Chapter 11
It had taken only a day to pay off Philips debt and sort out the remaining burden he carried. In his only remaining asset, his mansion, Logan explained to Philip what had to be done going forward.
I may take you with , but you wont be formally employed by the family right away.
There was no need to tell him the unpleasant truth that hiring him could potentially tarnish ones own reputation.
So for now, I just wish youd do what I ask of you here.
Yes, I understand, Lord Logan.
Despite likely having questions, Philips response showed no hesitation.
Was it because he felt there was no need to question since he had already signed a contract, or was it simply a lack of drive?
As Logan viewed Philips potential with so doubt, he knew he needed to test him.
Well see once I give him a task.
Initially, he thought to take advantage of the rchants skills not in making money, but in procuring goods. His second objective in the trading city of Kail was to secure necessary supplies for the imdiate operation in his fiefdom.
The first task Ill set for you is to purchase large quantities of cartridges, springs, and glue made from the southern imperial ironwood.
Yes?
Philip looked perplexed, so Logan, instead of explaining the reasons, outlined the specifications of the materials needed.
And it would be good if we could get about a hundred samples for various experints beforehand.
Are you planning to sell toys?
Putting aside his cheeky attitude and the mocking tone, since the purported purpose of employnt was to make money, it wasnt strange that Philips mind went in that direction.
Um, sothing like that.
However, there was no need to discuss right now the plan to create weapons for the war.
For the ti being, Logan was more focused on producing the samples based on his mories from his previous life.
As for the matter at hand,
The southern imperial ironwood is known for its durability, so quality springs will only need to be standardized, and as for glue, the stronger the adhesive quality, the better, correct?
Thats right.
Then, theres really no need to buy them here or even from the empire.
Philip spoke quite quickly and unexpectedly.
What?
Ironwood from the northern kings territories is even sturdier than the southern imperial ironwood. They are mainly produced in the northern Triton estates. There are many artisans who make goods from ironwood there, and naturally, theres glue too. Personally, I think its far superior to imperial produce. Buying directly rather than through rchants here would also an a cheaper price.
Oh?
Logan, now a rcenary, had used weapons made from these materials only after the collapse of the kingdom, an unknown fact to him.
I still have connections from my ancestors in those places. If you wish, I can contact them to have about a hundred samples sent to the MacLayn estates purely on credit. Shall I make the arrangents?
Yes, do that.
Logan nodded, simply taken aback by Philips rapid and unexpected response.
More competent than I thought.
But Logan still held back on his assessnt of Philip.
With that in mind, he brought up the most significant matter he had contemplated.
This was an item that, even with his current shortage of business acun, could be enough to make money, leveraging information from the future.
Hell probably panic, though.
With the feeling of playing a mischievous prank on a fussy friend, Logan casually dropped the bombshell as if nothing was wrong.
Im also thinking about buying monster at.
Ah, I see What?!
Philips surprise was only natural.
Monsters werent natural creatures; they enjoyed destroying nature and tornting other life formsbyproducts of ancient demon kings or the remnants of unrecorded ancient civilizations, or perhaps simply born from sorcery.
According to scholars, their opinions varied, but they shared a common perspective:
Monsters are antagonistic to other life forms, their blood and flesh carry toxins and continue to harm living beings and destroy the environnt after death.
Thats why, when vanquishing monsters, it was customary to burn anything other than their bones and hides. Only special parts of particularly unique monsters were harvested for magical or specific purposes.
I must be hearing things because of bad ears, you ant the byproducts of monsters, not the at, right?
No, I ant the at.
Are you serious?
Despite the polite words, Philips expression clearly read, Did I just see a madman?
Logan just grinned and added more to his explanation.
Im planning to buy and stockpile the at of the lower-class monster Karok.
Karok, you said?
The lower-class monster Karok looked similar to a wild boar with a horn on its forehead.
Even if they resembled commonplace livestock, their blood possessed toxins, which ant their at was not fit for human consumption.
Yeah, Karok at.
Why are you emphasizing at? You dont an there are people who eat it?
I just want you to purchase and gather that at.
As Logan focused on dictating his request without answering Philips question, Philip gave him a look as if he had been presented spoiled food.
While his gaze silently conveyed, Are you seriously out of your mind? Philip attempted to reason clearly.
Monster at is best disposed of by burning. No matter how much you pay for it, it will only ensure a loss.
It wont be, in this case.
What kind of nonsense
Philip choked back a curse that was about to escape as he looked at Logan, but Logan appeared to be undeterred, his eyes shining even brighter.
Haah Well, if you say so. How much do you intend to use?
Philip eventually asked, signaling surrender with a raised hand gesture.
However, the ensuing answer made him involuntarily leap to his feet.
One million.
One million?! Have you gone insane!
Philips near-hysteria was laden with unfiltered emotion, but Logan simply responded with a smile, firm in his assertion.
Ill spend even more if it turns out to be profitable. Definitely.
No matter what rumors youve heard, a rumor is not a reason to invest such money! For a rumor to beco reality, you need indisputable, concrete evidence!
Philip spoke with a voice so loud and flushed in the face, turning heads of people passing by outside the mansion, yet Logans deanor remained unchanged.
Evidence will co, definitively.
How can you be so sure with
To Philips exasperated protest, current common sense dictated that his response was entirely logical.
Yet in a few years, the situation would drastically change.
Next sumr, in one of the empires towers, a serum neutralizing monster blood would begin being sold.
It was a neutralizer made from common ingredients, without rare herbs or magic.
Though it only worked on the blood of low-level monsters, its cost-effectiveness was extraordinary.
Moreover, anyone could make it if they knew the ingredients.
Since monster hunting by rcenaries and hunters mostly involved low-level monsters, this serum would rapidly spread across the continent.
Soon after, in regions where food was scarce, the consuming of Karok at and other livestock-looking monsters began.
This shocking new culinary culture spread, and during the winter of the sa year, nurous cases surfaced of people curing impotence by eating Karok at.
Even those physically castrated due to injury reported its effectiveness.
And the mont the Grandia royal tower officially confird it,
The capital Gran saw a sudden explosion in demand for Karok at.
Less than a year later, the already rare-monster species Karok beca all but extinct in the continents.
Afterward, its at was traded for more than its weight in gold.
Even dried jerky slices beca as valuable.
Although humanity fought monsters for thousands of years, never had they eradicated an entire species.
Yet, due to research indicating its benefits to virility, a single low-ranking monster species disappeared.
Its absurd.
But Logan couldnt exactly explain to Philip that he had seen the future.
Youre certain about this, even though I am firmly opposed?
Thats correct.
With a resigned sigh, Philip seed to ponder for a mont, though the contemplation did not last long.
So, what price are you thinking for the purchase of Karok at?
At the current ti, Karok at has no value. No ones buying, and its probably all being burned anyway.
Despite questioning why Logan would buy sothing evidently useless, Philip refrained from voicing this.
So if just delivering the carcass can earn money, with the carriage fee considering the standards of the kingdom, 200 gold might be enough. Thats per carcass, and if we catch a lot of Karok at once, transportation would be much cheaper. Bulk shipnts would be best.
Oh? Youve even considered transportation costs to no end.
Philips comndation ca with a hint of sarcasm, which was particularly irritating.
Is my calculation wrong?
No, its not incorrect.
Then?
If you set the price and budget at one million Were you thinking of commissioning a royal-grade hunt from the rcenary guild and then having
purchase them?
Thats the idea. Whats wrong with that?
Oh, nothing. The calculations are accurate, but youve completely misdirected the approach.
Huh?
Why go to the trouble of paying rcenaries expensive fees when you can get the sa results cheaper? Why act the fool Ah, suddenly Im feeling stiff all over.
What are you saying?
As Logan fixed him with a disdainful glare and attempted to retort, Philip quickly changed his expression and continued his thought.
Its not carcasses you need but the at, right? And you said that at is currently being discarded.
Thats right?
Then simply put out an offer to the rchant guild at the price of beef, and everything will be resolved.
What?
rchants who will buy and sell anything for profit are di a dozen. Especially if what theyre acquiring is essentially trash, therell hardly be any cost to them.
Wow
Logans mouth fell open in speechless surprise.
This guy, hes already proving his worth.
As it turned out, the top ten rchants of the empire were not just more competent than expected but exceeded all imagination.
From now on, leave all money-related matters to , Lord Logan. My fate is now tied to your future, after all.
Only Philips reassuring yet unsettling words slightly ached in Logans heart.
* * *
How much?
The deposit is 50,000 gold. We will buy smoked Karok at sealed or dried jerky at 1 gold per kg. The rchant guilds guarantee must be clearly included. If the deposit runs low, were prepared to deposit an additional 100,000 gold.
Wow
The deposit proved the sincerity of the request, ensuring the rchant guilds handlings were not wasted.
Despite the contract signed and a deposit made, every pair of eyes at the guild remained locked on Philip in disbelief.
Crazy
Buying monster at?
Claude Trading went bankrupt, was it because of the mad owner?
Although the surroundings buzzed with skeptical voices, there was no shortage of rchants willing to take on the order.
Would you be interested in at from other monsters?
Our company specializes in monster by-products; if it pleases you
Many were ready to sell the at of all monsters as if hungrily eyeing vulnerable prey.
Within a re two days of leaving the request with the rchant guild and placing a deposit, strange rumors spread throughout the comrcial circles of the Kail estates.
The rumors spoke of the disinherited son of the fallen MacLayn family going mad and amassing monster at.
Logans reputation spread rapidly.
Im sorry. I didnt realize you were going through such hardship.
Philip apologized with a bowhe was the one who spread the rumors, ensuring faster dissemination of the Karok at request as part of a larger plan.
The unintended side effects never crossed his mind.
Ha, whats to fuss about? That made things spread even wider. Good, very good. Well done!
What was shocking beyond anticipation was the laughter and applause of the person in question.
Th-thank you Ha ha.
Despite having spread his supposed disgrace, Philip received complints.
*This guy really must be mad,* Philip thought, but fortunately, he didnt voice it aloud.
* * *
To care for the imported Triton estate ironwood and accumulate Karok at to send to MacLayn territory, Philip stayed behind in Kail.
To achieve these goals, Logan had entrusted him with an astonishing sum of 500,000 gold.
As long as you carry out the job Ive given you, youre free to invest that money into other businesses. If youre confident of succeeding, even borrowing is an option. And I will generously reward the outcos.
Shedding any doubts about Philips abilities after the Karok at affair, Logan made a bold decision.
Philip himself was stunned, unsure why such trust was extended with the money.
*Its all money saved thanks to this guy anyway.*
Having budgeted 1.5 million gold for expenses in Kail territory, he had spent only 450,000 gold.
Even accounting for the expected 150,000 gold for purchasing ironwood, over 900,000 gold was saved.
Therefore, there was no reluctance in entrustingor rather, investing inPhilip.
In fact, Logan felt quite relieved.
*Philip Claude. The mission of securing financial support has been perfectly cleared.*
The amount of 500,000 gold also represented a successful first step in recruiting talent for the future.
While employing Philip was part of overcoming the imminent crisis, the real preparation was for the aftermath.
Now he needed to find talents to triumph in the first crisis of the estate war.
*We need an engineer.*
Soone who could recreate a concept discussed only with an experienced user.
*And, if possible, an instructor to train a rcenary troop.*
It would be beneficial to find a rcenary capable of training and controlling the troops that Dwayne was arranging.
Both of Logans plans required exceptional talents, and luckily, the place to recruit such people was not far from Kail.
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