CH 140

The following day, I went to Nalluahdid before noon to visit the Commerce Guild. Since I’m purchasing the land through the Allaway family, I have to negotiate the deal with the owner of the citadel ruins, or should I say the lord of the island.

「How about a tax of 30,000 every year in exchange for managing the island? 」

「No need for the island. Oh, I’m planning to make a lot of windows, so if it’s a 100 I’ll consider it. 」

The lord already knows just how much of a burden the high taxes are to the islanders who only make a living by fishing using small boats, and yet he’s still trying to overcharge.

The tax placed on the building itself is usually determined by the size of frontage and the number of windows it has.

「How about 10, 000? 」

He probably was aware that he’s blowing it up; he suddenly proposed less than half of the original price.

「How about I’ll lessen the windows, so 50. 」

「Huh? 」

The lord froze.

Merchants have a lot of power around Nalluahdid. Some of them are merchant families backed by powerful nobles, so feudal lords who only got a few islands only got an interminably measly amount of power and influence.

Nalluahdid’s main island generates market taxes and tax from using the harbor, so the feudal lord is rich without having to do anything. However, most of the large and small surrounding islands are uninhabited, so they don’t generate any sort of income at all.

「Well, I don’t really mind whatever island it is, so it’s alright even if it’s not that one…. It’s just a shame that the Allaway family went to the trouble to arrange this negotiation. 」

I smiled.

「… 」

The feudal lord shut up while being drenched in cold sweat.

Why do you think I made the Alleyway family be the mediator? I repeat, merchants hold the real power around here.

「Then, we will have the contract with these terms. 」

「Please. 」

「Umu. 」

Closed the deal at 200, but he requested Commercial Guild for a contract book with the tightest restrictions posed by the spirit’s curse and there’s no time-limit.

By the way, the difference between a contract and an oath is how the curse of the spirit is activated. In the case of the contract, when the person commits a mistake, the curse is activated. As for the oath, it’s activated when the person purposely tries to go against it.

I agreed with managing the entire island in the end. The amount we agreed on included the taxes of the islanders. I was allowed to levy taxes and compulsory service freely as I pleased.

I’m also in charge of giving permission to the trade that will be done within the island. There were only 15 islanders, but it’s practically me being the deputy feudal lord at this rate.

Well, I think this is definitely a great deal compared to hiring someone else and sending a boat out to collect taxes considering that I won’t be getting any huge money out of that. Besides, paying 200 per year is cheap, given that they won’t be able to meddle in, much less block, whatever I do within the island. Just think of it as extraterritoriality.

I commissioned the Commercial Guild for the most expensive contract and witness, so I also got their guarantee.

Well, somebody also told me that I’m unexpectedly nasty despite having a face like this. Hey, it’s not like I’m taking it out on the feudal lord because I’ve got the feeling I’ll be scolded tonight.

We ate lunch, went to the island via boat and chatted with the islanders. Most of the folks were out in the sea fishing, but there were elderly, women and kids mending the fishing tackle.

「So you’re the proxy for the lord, is it? 」

「Yeah, that’s why I want you to work for me — ah, yes, I’ll be paying you wages. 」

Most of the main workers are out, so the official discussions will be tomorrow, but I’m doing a bit of introduction beforehand. Moreover, any vacant houses and lots with no owners are returned to the feudal lord, so they’re automatically mine.

For now, I should be careful not to forget to pay the feudal lord. It’ll be through the Commercial Guild, so I’m going to deposit several years worth of taxes once I have more than enough money.

I looked around checking the vacant houses with the children’s guidance. A house for Gold and Silver, me, and also a temporary one for the construction workers.

I also chatted with the elderly about the abilities of the folks here while following the children.

They can repair simple houses, build barns, and even dig wells, apparently. Maneuvering boats is a given. The sea around here is riddled with hidden reefs, but they’re very skillful in navigating the waters, so I want them to work for me by receiving and fetching the workers.

It’s unexpected that I can use the entire island, but I’m still following the original plan. There’s not enough money to expand the scale of the project. The tax I’m gonna pay the feudal lord is also above my budget. Oh yeah, I did save a bit of money thanks to the empty houses that I can use freely.

I briefly had them guide me around, and that ended my visit for today.

The elder who was said to be a great fisherman in the past transported me back to Nalluahdid.

The boatman who brought me to the island had been very nervous, and he had gingerly maneuvered the boat, but this old man was different. The boat was steady, and there was no hesitation whatsoever in the way he steered the boat to its course.

「Amazing. Can you teach me how to steer the boat later? 」

「Haha, I have years of experience under my belt, after all. If you’re interested I can teach you the basics, but there’s a lot of reefs around the island, so it’s dangerous. 」

The sea is deep azure blue that changes to clear aquamarine in the shallow areas. It is breathtakingly beautiful. Both the shallow and deep areas are riddled with reefs, some of them hidden by the sea water.

The waters are clear during daytime, so it’s easier to spot the reefs as the boat approaches. But then, small boats can be easily swept away by the currents, which can capriciously change depending on the wind and the waves generated by the big ships stopping at the port.

「But, the boatmen coming from Nalluahdid are way too timid, so yeah. 」

「Haha! Those guys usually just send people back and forth from the ship to land, and they’re used to the safe shores. 」

Anyway, gotcha, Boatman Sensei!