10 – Lapis Lazuli Refinement 2

The Uranus Merchant Group holds the Holy Empire and the business district of Vienna.

However, the current owner of this guild, which was named after the male god of heaven in ancient mythology, was a woman contrary to the name.

A woman with dark blue eyes and glossy blue hair reminiscent of the sea.

The current owner of the Uranus Merchant, who is in his early 30s but still maintains a beautiful appearance.

She is called by the nickname of the lady of blue gold (lapis lazuli)

A woman by the name of Bertina Minerva occupied the guild of Ouranos nine years ago, taking over the vacancy left without a proper heir following the death of her husband.

There were voices of dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction with the fact that the Uranus Merchant Merchant, a traditional colossus, had passed into the hands of a widow, but the appearance she had shown over the past nine years was competent enough to alleviate such noise. .

Bertina, who had accumulated enormous wealth by successively succeeding in high-risk trade with the East, and succeeded in defeating countless competitors and holding the Senate of the Holy Empire based on the enormous funds earned.

Once an object of ridicule, she was now feared and feared by many, and she was actively using her reputation to expand the power of the Uranus Merchant.

“You completely took control of the commercial district in Frankfurt, madam.”

“Good job. With this, I won’t be able to hear the story of the Maximilian Company, which is not like that.”

“of course. Since we have erased their forces from the root, there will be no fools who will challenge us for a while.”

At the secretary’s words, Bertina quietly nodded in affirmation.

Over the past few years, the terrifying growth rate of the Uranus Merchant has naturally been a target of caution for the colossi of the existing Holy Empire.

However, it was not an easy task for even the colossus to block the Uranus Merchant, which used the astronomical funds earned through Eastern trade, and eventually the empire’s commercial district was divided into the Uranus Merchant Merchant and the Merchant Alliance of the existing colossi trying to contain it.

A commercial war with money as a weapon against the background of the empire.

The two forces competed to take over the other side’s business district by injecting funds and bribing people, and if necessary, mobilized mercenaries to attack the other’s stronghold.

However, although the Merchant Alliance, which had been promoted to some extent in the early days, gradually began to lose its power, being pushed to the top of Uranus at some point.

The Merchant Alliance, which united temporarily under the command of Bertina and moved together as one, while the Merchant Alliance, which had formed a temporary alliance but was still not well united due to enmity and envy, was only large in size, but in reality was like a scarecrow with separate limbs. to be.

In the end, two years after the commercial war broke out, the giants finally knelt down to Bertina.

The Merchant Alliance entered into a humiliating treaty with Bertina and strategized into a position where they could either go bankrupt or barely survive.

Bertina’s Uranus Merchant succeeded in seizing the throne of the highest rank in the Empire.

And now.

Bertina heard the news that she had succeeded in severing the breath of the Maximillian Company, which had resisted her until the end.

There was nothing to fear anymore for this blue-gold woman, and now, based on the enormous wealth and power she had acquired, she was thinking of putting into action one by one the things she had only dreamed of so far.

‘The next thing to do is to organize the small upper ranks of the empire and take control of all commercial districts. If that happens, the Uranus Merchant Corps will be able to lay a solid foundation to hold onto the continent beyond the empire.’

However, although the commercial war ended in victory, it was not completely without damage, even if it was the Uranus Merchant.

Competitive investment to steal commercial rights resulted in huge financial losses, and many adventurers, who were nurtured in the upper level, died or were no longer able to play active duty.

‘It would be unreasonable to directly touch the upper ranks of the small posts now that the damage has not fully recovered yet. If they stand up like they did when they earned it, it’s hard for us now to handle it. But… if we leave them alone, a new enemy might appear and try to fight us. then..’

A cold smile began to form on Bertina’s lips, thinking that far.

Because he had succeeded in coming up with an appropriate ploy to achieve her ambition.

*

“Are you starting trade with the East again from the Uranus Merchant?”

“I see, there has been a lot of talk about commercial wars and whatnot? Now that the war is over, trade that has been suspended for two years will be resumed.”

“That is good news! Doesn’t it mean that if we do well, there is an opportunity to secure another portion?”

“This time, the upper management group of Uranus also offered a large 60% stake. Considering that we haven’t put out more than 40% before, it’s quite unconventional.”

“Yeah, that’s right. In the aftermath of the commercial war, the other side is also short of funds, so we have no choice but to naturally raise the stakes of investors.”

“I’m sure the small merchants will pack their money and flock like clouds, right?”

“Hasn’t the Uranus Merchant Corps never failed? Let’s take this opportunity to raise some money. Once you can get your hands on equity rights, wouldn’t that be a fortune right away?”

The news of the investment recruitment of the Uranus Merchant, which can be said to be a strong player in Eastern trade, began to spread rapidly among the merchants. Not only within the Holy Empire, but even in the Principality of Dragona, those who show interest are starting to appear one after another.

However, those who started to move more quickly and sensitively about this business were, of course, small and medium-sized merchants within the Holy Empire.

The aftermath of the commercial war was a devastating situation for them.

Although it did not go down to the level of having its limbs cut off like the colossus of the Merchant Alliance, it was true that it suffered large and small damage as if a shrimp’s back exploded in a fight between whales.

For them, the resumption of Eastern trade by the Uranus Merchant could be said to be news like the welcome rain of a drought.

Over 400% yield.

As the history of the past 9 years proves that it is an investment with a 100% chance of success, it is only natural to jump into a business that can not only make up for the damages caused by the aftermath of the war, but also make up for the bottom line. could

Without such expectations and hopes, countless small and medium-sized merchants of the Holy Empire packed up their funds and gathered at the headquarters of the Uranus Merchant in Vienna, and Ashbel, who had been commanded by Bahamut, was included in the procession.

“Hmm… I expected it, but it’s a huge scale. Did you think the procession to make an investment would be so huge? I envy you as a merchant?”

“okay. Certainly this is the first time I have seen so many people cram this large building.”

Ophelia, who was ordered to protect Ashbel and was accompanying him, also expressed sympathy.

The headquarters of the Uranus Merchant Merchant, which has a size comparable to that of a royal castle.

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Nevertheless, there were so many people gathered inside the building that the line was unrecognizable because it was so long.

All of them were people from all over the empire who participated in the investment, and even outside the building, there were people who wanted to hoard investment rights.

“At this rate, it won’t take long for the investor recruitment to end. What is our purchase target?”

“The owner told me to buy up to 5%, the limit, but… it’s not unreasonable to buy more than that if you use a trick.”

“Yes? Uh… how do you mean?”

“Do you still not understand why Master attached you to me?”

“Yeah, to protect Ashbel-sama in preparation for any unexpected situation…”

At Ophelia’s words, Ashbel slowly began to click her tongue.

“Tsk tsk… I’m sure you’ll need to study more to become the master’s woman.”

“N.. Yes? That… what is that…”

Ophelia tilted her head at the sudden words of Ashbel, and seeing her like that, Ashbel sighed and gave her something.

“You just have to hold this and quietly submit it to the receptionist. Until then, don’t pretend to know me.”

“Eh?..ah.. yes.. I understand..”

With a question mark still floating above her head at Ashbel’s words, Ophelia did as he told her to do.

After almost half a day passed in silence, when it was finally their turn, Ashbel handed out a sealed envelope to the receptionist.”

“I am from the top of Beden. It is the will of the owner that he will purchase all of the 5% limit.”

At Ashbel’s words, the people sitting there began to mumble for a while.

If you say 5% of this Eastern Trade investment, it will be a small scale compared to the whole, but if you look at the pure amount, it is more than a few hundred talents.

It was a huge amount that could have bought an entire small village. Soon after they opened the envelope Ashbel had brought with them, they began nodding their heads in agreement.

“It really is the Beden Upper House. If that’s the case, I’ll be able to afford this amount.”

“Thank you for your investment. Bertina-sama will also be pleased with the cooperation of the Veden Merchant Merchant.”

With those words, the receptionists handed out certificates with golden seals.

It had been a day since they had been sitting here, but it was the first time they had ever put a golden stamp on a certificate.

“You will make a big profit. See you later.”

“Good job then..”

Ashbel escapes the place while receiving the hot attention of the receptionist and the people around her.

Ophelia, who had been standing a short distance in front of them, was approaching.

“Hey.. this.. please.”

Slightly timid, Ophelia held out the envelope with the seal that Ashbel had given her earlier. The receptionist then opened the envelope and checked the contents inside.

And..

“Ohh.. 2% from the top of the paper..”

“The Paper Company.. I heard that it was founded by a nobleman a while ago.. Are you thinking of jumping into the East Trade without fear?”

“There must be a story you picked up somewhere. Besides, this is the Uranus Merchant, not another place. There can be enough people who want to invest boldly just by hearing the reputation.”

“I guess so. Okay, take the certificate here.”

Along with those words, the receptionists handing over a certificate with a silver seal

Even if it was 2%, it was still a huge amount, but the impact of Ashbel, who bought the first 5% right in front of him, was so strong that this side received relatively little attention.

With the certificate of purchase of the 2% stake in her hand, Ophelia made a mysterious expression and came out of the building as it was.

‘… I think I know what happened..’