The Founder of the Great Financial Family

“Well done. If I were you, I’d have accepted 1 shilling per Talent and done the exchange. That’s how it was for the Hound Mercenaries I did business with a few years ago as well,” 

Rockefeller shook his head, 

“We can’t do that. We don’t have anything to lose, after all, so we don’t have to make that much of a concession to them,” 

Nerve was needed for trade sometimes.

“Those people wouldn’t have had anywhere else to exchange money apart from here, and Talents are too big, so they wouldn’t accept them in other stores,” 

1 Talent was the equivalent of a rural worker’s entire month’s earnings. Going to the market trying to buy things with that amount of money would be burdensome – even the big merchants wouldn’t be able to give sufficient change. 

“So that’s why we can have this much nerve,” Rockefeller explained, 

“And what if they just left?” 

“You just have to reduce it down lightly – you saw that they didn’t leave right away because they were hesitant, right?” 

“And what if they decided to get tyrannical? From one glance, you can tell they’re the rough kind who aren’t afraid to cause a bit of trouble,” 

“The Seer barracks are right next door. Do you think they wouldn’t have noticed? I saw earlier they were signalling each other not to make a fuss,” 

“Well, it wouldn’t be good for an outside to make a mess in another territory, and as you said, the Seers’ are just next door – it turns out your way was right, well done,”

In Carter’s view, Rockefeller had undoubtedly done a good job, even more so than himself. 

“I’m sure you’re better at this job than I am. I don’t have that kind of disposition – I think I was born a coward,” 

“I’m glad you see me like that,” 

“I see that jobs need to be distributed to increase income – after leaving things to you, that’s how it feels,” 

“Thank you,” 

It came to Carter’s mind that the placer gold trafficking had been quite lacklustre these days. 

“But I don’t think you’ve brought me any gold these days – did something happen that I don’t know about?” 

It wasn’t like he could bring Carter gold dust that they didn’t have, so Rockefeller lied through his teeth without a single break in his expression, 

“I don’t know either. It does feel like we’ve lost touch recently….” 

“Have you heard nothing from him?” 

“Yes, I haven’t really heard anything,” 

Carter, who hadn’t placed much weight on the placer gold smuggling and had only thought he would reap as much profit as he safely could, was slightly disappointed. 

“Hmm, well, it was a small amount, but I suppose the smuggler went underground – that’s a shame. Well, it’s not too bad since you’re doing a good job, though,” 

“Well, it was a small deal anyway, wasn’t it? I think he might have found another route since he hasn’t been in touch with me. After all, this isn’t the only place for trafficking, right?” 

“Well, that’s true – I should have played it better, tch. What was so disappointing that he quit the deal?” 

“Forget about it. I’m working hard instead, aren’t I?” 

“Yeah, I’m glad you’re here. If I had known you had such talent, I would have used you as an assistant from the beginning,” 

Still, it was his nature to be sad about the loss of income.

Carter, sighing deeply, began to express regret over the gold coins that slept quietly in his warehouse. 

“By the way, I finally have enough money to do the lending you mentioned before,” 

He would have only leant out his own gold coins in the past, but now, he was willing to secretly lend out even the gold coins his customers had left behind – but there was a worry there. 

“The problem is, I don’t have anyone to lend that much gold out to. I can’t just lend it to any bastard on the road – I’d like some creditworthy people like the lord to come to borrow gold coins,” 

Rockefeller was also lost in thought, leaving behind Carter’s regretful sighs. 

‘The orc trouble is only just beginning,’ 

The frequent appearance of the orcs near the Montefeltro estate was only the beginning. The full-scale war between the Dwarves and the Orcs, which began due to the Goblins’ pranks, was not due to start yet. 

If the two forces were influenced into conflict, there were many things for Rockefeller, who worked with money, to look forward to. 

‘I can guarantee that things will become more fun if it gets noisier – war always brings in a friend called money.’