Chapter 62

Chapter 62

#62. Mirror Treatment Project (3)

The main streets of the Northern Region were regularly patrolled by soldiers and knights.

According to rumors, High Knights also secretly went on rounds periodically under the name of inspectors.

“So, what do you think of our Northern Region?”

“To be honest, I’m impressed.”

Entaire answered truthfully to Sir Valkyrie’s question as he was being guided around.

“Was it always like this?”

Entaire, a wealthy merchant and noble of the Empire, still showed respect to the old knight Sir Valkyrie despite his status.

“Not quite to this extent.”

“Then?”

“Less than a year.”

Valkyrie pointed towards the outskirts of the city.

The people encountered on the streets or outside the city were mostly low-level adventurers or commoners. These were the ones usually most suspicious in the Empire since they could turn into thieves or bandits at any moment.

“Is it because of Arad Salt?”

“Something like that.”

But not here. Everyone was busy gathering herbs instead of getting into trouble. It was more profitable for the poor to collect herbs used in Arad Salt rather than waste time swinging swords dangerously.

“But there don’t seem to be any issues even with people gathering herbs? Normally, this would lead to territorial disputes.”

“Those kinds get their heads chopped off without exception. Besides, the North has plenty of land but few people, so such foolish acts are rare.”

“Ah…”

“The knights and soldiers of the North just hunt monsters and beasts thoroughly outside the cities and villages.”

“More organized than I thought.”

Entaire felt like he was on a sightseeing tour as he crossed the North. Sir Valkyrie acted as his guide.

After about half a month, they arrived at Lenslet Castle of the Northern Duchy.

“That’s High City over there. By the way, do you see those large buildings around the outskirts of High City? Those are the factories operated by Arad Trading Company.”

“So, they produce…?”

“The famous blue ceramics of the North right there. And look how many new ones have been built while I was away.”

Entaire stared blankly at the direction of High City, specifically at the industrial zone located on its outskirts. The sheer size of these workshop buildings was something even he, a great merchant, had never seen before.

“Where should we go first? Shall we meet His Grace the Duke at High City? Or visit the industrial zone first?”

“I’d like to see Arad Trading Company first.”

Will that be alright? Entaire wondered slightly worriedly, knowing it might come off as rude depending on the situation. After all, visiting the lord of the land should come first when entering any territory.

“Follow me. Today’s payday, so they’ll only work mornings. We can have lunch there too. It’s free for us.”

To his surprise, Sir Valkyrie readily agreed.

“Payday… Morning shifts… Free meals…?”

Entiere repeated the unfamiliar terms, intrigued by the surprisingly casual ways of the North.

* * *

As Sir Valkyrie guided Entaire to the Arad Industrial Zone, he thought to himself:

“Master Jin was right. Still hard to believe though.”

Even though Entaire was an imperial citizen, there was just something… likable about him. More like sympathy actually arose.

“To think his wife cheated on him for so long AND all their children turned out to be cuckoos! And worse yet, her lover is the crown prince! Knowing all this, he can’t do anything because his wife is a Sword Master!”

What if he were in that situation?

“Ugh…”

Just thinking about it made him feel dizzy and unstable.

“By the way, Sir Valkyrie.”

At that moment, Entaire suddenly called out to him.

“Speak.”

“Did you take care of them properly? The spies tailing me.”

“Of course. There were four of them. We dealt with them in Frosthaven before they could send carrier pigeons. Their bodies are probably in monster stomachs by now.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Krrrrr… Entaire gritted his teeth as he expressed gratitude.

“Truly embarrassing. I had no idea I was being surveilled like this.”

He had recently learned that someone had been keeping tabs on him from afar for quite some time. This matter was handled immediately by Eopte and Karot of Frosthaven.

“Our knights say they weren’t ordinary. Understandable that you didn’t notice. Too bad we couldn’t capture them alive though. They were too skilled. I should’ve gone myself.”

Valkyrie expressed regret. Capturing someone alive is much harder than eliminating them, especially when there’s little difference in skill level.

“There’s nothing that could be done about that.”

“Do you have any guesses about who’s behind it?”

“My wife, most likely.”

“Dear me…”

‘If that’s the case, it would be justified to start a rebellion.’

Valkyrie began to trust Entaire.

“Don’t trust people, trust the situation.” Arad’s words resonated deeply with him at this moment.

‘How did Master Arad know all this?’

When Arad initially singled out Entaire as someone to recruit…

Everyone was skeptical.

Lord Entaire is married to Lady Habana, a viscountess.

Habana is one of the representatives of the conservative faction in the empire.

And he wanted to recruit such a person?

-I guarantee that right now, Lord Entaire hates the royal family more than anyone else on the continent.

-So… Lady Habana and Crown Prince Khanbraman are having an affair? And all their kids are cuckoos?!

-That’s correct.

-Hard to believe. How could a Sword Master…

-That’s exactly what Lord Entaire thought before getting blindsided.

-Still hard to believe…

-In any case, could you bring him to the North? There’s something I want to try through him.

-Even Frost Haven has limits operating freely within the empire. Especially since Lord Entaire is in the southern Viscounty of Habana.

-There’s no need for me to go south. Just bring him here.

-Why would he leave the warm Viscounty of Habana for here?

-Arard Company will soon release an incredible new product. That alone will make him come. Separating from marital issues, any merchant would come.

-Fine, I’ll contact Bishop Company in central-north then.

Though everything seemed unbelievable, Valkyrie decided to follow Arad’s instructions anyway.

Because it was Arad after all.

It was also a request directly from His Highness the Duke.

And several months later, when seasons changed from summer to autumn and then winter…

Valkyrie and the high-ranking knights of Frosthaven had to admit everything went exactly as Arad predicted.

‘Who exactly is he? What’s his true identity?’

Arad claimed to have wandered the continent as a low-level adventurer in the past. But clearly, he wasn’t your average adventurer.

‘The one Isabel mentioned who obtained relics from the Golden Age? Or maybe the ancient one His Highness spoke of? Though looking at him, neither seems quite right…’

The more they dug, the more astonishing and mysterious aspects emerged.

‘Still, one thing is certain. Arad cares deeply for the North and His Highness. Yes, that’s what matters.’

Once again, Valkyrie chose to trust not Arad himself but the accomplishments he had built up until now.

‘The operation was called “Mirror Treatment”, quite clever. Well, there’s no rule saying we can’t do to the empire what they did to us.’

Valkyrie smiled faintly watching Entaire’s back walking ahead of him.

* * *

Despite being an outsider, no one dared to touch Entaire within the premises of Arad Workshop.

Even the heavily armed guards of High City moved automatically at Sir Valkyrie’s nod when accompanying Entaire.

Thanks to this, Entaire could freely tour the Arad Industrial Zone.

“This is…! Not just a trading company. Not even a large workshop or guild. This is something completely new…!”

Upon entering the Arad Industrial Zone, Entaire lost his composure.

“Centralization! Yes! Centralized control of guilds, workshops, and trading companies!”

To him, this place was more exhilarating than any gold mine.

“How is this possible! This ruthlessly efficient production process! Why didn’t anyone think of this before!?”

Entaire looked like a religious fanatic receiving divine revelation, filled with joy.

“No, people must have thought about it. They just couldn’t implement it due to those stubborn master craftsmen and guilds.”

Was this what it felt like to witness a new world unfolding before one’s eyes?

However, as time passed, Entaire’s expression of ecstasy gradually turned serious.

“Hmm…!?”

“Why? Not to your taste?”

“No, no. It’s delicious indeed. But… Are you really providing free meals to your employees?”

“Of course.”

“…?”

It started during lunch.

‘This isn’t right. Providing free meals to employees… How much does that cost? Is this temporary for the salary system implementation?’

Just like the shock he received earlier at the factory, Entaire was greatly impacted by Arad Company’s employee benefits.

And as time went on, touring the Arad Industrial Zone further intensified this shock.

‘Having one day off every seven days is understandable, but only working mornings on the sixth day? Plus recognizing rest days as worked days?! Why go this far?’

Overwhelmed by shock-induced dizziness, Entaire stared into the dark depths of this brave new world.

“Just now… That woman! She received silver coins as her weekly salary!?”

Entaire’s shock reached its peak when he saw Arad paying different wages to employees.

“Too much! Even considering weekly pay, giving out so much money! What are performance bonuses and overtime pay?!”

“Seems excessive?”

“It’s beyond excessive. This is pure madness.”

Even top imperial bureaucrats don’t receive such treatment.

‘There’s much to learn, but also much to filter out. How will running a trading company like this ever make money? Tsk tsk tsk…’

Entaire sincerely clicked his tongue in regret and frustration.

With the costs saved from here alone, he was sure ten more massive workshop buildings could be constructed.

The same feelings Valkyrie, Eopte, and Karot had towards Entaire were now reciprocated towards Arad.

‘But, fair is fair.’

Watching Arad from afar, Entaire thought.

He may be an eccentric… No, a downright crazy merchant, but still a capable individual.

‘Partnering with this guy might work. Revenge!’

As a merchant who knew value when he saw it, this place represented infinite possibilities to him.

* * *

A merchant originally refers to someone who makes profits through price differences.

Buying cheap and selling expensive is essentially their job.

In that sense, I consider myself a merchant now.

Why? Turning worthless raw materials into valuable products through processing is also a form of arbitrage.

But something feels lacking and hollow.

While regular merchants create greater value from existing value, we create value from worthlessness and realize profit.

We’re on a whole different level.

That’s why instead of “Arad Trading Company,” I named it “Arad Company.”

An inclusive term encompassing both trading companies and guilds.

Since it’s not a trading company but a company, I should be called a president or entrepreneur rather than a trading company owner.

“President Arad Jin, nice to meet you. I’m President Entaire Bishop of Bishop Company. Hahahaha!”

In that sense, the man before him, Entaire, was truly an adaptable individual.

“Yes, President Entaire of Bishop Trading Company. I’ve heard much about you.”

“Company, president.”

“Yes?”

“Bishop Company. And I’m President Entaire Bishop.”

“?”

“So, why did you specifically request to meet me, President Arad Jin?”

“Would you sell us the technology for making Northern Blue Ceramics, Mary’s Blessing, or black magic prosthetics?”

“…”

Not only unafraid, but shamelessly bold.