Gold Rush Company
It was several days later when Rudell returned to his County.
"Oh my. So this is the Weinstein County I've heard so much about..."
Bering let out a surprised voice as he looked out the window at the landscape of the County.
It was only natural, as Weinstein County was originally considered a remote area within the Kingdom.
However, anyone who witnessed the County's recent rapid transformation would have reacted similarly.
"So, what are your impressions of the County from a merchant's perspective?"
"All I see is endless possibilities. For a merchant, an undeveloped land is a place where untold treasures might be hidden."
"Not a bad assessment."
Rudell nodded at his merchant-like response and looked out the window.
Even though he had only been away for a few days, the County he saw was incredibly unfamiliar.
That's how quickly the County was changing day by day.
The carriage carrying the two passed through the bustling streets and arrived at the castle of the County...
"I'm home, Janice."
"Welcome back, Young Master."
As soon as he got out of the carriage, Janice, the most senior maid serving the Weinstein family, bowed politely.
"Everything alright while I was gone?"
"Yes, everything was fine."
Rudell thought that there shouldn't have been any problems in just a few days, but he couldn't help but worry.
Just off the top of his head, there were problems like the Cult, monster hordes, and the tyranny of large trading companies...
None of them were issues that could be easily dismissed.
"Say hello, this is Bering. The business guest I mentioned in the letter."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Bering, the head of the Berinot Company."
"Welcome to the Weinstein County, Mr. Bering. Your luggage, this way..."
At Janice's words, Bering handed his luggage to a maid next to him, and the maid took it and headed inside the castle.
"Where are Father and Mother?"
"They are both waiting for you and your guest in the drawing-room."
"Please let them know that I'll be there with my guest soon."
It would take at least a few more days for the large trading companies to gather.
In the meantime, Rudell intended to finalize the business discussions between the Weinstein County and the Berinot Company.
"Understood."
With a calm gesture, Janice moved away with the maids...
"Well then, let's go too."
"Ah, yes! Let's go!"
Rudell watched them for a moment before starting to walk with Bering.
* * *
The commercial district of the Royal Capital, Friselium.
This place, where countless merchants gathered, was the center of the Kingdom's commerce and the place where the most money changed hands.
And within this commercial district, the groups with the most money and influence were undoubtedly the large trading companies with their massive scale.
The headquarters of Gold Rush Company, one of these large trading companies...
"They sent an invitation from the Weinstein Viscounty?"
A man sitting in his office, attending to his duties, asked without taking his eyes off the documents.
An obese figure who clearly showed a severe lack of exercise, with food piled high on his desk.
He looked devoid of any dignity, but he didn't seem to care as he read the documents and picked up a piece of fruit with his hand adorned with all sorts of trinkets, popping it straight into his mouth.
His name was Gord.
He was a man capable enough to rise to the position of branch manager within the Gold Rush Company, where it was commonplace to devour and be devoured.
"Yes, that's right."
Gord's secretary nodded in response, and at that moment...
"You stupid fool!!"
"Ugh!?"
With a furious shout, Gord grabbed a bowl and hurled it at his secretary.
The bowl shattered with a crash, and the secretary staggered with a low groan.
"What are you trying to do by bringing me an invitation from some backwater noble!? Are you telling me to go there myself!?"
The Weinstein County was a newly established noble family, not even a month old.
From his perspective, having dealt with countless nobles, they were nothing more than fledglings.
The fact that such an insignificant existence dared to invite him filled him with indescribable rage.
"Th-that's... The Director ordered me to deliver it directly to the Branch Manager..."
"This guy and that guy... Are they all looking down on me!!?"
At the secretary's words, spoken while clutching his forehead with a trickle of blood, Gord let out an annoyed grunt and tossed another piece of fruit into his mouth.
The Director.
The loathsome man who occupied the position that should have been his.
If he weren't a member of the Duke's family, he would have dealt with him long ago, but he wasn't ready yet.
Thorough preparation was needed to bring him down.
At least until the preparations were complete, he had to bow his head with a hidden blade in his heart.
As Gord was sharpening his metaphorical blade...
"Hey~ Branch Manager. Something wrong?"
The door to his office opened without a knock, and a man entered.
Brilliant blonde hair that seemed to be spun from gold, and dazzling ruby-red eyes.
His noble appearance possessed a charm that captivated anyone who saw him.
"Welcome, Director."
As soon as the person he had been badmouthing appeared before him, Gord changed his attitude as if nothing had happened and greeted him respectfully.
It was one of the few survival skills he had learned in the long, cutthroat world of merchants.
The Director responded to the greeting with a light wave of his hand and settled into the chair in front of Gord's desk...
"I assume you've heard about the invitation?"
"I just heard about it."
"I see. By the way, why are you bleeding from your head? Are you alright?"
The Director nodded at his reply and then looked at the secretary with a puzzled expression.
It was a sight that would have flustered most people, but the emotion in his eyes was pure curiosity.
"W-well... I tripped and hit my head on the corner of the desk..."
"Oh dear, that's not good. You should go home early today and see a doctor."
"B-but..."
"If you're injured, you should go to the hospital. Don't worry about it and go quickly."
At the secretary's flustered response, Gord let out a short sigh and gestured towards him.
"A-alright..."
The secretary left the room, holding a handkerchief to his forehead...
I'll have to deal with that clueless fool later.
Thinking so, Gord turned his gaze back to the Director.
"Why the long face? You weren't thinking of leaving your injured employee unattended, were you?"
"Of course not. I was just about to tell him to go to the hospital."
Of course, what he really wanted to do was hurl a torrent of abuse at the Director.
"Good, very good. That's the proper attitude for a good superior."
"..."
As if he could see through Gord's thoughts, the Director smiled brightly.
The sight made Gord's stomach churn, but he didn't show it.
The Director looked at him for a moment, then narrowed his eyes...
"As you've heard, I'd like you to handle this matter personally. Do you know why?"
"Isn't it because of the deal with the Lagrind Dukedom?"
The deal with the Lagrind Dukedom.
It was a contract to supply a significant amount of materials to Weinstein County.
Of course, due to various unfortunate incidents, the delivery had been significantly delayed.
"That's part of it... but I've heard some rather interesting rumors from that side."
"Interesting rumors, you say?"
The Viscounty was a territory that had just begun to be developed.
Whatever came out of it wouldn't be that surprising, but for the Director to mention it personally meant it was something significant.
"I heard they're planning a new business venture... and the rumor is that it's related to magical beasts."
"M-magical beasts!?"
His eyes widened at those words.
What were magical beasts?
They were monsters that naturally possessed magical power, and if you could catch them, they were worth their weight in gold from head to toe.
A deal related to such magical beasts, from the Viscounty he had considered insignificant until now?
"..."
His mind raced faster than ever, and the Director watched him with a faint smile.
A short time passed...
"I think I'll have to handle this matter personally."
"Of course. It's a deal related to magical beasts, so considering the gravity of the situation, there's no one more suitable than the Branch Manager."
"Then I'll have to start preparing, so I'll excuse myself."
"Alright, good work."
Gord rose from his seat and waddled out of the room.
"He's so easy to read..."
Gilbert Veron Obertas, the Director of the Gold Rush Company headquarters and the eldest son of the Obertas Dukedom, let out a low chuckle as he watched Gord's comical retreat.
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