episode_0144

“I will report the outliers of this quarter’s sales.”

In the office of Marquis Damien, Vera, the head of the upper division, was reporting directly to the Marquis regarding sales.

It is a secret that the real owner of the Vera Merchantship, one of the Seven Great Merchantships of the Empire, is Marquis Damian.

That is why Vera came today to report secretly, avoiding people’s eyes.

“The slight increase in sales compared to the previous quarter was due to the Somerset Theatre finally opening for business and turning a profit.”

“It’s a small but rising curve.”

“Yes, but it started to generate significant sales. Contrary to our expectations, it has maintained steady sales even after the initial buzz.”

Marquis Damien looked thoughtfully at the financial statements above that Vera was diligently explaining.

The decision to participate in the new business of animation was made by the latter who considered it an investment for the future rather than the present.

‘But, it’s already generating profits.’

The newly opened theater and the projector business, which had begun selling to some aristocrats, were already making a profit.

Of course, it cannot be considered a large sale since the Marquis does not monopolize the profits but receives a certain share.

It was a good thing that a business that had been expected to suffer losses for a while got a green light from the start.

“The number of people who have already visited the exhibition once and are returning to see the posters, special goods, or simply want to see it again is considered significant.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I often hear stories among the people of the empire bragging about how many times they have recently seen the Ice Kingdom.”

The theater business that the Marquis had in mind was one that would only become profitable if the number of employees increased and the number of productions increased.

But now there is only one work, so I thought that even though people would flock in at first, it would eventually become deserted.

His judgment turned out to be spectacularly wrong.

As an investor, this was exciting news, but I still wondered if I had underestimated this new industry.

‘I guess you could call it cultural industry.’

The Marquis named this new industry, which Rupert Somerset had created, the cultural industries.

I instinctively felt that the cultural industry was an extremely attractive and risky business.

‘The fact that the public is enthusiastic about something means that the ripple effect is that big.’

The Marquis quickly realized the ripple effect Rupert was having as he watched people react enthusiastically to his creations.

It wasn’t just a question of sales, it was a question of influence.

To be honest, from the Marquis’ point of view, even if the profits from books or goods were large, it was something that could be easily compensated for.

For example, when the war with Sylvania broke out, the Northern Iron Merchant Company, which had a near-monopoly on selling military supplies, made enormous profits.

The Vera Merchant that he owned was also part of the Seven Great Merchant Orders of the Empire, so at times it could have earned money like the current Yuren Merchant Order.

However, in terms of influence, the story was different.

‘The day a new issue of Manapia comes out, the streets become a festival.’

‘From those who came out to sell food to those who bought books first to those who wanted to sell them back to them.’

‘That’s not all. The Somerset Goods store is still so crowded that you have to line up early in the morning to see what’s sold.’

The things sold at the top of Somerset and Uren were not necessities for living, but they drove people crazy.

If they had been just a little more determined, they could have made profits that are incomparable to what they are now.

‘If you don’t buy a certain amount of Yuren’s top items, you won’t be able to sell the book.’

If you think about it for a moment, there are endless ways to make money, and countless ways to use this influence without necessarily having to connect it to money.

“It’s time to decide now.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

Vera looked puzzled and asked back at the words that the Marquis finally blurted out while he was gathering his thoughts alone.

“I actually don’t like sharing.”

“… Yes, Your Majesty.”

“But I don’t see a way to eat it alone, so there’s only one way.”

From the time he first decided to cooperate with Yuren Top and the animation business, Marquis Damien had always thought of one day stealing their technology and know-how and conquering the cultural industry.

However, he gave up on that idea after seeing the currently popular anime theater and the card game The King of Cards.

‘These are tricks and items that seem to see right through people’s minds.’

This is because the estimate is that no matter how hard we try, it will be difficult to keep up with the products and businesses that Somerset is currently creating.

Although Marquis Damien prided himself on being excellent at his craft, he was also always able to create items that were ahead of their time.

It seemed difficult to surpass Somerset and Uren Sangdan, who sold goods in unimaginable ways.

“We need to establish close cooperative relationships with Somerset and Uren Sangdan.”

“Aren’t you already working on an animation business together?”

“They are asking us to cooperate not only in the simple animation business, but also in the publishing business and goods business they are conducting.”

Vera looked surprised at the Marquis’ words.

In fact, even in the animation business, most of the core parts are handled by Somerset Workshop, and the parts handled by Vera Top are close to simple subcontracting.

Vera thought that the Marquis, who was manipulating the imperial realm from behind the scenes, would be displeased with the current situation.

However, rather than that being enough, asking everyone to cooperate with Somerset’s business was an order that was no different from the Vera upper class going under the Uren upper class.

“Your Majesty!!! No matter how much the Yuren top has been on the rise recently, our Vera top has always been the best top in the Empire!”

“Now it’s just one of the seven great superpowers.”

“Even so, the Vera Top is a long-standing organization with a long history and tradition. Why are you telling us to go under the competition top?”

Vera didn’t understand.

Even though they had been pushed back a bit recently, there was still no one who looked down on the Vera Group, and above all, the Vera Group had made a great contribution to putting Marquis Damian among the seven great nobles of the empire.

It seemed as if the Marquis was about to give up too easily.

“I was a merchant before I was a noble.”

The Marquis calmly responded to Vera’s criticism, who never raised her voice in front of him.

Although Marquis Damian was only moving behind the scenes because of his status as a Marquis and his reputation as one of the Seven Great Nobles.

He never forgot that the Damien family originated from merchants.

“My late father once bought a very rare vintage of wine.”

“Oh, I remember that too. He really liked that vintage because it was so unreleased.”

“But my father said he would drink it on a good day, so he saved it and saved it again, but in the end he passed away without being able to drink it.”

“… .”

“Now that the Vera upper class has stepped down from the top of the empire and is settling for the Seven Grand Squadrons.”

-I think Vera’s top is like that wine.

At the Marquis’ last words, Vera could only mutter a sigh and was unable to say anything.

“Right now, Somerset and the Uren top are in a situation where they have insufficient manpower and funds due to the businesses they have started.”

“Yes. Because we are growing so rapidly, we are having trouble even recruiting manpower.”

“Then, isn’t now the time when Vera can join at the highest price?”

“But! I wonder if this isn’t too much of an overreaction, considering we don’t know how long their growth will last.”

Even though Vera knew the Marquis’ intentions, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it was too much of a decision.

It’s true that the top of Yuren is doing well right now, but the top was something that you never knew what would happen at any time.

In such a situation, it is impossible to help but conclude that it is too risky to make such a gamble-like investment, believing in the uncertain future of the top of Yuren.

however,

“If growth continues?”

“Yes?”

“What would happen if the royal power was combined behind Somerset?”

“If that happens… .”

“The story of Rupert Somerset and Her Royal Highness’s marriage is coming up a lot.”

The Marquis was not a madman who would gamble his money on groundless gambling.

The story of Rupert and Iolin’s marriage has been heard a lot recently.

Besides, the story that the Emperor and Rupert had met privately in the presence of the King had already been circulating in social circles for a long time.

“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the next Emperor, also cherishes Rupert Somerset very much.”

Going under the top of the Uren and becoming the subcontracted top?

It didn’t matter to him.

The Marquis was someone who could easily sell off such petty pride.

Rather, if he could secure the second-in-command position under Somerset and Yuren, who would develop even further in the future, that would be the best deal as a merchant.

***

“There’s nothing we can do. This is just a temporary alliance.”

“I still haven’t agreed!”

“So, are you planning to take Rupert away from Her Highness the Princess?”

“That’s….”

An unexpected guest had arrived at Professor Xenia’s office at the academy.

“I guess you haven’t heard the rumor yet, but there’s a rumor going around that His Majesty the Emperor is planning to push for the marriage of His Highness the Princess.”

Amelia finished speaking with a stern expression, and Xenia’s expression also hardened after hearing those words.

“This is too cowardly! If the Emperor pushes for it, it’s no different from coercion… .”

“So we need to stop it first before it’s too late.”

Amelia also thought the same as Xenia.

Amelia is clearly the one Rupert likes, but he has no intention of having her taken away in this way.

“But what should we do?”

In the end, Xenia accepted Amelia’s proposal and decided to temporarily join forces, but she couldn’t come up with a clear solution.

but,

“Don’t worry, I have something in mind.”

Amelia spoke with confidence, as if she had already prepared something.