Chapter 82 - Chapter 81: Engagement and Development ②
Mine development is a far larger undertaking than any of the various territorial management tasks Noein has handled in his own domain thus far. Even after securing the commitment to welcome the mining engineer Victor to the territory, there are still many things to be done.
After finishing the meeting with Victor, the next place Noein headed was the Miles Trading Company.
"It has been a long time, Your Excellency Arqvist. I am glad to see you are in good health."
"I am glad you are doing well too, Benedict-san. I apologize for not being able to show my face often, despite all the help you provide me on a daily basis."
Noein exchanged greetings with the head of the company, Benedict, in the reception room.
Beyond the usual purchasing of lapis lazuli raw stones, Noein had recently been borrowing Benedict's distribution network to send Crossbows and potatoes to various noble territories in the northwestern part of the kingdom. He was someone Noein truly wanted to thank from the bottom of his heart.
"You are too kind. News of Your Excellency's activities in carving out the future of the northwest has reached even the ears of a humble merchant like myself, so I feel proud to be able to support a part of those achievements with my meager strength."
As the head of the Miles Trading Company, which handles many transactions with nobles as a major firm, it seemed Benedict had already grasped the information that Noein was beginning to distinguish himself within the northwestern faction. Perhaps simply being relied upon by such a person provided a certain amount of prestige for a merchant.
"I am happy to hear you say that... Now then, I have a small matter I wish to consult with you about. I believe it will be a fairly large transaction, which is why I, the lord, have come in person."
When Noein brought up the main topic, Benedict maintained his smile, but the aura he wore as a merchant shifted.
"If it is a consultation from none other than Your Excellency Arqvist, I shall listen with pleasure."
"Thank you... To put it bluntly, I would like to terminate the current wholesale contract for lapis lazuli raw stones and establish a new trade agreement."
Even after hearing Noein's words, Benedict did not let his expression shift carelessly. He seemed to be carefully considering the meaning of this proposal.
"...In that case, may I understand that Your Excellency is finally committing to mine development in earnest?"
"As expected. That is exactly right."
"I am honored by your praise."
Noein intended to put his full effort into mine development and search for other resources in addition to the lapis lazuli raw stones currently found. Furthermore, he intended to handle the processing of those resources within his own territory.
Therefore, he wanted to end the wholesale contract for lapis lazuli raw stones with the Miles Trading Company and sign a new contract to sell mining resources mined and processed in the Arqvist territory.
Benedict had intuited the situation up to that point from Noein's first proposal alone. He truly was the top of a major trading company.
"Merchants have migrated to the Arqvist territory and a new company has been established. It is called the 'Skinner Trading Company,' and it serves as the official merchant for the Arqvist Baronet house."
The Skinner Trading Company was the name of the company Philip had newly established in the Arqvist territory.
"Of the resources obtained through future mine development, I intend to wholesale the portion exported outside the territory to this Skinner Trading Company. Therefore, I would like the Miles Trading Company to trade with them. I will handle the introductions, and in terms of scale, I believe it will be a fairly profitable business. What do you think?"
The trade of mining resources would be conducted strictly between the Skinner Trading Company and the Miles Trading Company, but Noein would provide his seal of approval and arrange various conveniences.
By doing this, he could grow the Skinner Trading Company—his own official merchant—by giving it large-scale transactions, while utilizing the sales network of the trustworthy Miles Trading Company to export resources outside the territory.
On the other hand, the Miles Trading Company could monopolize the distribution of resources produced in the Arqvist territory from here on and make a profit. It was a transaction where both parties benefited.
"This is a most pleasing proposal for us as well. I would very much like to accept this offer."
"I'm glad. Let us continue to have a relationship where we both profit for a long time to come."
When Noein smiled and offered a handshake, Benedict responded with a likable smile.
.....
The preparations for mine development were not yet finished. After completing the necessary discussions in Retovik, he would now be running around inside the territorial capital, Noeina.
"Philip, do you have a moment? There's something I want to talk about."
"Oh, Noein-sama... Of course. Please, come this way to the reception room."
Visiting the Skinner Trading Company's shop, Noein passed through the store where employees and the slaves owned by Philip were working busily and was guided to the reception room used for business negotiations.
Sitting in a chair and facing Philip across the table, Noein immediately entered the main topic.
"Philip, actually, I want to entrust you with a large transaction. As my official merchant."
"A large transaction... I understand, please tell me more."
Hearing Noein's words, Philip straightened his back with a slightly nervous expression.
Then, Noein explained the proposal... selling the resources obtained from mine development to the Miles Trading Company via the Skinner Trading Company.
"T-That is... a very large transaction."
Currently, the Skinner Trading Company's main source of income is the retail of daily necessities to the people of the Arqvist territory. In the future, the task of converting crops collected as taxes from the people into cash was also planned to be added.
On top of that, if they were to handle mining resources, it would be more than the current scale of the company could handle.
Since the Arqvist Baronet territory, which had been granted a whole piece of the Bezel Great Forest, was wide in area alone, the scale would be considerable if mine development proceeded smoothly. A considerable amount of effort would be required for a company to handle the sale of those resources.
However, this was also a huge opportunity for the Skinner Trading Company. If he accepted Noein's offer, he could build a strong connection with the Miles Trading Company, which had a wide sales network in the northwestern part of the kingdom.
"It is certainly an attractive offer... but I wonder if I am capable of it."
"If you are to be the official merchant of a lord noble, a connection with a major trading company outside the territory is essential. I think this will be a big step for you too. Also, I've actually already spoken to the Miles Trading Company."
"I-Is that so!?"
Philip involuntarily widened his eyes and asked loudly at Noein, who gave a cheeky smile.
"Of course, I could say 'The head of the Skinner Trading Company hesitated, so let's forget this talk'... but what will you do? It will be a little while before mine development starts in earnest, so there is plenty of time, and if you accept, I'll help with increasing employees or expanding the company's warehouses."
Noein's face as he made the proposal seemed to be testing Philip.
"...I understand. I will do my utmost to show that I am fit to be Noein-sama's official merchant. Please leave it to me."
"I'm happy you said that. I'm counting on you. If you have any problems or things to consult about, tell me anytime."
Noein smiled back at Philip, who spoke as if he had made up his mind.
With this, he could grow the local company of the Arqvist territory by one size while also securing the distribution route for the resources obtained from mine development.
.....
"Building a village at the foot of the Lestio Mountains... now that's quite a massive request."
The last person Noein visited was the master carpenter Dmitri, who ran a construction company in the Arqvist territory.
If mining engineers, mining laborers, and even craftsmen to process the resources were to reside in the Lestio Mountains within the Arqvist territory, it would no longer be on the scale of a mining camp.
At the very least, workshops where dozens of people work and houses to sleep and stay in would be necessary, as well as warehouses to store mined resources and lodging for the personnel transporting the resources. Eventually, entertainment facilities such as taverns and brothels would be demanded, and agriculture would be carried out for food self-sufficiency.
This was a project on a scale where it would not be an exaggeration to say that a new village was being created.
"I've tentatively prepared the road to the current mining camp, and since the Bezel Great Forest extends to the foot of the Lestio Mountains, I don't think there will be any trouble with lumber on site... can you do it?"
"Of course it's technically possible, but as it stands, we'll be overwhelmingly short on manpower. Besides, it'll likely take years of time."
Dmitri's construction company handles house construction in the territorial capital, Noeina, exclusively. While building houses for the increasing number of migrants every day, building a village at the foot of the Lestio Mountains would clearly result in a personnel shortage.
"I'll help with that point too. I'll put in a word in various directions so you can gather new employees or buy more slaves, and if necessary, I can provide funds in advance. With that in mind, how about it?"
"If Noein-sama goes that far, I'll gladly do it. This'll make my company even bigger."
"I'm glad... thank you. I want you all to keep earning more and more from now on, so I'm counting on you."
"Hahaha! Now that's something to be happy about. I'll work hard so you can keep relying on me, so just watch me."
After that, they discussed the details, such as the specific order contents, the start date of the project, and the additional personnel needed, and then he left the office of Dmitri's construction company.
"I guess that's all the preparations for now... I'm busy."
"Good work, Noein-sama. With this, the mine development project should proceed smoothly."
As expected, when conducting large-scale mine development, the amount of necessary preparation is on a different level.
However, he had laid the groundwork with the involved parties and raised their individual motivations by presenting profits and a sense of fulfillment. By doing this, the project should proceed without major confusion.
The various results would begin to appear in a few months at the earliest. All that remained was to place his expectations on the work of the craftsmen and merchants he had called upon, provide help if necessary, and wait patiently.