Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master

Chapter 103.2

What does she want now? Marquis Sedes and the imperial delegation were so baffled that, for the first time, they dropped their forced smiles.

“Well then, it seems the discussions about embassies, sovereignty, and the repeal of that law are concluded. Further details can be handled after this audience with the ministers.”

Watching their perplexed expressions, Arina smiled and issued her next command.

“Now, tell me your true purpose.”

As if they already knew.

“...Arad Jin. We wish to discuss Count Arad Jin’s visit to the Empire.”

Following Arina’s command, the deflated imperial delegation reluctantly spoke up.

***

While the imperial delegation was enduring their ordeal at the High Tower, I met with Entir in the reception room of the Arad Corporation.

For reference, Entir’s audience had originally been scheduled for the day after the imperial audience. However, considering my urgency to establish a bank, Arina had kindly adjusted the schedule.

“Are these the individuals?”

I scanned the four people Entir had brought along. Under my gaze, they flinched nervously.

“Yes. They are the result of my efforts and a bit of luck,” Entir replied, smirking slyly like a slave trader flaunting his wares.

“For the record, they are all imperials. I’m unsure how well they’ll adapt here in the North, given the poor perception of imperials...”

Even as he said this, he feigned concern for the four, as if clinging to the last vestiges of his conscience.

“Just give them company uniforms.”

I dispelled their concerns with a single sentence.

“Their names?”

“Baker.”

“Violet.”

“Richard.”

“Holland.”@@@@

Two men in their thirties, a woman in her twenties, and an older man in his fifties—it was a modest team.

“Who here has experience in banking?”

In response, Violet and Richard raised their hands.

Naturally, Baker and Holland turned out to have backgrounds in moneylending.

“Both bankers are from reputable institutions in the imperial capital, and even the moneylenders operated in structured, large-scale organizations, not shady back-alley setups,” Entir elaborated, handing me a dossier summarizing their credentials and backgrounds. ṞaɴОʙË????

‘This feels suspiciously like handling slave documents.’

Suppressing the odd feeling, I reviewed the paperwork.

‘He managed to find talent like this, huh?’

“But.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Stay within your limits. I trust Marquis Entir knows where that boundary lies.”

“O-Of course.”

After subtly reining him in, I returned to our earlier discussion.

“What were we talking about again?”

“You were about to explain how you plan to operate the bank...”

Entir’s voice had grown slightly subdued.

“Ah, yes. That.”

Seeing his renewed composure was satisfying.

“There’s a shortage of silver and gold coins across the continent, isn’t there? Even copper is in short supply.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

When I posed the question, Entir’s eyes sparkled.

“What you’ve pointed out is already a problem, but it’s poised to become an even bigger issue.”

With the Empire’s industrial revolution in its early stages, markets and capital were expanding exponentially.

Demand for gold, silver, and copper coins had skyrocketed, far outpacing what could be mined.

“In fact, some factories in the Empire are paying wages in goods. Bartering is making a comeback among imperial citizens.”

Paying wages in goods might have been a cost-saving measure, but it highlighted the severity of the issue.

‘In the original timeline, the completion of magical engines facilitated a similar industrial revolution. The scarcity of gold, silver, and copper was mitigated by magical constructs mining the resources.’

Unlike the original timeline, this world’s technological trajectory was tangled.

At this rate, a continent-wide economic crisis seemed inevitable.

“There will soon be two types of banks in the North: the Arad Bank and the Renslet Central Bank.”

This forced me to implement what would have normally been launched much later.

“Central Bank? How will it differ from the Arad Bank?”

“There are many differences, but the most significant lies here.”

I revealed my prepared item to Entir.

“This is?!”

The special, high-quality paper featured intricate designs, akin to a masterpiece.

Particularly eye-catching was the portrait of Arina printed on the right side—an artwork more exquisite than most northern heroic paintings.