Ch.7979. Gift

A method to revive undead territories without loans or free support.

Considering convenience alone, simply lending money might have been better.

I could have made them sign strict contracts to prevent misuse. For example, threatening to send them to The Hero if they failed to repay.

But no matter how strict the conditions, there would always be nobles who would speculate. They’d think, “If I multiply it and pay back, everyone’s happy.”

There was nothing stopping nobles from hoarding magical tools to sell to other countries, only to lose money instead of profiting.

By that point, there would be grounds to strip them of their titles, but the territory would already be irreparably destroyed.

That’s why I decided to employ a third method.

Elder Edin showed active interest in this.

“Lord Wellesley. About that support method…”

The Elder had been hovering around me occasionally since receiving the ransom.

He probably wondered if the Papal State could receive some portion of that 80 billion. Too difficult to ask directly, so he was beating around the bush.

‘Well, he might feel shortchanged if told to go back with just 1 billion in rewards.’

However, I couldn’t give the Elder a detailed explanation.

It would be difficult to make him understand, and I couldn’t reveal where I got the idea from.

The only thing I could promise the Elder was:

“Elder. I am fully considering the Papal State’s circumstances.”

“No, that’s not what I meant to—”

“Just as with the Empire’s territories suffering from liquidity problems, I will inject funds into the Papal State as well. I’ve already thought about how to do this.”

“…I apologize for being unseemly. It’s just that the orphanages run by each diocese are in such dire straits.”

If anything, I was the one who should apologize.

The method I had in mind came from an idea I got from Gwon Heejin, the very person the Papal State despised most.

Though I had no intention of misusing it, I didn’t want to mention that name.

Gwon Heejin was now buried in front of the Grand Cathedral in the Imperial Diocese. You couldn’t find a trace of him there. They had meticulously ground his bones, mixed them with soil, and covered it with cobblestones.

But fragments of what that man had said in life remained in my mind.

From the time when I was acting as Gwon Heejin’s instructor.

He would talk endlessly even when I just nodded along halfheartedly, but if I seemed too disinterested, he would glare at me.

– Erick. You’re not listening to me, are you? That feels like shit.

At times like these, I would force myself to show interest. If I wanted to make any progress with training, I had no choice but to ask Gwon Heejin questions.

Thanks to those soulless questions, there was a conversation I still remembered.

– I apologize. What did you say?

– I said futures, man.

– Oh, you mean gifts?

– Coin futures can leverage up to 125 times. But even I think that’s a bit much. You can lose everything in the blink of an eye. I’m more interested in… how should I put it… creating the platform itself when it comes to coins.

– I see there are other things too.

– Right. But you don’t even know what futures are, do you?

– What would I know?

When I responded like this, Gwon Heejin clicked his tongue and said, “I’ll have to explain it so you can understand,” and started rambling as if doing me a favor.

I couldn’t understand his explanation either. I just wished he would be quiet.

However, there was one thing I unintentionally understood.

– It’s buying in advance at the current price. How can you not understand that?

Then, seemingly losing interest, Gwon Heejin moved on to the next topic. He started bombarding me with questions about the female knights standing guard at the Imperial Palace.

Anyway, the concept of “buying in advance” had potential for application.

‘I suppose it could be applied to products other than coins.’

In truth, most of the devastated territories had similar economic structures. The majority of territory residents were farmers who paid a portion of their harvest as tax to the lord. The lord would then sell these goods to obtain gold coins.

But now, many territories faced the risk of this basic cycle breaking down. I planned to adapt the concept of “futures” to protect the vulnerable residents.

‘Of course, this would be far from the 125x leverage Gwon Heejin mentioned.’

Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if this qualified as futures.

It felt like a transaction where you secure goods at an appropriate price in anticipation of future price increases, but my goal wasn’t profit. Though I wouldn’t refuse if it came.

The lords would likely dislike my method.

But I had no intention of considering their feelings. I needed to prevent the situation where masses of refugees would flood into the Imperial Capital in a few months.

***

A week later, I returned to the Imperial Capital, completed my preparations, and headed to the Imperial Palace.

More specifically, I went to the small chapel inside the palace.

It was rarely used for worship, but often utilized for gatherings of the imperial family or tea parties. It was also where Prince Matthias’s investigation was successfully conducted last year.

Here, I was scheduled to meet lords in urgent need of funds.

According to a high-ranking official working under the Finance Minister, thirty-five lords were already waiting for me.

“Um, Count Wellesley? We clearly emphasized dozens of times that this isn’t free support, but they just won’t listen… Ah, I apologize. The atmosphere is that they think you’re giving it away for free with just a few conditions attached.”

“It’s fine. I expected as much. …But thirty-five people came? It’s only been a few days since we notified them.”

“Many lords leave their territories to relatives and reside in the Imperial Capital or direct territories. They think it’s better for obtaining investment information.”

“……”

“Even with your eloquence, it won’t be easy to persuade them.”

The official looked concerned, but I wasn’t worried. I had no intention of spending hours persistently trying to convince them to please accept money.

Soon I stood before the chapel.

Perhaps due to my superhuman hearing that had become extremely sensitive, I could hear the nobles’ chatter from beyond the entrance.

“Wow, there are people mining gold from the Demonic Land.”

“How much will he give? I need to find a position for my nephew who graduated from the Academy, but the budget is a bit… No, it’s not about favoring family in these times, it’s about the family’s honor. It would be awkward if he only gives about 1 billion.”

“Hey, Viscount Widen? They said it’s not free. You shouldn’t use it carelessly.”

“Is that so? My daughter is quite pretty, so wouldn’t it be settled if she married Count Wellesley?”

It was surprising that someone was trying to restrain the excited atmosphere.

Meanwhile, someone grumbled, “I heard they’re giving rewards to the Hero’s pursuit team? Why is he spending money that isn’t even his?”

It was true that I had promised a large reward to the Hero’s pursuit team. They deserved compensation for such dangerous work.

‘That’s what you’re complaining about?’

Thanks to this, I could easily time my entrance.

I immediately opened the door and entered the small chapel. My appearance didn’t suddenly create a chilling silence. However.

“It is my money. A significant portion of it, at least.”

The moment I said this, the nobles’ expressions changed dramatically.

“I personally met the Beast King and swore a geas. I even purchased that expensive geas scroll with my own money. There seems to be a misunderstanding due to the term ‘truce,’ but in fact, that truce is a personal agreement between the Beast King and the Hero’s pursuit team.”

“But still, the Imperial Family—”

“The Imperial Family has decided to grant me discretion. To be frank, even if I distribute some to the pursuit team and take the rest to my territory, no one would object.”

“……”

“However, I have no intention of sitting on such a large sum. It would be inefficient. That’s why I want to invest in you all.”

Looking around the room, I pointed to one of them. My target was Baron Holden, who had frequented the exchange with the former Baron Hyde.

“Baron Holden. What is your territory’s main source of income?”

“N-none… Well, wheat, turnips, rapeseed. We do have these.”

“Considering the population, wheat is probably just for self-sufficiency, and I’m guessing you make money by pressing oil from rapeseed and selling it. How are the prospects for this year?”

No answer came. Either he didn’t know, or it was a complete mess.

Either way, productivity would plummet if left alone. Even if just one or two worms appeared and ravaged the rapeseed fields, they wouldn’t be able to respond quickly.

“Baron Holden. I will buy the rapeseed oil produced in your territory this year. I’ll purchase 90% of the average annual production, at the current market price in the Imperial Capital’s commercial district. Since it’s the season when stockpiles are being released, it’s quite a good price.”

“But the rapeseed harvest is still far off, how can you buy oil that doesn’t even exist yet?”

“I’m saying I’ll pay in advance and receive the goods later to sell.”

“……”

“Use the funds I advance to ensure your residents can focus on production without worry. Increase the number of guards you reduced to save money, and hire adventurers if necessary. That’s how you’ll meet the quantity you need to deliver to me.”

Baron Holden, who had been singled out by me, fell silent for a moment. He was probably calculating the amount he would receive in advance.

His expression brightened—the amount must be substantial.

But immediately after, a trace of doubt appeared on the baron’s face.

“Um, Count Wellesley? What if the price of rapeseed oil rises by then…?”

“The profit would be mine. Conversely, if the price falls, I’ll bear the loss. If this seems unfair to you, you’re welcome to leave.”

“……”

“My vice-count and financial officer would actually prefer it, as it would reduce their workload. Receiving and disposing of goods is no small task.”

Baron Holden hesitated briefly before sitting down.

Some lords already had faces full of discontent, but I decided not to worry about it. I couldn’t take everyone with me anyway.

‘They should understand how I plan to distribute the money, at this point.’

Now it was time to prevent contract breaches. This had to be done before writing the contract.

One might think no one would dare cheat someone who had killed The Hero, but I chose the futures method precisely because I couldn’t trust people. They might spend the money elsewhere and give up, or risk diverting the goods meant for me.

I couldn’t allow that.

I gently placed my warhammer on the tea table before sitting down.

And shortly after, Prince entered to serve as the notary for today’s contracts. Naturally, I had requested this.