Chapter 26: Chapter 26
Chapter 26 - The Man Who Knows How to Shape the Future
"An... absurd story, you say...?"
"Whether you believe what I’m about to tell you or not doesn’t matter. Just listen."
"I-I understand."
Stephan did exactly as requested and simply listened.
His mind was in complete turmoil, but it wasn’t entirely impossible to keep listening.
Ferda began his story.
"This is the future I envision."
Ferda did not speak as though he were trying to sell or glorify something.
He simply focused on recounting exactly what he had seen, heard, and experienced.
As Stephan listened, he picked out the key points one by one.
’A carriage that moves without horses. A device powered by Mana, yet requiring no Mages...’
Stephan had grown up being called a genius, and he possessed exceptional business instincts.
A merchant’s instinct was simple.
Take the profit, discard the loss.
What exactly was Ferda talking about?
’An impossible dream.’
By Stephan’s common sense, such things could never exist.
A story that should have been dismissed immediately.
’And yet... somehow, it sounds plausible.’
These weren’t sweet whispers meant to lure someone into a trap.
There was none of the exaggeration or hidden deception typical of swindlers.
It felt as though a grandfather were simply telling children about things he had personally seen and experienced.
He spoke so calmly that, despite how unbelievable the story was, the scenes naturally formed inside Stephan’s mind.
Stephan didn’t even know what to call this feeling.
But he became convinced of one thing.
’This will definitely make money!’
His mind had regained its clarity, but his hands were trembling.
"That’s all. That is the future I imagine."
Stephan finally opened the mouth he had kept shut while listening.
"That future... is it perhaps related to the research Your Excellency the Regent has been conducting?"
Stephan asked with a pounding heart.
The shock was so overwhelming that he had even forgotten to stutter.
"Of course."
"T-Then! Please... could you tell me what it is?! I beg you!"
Unable to contain his excitement, Stephan pleaded with Ferda.
"It’s called Magitech Engineering."
"Magitech... Engineering."
The name sounded vaguely familiar.
But the reason Stephan couldn’t remember it was undoubtedly because it hadn’t seemed profitable back then.
’If I thought it was worthless back then, I should still think so now...’
Yet this was the first time he truly felt he was about to miss an incredibly valuable opportunity.
He couldn’t let it slip away.
"If your research requires monster corpses, how about letting us help?"
"You mean you’ll cooperate?"
"Yes. We’ll provide them."
Leaning back in his chair, Ferda asked,
"What do you want in return?"
"We want to be involved in manufacturing and distributing Magitech Engineering products."
Stephan openly revealed his desire.
Ferda’s voice became even more serious.
"Only manufacturing and distribution?"
"To be honest, I want exclusive rights."
Stephan answered without hesitation.
An exclusive contract.
Whatever it was, having sole ownership would become an enormous weapon.
"I know that’s an enormous request. Therefore, everything else will be adjusted according to Your Excellency’s wishes. I only ask that we receive exclusive rights over all products derived from that research."
Stephan strongly emphasized his desire for exclusivity.
Ferda appeared almost completely indifferent.
"What we’re researching is something that will change the world. If you wish to monopolize that, you’ll need to show sincerity beyond simply supporting the research."
"What would you like us to do?"
Sensing the perfect opportunity, Ferda made his proposal.
"I want construction materials for road development, supplies for the development of the Grand Duchess’s territory, and emergency food reserves—all to receive top priority."
The requests flowed naturally from Ferda’s lips, leaving Stephan genuinely startled.
"You’re asking for quite a lot..."
"Is there something wrong with a nation’s leader wanting to develop his country?"
"N-Not at all. Haha..."
Though he smiled outwardly like a fool, Stephan couldn’t help but think carefully.
’Providing those three things isn’t actually impossible.’
Among the three Pascal siblings, Stephan possessed by far the greatest wealth and resources.
Road construction was inevitable if they were to become partners.
He also had more than enough supplies and food reserves to spare.
Yet something still made him hesitate.
’Top priority...’
Stephan knew exactly how terrifying those words were.
Even if someone else offered a fortune to buy those goods first, "top priority" meant gritting your teeth and supplying them at the agreed price instead.
His merchant’s instincts screamed at him to avoid such an agreement.
"Your expression doesn’t look very good."
"Huh? N-No?"
"It seems giving me top priority isn’t very appealing to you."
"N-Not at all. Why would it be?"
Even when the answer was yes, the correct response was always no.
That was the most basic rule.
"Think about it. No matter how much wealth you accumulate, nothing is more tragic than dying before enjoying it."
Stephan flinched.
"A-Are you threatening me?"
"No. This isn’t a threat. It’s a story about your future. Herman Pascal is already quite old, isn’t he?"
"Ah..."
Stephan immediately understood what Ferda meant.
He remembered something he had deliberately pushed aside.
’That detestable brother and younger sister...’
Merchit and Tilda.
Weren’t the two of them constantly putting pressure on him?
"Even if you must endure losses, isn’t becoming the master of the trading company an irresistible offer?"
"T-The master of the trading company..."
To Stephan, the Pascal Trading Company was everything.
It wasn’t merely wealth.
It was his very life.
"As much as you cooperate with me, I’ll cooperate with you as well. Everything Herman Pascal built—and the trading company you’ve helped grow—will become yours."
Stephan weighed everything in his heart.
What Ferda demanded.
What Ferda had shown him.
And what Stephan himself would have to offer.
Without question, this was a deal that overwhelmingly favored Ferda.
’The Grand Duchess... no, the Regent... can become someone who stands behind me.’
Ferda Rosnova.
At first, Stephan hadn’t thought much of him as a connection.
Calling the Grand Duchess Valdrova’s husband his powerful connection would only earn ridicule.
People would simply think he was so desperate that he would even cling to a rotten rope.
Most people underestimated him.
Stephan had believed that as well.
’But that’s not true.’
Seeing him in person was completely different.
He was a man who radiated brilliance worthy of an emperor.
Even now, sitting face to face with him, Stephan couldn’t shake the feeling that he was still underestimating him.
’This man knows how to shape the future.’
Not childish fantasies drawn by boastful nobles.
Even when his plans were sketched with rough lines, the finished image remained crystal clear.
He possessed conviction.
And he possessed the ability to make it reality.
’Something I could never possess.’
The absolute charisma Stephan himself lacked.
He wanted to say it.
He wanted to agree immediately.
Those words rose to his throat.
"May I ask one question?"
But he held them back.
Answering one beat later was the shortcut to becoming a truly great merchant.
"Go ahead."
"I have an older brother and a younger sister. Why did you choose me instead of them?"
Ferda answered honestly.
"I’ll be frank. There’s nothing to gain from siding with them."
A cold, calculated judgment.
"And you’re lonely and isolated. That makes you the easiest one to use."
"Ugh..."
Ferda’s honesty was almost brutal.
Stephan, who had tried to test him, ended up being the one caught off guard.
"That’s why I’m making you this offer. Will you survive by accepting some losses, or will you simply be pushed aside?"
Stephan realized how shallow his own thinking had been.
To think he had actually tried to test a man like this.
"I’ll do it."
Then he added the words he had nearly forgotten.
"I’ll do it no matter what."
Stephan knelt before him and bowed deeply.
Ferda leaned forward and extended his hand.
"I look forward to working with you."
"The honor is mine, Your Excellency the Regent."
Stephan thought to himself.
No matter what offer anyone else made him in the future, nothing would ever make his heart race more than the deal they had struck today.
***
The territory of Count Consilus.
Today, a soldier who had been someone’s father and someone’s husband lost his life.
He met a glorious death while buying time to protect the farmers from the monsters that had attacked the fields.
The priests sprinkled holy water over the body as they conducted the funeral rites, while the soldiers raised their swords to honor the fallen.
Even Count Consilus attended the funeral of an ordinary soldier.
The aged lord could no longer wield a sword, yet he never missed the funeral of a soldier, always paying his respects to the dead.
Although it was something he always did, today felt different.
Even after the funeral had ended, Ulvera Consilus remained standing before the grave instead of leaving.
"Arwen..."
He called the name of the Knight standing behind him.
"Yes, my lord."
"What news from the Empire? What became of the letter we requested?"
Arwen forced himself to answer in an uncomfortable voice.
"They said it would take some time. Supplying the Imperial soldiers comes first..."
" ’First,’ is it..."
Ulvera Consilus stroked his beard.
Having lived a life balanced on a tightrope, Ulvera Consilus rarely showed his emotions.
In a world where today’s emotional outburst could become tomorrow’s death sentence, he had trained himself to smile kindly at all times.
If not today, then tomorrow.
If not tomorrow, then the day after.
"You sons of bitches... lower than dogs..."
Even Count Consilus could no longer keep smiling.
"Supplying the Imperial soldiers comes first? Are we not subjects of the Empire as well? We, who stand on the front lines, suffer monster attacks every single day! Is the Emperor so afraid of a little crime within the Empire that he’d rather arm city guards than those protecting the frontier?!"
"Please calm yourself, my lord."
"How truly disgraceful. I’ve never claimed to have lived an honorable life, but I believed I had never lived a shameful one. Yet today... this is the first time I have ever felt such shame."
When Count Consilus heard how the soldier had died, it felt as though his heart had shattered.
The sword the soldier had used to hold back the monsters had broken just as he was about to land the decisive blow.
It had been a standard-issued weapon, one he had carried for five years.
It was a miracle it hadn’t broken sooner.
Count Consilus understood better than anyone how important military strength was.
At the very least, he had never neglected the training of his soldiers in order to protect his territory, and he had always believed that commanders should lead by example to strengthen their soldiers’ resolve.
But even the strongest determination was helpless in the face of inadequate supplies.
The Empire’s interior was peaceful, but the frontier was in a constant state of war.
Casualties caused by monsters occurred without end.
"Forgive me..."
Grasping the soldier’s gravestone, Count Consilus fell to his knees.
"Please forgive this incompetent old man... This is my failure."
"My lord, you are not incompetent! This is only because we were too inadequate!"
"No, it’s my fault!"
"It’s my fault!"
Arwen knelt, and every soldier under his command knelt as well.
Count Consilus wept bitterly for a long time.
Only after crying for what felt like an eternity did he rise again with Arwen’s support.
He began walking back toward his residence.
At that moment, he heard an uproar outside the castle gate.
It was loud enough to penetrate the high, thick walls.
Instead of returning to his residence, Count Consilus questioned the gate guard.
"What is happening?"
"Sir! We were just looking for you, Count!"
"You were looking for me?"
"Yes. A long line of wagons has emerged through the forest outside. They appear to be merchants, but we’ve refused them entry because they seemed suspicious..."
"Merchants are suspicious?"
"They claim to be from the Pascal Trading Company."
That was certainly suspicious.
There was no reason for a company as large as the Pascal Trading Company to come all the way to this far eastern frontier.
It was only natural to suspect they were bandits disguised as merchants.
"I understand. I’ll see them myself."
A cold gleam entered Consilus’s eyes.
If they truly were bandits, he had every intention of drawing his sword and staining it with their blood.
Opening the side gate, Count Consilus stepped outside.
Standing before the main gate was a well-dressed middle-aged man mounted on horseback.
"I’ve come to see Count Consilus. Our wagons are waiting helplessly in the forest, which is quite dangerous. Would you be willing to open the gates?"
"The man standing before you is Count Ulvera Consilus. Show proper respect."
At Arwen’s warning, the middle-aged man jumped off his horse in alarm and immediately knelt.
"M-My deepest apologies. These old eyes failed me. Please forgive my disrespect, Count."
"It’s fine. Who are you? Bringing this many wagons to a place like this is bound to make people suspicious."
"My apologies for the late introduction. We are from the Pascal Trading Company."
"I’ve already heard that. Do you have proof?"
"Certainly."
The man produced identification papers.
Bearing the Imperial seal and insignia, they unmistakably proved he belonged to the Pascal Trading Company.
"What brings you here?"
"We’ve come to discuss establishing a branch office within your territory, Count Consilus."
"If the Pascal Trading Company intends to establish a branch... does that mean you’re interested in trade in the Far East?"
He was even more astonished.
Establishing a branch meant they intended to stimulate commerce throughout the surrounding region.
Yet there was no reason for a major trading company to invest in the Far East.
From a business standpoint, it was far more sensible to expand safely throughout the Central Region than to take risks on the dangerous frontier.
"We received orders from headquarters. We’ve been instructed to make supplying materials, improving roads, and establishing a Far Eastern branch our highest priorities. After evaluating the area, your territory was selected as the ideal location. If you grant us permission to establish a branch here, we’re fully prepared to begin immediately."
Count Consilus stared blankly at the endless line of wagons that had emerged from the forest.
"So... did you come intending to build an entire city?"
"Haha, not at all. While we have brought construction materials, we also heard that your territory hasn’t been receiving adequate supplies recently. Therefore, in place of the Empire, our trading company has selected the finest goods from our inventory and brought them here to supply your territory."
"Supplies...!"
Count Consilus hurried toward the wagons and examined their cargo.
"Gasp!"
His wrinkled eyes widened in disbelief.
Those wagons carried treasures more precious than mountains of gold.
’Everything I requested... it’s all here!’
Weapons.
Maintenance supplies.
Even food reserves that could be stored for emergencies.
From the smallest necessities to the most critical resources, everything was loaded onto those wagons.
Count Consilus picked up one of the issued swords.
There was no doubt.
It was of the highest quality.
At the very least, it was sturdy enough that it would never snap in the middle of a battle against monsters.
"Why would the Pascal Trading Company... invest in a place like the Far East?"
Count Consilus was genuinely bewildered.
No matter what, he had to know the answer.
The middle-aged man replied.
"This project is being carried out in coordination with the representative of Grand Duchess Valdrova."
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