Chapter 86.1

The Northern Gift of Reciprocity (1)

The weekend passed, and Monday arrived.

“Every time I visit, I can’t help but marvel at the dazzling development of the North. It’s as if I’m witnessing the world being reborn.”

Entir Bishop, after completing his audience at the High Tower, headed straight to the industrial complex.

“The beautiful secretary who’s always by your side, was it Lady Mary? I didn’t see her today.”

“She took a day off for personal matters.”

“A day off? What’s that?”

“It’s a paid day off granted once a month.”

“Goodness.”

“Excuse me?”

“Ah, nothing. Haha…”

Shaking his head slightly as if he had heard something unbelievable, Entir quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, regarding the purchase requests you made back then… I apologize for not being able to assist, President Jin.”

“It’s fine. I completely understand.”

After exchanging brief pleasantries, we began walking through the industrial complex together.

Surrounding us were employees and guards from various companies.

“It seems that Arad Company’s employees have changed quite a bit since I last saw them.”

“In what way?”

As Entir surveyed the industrial complex, he suddenly commented while looking at the Arad Company employees.

“They seem to have a stronger sense of belonging. Is it because they’re all wearing the same attire?”

“That’s precisely why we provided them with uniforms.”

“Uniforms, you say… It’s a bit different from work clothes. How should I put it? They look neater and more refined. The design is excellent too. They seem practical yet elegant, like stylish everyday wear.”

While designing academy uniforms, we had also mass-produced uniforms for our employees.

If the students’ uniforms were sky-blue tops and black pants, the employees’ uniforms were entirely made of dark gray Lian fabric paired with black leather boots.

The company logo, a golden carriage, was embroidered on various parts like the chest, shoulders, and hips.

Additionally, starting in the fall, employees were provided with fur coats, gloves, and boots.

“Interesting. Perhaps we should try distributing uniforms at Bishop Company when I return.”

Entir examined the uniforms worn by Arad Company employees with an intrigued expression.

He’s probably planning to deduct the cost of the uniforms from their wages.

Seeing the gleam in Entir’s eyes, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for his employees.

Or not?

On second thought, from the perspective of Bishop Company employees, receiving inexpensive yet good-quality clothes might not be so bad.

Honestly, by the standards of this world, our company was the odd one.

No wonder Mary had expressed concern to me.

“Still, producing and distributing such quality uniforms in bulk must have been costly. Even for Arad Company, surely those uniforms came at a price?”

Just then, Entir asked with curiosity and concern.

As expected.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He was already thinking of charging his employees for their uniforms.

“We provided them free of charge.”

My response was the exact opposite of Entir’s expectations.

“?!”

Entir’s expression was priceless.

Not just him, but everyone around us reacted with diverse expressions.

Our side exuded pride and self-assurance, while the other side openly displayed envy and disbelief.

“That must have cost… an incredible amount of money. Considering the quality of those uniforms, even for Arad, which practically sweeps up the continent’s gold and silver coins, it must have been quite a burden.”

Entir looked at me as if I were an incomprehensible entity.

“It wasn’t as expensive as you might think. The total cost of one employee’s uniform amounts to about half a silver coin.”

“!!”

“Since the uniforms were made by our company’s own employees, we managed to save a lot. The main expenses were for purchasing cotton and Magic Stone powder.”

“No wonder there’s been a surge in imperial cotton purchases from the North lately… Wait, does that mean you handled the spinning process too?”

Even with this explanation, the price was still shockingly low.

For the record, this included the cost of winter uniforms as well.

“How in the world can production be that cheap?”

Currently, it was spring, and even in the frigid North, fur coats and boots weren’t worn during the day.

In other words, Entir wasn’t even aware of the winter uniforms yet.

Even so, his reaction was one of sheer amazement.

“The fabric used in those uniforms, it’s Lian fabric, isn’t it? Resistant to cold and moisture, and tough enough to be used for ship sails?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then how…?”

Arad Company’s uniforms weren’t made with ordinary fabric.

Lian fabric was a luxurious material comparable to fleece-lined denim on Earth.

It was a fabric unique to this world.

“No, no. It’s not about the money… Lian fabric isn’t something that can be mass-produced just because you have the funds.”

“Correct. The cost of Lian fabric is more about the skills and manpower required to produce it than the materials.”

Lian fabric required Magic Stone powder.

Cotton was soaked in a large quantity of low-grade Magic Stone powder, dried, spun into threads, and then woven into fabric using a loom.

However, cotton infused with Magic Stone powder was more challenging to spin and weave than ordinary fabric.

As a result, not only was it expensive, but production was limited.

Labor costs were as high as those for silk.

It wasn’t called the “silk of the rough” for no reason.

For this reason, only wealthy mercenaries or knights could afford clothing made from this fabric during the colder months.

“For reference, our employees have only been wearing those uniforms for about fifteen days.”

“Which means…!”

“Follow me. It’ll be easier to show you than to explain.”

I led Entir Bishop to a certain location.

The building was too small to be called a factory but too large to be a mere workshop.

However, the security and protective enchantments around the building were as rigorous as those guarding the company’s vault.

“What exactly is this place?”

As the laboratory doors opened, Entir cautiously observed the interior with tense eyes.

“It’s a research facility. We conduct experiments here on equipment and products slated for release.”

At the center of the building stood a piece of equipment.

The most skilled employees were busy maintaining it.

“The creed of the North is that grudges must be repaid, isn’t it?”

Looking at the equipment inside the research facility, I began to speak.

“The North has always been on the receiving end of the Empire’s oppression. The recent plague incident is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“…”

“It’s time for us to deliver a reckoning to the Empire—or more specifically, the Imperial family.”

I placed a hand on Entir’s shoulder and continued.

“And you, President Entir Bishop, will be at the forefront of that reckoning.”

Entir turned his gaze away from the research facility and looked at me.

“I hear the coronation is soon.”

“Yes. Once I wrap things up here, I’ll head straight to the capital.”

“Isn’t it overwhelming?”

“Hah… I can’t deny that it is.”

When the Emperor was mentioned during our conversation, Entir’s expression suddenly turned gloomy.

“After the coronation, the pressure will only increase. In the worst-case scenario, I might even have to offer some of my business to the Emperor.”

It was likely because of this impending coronation that he had rushed to the High Tower.

“Do you have any plans?” I asked Entir, who now looked quite resolute.

“The Church and the House of Nobles have agreed to form an alliance. I’ve committed to funding that alliance.”

“You’ll need a lot more money.”