Chapter 171 - 171 Valier
Isabella and Elizabeth walked together to the gate to leave school.
Isabella kept facing forward as she asked Elizabeth.
"Hey, Liz, are you going to Valier's place too?"
"Yes. It's better to go together so there's less chance of mishearing things. We'll be with our guards, so we'll split up until we get to Valier's."
"Meeting at the location is fine."
And so the two parted ways.
Isabella was greeted by Bella as usual.
"Welcome back."
"Hey, Bella."
"What is it?"
"I'm going to take a detour on the way home today. I want to go to Valier Trading Company. I'm supposed to meet Liz there."
Hearing that, Bella judged that going to Valier Trading Company would be no problem.
"I understand. I will attend as well."
"Oh, right."
Isabella had forgotten the possibility of Bella attending.
And similarly, she remembered that Elizabeth would also have her guards attend. If this matter got to their parents, it would be a bit problematic.
The reason was that Aunt Freya's husband, Baronet Parker, had suffered huge losses in the market many times, and she could imagine they would not look kindly on us getting involved in the market.
"Hey, Bella."
"What is it?"
"I want you to keep it a secret from Papa that we went to Valier Trading Company today."
"Why?"
"To help a friend. If Papa stops me, I'll cry."
"If anything happens to Isabella, Steve will cry."
Bella, for whom Steve was the top priority, had no choice but to report on Isabella. So she gave up on stopping that.
"Then don't attend. Wait outside the room. Even though they are called guards, you know Valier won't attack, right?"
"Well, I suppose so."
Bella agreed so easily that Isabella felt let down. However, she felt that with this, she could move the plan forward.
Arriving at Valier Trading Company, Elizabeth was waiting first. She had also persuaded her guards, and it was decided that she and Isabella would meet Valier alone.
As for that Valier, recently he had left almost all work to his children and was living a retired life, only checking stock prices and commodity prices. Business was going well, but it was a life lacking excitement. He spent his days wondering if he could do a hot speculative battle again with Steve and Aurora, with his remaining time running short.
When he was suddenly told that Steve's daughter and her cousin were coming, his heart was filled with excited anticipation.
He welcomed the two into the reception room of the trading company. The guards waited outside, and on Valier's side, only he was present, making it a three-person meeting.
"Miss, welcome. If you had called, I would have come to you."
"No. I wanted to keep it a secret from Papa and the others."
"Oh?"
Valier's eyes shone sharply at Isabella's words.
"What is your business?"
"Do you know Fleming Trading Company, which is listed?"
"Of course. Recently, the stock price has been depressed, and there are rumors it is on the verge of bankruptcy."
"Yes. I want to raise the stock price of that company to 10,000 Dora."
At the unexpected content, Valier's heart leaped.
He unconsciously leaned forward.
"Pardon me, but what are the circumstances?"
There, Isabella explained the situation she had heard from Jasmine.
After listening to that, Valier fell silent in thought.
Then, he rang a bell to call someone and had them check today's closing price and the stock issuance status.
The summoned servant immediately checked the stock price and returned to report.
"I see. The closing price today was 98 Dora. So we must raise it to about 100 times."
"Is there no good method?"
"The surest way is to prepare cash and buy it up yourself. However, since you cannot do that, you came to consult with me. You are looking for a trick."
"That's right. I didn't think Emmanuel Trading Company would have such wisdom."
"That is very kind of you to say."
Emmanuel Trading Company is the merchant of the House Archibalt. There was a debt of gratitude for doing business with them since the days of poverty, so prioritizing them was natural.
However, everyone, including the head Emmanuel, was an honor student. There was no one like Valier who had walked the back roads, so there was no one sharp enough to pick the eyes out of a running horse.
"In that case, it would be best to use Lady Elizabeth's name."
"Eh, my name!? Is there a good method?"
"Yes. Have Lady Elizabeth underwrite the capital increase of Fleming Trading Company in her name."
"I don't have that much money."
"I am aware of that. Therefore, we will use a slightly special method. Lady Elizabeth will purchase the Stock Acquisition Rights of Fleming Trading Company and announce that fact widely. At this time, there is no need to transfer the money yet. For a company believed to be certain to go bankrupt, the fact that the Princess of the Kingdom of Merda is underwriting a capital increase will force the sellers to buy back. Then, the current stock price will rise. At that time, borrow money using the Stock Acquisition Rights as collateral and buy more shares. If we are buying not only new shares but also the floating stocks circulating in the market, the lanterns will be lit too. However, whether it will go 100 times just with that remains to be seen. Actually, Lady Isabella would be better in this country, but since we are hiding her identity, it would be a shame if it were revealed."
Valier's proposed plan was to push up the stock price with the information that the Princess of the Kingdom of Merda was saving a company on the verge of bankruptcy. Moreover, no cash was needed for the initial move.
However, Isabella doubted if such a good story existed.
"With such an idea, why haven't you done it before?"
"It is because a commoner like me cannot use the names of royalty or nobles."
"Now that you mention it, I've heard that those who used Papa's name or that aunt's name all met tragic ends."
That aunt referred to Aurora, and Valier found it hard to agree.
Elizabeth was worried about something else.
"There's no benefit for Valier, but how far will you cooperate?"
"As for me, if you entrust the issuance of Stock Acquisition Rights to our company, there will be commission income."
"You don't look like such a humble person."
"Hahaha, that is harsh. I thought I would get a piece of the action myself."
Valier intended to secretly buy Fleming Trading Company's shares if not asked. It wouldn't change even if he was found out.
Hearing that, Elizabeth felt relieved.
"Good. I was anxious if you said it was just kindness."
"No, no. However, I do not know if we will continue until the end. When the Lord played the main role, he did not show any weaknesses so as not to be betrayed."
A weak main role gets betrayed. That was natural in the world of the market.
If he judged that 10,000 Dora was impossible, Valier would sell ruthlessly. And he would likely short sell.
This was not risk-free for Isabella and Elizabeth.
However, the two were not intimidated.
"When Papa was my age, he had already established a track record in the world of the market. So I should be able to do it too."
"We must not let Mama find out. And Uncle too."
They were already full of enthusiasm.
The two thanked Valier and left the trading company.
Watching them off, Valier muttered to himself.
"Well, I must contact the Lord."
Only Valier knew which Lord he was referring to.
That day, Bella naturally reported to Steve that they had stopped by Valier Trading Company. Naturally, Steve was curious about what Isabella and Elizabeth had discussed with Valier.
"Thank you, Bella. I'm going to Valier's place for a moment."
"Yes."
Steve immediately moved to Valier Trading Company using teleportation magic.
Valier naturally expected Steve to come and was preparing to welcome him.
"Welcome."
"You know why I came without me saying it."
"Yes. However, I was told to keep it a secret from the young ladies."
"I know. If it gets out, I'll say I used magic on Valier to force him to talk."
"Then――――"
Valier conveyed the contents he had proposed to Isabella and Elizabeth to Steve. Upon hearing that, Steve felt complicated emotions.
"To help a classmate's family."
"I may be overstepping, but watching the children grow is also a parent's duty."
"That's true."
Now that he knew the reason the daughters were acting, he couldn't get angry, but when it came to handling a large amount of funds, as a parent, he wanted to stop them.
"Lord, you caused your father even more trouble when you were younger. Looking back now, the amount moved in that copper market was not something a minor should handle. Compared to that, this market involves a much smaller amount."
Steve had no words to reply to Valier. He realized now what his father Brian had felt like.
"I understand. I will watch over them without being noticed, but if it looks bad, I'll step in. Don't hold it against me if I clash with Valier at that time."
"Yes."
Steve thought Valier would not accompany them until the end. And Valier intended the same.
However, Steve was not angry. A weak main role being eaten was unavoidable. Telling Valier not to do that was cruel.
"So, do you think my children can win?"
"This is a gamble. However, I will support you to get as far as possible. After that, it depends on the young ladies' skills and luck."
At that moment, Steve found joy in Valier.
"You look happy."
"Yes. It will be the last one in terms of time, but the opponent is Count Cutter. It is just right for a story to tell in the next world."
"Count Cutter. Are you sure?"
"I am checking that now. But, well, it should be. To clash with a renowned speculator, I will whip this old body."
"I understand. I will try not to interfere as much as possible, but I want the information. Just in case."
"I understand."
Steve went home after that.
Afterwards, he kept thinking about Isabella and the others, and he couldn't focus on his work.