In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 79

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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 79

“A mine… you say?”

Violet asked back in a daze.

“Yes, a mine. We’re going to buy a mine under the name of Pellet Trading Company, Violet.”

“Ah, yes…”

She answered but didn’t look like she understood.

Well, that was understandable.

“I know, mines are expensive.”

Very much so.

A mine is worth about the same as a decent territory.

Depending on what’s buried there, the difference can be several times over.

“I’m sorry, but Lady Pirenthia.”

Violet carefully raised one hand.

“What kind of mine are you thinking of…”

“A coal mine.”

“Ah. That might be possible then.”

Violet seemed to be calculating while thinking about the one year’s operating funds I had given when opening Pellet Trading Company.

“We won’t use Pellet Trading Company’s operating funds, Violet.”

“But even a coal mine, which is relatively cheap, would cost at least a thousand gold.”

An ordinary worker without special expertise receives about 3 silver per month in wages.

And 40 silver pieces equal the value of 1 gold.

In this situation, the money I receive monthly just for breathing as a Lombardi is 8 gold.

After coming of age, this money increases to 20 gold.

Of course, the money I need for basic living is separate.

Since I was born, this money has been steadily accumulating in my vault at Lombardi Bank.

After Father’s ready-made clothing business started and I made Cleribane my person.

I entrusted all the money I had saved to Cleribane and invested it in Gallahan Clothing Store.

And the result was naturally very successful.

“Cleribane, are the funds sufficient?”

I asked while looking back at Cleribane, who was enjoying the tea’s aroma.

“Hmm. If the mine’s price doesn’t exceed 3000 gold, there’s no problem. If it’s more than that, it would take about a month to raise the funds. Since we need to make it into cash.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Violet looked dumbfounded hearing the conversation between me and Cleribane as if it were nothing.

“3000 gold…”

She muttered quietly as if she couldn’t quite grasp that amount of money.

She probably still needs a little adjustment period.

“Anyway, to execute the businesses I’m planning without difficulty, we need to greatly increase our funds with this opportunity.”

With this single investment, Pellet Trading Company will become one of the leading trading companies in the Empire.

I guarantee it.

Cleribane asked me as I smiled meaningfully.

“You have a mine in mind, don’t you.”

As expected of Cleribane.

He reads my mind well.

“An old coal mine in the ‘Lira’ region in the northwest should have come up for auction. It’s owned by the Rengkanta Family. The mine itself is quite large, but expectations for remaining coal amounts are very low.”

In my previous life, the story of Lira Mine was talked about enough to stir up the entire Empire for a while.

The Rengkanta Family, who owned the Lira region, couldn’t harvest properly due to continuous drought.

But since they had to pay fixed taxes to the Imperial Court every year, they borrowed large sums from other nearby families.

Then, to pay back the gradually increasing debt, they put up one of their old assets, the coal mine, for auction.

It’s really an unremarkable coal mine.

The last mining operation was done decades ago.

But right beneath this old coal mine, gemstone ore that had never been discovered before is buried.

The kind of gems that, when polished by first-class craftsmen, both the Imperial Court and nobles would desperately want to get their hands on.

“At that level, it would be won at auction for under 1000 gold.”

Violet, who seemed to have regained her composure somewhat, said in a cautious voice.

“If there are no competitors, we might even be able to lower it to 600 gold.”

Cleribane was also optimistic.

But I shook my head.

“2000 gold.”

The original winning bid was 1800 gold.

I was planning to bid exactly 200 gold higher.

Since it was a simple auction where each party only gets one bidding opportunity, winning the auction would be easy if I just knew how much the opponent would bid.

“To win the auction, we’ll need to spend about 2000 gold.”

“What?”

Both of them were surprised.

“An old coal mine isn’t worth 2000 gold, Lady Pirenthia.”

Cleribane tried to dissuade me.

Naturally.

Unless it’s a newly discovered coal mine with plenty left to extract.

2000 gold would be an excessive amount.

“You said earlier, didn’t you. That we could lower the price if there were no competitors.”

That was what Cleribane had said earlier.

“Conversely, since there will be competitors, the price increase is unavoidable.”

“Even if there are competitors…”

“Angenas will bid.”

In my previous life, it was Angenas who won this Lira Mine auction and hit an enormous jackpot.

Even as the relationship with the Emperor gradually deteriorated, Empress Lavinia was able to maintain power and buy nobles to support Astana, all thanks to the gems discovered in Lira.

The office became quiet.

Then Cleribane let out a thoughtful sound.

“Certainly, to compete with Angenas, we might have to accept that level of loss…”

Angenas had been rapidly expanding by making aggressive investments in mining recently.

“Could it be that it’s not just a simple coal mine?”

“Why do you think so, Violet?”

“Because Angenas already owns enough coal mines. Even if there were undiscovered coal veins, considering development costs, there’s no reason for Angenas to push themselves.”

Violet, pointing her finger to her chin, began thinking out loud.

“But it’s common to secretly send experts to re-evaluate mines before participating in auctions. They might have other information that the Rengkanta Family doesn’t know.”

I watched Violet’s reasoning process with enjoyment.

“A gold mine? But if it were a gold mine, they’d be more aggressive. They’d have to get it by any means necessary. But seeing the ambiguous winning bid, it seems like they don’t want to make it too obvious…”

And I could see a realization cross Violet’s face.

“Hmm…”

But Violet actually kept her mouth shut.

So I said it for her.

“Iron ore.”

“But iron ore is…”

“Property that Angenas isn’t allowed to own.”

Iron ore, being a military resource, was mostly monopolized by the Imperial Court.

When iron ore was discovered in one’s territory, it was common to present it to the Imperial Court and receive a higher title or be granted another territory.

Of course, Angenas didn’t do that.

They held out claiming the iron deposits were small and didn’t hand over the mine, officially becoming a family that owned iron.

“But what I want isn’t iron ore.”

The iron deposits weren’t that substantial to begin with anyway.

Of course, I have a separate use in mind for that.

“Let’s discuss the rest after we win the bid for the mine.”

If I spill out all my plans right now, it would only add to Cleribane and Violet’s confusion.

I stood up from my seat and gave instructions to Violet.

“Look into the Lira Mine, Violet.”

“Yes, Lady Pirenthia.”

Since this was the first task she received from me, a firm determination burned in Violet’s eyes.

“And Cleribane, you’ll come with me to the Imperial Capital in a few days.”

The gems that will be discovered this time cannot be handled by ordinary jewelers.

We need a craftsman with extensive experience and skills that are among the best in the Empire.

Only in that person’s hands will the raw stones truly shine.

Since we’re going to steal what belongs to Angenas, I intend to do it properly.

Enough to make Angenas roll around in agony from losing the mine right under their noses.

After all, Lombardy repays kindness tenfold, and grudges tenfold as well.

They should have kept their intentions pure.

Who told them to covet our Father’s business?

* * *

Early in the morning, I departed for the Imperial Capital with Cleribane.

The official reason was naturally a field trip to the Imperial Capital with my teacher.

I dressed with a bit more care than usual.

Around my neck, I wore the flower-shaped necklace that Peres had carved from a whole ruby for me.

The main road between the adjacent Imperial Capital and Lombardy Territory is well-maintained with countless people using it daily, making travel convenient.

Before long, we were able to arrive at Sedacunaga, the commercial district mainly used by nobles in the Imperial Capital.

Our first destination was a confectionery called ‘Caramel Avenue’ that had recently opened in Sedacuna.

It was a popular place thanks to its elegant atmosphere created by the good use of marble and charred wood decorative materials.

I deliberately left her behind today, but Loril was also a huge fan of this place.

“Welcome.”

A neat-looking employee greeted us with a smile.

He was an impressive employee with curly brown hair stylishly combed back and deep amber eyes.

“I’m Beit, an employee of Caramel Avenue. Shall I guide you upstairs?”

The first floor was for display and sales, while the second and third floors were spaces where you could enjoy desserts and tea.

“No, I’m here to buy cake to take home.”

“Yes, then I’ll escort you over there.”

The more I looked at him, the more his delicate appearance suited a dessert shop.

I followed Beit and stood in front of the display case with over thirty different desserts.

“Hmm…”

They all look delicious.

It’s hard to choose.

Indeed, at times like this, I shouldn’t hesitate.

“I’ll take everything.”

“…Pardon?”

Beit asked back with the same smiling face.

“I can’t choose. Please give me two of each dessert displayed here.”

The famous ‘from here to there’ shopping method.

“Ah! Please divide the packaging into two.”

Having lots of money really is the best.

I leisurely waited for the packaging to be done while looking around the interior of Caramel Avenue.

“I’ll handle the payment.”

Cleribane stepped forward and said.

“Yes, please do.”

It’ll be processed as an expense from Pellet Trading Company anyway.

But Beit, who was about to handle the payment, stared intently at Cleribane’s face.

“What is it?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I apologize. I’ll help you with the payment.”

When the offended Cleribane asked, Beit quickly apologized with a smile.

“One of the packaged ones I’ll take home to eat with Loril, and please send the other one to Peres through the Lombardi Guild. That’s possible, right?”

“Yes, Lady Pirenthia.”

Then when I turned my gaze, Beit’s amber eyes were looking at me the same way he had looked at Cleribane earlier.

I gave him a bright smile.

“Let’s go, Teacher Cleribane.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Cleribane followed behind me, carrying two large boxes of cake in both hands.

And the gaze of Caramel Avenue’s employee, Beit, persistently followed us until we boarded our carriage.

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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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