42 – Dadaekseon
＜Dadaekseon – Chapter 42＞
I cannot choose between the two.
Freya is the daughter of Kalas Jajak.
Kalas Jajakryeong is a crucial point connecting Monster Island and the continent.
As someone who trades with the continent, my relationship with them was important.
The Alencia of the vampire duke goes without saying, it is important.
“It’s complicated.”
To avoid the situation, he looked around.
And one person caught his eye.
“Russell!”
“Oh, my lord!”
He hurriedly ran towards Russell.
And he grabbed both hands.
“What did I ask you to do?”
“The three-day holi-“
“Ah! You stayed up for three nights? I need to check right away. You two take a break for a moment. I have urgent matters to attend to.”
He entered the office with Russell.
“My lord, what’s the matter?”
“Well, you see…”
He briefly explained what had just happened.
“So that’s what happened.”
Russell took out a paper from his pocket.
“If you have time, please take a look at this.”
[Mercenary Street Financial Situation]
The paper detailed the income and expenditure of Mercenary Street.
“What’s strange?”
The numbers were peculiar.
Expenditures were normal, but
income was much higher than expected.
“Did you write it down incorrectly?”
“I double-checked. It’s exactly right.”
Carefully, I read through the documents.
As Russell said, there was no miscalculation.
So, the mercenaries must have spent that much money.
Guests in the mercenary district are mercenaries, after all.
“If they’ve spent almost all the money they earned…”
Income is used in two main ways.
First, consumption.
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Second, savings.
The proportions of consumption and savings vary based on personal preferences and situations.
And mercenaries tend to have an extremely high consumption tendency.
“Is it because of the nature of the job?”
Mercenaries could die tomorrow.
That’s why they enjoy today.
I opened the drawer and took out the subsidy expenditure records.
The net profit of the mercenary street was almost equivalent to the amount spent on subsidies.
In other words, most of the subsidies paid were recovered through the shops on the mercenary street.
“We’re not in the red, are we?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this much profit from the mercenary street.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t expect it either.”
“Then would you like to borrow funds from us?”
In theory, there was no need to borrow money.
Because there was no deficit.
‘But…’
It’s not common to borrow money at such a low interest rate of 3%.
You could almost say it’s non-existent.
But to pass up this opportunity?
“We can’t do that. We’ll both borrow. Russell, let’s go!”
“Yes, my lord.”
.
.
“Borrow from both of them?”
“Do you need that much money?”
Even though the reason to borrow money disappeared,
he still groaned.
“Russell’s report isn’t looking good. So, I’d like to borrow some money from you two.”
Was it because they looked troubled?
He no longer forced them into a dilemma.
“Russell.”
“Yes, sir.”
He took out a paper from the study.
And promptly drafted a contract.
It stated that he would lend money to the two women at 3% interest.
“Seems quite urgent.”
Without hesitation, Alencia signed the contract.
Following suit, Freya also signed.
However, unlike Alencia, her hand trembled thinly.
After completing the contract,
He took the two women to a restaurant.
“Enjoy your meal. I’ve prepared beef for you!”
The chef had prepared dishes using beef.
Perhaps because of their continental origins, the variety was diverse.
While they were eating,
Freya couldn’t sit still.
She would lift her fork, only to set it down again.
“I’m a bit sorry…”
The reason she was saying this was probably because of lending money at a low interest rate.
“Lord Elwin.”
“Speak, Lady Freya.”
“I… should probably head back early.”
“Are you speaking of your own accord?”
“Yes, I have some matters to discuss with my father.”
What else could those matters be?
It must be about the money she’ll lend me.
“Will I get in trouble if it continues like this?”
A 3% ultra-low-interest loan.
If Kalas Jagk, who is interested in economics, knew about it, he would surely be angry.
“Lady Freya.”
“I apologize, Lord Elwin.”
“I will now tell you one thing. Please convey this to Jagk.”
“What is it?”
“When I met Jagk before, I spoke about the ‘cycle.’ This time, what I’m going to say is…”
Clatter.
At the small noise, she glanced briefly to the side.
Alencia and Geoffrey had put down their forks, concentrating on their conversation.
“Do you happen to know the term ‘zero-sum’?”
“I’m not sure.”
Alencia and Geoffrey also exchanged glances.
Both seemed to lower their heads as if hearing it for the first time.
“It means that one side’s gain is immediately offset by the other side’s loss when summed, resulting in zero.”
The reaction came from Alencia.
“Isn’t that obvious? If someone gains, someone else loses.”
“Lady Alencia, you’re right. However, there are cases where it’s not like that. It’s called a ‘win-win’ situation.”
“Win-win? Both win. Is that what it means?”
“Yes. Each lord of the empire is in a competitive relationship. When one becomes strong, the other tends to weaken. However, depending on the situation, both can become strong. Like… our relationship, Lady Alencia, and Lord Kalas.”
He spoke to Alencia, and in the end, he looked at Freya.
“Should I convey these words to my father?”
“Yes, then Lady Freya’s concerns will also disappear.”
Freya stood up.
“Thank you for your words. Can I… come again next time?”
“Anytime, you are welcome.”
Freya and Geoffrey hurriedly left the restaurant.
A moment later,
Alencia stood up.
“Work here is done. I should go back.”
“Are you leaving already?”
Arlensia looked down at me.
Despite being taller than me, I was sitting, and she was standing.
“Do I seem idle to you?”
“Well… it’s just that…”
I didn’t even call her, and she came all the way to Terra.
And now she’s asking if I’m idle?
To an outsider, it might not seem like we’ve been interrupted.
“Don’t worry about the money. I’ll send it right away.”
After Arlensia left, silence descended upon the restaurant.
The turmoil of the past couple of days seemed almost unreal.
Along with it, fatigue washed over me.
It must be because the tension suddenly released.
Then, a delicious smell tickled my nose.
“Oh. What’s this? Didn’t even eat much of the expensive beef. Hey! Summon Russell and Isaac!”
Not even a minute passed, and Russell walked in.
He must have been waiting outside the restaurant.
“Sit down. There’s plenty of food left.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
They began their meal with Russell.
Isaac didn’t know when he would come.
After eating for a while,
Russell spoke up.
“My lord, where do you intend to use the borrowed money?”
“I suppose I’ll buy slaves?”
There’s plenty of land.
With just slaves, we can cultivate the land, leading to increased income.
“Don’t you have plans to expand the outpost?”
“The outpost?”
“Many mercenaries are subduing trolls, causing the supply lines to lengthen. Currently, the outpost’s scale can’t handle them.”
Centered around the area I’ve incorporated,
There’s “Soriver” at the southeast end.
There’s “Terra” at the southwest end.
On the other hand, the troll territory lies to the north.
“Are you suggesting expanding the northern outpost?”
“Yes. If the mercenaries’ travel distance is shortened, the troll extermination will accelerate.”
“But you see…”
We’ll have to give up some income.
Whether mercenaries spend money at the forward base or come all the way to Seriver,
In the end, that money will come into my pocket.
“Income and subjugation. Can’t we catch two rabbits at once?”
“What if we turn the northern forward base into a village?”
Not just a supply role,
If we form a village like Terrach.
We can earn agricultural income while serving as a supply role.
“But there’s not enough borrowed money…”
“Russell, can’t we get more money?”
“Are you suggesting borrowing again? That’s not a good idea. Others won’t lend at low interest rates.”
“That’s true.”
Even if agricultural income increases, it’s no use if the interest rate is high.
“Is there no way to get money out of it…”
Someone said.
Human desires are endless.
Just yesterday, I wished to solve only the deficit.
But now I want to build an additional village in just one day.
“I understand what you’re thinking, my lord. However, not everyone can have it. Just focus on Troll subjugation.”
If I have to choose one, Russell’s words are right.
“But…”
‘Money…’
‘Money…’
Thoughts sank deep into the unconscious.
It felt as if drifting into a brief slumber.
Then, a sound awakened the mind.
“Master, sorry for being late.”
“It’s fine! Come in!”
With a start,
I rose from my seat and tightly grasped Isaac’s shoulders.
“Master?”
“Isaac, come on. Eat quickly. Eat twice.”
“Ah… Thank you.”
Chin in hand, I looked at Isaac.
‘There was money. And it was very close.’
“Master?”
“It’s okay. Eat a lot. Should I order more? Should I catch more cattle?”
“No, it’s enough.”
I waited until Isaac had eaten enough.
And when he finished his meal,
“Isaac, by the way. Slaves have money, right?”
The money of a slave.
Generally, slaves are not allowed to possess personal property.
However, I have allowed the slave to possess personal property.
Even now, I give him a monthly salary, although it may be less than that of an ordinary person.
“What if I keep the money for you?”
I thought while observing Isaac’s reaction.
How much interest should I give?
“That’s a good idea.”
“Huh? Yeah, it is.”
Isaac’s response is positive.
I temporarily lowered the interest rate I had in mind.
“There have been a few incidents of loss. If you take care of it, everyone will feel relieved.”
“Yeah. But speaking of which…”
I hesitated, dragging out my words.
“5%? Is it too low? 6%?”
“Do you have any thoughts on charging a storage fee?”
“A storage fee?”
