“Then you’re not saying it’s impossible to succeed?”

“Correct. The Palatio dukedom is well-located and often frequented by merchants.”

“Even so, the merchants didn’t come around as often as you’d think.”

“Probably because up until now there was no particular reason to visit the dukedom, so they might have preferred to visit other estates a bit farther away.”

“Is it because of the local products?”

“Yes, indeed. The surrounding estates do have their own special products.”

Alexion’s response was straightforward.

Alon admired inwardly, thinking, ‘This is why business should indeed be handled by those who are skilled in it.’

Alon nodded unconsciously, observing how well Alexion understood the situation of the estates better than himself.

Well, strictly speaking, Alon hadn’t really focused on developing his estate.

But, it was true that Alexion had exceptional business acumen.

‘Should I invest?’

Initially, when Alon found out Alexion owned the auction house, he thought it necessary to reconsider his investment.

Alon knew how dire Alexion’s true nature could be, even though he seemed mild-mannered when they met through Radan.

But after discussing further, Alexion appeared quite normal.

No, more than normal – he seemed extremely intelligent.

‘…Was Alexion originally normal, but something happened before the player arrived at Laksas?…No, I heard he was always like that.’

It was puzzling.

‘Well, he seems fine for now.’

Alon concluded his judgment and asked.

“If we proceed as I described, how much would we need?”

“Um, it seems like it would cost a fair amount.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, initially, setting up the foundation alone will require a substantial amount of money.”

“I’m prepared to invest a reasonable amount, of course, to you as well.”

Alon was considering a significant investment in the business.

He hoped to earn money without exploiting the local people.

“So, I’d like to have an open and comfortable discussion… What are you looking at?”

However, Alexion seemed a bit off.

Since the start of their serious conversation, he was subtly looking not at Alon but somewhere behind him.

Following his gaze, Alon turned his head.

‘A tree?’

Just an ordinary tree was in sight.

“Ah, nothing serious. I have a habit of staring into space, which might have caused some rudeness unintentionally.”

“That’s alright.”

Everyone has their habits.

As Alon nodded, Alexion, forcing a smile, looked behind Alon at a woman holding a video screen.

There, Radan was,

‘If caught, just like that.’

Uttering fierce words, spelling out every letter clearly as if to ensure understanding, held back a scream he wanted to let out.

He knew it.

He knew Radan was capable of such things.

To survive, one must handle oneself well.

Alexion began to give practical advice, maintaining his poker face.

Normally, he might have advised keeping a ‘bit more’ profit for himself, but with Radan watching, that plan was off the table.

He did not want to die over a slip of the tongue.

“For the scale of business you envision, initially, this much funding will be necessary.”

“…That’s quite a lot.”

“It can’t be helped. First, building the structures will require a large initial investment, and then gathering the merchants will cost money as well. Furthermore—”

“What about?”

“The key is to make the merchants feel it’s more important to stop here because of the benefits we offer, even if there are special products in other estates. That will also require more money.”

“…If we operate that way, wouldn’t the merchants stop coming if the benefits were removed?”

“No. By gathering the merchants and boosting the auction house and surrounding tourist industries, once the auction house becomes a major value, merchants won’t easily exclude this dukedom from their routes.”

“What if—”

After a lengthy discussion, Alexion suddenly—

“So, originally, we would need about 250% of the proposed amount—”

—stopped talking.

Because Radan was staring intently at him from outside, shaking his head.

“However, if I make an effort, perhaps 200% would suffice—”

Despite feeling Radan’s menacing glare from afar, Alexion adjusted his statement smoothly.

Shake—

Radan shook his head once again.

“It’s possible, and I might even be able to reduce it to 180%,”

Alexion reluctantly lowered the figure, feeling a bit wronged.

However, slowly shaking his head again, Radan’s actions made Alexion say, “Perhaps, it might even be feasible to go down to 150%…”

He said this while internally screaming with frustration.

Honestly, he had slightly inflated the initial rate out of greed, but it wasn’t like it left much profit anyway.

Yet, despite this…

Shake—

Seeing the devil continuously shaking his head through the window, Alexion’s previously smiling face tensed up.

‘Isn’t this too much?’

They say even a cornered rat will bite a cat, and Alexion, faced with such unreasonable demands, involuntarily wore a venomous expression.

‘I’ve done everything! Everything!!!’

He had obediently gone to the Pirate Peninsula when asked, he had withdrawn from illegal businesses when told to stop underworld activities.

He had come to the dukedom without complaint when asked, and had already reduced the investment proposal from about 200% to 150%.

Was it still not enough?

The countless memories of humiliation and oppression intensified his resentment, and finally, with emotions surging, Alexion declared,

“……100%.”

“What?”

“I will do it with the originally proposed investment amount,”

he conceded, swallowing tears of blood as he lowered his head.

After all, he did not want to die.

Nod—

Radan nodded in satisfaction through the window.

Alexion’s face was the very image of despondency.

And Alon, standing opposite, was.

“???”

He couldn’t help but be puzzled.

In fact, a proper negotiation hadn’t even started before it was unilaterally concluded.

After a moment of bewilderment, Alon finally spoke up.

“…… Let’s settle on 150%.”

“What?”

“If what you say is true, that seems to be the necessary investment,” he said.

A calm voice. However, Alexion’s eyes widened in disbelief. Although granting 150% was still insufficient, everything is relative. Seeing Radan ruthlessly haggling over prices, and then the Marquis offering to add an extra 50%, Alexion felt tears welling up in his eyes.

‘Marquis is truly a saint…!’

Objectively, he was not a saint, but having dealt extensively with Radan, Alexion felt overwhelmed.

“Thank you…! Truly, thank you!”

He bowed deeply, holding back tears that were starting to flow.

Alon thought, ‘Is this a midlife crisis?’ Watching Alexion’s emotions rise and fall on his own, a rational doubt surfaced in his mind.

***

King Carmaxes III of the Colony was recently less busy than other monarchs of the allied kingdoms because his desert kingdom had not been affected by the recent Outer gods crisis. Except for the initial meeting, he was not much affected by the recent major events. Instead,

“Did another seismic event occur?”

“Yes, the Manna estate suffered significant damage.”

“Hmm.”

King Carmaxes III was concerned about the recent seismic events.

“How many does this make?”

“The fifth.”

“How strange. What about the wizards?”

“It seems the wizards from the Tower are investigating, but they haven’t identified the cause yet.”

This was because these seismic events, which usually occurred around the magical Towers, were happening more frequently everywhere.

“Hmm—”

King Carmaxes thought briefly and then decided not to worry about it. The estates were suffering, but it was not yet excessive. Instead,

“…What is Karsem doing?”

“He is learning magic today as well.”

He inquired about the second prince, who had recently piqued his interest.

“Again today?”

“Yes.”

“And, does he have talent?”

“Yes, quite a bit. He’s already reached the first tier.”

“Already?”

“Yes. It’s said that he is very talented and also puts in considerable effort.”

The advisor continued, “Recently, the court’s opinion of the second prince has significantly improved. Most say he has gained a lot of respectability since that incident.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. There are even many who say he has become more respectable than the first prince recently.”

“That much?”

“It seems so, possibly more noticeable due to the contrast with his past behavior.”

The advisor paused briefly.

“I also think the second prince has changed a lot.”

He added his personal impression.

“Hmm—”

“Even recently, he saved a maid who nearly fell while cleaning the railing.”

“Karsem did?”

“Yes. It’s said he commented, ‘If it were Marquis Palatio, he would have done the same…'”

“That’s a bit cringeworthy.”

“I agree, but it seems his temperament has genuinely softened.”

Hearing this, King Carmaxes III involuntarily stroked his chin. Truthfully, the second prince was not the son he was most concerned about. Of course, he loved his family, but he did not see the second prince as a suitable heir. Although the first prince did not entirely meet his standards either, he was considerably better compared to the second, so he had marked him as the successor.

However, recently, the first prince was gradually falling out of favor with King Carmaxes III. Despite having been instructed in heir-appropriate behaviors from a young age, he was still quietly causing various troubles, not as overtly as the second prince, but still. Of course, the first prince thought he had kept it all hidden, but King Carmaxes knew everything. There was nowhere in the palace his reach did not extend.

Therefore, ‘Who exactly is Marquis Palatio?’

King Carmaxes III admired the man who had single-handedly reformed the notorious Karsem while pondering.

‘Karsem, Karsem…’

He muttered the second prince’s name, his gaze growing stern. His look was not that of a family man, but solely that of a king evaluating someone. This gaze perhaps forewarned of a struggle that should not happen.

***

A month later, when winter had fully passed and a warm spring day arrived,

[Marquis, how have you been?]

“It’s been a while.”

Alon received a periodic report from Duke Zenonia, which he received every few months. And,

[By the way, I heard you recently established an auction house in your estate.]

“Yes, I’m thinking about managing the estate a bit.”

[Shall I help you a little with that?]

“Feel free not to hold back.”

It was just a brief conversation after the report.

…And that was all it had been.

“Marquis, how about exclusive auction rights for the premium specialties produced in our estate?”

“Marquis, our guild would like to establish a regular relationship with—”

“Hello, Marquis Palatio! I am leading a guild called ‘Salman’ in the Kingdom of Ashtalon.”

How did it come to this?

“Evan.”

“Yes.”

“…How many more people am I supposed to meet?”

“About 74 people are waiting.”

…How is this a ‘little help’…??

Alon held his head, feeling overwhelmed.