Chapter 16: 14

Eleventh Run, the Secretary, and the Business Meeting

“Hmm, where did I put the petitions from the east district…….”

“Right here, Your Excellency.”

Inside Klein’s office which is neither very luxurious nor shabby.

A man and woman were working inside.——-needless to say that it was Klein and the smiling knight.

“Th, Thanks. Once I finish this, can you bring me the petitions from the miners—-”

“As it was within my authority, I have already dealt with it, Your Excellency.”

Klein and Brynhildr were approving the documents that had been filed to them.

And far beyond Klein’s expectations of her, Brynhildr appears to be very capable in domestic affairs as well.

“I recall that I saw you in a knight uniform back at the capital, were you also doing this kind of clerical work at the knight order?”

“No, Your Excellency. My main duty was escorting His Highness the First Prince—–However, I was in charge of various other tasks as well.”

“……Is that so.”

Klein is already aware that she is also very capable as an assassin. After being cut down by her 7 times, he never doubts that her ability is sufficient enough to escort the prince.

Even so, the current Klein is not supposed to be aware of such a thing at all. Moreover, if he shows any sign that he knows more than he let on then he will surely find himself in unnecessary trouble instead.

“Well, let’s leave it at that. I guess we are done with the morning work for now huh.”

That’s why Klein chose to indifferently treat her as only a secretary.

She’s a beautiful female knight from the capital. Moreover, she’s very good at her job. This made Marie and the other maids look at her with admiration.

“…….some things are better left unknown after all.”

“Your Excellency?”

“Don’t mind me, just talking to myself here.”

While working together, the two occasionally have some small talks.

It appears that she hails from a count family and she herself holds a position as a baroness.

Knowing that, Klein tried to add honorifics when referring to her to be polite but——

[It would be unnatural for the master to refer to his secretary with honorifics, Your Excellency.]

Brynhildr herself objected to it while looking straight at Klein with her gentle eyes.

On the other hand, Klein obediently agreed as there was no reason for him to insist but spending his days with her glued to his side like this made him feel more and more nervous.

Since they are together most of the day, the only time he can rest his mind is when he goes to sleep but that only felt to him like a small respite as he has to wake early in the morning every day.

While he was thinking of how to deal with his piled-up anxiety, the secretary indifferently read out the afternoon schedule for her exhausted lord.

“According to the schedule, the next order of business is lunch with the merchants’ representatives. We are to meet up with them at a restaurant in the city at noon.”

“Ahh, I remember……..right, since he’s going to be there too, I guess I can get some more stomach medicine from Trek huh.”

Since Brynhildr is staying in Klein’s mansion, there’s always a chance for him to run into her when he has to visit the bathroom or the dining room.

With mysterious anxiety attacking him each time he leaves his quarter, Klein was already using too much stomach medicine beyond the dosage limit.

The piled-up anxiety is stressing him out but Trek will be at the meeting today.

With a little reassurance, Klein cleans up his desk.

“Greetings, it’s been a while since the last time we met gentlemen.”

Klein greeted the gathered representatives.

“Indeed, My Lord. I have been looking forward to hearing more of your profitable proposals as well.”

“My, you don’t have to be so open about it you know.”

The people gathered here are the presidents of major companies that conduct businesses in the Royal Capital, the kind of people that Klein wouldn’t have dreamt of meeting 4 months ago.

“Oops, my apology. It seems I got a little too excited by the booming market recently.”

“Hahahaha, I assume that you will continue to act as president for a while then.”

Asgard territory is now a very vigorous market.

In the past, it was a small viscount territory with the economic power equal to that of a wealthy baron house.

But now the newly discovered silver mine changed everything.

Since the territory was not originally much developed, there were a lot of unused lands. With that being the case, Klein has attached many of them in the concessions agreements with the merchants here.

As a result of the unprecedented economic boom in the former undeveloped areas, all the products that were brought in are flying off the shelves like crazy. Even those who are not particularly skilled in terms of business would see that this is an opportunity to make a major profit.

“Haa……my territory is still a backwater one so it would be nice if you can exercise some restraint though.”

“You are being too humble, My Lord. Klein-sama yourself is also rumored to be extremely skilled in the art of conversation you know.”

A poor Viscount with no backing suddenly marched into the Royal Palace and made an alliance with the First Prince. Such a story is already widespread in the Kingdom.

You are reading story Survival Strategy for Weak Territories! ~ My Territory Will Be Destroyed No Matter How Many Times It Is Repeated. How Can This Be Saved? ~ at novel35.com

It appears that the attitude he showed where he prioritized the prosperity of his land rather than personal benefit has earned him a good reputation among the merchants as well.

“Leaving that aside, the Thrud Company has delivered the last of the mining equipment from the former royal silver mine the other day. Since we now have more equipment, I am thinking of opening another mine up for business.”

In truth, he was simply trying desperately to avoid his death.

Still, since the rumors paint him in a good light, he left them alone.

“May I ask, how big of a mine we are talking about?”

“About the same as the previous two.”

The silver mines are in full operation and he has already started exporting silver bars to other territories.

Since his territory still lacks the technical skills to make silver tableware and trinkets, he has been selling the silver mainly to the Jotunn house in the south.

On the other hand, his craftsmen have already started to learn the technique of coin casting and the production should begin in earnest soon.

“The exports are going well but it seems that territory itself is still relatively empty-pocketed. That’s why, just like last time, I’d like you gentlemen to invest more into developing my territory.”

“I thought that it was about time for that so I’ve already adjusted the investment ratio before I came here. Please have a look.”

“…..you’ve already predicted this huh.”

It seems that they have already predicted his request and took care of that before they approach Klein in this meeting.

The representatives gathered here have already made it a new joint investment and all that left was for Klein to sign the documents. It appears that they were that prepared for this meeting.

“Good. We will go with this.”

“…..do you not wish to negotiate the share, My Lord?”

“From what I saw, you’ve already put in a reasonable share for me right. I’m sure that this will be profitable for all of us so please do work hard for me.”

Klein is the head of a viscount house but there’s no way that he can do well in the negotiation with big-time merchants like them.

Since he’s already made up his mind to give up some of his own profit to some extent, all he wants is for them to use their extra share to work hard for the territory.

“I don’t know if you are simply being courageous or bold here, My Lord……”

“Well, you can rest assured that you are not dealing with a short-sighted second-rate lord here.”

Of course, Klein is not going into this deal unprotected.

If some of the merchants started making greedy proposals, he planned to rip away the privilege that he gave them in conducting the businesses in his territory.

Klein is now in a position that can give and take away such privilege. That’s why he is no stranger to conspiring, bribery, or back-door deals.

He is well aware of such things and is now more cautious than ever about them.

“Come to think of it, I’ve recently obtained a good painting. I think that it will suit your mansion very well, My Lord.”

“If that’s the case then please take this pottery from our company as well. It’s one of the masterpieces that was made in the north.”

“Ahh, I will gladly accept then.”

The merchants are giving Klein some personal gifts as proof of friendship.

They won’t be able to hold him for anything with this level of gift. On the other hand, an upright lord that does not accept such a gift would have the reputation of being a hardhead and inflexible instead.

After he received that lecture from Brynhildr, Klein decided to not think about it too much and just accept their gifts whether they came with good or bad intentions.

“Well, everything is for the sake of survival after all.”

After Klein renewed his determination, he poured the wine into the luxurious pottery glass and down it in one go.

Recently, the quality of goods that are circulating within his territory is increasing and the taste of alcohol and food inside his territory has improved a lot.

While he was content with that, he proceeded with the business negotiations in a good mood.

That night.

“Mm, my stomach is acting up.”

“Are you okay? Klein-sama.”

“Yeah, the food was so delicious so I think I may have eaten a little too much. Can you prepare me some of Trek’s stomach medicine?”

Klein felt sick as he saw off Marie who left his room with light footsteps.

“I have been overworking myself lately……..give me a break, I don’t want to die from overwork and redo everything again.”

While Klein was wishing that if he died and went back in time, he wanted to at least go back to the moment he got something done, Marie returned to his bedroom with medicine and a glass of water for him.

After that, he quickly drank the medicine and quickly fell asleep.

————-an eternal sleep.

Kingdom Calendar Year 500, August 22nd.

On this day, the head of the Asgard house passed away due to illness, concluding the history of the Asgard house.

His territory was later destroyed and absorbed by Count Vanaut.

 

TLN: Didn’t see that one coming did ya…………..

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