VFAI 15

Chapter 15

The Price of Touching Perdian
2022.08.21

I glanced at Yansi before speaking.

“No matter how powerful Angelos is, if they’ve bought up all the mana stone mines, they must have stretched their finances quite far.”

Although mana stone mines weren’t exactly plentiful, purchasing most of the mines within the Wilentia Empire was no easy feat.

Even for Angelos, it must have been a move that pushed their funds to the limit.

The Perdian family would likely withstand Angelos’ monopoly for a few years, but smaller merchant groups wouldn’t last long.

It was clearly a plan to take over the entire military supply industry.

No one disagreed with me.

“So?” asked the Duke of Perdian.

Without hesitation, I answered.

“Then Perdian should monopolize it as well.”

“You already said it, Lili. Most of the mana stone mines have already been auctioned off by Angelos.”

Yansi responded gently, almost as if he were soothing me. But the “monopoly” I meant wasn’t that.

“We don’t need mana stone mines.”

“What?”

“Materials used in military supplies aren’t limited to mana stones, are they?”

“…!”

“If we buy up all the other materials instead.”

Surprise flickered across everyone’s eyes.

Even the First Prince, who had been largely indifferent until now, looked at me in shock.

I felt a faint sense of disbelief at how differently they were looking at me now.

Still, no matter how you looked at it, Angelos didn’t have unlimited resources. Perdian, on the other hand, controlled the underworld to the point of being called its emperor.

Even the royal family had to step back before such power.

“Angelos only recently entered the military supply business, so they don’t have many established suppliers for other materials. In time, they’ll be forced to reach out to Perdian—and when they do, we sell them those materials at a high price.”

And that would be the end of it.

The Duke nodded slightly in agreement.

“Yes. They’ll have no choice but to buy from us, no matter the price.”

“But in the end, they’ll suffer losses and be forced to withdraw from the military supply business.”

If Angelos’ head worked at all, they would admit defeat. A family head wouldn’t cling to a losing battle at such a cost.

Perdian would continue its military contracts anyway, so expanding supply sources wouldn’t hurt them much.

“Yansi. Investigate Angelos’ financial situation.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Carlo, assist him.”

“Yes. I’ll handle the bidding for the other materials.”

The Duke smiled faintly after issuing his orders.

“Then the discussion is over.”

His gaze turned to me.

He looked at me as if this outcome had been obvious all along, which only made me avert my eyes awkwardly.

I listened to the Duke and the First Prince continue their discussion about the next steps, then glanced at Yansi.

He was still smiling—but I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Lili?”

“It’s nothing.”

It stung a little that I had taken credit for a strategy Yansi would probably have come up with in the future.

“Good work, Elodie.”

“Thank you…”

The Duchess smiled gracefully in praise, but I couldn’t return it properly.

Because I had just realized something.

‘Did I overdo it…?’

I had clearly said I understood my place and wouldn’t threaten the positions of the two sons, yet I had just casually presented a solution as if I had been waiting for it.

But if I hadn’t spoken, innocent merchant groups might have been wiped out by Angelos’ tyranny.

I should leave.

Hoping I hadn’t displeased the Duchess, I stood up.

“I… I’m not feeling well, so I’ll be going upstairs.”

I fled the dining room before I even received permission.

‘I’ll have to behave more appropriately next time…!’

With that resolution, I left.

A few moments later

As Elodie hurried out of the dining room, the Duchess spoke with concern.

“Oh my. She left so quickly. Could she be feeling that unwell? Carlo, could you follow her?”

“W-Why me!”

“Hm?”

“She’ll manage on her own. I’m not going!”

At Carlo’s outburst, the Duchess did not press further.

“Even though he’s my son, he’s truly hopeless.”

She clicked her tongue lightly.

“I apologize for showing you such an unseemly sight, Your Highness.”

At her words, Adnemi smiled and shook his head.

“It’s not something you’d call unseemly. More importantly, it’s surprising. I never expected my fiancée to resolve a situation like that.”

“Recently, our Lili has become much more thoughtful. She’s about to come of age, so perhaps she’s trying to act more mature.”

“Is that so.”

Adnemi slowly rolled a small vial in his hand.

‘More thoughtful, huh.’

It was one of the medicine bottles he had seen on Elodie’s desk earlier.

He had noticed how she subtly hid it with her body when his gaze fell on it.

‘What exactly are you hiding?’

This could not simply be explained by her becoming more mature or thoughtful.

Her personality had changed too drastically.

Her position within the Perdian household was ambiguous.

And today’s unexpected behavior.

If he could find out what was inside that vial, he might get closer to what Elodie was hiding.

It was pure instinct.

Rodigo Angelos

Rodigo Angelos, head of the Angelos ducal family, was a man filled with ambition.

Born into one of the empire’s four great houses, he had always been a heir and was sharp-witted.

His goal was simple:

To suppress all other houses and make Angelos the greatest of them all.

The biggest obstacle in his way was, without question, Silvester Perdian.

‘That annoying bastard.’

The Duke of Angelos despised him intensely.

For many reasons.

First, his arrogant attitude of looking down on others as if he were superior.

Second, the lifelong comparisons due to being of the same generation and same rank among the four great houses.

Third, the admiration others gave Perdian’s youthful appearance despite being the same age.

Fourth, his son Yansi, who was just as infuriating.

Fifth, Perdian’s underworld dominance constantly obstructing his business.

And there were countless more reasons if he were to list them all.

So once again, he devised a grand plan to eliminate one of Perdian’s business ventures.

“Not bad. Even he can come up with something interesting.”

Thinking of the advisor who had visited him, Angelos leisurely enjoyed his favorite drink.

Since he had bought up all the mana stone mines, even Perdian would struggle to endure.

Self-sufficiency had limits—resources would eventually run dry.

The amount of mana stones required for mana armor production was enormous.

Even Perdian’s mines alone couldn’t meet the imperial quota.

Importing from abroad would incur tariffs and still be unprofitable.

His aide entered the office and reported.

“Everything has been successfully auctioned, my lord. It was close, but we paid via issued bills.”

“Good. Then we only need to wait.”

This was only the beginning.

Perdian’s largest external business was military supply.

Even if one branch collapsed, they would survive—but Angelos had planned further ahead.

His goal was clear.

The downfall of Perdian.

He would chip away at them until they collapsed entirely.

Perdian Duke’s Office

The two sons stood before their father’s desk to report.

“Speak.”

“Yes. Just as Lili said, Angelos used all their funds to purchase mana stone mines.”

Yansi finished his report, and Carlo followed.

“They also bought up mines in the Bruman region and other supply sources.”

“These are materials Angelos doesn’t handle well. That also matches Lili’s prediction.”

The Duke nodded calmly.

“Begin.”

It was time to make them pay for touching Perdian.

A few days later — Angelos Estate

An aide rushed into the office.

“My lord! Perdian—!”

“Oh? Have they finally withdrawn from the military supply business?”

Angelos stood up eagerly, smiling.

But something was wrong.

“N-No, my lord.”

“Then what?”

“Perdian has purchased all mines in the Bruman region. And all other material supply routes have been blocked. There is nowhere to trade except through Perdian!”

“…!”

Angelos’ eyes widened.

Damn it.

‘We’ve been played.’

The realization filled his mind immediately.

Perdian had returned his own strategy against him.

He hadn’t expected this. He thought it was flawless.

His mind raced.

Delaying would only increase losses.

If Perdian controlled all supplies, they would sell them at exorbitant prices.

So withdrawing from the business before losses grew was the only rational choice.

But rage still burned inside him.

At that moment—

Knock knock.

Someone politely knocked on the open door.

“You’ve arrived at the right time.”

“Silvester…”

A presence so quiet no one in the mansion had noticed him enter.

Only Silvester Perdian could move like that.

“How do you like my gift?”

“How petty.”

“Petty? Coming from you, that’s quite a word. Self-reflection, perhaps?”

“I merely pursued fair competition.”

“Fair. A word we are not acquainted with.”

Angelos barely restrained his anger.

And then realization dawned.

This was Yansi’s doing, no doubt.

But then—

“Yansi Perdian, I presume…”

“You’re wrong, Rodigo.”

“What?”

“If not Yansi, then who—”

“Well.”

Not Yansi?

Then who?

‘I need to find out.’

This was not something to ignore. Someone capable of challenging Perdian had appeared.

The Duke turned away, unconcerned with Angelos’ confusion.

Watching his opponent’s face twist was not unpleasant.

“I suppose I should reward my daughter.”

No matter how it looked, the true architect of this incident was his youngest daughter—Elodie Perdian.

The Duke’s steps quickened.