Chapter 19


    <strong>#How to Deal with Uninvited Guests (1)</strong>


    "Do you not need my help?"


    Count Sinir''s mind was filled with uncertainty as a question mark loomed.


    In cases where he extended his assistance, it was customary to receive gratitude, but a refusal?


    "Yes, my Lord. We do not require assistance. Instead, we request your investment."


    "...Investment?"


    "If you provide the initial capital, we will repay it with interest."


    "Hahaha! This is... you are much more intriguing than I initially presumed."


    The Lord erupted intoughter.


    "In a world teeming with individuals attempting to deplete my resources, you propose a business arrangement? And you promise to return it with interest?"


    "Yes."


    "Well, if it''s a deal, there must be specific terms. Do you have something in mind?"


    "Indeed."


    Dominic carefully retrieved several documents he had stored and handed them to the butler.


    The documents were meticulously detailed, but the Count quickly scanned the key points and nodded with a satisfied expression.


    "You need money but don''t want interference, I see. Good. You have the right spirit! It will be as you wish. I will instruct the treasurer to proceed with the investment."


    "Yes, my Lord."


    "Repayment will be in 10 years, with interest rates slightly lower than the average among the banking guilds. After all, if Evergreen prospers, it benefits me too."


    With the Lord''s words, the clerk''s pen began to move swiftly.


    "My Lord, how shall we receive the business n?"


    "It''s settled. It''s as if we''ve already received the n. Now I see, I had an efficient administrator right here in the kitchen."


    "You tter me."


    The Count pondered that perhaps andmark that the haughty nobles of the capital might envy could emerge in his domain.


    And so, the satisfying deal between the two was concluded.


    **


    "When did you prepare that document?"


    "What? ...Ah, that?"


    Having borrowed the kitchen from the head chef, Dominic had been given permission to consume anything from the food storage.


    He had reached out to Anton, who was flourishing in business under the direct jurisdiction of the Lord, and even received a bag of rice. Dominic immediately fashioned rice cakes and cut them into slices.


    "Eh, these rice cakes aren''t as sticky as I thought. I suppose I''ll need to order a dedicated mold from the smithy next time. Do you know a ce?"


    "You need to answer the question first."


    "How can you discuss business with tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes) right in front of you? What an unusual knight. Aren''t you going to eat?"


    The rice cakes were a bit messy, but they looked appetizing, simmered in a red, sticky sauce, along with cabbage, green onions, and other vegetables.


    "I regretted not having this while I was taken away. I craved it so much."


    The tteokbokki he had left behind during the Lady''s postnatal care! He yearned for its chewy and spicy vor every night.


    Certainly, Calron, that bald-headed man, must have devoured it all.


    "Let''s see... Ouch! Hot, hot."


    Dominic hastily shoved the tteokbokki into his mouth, burning the roof of his mouth. But that was a small price to pay. Dominic began hisbat meal, clutching a fork and spoon in both hands.


    Just as he savored the chewiness of the rice cakes, the spicy taste of garlic and red pepper powder hit him.


    "I should''ve added udon noodles, or even pasta! Why didn''t I think of that?"


    Dominic mused to himself, now splitting a boiled egg in half. As the well-cooked yolk gently broke, the red sauce poured over it.


    "This is it!"


    <strong>Growlllll~.</strong>


    Seeing Dominic indulge in such an unusual disy of gluttony, a rumbling sound emanated from Ian''s stomach.


    Just like Dominic, Ian hadn''t eaten anything since breakfast.


    Given his role of guarding and monitoring Dominic, it would be inappropriate for him to eat alone if Dominic didn''t.


    "Don''t just stand there,e and eat. It''s a bit spicy, but that''s how it''s meant to be enjoyed. It''s not a cooking mistake, so don''t criticize it unfairly beforehand."


    "...Answers first."


    "You''re persistent in strange situations. Ah, of course. As soon as I returned to the kitchen after the event, I started working on the documents."


    "You anticipated that the Lord would summon you?"


    "Yes, more or less."


    "And if he hadn''t? Would you have given up?"


    "There''s always Grandfather Anton and the Merchant Guild. Even if the interest is a bit high, I could have borrowed from the bank."


    Dominic shrugged.


    "Regardless, you can''t be hesitant in situations like this. Investment inherently carries risks. It''s unfortunate, but if you act timidly, it raises suspicion. Is he running a scam? Will this business really seed?"


    "..."


    "That''s the wisdom of life. You, a knight as delicate as a rose in a greenhouse... Oops!"


    For once, Dominic said too much.


    He quickly covered his mouth, but you can''t take back words once spoken.


    He nced at Ian, trying to gauge his reaction. Surprisingly, Ian remained motionless.


    "...If the tteokbokki seems too spicy, should I quickly make you some cream stew?"


    "It''s fine."


    It seemed like Ian might be upset, but thankfully, he appeared to let it slide.


    <em>''Watch your mouth, watch your mouth!''</em>


    Dominic reflexively touched his own throat.


    **


    "That young Anton is doing well these days?"


    "Yes, Lord Ron. At first, he sold unheard-of seaweeds, but now he sources all sorts of ingredients and sells them. It seems quite profitable."


    "What have you been doing all this time! You should have stopped that impudent brat before he gained a foothold!"


    "That happened so quickly..."


    A skinny middle-aged man with a goatee began berating his subordinates. Those being scolded just kept their heads down, hoping for the moment to pass.


    "We can''t let a kid who''s barely twenty dominate the market! Say something, you useless bunch!"


    Ron of the Rondo Company, a merchant dealing primarily in food ingredients, was a formidable figure in the region under the jurisdiction of Count Sinir.


    Although not upscale enough for the nobility, the Rondo Company had enough influence that if they raised prices, the average citizens nearby might have to go without a dish or two.


    "Anton, that kid. Should we pressure him? Tell him to leave our territory?"


    "Hey, kid! Am I a thug? I''ve been in business for over ten years, and you still say stuff like that? You need a wake-up call! Eh?"


    "I''m sorry! Boss!"


    "I''ve told you to call me ''Lord''! Out, you idiot!"


    However, influence doesn''t always equate to honest business practices.


    The predecessor to the Rondo Company was the Rondo Mercenary Group.


    Evergreen''s fishingmunity centered around the Calron mercenary group, but the two groups werepletely different in nature.


    The Rondo Mercenary Group, despite its name, was more like a band of brigands.


    They had transformed into a tradingpany after opportunistically plundering a major shipment a decade ago, but their unsavory traits hadn''tpletely disappeared.


    "...So, should we apply pressure to him?"


    As expected, Ron''s true intentions slipped out.


    "It might be difficult? Anton''s grandfather is a well-respected merchant... He''s close to several nobles."


    "Damn! It was a lost cause anyway. What''s n B?"


    "Should we consider burning down his ce? Remember Haines or Hounds? After setting fire to his warehouse, he packed up and left, right? My Lord... I mean, Sir."


    "Fire? We almost got caught by the guardsst time. It''s too risky. Do you want me to go to jail at this age?"


    "I''m sorry!"


    "You allckmon sense. Oh, my fate!"


    "Sir... Lord Ron."


    There was someone cautiously speaking to Ron, who was pounding his chest in frustration.


    "I''ve heard that Anton''s recent sess is thanks to the vige chief of a small fishing vige called Evergreen. They say that the dubious seaweed was made ptable by the skills of that vige chief."


    "Really?"


    "Yes. So, if we deal with that vige chief, wouldn''t Anton waver too?"


    "Ah, that''s a useful thought. Alright, you handle it. While you''re at it, if we could source that seaweed, that''d be even better."


    "May I use some of our workers for it?"


    "Of course. Take them all and intimidate that so-called vige chief. Then the other fishermen and vigers will naturally scatter. Don''t forget to get the signature from the next potential chief on a contract."


    "Yes, Lord Ron!"


    Only then did a smile creep across the goateed man''s face.


    This was a method often used when signing supply contracts with small viges. A bit of intimidation in areas beyond the jurisdiction of the local troops, and ''favorable contracts'' were hardly a problem.


    This was how Rondo Company had grown.


    That very night, workers from the Rondo Company gathered in one ce, intent on swiftly settling the matter.


    **


    "Is that true, Dominic?"


    "I told you, it is."


    "Is this a dream or reality? The Lord is investing in our vige? Wow! I knew you had potential! I always believed you''d make a great vige chief. Hahaha!"


    When Dominic returned to the vige and shared the news about the investment contract, there was a unanimous cheer.


    To prevent being overwhelmed by celebratory back-ps, Dominic quickly diverted the attention of the burly men by saying, "Here, this is a copy. The original is at the Lord''s castle."


    Among them, Calron, seeing the investment contract with the Lord''s handwritten signature and seal, was ecstatic.


    Those from the fishingmunity by his side felt the same.


    Fiddling with the papers, they exchanged remarks like, "Looks like our vige is really about to change!" and celebrated wholeheartedly.


    "You''re holding it upside down."


    "Ah, is that so? Haha! Well, these things happen!"


    Though many of them still couldn''t read.


    "Now that we have the funds, let''s proceed with the construction. The women are familiar with seaweed harvesting and processing, so we don''t need many workers."


    "Right. We can employ people from the fishingmunity for the construction and hire craftsmen through the guild as needed. Money was the issue, not the avability of resources."


    "Great. We also need to find healers and mountain wizards..."


    "I''ll look into that too. Trustworthy people, of course. Leaving kids aside, when ites to marriage, we''re better off than you, who hasn''t married yet. Haha!"


    "It''s not that I can''t, it''s that I haven''t... Anyway, it''s a happy day, so should we grill some meat? Shouldn''t we eat and drink on such asions?"


    "Woohoo! That''s our Dominic!"


    "Meat, meat!"


    In no time, mes shot up from the firece in the courtyard in front of the kitchen. These people were swift when it came to festivities.


    <em>''You can''t stop them.''</em>


    Seeing their enthusiasm, Dominic chuckled and brought out the smoked meat chunks he had stored away. Hearing the news, vigers also joined in, each bringing an ingredient, indicating the start of a vige festival.


    <strong>Neigh-</strong>


    <strong>Clip-clop, clip-clop.</strong>


    Until the distant sound of horse hooves was heard.