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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Heir of the Merchant Guild 『Noah』
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Investing in the knights had boosted the territory's revenue.
I asked Hart about this incomprehensible news, and he explained it clearly.
In medieval times, bandits infested the roads between territories.
Commoners fleeing corrupt lords,
criminals who'd committed offenses,
nobles or knights from fallen houses,
and all sorts of other lost souls with nowhere to go would band together in the mountains—and voilà, a bandit gang was born.
Of course, sometimes those groups would form quiet little villages and live peacefully.
But far more often, they turned to ambushing travelers or merchants passing between territories.
Naturally, bandits lurked near our lands too, causing all sorts of damage.
Until recently, that is.
"Hey!! Let's wipe out every last bandit scum invading our territory!!!!"
"For the Cron Family!!!"
"Uwaaaaaah!!!!!"
Captain Rikain had led the knights in utterly crushing what would normally have been just a minor raid they'd chase off or ignore.
He'd gone beyond mere expulsion, tracking them to their main base and smashing it to pieces. The bandits scattered in all directions.
Thanks to that, security in our territory improved dramatically. Merchants started using our roads, and toll revenues soared.
"So, to sum it up, our knight order's exploits reduced the bandits, merchants now route through our territory, and that's boosted our income?"
"Yes! Exactly, my lord!!"
"......"
I took the report Hart handed me and opened it.
Five major bandit groups active on the southern trade route eliminated,
total bandit casualties: 165,
Cron territory trade route stabilized, increasing merchant traffic through Cron Family lands by 60% in the southern region.
Protecting the people by eliminating bandits was praiseworthy in itself, but to think it would increase territory revenue this much...
"Merchants will flock here even more."
"Yes. The number of merchants passing through Cron Family lands has risen 60% compared to last month. And thanks to the safe trade routes, they're transporting over three times the goods they used to."
"Pass on my thanks to the knights, along with ample rewards."
"Yes! Understood, my lord."
Hart nodded and replied to my words.
Watching the steward leave with a joyful expression, I let out a sigh.
The money was piling up again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Three months had passed since the bandit extermination.
In that time, the territory had changed dramatically.
For one, wages had risen across the board for all commoners.
Tenant farmers, scribes, miners—everyone working in the territory wanted higher pay.
So, to spend down the surging revenues, I raised wages for all.
After discussing with Hart, we set increases that satisfied everyone, expecting it to push the territory into the red.
But it didn't.
Labor efficiency skyrocketed, especially in the salt flats.
Farm and mine production boomed, eliminating the need for major imports of food or ore from other territories.
The scribes tracked down and recovered all previously missed tax evasions.
As commoners' incomes grew, spending on luxuries like taverns, clothing, and books surged.
Combined with the safer trade routes, shops sprang up overnight, drawing branch offices from merchant guilds.
Their various taxes ultimately boosted territory profits by 102% over when I first possessed this body.
"And so, this month's net profit for the Cron Family is 937 gold, my lord."
"We've earned quite a haul."
"Yes, all thanks to your policies for the people, my lord."
I eyed the chest Hart brought, brimming with gold coins.
The steel box, big enough for an adult man, was so heavy that four soldiers barely managed to carry it.
A rough estimate put its value at around 200 billion in my previous life's terms.
In my old life, I'd have screamed in delight at the sight. But now, it looked like a one-way ticket to death.
Is this how that great man felt, warning to shun the sight of gold?
"I can't keep all this to myself. Distribute bonuses to everyone."
"Already done, my lord."
"......"
To think this much was left even after that... My head was starting to ache.
At this rate, the Cron Family would fatten into a pig stuffed with gold, ripe for slaughter if civil war broke out.
'I need some other approach...'
Pondering a revolutionary way to cut family profits while winning the people's love, I gazed out over the castle walls.
More people bustled about than when I'd first arrived, the streets alive with energy.
Not just the usual workers and housewives—peddlers displayed all sorts of wares, hawking their goods.
Daily necessities, fruits, books, luxuries of every kind.
Come to think of it, the number of merchants seemed triple what it used to be.
Wait... merchants...? That's it!!
"Hart!!!"
"Yes! My lord."
A brilliant idea struck; I told Hart immediately.
He dropped to one knee in response.
"Summon the representatives of the merchant guilds settled in our territory."
"Understood, my lord!"
Currently, the biggest chunk of increased revenue came from guild taxes.
What caused the profit boom? Taxes!
Time to dismantle it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
『White Merchant Guild』
One of the four great guilds in World Archive, wielding the most influence in the empire's south.
It's so pivotal that in southern region missions, whether they provide supplies often decides victory or defeat.
The head of their Cron branch was none other than the guild's direct heiress, 『Noah White』.
Beautiful white hair cascading to her waist, amethyst-purple eyes.
Her refined beauty evoked a noble lady, captivating men's hearts—but her true weapon lay elsewhere.
The blessing she was born with: [Eyes of Truth and Lies].
Thanks to it, she could discern truth from lies, making her an absolute authority in guild contracts.
No one could deceive her—not even lords.
And so?
The world struck her as a dull black-and-white affair.
Famed lords and renowned priests were all slimy schemers at heart.
In a realm of mutual deceit and greed, she'd long since abandoned all expectations of people.
This time was no different.
"The lord wishes to meet the White Merchant Guild representative."
"Yes, I'll go at once."
Summoned by the lord, she thought, Here we go again...
She easily guessed why the Cron lord had called for her.
'Probably demanding extra taxes from the guild or expecting bribes.'
Always the same.
Once business boomed locally, lords summoned them with demands.
Gold, treasures, food, magic artifacts—they squeezed merchants dry.
The Cron Family had recently showered the people with benevolent rule, rapidly developing the territory.
She'd hoped he might differ from the rest, but summoning her like this dashed those hopes. Just another lord.
'Nobles are all the same in the end. Chasing money and power, caring only for their gain... Though, aren't we merchants the same?'
As usual, she ordered her subordinates to prepare a treasure chest of gold for bribes.
What followed would be routine.
Hand over the gold, read the lord's intentions, strike a satisfying deal, and keep business running smoothly.
With that in mind, she visited the Cron castle.
Guided by servants to the audience chamber, she found the lord waiting.
The young Baron 『Calix Cron』, who had abruptly succeeded his late predecessor.
He looked about her age, with a boyish face, the Cron Family's signature silver hair, and eyes fierce enough for his station.
Otherwise, he seemed no different from other lords.
At least for now.
She bowed in greeting.
"A pleasure to meet you, my lord. I am Noah White, manager of the White Merchant Guild in Cron territory."
"So, you're the head of the guilds in our region?"
"Yes, that's correct."
She raised her head to meet Calix's gaze.
Then gestured to the servant behind her.
"To bless this first meeting with the great lord of the Cron Family, I've prepared a modest gift. Please accept it."
"A gift?"
The servant approached with a heavy pouch of gold and placed it before the lord.
Opening it revealed a heap of coins.
Most lords couldn't hide their smiles at such an extravagant first-meeting present.
Noah assumed Calix would be no different.
And that was where her expectations first went astray.
Calix scowled and said,
"Your name is Noah White, correct?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Take the gold you brought and leave."
"...Pardon?"
Calix refused the gold outright.
For the first time, things hadn't gone as planned—and she felt true fear for the first time in her life.