Chapter 529 – The Lord’s Woes.

“This should be all, Lord Arthur.”

“How grand… It’s no wonder some people lose their mind over such things, it’s difficult not to…”

In a well-lit room a man with silvery-white hair leaned over. He picked up a handful of coins and watched them glister in the magical light. He let the coins trickle through his fingers, the clinking sound echoing faintly in the spacious treasure room. The sheer wealth gathered over the past month was staggering. Piles of silver, gold, and rare gemstones sparkled under the light of enchanted mana lights, each piece a testament to his growing influence and the prosperity of the estate. Yet, for all the wealth surrounding him, there was unease gnawing on him.

Mary, his maid and most trusted confidante stood quietly beside him, holding a thick folder of documents. Her uniform was pristine, and her demeanor was calm, though her sharp eyes looked at Arthur with some amusement. When he seemed lost in his thoughts, she cleared her throat gently.

“Milord, if I may?”

She said, extending the folder toward him. Arthur blinked, snapping out of his greed-induced trance.

“Ah, yes, Mary. My apologies. What is it?”

“This is a proposal from Master Roland,”

She explained while handing the papers over.

“It outlines a new project he’s begun. However…”

Her expression turned serious as she hesitated, choosing her next words carefully.

“The expenses involved are… quite considerable.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow as he took the folder, flipping it open. The contents were dense with diagrams, calculations, and descriptions of various expenses. It appeared that his ally intended to order a substantial number of products from the dwarven union – a venture that would require a lot of capital. While his friend had meticulously accounted for the cost of even the simplest rivet, Arthur’s eye twitched as he scanned the summary at the bottom of the page.

“By the gods…”

Arthur muttered, skimming the numbers.

“This could drain half of our earnings for the quarter.”

“Indeed, and I’m sure Master Roland will come up with another grand project soon after…”

For a moment, Arthur felt weak, his legs threatening to give out as he leaned against a nearby wall for support. He had worked tirelessly to reach this point and had hoped the relentless expenses would eventually taper off. However, his Runesmith friend seemed incapable of slowing down, always pushing forward without pausing to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Arthur let out a heavy sigh and set the folder on a nearby table. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he weighed the implications.

“Roland’s creations have brought us success before. The golems within the dungeon have more than paid for themselves, generating steady profits… And the turrets have allowed us to cut back on military expenses… while raising the satisfaction of the commoners… “

The young lord began weighing the pros and cons of Roland’s decisions. He was acutely aware that most of the gold in the treasury would eventually be claimed by his father. Despite under-the-table deals with the Guild Master and the new crime lords in the red-light district, their operations were still consuming nearly all the profits they generated.

Yet Arthur harbored ambitions that required greater resources. He wanted to increase the military budget to recruit more soldiers, preparing for the future he envisioned. Those soldiers would need weapons, armor, and enough food to keep them strong and loyal. If he ever hoped to stand against his elder brothers and pursue his newfound goal of becoming the duke’s heir, bolstering the military was non-negotiable.

“Lord Arthur, there’s still more.”

As he contemplated, Mary interjected.

“Oh?”

Before Arthur could respond further, another set of documents was handed to him. These detailed the potential financial gains of a new plan – one focused on cultivating a recently discovered dungeon level. The proposal highlighted rare ores such as Ignisium and Galeite, both imbued with elemental power and highly valuable.

“I see…”

Arthur murmured, his tone shifting as he scanned the pages.

“So, it’s more of an investment for the future…”

It seemed his smart friend wasn’t just blankly asking for more funds but also presenting ways to generate even greater returns. Roland’s plan wasn’t just about spending; it was a calculated move to expand their resource base, potentially doubling or even tripling their income in the long term. Still, it required faith – and a massive upfront cost. Arthur exhaled deeply, running a hand through his silvery hair.

“He always has a way of tying my hands. I can hardly say no when he dangles prospects like this before me.”

Mary allowed herself a faint smile, stepping closer.

“Master Wayland has proven his worth time and again. It’s not a question of if this will succeed, but when. Still, the decision lies with you, milord.”

“Oh, have you finally warmed up to him? Is that nothing but praise that I hear?”

Arthur chuckled as his maid turned her head away, a faint hint of embarrassment on her face. In the past, she had been openly skeptical about their pact. To her, it had seemed unreasonable to place so much trust in a man who concealed his true identity. They now knew that he was a runaway noble who didn’t seem to be a follower but more of an equal.

“True, his results are hard to deny, but that doesn’t mean I agree with his methods or his disregard for hierarchy.”

It wasn’t a secret that Mary disliked the fact that Wayland didn’t see Arthur as his superior. The young lord didn’t care much as he saw him as more than just a simple vassal.

“Hierarchy, eh? Sometimes, breaking the mold is necessary to achieve greatness and he has yet to disappoint, don’t you think?”

Mary said nothing, instead turning her attention back to one of the papers in her hand. She then presented it to Arthur along with his seal. While they weren’t in his office, he could still sign off on this plan that Wayland had presented.

“If you agree with Master Wayland’s budget plan, then please affix your seal here, milord.”

Mary said, her voice calm and even. She extended the paper and the seal with a slight bow, her demeanor urging him to make a decision. Arthur hesitated, staring at the intricate budget breakdown before him. Each line represented a small fortune, and the final sum was staggering. He could feel the weight of it pressing down on him. His estate’s coffers, while healthy, were not inexhaustible, and this was no small expense. His hand hovered over the seal, shaking a bit.

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“Is there something wrong, Lord Arthur?”

“Wrong… hah… no everything is great!”

A bead of sweat formed on his forehead as he hesitated further, this was probably one of the costlier projects his friend had organised and he still had his doubts. This was around half of their earnings and the rest they would need to send over to the duke as tax money. Mary just stood there without saying anything more, watching as Arthur slowly lowered his hand and finally gave the document its seal of approval.

“There.”

He said, his voice trembling slightly as if he had just sprinted for several minutes.

“It’s done. May the gods favor our endeavors.”

Mary accepted the sealed document with a slight bow, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

“Very good, milord. I will handle this issue personally.”