Chapter 215 - Episode 208: A Concerning Rumor
"...Yes. There are no problems today either. Both Clara-sama and the child in her womb are in perfect health."
At the end of May, Liris, a female doctor who visited the Arqvist Viscount estate, spoke after performing Clara's periodic checkup using an appraisal magic tool.
"Thank you, Liris."
"I'm glad. Thank you for your hard work as always."
Clara and Noein, who was leaning in beside her, replied. With less than two months left until childbirth, Clara had naturally begun to refrain from work and spend more time at home, and Noein accompanied her to these periodic checkups by interrupting his daytime work.
"How have you been feeling lately? Anything unusual?"
"I'm fine... I think. This child is so energetic that they're constantly kicking me from the inside."
"They react whenever we speak to them, don't they?"
"Yes. Noein-sama, despite saying he's taking a break, leaves his office several times a day just to come and talk to this child."
"It's embarrassing to have that said in front of Liris..."
Hearing the exchange between Clara and Noein, Liris chuckled.
"They say that voices heard while in the womb are remembered even after birth. Talking to them a lot is a very good thing... Well then, I shall visit again next week. If anything concerning comes up in the meantime, please call for me at any time."
Leaving those words behind, Liris departed, guided by Kimberly who had been waiting in the room. After seeing her off, Noein had Matilda, who had been standing behind them as an attendant, sit beside him. This became their usual way of relaxing, with Matilda and Clara sitting on either side of Noein.
"Less than two months until the due date. Time flies."
"Yes, it went by in a flash. I find myself thinking... that it would be fine if they stayed inside my womb a bit longer."
"If that were the case, Clara might be fine, but Matilda and I would only ever be able to talk to this child. That's unfair, isn't it, Matilda?"
"I... suppose so. I also wish to meet the two of your child soon."
"Fufu, indeed, it would be bad if I kept them all to myself in my womb forever."
The three of them laughed together on a peaceful afternoon. What a heart-soothing moment. Just as he was thinking that,
"Excuse me, Master."
Kimberly, returning to the living room, spoke to Noein.
"What is it?"
"Passing by Liris-sama, Bart-sama, the retainer who has returned from outside the territory, has arrived. He says he has matters to report to you, Master."
"...I see. Then I must go immediately."
Currently, Noein was in a state of having slipped away from work. It was about time he returned from being a husband to being the lord.
"Sorry Clara, I'll head back to work now."
"Yes. Thank you for accompanying me. Please do your best with your work without overextending yourself."
"Yeah, thank you. I'll see you tonight then."
After exchanging a light kiss with Clara, Noein left the living room with Matilda, went up to the second floor, and spoke to Bart, who was waiting in front of the lord's office.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Bart. Good work on the diplomatic mission, welcome back."
"I have returned. My apologies for interrupting your break."
"It's fine. Work takes priority. For now, come in."
As he spoke, Noein entered the lord's office and let Bart enter as well.
"So, you said you have a report..."
"Yes, actually... I heard a somewhat concerning rumor from the Miles Company in the Koenitz Viscount territory, as well as from several other surrounding companies."
Bart, who was in charge of general foreign affairs, often traveled to companies outside the territory as Noein's envoy. Even without any particularly major business, as in this mission, he would periodically visit neighboring companies for greetings and information gathering.
And it seemed that this time, it had paid off and he had grasped some information.
"The same rumor from multiple companies?"
"Yes. Especially Benedict-san of the Miles Company; although it is still only circumstantial evidence, he spoke with a tone of conviction."
"Then the certainty is high. Let's hear it."
Noein had maintained connections with the Miles Company, one of the leading large companies in the Koenitz Viscount territory, since the early days of the Arqvist territory's development. Noein was, so to speak, one of the Miles Company's prized customers, and if the company president, Benedict, had told Bart, it could be trusted.
"...It seems a large-scale war between the Kingdom of Lordberg and the Pallas Empire to the east is imminent. It is a prediction based on the flow of wheat and iron."
"...I see. Come to think of it, it is about that time."
After hearing Bart's words, Noein thought for a few seconds and then answered in a light tone.
The Kingdom of Lordberg and the Pallas Empire located to its east were traditionally on bad terms. According to history books, they were one large country about a thousand years ago, but at some point that country split; in the west, after a proliferation of small states, the Kingdom of Lordberg was born. In the east, while changing the country's name and dynasty several times, it now calls itself the Pallas Empire.
The Pallas Empire shares the same state religion of the Milleon Holy Church, but while the Holy Church organization of the Kingdom of Lordberg calls itself the Missionary Society, the other calls itself the Orthodox Society, and the sects are different. Furthermore, in the Empire, the Orthodox Society is deeply involved in national administration and holds strong power.
From the perspective of the Pallas Empire, the Kingdom of Lordberg is a "country of heretics." Therefore, that country harassed them at every opportunity, and to avoid appearing weak, this side countered, leading to a constant standoff at the border.
Furthermore, as if to release the stress accumulated from skirmishes, large-scale wars occurred roughly once every ten years. The previous war was around the time Noein was under house arrest in the annex of the Kivileft Earl's estate. As a time for the next war to break out, it was reasonable.
"Which means, for us... it's time to make some money."
"...That may certainly be true, but you say it quite bluntly."
"Well, only you and Matilda are hearing this here."
To Noein's smirk, Bart responded with a wry smile.
Basically, military service in border wars is first undertaken by the nobles geographically closest to the area. If it is a war with the Pallas Empire, the noble factions of the northeast and southeast, as well as the royal army, will be deployed.
There might be noble houses from the west participating, but there is no way the Arqvist family, who hold territory at the very edge of the northwest and moreover bear the duty of protecting the new border there, would be sent to the front. It was almost impossible for Noein to be forced to fight directly.
And as for war, as long as one is involved from the sidelines, there is plenty of room to profit. For example, the Arqvist family, which owns iron ore veins, could profit from the rise in the price of iron accompanying the war.
From Noein's perspective, it was a perfect chance to profit from a distant war without harming his own people.
"Mining resources aside, I think the export of weapons and potatoes to other factions will be lifted soon too—"
"Ah, I see... if that's the case, it seems we could make quite a lot."
"Exactly. I can see a mountain of gold coins already."
More than four years had passed since Noein disclosed and spread the existence of the Crossbow, Ballista, and potatoes to the northwestern faction. There would be a limit to continuing to monopolize new weapons and crops within a single faction. Information and actual goods seemed to be leaking here and there, and it was about time the royal family told him to consider the interests of the entire country.
If these were lifted for the northeast and southeast upon the occasion of war, Noein would be the first to profit. Regarding the Ballista and Crossbow, the Arqvist territory, which developed the originals, could manufacture the highest quality products and had established a sophisticated mass-production system. The iron resources for materials could also be obtained internally from the mines owned by the lord. Making a fortune was a certainty.
Bart smiled wryly again at his master, who had begun calculating profits in his head and started laughing with a "uheehee."
.....
About a week after receiving the report from Bart, Noein called the official merchant Philip to the mansion and held business negotiations regarding the monetization of wheat collected as taxes from the people and the recent sale of mining resources.
Since the monetization of wheat was an annual occurrence and the sale of mining resources was a monthly one, the discussions concluded simply without any particular difficulty.
Just as they had finished the business negotiations and entered into idle chatter while drinking tea, Philip spoke up, saying, "There is something I would like to bring to your attention."
"This is information we obtained just a few days ago using our Skinner Company's information network..."
"...Shall I hear it?"
While vaguely guessing the content, Noein urged Philip to continue.
"Actually, it seems a war with the Pallas Empire to the east is imminent. It will likely be almost unrelated to the Arqvist territory, but depending on the mining resources and the situation of the noble factions, I thought that Your Excellency and our company might be able to make a profit through the export of weapons..."
The content Philip spoke of was exactly the same as what Noein had heard from Bart the other day.
"...Philip."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"Too bad, I heard that story from our Bart a little while ago. The information sources were multiple companies, starting with the Miles Company. It seems they grasped the information even earlier."
"...Was that so? Was I late?"
Philip, who seemed to have thought he would be praised for bringing useful information, slumped his shoulders with a wry smile. Having lost to companies outside the territory in the speed of information gathering, he seemed to feel some frustration as an official merchant.
"But, considering it hasn't even been five years since the company's establishment, isn't it a great effort to have delivered the information to me with only a difference of a few days? Besides, it was good that you predicted the lifting of the Ballista and Crossbow for other factions. Bart didn't think that far. In that regard, you are truly a professional merchant."
"I-is that so... No, I am extremely honored to be praised."
Philip spoke as if he weren't entirely displeased. In truth, although both he and the company were still young, he was doing well.
"The fact that the same information is coming in from multiple directions means it's almost certain... As you say, if weapon exports are lifted, we will likely be sending goods as far as the eastern part of the Kingdom, and at that time, I'll have you involved too."
"Please leave it to me. As Your Excellency's official merchant, I will provide my full support."
Philip spoke in a powerful voice while looking straight back at Noein.