Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Noble Maneuvers
"I am grateful to you for granting me the time to meet today, Viscount Koenitz-kakka."
"Ah, if it is a request from a neighbor such as yourself, I am happy to meet, Sir Arqvist."
Arnold Koenitz, the head of the Viscount Koenitz family, was meeting with the neighboring lord to the west, Baron Noein Arqvist, in the reception room of his manor.
As usual, Baron Arqvist wore a smile that made him look like a fine young man, with a rabbit-person slave attending behind him, but Arnold knew from their previous dealings regarding the refugees that he was a noble who was reasonably sharp and not to be underestimated. Arnold could not afford to be careless in his dealings with him.
"So, I believe you mentioned you had something you wished to consult me about?"
"Yes. Actually... I was wondering if you might be able to introduce me to a mining engineer."
With that single sentence, Arnold understood everything.
"I see. So you have also set your sights on the Lestio Mountains."
"As you suspected. The other day, I surveyed the Lestio Mountains bordering the Arqvist territory and discovered a single mineral vein."
In the northern part of the Roadberg Kingdom, the Lestio Mountains stretched out like a lid, and other mountains of various sizes were scattered about. Most northern noble territories bordered mountains somewhere, and mining development was one of the most familiar businesses for northern nobles.
It was only natural that Baron Arqvist would turn to such mining development in order to earn funds for land reclamation.
"That is wonderful. May I ask what kind of vein it is?"
"Yes. It was a vein where lapis lazuli raw stones can be mined."
"...I see. That is rare."
Suppressing the urge to let out a cry of surprise, Arnold answered in a voice he strove to keep calm.
When it came to lapis lazuli, while its value as a gemstone did not reach that of precious stones like rubies or sapphires, it was known to fetch an incredibly high price as the raw material for the pigment known as "Blue of the Mother Sea."
It was one of the particularly rare ores in the Roadberg Kingdom. To discover it so early was truly lucky.
"I, too, find myself thanking the gods for my luck. However, I possess neither the knowledge of mining development nor connections to craftsmen... I have heard that you, Lord Koenitz, own copper and iron mines and have demonstrated great skill in their development. I have come to ask if you could introduce me to an engineer who could teach the knowledge of mining to the people of my territory."
"An engineer to teach mining knowledge to the peasantry? Will you not hire and gather laborers to carry out the development?"
In the development of a mineral vein, it was customary to hire a group of technicians, such as engineers, miners, and craftsmen to process the ore.
Arnold just now thought that under the guise of an "introduction," he could send craftsmen under his own influence into the Arqvist territory, seize control of the sales channels to purchase processed goods cheaply, or in some cases, make a profit by having the raw stones smuggled out.
However, that would not be possible if he only sent an engineer as a mining instructor.
"My territory is still small, and as a lord, I am far too inexperienced. I am ashamed to admit that I lack the ability to maintain and manage large-scale mining development... Therefore, knowing my place, I have decided to conduct mining on a small scale and recently signed a contract to wholesale the raw stones to the Miles Company."
"..."
He beat me to the punch, Arnold thought.
If Baron Arqvist had overextended himself by trying to handle everything from the mining to the processing and sale of the lapis lazuli raw stones, Arnold could have sent in his own craftsmen and engineers to effectively turn the territory into an economic vassal. There would have been plenty of openings to exploit.
If he wanted to, he could have even applied military pressure to force a contract favorable to himself, stating that "the mining and processing business of the lapis lazuli vein shall be entrusted to Viscount Koenitz." Depending on the scale of the lapis lazuli vein, the profits might have justified such a hardline attitude.
However, if Baron Arqvist had already signed a contract with the Miles Company—and specifically a contract to "wholesale raw stones"—the situation was different.
If Viscount Koenitz were to intervene by force where a formal contract had been established, he would earn the resentment not only of Baron Arqvist but also of the Miles Company. From the perspective of the Miles Company, it would be like throwing cold water on a business that generated enormous profits through the "processing and sale of lapis lazuli raw stones."
That company was one of the leading merchant houses within the Koenitz territory. They held sales channels and branches not only within the territory but throughout the entire northwestern region of the kingdom. Furthermore, they were an important business partner, one that could be called a purveyor to the Viscount house.
To incur ill will from such a company would be too great a price to pay for obtaining a single mineral vein. If he were to clash economically with the Miles Company, it would cause significant damage to the Viscount family's finances, and if rumors spread that "the House of Viscount Koenitz applies pressure even to its own purveyors for the sake of immediate gold," it would become a scandal.
He had worked reasonably hard until now to earn the reputation of being a "wise lord who implements good governance." He did not want to stain that reputation here.
As he cycled through these thoughts, Baron Arqvist continued speaking. His timing was such that it seemed he was deliberately giving Arnold time to think.
"For my part, simply wholesaling the raw stones will generate enough profit to enrich my own territory. As for you, Lord Koenitz, if the Miles Company makes a large profit from the processing and sale of lapis lazuli, I believe it will become a great source of tax revenue. Is this not a story with benefits for both of us?"
"...Indeed. It is as you say."
Arnold had no choice but to admit it.
As he said, this was not a bad deal for the House of Viscount Koenitz either. Rather, it was a profitable arrangement where the local economy would be greatly enriched and an increase in tax revenue could be expected just by remaining silent and doing nothing. All he had to do was introduce a single mining engineer to Baron Arqvist.
While securing his own profits, he clearly presented benefits to the other party, Arnold, and furthermore, preemptively crushed other options. It was a way of maneuvering that felt quite unpleasant, but as the party being offered profit, there was no ground to complain.
A short, dry laugh escaped him involuntarily.
"Do you distrust me to such an extent?"
"With all due respect, as an inexperienced youth, I cannot fathom the meaning of your words, Lord. I simply wish to be of assistance for the sake of mutual prosperity as your new neighboring lord."
To Arnold's attempt to trip him up, Baron Arqvist answered while keeping his smile perfectly intact.
"Hahaha, I see, I see."
Of course, Arnold did not take his words at face value. While saying so on the surface, it was crystal clear that Baron Arqvist did not trust him.
Because he did not trust him, he did not seek to oppose and defeat him, nor did he seek to submit and be exploited; instead, he showed the opponent profit to aim for mutual prosperity. However, he ensured that the source of the profit remained in his own hands, and further took safety measures by inserting a powerful third party—a great merchant house—into the mix.
Was he showing such twisted maneuvering because he was the son of the infamous Earl Kivileft? Or was it a survival art he had devised on his own to survive as a petty noble without a backer?
"And so... might I hear your answer to my request?"
"Yes. I will ask a group of craftsmen I am on good terms with to send an excellent mining engineer as an instructor. The engineer's remuneration will be your responsibility, I presume?"
"Of course. Thank you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness, Lord."
"It is no matter. You are clever. I feel that if I deepen my friendship with you, good things will likely happen in the future."
"You flatter me; I am but a youngster who still does not know left from right. I most certainly wish to continue borrowing your strength, Lord..."
Baron Arqvist reached out for a handshake with a likable smile, but Arnold wondered what the man was actually thinking in his heart.
His way of speaking had been quite good during the matter of accepting the refugees, but this time it was nothing short of masterful. After all, Arnold had no choice other than to nod to his proposal.
Rather than trying to prey on this one, it seems more profitable to be purely friendly and look after him, Arnold thought.