IHBWAT 07

Chapter 7

Exceeded by Far

They made baskets and ropes.

Simple tasks. There were already several people in the territory who had done this before.

So they produced goods to sell to merchants. But Cliff was not satisfied with that alone.

“…More importantly, was there anyone with especially outstanding skill in this work?”

Through the skill he possessed, the overall craftsmanship of the territory’s people had improved.

But among them, there were bound to be people with innate talent.

Cliff wanted to find those people.

‘There has to be someone like that.’

His guess was correct.

Cliff called him over and gave him a new task.

The result was now before Tom.

“What is this…?”

Tom looked at the object Cliff had handed him with a puzzled expression.

“Something called chess.”

Cliff said with a faint smile.

Chess.

In another world, it was already a well-known board game. But in this world, play culture of this kind was not very developed.

Even after hearing the name, Tom did not understand.

“Hm.”

He awkwardly examined the chessboard and the pieces set on top of it.

“The carving skill on these little figurines is not bad. But I don’t think it has much value by itself… The way they stand opposite each other—does it perhaps depict a battle?”

Cliff’s eyes gleamed.

Tom’s eye for things was not bad. Even with no prior knowledge, he had made a correct judgment.

“You caught on quickly. Then do you also know how to use it?”

Tom shook his head.

Cliff explained it to him.

“This is a game. Each piece has its own rules for movement. Taking turns, you move the pieces according to those rules. If my piece moves to the space where the opponent’s piece is, the opponent’s piece is knocked over.”

A game.

And then the explanation of the rules.

Tom nodded.

For someone unfamiliar with this kind of stimulation, Cliff’s explanation sparked his interest.

“If you manage to knock down the opponent’s piece—more precisely, the king at the very back—you win.”

In the world Cliff had known, there were many more rules besides that.

In particular, the pawn, known as the foot soldier. The pawn’s promotion, or being able to move two squares on its first advance, or the loopholes created by that and so on.

‘But I don’t even remember the rules that well myself… It would probably be better to leave out things like castling and promotion.’

Preparing a guidebook with all the detailed rules would be difficult.

Ink and paper were expensive here.

So the rules had to be as simple as possible.

“Want to try a round?”

“If Acting Lord Cliff allows it, I’d like to try.”

And so, a match broke out between Tom and Cliff.

The result was, of course, Cliff’s comfortable victory.

But from the start, this was not a game played to decide victory or defeat.

“At this point, I think you’ve probably understood the rules.”

“Hm. I think I’ve got them all memorized, more or less. But I still don’t understand. Why did you show this… to me?”

Cliff smiled.

“What do you think?”

“Simply put… I think the acting lord wants this game distributed in the kingdom. And perhaps you’re entrusting the distribution to me.”

“That would be nice if it were possible. But there’s a big problem.”

“…You mean, besides promoting this chess game, the fact that other people could easily make something like this as well?”

The carving was well done.

But the difficulty of making chess itself was not very high.

Right now it might be a new and unusual item, but once it became known, many places could make the same thing.

‘It’s not so intricate that it can’t be copied.’

There was no special technology behind it.

So it would be hard to make money just by distributing this item.

Cliff said, “Exactly. Which means it can only be used once.”

Then he looked at him and continued.

“And I happen to know someone who would really like a game like this.”

“Don’t tell me…?”

As Tom listened to Cliff, one person came to mind.

The Chancellor, Duke Aydren.

A man who was clearly connected to Cliff, and whose connection Tom now also understood.

“That man doesn’t seem pleased that his children only use their bodies and not their heads. At times like this, when he sees a game like this, I think he’ll not only take interest in it as a noble pastime, but also find it useful for educating his sons.”

As Tom listened, he swallowed.

He didn’t know whether the Duke would actually like the game or not.

But thinking about the rumors he had heard, Cliff’s words did not sound false.

“Maybe the first of these could be sold to the ducal house for a high price. Even if not, some connection will surely be made. So, what do you think?”

Cliff asked while looking at Tom.

Tom swallowed hard.

His mind was probably running through many calculations.

“…How much would it be?”

And the clever Tom, as expected, caught on to Cliff’s intention.

Cliff meant to sell this thing called chess to Tom.

And he had also shown Tom how to use it.

No matter how much Tom paid Cliff, he could likely extract much more from the Duke.

That much calculation was enough.

“Hm. An item like this should allow you to meet his Grace directly. If you just deliver my letter, you might only be lucky enough to see the butler. But if you bring this gift too, you might get to meet his Grace himself… and perhaps even, as I’ve done now, explain the rules and play a game with him.”

A chance to spend that much time in audience with the Duke.

That was rare.

“How much do you think that’s worth?”

Cliff asked without stating the price himself.

Tom’s body flinched.

‘Acting Lord Elimis… he is a frightening man.’

At first he had taken him lightly because he was young.

But the more they faced each other, the more that thought disappeared. If Tom set the price too low here, that would be the same as disrespecting Duke Aydren to that extent.

For the sake of the Duke’s honor, he had to offer a proper price.

“Right now, I have about two thousand gold coins’ worth of capital. But that still wouldn’t be enough. I will make five separate deliveries of goods worth eight thousand gold coins to this territory in the future. What do you think?”

Cliff’s lips rose.

“Good. Over the next five years, bring goods worth two thousand gold coins. Over the first four years, pay the remaining amount you have not yet given me, and then in the fifth and final installment, I will have you pay the amount based on the two thousand gold I received now.”

That was an excellent business deal.

A contract to have goods continuously enter the isolated territory for five years.

‘After five years, something will work out.’

For now, he had secured enough supplies to feed and clothe the people for five years.

Cliff extended his hand.

“It was a good deal.”

“I have gained much from this. If things go well, I will never forget this kindness.”

“I wish you success.”

That was the win-win strategy Cliff had prepared.

After finishing that, he went outside with Tom.

Nigel and Tom’s attendants saw the two and approached.

“The baskets and ropes here are not bad. Since the quantity is also large, we concluded a deal for four hundred ninety silver coins.”

“Hmm. Well done.”

At the merchant’s subordinate’s words, Tom replied and then glanced sideways at Cliff.

‘A demanding fellow, and yet he had more goods than I expected worthy of his attention. Four hundred ninety silver coins is not a small amount for that quantity, even if the quality was good.’

He might make more profit than expected.

He spoke again.

“Then have the goods we purchased loaded onto the carts, and have the carts we brought unloaded into the territory warehouse.”

“Huh?”

“You have already paid enough, Acting Lord. Do as I say.”

At that order, the merchant subordinate looked shocked.

And so did Nigel.

Nigel stared at Cliff in surprise. Cliff gave him a subtle wink, one eye slightly squeezed.

‘What on earth is he doing?’

As far as Nigel knew, Cliff did not possess anything anywhere near valuable enough to pay that much.

The merchant subordinate, who knew nothing, simply thought of it in straightforward terms.

“Understood. Unload everything!”

“Sir Nigel. Let us help the merchants too.”

“Yes, ah, yes. Understood, Acting Lord.”

Following Tom and Cliff’s instructions, goods were stacked in the warehouse.

The existing stock was cleared out, and in its place, the food the territory needed was brought in.

The geese were also handed over and placed into the empty pens.

‘This is excellent.’

And so the trade ended with both sides satisfied.

Cliff slowly closed his eyes.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly.

<Proof as Lord> **Content:** The commoners have now accepted you as their master. But you have still not proven anything to the people who are loyal to you. Prove your value as their lord.

Condition

• Achieve economic profit (0.00 gold / 50.00 gold)

Reward

• Lord EXP 50

• Territory EXP 100

With a single deal, he had earned more than ten thousand gold.

He had already massively exceeded the quest requirement.

That message entered his closed vision.

• You have gained 50 Lord EXP.

• You have gained 100 Territory EXP.

• Territory level has increased.

Those were the rewards he had of course expected.

• Quest massively exceeded.

• Additional rewards are granted for this remarkable achievement.