Chapter 427-2 Wheat Sales Strategy
"As a result, it seems it will end up like that. The Sophia Merchant Guild merely conducts its business properly. If sufficient wheat reaches Roisen, they will have no reason to purchase expensive wheat from the Coastal Union. In that case, I believe the wheat market will plummet at an astonishing rate. Of course, the merchants of the Coastal Union as well as the grain traders within Avalon might not escape unscathed either."
Sara, snickering softly, bears an expression reflecting the dimming light outside the window.
"However, that all hinges on the royal family acting according to the wishes of the Sophia Merchant Guild. How will you persuade His Majesty the King?"
"Perhaps through assistance with the Mobile Portal and supplies to counter heat fever. It seems likely that the Mobile Portal will be purchased at a bargain price. Still, I can't imagine the royal family will resist using the Mobile Portal they acquire, so I am confident they will regularly purchase large quantities of magic stones or magical energy."
"Moreover, will you not publicize the installation of the Mobile Portal within the royal family, and sell them on installments to other houses?"
"Of course. However, I intend to keep the scale very small. Perhaps just enough for a handful of people to move."
"I think the royal family won't look kindly upon that."
"Hehe. I am considering ensuring that records of 'when', 'who', and 'what was moved' are kept for every portal. The noble houses that install the Mobile Portals would simply need to establish a law mandating that this record be reported to the royal family. Well, the Sophia Merchant Guild has no intention of getting involved that deeply."
It's a blatant lie.
For the Magi will undoubtedly keep the records.
"If that happens, the number of noble houses wanting them might drastically decrease, you know?"
"It's not a product I intend to sell broadly from the start. Did I not just mention it was developed to cover up my blunder?"
"That may be true, but this sales strategy feels overly calculated."
"What would happen if a noble house tried to analyze the technology of the Mobile Portal or illegally modify it?"
"If they were to do such a thing, it would surely be designed to self-destruct. Of course, any broken Mobile Portal will be repaired for a fee by the Sophia Merchant Guild!"
Sara felt an urge to project her presentation materials onto the screen.
It seemed that the memories of her past life were beginning to awaken a bit.
"For now, I understand the intentions of the Sophia Merchant Guild. I shall request an audience with His Majesty the King. By the way, I plan to mention the Mobile Portal a little when I make the request."
"May I ask why?"
"It's a preemptive strike. If we're going to expose it anyway, it's better to present the information ourselves before they start questioning us."
"Understood. I will leave that matter to my grandfather."
"I see, understood. I'm tired now... Everyone, you may leave."
Leaving the exhausted Marquis Grandchester behind in the room, Sara and the others departed from the office.
* * *
Alone, Marquis Grandchester stood up from the sofa without calling for a servant, took a glass from the cupboard, and poured himself some wine.
"This is the wine I first drank with Will."
"Mike, you won't abandon me, will you?"
Seeing Mike transform into a human shape, Marquis Grandchester took another glass and poured the same wine.
"Sara didn't abandon Will either. She knows I was the one who stole the alcohol, so Sara isn't really angry."
"What did I do wrong?"
"You did nothing wrong. Sara understands that Will has been making various arrangements for her and the Sophia Merchant Guild. It's just that Sara cannot live as a noblewoman in this world. She's a soul from a different world, so it's only natural that her common sense and values differ."
"But I had to accept that Sara would leave."
"That's quite a way to say you'll never see each other again. You didn't say anything about abandoning Will's family, did you? It's merely like standing on your own a bit earlier."
"Isn't it too early? It's not even been 2 years since she came to me. Even Arthur stayed by my side until he became an adult..."
The Marquis Grandchester... no, the elderly man named William deeply lamented that his grandchild, who had unexpectedly jumped into his arms, had swiftly flown away.
Yet, he understood that showing such emotions would only burden Sara further.
"Mike... Sara's eyes are the color of Nora's. Arthur had the same color."
"Yes, I have seen Arthur's eyes. Both of them sparkle like jewels, don't they?"
"Why do all leave me behind?"
"It's alright, Will. Sara is still here. Don't be so sad."
"But Sara must have come to dislike me, right?"
"That's not true at all. What happened today was because Elizabeth and Chloe went overboard."
"Still, it's the same thing. I must accept that I unconsciously depended on the Sophia Merchant Guild."
"People quickly grow accustomed to convenience and what suits them. Isn't that something Sara understands best? I don't think anyone relies on their own strength as much as she does."
"That's true."
"That child used a transporting magician just because she wanted to go to the toilet in the middle of the night."
"It must have been an urgent situation."
"No, it's just that she said it was cold. It's ridiculous."
"Isn't the toilet also cold?"
"Thanks to Alicia's magical tool, the toilets and baths in Maiden's Tower maintain a comfortable temperature at all times. It takes a lot of magical power to keep the entire tower warm, so they are quite frugal with it."
"Clearly more convenient than the main estate."
Mike and William exchanged glances and began to laugh, unbidden.
"I see, Sara has such sides to her as well."
"I will teach you many more things."
"You'll be disliked by Sara."
"Will will keep it a secret, right?"
"Of course."
"So, don't be sad anymore. Sara is still here, and she hasn't stopped calling you 'Grandfather.' It's just what people say about 'keeping public and private matters separate.' The Sophia Merchant Guild is just work for Sara."
"I see, that's true. Sara is still your granddaughter."
"Of course! She will always be my granddaughter."
"Mike, I appreciate your comfort."
"You're welcome. Will is an important drinking buddy."
William had a generous amount of light snacks brought to his room as a substitute for dinner, and he enjoyed drinking with Mike until well past midnight.
Meanwhile, Richard, William's loyal aide who brought the snacks, mistakenly thought that William had taken a lover upon seeing Mike, but he decided to keep it to himself without telling anyone.
Truly, he was a devoted aide.
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