Viscount Barom POV
“Master Barom, we have packed the wagon with 10 loads of sugar and the elven slaves we captured yesterday.”
“Yes, thank you for your hard work.
Both are dedicated to the king, so please treat them carefully.”
My name is Roya de Barom, and I’m the descendant of a hero.
I’m also a viscount with a history of my own.
My ancestors have steadily and profitably managed the sugar business left behind by the former heroes for generations.
Following the agreement between our ancestors and the king at the time, we also donate to public utilities and orphanages.
The first generation delivered about 50% of the profits, but we are holding it down to a mere 10% in my generation.
This country is stupid.
They praise me as a saint and a benevolent lord for donating a small amount without knowing how much I’m earning.
Thanks to this, I have more influence in the kingdom and a monopoly on sugar.
Since the government has banned sugar imports, I can sell as much sugar as I want to the market at my price.
Thanks to sugar, I can literally suck sweet nectar.
This will continue for eternity, to my descendants and their descendants and so on.
Some fat cat who is said to be a grand mage or something like that wanted the right to cultivate sugar, but that’s a joke.
Sugar is mine.
No one but me deserves this profit.
In fact, I have never granted anyone else the right to cultivate sugar.
Plus, the laws restricting sugar cultivation make it legal to enslave elves as a byproduct.
The kingdom can capture elves without reservation, and the people have no hesitation in enslaving the unlawful elves.
It is a wonderful law.
The elven race, who interfere with my gains by growing sugar on their own, should all be enslaved.
I won’t ask to kill them all, for I am merciful.
The slaves I get are to work as my hands and feet.
Sugar cultivation in the territory employs a large number of slaves.
They work for free.
There is no problem leaving them alone because they grow and eat something proper on their own for food.
And with the money I collect, I try various businesses, but they keep failing.
It seems I don’t have the talent to start my own business.
I have blown a lot of money.
However, recently, I finally managed to break even in the plant paper business by using elven slaves.
Oh, is there any more profitable business?
“Eeen! Eeen!”
“Don’t worry, Aurene nee-chan will help you….”
“Banzai Bastet-sama! Paws is the best!”
The slaves are noisy, but that’s not a problem, as they always are.
They will quiet down in a few days.
I will board the carriage I have prepared separately from the one carrying the offerings and give orders to my coachmen.
“Please depart.”
We will leave the territory and head for the capital.
Surely by the time I return next time, I will find a new tree of gold.
And Viscount Barom’s domain will grow even more.
That reminds me of when the king suddenly notified us nobles to come with an offering.
The ancient dragon Flamberge has been resurrected, and he wants us to pay tribute to him.
Has the king lost his mind due to hard work?
We can’t disobey the king’s orders, but if it were a lie, the king would certainly be removed from his throne.
Should I flatter the next possible king while I’m at it?
Well, we will find out when we get to the capital.
Whether the king’s words are true or false.