperor waiting for the council meeting to begin, suddenly remembered the conversation he had with Nosier today.

It had happened before coming to the council chamber.

“Raise the price of Triba wood further.”

“Once more… Since we just raised the price recently, I’m not sure if Angenas will follow.”

Nosier spoke worriedly, but Peres shook his head.

The money already spent on buying up Triba wood was enormous.

But if they stopped buying Triba wood here, it would be worse than doing nothing at all.

Without the timber that serves as the most important foundation, construction would halt, and Angenas would just end up wasting astronomical amounts of money.

Empress Lavinia, who had even hired Lombardi Construction recently, wouldn’t stop here.

He was confident they would follow this price level.

Then Peres suddenly became curious about something.

“What about Pellet Trading Company? How much Triba wood have they sold?”

Currently, there were three major Triba wood suppliers in the Empire.

First, the Aivan family, who had been steadily exporting Triba wood.

Second, Peres’s Monark trading post.

And lastly, Pellet Trading Company.

In terms of Triba wood storage capacity alone, Pellet Trading Company held the most timber among them.

The Aivan family cut down Triba trees that grew naturally in their territory for delivery, so it took time to properly cut and dry the wood.

But Pellet Trading Company was different.

Having bought Triba wood from long ago, they already possessed a considerable amount of perfectly processed timber.

Pellet Trading Company, which had been buying up large quantities of Triba wood as if they knew this situation would arise, at what price were they now selling it to Angenas?

“Pellet Trading Company… hasn’t started selling yet.”

“…What?”

Peres’s eyes narrowed.

It was strange and didn’t make sense.

Angenas had appeared, wanting to buy the timber stacked layer upon layer in warehouses, consuming only storage fees, all at once and at a very high price.

So they too should be selling to Angenas, even if in very small quantities like the Monark trading post.

That would be the rational decision by any measure.

“Not at all?”

Peres asked for confirmation.

“Yes, not at all. The warehouse doors haven’t even opened.”

Peres recalled Cleribane, whom he had met at Tia’s birthday banquet.

The sharp-featured man who was the representative and owner of Pellet Trading Company.

According to what he had Lignite investigate, Cleribane was the type of merchant who made cool-headed yet quick decisions.

Whether he was born with good merchant instincts, every business he touched became successful.

And the common thread in those businesses was bold investment and pulling out at the right time.

“That’s strange. Why would such a person…”

Still be foolishly clinging to Triba wood?

Did he have some other purpose he wanted to achieve with Triba wood?

Perhaps Cleribane Pellet wasn’t the final decision-maker?

When his thoughts reached that point, Peres shook his head.

Pellet Trading Company had been purely Cleribane Pellet’s company from when it was first established until now.

There were no traces of receiving large-scale investment from anyone.

“For now, proceed with raising the price, and keep a close watch on Pellet Trading Company’s movements. Report immediately when they start selling.”

“Yes, I’ll arrange it accordingly.”

That had been the conversation they had this morning.

“Let us begin the meeting now.”

At Emperor Yobanes’s voice, Peres set aside his curiosity about Pellet Trading Company.

And then the closed doors of the grand meeting hall opened, and two people walked in.

Their swarthy skin, bright platinum blonde hair, and colorful clothing caught everyone’s attention.

“The Ruman family…?”

“It seems to be the clan head Indit Ruman and his son.”

“Eastern country bumpkins attending the grand council meeting. How unusual.”

The nobles stirred quietly at the appearance of Lord Ruman, the ruler of the East, and his eldest son Abinox Ruman.

While Abinox Ruman had been staying in the Imperial Capital, it had been almost six years since his father, Lord Indit Ruman, had last set foot in the capital, so their reaction was understandable.

Of course, among them were those who viewed them unfavorably.

“I apologize for being late, Your Majesty. I’m not familiar with the palace layout and was delayed.”

“…Well, fortunately you’re not late. Find your seats and sit down.”

At the Emperor’s words, the Ruman father and son took seats in the front of the left faction that had been empty.

Coincidentally, it was directly facing the seats of the right faction where the Northern Aivan representative was sitting.

The meeting began immediately.

“The first agenda item is the Eastern trade subsidies.”

As soon as the noble in charge of proceedings spoke, people began watching the Ruman and Aivan families closely.

“Since you’re here, let’s hear directly from you. What exactly is the Ruman family’s request?”

At Yobanes’ words, Indit Ruman stood up and spoke.

“Our Ruman family has increased trade with the outside following His Majesty the Emperor’s command to more actively embrace the Empire’s culture. However, since the roads to the East are treacherous, there are few merchant guilds conducting trade, and the prices of trade goods are twice as expensive as in other regions.”

Indit Ruman’s voice was confident and calm.

“While we wish to follow His Majesty’s command, the burden on us in Ruman and the East continues to grow, so we request that the Imperial Palace help us in the form of subsidies.”

Even while explaining his disadvantages, his attitude was not overly emotional.

“Are there any objections to this?”

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, Duiji Angenas stood up sharply from the right side and spoke.

“I oppose this, Your Majesty. Trade subsidies are unprecedented, and it’s time to put an end to the countless benefits the East has received.”

Before Duiji Angenas could even sit back down, a rebuttal immediately erupted from the opposing faction.

“Speaking of received benefits, is there anywhere that compares to the West? Isn’t that right?”

“What did you just say!”

Duiji Angenas glared with bulging eyes and veins popping in his neck.

However, the nobles of the left faction snorted and mocked Duiji.

In the suddenly heated atmosphere, the Emperor asked Astana.

“What does the Crown Prince think?”

Astana thought ‘here it comes’ and gave the answer he had prepared.

“I agree with Angenas’ opinion. The Empire has many regions that need Imperial assistance more than the East, which has received various benefits. I think the same applies to trade subsidies.”

“There are places that need it more than the East?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Where is that?”

“The North.”

At Astana’s words, the right faction including Angenas nodded as if they had made a promise, while the left faction sneered with expressions saying ‘of course.’

“Why do you think so?”

“Lord Ruman’s logic is that goods are expensive because the roads to the East are treacherous, so subsidies are needed, but aren’t the trade routes to the North equally treacherous?”

Having answered up to that point, Astana secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

I answered as planned, so my job is done now.

As the tension eased, he felt like he could breathe a little.

When Astana gave a decent answer, the nobles were looking at him with renewed eyes.

“What does the Second Prince think?”

Yobanes asked Peres.

The meeting room instantly became quiet.

Everyone perked up their ears to hear what Peres would say.

What opinion would the Second Prince, who graduated from the Academy as valedictorian and early, present?

“Before expressing my opinion, I would like to ask His Highness the Crown Prince first. I understand that the roads to the North were extensively renovated two years ago, with roads maintained and trade routes created around the mountainous areas. Do you think such a North needs subsidies?”

“Uh, that’s… I mean…”

Astana fumbled without being able to answer.

Since he knew nothing, he had nothing to say.

Then Duiji Angenas intervened and answered instead.

“The construction two years ago was merely road maintenance; the trade routes are still treacherous. Does Your Highness the Second Prince think the East should continue to enjoy benefits like subsidies?”

“I think so.”

Peres answered calmly while looking at the Ruman father and son.

At that moment, all the nobles in the Grand Meeting Hall could tell.

Eastern Ruman has sided with the Second Prince.

Peres asked the assembly.

“Is there anyone here who has recently visited the East?”

No one raised their hand.

That’s how far and treacherous the journey from the center to the East was.

“While attending the Academy, I explored and traveled throughout the Empire during vacations. And I was able to directly experience and feel many things firsthand. The high prices of trade goods in the East was one of them.”

“Ooh…”

At Peres’ words that he had actually been to the East, several nobles looked at Peres as if impressed.

“Currently, only two places conduct regular trade to Rulak Estate, the central region of the East: Lombardi Guild and Pellet Trading House.”

“Only two places?”

“It’s more serious than I thought.”

“No wonder trade goods are expensive.”

Peres gave the nobles enough time to murmur before speaking.

“Other merchant guilds only conduct irregular trade by entrusting their goods to those two guilds. So depending on the time and season, trade good prices skyrocket, and to compensate for the merchant guilds’ losses, Eastern lords sometimes directly purchased those goods themselves.”

People looked at the Ruman father and son sitting with calm faces.

To them, who hated opening their own purses more than death, this was an enormous sacrifice.

“The Eastern lords including Ruman have endured many losses to follow His Majesty’s commands. But if we ignore them and continue to force them to only accept the Empire’s culture, wouldn’t this be the complete opposite of His Majesty the Emperor’s will for harmony between the East and the center?”

After Peres finished speaking, nobles from both factions murmured and conversed with each other.

It was a scene of proper discussion, not the meaningless verbal sparring commonly seen in grand council meetings.

Emperor Yobanes, who had been quietly watching this, raised one hand.

The assembly immediately became as quiet as a mouse.

“The Eastern trade subsidies will be for 10 years, and the specific amount will be decided after reviewing the bureaucrats’ reports. Now let’s move on to the next agenda item.”

Who would have thought the most important agenda item, which was expected to involve fierce competition, would be concluded so quickly.

The confused nobles murmured, but no subject could stop the Emperor from giving subsidies with Imperial funds.

“Ahem…”

The Aivan representative, who had lost the subsidies to the East without even having a proper debate, couldn’t hide his discomfort.

The grand council meeting that followed was nothing special.

Only Peres stood out by presenting accurate analysis and new perspectives on each agenda item, showing his political abilities.

After the grand council meeting ended.

The attending nobles had not yet left the council chamber and were gathered here and there having conversations.

The same was true for the Emperor and the two princes.

“Excellent, Second Prince. It’s been a long time since we had a proper grand council meeting.”

“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

Remembering how the nobles nodded involuntarily at everything Peres said, Emperor Yobanes chuckled.

In a good mood, he drank a cup of wine and said to Peres.

“Thanks to the Second Prince, the grand council meetings will become very interesting from now on…”

Crash.

The door to the Grand Meeting Hall opened, and one of the Emperor’s aides half-ran into the council chamber.

In his hand was red paper that appeared to have been untied from a messenger bird’s leg.

The nobles who had been conversing all looked in that direction.

“What is it?”

Sensing something ominous, Yobanes asked urgently.

“Just now from the North… An urgent message came from the North.”

The aide spoke with a trembling voice.

“News that an unprecedentedly large-scale landslide has occurred in the North, Your Majesty.”

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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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