Chapter 332 – I’ve Always Wanted to Try This (1)
When I thought about the way Ghislain presented himself when he came to see me, it became clear. Even during the time he acted like a pathetic fool, earning the nickname “Northern Scoundrel,” he had been hiding some of his true skills.
However, knowing about the Forest of Beasts had nothing to do with swordsmanship.
“It’s not something he figured out on his own. That wouldn’t work in a place like that.”
Even Count Ferdium, who is now a marquis, knew nothing about the Forest of Beasts back then. If he had known something, he would have developed the forest much earlier.
This meant that Ghislain must have obtained the information from somewhere else.
One thing was certain: he had reliable intelligence regarding at least the outskirts of the Forest of Beasts.
The difference between having and lacking information was immense. If I knew what monsters to expect, even I could have taken on the challenge of developing the Forest of Beasts.
Amelia reflected on Ghislain’s actions. The things he had accomplished, including the development of the forest, weren’t the kind of feats one could think of or achieve alone.
While technological development could have been aided by dwarves, and predicting droughts might be written off as sheer luck, most of the other achievements required information to succeed.
“Does he have someone backing him? Or did he uncover some ancient records?”
Perhaps he had found records left by the Ferdium family’s ancestors who had previously attempted to develop the Forest of Beasts.
It was possible that Ghislain discovered and attempted something forgotten after the northern lords abandoned the idea. That seemed the most plausible theory for now.
If not, he might have a mage, a sage, or someone equally knowledgeable advising him.
“What’s clear is that he has a level of intelligence and information others don’t.”
Even his ability to anticipate my rebellion and act accordingly would have been impossible without information.
Whether it was a hidden power or an information network, it was certain that Ghislain had access to something extraordinary.
If I could figure out how he obtained his information, it would be a tremendous help to me. I could exploit that intelligence or even take it for myself.
“I’ll have to be careful. For all I know, he might already be monitoring my every move.”
Amelia never imagined that Ghislain was a regressor. However, just realizing the extent of his intelligence capabilities was a significant revelation.
The seemingly absurd coincidences and lucky outcomes began to make sense when reframed as the result of superior information.
Of course, even with the information, the question remained whether such feats could be carried out in reality.
“He’s really quite the intriguing one.”
Amelia smiled, though the expression was tinged with irritation. From now on, she would have to assume that Ghislain was watching her.
“Fine, then I’ll have to act unpredictably.”
If the opponent was beyond conventional reasoning, then she too would need to act unconventionally.
But not yet. There was no benefit to clashing with Ghislain now.
She didn’t care about holding the title of the strongest in the North. What she sought was a far loftier position.
Thus, for the time being, she decided to tread cautiously around Ghislain without wasting effort confronting him.
“Is it about time?”
Ghislain wasn’t the only one monitoring her. The Ducal House, having lost Harold, was not just observing her they were actively trying to control her.
She needed to act unpredictably on that front as well.
“First, I’ll deal with the envoy they sent ahead.”
A chilling intent spread across Amelia’s face.
* * *
“Wooaahhh! Lord Ghislain, you’re amazing!”
Claude’s voice cracked as he screamed with joy the moment he saw Ghislain.
The news of their successful development had already been delivered by a messenger who arrived earlier. When Claude heard about the types and quantities of resources they had acquired, he nearly fainted.
“We’re saved! Finally saved!”
Their stock of runestones had run out, and cash reserves were running dangerously low. While the revenue from cosmetics, food sales, delivery services, and road construction projects was immense, it still wasn’t enough.
The lack of funds had recently slowed the estate’s growth. They had too many projects requiring massive expenditures, and the income hadn’t yet caught up.
Now, with these newfound resources, they could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing Claude bounce up and down like an overexcited child made Ghislain chuckle.
“Happy, aren’t you?”
“Of course! Do you have any idea how much I’ve been stressing over our dwindling funds?”
As Claude exaggeratedly complained, Ghislain spoke in his usual calm tone.
“That’s good. Now, we need to handle the rewards for those who participated in the development.”
“Of course. I’ll calculate an appropriate amount…”
“No, I already decided.”
“…How?”
Claude had a look of unease on his face. He knew all too well that whenever Ghislain made demands, they were always grandiose.
Sure enough, Ghislain smiled brightly and spoke.
“The pioneers get three years’ worth of wages upfront. The laborers? Triple the bonuses.”
“……”
“Get it done quickly.”
“Um… we don’t exactly have that kind of money right now.”
“But you’ve brought in so much already! And there’s more coming. We have enough to pay them that much now, don’t we?”
“That’s all in goods… we’d have to convert it into cash to pay out compensations…”
“Don’t care. Just get it done.”
“……”
With that, Ghislain tossed out his demands and retreated into the castle without another word.
Claude stared at his retreating figure, dumbfounded, before clutching at his hair in frustration.
“Argh! Why can’t I ever be happy?!”
He had just barely survived by securing assets of value, only to find himself staring at another enormous expenditure.
The bigger issue was that the compensation for the pioneers had to be dealt with immediately.
As the lord himself had praised their efforts, he had to keep his word in a timely manner. Failure to do so wouldn’t just tarnish his reputation it could sow discontent among the people of the territory and spark opposition to the administration’s efforts.
With no other options, Claude summoned his administrators and berated them.
“Contact the merchant guilds and the tower immediately!”
Fenris, the strongest territory in the North and a central hub for grain production, held enough sway that its Chief Overseer’s summons couldn’t be ignored.
The merchants around Fenris dropped everything and rushed to comply.
Once the guild leaders had gathered, Claude crossed his legs and spoke with an air of arrogance.
“This time, I won’t be taking any commissions.”
The Bribe King declaring he wouldn’t take bribes left the guild leaders baffled.
“In exchange, buy as much as you can.”
The guild leaders gaped as Claude unveiled the goods.
In addition to the usual grain and iron ore, there was an array of herbs on display.
Despite the pressing need for cash, Claude didn’t touch the Runestones or Fairy’s Blessing.
The Runestones had to be traded with the Magic Tower, and they were the territory’s most valuable strategic resource. They were essential for rapidly improving the skills of the mages and knights.
As for the Fairy’s Blessing, Ghislain had made it clear he had plenty of uses for it, so Claude left it untouched.
Unaware that the most critical resources were being withheld, the guild leaders eagerly purchased the displayed goods.
“They usually limit how much grain and ore they sell, but now they’re releasing so much?”
“I heard they just returned from pioneering the Forest of Beasts. They probably need funds for the soldiers’ rewards.”
“Well, at least he’s not taking bribes this time. Must really be desperate for cash.”
“Look at this mandrake root! It’s twice as large as the usual ones. Where did they even get this?”
It was rare for Claude to forgo bribes, so the merchants left satisfied with their deals.
News of the massive Runestone stockpile in Fenris soon reached the Crimson Flame Tower.
The tower, which had been forced to limit its Runestone purchases due to the need to buy food, was overjoyed to hear that more stones would now be available.
The elders, practically bouncing with excitement, turned to Hubert.
“Tower Master! It seems they’ve secured another large haul!”
“We haven’t been in touch much recently. Perhaps you should pay them a visit?”
“You need to show your face often to build a closer relationship!”
Despite their pestering, Hubert turned away with a sullen expression.
“No… I don’t want to go…”
“What? Why not?”
“He’s a Count now… and they say he’s the strongest in the North… I’d have to act all respectful if we meet…”
“That’s just your reason?”
“How can you say ‘just’! That’s a huge reason!”
Hubert, clearly irritated, even pointed a finger at the elders in protest.
He had endured countless humiliations at Ghislain’s hands in the past.
Still, thanks to his status as the Magic Tower’s Tower Master, he had managed to cling to some semblance of dignity.
But now, even that didn’t matter. Ghislain’s rank and influence far surpassed his own.
“I’m not going! I won’t go! I’ll never meet him again! I have my pride, you know!”
Hubert’s reputation as a petty and immature individual was well-known. The elders, familiar with his temperament, could only shake their heads.
The Count of Fenris had saved the Magic Tower from ruin. Yet Hubert’s obstinate behavior remained unchanged.
Nevertheless, the elders decided to visit Fenris themselves, bearing gifts and congratulations.
Maintaining a good relationship was vital for securing future Runestones.
Thus, the elders of the Crimson Flame Tower arrived at Fenris, laden with magical tools as gifts.
Thanks to Claude’s remarkable negotiating skills, Fenris quickly amassed an enormous amount of cash.
This was all made possible by the network Claude had painstakingly built among the merchant guilds.
“Hurry up and take it!”
He nervously distributed the pioneering rewards to the soldiers and laborers. Those who wished could receive part of their compensation in food.
Once the rewards were handled, the territory erupted into a festive atmosphere.
“Wow! I’ve never held this much money in my life!”
“I knew it was the right choice to follow our lord!”
“Our territory is the best! The lord is the best!”
The soldiers and laborers of the pioneering group couldn’t stop praising and cheering for Ghislain daily.
Just a few years ago, such a scenario was unimaginable.
Some had struggled to eat even one meal a day, while others hadn’t received fair compensation despite their hard work.
People in the North had lived hopeless lives for so long.
But everything changed after Ghislain became the lord. For them, it was as if the world itself had transformed.
This change in environment brought about astonishing effects.
“I’ll protect this territory even if it costs me my life.”
“This is our only hope.”
“All we need to do is follow the lord until the end.”
Everyone started receiving fair compensation, and their wealth began to grow. Naturally, their quality of life improved as well.
With this came a shift in their mindset. When people have something worth protecting whether it’s wealth or family they grow stronger.
In particular, their loyalty to Ghislain surged to unprecedented heights.
Those who had received large sums of money began spending freely within the territory. Merchant guilds brought in all sorts of luxury goods and alcoholic beverages to meet the demand.
The revitalized economy turned the territory more vibrant than ever.
“Our lord is truly amazing! Imagine breaking through an army of a million enemies alone. Incredible!”
“Really? A million monsters actually appeared?”
“Yes! I was right there with him, helping to take them down!”
Rumors, as they often do, grew more exaggerated with time. Soon, Ghislain became a superhuman who had single-handedly triumphed over a million foes.
The soldiers didn’t know exactly how many Grexes had swarmed them. All they remembered was that there had been an overwhelming number.
And so, as the stories grew wilder, the territory’s energy soared. Yet, Claude’s face grew darker and more haggard.
“Money… we’re out of money…”
The rush to distribute the rewards had drained their cash reserves once again.
Of course, resources were still plentiful and would continue to accumulate. Selling them over time would eventually bring in large sums of money again.
The problem was that the local merchant guilds had also run dry of cash after the recent transactions. With no immediate funds available, Claude was left in a bind.
“Ugh! This is so annoying! Tell everyone to tighten their belts this month! There’s no money!”
Watching Claude lose his temper daily, Belinda, Gillian, Vanessa, and Galbarik couldn’t help but tread carefully around him.
‘We’ve brought back a mountain of valuables, yet there’s no money. Is there any other territory as frustrating as this?’
While everyone else enjoyed the celebratory atmosphere, Claude sat gloomily over his paperwork, muttering to himself.
“Hmm… well, we’ll manage somehow. In two or three months, the cash flow will stabilize.”
Resources were abundant; it was just a matter of time. Claude figured they just needed to tighten their belts for a short while and endure.
“With the businesses now entering a stabilization phase… surely the lord won’t come up with any more projects.”
They were in the process of merging the Desmond estate and steadily strengthening their military forces. Production across various sectors was increasing as well.
Improving the standard of living and culture for the people would take time. As long as things continued on this path, there shouldn’t be any surprises.
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed unlikely the lord would initiate anything new.
“Alright, now the lord can just sit back and observe the ongoing operations in the territory…”
Before Claude could finish his thought, the door to his office swung open with a bang, and Ghislain strode in.
“It’s time to begin the next task.”
“…What is it this time?”
“We’re establishing the Fenris Mercenary Corps.”
Claude pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a deep sigh.