The Meaning Of Ing And Rad (10)

“Welcome, Viscount Ingrad.”

I greeted Princess Onellia of Briden with courtesy as she came out to meet me.

“It has been a while. Did the Lilith Trading Company make any mistakes?”

“They treated me so hospitably that it was almost overwhelming. Thanks to them, I was able to return home safely.”

“That is a relief. Before, I only asked after your well-being through letters, but it is truly a pleasure to see you face-to-face again.”

Onellia spoke as if she found it fascinating while listening to my words.

“You seem to have changed compared to before.”

“Changed… that may be so. My circumstances are not exactly favorable.”

It was not something to say in a setting that could be considered diplomacy, but I judged that there was no need for a massive battle of nerves since the relationship between Briden and us was simply one where both sides needed to gain profit.

And Briden would likely not be ignorant of the Terakan Empire’s situation. This was because information on powerful nations was an essential element for any country to keep track of.

“Forgive me, but I would like to ask what you plan to do in the future; could you tell me?”

Looking around, I saw a person who appeared quite aged behind the princess.

“Is it alright for those behind you to hear this?”

“They are all people who can be considered my father’s limbs. They are the ones who protect and support me.”

It meant they were allies. So, I nodded and brought up another topic first.

“The story might get long, so I would like to move to a suitable location first. Our presence here alone is a distraction to those working over there.”

The place I pointed to was the group of workers who had stopped their tasks and were waiting with their heads bowed upon the princess’s appearance. They seemed to be waiting to avoid making noise, and Onellia walked ahead, saying, “I made a mistake, didn’t I?”

In the place I moved to following Onellia, a fancy-looking temporary tent had been set up, and looking inside where the curtains were drawn, I could tell it was quite well-equipped for convenience.

“It seems this is where the Princess rests?”

“Yes. It is a magic item that can block threats from the outside to some extent if you close the curtains and activate the mana stones inside. It is a precious item used when hunting competitions are held outside, and my father sent it with me since I was coming here.”

I thought he was extremely devoted. I wondered if he was a ‘daughter-obsessed’ king, but considering I had heard she was an only child, I thought such devotion was perhaps natural.

Moreover, had not a figure who could be called a core member tried to covet the princess recently?

“By the way, what happened to that noble from back then?”

I had received word that he had settled his domain and disappeared, but I had not heard about the circumstances after that.

“He went into exile in another country. It seems he valued his life, at least.”

Exile, I thought they were quite amusing humans. Committing a crime and then fleeing abroad—I thought the world was similar everywhere—and Princess Onellia spoke while lightly clapping her hands.

“Let’s stop the gloomy talk and discuss something constructive. This spot would be good.”

It was a table inside the tent, and Onellia sat in one of the two chairs first and invited me to take a seat.

A few nobles in the back showed signs of discomfort at this, but Onellia did not seem to care, and I also did not need to be mindful of them, so I sat down immediately and reached out my hand toward Matilda.

Then, Matilda took out well-organized documents and placed them in my hand.

“First, please receive and read these documents.”

At those words, I handed the documents to a servant who approached, and they were taken to Onellia, who received them and began reading through.

Then, after a while, Onellia let out a “Hmm.”

“This says you will utilize this place as it is, and as for the port, you will grant permission for it to be used as an intercontinental trade route?”

“That is correct. First, when exchanging a large volume of goods at once, I plan to receive a certain amount of commission here and ‘deliver’ them to our domain side. I plan to add a few more tracks on the way and operate up to eight ‘trains,’ and the travel time will take one day.”

“That is quite a fast speed…?”

“As for the volume, quite a lot of weight can be transported as written there, and the cost is also quite cheap.”

“Hmm… 2,000 large gold coins for a single delivery… it would indeed be an opportunity to bring in abundant supplies from the Central Continent cheaply…?”

Onellia was quick at calculations. Furthermore, she asked cautiously while weighing several possibilities.

“The only way to move people is still that thing from back then, right?”

“Most likely. Why? Are you interested?”

At my words, a contemplative Onellia asked.

“I am curious about what conditions would be required to be granted one medal.”

“Just one?”

“I judged that I need something that can be used in the worst-case scenario.”

She was likely referring to a case where a disaster like the last one occurred, or she had something else in mind. However, since it was an item that allowed one to enter and exit the Forest of the Demon Dragon, where human entry itself had not been permitted until now, I thought its value would transcend imagination.

In short, when danger struck, one could choose the Forest of the Demon Dragon as a final place of refuge.

The Forest of the Demon Dragon was no different from a natural fortress as long as one did not encounter monsters.

Moreover, the personality of the Demon Dragon, who thoroughly appeared and dealt with humans if they entered the forest, was not easy, so it could be said that the value increased even further.

“What can you do for me?”

In times like this, I judged it was good to receive an initial offer. This was because they would first state a limit that they thought would not be excessive.

Therefore, I thought it would be a good deal if I applied ‘+/-’ through bargaining. And Onellia, having caught on to my intention, did some calculations and made a proposal.

“How about if we exempt the trade tariffs for the Ingrad Domain?”

At that moment, a stir began behind Onellia. This was because trade tariffs were one of the things directly linked to a nation’s revenue. Moreover, since most of our domain’s items were in a certain price range, they were items that would create quite a decent profit if tariffs were applied.

But to exempt this?

It was essentially giving up a huge national interest that could be obtained from us. I wondered if it was an item worth that much, but Onellia seemed to think differently.

“Thinking of the item’s value, I believe I could give even greater things. But I do not think it is a loss. I know that carriages can also run on the Sky Bridge passing through the Forest of the Demon Dragon. Is that correct?”

“That is correct. It is a bridge built quite large.”

Nodding her head, Onellia spoke.

“In the southern part of the Central Continent, there are very many things that qualify as high-end goods. Especially when they cross over to our Northern Continent, there are a few whose value skyrockets. But what if those can be brought over in a short period through the Forest of the Demon Dragon? Would it really be more profitable to receive tariffs from the Ingrad Domain? Or would the profit obtainable from those goods that can be brought in large quantities be greater?”

A few conditions would be attached, but looking only at pure profit, I thought the more the transaction volume, the more it would be a gain for Briden.

Furthermore, what if one person bought goods by pulling dozens of carriages in a line?

Once I thought that far, the value of the medal looked different, but to be honest, unlike me, who stopped at the level of saying ‘I see’ upon hearing it because I was already earning astronomically just by selling the chocolate called Black Gold, the nobles of Briden began to stir.

‘It is certainly a difference in perspective… but the value of an item varies vastly depending on its use…’

It felt like I had learned something, and I thought it was rather a good thing that I could be exempted from trade tariffs.

Although it was limited to Briden, Briden was not such a small country, and it was a nation belonging to the top two among the five kingdoms existing on the Northern Continent.

So, in many ways, it could be said to be a deal where both sides could take their profit.

Afterward, I had to discuss for a quite long time while coordinating the transaction requests, transaction methods, and schedules for various items, and as a result, I was able to finish the consultation with both sides having satisfied expressions.

“It was a good deal.”

“For me as well. By the way, I have something I am curious about; could you answer it?”

“What is it?”

Onellia tilted her head, and I felt she was cute, but I stopped my thoughts right there and asked the question.

“From what I heard, I know that beastkin have been treated as ‘monsters.’ But I was curious about the reason you readily stepped forward to trade with our domain.”

“Certainly, in the past, many people used to look at beastkin in that manner. However, the situation has been changing a lot recently.”

“Why is that?”

“Should I say it is thanks to the Ingrad Domain?”

Since it was an unexpected answer, I asked for the reason, and Onellia spoke by giving an example.

“The various types of medicine made in the Ingrad Domain are medicines that even we in the Northern Continent need. No, perhaps it would be correct to say the whole world needs them. Because of that, naturally, information about the Ingrad Domain gets investigated, and in that process, things about beastkin also became known. Their lifestyle, what kind of profit could be gained if they could just be utilized, and so on; quite a lot of powerful people have come to think differently about beastkin. Thanks to that, some nations tried to utilize the sea beastkin who had been used in a form close to exploitation… but it was after they had all vanished.”

Then, showing a smile toward me, Onellia spoke further.

“I did not imagine that even the whale beastkin, who can be called the main axis of the sea beastkin, would be staying in the Ingrad Domain.”

“I have no prejudice against beastkin, and first of all, I can prevent the ‘Berserk’ state, which can be called a heavenly curse to them. Is it not natural that the beastkin would come to rely on me?”

“That is what I am so envious of. Many powerful people want it… but since it cannot be helped, should I call it a cake in a picture? By any chance, as for selling the medicine to the outside…”

“I will never sell it. Even because of the concern that using them as slaves might occur.”

“….Slavery is not a bad thing. But even if I explain it to the current Viscount, it probably won’t get through, right?”

I just looked at Onellia without a word. It was a moment where our gazes crossed and I could see the difference in perception between Onellia and me.

Afterward, we began the process of working the related consultation contents into documents, and in the meantime, I had to watch the two groups exchange various raised voices, but the situation was such that particularly loud noises were coming from the Briden Kingdom’s side.

Presumably, because Briden was a nation where women’s rights were very weak, they had expressions of dissatisfaction at the fact that she was discussing important matters with a woman, to the point where I wanted to finish the work here quickly and go back.

‘If it weren’t for mutual interests… I wouldn’t need to be involved with such a nation…’

Briden, with its strong sense of being primitive; it did not feel like it would be a good companion.