Game Fortune Becomes Reality Episode 44
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Game Fortune Becomes Reality Episode 44
14. Rewards and Recognition (2)
The moment I logged out, Arcia, who had been standing by my bedside, extended her hand toward me.
I met her hand with mine, letting out a small chuckle at her thoughtfulness.
"And Lord Pesius?"
"He's waiting in the study."
"Thanks."
Dressed lightly in loungewear with a robe draped over it, I left the room with Arcia.
As we stepped out, the knights standing guard at a distance straightened their postures, and the maids waiting nearby tensed up.
I was already completely used to this, so I paid it no mind and kept walking.
"We greet the master."
A moment later, in the study we arrived at, stood Pesius and a young man who appeared to be his subordinate.
Arcia and I took our seats side by side on the sofa and gestured for the two of them to sit across from us.
"No, we're fine standing."
"It's uncomfortable to keep your heads lowered."
"Then, if you'll excuse us."
Only then did the two of them hesitantly take the seats before us.
"Here is the list of companies you requested last time, my lord."
With a tense expression, Pesius transmitted the documents the very purpose of today's visit to my terminal.
[1. Kalt Steelworks / Market cap 975 billion]
[2. Tarnis Defense / Market cap 1.15 trillion (unlisted/OTC)]
[3. Luella Ironworks / Market cap 734.2 billion]
[4. Zenith Artifacts / Market cap 1.732 trillion]
[5. Conia Magic Tower / Market cap 1.82 trillion (unlisted/OTC)]
[6. Patnik Mana / Market cap 670.3 billion]
....
It was information on twenty-five companies.
The companies ranged from steelmaking, artifacts, mana circuits, mana batteries, to research institutions like magic towers though they seemed disparate, every field was a state-controlled industry that no one could touch unless they were nobility.
"Among the sectors you requested, my lord, these are the companies currently available for acquisition. Of them, companies 1 through 9 have decent technology, so with capital injected they have growth potential, but the rest I'm afraid they'd be a struggle."
"You've organized this very well. It's easy to read, I appreciate it."
I examined the documents carefully.
The materials Pesius handed over contained everything from ordinary company info obtainable through online searches to various secrets that would be hard to confirm without firsthand investigation.
He couldn't have had much time to investigate, yet the contents were so thorough I was honestly surprised.
True to his steadfast nature, he never does things half-heartedly.
I felt, once again, that entrusting him with intelligence work had been the right call.
"I'll acquire these five: Kalt Steelworks, Luella Ironworks, Zenith Artifacts, Conia Magic Tower, and Patnik Mana. Could you handle the acquisition process as well?"
"Pardon?"
To acquire the five companies I'd named, at least 5 trillion would be needed.
In other words, I had just placed 5 trillion in funds under his management.
It was an astronomical sum an ordinary knight would never get to touch, so Pesius, upon receiving the request, was visibly flustered.
"How could I possibly handle such a fortune...."
"In the future, you'll be moving even larger amounts."
At my calm instruction, he swallowed dryly, then nodded with a resolute expression.
"I will take charge of it."
"I knew you would, Lord Pesius."
As I smiled with satisfaction, he bowed his head, saying he was unworthy.
He is one who will move at the very core among my closest associates.
He can't afford to be intimidated by something this small.
"May I ask one question?"
But then.
The companion who had remained silent until now spoke up.
Pesius shot him a look, as if to say "how rude," but the young man ignored it and met my gaze with straight, unwavering eyes.
[Grent Nokturn / Junior Accountant]
Race: Human
Age: 22
Affiliation: Rhinehearts Kingdom, Green Accounting Office, Junior Accountant
Talents: Intellect (High), Administrative Ability (High), Learning Ability (High), Political Sense (Low)
Trait: Rapid Analysis
Relation: Interest / Ally
Status: Surprise / Curiosity
Now that I looked at him, he was Pesius's son.
A holder of administrative talents completely different from his battle-oriented father.
What's more, having three high-tier stats, calling him an elite wouldn't be an understatement.
"He takes after his father a great deal."
"This is the first I've heard of it... yet you saw through it immediately. You have a sharp eye."
"Haha, is that so? So what is it that Sir Nokturn is curious about?"
"Please, call me Grent."
Pesius was on edge beside him, worried his son might make some sort of mistake.
"Does the Young Lord intend to enter the military industry?"
Grent had thrown out a surprisingly sharp question.
Steel mills and ironworks, magic towers, artifact workshops, and magic circuit design firms.
He had looked at the companies I was shopping for and guessed they were the groundwork for a military industry.
At that, I showed interest in Grent and asked why he thought so.
"Aren't they all bottomless pits that eat money with little hope of immediate profit? I didn't think that was the kind of judgment the Young Lord, who sweeps up tens of billions in investments, would make. So I figured this round of acquisitions was an investment for the future."
Correct.
Grent displayed judgment as sound as his stats.
I gave a straightforward nod of affirmation without adding any unnecessary embellishment.
"That's right. The mining and distribution industries that are the mainstays of our Lawrence territory aren't bad either, but their growth ceiling is too obvious. In that regard, I thought the military industry was an excellent prey."
"For an Archmage, that's a plan well worth considering."
The military industry is just as saturated as distribution or mining, but I have the title of Archmage.
If I set my mind to it, just mass-producing 7th Circle artifacts alone would bring in more profit than the total revenue of House Lawrence's businesses.
But I had no intention of clinging to a simple artifact industry.
"If it's not too rude to ask, may I know what items you have in mind?"
"Out of curiosity?"
"No. I asked because I thought it necessary to keep in mind what to prioritize in following the Young Lord's orders going forward."
Perhaps because I showed no sign of displeasure?
Pesius, who had been trying to restrain his son, let out a sigh and took a step back.
But at my following answer, both their expressions changed.
Pesius with shock, and Grent with a thrill.
"First, we'll have to start with Vanguard equipment."
The Vanguard's Force equipment is split evenly among three houses of the Kingdom of Rhinehearts.
The first is the 'House Aenerheim Ducal,' maternal family of the Second Prince.
The second is the 'House Heins Ducal' the maternal family of the current King and the finest magic lineage in the Kingdom of Rhinehearts.
And the last one, who'd be left out feeling slighted, is the 'Rhinehearts Royal Family.'
Which means Vanguard equipment is being produced in the hands of the kingdom's highest powers.
Taken differently, doesn't that mean that if one had the ability to produce Vanguard Force equipment, they could stand shoulder to shoulder with them?
"I-Is that even possible?"
"I've grasped the principles of the Force system and the general manufacturing methods of Vanguard equipment. If the assistants do their part well enough, it's fully possible."
In our Kingdom of Rhinehearts, there are four Archmages besides me.
But of those, only two know how to produce Vanguard Force equipment.
That means each house keeps its manufacturing methods thoroughly hidden, and that Force equipment isn't something just anyone can make even if they become an Archmage.
Since Vanguard equipment is a strategic weapon, this holds true not only for our Kingdom of Rhinehearts but for the entire world.
"The existing powers won't just sit still."
"It'll be fine. I paid a visit to the royal castle today and came up with a way to respond. And in the first place, if we only make Force equipment on par with theirs, the threat won't be that great."
"You even have alternatives ready? Truly impressive."
An Archmage who appears out of nowhere at twenty years old, producing Vanguard Force equipment?
There was no way public attention wouldn't focus on him.
Naturally, there was a need to hold back somewhat here.
By experiencing a few failures along the way.
At first, the father and son had different expressions, but by now, both their eyes were shining brightly.
The twenty-two-year-old young man before me his expression aside, it wasn't one a man in his forties should be making, so I'd just pretend I didn't see it.
"For reference, I don't intend to be satisfied with the level of Vanguard equipment, so if a decent magic tower comes up for sale, let me know right away."
There is only one thing above the level of Vanguard equipment.
The Sky Fortress, flagship product of 'Metal Fortress Heavy Industries,' operated jointly by two ducal houses and one marquis house around the royal family.
At that, the two of them simply nodded, taking my words as nothing more than a goal, without any particular reaction.
I shrugged, seeing no need to reveal to them that I was capable of building a Sky Fortress.
[Relationship: Favor / Loyalty]
[Status: Admiration / Respect]
Grent was showing a very satisfying shift in attitude compared to when I first met him.
He had been lending his strength to the intelligence organization I was building, at the suggestion of his father Pesius, but he seemed to lack much conviction.
After conversing with me, though, he appeared to have gained proper motivation.
"I hope you'll do your best to assist Sir Pesius from now on. I'll make sure you receive the best treatment and come to take pride in standing beside me."
"I look forward to it."
Then I turned my gaze to Pesius.
"Is the organization coming together well?"
"The leadership, including Grent here, has been fully assembled from trustworthy people. However, we're severely short on mid-level managers and regular informants."
"And the alternative?"
"I'm considering absorbing a few existing small-scale information guilds."
"You'll need funds, then?"
"Yes, that's the thing..."
I left the establishment of the intelligence organization to him.
I accepted his request and shared with him an account containing 30 billion.
"This should be enough, yes?"
"Oh my, more than enough."
Even though tens of trillions of won would soon be moving because of him, he still couldn't seem to wrap his head around the 30 billion right in front of him.
"If you need more, don't hesitate to ask. I need a proper intelligence organization, after all."
"Yes, understood."
* * *
Reporting to my parents about what had happened at the palace got pushed aside by Chronicle Online and Pesius.
As a result, it wasn't until teatime after dinner that I informed my parents of the Second Prince's proposal.
"What? A marquisate?"
"Yes."
Of course, I kept hidden the Crown Prince's proposal, which required absolute secrecy for the sake of betrayal.
But in social circles, the consensus was that the Second Prince would win the succession struggle, so even the Second Prince's offer alone was enough to astonish my father and mother.
"I said I'd accept the proposal since there was no reason to refuse."
"Truly, nothing has gone as expected since you returned from the battlefield."
My father, no matter how harshly he had treated himself, still showed signs of struggling with the deaths of his wife Anna and son Cedric.
But their deaths were never my father's fault.
After all, Anna and Cedric were the ones who cast my father out first.
And meeting their end at the hands of me, whom they had wanted dead, could only be called reaping what they sowed.
So I coldly advised my father that the two had been dealt with for the sake of the family, and that he should forget them.
Of course, it would be nice if emotions could be controlled at will, but that's no easy task.
Still, he has endured much, and he's a man of clear judgment, so I believe he'll shake off the guilt without too much trouble.
And my mother will help him from the side as well.
"I'm scared now, Mother. My son is going to become His Excellency? It'll be fine, right?"
"Mother, a count also carries the title of His Excellency, just like a marquis."
"But the weight of the two titles is different."
My mother is no longer a concubine.
She has become the lady of a viscount's house, and above all, she is my birth mother, so she is no longer subjected to anyone's contempt rather, she has become an object of fear.
But it seems she herself still hasn't adjusted to the treatment that changed overnight.
I casually tossed out a joke at my mother's naive worries.
"What's so special about being a marquis? We should aim for becoming king of a nation and building ourselves a proper harem."
But the two of them couldn't take the joke at face value and swallowed air.
"Yo-you damn brat, what nonsense are you "
-Hic.
My father, flustered, scolded me in a trembling voice, and my mother was so startled she hiccuped.
But there was one common reaction between them: they were both busy watching Arcia's reaction.
She's so quiet and has naturally blended into the family that it's easy to forget, but she's someone who could go toe-to-toe with a Sky Fortress with a single Force Sword.
It was only natural that the two of them were terrified.
"Arcia knows it's a joke and isn't saying anything. You two are overreacting so much that it's embarrassing for me."
Arcia had been set up as my lover for convenience's sake as someone I would marry but it wasn't a real relationship between us.
So it was a joke thrown out without much thought, but seeing their reaction, I'll have to be more careful from now on.
[Status: Complex / Subtle]
But the moment I looked at Arcia, her status display was strange, and I had to tilt my head in confusion.
[Status: Normal]
However, just a few seconds later, her status returned to usual, so I didn't place much significance on it.
"Son, be good to Lady Arcia. Don't let your eyes wander."
"Yes."
She was saying it with a smile, but at my mother's warning, her eyes full of chill, I quickly nodded my head.
"Anyway. Since we're about to be granted a high title, I'd like to proceed with the cleaning we've been putting off, to herald the new beginning of House Lawrence."
"Cleaning?"
Caught off guard by the sudden remark, my parents couldn't understand what I meant and expressed their confusion.
As for the cleaning our house had been putting off what else could it mean?
Only one thing.
"Isn't it the handling of the vassals who took undue gains by following Anna and Cedric, and the punishment of the servants who harmed Mother and me?"
This could be said to be the purpose of this gathering.
I had no intention of declaring a clean end to my revenge simply by killing Anna and Cedric.
I'll deal with both those who were my enemies and those who could become potential enemies, to eliminate any lingering trouble.