In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 80

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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 80

“There’s an Aivan Estate direct store in Sedacuna, right?”

“Yes, it’s right in the next alley.”

“Let’s go there.”

The northern Aivan family, whom I had encountered when Father received his founding medal last time, is famous for minerals.

Perhaps because it’s a mountainous region, there wasn’t a single mineral that didn’t come from there, from gold to graphite and coal commonly used in daily life.

Especially the gems from the Aivan region were famous for their high brilliance and large size, so they operated a direct store in Sedacuna.

It was a place that only sold items made by skilled jewelers there using gems from the Aivan region.

So the store was always bustling with nobles, and today was no different.

People busily came and went through the door under the bright sign that read 【Aivan】.

And here was the craftsman who had successfully turned that raw stone, which no one had been able to polish successfully, into the most beautiful gem in the world.

“Let’s go in, Lady Pirenthia.”

Cleribane said while holding the door open.

As we entered, I could see people sitting here and there in the spacious store, receiving consultations and buying jewelry.

A few of them happened to look in my direction and whispered among themselves.

“That child who just came in…”

“From the Lombardi family, right?”

“I think so…”

Thanks to the Founding Day banquet and my birthday banquet, there were now some people who recognized me.

Anyway, since I was born a Lombardi, it’s an unavoidable fate.

I walked toward the display case at the very back while receiving people’s gazes.

A man in uniform standing under bright and colorful lighting appeared to be the manager of this place.

“Welcome, Lady Pirenthia Lombardi.”

As expected, he knows who I am.

In places that deal with nobles like this, knowing the personal information of important people in advance is indeed competitive advantage.

When I assisted Grandfather, the first thing I studied was also such things.

Information like family trees of high noble families from the east, west, south, north, and center of the Empire, and relationships between important figures.

“This is your first visit to our ‘Aivan.'”

Does this mean he’s already finished assessing me?

I slowly nodded and said to the man.

“I’d like to see the ‘special items,’ not the things here.”

The ‘special items’ I requested referred to special gems created as works of art by Aivan’s craftsmen, not mass-produced by ordinary jewelers.

The man paused slightly with his smiling face and looked at Cleribane standing behind me.

“Is he your companion?”

It meant he knew me but not Cleribane.

Cleribane seemed to sense this too, as he frowned slightly and answered.

“I’m Cleribane Pellet.”

“Hmm. Since Lady Lombardi vouches for your identity, you may enter together.”

The man said smugly and opened the door leading inside.

Cleribane, who was suddenly treated as someone with unclear identity, seemed upset.

Cleribane, who had become the head of Lombardi Guild following his father Romasie Dillard in my previous life, was a very famous person, but not yet now.

Even at the clothing store, Cleribane tends to be overshadowed because Father serves as a kind of figurehead.

I gently patted Cleribane’s back.

Just bear with it a little.

Once this matter is over, there won’t be anyone who doesn’t know the name Cleribane Pellet.

Because Pellet Trading Company, named after him, will become famous throughout the Empire.

Following the manager, we passed through a corridor with soft carpet and entered an inner room.

Security was so tight that several locks had to be opened.

When the door opened, I could see bright light sparkling finely from where the gems were displayed.

I tried to suppress my pounding heart and casually looked around at the items in the glass display cases.

I had only heard about the special items inside Aivan, but this was my first time actually seeing them.

“Is there a particular gem you’re looking for?”

“Hmm.”

I looked around the display cases trying to find that item which was the purpose of coming here.

Then the man held out a cushion with several gems placed on it in front of me.

“How about these?”

I looked at those items and looked at the man again.

I almost wanted to laugh.

This person is looking down on me.

I had let my guard down for a moment just because he brought me to the inner room.

What the white-gloved manager showed me were only items that were large in size but had terrible cutting or terrible gem purity.

The man was now testing my eye for quality.

Since they were large and looked flashy at first glance, someone without a good eye wouldn’t know they were inferior and would purchase them.

He probably looked down on me because of my young age.

I spoke to the man standing there with a shameless face.

But I didn’t express anger or displeasure.

I just spoke in a tone that said I would be generous and overlook his mistake.

“I’ll give you another chance. Bring proper items.”

“…I understand.”

The man lowered his gaze and bowed politely.

“No. I’ll look and choose myself.”

I said that and walked slowly in front of the display cases.

And it wasn’t long before I could find it.

“That one.”

A gem placed in the very center among the special items, in the place where light hit best.

Unlike the other somewhat plain and monotonous items, it was a light green peridot that maximized the beauty of the raw stone with detailed and intricate cutting.

“The person who made that piece is here now, right? I’d like to meet that person.”

“How did you… No, that’s a bit difficult.”

I knew he would say that.

There’s no way he’d easily let me meet the craftsman that the Aivan family head treasures so much.

That’s why I prepared something.

I stepped half a step to the side and looked at Cleribane.

As I had hinted beforehand, Cleribane stepped forward.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Cleribane Pellet, manager of Gallahan Clothing Store and Pellet Trading Company.”

“Ah…”

The manager blinked in surprise.

The person he had openly looked down on was the manager of Gallahan Clothing Store.

His heart must be sinking from shock.

Cleribane, as if getting revenge for earlier, demanded confidently in a low, cold voice.

“Could you tell the craftsman who polished this gem that I would like to meet them?”

* * *

“Who wants to meet me?”

Croily, who had been working intently in the workshop on the upper floor of the ‘Aivan’ direct store, frowned his wrinkled eyes in annoyance.

“They say they’re the manager of Gallahan Clothing Store.”

“Why would such a person want to see me?”

“Well…”

“Tch.”

Croily, who hated being interrupted while working more than anything, cursed under his breath but took off his apron.

After all, the manager of Gallahan Clothing Store was someone in a position he couldn’t ignore.

What greeted Croily when he came down to the Special Goods Display Room was a young girl and a tall man with fierce-looking eyes.

Croily ignored the child and approached the man to greet him.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

Though Croily received treatment befitting a noble as a craftsman at Aivan, he was still a commoner by status.

Moreover, wasn’t this the manager of Gallahan Clothing Store, which was said to be making all the money in the Empire these days?

Even Croily, famous for his stubborn personality, removed his hat and bowed.

“Nice to meet you, Master Croily. I’m Cleribane Pellet.”

But the man who seemed like he’d have quite a temper smiled warmly and extended his hand for a handshake.

“Ah, yes…”

Croily reflexively took that hand.

“I’m sorry for disturbing you when you must be busy. There’s something I really wanted to say face to face.”

Since moving to the Imperial Capital where there were good doctors to treat his granddaughter’s illness, this was the first time he’d received respectful treatment from a noble.

Though it was a bit awkward since it had been so long, the irritation at being interrupted in his work melted away like snow, as he felt recognized as a craftsman.

“I’ve heard much about Master Croily’s reputation as Aivan’s finest craftsman. So I’d like to commission you for some work.”

“That would be rather difficult.”

Croily waved his hands dismissively as he spoke.

Though his schedule was actually quite flexible, Croily found it bothersome.

And if he granted one noble’s request, there would surely be an endless line of other requests following.

“My schedule is completely packed with jewelry work for Aivan.”

Croily knew well how to turn away nobles who came seeking crafting commissions.

“But this could be a good opportunity for you too, Master Croily…”

“If only this old man were a bit younger, I’d have the strength. I’m sorry.”

“But…”

When Croily coughed theatrically while speaking, Cleribane couldn’t press further and was at a loss for words.

“Ahem!”

Just then, the girl who had been looking at gems by herself in the corner cleared her throat loudly.

And as if that was some kind of signal, Cleribane’s momentum, which had softened, rose again.

“I understand you’re busy, but I hope you’ll consider it once, Master Croily.”

“So as I said, my schedule is already…”

Croily was getting slightly annoyed.

It didn’t seem like he would give up easily.

So he pulled out his secret weapon that he’d been saving.

“Actually, my granddaughter has an illness…”

“Ah…”

“I need to take care of that child, Lord Pellet. Please understand.”

His granddaughter was growing well under the care of a skilled doctor, but this excuse was perfect for making up stories.

As expected, Cleribane was also left speechless.

“Then I’ll return to my workshop now. Please take care…”

“How about a gemstone you’ve never worked with before?”

It was the girl who had cleared her throat earlier.

“Little noble Young Lady.”

Croily ended up revealing his true nature.

The words from this noble child, similar in age to his granddaughter, had touched his pride as a craftsman.

“There’s no gem this old man hasn’t polished yet.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh come on, I said there isn’t!”

“Can you take responsibility for those words?”

That smirking face was insufferably annoying.

“What if I—that is, if Master Cleribane here brings you a gemstone you’ve never seen before, what would you do?”

“I’m telling you such a thing doesn’t exist in the first place!”

“If such a thing exists, would you be willing to take on the challenge?”

“Ch-challenge…! Ha!”

A challenge to Croily, who had no equal in gem polishing!

He didn’t know who this impudent little brat was, but she had thoroughly scratched Croily’s pride.

His wrinkled face turned red and blue as he snorted angrily, making his mustache twitch.

“Fine, very well!”

Croily straightened his bent back and pounded his chest as he spoke.

“If such a gem exists, I’ll set aside ten other jobs to work on it!”

The girl who had been watching such a Croily while making an incomprehensible “hmm” sound looked at him with distrust, narrowing her eyes before asking.

“On your honor as a craftsman?”

“Y-yes!”

Though he flinched for a moment, Croily staked that pride he considered more important than his life.

“Good.”

She said that while smirking like before, but Croily felt a chill run down his spine and shrugged his shoulders.

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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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