episode_0192

After creating an ally called the cooperative family, it was immediately decided to import crops that became raw materials for textiles.

Of course, it wasn’t just about saying ‘I’ll import it~’. Since I had a transportation business called Rosy Skeleton, I decided to import through it.

It wouldn’t be a problem to entrust the transportation to someone else, but doing so would result in a large expense for transportation, so it was better to sign an additional contract with Logis Skeleton.

The heads of the families that would become the collaborating families also welcomed the decision. This is because they quickly realized that not only would they not bear any part of the shipping costs, but that there would be significant additional benefits that could be gained through Logis Skeleton.

It was only natural that it was decided to provide some benefits to cooperating families through transportation via Logis Skeleton.

“Hahahahaha! Viscount Steele! Please stop by our estate next time! Our estate has many crops other than flax and cotton that are used to make alcohol, so the taste of the alcohol is amazing!”

“When it comes to alcohol, our territory cannot be left out. Plus, since our estate also raises livestock, we have high-quality meat!”

The nobles, who felt that being with me would actually bring greater benefits, showed a completely different reaction from their cold reaction when we first met.

There were many people who not only invited people to their territory without even asking anyone first, but also tried to give them gifts as if to ask them to look at them a little more.

I didn’t intend to give them any special treatment by inviting them or giving them gifts, but I didn’t refuse their favor. Since it was like a community in the form of a cooperative family, it was necessary to pay some attention to it.

Of course, I had no intention of making them completely relax. As much as I benefited them, they also had to help me generate benefits.

“For your information, you must pay some attention to the quality of the flax and cotton you deliver to me. The reason I sell things cheaply is not because the quality is low.”

“Oh, don’t worry! Our Divide family’s cotton is famous for being of better quality than other families’ cotton!”

“Hehehe. Anyone who hears this will misunderstand, Baron Divide. I have never heard that the quality of our Shea family’s cotton is inferior.”

The nobles responded that they were confident about the quality. But I wasn’t so immature that I just believed what was said.

“It’s good to hear that you are confident in the quality. But wouldn’t the standards of quality be different for each person? So, I’ll check the quality with the elves later. Of course, good quality crops will command a higher price.”

The nobles looked shocked when they heard that they would check the quality. It’s not certain, but it seemed like they exaggerated it a bit for the purpose of raising their value.

However, perhaps because of what they said, they could not resist the idea of checking the quality.

“Viscount Steel. first… … Please do not misunderstand and listen. What are you going to do with the slightly lower quality ones? I don’t know if you know this, but that’s what growing crops is like. The condition of crops changes every time due to factors such as time and weather as well as soil strength. Making it consistent is a skill, but there can be unexpected situations.”

“Of course, low quality does not mean that you will unconditionally refuse to purchase. You can make things like rope with low-quality materials. Instead, the value will inevitably be lower than that corresponding to the standard value.”

When I added that the price would not be slashed by citing low quality as the reason, the nobles seemed a little relieved.

Moreover, they were not the only ones delivering the goods, so they no longer had to worry. Since I am also a supplier of iron products, I thought I would not mess with quality.

The nobles, who thought they had no choice but to be faithful to each other, talked for a while longer and then left with very satisfied faces.

I could say that I was very satisfied with the transaction, so I stood up with a faint smile.

“Viscount Steele. His Majesty the Crown Prince is waiting for you.”

And, as soon as I got up from my seat, someone who appeared to be an attendant approached me and told me that the crown prince was waiting. It was clear that he wanted to confirm cooperation with the nobles, so he immediately followed the attendant’s guidance and headed to where the crown prince was waiting.

“Did the story end well?”

“Yes, thanks to you, the story was resolved easily.”

To the Crown Prince, who seemed curious about what kind of conversation they had, I briefly summarized the conversation I had with the nobles.

“It’s a cooperative family, so it’s a pretty good method. No, in some ways it is even evil.”

“… … Yes?”

“No, that’s right. While you are waving the carrot of benefits, you are also holding the stick that determines the unit price of delivery with your other hand. Won’t I have no choice but to follow you? If they close the textile business and start selling only raw materials, the territory’s economy will be completely dependent on you, but after time passes, it seems like everything will depend on you.”

“… … I didn’t think about it that far.”

I was taken aback by the Crown Prince’s words that the plan was so evil that it felt like a plan. But at the same time, I thought that what the Crown Prince said was not just impossible. I felt like there was a lot of potential and that I could achieve it if I wanted to.

Of course, it just felt that way, but I didn’t really have such a plan.

It was just a means to get along well with each other, and as the Crown Prince said, those conditions were not put in place with the intention of controlling and swaying others.

“It’s okay. That’s how an aristocratic society is.”

However, the Crown Prince seemed to have no intention of believing what I said, and joked that it was normal and he could act proudly. He said there was no need to hide it from himself.

I shook my head lightly at that sight. Seeing how confident he seemed, I felt like even if I tried to explain it, my mouth would get tired.

Still, I thought that if I stayed like this, people might think that I was planning a very evil plan, so I decided to shake off the crown prince’s distracting thoughts.

“Deterioration. Now I’m thinking of going back to the territory. The schedule is considerably longer than originally expected, and we will need to move quickly to import raw materials and quickly dominate the market.”

“Ah, I see. Then I’ll sing Chemis so wait a moment. He said that he would definitely go with you when you go back, and that you had to let him know when you went back. What a blessing that was… … .”

The distracting thoughts floating around in the Crown Prince’s mind must have disappeared as he spoke about the princess and let out a small sigh.

The crown prince, who started talking about what happened to his younger brother, immediately called a servant and instructed him to tell the story to the princess.

“Are you planning on importing crops and producing fiber right away when you return?”

“I am unable to push out the Marquis of Kurid due to a lack of supply of my fiber, so I plan to withdraw the quantity as quickly as possible.”

“Try hard. Oh, and please take good care of the items to be delivered to our royal family.”

“You don’t have to worry. We will prioritize the royal family over our partner families. With all the help you have given me so far, how could I give priority to something else?”

As he said that he would consider the royal family first, a soft smile appeared on the Crown Prince’s lips. The crown prince smiled as if he was quite satisfied and tapped my shoulder.

“I will continue to work hard in the future.”

The crown prince spoke as if he was cheering and then went on to say a few things.

He started by telling me to pay more attention to them from now on, as I now have nobles who are following me, and went on to say that I would look forward to seeing them play an active role.

And when the stories were all over, the princess suddenly came with perfect timing. He was accompanied by two servants carrying quite large luggage.

“Viscount Steel!”

“Princess… … ? Why is there so much luggage? … ?”

“The amount of alchemy materials and alchemy books that I couldn’t bring along with my personal baggage has increased. Would it be difficult to load it on a zombie wyvern?”

“No, it’s not that bad… … . Well, I guess it’s okay.”

I nodded, thinking that if I couldn’t put it on top, I could just tie it to the zombie wyvern’s feet.

“Chemis. I guess I can’t even see this brother anymore?”

“Ah! Was your brother there too? I thought it was just Viscount Steele. Sorry.”

“That’s it, this.”

Hearing the princess’s apology, which did not seem at all apologetic, the crown prince sighed deeply and then turned his attention to me.

“Please take good care of the chemistry. I know chemistry can help you, but please be careful not to get too carried away.”

I don’t know if it was the older brother’s feelings for his younger brother, but the Crown Prince said that he was taking good care of him.

Of course, I had no choice but to nod to the crown prince’s request.

Aside from the crown prince’s request, the princess was also an important person to me. I don’t know if it’s because of the princess’s skills, but alchemy research progresses very quickly when the princess is with her.

Anyway, the crown prince who entrusted the princess to me immediately got up and left somewhere, saying he had a lot of work to do.

“Viscount Steel. If there’s nothing more to do here, let’s go back. I can’t wait to see what the school members studied while I was away.”

Of course, the princess did not care at all that the crown prince had left. All I could do was urge him to return to my territory quickly.

Unable to resist being pushed and urged on my back, I moved straight towards my territory. The princess’s luggage, which the servants had been carrying with a whimper, was quickly carried to the zombie wyvern by a skeleton, and then flew straight into the sky.

I suddenly went up into the sky, but I didn’t stay blank. Since it would take a few days, I was thinking of making a plan for the future.

And, the plan also included the princess’s help.

“Princess. Is there a way to make fibers more elastic through alchemy? Even if you pull it hard, it won’t break.”

Naturally, that help was alchemy.

Although it is said that the supply of raw materials will become smoother through cooperative families and that supply will increase, it was clear that those who were intertwined with the Marquis of Kurid would continue to use the Marquis of Kurid’s textiles.

A special product was needed to induce those people to use my Closkeleton’s fiber rather than Marquis Kurid’s fiber.

Alchemy will make it possible to create that special product.