In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 161

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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 161

“It seems I have been rude.”

Chanton Seosseou spoke in a somewhat slow manner.

However, there was no word of apology.

He knew it was rude, but he wasn’t sorry about it.

“…Please come in.”

Gallahan pointed to the sofa in his study as he spoke.

“Thank you.”

Sitting face to face with Chanton Seosseou like this, Gallahan suddenly realized that his study felt cramped.

It wasn’t actually the case.

It was just that the ordinary study was struggling to contain Chanton Seosseou’s large frame and presence.

Looking around Gallahan’s study with curious eyes, Chanton Seosseou said to Gallahan.

“I thought you would come to see me at least once after I became the head of Sersheu. You’re quite a difficult person to see, aren’t you, Lord Gallahan Lombardi.”

Chanton Seosseou was now reproaching Gallahan for not coming to greet him first.

Although Chesayu had become independent after being granted to Gallahan and was no longer a fief of the Sersheu family, it was still a territory surrounded by Sersheu lands.

“Of course, I understand that you must be very busy running both the Gallahan Clothing Stores spread across the entire continent and the Chesayu estate.”

“…Thank you.”

“It makes sense for me, who is less busy, to come visit, doesn’t it?”

Chanton Seosseou’s lips formed something resembling a smile, but Gallahan only felt more uncomfortable.

Not only was there the atmosphere that the Sersheu family head personally possessed, but above all, the fact that he was the Empress’s person was making Gallahan tense.

These days, the Empress took Chanton Seosseou with her wherever she went and introduced him.

As if she wanted to make sure that no noble in the Empire was unaware that the Sersheu family head was the Empress’s closest confidant.

To be honest, Chanton Seosseou was a very distasteful person to Gallahan.

Sure enough.

The Sersheu family head asked.

“I heard that a port is opening in Chesayu. Is that true?”

For a moment, Gallahan suppressed the urge to answer ‘no’.

The Chesayu port was that precious to him.

And Gallahan’s instincts told him that Chanton Seosseou was someone who would threaten it.

“That’s correct.”

Inevitably, Gallahan’s words trailed off.

“Then the Chesayu port will become the starting point where inland goods move along the river.”

The Sersheu family head already understood everything.

“…That’s right.”

Gallahan answered a beat slower.

Then Chanton Seosseou raised one eyebrow and said.

“But why am I only learning about this fact now?”

“I don’t understand what you mean…”

“For inland goods to reach the Chesayu port, they would all have to pass through Sersheu lands, wouldn’t they?”

Thud.

Along with the sound of his heart sinking, Gallahan froze.

The Chesayu port was surrounded by Sersheu lands.

In other words, whether goods could enter Chesayu or not depended on him, the head of Sersheu.

It was quite a fine threat.

Green eyes gradually filled with hostility stared directly at Chanton Seosseou as he asked.

“In what sense should I take those words?”

“What sense do you think?”

After watching Gallahan, who remained silent with a hardened face, for a moment, Chanton Seosseou spoke.

“It seems you put quite a bit of effort into it with investment from Pellet Trading Company.”

His tone was terribly dry yet slow.

Chanton Seosseou leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

A large shadow moved along with him.

“With one word from me, all of that could turn to nothing.”

Silence flowed through Gallahan’s study.

Over the tightly drawn tension, Chanton Seosseou subtly let his aura flow.

So that the intimidating presence that had commanded hundreds of Imperial Knights would overwhelm Gallahan.

In the same situation, Gallahan’s brother Biejie Lombardi couldn’t even breathe properly.

Later, he even hiccupped in surprise.

Amusement flickered in Chanton Seosseou’s eyes as he recalled that moment.

However.

“What do you want?”

Gallahan Lombardi asked without withdrawing his hostility.

“…Ha.”

It was Chanton Seosseou who was surprised.

He withdrew his aura and stared intently at Gallahan.

Judging by his complexion, it wasn’t that he hadn’t been affected.

But the hostility in those bright green eyes hadn’t diminished at all.

“How are you so certain that I want something?”

“If that weren’t the case, there would have been no need to go through the trouble of coming here personally to break my spirit. You could have simply locked the gates of Sersheu after the port opened to prevent goods from entering. That would have dealt a greater blow to Chesayu.”

Gallahan spoke calmly.

“So stop with the childish acts and tell me. What do you want?”

“…Sometimes rumors turn out to be true, I suppose.”

At the mention of ‘rumors’, Gallahan slightly furrowed his brow.

“I don’t know what those ‘rumors’ are, but please state your business quickly. I have somewhere I need to go.”

“Ah, today is the birthday of the Lombardi family head, wasn’t it? Every year, without any banquet or gifts, you spend it simply with just family and retainers gathered. Then you should hurry.”

Chanton Seosseou nodded.

And looking straight at Gallahan, he said.

“Priority rights for Sersheu ships to enter the Chesayu port at any time. How about it?”

Gallahan was a little surprised.

He had naturally expected him to demand tolls for passing through Sersheu lands.

There was only one reason to demand priority rights.

“Are you thinking of building ships directly in Sersheu?”

“If the use is frequent, there’s nothing stopping us Sersheu from building them.”

What could be the goods that Sersheu wanted to take to the eastern region so badly?

After thinking for a moment, Gallahan said.

“…You’re planning to take Sersheu’s grain to sell in the eastern region. And directly at that.”

At Gallahan’s words, Chanton Seosseou shrugged and answered.

“Do you know, Lord Lombardi, that Sersheu’s grain is sold at the cheapest price in the Empire?”

“I understand that because production is high, the price is also set low.”

“That’s right. And I can no longer just stand by and watch what the farmers of Sersheu produce with their blood and sweat being sold for dirt cheap.”

Chanton Seosseou’s voice was cold.

Then Gallahan asked.

“So that’s why you joined hands with Angenas in the west? To easily target the western region that’s always short on food?”

The Sersheu family head chuckled and replied.

“I won’t deny it. For the past few months, the people of the western territories have already become accustomed to the food that we Sersheu supply at relatively low prices.”

“And you’re thinking of expanding eastward through the maritime trade starting from Chesayu.”

“It’s because of you opening up the new market of the eastern region, Lord Gallahan Lombardi.”

Chanton Seosseou was no ordinary person.

Gallahan inwardly swallowed dry saliva from tension.

I had inwardly looked down on him for being a former knight commander.

Just someone who used to wield a sword.

But meeting him in person, he was like a bear.

Large in build and slow in movement, appearing dull at first glance, but actually extremely sharp with the instincts of a strong man still alive.

“So accept my proposal, Lord Lombardi. Don’t make me block your path.”

If you just give me what I want, I won’t interfere.

It was a sweet temptation telling me not to make him an enemy.

Gallahan, who had been staring at Chanton Seosseou for a moment, nodded and stood up from his seat.

Then he extended his hand for a handshake and said.

“Let’s do that. I’ll send detailed information about the docking fees to your manor as soon as possible.”

Chanton Seosseou, who had been satisfactorily grasping Gallahan’s hand, hesitated.

“…Docking fees?”

“Did you think you could dock ships for free? Don’t worry. Since Sersheu is our neighbor, I’ll apply a much cheaper rate for you.”

Chanton Seosseou’s sharp eyes glared at Gallahan piercingly.

However, Gallahan did not back down.

Chanton Seosseou and his father Rulak Lombardi were similar types.

You must not become weak before these kinds of strong men.

You must hold your head high and face them, even just a little.

That’s the way to survive.

Fortunately, laughter spread around Chanton Seosseou’s eyes as he looked at Gallahan.

And he said.

“If the Lord of Chesayu says so, I should believe it. Understood, I’ll wait for your contact.”

Chanton Seosseou left the study.

Left alone, Gallahan collapsed onto the sofa as if falling.

“Phew…”

His heart was pounding and a tired sigh came out naturally.

He felt as if he had barely managed to protect Chesayu Port from a beast.

Then he remembered words that had been exchanged during their conversation.

“And I can no longer just stand by and watch what the farmers of Sersheu produce with their blood and sweat being sold at dirt cheap prices.”

His mind was complicated.

“…Is he not such a bad person after all?”

Gallahan, who had been dry-washing his face, muttered as if in pain.

* * *

Though it was called a modest dinner, the Lombardi family head’s birthday couldn’t really pass by quietly.

Just gathering the direct descendants of the family head and the direct descendants of the vassal families filled Eleanor Hall, the massive banquet hall of the Lombardi estate.

Currently, the formal dinner had ended and it was time for people to move around freely and converse.

Around Rulak too, the heads of vassal families, along with Shannet and Biejie, were sitting together having various conversations.

“As the northern region stabilizes, the price of minerals…”

“Taking this opportunity, Lombardi should invest a bit more in western real estate…”

Listening to the ongoing conversations with one ear and letting them flow out the other, Rulak swirled his wine glass.

There was a limit to postponing things.

The time to designate a successor was approaching.

Rulak carefully looked at Shannet and Biejie, and then at Gallahan’s empty seat.

Shannet would undoubtedly become an excellent family head.

There would be talk behind her back for being a woman, but she had kept the Lombardi name and the twins also received the Lombardi name, so there would be no problem under imperial law.

If she hadn’t declared several times that she had ‘no intention of becoming the next Lombardi family head,’ Shannet would have been the perfect successor.

And Biejie was.

‘We’ll see in time.’

Angenas’s western tourism business was just about to take off.

Whether that business would succeed as Biejie said all depended on the future.

Rulak’s gaze finally reached Gallahan’s empty seat.

Though he never thought such a day would come, recently the person Rulak’s heart leaned toward most was his youngest son, Gallahan.

He had known of his intelligence since childhood, but through running Gallahan Clothing Store, he had proven that his mind wasn’t just that of a bookworm.

Also, he had recently shown boldness as a lord by constructing a port in Chesayu territory.

However, the biggest reason wasn’t Gallahan’s intelligence or his experience as a lord.

It was precisely.

“Grandfather.”

A bright and cheerful voice broke Rulak’s reverie.

“Grandfather, happy birthday!”

It was his granddaughter Pirenthia.

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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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