The lawyer decided to put up his own money and join us after hearing the business plan? Charlotte paused, then realized it was not an unreasonable proposal.
As a professional who regularly helped merchants, nobles, and other wealthy people resolve legal issues, Morvan was bound to recognize the prospects of the Sushit Weekly. It only took a little imagination to see how popular the newspaper could become in Sushit, a textile hub with a thriving commercial atmosphere.
Judging by Earth's history, anyone who caught the first wave in an industry had a chance to acquire unimaginable wealth.
But Morvan was watching me the whole time earlier. Could there be another reason for his sudden offer? Could he also be a surviving cultist hiding behind an ordinary identity, hoping to use this opportunity to get close to me... Is it going too far to suspect a respected local lawyer like this? Charlotte pondered privately, then remembered that Etienne had also been an educated man with a respectable identity. Suddenly, her suspicions seemed somewhat justified.
Of course, Morvan's proposal was timely. A careful reckoning of the whole business plan did reveal a funding shortfall. Although two of the three partners were descendants of nobles and the third was the son of a wealthy merchant, they were ultimately youngsters without any real income. Their families' not opposing their "business venture" already counted as support; they could hardly hand over money without reservation for them to squander.
Rather than find an investor whose background we don't know, we might as well let this lawyer put up the money and join us. At least his identity is clear... The only question is whether Roselle will agree. He started this project, so surely he's the one most eager to keep the profits and control in his own hands... Charlotte quietly glanced at Roselle, only to find him looking her way as well.
Their eyes briefly met. Roselle's gaze was questioning and expectant, as though seeking confirmation of her stance.
Charlotte immediately understood that he did not care how much of the profits he received. He wanted to get the venture underway as soon as possible, preferably making the Sushit Weekly something new that Suhit City-and eventually all of Intis-could not ignore.
By comparison, bringing in a seasoned lawyer with money, experience, and connections, and giving him a share of the future profits, was hardly a problem.
And like Charlotte, he was worried that the other two collaborators, especially Charlotte as a noble, might refuse because they felt their interests were being compromised.
He has a pretty good grasp of the bigger picture. Looks like I was worrying too much... Charlotte muttered inwardly, then gave Roselle an almost imperceptible nod.
His somewhat stiff expression immediately relaxed, and he turned to Morvan.
"If Mr. Durand is willing to provide some of the funding, we'd certainly welcome you aboard. But that means the previous contract, especially everyone's share of the profits, will have to be revised."
Green had still been worried that he would have to resolve the funding problem himself. Hearing Roselle make a concession, he hurriedly chimed in.
"If Father knows Mr. Durand is willing to invest, he'll certainly have confidence in us."
For the Randall family, the involvement of a well-known local lawyer meant this was no longer merely a whim of a few young people, but something with genuine commercial value.
Morvan seemed to have anticipated their answer. He merely inclined his head at Roselle's reply and said:
"I can provide twenty thousand Verl D'Or as an initial investment, but I won't participate in day-to-day operations. I'll only provide legal assistance free of charge, along with some professional content suitable for publication. As for the profit shares, you can discuss those again yourselves."
At the current exchange rate of one to twenty-four, twenty thousand Verl D'Or could be exchanged for 830 Gold Louis, roughly equivalent to three years of a seasoned lawyer's declared income. Including the printing house and its supporting facilities, Green's family was investing about twice that amount.
Thus, the four soon agreed on new profit shares: thirty-five percent for Roselle, thirty percent for Green, twenty percent for Charlotte, and fifteen percent for Morvan.
Based on Morvan's investment and his share, the Sushit Weekly, which had yet to print a single word, was already worth fifty-five hundred Gold Louis, more than Baron Sauron's family earned in an entire year.
Not having stocks or a corporate system is such a nuisance. I already feel as though I've become rich overnight, yet there's no way to cash out... Charlotte grumbled silently as she watched Morvan draw up a new contract, adding his own share to it.
Since the lawyer himself had become one of the partners, he could no longer act as an impartial notary. Another notary would therefore have to certify and file the contract to make it legally binding. Morvan had his clerk fetch a reputable notary from near the High Court. By the time they finished checking the clauses, the notary had arrived and completed the necessary notarization.
Watching them sign their names and affix the seals representing their families one after another, Morvan nodded in satisfaction. He glanced at Roselle, then addressed Charlotte.
"The contract is complete. Copies will be delivered to your respective homes once they've been transcribed. It would be best to inform your elders, especially Baron Sauron and Baron Gustav. Whether they truly support you will be important to this undertaking."
At the mention of her father, Charlotte's heart tightened slightly, then relaxed again.
He won't have to pay anything. All he'll need to do is make a few small contributions using the advantages of his noble status, and the Sauron family can take part in a promising venture in a respectable way. He probably won't object... But getting him to believe me is another problem. I don't think I've been particularly obedient since transmigrating... As she considered this, she saw the other two rise to take their leave. She too said goodbye to the lawyer who had become their partner, left his office, and returned to the long corridor.
Roselle was waiting for her in the corridor, as though he had planned it all along.
Charlotte glanced at her maid, Lila. Understanding her mistress's meaning at once, Lila reluctantly withdrew to a corner of the corridor, where she could see the two of them but could not make out their conversation.
We really are discussing serious business. It's just that we can't let you hear it... Charlotte thought helplessly, realizing that convincing her father had just become even harder.
Roselle gave the glum-looking Charlotte a curious glance and asked in a lowered voice:
"Are you already a Beyonder? When you mentioned those Beyonder powers before, were you talking about potions?"
"After that incident, the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun offered me an opportunity. Naturally, the price was that I had to help them with certain things." Charlotte looked around, making sure there was no one in the corridor besides Lila standing some distance away, before answering. "If you know about potions and Beyonders, does that mean the Church of the God of Artisan has approached you?"
Roselle nodded.
"Two days ago. Much like what those clergy from the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun said, they gave me a choice: either sign a confidentiality oath and pretend I knew nothing, or join them and accept the Church's restrictions and assignments."
He paused, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile.
"I chose to join."
Just as expected... Charlotte was not particularly surprised.
"The monster by the stream that day seems to have been someone quite important, at least to the Church of the Artisan," Roselle continued. "The Machinery Hivemind member who approached me said that because I'd been caught up in the incident, the Purification-ers ultimately had no choice but to return the corpse. So if I joined them, those 'contributions' would let me choose a Sequence 9 potion ahead of time. Of course, I'd still owe them quite a lot."
"Official Beyonders seem to say something like that to everyone who joins them."
Charlotte found the pitch very familiar, as though she had heard it from Viève before. After that pointed remark, she asked:
"You want to ask me which one you should choose?"
"Exactly. They can offer potions from three different pathways," Roselle answered quickly, clearly having turned these words over in his mind for quite some time. "Savant, Mystery Pryer, and Warrior. The Church of the Artisan has the complete pathway for the first, but only the low Sequences for the other two."
"Warrior?"
Charlotte repeated the name curiously. Like Assassin and Lawyer, it felt overly straightforward, as though what they could do was written all over their faces.
Roselle coughed lightly and continued:
"That pathway offers strength and agility beyond an ordinary person's, as well as the ability to use every weapon proficiently... But I don't think it suits me. Mystery Pryer leans toward mysticism. It sounds as though I'd gain access to a lot of secret knowledge, but the monster that day belonged to that pathway, which makes me a little uncomfortable... Savant focuses more on practical technology, understanding, and creation... What do you think?"
Mystery Pryers gain access to secret knowledge? Could that Beyonder have lost control after encountering forbidden knowledge and suffering corruption? Is that why the Church of the Artisan values the corpse... Right, Henri said Artisans from the Church of the God of Artisan can make Mystical Items with fewer side effects. That must be the Savant pathway, which they possess in full... Thoughts sprang up one after another in Charlotte's mind. She glanced at Roselle, who was waiting for her judgment, and chose her words carefully.
"Savant might suit you better. The Church having the complete pathway means you won't have to look elsewhere for a way to advance. And I've heard that after advancing along this pathway, you can make powerful Mystical Items."
*Then you can give me a discount, too-*she silently added.
Roselle nodded thoughtfully.
"That's actually what I thought as well. I'm glad we agree, just like when Mr. Durand made that unexpected proposal earlier."
After saying this, he seemed to finally set down the burden weighing on his mind, and his expression eased.
Charlotte looked at him, then suddenly smiled.
"Congratulations on becoming a Beyonder soon, little brother Roselle."
"Little brother?"
His expression instantly froze. He thought this was some form of address used among Beyonders.
"I'll be eighteen in another month," Charlotte reminded him cheerfully. "Half a year before you."
Roselle stood stunned for several seconds, as though he had never imagined that such a serious discussion of mysticism would suddenly end with someone pulling rank on him over age.
Seeing his blank expression, Charlotte felt considerably better.
With their conversation over, neither lingered in the corridor. Seeing that they had finished, Lila hurried over, gave Roselle a wary look, then left with Charlotte.
Roselle watched their retreating figures. Only after Charlotte boarded her carriage did he head thoughtfully in another direction.
A moment later, the door to Morvan Durand's office opened silently. The lawyer who had just become a partner in the Sushit Weekly stood beside it, gazing expressionlessly at the spot where the two had been talking.