Victor and Nolla sat in the parlor, where he treated his guest to the finest wine in his collection.
— Vicount, I apologize for my question, but could you clarify? — Victor asked, sitting in an armchair with a glass of wine. — I've never heard of you before.
In the kingdom, there were only two noble families involved in trade. However, they did not engage in ordinary commerce, as the first dealt exclusively with buying and selling magical items and elixirs, while the second handled large-scale trade between kingdoms. Neither of them operated at the grassroots level, at least publicly.
These were akin to stock companies where nobles invested money and reaped profits.
Led by Count Lisoto and Count Kriolla respectively, neither mentioned vicounts, and considering society's attitudes toward traders, it was surprising that one existed.
— I'm the second son of Count Lisoto, — the young man modestly replied.
"Lisoto trades between kingdoms officially, but in reality, he handles transactions between prominent nobles and is the only one authorized to import and export goods."
— You've come solely to purchase wine? — Victor feigned indifference, seemingly unaffected by the disclosure.
At that moment, the vicount hesitated slightly, suggesting that wine was not his sole objective.
— Actually, I came here to propose purchasing the very process of winemaking, — the young man divulged.
Victor nearly choked, stunned by such an audacious request, far exceeding his expectations.
— Please pardon me, but that's nonnegotiable, — he swiftly responded, regaining his composure.
Yet Nolla did not appear disheartened; rather, his expression suggested readiness for rejection.
"So why pose the question? Was it a test?"
— Vicount, surely you didn't expect me to agree, correct?
— Naturally, but there's no harm in trying, is there? — the young man grinned.
— Then what's your aim? — Victor pressed.
— You may not realize this, but our family differs from other nobles in selecting our heir based on success in trade, a tradition we've maintained for over five centuries, — he clarified.
Apparently, this arrangement was formalized not only within their family but sanctioned by royalty. They faced exclusion among nobility due to their occupation, yet enjoyed considerable privileges since they functioned as the treasury backbone of the kingdom.
Victor had heard vague references to these counts but never delved into details, considering them too distant from his concerns. However, it turned out they were aware of his fledgling trade endeavors.
— Do you intend to strike a deal that helps you advance toward becoming heir? — Victor finally inquired.
The vicount merely grimaced, acknowledging he was not naïve enough to assume someone would sell such proprietary knowledge.
"Business is prospering, but compared to my brother, I'm nowhere near reaching his level," he admitted.
Silence filled the room as Victor mulled over possibilities presented by this individual, while Nolla waited for proposals that might benefit him.
While visiting Ironwood village, he had observed the market, something he had never encountered elsewhere. Most striking was the subtlety of the guard, who patrolled ubiquitously but did not meddle in traders' affairs. More amazingly, they did not approach merchants at all.
Contrariwise, he witnessed traders approaching guards for assistance, such as moving a cart with a broken wheel aside to clear traffic.
The guards promptly obliged without demanding payment.
Such behavior was uncommon among soldiers elsewhere. Though he came for wine, inspired by conversations with his brother and father, who bought a barrel for the king, he sensed something larger loomed beyond mere wine.
Unlike the vicount, Victor pondered the potential of the man before him, and an idea crystallized in his mind.
— First of all... I have an idea, and if you're willing to accompany me, I'd like to show you something, — he broke the silence.
Nolla had no inkling what he was about to see but trusted it might yield substantial benefits, consenting without hesitation.
Leaving the castle, escorted by their knights and Linia, who had fully adopted the role of Victor's guard, they journeyed to the brick factory.
He harbored no fears that his secret would leak, as the brick-making process was straightforward only if you comprehended the functioning of the firing oven—a secret he had no intention of disclosing.
However, the vicount kept glancing at Linia, noting women's involvement in security roles was rare and typically indicative of a lord keeping a mistress close. Yet, observing her conduct, he suspected otherwise.
One and a half hours later, they arrived at the "Brick Factory," bustling with activity involving nearly forty mud-splattered workers. Onsite stretched a football-field-size area divided into squares of clay bricks.
Victor dismounted first and strode toward stacks of finished bricks, picking one up and handing it to Nolla.
— Try breaking it, — he challenged with a grin.
The vicount attempted to snap it with his hands, succeeding, though not effortlessly, as he was a bronze-rank knight.
Victor was unsurprised, as this outcome was predictable, and he led him farther, where an experimental wall stood, built with bricks bonded by clay mixed with tree sap.
— Try breaking this wall, — he instructed, standing beside it.
This time, instead of the vicount, his knight stepped forward, deeming it inappropriate for his master to undertake such filthy labor. Drawing his sword, he struck the wall.
The blade penetrated about five centimeters but left the structure largely intact.
Initially, Nolla failed to grasp the significance, but his mind soon processed the implications: castles!
Building castles traditionally required quarried stones, which had to be extracted, transported, and shaped into appropriate forms. These bricks, however, were already perfectly molded, rendering the breakability of a single brick irrelevant.
"If such materials reach other kingdoms, they'll erect fortresses at breakneck pace—not just fortifications but homes, walls, roads!"
The trader's mind raced, envisioning countless applications for this innovation.
— Surely you didn't show me all this for no reason? — the vicount finally articulated, gathering his thoughts.
Victor could already detect recognition in his face and needed only to seal the trap.
— Truthfully, this isn't the final product; it will become far stronger, — the lord clarified. — I intend to sell it to other territories, and here's where I need your help.
Transporting such heavy cargo posed a critical challenge, as roads in this world were ill-equipped for heavy freight. While Victor contemplated an eventual railroad (which he would assuredly construct), practicalities dictated it was unfeasible in the next ten to twenty years.
— I need funding and manpower to expand production, — he candidly revealed his goal.
Nolla scanned the scene, observing the manufacturing process, striving to memorize every detail. Yet one crucial element eluded him: the ovens. Although they appeared crude, he'd never seen such constructions. The larger furnace, which peasants were constructing, remained obscured behind partial walls.
The compound was divided into sectors, each housing a kiln, with workers performing singular tasks. Clay mixers worked separately from molders, who labored independently from those handling firing. Altogether, about ten employees were active.
Others focused on constructing new kilns, each sector divided into distinct operations, minimizing overlap.
Victor implemented measures to safeguard industrial secrets, deploying twenty soldiers permanently to guard the site.
Total secrecy was unattainable, but temporary prevention of leaks was achievable.
Future iterations of bricks were planned, destined for his fortresses.
— Baron, what's my incentive in all this? — Nolla finally cut to the chase.
Anticipating this query, Victor retrieved a parchment from his bag, handing it to the vicount.
The young man scrutinized the detailed blueprint, growing increasingly agitated by the prospects, but before posing a new question, Victor presented another document.
The first depicted a two-story dwelling with comprehensive layouts, accommodating two families, while the second illustrated an expansive estate featuring French-style windows extending from floor to ceiling.
The latter contained his personal project, but reflecting briefly, he opted to market it to other nobles, who would undeniably covet replicas.
Its pricing was at least tenfold cheaper than current constructions in this world, offering multiple styles tailored to individual aristocrats.
Although not an architect, Victor recognized brick's versatility compared to stone.
Stone-built structures were bulky, and any oversight could lead to catastrophe. If his workers mastered laying bricks for village homes, he could cautiously develop this venture. Currently, he needed human resources, gold, and architects skilled in innovative construction, and the person capable of sourcing them stood before him.
— Provide me with everything I need, and you'll receive twenty percent of net profits from the entire project, — Victor proposed.
If calculations were accurate, his earnings could escalate astronomically, given his monopoly on materials supply. The only unresolved issue was glass, which he intended to delegate to Grandfather Arthur, unaware of his imminent assignment. Glassmaking, according to Earth's standards, utilized quartz sand, the extent of his knowledge on the subject. Trusting luck, he delegated everything to the senior craftsman, hoping he could devise a proper formula.
Glass was his top priority, as even in his castle, windows were mere gaps in walls, and autumn temperatures rendered habitation unbearable. Fearful of freezing to death, he dreaded the coming winter.
— I can locate architects and gold, but isn't finding workers a problem? — Nolla countered.
"In central regions of the kingdom, perhaps not, but try luring ordinary folk to the fringe."
This world's organization mirrored Earth's: closer to the capital, the wealthier and more livable the region. Victors' holdings lay thousands of miles from the metropolis, unknown to most inhabitants. Enticing migrants here was no easy feat.
— My territory spans four baronies, yet the population totals five and a half thousand—even accounting for aggressive recruitment efforts, — Victor explained. — My projects demand at least fifteen thousand people, with future expansion necessitating more.
Nolla listened intently, mouth agape.
"I was right! This baron envisions something monumental—he'll surely transcend wine and bricks!"
Numbers did not daunt him; central areas housed millions, and the capital accommodated one hundred and eighty thousand residents. Yet imagining a remote barony claiming fifteen thousand as a mere start was unprecedented.
— I need time to deliberate, — Nolla, in principle, already agreed but, characteristic of any trader, weighed pros and cons, assessing risks associated with dealing with Victor.
— Understood, I'm not pressuring you. Give it five days, as I'm awaiting another visitor and intend to extend the same proposal, — Victor replied.
Certainly, he urged urgency, subtly conveying that time was running out. He, too, was racing against the clock, as winter loomed and he needed to initiate home-building to prevent casualties from cold.
After concluding talks, they returned to the castle for dinner, while Linia, traveling behind, seemed to draw conclusions.
"The baron is clearly evil! Everything he's done proves it! I must warn Father to tread carefully around him, and I'll closely monitor his actions."