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--- So, I will work hard on updating Chapter 4 of "I Am the Wicked Lord of an Interstellar State"!
In the lounge of a high-end hotel.
The hotel, arranged by my merchant Thomas, was a historic luxury hotel.
It was truly the epitome of extravagance, but this is how a wicked lord should spend his money.
Sitting on the sofa with my legs crossed, I looked at the two people Thomas had arranged for me to meet.
Eliott, with his hair parted in a 7-3 style and dressed in a suit, was the young head of the Clareve Trading Companyâits chairman.
He looked to be in his early twenties and was indeed still young.
He wore a smile.
"Thank you for meeting with us today."
Sitting next to him was Patrice, a senior executive of the Newlands Trading Company.
With red hair and green eyes, her suit emphasized her chest. Was she trying to use her charm?
"It's a great pleasure to meet the famous Earl andâno, the future Duke Liam."
The beautiful woman tried to flatter me with a sweet voice, but I'm not a fan of this type of woman.
--- She reminded me of my ex-wife from my previous life.
It seems that flashy women are not to my taste.
Looking at Thomas, he seemed quite nervous.
"Liam, it seems that these two have something important they want to discuss with you. It's about the position of your merchant."
The big merchants and executives from the capital planet have come to offer to be my merchant.
Since their scale is larger than Thomas's, they could be quite useful.
"My merchant, huh."
"Yes. We would be honored to assist you, Liam. The Clareve Trading Company is an official merchant of the empire and has a long tradition and history. We can certainly be of great help."
Eliott smiled and said this, and Patrice also tried to appeal.
"Indeed, while the Clareve Trading Company is one of the best in the capital planet, our Newlands Trading Company does business throughout the empire. We are widely supported by the lords and can be of great help to you, Liam."
I love flattery.
Butâgood deals often have a catch.
And I have no intention of trusting someone who just says they want to help me.
"My merchant is Thomas. Do you understand what it means to cut in?"
Thomas looked flustered.
You should be more confident.
Eliott tried to persuade me with gestures.
"Of course. We have no intention of replacing Thomas. We simply hope to be of additional service to you."
Patrice also agreed.
The two of them smiled and talked about the future.
They said that if we worked together, we could achieve great thingsâbut it seemed too good to be true.
"--- So? What's your real purpose?"
When I asked, both Eliott and Patrice maintained their plastered smiles.
"Purpose? As a merchant, of course, I'm thinking about profit."
"The Newlands Trading Company highly values the rising star, the Vanfield family."
I looked closely at their plastered smiles.
They reminded me of my ex-wife's smile.
I can't forget the face of the woman who deceived me.
"Stop that plastered smile."
When I said this, Eliott's expression disappeared.
"--- You were rumored to be a benevolent and wise ruler, but there are things you can only understand by meeting in person."
Patrice's smile was different from before.
She seemed to be enjoying herself, but I could sense a hint of anxiety.
"Is this your true nature? But, I like it."
"Is that so. Then? What do you want from me?"
At this point, Thomas explained to me.
"Liam, what they seek is the power of the Vanfield family."
"Reasonable. But, I find it hard to believe that big merchants would come to me."
Many merchants want to use the Vanfield family's name to do business.
But these people should already have noble patrons.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be big merchants.
The Clareve Trading Company is an official merchant of the empire.
They shouldn't need the Vanfield family's name.
Eliott clasped his hands in front of his mouth.
"I have only recently taken the position of head. I often clash with the executives."
It seems that the Clareve Trading Company is too close to a certain noble family.
"Many people think I can be easily manipulated. --- Actually, I investigated the cause of my father's death, and he was assassinated."
Even big companies have their issues.
"Why don't you appeal to the empire?"
"The empire needs the Clareve Trading Company, not me. And the empire has many people who are the hands of those who killed my father."
It seems he would rather get a noble patron to support him than be at the mercy of the executives.
When I turned to Patrice, she explained her situationâshe was an ambitious person.
"Unlike Eliott, who is on the defensive, I want the Newlands Trading Company."
Eliott didn't look happy, but I was interested.
"Go on."
"The Newlands Trading Company has many relatives in executive positions. Many of our branches are run by family members, and succession is often contentious. Who will be the next head, you see."
Patrice emphasized her chest and showed it to me.
"Would you use your power, Liam, to make me the future head of the Newlands Trading Company? Of course, I will provide a suitable return."
Thomas turned away from the two of them.
"Liam, if we use their power, the Vanfield family can make a great leap forward. But, at the same time, we will also face complications."
"Of course."
Big merchants need power to deal with internal conflicts, so they came to me.
It's quite straightforward.
In other words, they highly value me as a force of violence.
I told them in front of me.
"--- It sounds interesting, so I'll lend you my power."
Eliott and Patrice had serious expressions.
"Do you understand what this means?"
Eliott pressed the point, but by coming to me, they are already quite wicked.
They should have heard from Thomas what I have done.
"Go ahead. But, let me make one thing clear. --- You must make me profit. And you must also profit. A relationship where both sides benefit is the best, don't you think?"
Loyalty? Favor? Duty?
I don't believe in such things.
If there is profit, people won't betray.
It's quite simple, isn't it?
Patrice touched her lips.
"--- Liam, you are different from what I imagined. In a good way, of course. I thought you would value duty more than profit."
Duty? Duty to a wicked lord? Ah, like the kind in yakuza dramas?
I, for one, don't like that kind of thing anymore.
"Are you going to value duty over profit? That would be a saintly merchant. What do you think, Thomas?"
When I asked, Thomas looked troubled.
"W-What should I say?"
"--- If you make me profit, I will help you. It's a very simple contract, isn't it?"
Eliott smiled, but it wasn't the good boy smile he showed at first.
"Of course. I trust a contract more than invisible duty or sentiment."
Patrice's cheeks were slightly red, perhaps from excitement.
"Shall we conclude the contract right away? A contract between you, Liam, and me personally."
Sure.
I like these guys more than their initial good guy faces.
â
After concluding the contract with Liam, Eliott and Patrice were alone in the elevator.
The walls were made of glass, and the night view of the capital planet was beautiful.
Eliott loosened his tie slightly and spoke to Patrice.
"--- He was easier to talk to than I thought."
Patrice crossed her arms and didn't show her back to Eliott.
"Don't get too familiar. We are still enemies."
"Oh, I think we can benefit from working together."
"--- There's no point in teaming up with a weak head."
"You say that."
The reason they approached Liam was different. For Eliott, the executives of the Clareve Trading Company were too close to the Berkeley family.
Pirates might be good customers, but the world is not just about that.
If pirates become too powerful, it will affect business.
Eliott disliked this and decided to support Liam, who was openly challenging the Berkeley family.
He was worried that Liam might be too serious, but he turned out to be a very interesting person.
"I thought you were in the same situation. Many of your executives are close to the Berkeley family, aren't they?"
"It's pointless to do the same thing. If everyone bets on the Berkeley family, I will get closer to the Vanfield family."
Patrice just wanted to use Liam to rise in the company.
She intended to manipulate him with her words, but it seems her plans didn't go as expected.
"But, it might be more fun than I thought. I like that he's not just a good boy."
Many nobles prioritize their own profit, but Liam doesn't trust such relationships.
"--- We must make sure the Earl wins."
When Eliott said this, Patrice nodded.
"Of course. We would be in trouble if he didn't win."
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When Liam conducted the training, problems with supplies became apparent.
Those affected were the delinquent soldiers.
"Damn! Vanfield is acting all high and mighty!"
In addition to the nobles who had been loafing in the patrol fleet, the soldiers who had been enjoying a sweet life in the regular fleet were angry.
"Exactly. The supply of alcohol has decreased."
"How can they not even provide a decent bottle of alcohol for the nobles!"
"Besides, my fleet has been reduced in number for no reason!"
All of this was Liam's fault.
Their opinions were united.
The guide watched this scene.
Sitting in a chair, he swung his legs and clapped.
"Creating enemies smoothly. Now, let's make these guys work for us."
He snapped his fingers, and black smoke began to drift from his body.
The nobles in the room, who inhaled the black smoke, didn't seem to care.
Then, one of them said:
"--- There's a rumor that the Berkeley family will settle things with the Vanfield family."
The gathered soldiers became interested in this news.
"Is it true?"
"Many soldiers have been invited. What about here? --- As an imperial noble, would you lend a hand to the Berkeley family to return the military to its proper form? The Berkeley family will prepare a mountain of rewards for you now."
The soldiers grinned.
The guide, who was preparing people within the military to support the Berkeley family, had created another enemy for Liam.
"The preparation is still insufficient. We can't slack off if we want to defeat Liam."
He had been careless until now.
He won't underestimate Liam anymore.
The guide stood up, put on his hat, and left the room.
However, a faint light in the shape of a dog in the corner of the room quietly followed him.
Bryan (ÂŽă»Ïă») "It's tough. Liam didn't even consult me about increasing his merchantsâtough. No, I'm not against it or anything."