“So, what you mean is, besides the task I gave you, you want to run a Sangdan and amass great wealth. And you’re saying you’ll need capital for that, and if I provide it, you’ll share the profits with me?”
As expected, she’s sharp. No need for further explanation.
“Yes, that’s correct. If you trust me, I’ll conduct business through the Sangdan to generate significant profit, and I will give you 20%… no, 30% of the Sangdan’s earnings, Young Lady.”
“Hmm…”
The Young Lady seems lost in thought. Did I overdo it…?
“Answer me this one question. If you create a Sangdan, can you turn the Communal Living Area into a Vocational School and bring great wealth to our territory?”
“That is my very dream. I want to support the companions in the Communal Living Area so they can pursue their own dreams, and lead a life that helps the poor and marginalized in the territory. I believe the way to reduce poverty is business. The more prosperous the Sangdan becomes, the wealthier Ashford Territory will be.”
“So, the way to resolve my concerns is to create a Sangdan…”
The Young Lady thought for a long while after hearing me, and finally opened her mouth.
“Fine. I’ll play the queen who invests in a fool, just this once. I’ll sponsor you with 50 Gold.”
50 Gold! That’s equivalent to a hundred million in value.
“Thank you, thank you, Young Lady. I won’t let you down.”
The gratitude wells up so deeply that I thank her twice without thinking. This is the moment my first Angel Investment is secured.
“But, there are conditions.”
“Yes, please speak, Young Lady.”
“30% of the profit is too little…”
“In truth, I’d like to take about 90% for myself, but then you’d lose all motivation, wouldn’t you. You need to make big profits for my share to grow as well. I’ll be generous. Offer me 40% of the profit.”
No way—
“Yes, understood, Young Lady.”
“And you also requested I maintain the Communal Living Area for you. I think about 30% of the profit should be set aside for that, as compensation.”
She’s no ordinary investor. She’s investing a hundred million and taking a 70% share… Well, 30% is what I’m investing myself…
“Understood…”
“And of course, when the Sangdan’s assets are to be liquidated, my share comes first. If the Sangdan fails, I want to receive my share of its assets before anyone else.”
Ah… This is the concept of a debenture from Earth.
A debenture is a type of stock that gives the holder priority claim to a company’s assets. How does she know this? Is it instinct?
“Yes, of course… Absolutely.”
“Also, the headquarters of your Sangdan must always be within Ashford Territory, even when it grows. Can you promise that?”
“Yes, of course… That’s only natural. In fact, I was already planning to establish the Sangdan headquarters in Costa Village, where the Communal Living Area is.”
I’ll have to learn more about the taxes in Ashford Territory later.
“And among the things Rem Bus mentioned earlier, this part stuck with me. He agreed to sign a contract promising to compensate for all losses should his expedition fail, didn’t he?”
“Of course, we’ll sign such a contract as well, should the Sangdan fail?”
This is the moment when common shares transform into convertible preference shares…
This type of share, often called an 8005, can function as a stock, but in case of trouble, it turns into a bond.
Investors love it, but it’s not so great for the person receiving investment.
“No, but… is this Young Lady also someone who has memories of Earth? How does she keep coming up with terms so favorable to investors?”
“Yes… Absolutely, Young Lady… I’ll write it up.”
The Young Lady looked satisfied with the negotiations. But she wasn’t finished yet.
“And…”
And… Please, no more! I’m scared of what’s coming next!
“About your task. The value of the Artifact you’ll receive from your first client is 25 Gold.”
“Pardon?”
“Yesterday, because my loyal knight was keeping an eye on you, I was able to entrust you with the item. But what reason do I have to trust you with an item? You could just sell it off in another country and run.”
“But you trust me enough to invest…”
“Provide collateral. When you return with the proper payment for the item, I’ll give it back to you.”
“Young Lady… I’m sorry, but I don’t have any collateral…”
That veiled mouth. She must be smiling under there…
“Didn’t you just get some? A whole 50 Gold. Leave 25 Gold as collateral.”
This Young Lady is… The more I deal with her, the more formidable she is.
“Y-yes…”
“And also…”
“Another one?”
“When you go to the big city, you’ll need to establish the Sangdan and hire mercenaries. But the road to the city is rough. I’ll lend you my knight and a carriage. Take it.”
I almost misunderstood her. She was worried I’d have a hard time walking, and she’s kindly offering me a ride.
“Thank you, Young Lady.”
“No need to thank me. The fee is 1 Gold.”
This Young Lady… She’s a robber, really… 1 Gold is enough for a family of four to live for months.
“Refusal is not accepted. Negotiations end here. Rest today and depart for the city tomorrow. I’ll give you the coin before you leave.”
Thank you??? I’ve gained an enormous sum and a powerful backer, yet why do I feel so uneasy?
“Yes… Thank you, Young Lady. I’ll do my best not to let you down. Then, if you’ll excuse me…”
I wanted to get out of there quickly. Even though I received 50 Gold in investment, 26 Gold was snatched away in an instant. Still, I have to keep going.
“Oh, and one more thing?”
Again… What now…
“What is your third request?”
I’d forgotten. The third request… The truth is, I wanted to ask for people to guard the Sangdan.
But that’s out of the question…
At this rate, all the Gold I just received will end up right back in the Young Lady’s hands.
If I borrow forces from her, I’ll be bankrupt in no time. It’s probably more cost-effective to just hire cheap mercenaries. Still, I feel a bit stifled…
I’d better ask for something else.
“Well… I think I may be misunderstanding your deeper intentions, Young Lady. I ask that you please speak more plainly with me in the future.”
“What do you mean?”
“Could you please refrain from giving me riddles from now on?”
Crack~!
The Young Lady’s fan snapped in her hand.
***
Tick, tick.
The ticking of the grand clock’s second hand sounded loudly.
I went too far in the heat of the moment…
I can’t take it back now… Was asking her to stop with the riddles really such a big deal to her…?
The first request was granted in about 10 seconds, the second, 50 Gold investment, took less than five minutes to decide.
But now, she’s been pondering for over ten minutes about not giving me any more riddles.
If she’s going to agonize this much… she might as well just keep giving me riddles…
“Fine.”
At long last, she answered. Suddenly, all my strength left me.
“But…”
Again… What now…
“I’ll try, but they might slip out from time to time. Can you accept that?”
I could feel how sincere she was about her riddles.
She glanced at her broken fan. That fan looked expensive, but she wouldn’t ask me to buy a new one, would she?
As she lifted the broken fan, Sir Richard naturally took it from her and, from who knows where, placed a new fan in her hand.
“Today is like the sun that never sets… No, never mind…
Rest for today, and tomorrow, head for Grunvalt.”
Did a riddle just slip out again…?
“Yes, understood!”
I shouted without meaning to. Whew~ I really need to rest.
I left the Young Lady’s room and, guided by Sir Dalton, moved to the Sarangchae where the guest was staying.
The Sarangchae I was led to was by far the best place I had stayed in this world.
***
After Sir Dalton and William left, only Sir Richard and the Ashford Viscountess remained.
Only then, as if all duties were over, Frana Bella removed her suffocating veil.
Red marks clearly appeared on her face.
When Sir Richard quietly handed her a cool, damp handkerchief, she silently pressed it to her cheek.
“It looks like the swelling will go down by tonight. If you command me, Young Lady, I am ready to obey.
Even if it means trading my life.”
Sir Richard was a knight of the Ashford Family, but he didn’t see it that way. He thought of himself as her knight, and hers alone.
“That’s enough. Still, aren’t you my older brother’s man? And your life is far more precious than his, you know.”
Sir Richard bowed his head naturally, and Frana Bella gently patted his head.
“By the way, do you really trust that boy? Sponsoring him with Gold and all… Isn’t the territory’s treasury dangerously low?”
“True… Expenses have been piling up, but that’s what investment is for, isn’t it?”
She smiled.
“I’m looking forward to it!”
“To what, exactly?”
“That boy’s dream. He says he’ll build a Vocational School, and that no one will be poor.
As the lord’s representative, even I can’t say such things easily, yet that boy declares it so boldly.
If, as he says, we can make this a land where no one goes hungry, what material wealth could be too precious for that?”
“I will accompany him on his mission, to make sure he doesn’t try any tricks.”
Sir Richard felt a vague anxiety and jealousy.
“No, just accompany him to Grunvalt tomorrow. Don’t you think about me? Having you here keeps me from feeling lonely…”
Frana Bella quietly stroked her knight’s head.
The knight received her touch in silence, like a faithful pet. And so the night deepened.
***
“Ahh, I slept well.”
As expected, a noble’s bedroom is something else. I could feel my fatigue melt away.
After breakfast, Sir Dalton handed me a hefty pouch.
Inside were 24 Gold coins. Nearly 50 million won.
So this is what money smells like. After Sir Dalton left, I took out a coin and gave it a sniff. Should I try biting it…?
I wanted to look around the castle, but that wasn’t permitted.
I left the way I came.
Once aboard the twin-horse carriage, Frana Bella and Sir Richard joined me.
The difference from yesterday was that the Young Lady’s face was uncovered by a veil.
‘She’s beautiful…’
I found myself staring at her without realizing it.