In This Life, I Will Be The Lord - Chapter 98
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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 98
Today was the day I had promised to meet with Beit.
I departed from the Lombardi estate in the very late afternoon and was able to arrive in front of Caramel Avenue just as the sky was beginning to darken.
The cafe that had countless people pass through it all day already had its lights turned off and was quiet without a soul in sight.
Ding-a-ling-.
The sound of the bell as I opened the door and entered rang out clearly in the empty cafe.
As I entered the dark interior of the cafe, Beit emerged from behind the kitchen.
“Hello, Beit.”
“….”
But there was no greeting in return.
Beit simply pulled out a chair for me to sit on with a stern expression.
If it had been other nobles, this would have been quite offensive, but I just shrugged my shoulders once and sat down in that seat.
But Beit was empty-handed.
“Don’t you have any documents or anything like that?”
I was just asking out of curiosity.
Beit frowned as if his pride was quite hurt and said.
“I do have a head capable of storing information.”
“Hmm. That’s not what I meant….”
Goodness, how prickly.
But rather, I found myself more drawn to that kind of attitude.
Even though he must have investigated me and found out quite a lot, I like this typical Beit-like behavior of not becoming servile.
“Shall we begin then?”
I said while clapping my hands once.
“Phew….”
Beit let out a short sigh and then looked straight at me.
“Pirenthia Lombardi, currently 11 years old, the only daughter of Gallahan Lombardi, the third son of Rulak Lombardi.”
His voice was dry and emotionless, as if he was reciting information about a simple investigation target rather than me who was right in front of him.
Just like that day when I had requested information about Peres.
“No special history during childhood except that her mother was a wanderer who drifted into Lombardy territory one day. Rather belonged to the timid side unlike other Lombardi bloodline members. However.”
Beit’s golden eyes looking directly at me seemed to flash for a moment.
“Around her 8th birthday, she began to gain a reputation as a prodigy of Lombardi. She started to show outstanding distinction among the three main heirs and came to receive personal guidance from Cleribane Pellet, who was the education supervisor.”
“Hmm. That’s right.”
Honestly, it wasn’t that surprising so far.
This level of information could be known by anyone who probed the Lombardi employees a little.
Of course, it wouldn’t be easy since those working at Lombardi tend to be tight-lipped.
But my somewhat indifferent attitude seemed to provoke Beit.
“And from that time on, Pirenthia Lombardi and her surroundings began to change rapidly. Not only did she begin to gain the favor of the clan head Rulak, but her father Gallahan Lombardi’s actions also became completely different from before.”
Beit’s voice became even lower.
“Gallahan Lombardi, who had lived an almost reclusive life for thirty-some years, suddenly successfully led the Koroi-Yung business, a massive joint venture between Lombardi and Angenas. Then a few months later, he created an innovative new clothing business method called ‘ready-made clothes.’ And until now, Gallahan Clothing Store has successfully led all unprecedented endeavors. This raised doubts. ‘Could all of that really be Gallahan Lombardi’s ability?'”
“So what does Beit think?”
“…It sounds crazy, but.”
Beit clenched his teeth once and then answered.
“I think all of this is the result of Lady Pirenthia Lombardi’s involvement.”
I asked while forcibly suppressing the laughter that was trying to escape between my lips.
“Isn’t that too much of a leap? I’m just an 11-year-old child.”
“Exactly. That’s exactly why I’m saying it sounds crazy.”
Beit said as if growling through his teeth.
“But all the information points in that direction.”
“Couldn’t it simply be that my father is a very smart person? Maybe he just didn’t have opportunities before.”
“No.”
Beit shook his head quite firmly.
“If it had been just starting the Koroi-Yung business and the ready-made clothing business, I might have thought that way. But the path that Gallahan Clothing Store has taken since then is clearly beyond Gallahan Lombardi’s capabilities.”
“For example?”
“Expanding the business from women’s clothing to men’s and children’s clothing. And recently, introducing the concept of ‘limited editions’ to establish a premium line. If it were Gallahan Lombardi, he would have focused on strengthening the foundation of the ready-made clothing business. That’s what ‘conventionally’ smart people do.”
So you’re saying I’m unconventional?
“Taking such risks and moving boldly is something only people with very good instincts or those who can read the overall flow do.”
I decided to probe Beit a little here.
“But father has Cleribane, doesn’t he?”
Beit nodded at my words.
“Yes. But to say it’s solely Cleribane Pellet’s work, the ‘Estira Ointment’ that shook the medical world a few years ago can’t be explained.”
Tch, he knew about that too.
I avoided Beit’s gaze and clicked my tongue softly.
“So what’s Beit’s conclusion?”
“I think Lady Pirenthia Lombardi is already playing an active role that belies her age in various areas including Gallahan Clothing Store under Cleribane Pellet’s guidance. She’s a talent with tremendous potential.”
Ah, so he thinks Cleribane is guiding me.
Actually, considering my age, that would be the right assumption.
“Potential….”
I mulled over what Beit had said.
Of course, it was nice to hear.
But that also meant the future was uncertain.
And Beit wasn’t someone who would entrust the ‘Information Guild’ he wanted to build to such undetermined future potential.
I made a decision and said.
“It seems like I won this bet.”
“…What?”
Beit asked back with a dumbfounded expression.
He probably thought he had won since he had properly investigated various things about me.
“If you’re trying to be stubborn because of your pride….”
“No, it’s not stubbornness, but unfortunately there was a limitation to Beit’s investigation.”
“Hah. What exactly is that limitation?”
Beit grumbled with a face that still showed no knowledge of expression management.
“Wait a moment.”
I got up from where I was sitting, opened the cafe door, and called someone who was waiting nearby.
Just in case, I had told them today’s appointment time and location and asked them to wait in the carriage for a while.
I’m really glad I did that.
“Cleribane.”
At my call, Cleribane immediately entered the cafe.
“Did you call for me, Lady Pirenthia?”
Beit’s brow furrowed at the overly polite attitude for a teacher addressing a student.
“I thought having Cleribane here would somehow give Beit more confidence.”
“You said earlier that I must be receiving guidance from Cleribane, right?”
“Yes, I did.”
Beit still seemed like he didn’t know what he had gotten wrong.
I grabbed my skirt hem and politely greeted such a Beit.
“Let me introduce myself properly this time. I’m Pirenthia Lombardi, the actual owner of Pellet Trading Company.”
“What…?”
Beit, who had a dumbfounded expression, poked his ear with his finger.
Then he looked at Cleribane with eyes demanding an explanation.
“Lady Pirenthia’s words are correct.”
“Are, are you saying it’s really true?!”
Cleribane nodded his head.
“B-but the name Pellet Trading Company is….”
“It’s just a name.”
Cleribane answered coolly.
“Still, she’s only 11 years old….”
“Isn’t she amazing!”
“Th-then really, Lady Pirenthia Lombardi….”
“She’s the light and hope of Lombardy!”
“Ha, haha….”
Beit laughed helplessly like someone who had lost his mind.
He looked at me once, then at Cleribane standing beside me once.
Then he laughed again.
“Then the ready-made clothes….”
“That was surprisingly my father’s idea.”
“But the Lady’s involvement….”
“There was some. Your guess was right about that, Beit.”
“Ah, as I thought….”
Beit seemed to need some time to himself.
He rested his chin on his hand, pondered something deeply, then nodded his head while muttering to himself.
“I see. Then it all makes sense….”
I had no idea what thoughts were busily flowing through his mind.
Then he suddenly raised his head and asked.
“Then what about the diamond mine…. That incident where you beat Lombardy and Angenas at the auction, how did that happen? Was it luck?”
“If you think about how many gold coins Pellet Trading Company won the bid by, you’ll find your answer.”
Angenas had bid 2000 gold, and they lost the mine to us who bid 2050 gold.
“Ahh….”
Beit crouched down as if he wanted to tear his hair out.
I approached Beit and patted his shoulder.
“You haven’t been in the information business for very long. I think that level of ability is quite impressive.”
“H-how did you know that? That I started the information business!”
Beit gasped and was shocked.
“Hmm. How do you think I knew Angenas would bid 2000 gold?”
“Ugh….”
Beit made a frustrated face.
He seemed angry that I knew more things and could see through them more accurately than he could.
I made another offer to Beit that he couldn’t refuse.
“Then shall we make another bet?”
Beit gritted his teeth and asked.
“What is it this time.”
“What was the hottest topic at the recent nobility council?”
“Measures for the eastern drought. In the end, the decision was passed to His Majesty the Emperor.”
As expected, he knew about it.
Information about the internal affairs of the Nobility Council would be very difficult to obtain.
“What decision do you think His Majesty the Emperor will make, Beit?”
“Since taxes were already exempted last year, I think it will be difficult this year. It would be a big blow to the national treasury.”
“Then I’ll bet on the opposite. Let’s bet five years’ worth of the cafe’s monthly rent.”
“F-five years’ worth….”
Beit gulped.
“Then if I lose, what will you gain, Lady Pirenthia?”
“If I’m right….”
I spoke as if casually dropping bait on a calm water surface.
“Give me priority access to information. The right to be the first to review all the information Beit collects from now on.”
Beit was silent for a while.
I also held my breath with him.
And finally, Beit nodded his head.
“Let’s do it, that bet.”
* * *
“Whoa, whoa-.”
The sound of a coachman calming his horses could be heard from the quiet manor.
I had deliberately opened the window and was lying beneath it, enjoying the gentle breeze blowing in, when my eyes sparkled open.
“He’s back.”
Belesack, who had gone on a hunting trip with Astana for over a week, had finally returned.
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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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