Chapter 07
** Overachievement**
They made baskets and ropes.
Simple tasks. Many in the territory had already tried their hand at these.
Thus, they produced goods to sell to the merchant. But Cliff wasn’t satisfied with just that.
“……More than that, was there anyone with particularly outstanding skill during this work?”
Through the skill he possessed, the overall craftsmanship of the territory’s people had improved.
But even within that, there were bound to be those with natural talent.
Cliff wanted to find such people.
*‘Surely there are some.’*
His thinking was correct.
Cliff called them and gave them new tasks.
The result was now placed before Tom.
“What…… is this?”
Tom looked at the object Cliff presented with a puzzled expression.
“It’s called chess,” Cliff said with a slight smile.
Chess.
In another world, it was a well-known board game. But in this world, such game culture hadn’t developed much.
Tom didn’t understand even after hearing him.
“Hmm.”
He looked awkwardly at the chessboard and the pieces set upon it.
“The carving skill of these small figurines isn’t bad. But I don’t think this alone holds much value… The fact that they are arrayed facing each other on opposite sides – does it depict a war?”
Cliff’s eyes sparkled with interest.
Tom’s eye wasn’t bad. He could make a proper judgment even without knowing anything.
“You’re quick on the uptake. Then do you also know how this could be used?”
Tom shook his head.
Cliff explained to him.
“This is a game. Each type of piece has specific rules for movement. Players take turns moving their pieces according to these rules. If your piece moves to a square occupied by an opponent’s piece, you capture that piece.”
A game.
And the subsequent explanation of the rules.
Tom nodded along.
For him, unfamiliar with such stimulation, interest arose at Cliff’s words.
“The player who captures the opponent’s pieces, specifically the king at the back, wins.”
In the world he knew, there were various other rules.
Especially regarding the pawns.
Like pawn promotion, or that a pawn can move two squares on its first move, or the weaknesses derived from that, etc.
*‘But I don’t remember the rules perfectly either… It’s probably better to leave out things like castling and promotion.’*
It would be too much to prepare a guidebook with the detailed rules written out.
Ink and paper were expensive here.
So keeping the rules as simple as possible was best.
“Would you like to play a round?”
“If the Acting Lord permits, I would like to try.”
And so a match took place between Tom and Cliff.
The result was, naturally, an easy victory for Cliff.
But from the start, this wasn’t a match about winning or losing.
“I take it you’ve more or less understood the rules by now?”
“Hmm. I’ve managed to input them all. However, I don’t understand. Why…… did you show this to me?”
Cliff smirked.
“What do you think?”
“Thinking simply… it seems you, Acting Lord, wish to distribute this game throughout the kingdom. And in that process, you’re thinking of entrusting the distribution to me, perhaps?”
“That would also be good if possible. But there’s a big problem with that.”
“……You mean that promoting this game called chess is important, and more than anything, others could easily make a game of this level?”
The carver’s skill was good.
But the difficulty of making chess itself wasn’t high.
Right now, this might be a unique item, but once it became known, it might be copied everywhere.
*‘It’s not an item so intricate that it can’t be replicated.’*
There’s no special technique involved.
So it would be difficult to make money by distributing this item.
Cliff spoke.
“You’re right. That means it can only be used once.”
Cliff said this and looked at him.
“And fortunately, I know one person who would very much enjoy a game like this.”
“Surely……?”
At Cliff’s words, a figure appeared in Tom’s mind.
The Prime Minister, Duke Aiderun.
A person definitely connected to Cliff – Tom now knew the true nature of that connection as well.
“He seems displeased that his children only use their bodies. If a game like this caught his eye, wouldn’t he think he could use it not only for his own refined hobby but also for his sons’ education?”
Hearing Cliff’s words, Tom swallowed his saliva.
Whether the Duke would actually like this game or not, Tom didn’t know.
But recalling the rumors he’d heard, Cliff’s words didn’t seem like a lie.
“Perhaps this first-ever item could be sold to the Ducal family at a high price. Even if not, some kind of connection would be established. How about it?”
Cliff asked, looking at Tom.
Tom swallowed his saliva.
Various calculations were probably running through his head.
“……How much would it cost?”
And the shrewd Tom had, as expected, noticed Cliff’s intention.
Cliff intended to sell this chess set to Tom.
And he had also shown Tom how to use it. Whatever Tom paid Cliff, he could likely recoup more than that from the Duke.
That much calculation had been made.
“Hmm. With an item like this, you might even be able to meet His Grace directly. A letter from me would be lucky to reach his butler, but if you add this gift, you might meet His Grace himself… and as you just did, you could explain the rules to His Grace, perhaps even play a match with him.”
That much time for an interview with the Duke.
It was extremely valuable.
“What do you think that opportunity is worth?”
Cliff asked without presenting the price himself.
Tom flinched.
*‘The Acting Baron Elimeas… what a frightening person.’*
At first, he had underestimated him because he was young.
But the more he faced him, the more those thoughts faded. If Tom set a low price here, it would be equivalent to disrespecting Duke Aiderun.
Considering the Duke’s honor, he had to name a price.
“I currently have about 2,000 gold coins. But that will likely be insufficient. I will deliver supplies equivalent to 8,000 gold coins to this territory in five installments. How does that sound?”
The corner of Cliff’s mouth turned up.
“Good. Have supplies equivalent to 2,000 gold coins delivered over five years. You will pay the value you have not yet paid me over the first four installments, and by the fifth and final installment, I will pay based on the 2,000 coins I have received now.”
With this, an excellent commercial transaction was concluded.
A contract for supplies to continuously flow into the isolated territory for five years.
*‘After five years, it will work out somehow.’*
For now, he had secured supplies to feed and clothe the commoners for five years.
Cliff extended his hand.
“It was a good deal.”
“This humble one gains much. If things go well, I will never forget this grace.”
“I wish you success.”
This was the win-win strategy Cliff had prepared.
After finishing it, he went outside with Tom.
Nigel and Tom’s attendants saw them and approached.
“The baskets and ropes here aren’t bad. The quantity is also large, so we have concluded a deal worth 490 silver coins.”
“Hmm. Well done.”
Tom answered the trading company executive’s words and then glanced at Cliff.
*‘He’s a tough customer, but he had items good enough to catch his eye. 490 silver coins is no small quantity, even if the material is good.’*
He might make a larger profit than expected.
Tom opened his mouth again.
“Then load the goods we purchased onto the carts, and fill the territory’s storehouse with the goods we brought on the carts.”
“Huh?”
“The Acting Lord has already paid a sufficient price. Do as I say.”
At this instruction, the trading company executive’s expression showed surprise.
And Nigel was the same.
Nigel looked at Cliff in astonishment. Cliff’s expression, winking one eye slightly, came into the old man’s view.
*‘How on earth…?’*
As far as Nigel knew, Cliff had nothing to pay such a price.
The trading company executive, who knew nothing, thought simply.
“Understood! Unload all the cargo!”
“Sir Nigel, have our people assist the merchants as well.”
“Ah, yes. Understood, Acting Lord.”
Following the orders of Tom and Cliff, the storehouse filled with goods.
The existing inventory was cleared out, and in its place came food supplies needed by the territory.
The geese were also handed over and went into the empty pens.
*‘This is excellent.’*
Thus, the deal that satisfied both sides ended.
Cliff lightly closed his eyes.
The corner of his mouth gently turned up.
—
**<Proof as Lord>**
**Content:** The commoners have now accepted you as their master. However, you have yet to prove anything to those who are loyal to you. Prove your worth as their lord.
**Condition:**
– Achieve economic profit (0.00 Gold / 50.00 Gold)
**Rewards:**
– Lord Experience: 50
– Territory Experience: 100
—
With this single deal, he had earned over 10,000 gold.
The quest had been overachieved long ago. That message appeared within his closed vision.
—
*- You have acquired 50 Lord Experience.*
*- You have acquired 100 Territory Experience.*
*- The Territory Level has increased.*
—
Up to this point, the rewards he should naturally receive.
—
*- You have overwhelmingly overachieved the quest.*
*- Bonus reward granted for an astounding achievement.*
