The Fish Caught in the Net
"Damn it…"
Inside the carriage heading towards the Royal Capital, Gord clicked his tongue in frustration.
"How dare that upstart noble brat treat me like that?"
He felt like cutting off all supplies to the County, but he couldn't.
The deal to secure a stable supply of magical beast byproducts was simply too valuable to jeopardize.
The number of magical beasts hunted within the Kingdom in a year could be counted on one hand.
Nevertheless, the value of magical beasts was so immense that their byproducts were traded at exorbitant prices, surpassing even luxuries like jewels and spices.
To have a stable supply of such valuable byproducts every quarter?
Even considering the first-mover advantage, this deal was one he had to secure by any means necessary.
"If this deal goes well… I can push that damn guy out too."
The position of the director, which should have been his.
Through this deal, he planned to put his scheme into action.
As Gord was contemplating his future plans,
"Um… Branch Manager?"
"What is it?"
Gord glared at his secretary, who was sitting in front of him reviewing documents.
"There's… something that's been bothering me."
"Speak."
"This penalty clause… Isn't it quite high for a typical deal?"
The secretary pointed to a specific section of the document.
It stated that if the Gold Rush Company failed to meet the delivery deadline for any reason, they would have to pay a penalty to the Weinstein County.
The amount was a staggering ten times more than the previous deal.
However…
"You idiot."
"..."
Gord hurled insults at his secretary without even glancing at the contract.
His secretary flinched and looked at him with apprehensive eyes.
"Do you think our Gold Rush Company would fail to acquire such a measly amount of goods and end up paying a penalty?"
"W-well, that's not what I meant…"
"Instead of worrying about pointless risks, contact our suppliers. Time is tight, but it's not impossible to acquire."
"Y-yes, sir."
As his secretary lowered his head and began organizing the prepared documents, Gord clicked his tongue.
Big deals always come with big risks.
Considering the scale and future potential of this deal, this level of risk was well worth taking.
"Khehehe…"
His ambition, which would be realized once this deal was successfully completed.
He imagined the sweet, dreamlike scene and wore a greedy smile.
* * *
Meanwhile, at Weinstein Castle.
"So, how did it go?"
"They've already walked into the net. All that's left is to pull it in."
Rudell responded to Carlos' question with a faint smile.
The moment they signed the contract, it was as good as over.
All that remained was to wait for the right moment and reel in the net.
"Don't be too harsh. After all, we can't do anything without them."
Although Bering's Berinot Company had become the County's exclusive trading partner, there was a limit to the amount of goods a single company could supply.
If his company became a large merchant guild like the others, it would be a different story, but that would take a considerable amount of time.
In other words, no matter how much they disliked them, they couldn't completely sever ties with the large merchant guilds.
"Don't worry, I only have one target."
Rudell nodded at Carlos' words.
He would squeeze some money out of them, but he intended to deal with the other companies within reason.
However, there was one company he would never forgive.
He had no intention of letting the Gold Rush Company off the hook.
Even if he was essentially from another world, Weinstein County was still his home.
Rudell wasn't lenient enough to leave a group that was openly scheming against the County unchecked.
"Gold Rush Company. I will never let them get away with this."
At the very least, Gord, the branch manager of the Gold Rush Company's Preselium branch.
He would drag that man down to the depths of despair, no matter what it took.
"Isn't it only natural to repay kindness with kindness and revenge with revenge?"
"You're right. Sometimes I think you're better than me."
Carlos said, approaching Rudell with a benevolent smile and pulling him into an embrace.
"F-father?"
"I'm so proud that you're my son."
As Rudell looked at him with a flustered voice, Carlos tightened his embrace.
At the same time, Rudell felt something welling up in his chest.
But without showing it outwardly, Rudell replied,
"Yes, Father."
Thus, the night deepened over Weinstein County.
* * *
One afternoon, several days after the Weinstein County's meeting with the large merchant guilds, at the Gold Rush Company's Preselium branch.
"Do you think that makes any sense!? Where did all that grain go!?"
Gord, after receiving the report, jumped up from his seat and started throwing anything he could get his hands on at his secretary, yelling.
"Th-that… Ever since a while ago, small and medium-sized companies have been buying up all the goods…!!"
"Do you think it makes any sense that the company has no goods to purchase just because of that!?"
"N-not only that, but the Lagrind Duchy said they wouldn't trade this quarter to prepare for a possible famine…"
"What in the…!?"
Gord was dumbfounded by his secretary's following words.
What was the Lagrind Duchy?
Wasn't it a place that accounted for most of the Kingdom's grain production, thanks to its year-round warm climate and fertile soil?
They reduced grain distribution to prepare for a famine in such a place?
It was nonsensical.
"Tell the Lagrind Duchy! If they don't sell the grain, we'll impose a penalty for breach of contract!!"
"Th-that is… The Duchy has already declared a breach of contract and paid the penalty."
"Wh-what!?"
Gord stared at his secretary with a pale face.
Paying the penalty meant they were completely breaking the contract.
It also meant that he couldn't get the grain he needed, no matter what he did.
"Uwaaaaaah-!!"
Realizing the situation, Gord let out a roar and slammed his fist on the desk with a reddened face. His secretary cowered, watching him cautiously.
"Get it no matter what! If you can't get it within two days, I'll take your head first!!"
"Y-yes, sir!!"
His secretary bowed his head and hurriedly left the room at his sharp cry. Gord, who was calming himself down with ragged breaths, sat down.
"Damn it… Damn it!!"
It didn't make sense.
The Lagrind Duchy was a blessed land that had never experienced a single famine since the Kingdom's history began.
Such a Duchy stopped selling grain to prepare for a famine?
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't understand it.
"Why… Why!?"
A golden opportunity had finally come his way…!
He gritted his teeth with a grinding sound.
The only possibility he could think of was the Weinstein County.
This deal was made at the request of the Duke who invested in Weinstein County.
Since he had been delaying and postponing the deal, it was only natural to expect the Duke to take some action.
But why at this timing? And how?
The Weinstein County was, until recently, a backwater noble family that was only a Viscounty.
Accordingly, the land was a remote wasteland with nothing worthwhile.
He couldn't think of any reason why the Duke would pay a huge penalty and break the contract for such a Country.
"Damn it…!! Damn it!"
As Gord clenched his teeth and tried to find a way to turn the situation around,
"Hey~ Branch Manager. You look busy?"
"Branch Manager."
What does that damn guy want now?
With that thought, Gord stood up and bowed his head to Gilbert.
"Well… nothing much. I heard you're in a bit of a tough spot?"
"It's not something you need to worry about, Branch Manager."
The House of Obertus, is one of the five Dukedoms of the Kingdom, just like the Lagrind Dukedom.
If Gilbert, the eldest son of that family, stepped in, there was nothing he couldn't solve.
However, Gord wanted to avoid that more than anything.
The Branch Manager position he was currently sitting in was a position he would one day occupy.
Asking him for help?
It was something Gord couldn't accept.
"Really? It seems like you're not that desperate."
"..."
Gilbert let out a low chuckle at his reaction, and Gord glared at him with sharp eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm here to help in my own way."
"As I said, it's not something you need to worry about, Branch Manager."
"Okay, okay. If you say so. Here, take this."
With a hearty laugh, Gilbert pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to him.
"What is this?"
It was a small, old box that looked like it would fall apart at any moment.
"It's a little gift from me. I've been saving it for the very last moment. Open it when you're really in a bind."
"No, thank you…"
Gord shook his head at Gilbert, who was speaking with a faint smile.
What he needed now wasn't some old box he didn't know what was inside, but the grain to deliver to the County.
"Don't be shy and take it. You never know."
"Then I'll gratefully accept it…"
Annoying bastard.
With that thought, Gord put the box in his pocket. Gilbert looked at him with a satisfied expression.
"If you have nothing else to say, I'd like you to leave. I'm busy with the delivery issue."
"I was just about to leave anyway. Well then, good luck."
Gilbert waved his hand and headed out…
Gord, who was left alone in the suddenly quiet room with a sharp expression, clicked his tongue.
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