Investment Pays Big

Victor shook his head. "Aren't you worried that even if my territory really does improve its papermaking techniques in the future, I might not continue cooperating with you and the Kingdom Navy?"

Count Edmund smiled at that. "Investments can make or lose money. There's nothing to be done about that. If you don't continue cooperating with us by then, it will only prove that our terms weren't the most generous."

Victor found Count Edmund quite interesting indeed, and his personality was rather easygoing as well. He was silent for a moment, then apologized to the other nobles.

"Everyone, Count Edmund and I may need to discuss some matters. We need a little privacy."

The others weren't fools, either. They understood that Victor was asking them to leave, so they rose and departed without hesitation, leaving the place to the two of them.

After all, although they were all high-ranking nobles, Victor was one of the three marquises of the Vela Region, the duke's staunch ally, and a powerful figure among the newly risen nobility. He was simply beyond their ability to compare with, so they behaved very reasonably.

Count Edmund was somewhat surprised to see them leave so readily, but after thinking of the young marquis's accomplishments, he felt it was only natural.

Edmund sat upright. "Marquis, are you dissatisfied with the price of my previous order? I'm willing to raise it by fifty percent!"

Victor shook his head. "Edmund, you don't need to worry. I'm very satisfied with the price of your order. I had originally planned to pay for the continued improvement of the techniques myself, but your order helped me spread out quite a bit of the cost."

"How about this? I'll also tell you some good news. Before I left my territory, its papermaking factory had