Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 13: Negotiation — Tobias
I explained the current situation to Mother and discussed our next steps.
We decided, in principle, not to reveal that I can use alchemy. Instead, we would frame it as having been taught by an alchemist. It was safer that way.
As for the Opsidio Trading Company, they hadn’t explicitly threatened us, so there wasn’t much we could do. But that didn’t mean we could trust merchants who mixed threats into negotiations. For now, they weren’t openly hostile—but I didn’t want to get close to them either.
With all this in mind, the plan was clear: we would sell the information about glass and lenses to the baronial family and have them act on our behalf.
“Lady Martine, please come to the reception room.”
“Understood.”
When the maid called, we moved to the reception room.
[Meluestat, Baron Merlo’s Residence – Reception Room]
Only Mother and I took a seat on the sofa. Stefana and Rugena remained standing behind us, waiting silently. Two maids were present in the room, but Tobias had not yet arrived. Mother would handle the negotiations, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” a voice said.
We were sipping tea when Tobias entered alone, walking calmly into the room.
“Not at all. Please forgive our sudden visit.”
“No, I had received a report that something was unusual here. But I don’t understand why only Arthur came?”
Tobias glanced briefly at me before directing his question to Mother.
“Before we start discussing matters, could I ask you to see to it that others leave the room?”
“…Are you saying you don’t trust the servants of our household?”
I could understand Tobias’s anger—it was reasonable. Anyone would be offended if someone suddenly made such a demand.
“You may interpret it that way if you wish. However, the matters I am about to discuss pertain to commercial interests. If this information leaks, can you take responsibility?”
Mother’s stern tone reflected the fact that there were no laws protecting production methods like patents. To safeguard their craft, one had to rely solely on their own precautions.
After sending the two maids out, Tobias resumed the discussion.
“Commercial interests… I see. So, you have been listening in on our household’s situation.”
He nodded with what seemed like satisfaction, but this conversation was meant to compensate for my own mistakes; the baronial family’s affairs were actually irrelevant. Mother looked at Tobias with a puzzled expression.
“What situation are you referring to?” she asked.
“Didn’t you bring a discussion of commercial benefits because you heard about our household from your father?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean,” Mother replied.
It seemed Tobias had misunderstood something. Yet his reaction implied that we thought the baronial family was facing financial troubles.
“…I apologize, but let us forget that remark for now.”
“However, even to discuss this matter, your family must be in a position to act. Otherwise, I cannot proceed with this conversation,” Mother stated firmly.
If we shared the information and the baronial family couldn’t act on it, the risk of a leak would fall solely on us.
“Are you requesting financial assistance?” Tobias asked.
“Not exactly. We want the baronial family to take the lead. It will be enough for us to receive a portion of the profits as compensation for the information.”
This time, safety was more important than profit. While having two bodyguards provided more security than an ordinary household, there was little chance of survival if an attack were serious.
“How much funding would be required for this?”
“If we start from scratch, it would take about eighty platinum coins to get things running.”
“—?! I’m afraid eighty is impossible.”
Rugena had mentioned that building a furnace capable of melting glass from scratch would cost roughly forty platinum coins.
“The eighty platinum coins assume starting from zero. Depending on the circumstances, it might not even cost forty.”
“Forty…”
The hesitation indicated that forty coins might be feasible—Tobias still wasn’t skilled at hiding his thoughts.
“If we hypothetically invest eighty coins, how long would it take to recoup the investment?”
“It depends on circumstances, so I cannot promise. But once operations are officially underway, I believe we could recover the investment in as little as three years, or at most five.”
—That’s alarmingly fast. It sounds like a swindler’s pitch—emphasizing the profits without revealing the labor involved in protecting the technical knowledge or finding capable workers.
The tricky part was the phrase “once officially operational.” How long would it take to prepare everything? That was uncertain.
“Could you at least explain the conditions under which forty platinum coins would suffice?” Mother asked, glancing at me.
Since the Opsidio Trading Company was also connected to glass, there was no need to hide this part. I nodded in response.
“There must already be a furnace for glass. I’ve heard it costs about forty platinum coins to build such a furnace.”
“Glass, huh… would a workshop suffice for that?”
“Do you have a workshop?”
“There should be a glass workshop among those used when expanding the city. It’s currently unused, so some maintenance would be required.”
The lord had purchased unused production facilities and warehouses and lent them out as needed. If a workshop was available, all that remained was to equip it properly, hire glassworkers and alchemists, and make it operational.
“Are there any operational glass workshops in this town?”
“Just one, mainly producing window glass.”
Tobias looked toward the window of the reception room. The glass had a slight reddish tint, revealing that it was made from impure silica sand.
“In that case, I think forty platinum coins would be sufficient,” I said.
“…And what about your share of the profits?”
“We would like a portion of the profits and a recommendation letter to the Nobles’ Academy.”
“A recommendation? You plan to send Arthur to the Nobles’ Academy? But he…”
“I understand. But if he wants to go, it is a parent’s duty to let him.”
“…Very well. But since I am recommending him, he will have to take an exam at our household before enrollment. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes, that’s not a problem.”
I hadn’t realized there would be an exam to obtain the recommendation, but of course—it would be shameful for the baronial family to recommend someone incapable of passing. To receive the recommendation, we had to demonstrate to them that Arthur was indeed capable.
“So, what will you decide?”
Mother was asking if they were willing to accept the offer. If the baronial family refused, we could sell to another trading company—or, accepting the risk, hand it over to Opsidio.
“I’m afraid I cannot decide on my own. I must consult my father—may I speak with him?”
“Yes, you may.”
Tobias, as the baronial heir, did not yet have decision-making power. However, if we could pique his interest, he might bypass Tunis and present the matter himself, ensuring smoother progress.
“And the alchemist who provided you the information—he truly has no objections?”
“It’s fine. He gave us permission to handle it as we see fit.”
“Very well. I’ll speak to my father. Please wait here.”
“Yes, we look forward to a favorable response.”
Tobias left the room to meet with Tounis.
“So, Arthur, what do you think?” Mother asked quietly.
“The reaction wasn’t bad, but I am curious about what happened with the baronial family. He reacted strongly to the term ‘commercial benefits,’ so it must be a financial issue. Since taxes are already settled, this must be something significant, right?”
“Indeed. Tobias was absent yesterday, and Rosanne seems to be away today as well. Something certainly happened, judging by the unusual state of the residence.”
I hadn’t known Tobias was away yesterday—if he were absent today as well, things could have become complicated. And the absence of Rosanne, the baronial family’s strongest asset, was concerning.
“From here, it depends on His Excellency’s judgment.”
We hadn’t shared any critical information yet, so even if they refused, it wouldn’t harm us. But for our own safety, it was best if the baronial family agreed to take action.