Noble Thoughts

 

The aristocrat strives first to increase three things: position, power, and wealth. They are the sword and shield of a country.

 

Next, they strive to acquire prestige, military power, and personal connections.

 

In the case of aristocrats, the first priority is often given to titles, followed by titles, and then wealth. However, these are not easily reversed.

 

For this reason, many aristocrats attend various meetings and salons, making personal connections and trying to increase their prestige as aristocrats. There are also those who lack status and power but are good at business. Such people can increase their private armies and take steps to increase their military power.

 

Some even go beyond the laws of the kingdom in order to outrank other nobles by even a single step.

 

Even so, it is common knowledge that the power structure among the nobles does not change unless one is extremely fortunate.

 

The change of the king has strengthened the trend toward a meritocracy in the kingdom. This is one of the reasons why Jalpa and Panamera were able to rise in the ranks of the nobility.

 

It is for the good of the kingdom that those with merit rise, but it depends on whose point of view it is.

 

Since the number of seats for the top ranks is fixed, it is inevitable that someone will move up and someone will move down.

 

Jalpa and Panamera have silenced those old and famous noble families with their military power. The personal connections they had made on the battlefield must have helped, too.

 

But I, Van, was different.

 

I am just a child who was placed in the most unwanted part of the marquis’s territory, and was made the lord of a village that was about to go under.

 

The child who, with a handful of men, slayed the dragon and earned his title.

 

He is known to have quietly provided support in the war against Jiernetta, but that too is vague.

 

In short, Van’s new nobility’s track record is, to the uninitiated, incredibly shady.

 

Most people would think that Jalpa had conspired to make me rise to power without the surrounding nobles being aware of it.

 

At this rate, I might be entangled with some stupid nobleman whose only rank is higher than mine.

 

However, I got carried away and appealed to the Commerce Guild, one of the largest guilds in the world, with all my might. I was so amused by everyone’s reaction that I couldn’t stop, and that’s why I lost.

 

As a result, Van was accepted by the Commerce Guild.

 

As I was told later, there are several types of relationships with the Commerce Guild: the highest level is with the top-tier commerce associations in each country that have a Commerce Guild-approved standard, which means that you can buy and sell on equal terms and still be able to negotiate to a certain extent.

 

With ordinary chambers of commerce, even if they are allowed to join the Commerce Guild, the terms and conditions of their transactions are very favorable to the Commerce Guild, and it is difficult to refuse any requests from the Commerce Guild.

 

Even with such an unequal relationship, many chambers of commerce have joined the Commerce Guild in order to have the opportunity to expand their sales channels to other countries and neighboring continents.

 

Incidentally, the Commerce Guild has given me and the Belrango Chamber of Commerce the same rank as the top merchant associations.

 

“…Conspicuous. No matter how you think about it, I’m going to stand out…”

 

Bell and Rango are drinking while I’m thinking about it.

 

“Victory, brother.”

 

“You won, brother.”

 

The two of them are in a strange state of tension, exchanging strange toasts and clinking their glasses together. It’s probably best not to get too involved.

 

Well, they are only looking at this situation from the perspective of merchants. It can’t be helped.

 

I thought so and let out a sigh. Then, Apollo, who was chatting with Diane, noticed our situation.

 

“How can I help you? If you have any questions about the transaction, please feel free to ask. If there is a discrepancy between our perceptions, it will cause trouble later on. Is it the frequency of transactions? Or was there an item you wanted the Commerce Guild to arrange for you?”

 

Apollo asked me in a good mood, and I waved one hand from side to side, smiling wryly. We are in the middle of finalizing the last details of our conversation in the reception room, as we have made a lot of progress.

 

In the room, Apollo, Diane, and I are at a table with Bell, Rango, and Rosalie. Camsin and Till are also in one corner of the room, but they are standing quietly, trying to muffle our presence.

 

When Apollo asks a question, the eyes of everyone in the room focus on me. I tried to let it slide, but somehow the air was filled with the need to answer.

 

“No, it’s my own problem. I’m too lucky, or I’m too conspicuous…”

 

The others looked at each other, but Apollo and Diane immediately understood.

 

“I see. I heard that he was recently knighted. Considering his age, many would suspect that someone is helping him.”

 

Apollo stroked his chin as he said this, and Diane nodded.

 

“Yes, I agree. I, too, would have had similar thoughts had I not actually seen the situation; I had heard rumors of Van-sama, but even so, I had no idea it was in such a state.”

 

Hearing them reply like that, Rosalie nodded a few times.

 

“So that’s how it is. After all, nobles have the cares of nobility, don’t they? If you’re a merchant, it’s profitable to rise in the ranks and become well-known. Well, I do make proposals that are also beneficial to my business partners.”

 

At Rosalie’s words, Bell chuckles and shakes his head from side to side.

 

“We are able to gain the trust of our customers while also providing convenience to the merchant associations with which we are involved. In addition, to make the most of the new sales channels, we are able to expand laterally and reflect this in other businesses because of the excellence of Mary’s merchants. An ordinary merchant would not be able to make the most of a profitable opportunity even if he is lucky enough to get it.”

 

“Oh, really? Are you saying that because you are proud that Belrango is an extraordinary company?

 

“Oh, give me a break, Rosalie-san.”

 

Rango cowered his head with a scowl at the sarcasm. Laughing at this, Bell put the glass in his hand on the table and looked at me.

 

“We just got lucky too. We just had a huge amount of luck that even we, the mediocre ones, couldn’t escape.”

 

Rango nodded repeatedly in small increments at Bell’s words. And Apollo, watching the exchange, smiled happily.

 

“…Well, it’s nice to see the excitement. Everything is most interesting when it’s on the rise. It’s hard work, but every time you succeed in a new project, you get an indescribable sense of excitement and accomplishment…I wish I could quit my job as a researcher for the Commerce Guild and join the Belrango Chamber of Commerce.”

 

I would love to quit my job as a researcher for the Commerce Guild and join the Belrango Chamber of Commerce,” said a member of the world-renowned giant organization, which was unbelievable. Diane and the others turned their heads in exclamation at this.

 

Apollo, noticing the look, laughed and cowered his shoulders.

 

“I’m just kidding. After all, it will be interesting for us to deal with Mr. Van and the Belrango Chamber of Commerce next. I’m prepared to be busy. I’ll do my best to make money.”

 

Declaring emphatically, Apollo brought the glass of liquor to his mouth and drank the liquid inside.

 

“…I will not allow anyone to interfere with your business, even if they are a nobleman. I will repel them all.”

 

Apollo then continued, “From the back”.