Evan D. Sherden makes his Gorgeous Debut (1)
On the day that Evan and Anastasia's deal took place, Evan asked her to agree to a business proposal. He would teach her how to train as a druid, and in exchange, he would make her the next Duchess of Leonine. If she became the next duchess, Matthew wouldn't dare challenge the kingship.
"I heard that the duke has educated his children to divide and manage parts of the Duchy, correct?"
"Yeah."
Just as the Sherden family gave their children tasks, the duke gave assignments to his children. The only difference was that the Sherden family was educating their children, while the tasks given to the Leonine children were used to gauge their abilities.
'As a bonus, it has practical benefits outside of education. The mass of land they occupy is too large to govern with the power of one alone. Even decades after the Duchy was declared, they didn't fully understand that until now.'
A significant portion of the Duchy's territory was like an unclaimed treasure chest that hadn't been opened. Valuable gold and silver awaited inside of it.
"The princess is fifteen years old this year."
"Yeah. This year, I will be given an assignment…that's why I wanted to be strong."
Anastasia cautiously nodded in agreement. At the age of fifteen, she would be assigned a manor management task, no matter how much she wanted to stay in that garden. She would be driven out of the duke's residence to live outside. But before that had happened, she had met Shine and, through him, Evan.
"It isn't completely safe yet. Battles with natives trying to regain their home happen from time to time and monsters often invade…"
"Why are they throwing their child into such a place?"
"Yes, it is a bit tough for a kid of fifteen."
The Sherden family greatly differed from the Leonine family in that regard. However, it made this operation possible. If she could prove her ability, she could set herself up for the future.
"If you manage and develop the province well enough to provide a huge benefit to the Leonines, we will be able to change who the successor is."
"Really…is that possible?"
Anastasia seemed anxious at the bold claims, but Evan nodded without a second thought
"It would be weird for you not to become the next duke if you did something Matthew couldn't compare to."
"But I…I haven't done anything yet."
"We will do it now. Then, let's talk in earnest. Of course, on the condition, you don't question where I got the information."
Evan's knowledge of the Yo-ma Great War series was absurd. With it, it would be easy to become number one on the continent. However, he had no intention of attracting the world's attention that much. The businesses he had now were making enough money for him.
'It will be an overwhelming benefit in the long run to have a reliable collaborator to distribute the benefits!'
At the time of Yo-ma Great War 4, a vein of absurdly valuable magic metal would be found in the abandoned land of the Duchy. After the duke's death, it was occupied by the pseudo-church that kept a tight regulation on it. There was only one way to find the weapons or armour made from it, but that didn't matter. What was important was that Evan remembered the exact location of the vein.
"You can ask for this area, near Menton. It's a barren and dangerous environment that isn't valuable, so you should get it."
"A barren and dangerous environment…can I survive it?"
"You have more than half a year. During that time, if you practice according to the training method I teach you, you will be safe. Or, if you can stop by the dungeon city and level up. Yes, that would be nice."
It was only a three-day carriage ride to reach the dungeon city from the Duchy. Of course, it would take her another day or so with the number of retainers that would have to join her, but it was a feasible journey.
"The duke won't send a princess alone. You would need an escort, and perhaps some merchants to conduct business."
"But…"
"The princess also knows, the Duchy's people live in Menaton. It's dangerous, but it is also a place where ordinary people live."
"Ugh."
As an aristocrat, Anastasia knew it wouldn't look good to avoid the places where her people lived.
"Shine…"
"Yeah? Oh, don't worry too much. The master often orders us to do crazy things, but we never die. You'll be safe."
"Hey, you. Say something more comforting than that."
"No, but it's true. I've never lost by listening to the master's advice."
"… here."
Anastasia, who had been depressed by the challenges awaiting her, burst into laughter at Shine. Shortly after, she took in a deep breath and raised her head, pulling together her tattered courage. She looked straight at Evan.
"Yes, I will. So…you want the vein?"
"Yeah. What I want is to trade for that metal. The Duchy cannot process it, so you'll have no choice but to export it. Then I can sell the weapons made by processing it cheap." The processing would be done by Evan and other alchemists. They would have a practical monopoly on the magic metal and items crafted from it, which was a business deal like no other.
"If we do that…"
"If I had offered this directly to the duke, he would be carrying me around the Duchy by now. This alone will increase your position, I bet."
The Duchy, which had a lot of enemies to fight, needed the highest quality weapons. What if they could be regularly supplied with weapons from the famous dungeon city?
"But is that okay? I heard that the dungeon city shouldn't interfere with other provinces…"
"It's okay if we're not sending troops or giving away free weapons. And I'm not here as the second son of the Sherden family but as the representative of the Brotherhood Corporation."
It skirted the lines, but it didn't violate the rules of the dungeon city. Evan's merchant house wasn't subordinate to the city.
"Of course, it would be strange for anyone to find a vein of metal as soon as the manor was built. There is also a possibility you might be used. So first, let's sign a construction contract. In the middle of building an excellent building for you, we found a vein, and you signed an additional contract with
us."
"I can do that…you really are as smart as people say."
"It only seems that way because I have some information that others don't. I'm just a kid."
Evan bitterly smiled at the princess's admiration and wrote a contract on the spot. He was planning to intensively manage the Brotherhood Corporations business, including the construction of the estate.
"Oh, I also need to make a fake contract. Because we can't expose our real purposes to the duke from now on, the real thing should be kept secret by you. It's a contract written by a druid, so it's possible."
"Yeah."
Evan had been quite good at contracts even back on Earth. Of course, it wouldn't hurt her, but it was a favourable deal for the corporation.
"Then, with this…is it done?"
"The first step is. It's still a bit weak. The second step will be to make our relationship stronger. Until then, you'll have to practice diligently."
How far ahead had this child planned? He was reliable but a little scary. Anastasia healed her heart by glancing over at Shine. It was even lovely how he tilted his head in confusion at her gaze. She clenched her fists.
"There are additional provisions I want."
"Ah."
Her assertion was weak, but Evan listened to it. Nothing could be achieved without a little greed.
"What is it? I will be happy to listen to it if it's not too much."
"That's…here."
As she did when they first met, she took out a small note, scribbled on it, and handed it over to Evan. Once more, he checked it without letting Shine see it.
I would like you to send Shine regularly.'
"Hm."
He couldn't let Shine go at any time she wanted…but he might be able to work around that easily enough. Evan gladly nodded.
"Not often, but occasionally if you can get consent."
"Ah, thank you! Thank you very much!"
"Huh…snrk."
Evan burst into laughter at the sight of her rejoicing boldly. It was especially funny that Shine had no clue what was happening.
In this way, the great work of the Brotherhood Corporation continued.