Published: September 9, 2025
There are many characters in this chapter.
If you come across any unfamiliar characters, please refer to the afterword.
This is Satou. Since becoming a working adult, I’ve often spent New Year’s Eve at the company, but I always made sure to take New Year’s Day off. After all, you’ve got to savor the New Year’s spirit, even if just for one day.
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“—That concludes the directive to strictly enforce cash-only sales until the auction following the kingdom council. Inform the nobles without funds that starting next month, we will consider offering credit sales.”
“Understood.”
After putting the children to bed, I went to the Echigoya Trading Company late at night to deliver the New Year’s address and reaffirm our policies.
Gathered in the strategy conference room on the top floor of the Echigoya Trading Company’s main building were sixteen people: the manager and other executives of the company, including noble daughters who were former explorers; the factory executives led by Polina; and finally, Nel and Tifaliza, slaves owned by Kuro.
“Lord Kuro, we have received many letters from nobles impressed by Lord Nameless’s recent exploits, requesting meetings. Among them, letters from three dukes and eight marquesses require prompt replies—”
“I won’t meet them. Leave it to the manager. Tell them their lord, Lord Nameless, is currently deployed in another country.”
“Understood. If you have any preferences regarding the order of visits—”
“I leave it to your discretion.”
Despite my complete delegation, the manager nodded calmly without a hint of displeasure.
She is strong in handling the power balance and negotiations among the aristocratic families, so complex dealings are more reliably managed by her than by me personally.
“Lord Kuro, we are short on staff for accounting, administrative tasks, and servants to serve in the mansion’s confidential areas. Also, the number of intruders attempting to breach the mansion is increasing, so I’d like to request additional personnel to deal with this...”
“Got it. Approve hiring. Leave personnel selection and salary amounts up to the manager. Just summarize the results in a report.”
“Thank you for your trust. However, since these are confidential areas, I’d prefer to purchase knowledge slaves rather than ordinary servants.”
Hmm, slaves, huh.
I searched the inventory of slave traders on the map.
The trader who sold us Nel and Tifaliza seems to have plenty more.
Several noble families were stripped of their titles for rebellion, so perhaps their retainers were sold as criminal slaves.
“Very well, approve the purchase of slaves. Offer payment at the end of the month.”
“The payment method is fine, but for the purchase of slaves, Lord Kuro must personally visit to formalize the master-slave contract...”
“Make me their master.”
“Is that acceptable?”
Since the payment will come from Echigoya Trading Company’s budget, there’s no problem, so I approved the manager’s suggestion.
“Lastly, the Prime Minister has requested our cooperation regarding the reconstruction of the Royal Capital.”
“—Cooperation?”
“Yes, or rather an order for reconstruction materials from the Echigoya Trading Company.”
I glanced at the documents Tifaliza handed me from beside the manager.
The price is 50% above market value, so it’s a good deal, but the deadline is quite soon.
“Very well, accept it.”
“Lord Kuro, a word of caution—”
The manager warned me that the building materials around the Royal Capital are being hoarded, so securing the requested quantity at 50% above market price will be difficult.
“No problem. I’ll source building materials from the Duke’s Capital, Muno Territory, and Kuhanou Territory.”
“But the transportation cost...”
“Have you forgotten, manager?”
If I handle the transport, there’s no problem.
Probably, by purchasing onsite, we can secure it at about 20% of the market price.
If local merchants handle just securing the materials, it saves us hassle.