Chapter 90 – Recruitment Part 2

Translator: SFBaka

Editor: Thor’s Stone

“……Well then, now it’s practically guaranteed that there would be a flood of applicants. It would make it difficult for us to select three hundred among them.”

“I would be happy if that really is the case. Oh, and I’ve summarized the current terms and my desired occupations on paper. I want you to proceed with the selection based on what’s written here.”

After saying so, I handed the document I prepared to the chief. He and the rest of the staff began poring over it.

“……So we need to prioritize the hiring of architects, blacksmiths, and woodworkers. What kind of items would you have them produce?”

“Mostly furniture, window frames, doors, and the like. Basically, we will be the ones who will build the buildings, so we only need them to produce items like those.”

“I see…… Understood. We accept this proposal, My Lord.”

“I see! That’s great. So how much do I need to pay the guild?”

“We will take a commission fee of 30,000 Guineas.”

“That’s quite cheaper than I expected. Hm. I will pay you 50,000 Guineas instead. In exchange, I want you to do your best in selecting the craftsmen according to their skills and reputation. Please do not include anyone who would potentially cause trouble along the way.

It would be helpful if you can accomplish everything after fifteen days.”

“I understand.”

After paying the consultation fee of five Guineas and giving them our contact information, we finally left the Craft Guild building. I sure hope they’d be able to gather a good number of decent applicants.

The other request Iris made was to procure books. So I decided to go around bookstores in the capital under the guidance of Katolle and the others.

“This is the Dascar Company, Alan-sama. It’s said to be the largest bookstore in the royal capital.”

The shop Katolle and his assistants led me to was of a size befitting its description as the largest in the capital.

When we entered the shop, I saw lots of bookshelves lined with plenty of different books. They were arranged so that their covers would be clearly visible to the customers. They were displayed like paintings in an art gallery. It looks like this really was a pretty high-class store, and books were treated as equally high-class goods. They were pretty rare after all.

A middle-aged store clerk quickly went over to receive us.

“I’m Shining Star’s Clan leader, Alan Corinth. I’ve recently been appointed as a baron by His Majesty.”

“Oh my! Welcome, Lord Baron. To think you would grace our humble store with your presence, Your Excellency! Welcome, welcome. What kind of article are you looking for, if I may ask?”

It looks like telling people I was Shining Star’s Clan leader really was much more effective than announcing my baron title.

“Oh, I haven’t decided yet. Can I trouble you to introduce me to your wares?”

“But of course, Your Excellency. Please go ahead and take a look at our collection.”

As we walked around, I noticed that the books being sold in the shop were all incredibly expensive. I skimmed through the contents of some books, but I don’t think their contents actually warrant such sky-high prices.

For example, the book I’m holding right now was an anthology of tacky-sounding poems, but its price was a whopping 55,000 Guineas.

“Are all of these new items?”

“Of course, Your Excellency. All of the books being sold in this shop were sourced directly from their authors.”

Hm. In any case, what we’re after when buying these things is information. The more, the better. It doesn’t matter how much the price is gonna be. I’ll still buy them in bulk.

“Oh, what about this book?”

It was a book titled ‘Comprehensive List of Belta Kingdom Aristocrats’.

“That is the latest version. It was just made last year. It contains a detailed and comprehensive list of all nobles in the kingdom.”

The names of the nobles, their family trees, their territories, and so on were all listed in the book. I should definitely buy this. The price was also high, at 45,000 Guineas, but getting my hands on this book was necessary.

“What about this?”

“Ah, that is a comprehensive list of nobles in the neighboring Alois kingdom. It is a new arrival.”

My three escorts who were actually former members of the Starveek kingdom royal guards were looking at the book with great interest.

Oh yeah. Come to think of it, I completely forgot looking into my comrade’s hometowns and families.

It’s only natural that everyone’s wondering what happened to their home kingdom. The price was 60,000 Guineas, but I didn’t hesitate to purchase the book as well.

“Yosh. I’ll be getting these two books then.”

I wanted lots more books, of course, but I didn’t need anything this fancy. I had Katolle look up shops that sell used books as well, so I’ll buy more at a shop he’ll recommend later.

I left the store after paying for the two books, which amounted to 105,000 Guineas all in all.

The next store we headed to was the used book store that Katolle looked up for me. It had a pretty good reputation and relatively reasonable prices, apparently. After about ten minutes, we finally reached the shop in question.

“Are you seriously saying that?”

“Yes, of course, I’m serious.”

There were seven men who looked like adventurers and five men who looked like merchants having an argument just in front of the book store. They were blocking the way, so I wish they’d held their argument elsewhere.

“I’m sorry, my good men, but could you clear the way for us? We wish to enter the store.”

“Oh. Sorry, but this store is closed. Try heading elsewhere.”

For some reason, one of the adventurer-looking men replied like that. Was he someone related to the store?

“Eh, is that so? Are they taking a break today?”

“It’s been closed for quite some time. The previous owner went up and died after all.”

Ugh. What bad timing. I was somewhat disappointed because I was actually looking forward to coming to this shop. While I was asking Katolle and the others about our other options, I overheard the discussion of the men.

“Are you seriously saying the total valuation of all the books in the store is only up to 2 million Guineas at most?”

“Yes, that is indeed the case. This is the result after conducting a rigorous assessment.”

“My father said before he died that I would be able to sell all the books in the store for over 30 million Guineas though. Your quoted price is just too low.”

“But that is if you sold them normally, correct? Two million is a more than reasonable cost price.”

“Enough. I won’t sell them to you guys. I’ll try asking other merchants instead.”

“Aren’t we the only ones who came here even after you tried calling out to several firms? Do you know why?”

“……Don’t tell me…”

“It’s just as you imagine. We are the only ones who can properly handle this amount of books, so we asked all the other stores to refrain from making a deal with you.”

“That’s playing dirty, dammit!”

Hm. I was able to hear a pretty interesting conversation. It seems I came at the perfect timing after all.

The adventurer-like man seems to be the son of the deceased shop owner, and it looks like he’s trying to dispose of the books in the shop by selling them off.

Even so, wasn’t Dascar Company the name of the place we visited earlier? I didn’t think they were also into the used book business.

(Iris, please scan the interior of this bookstore. How many books are contained inside?)

『…………There are an estimated 562 books on the store’s first floor. There are an additional 491 books on the second floor, which seems to be a warehouse.』

So that’s about 1053 books in total huh.

“Excuse me, gentlemen. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Is it true that you are trying to sell off all the books in this store?”

“……Yeah. Why?”

“I see. If so, then what say you if I offer to purchase all of the books on both the first and second floor for 10 million Guineas?”

“”T-Ten million!””

“Oi! Just what company do you hail from, young man!? Please do not try to worm in on our business.”

“Ah, my apologies then. You can go ahead and continue your discussion, gentlemen.”

“No, my business with the Dascar Company is over. Please leave.”

“Tsk! Just which company are you from!? Do you really think you can still continue to sell your books here in the royal capital by making an enemy out of the Dascar Company?”

“Oh, but I don’t plan on selling them in the first place. My name is Alan Corinth, the Clan leader of Shining Star. Oh, and I suppose I’m also a baron now.”

“”Eh?””

“I may not look the part of an aristocrat, but it’s true, you know? In any case, it looks like your deal with these people is off the table, so let us continue our discussion, my good man.”

The people from the Dascar Company gave us serious looks, but when they noticed my escorts placing their hands on the swords on their waists, it seems they were finally convinced and hurriedly walked away as if making their escape.