Chapter 87.1

The Northern Gift of Reciprocity (2)

The tour finally ended as the sun was setting.

“I can’t believe you not only sold us the machines but also shared such diverse expertise! I will make sure to repay your trust, President Jin.”

In this warm atmosphere, the contracts and negotiations were concluded as quickly as roasting beans over a flash fire.

While many terms were favorable to us, Entir and the Bishop Company executives signed without hesitation, fearing I might change my mind.

“Yes, I’ll trust only the Bishop Company.”

“You can count on us. With the Four Divine Artifacts you’ve provided, we’ll create as much chaos as possible in the Empire.”

Entir and I shook hands firmly before parting ways.

The next morning.

Entir, after finalizing the contracts, immediately left for the capital with Redwolf. The date of the coronation was fast approaching, and time was tight.

“President.”

“What is it, Mary?”

“The Grand Duke urgently requests your presence.”

“Is that so? Let’s go.”

“Her Highness asked for you to come alone.”

“…?”

As soon as Entir left, I was summoned to the Palace of Glory.

“Count Arad Jin.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

I stood once more before the pristine white throne.

High-ranking officials, knights, and mages of the High Tower were gathered on both sides.

It was a royal council meeting.

“I hear you sold the steam engine, spinning machine, loom, and sewing machine to Entir Bishop.”

“Including the sewing machines, yes.”

“And the sales proceeds…?”

“Since Bishop Company is financially strained, I decided to receive payment in the form of royalties.”

“Royalties?”

“Yes. A fixed percentage of their revenue from those machines will come to us. In the long run, it’ll be a far more lucrative arrangement.”

The High Tower—specifically Grand Duke Arina—rarely interfered with my affairs.

But this time was different.

It was obvious to anyone that the Four Divine Artifacts—the steam engine, spinning machine, loom, and sewing machine—held immense value.

Even though they didn’t incorporate magical engineering, the level of mechanical engineering was undeniably exceptional.

“Isn’t it risky to empower Entir Bishop too much? More importantly, what if those devices are stolen by the Empire?”

When Arina learned of the contract I made with Entir, she couldn’t simply stand by.

“The steam engine, in particular, is dangerous. Just as we plan to secretly use steam engines for Northern steel and weapon production, the Empire could do the same.”

At the very least, she wanted to hear my reasoning.

And with the advisors of the High Tower present, no less.

The faces of the advisors attending the royal council were slightly tense.

Even the Spring Magician Isabel, who had been reclusive while consolidating witchcraft, had shown up.

“So this is a chance for me to persuade and clarify my intentions. How considerate of her.”

I understood why Arina hadn’t asked me through Mary or a letter but had summoned me to a royal council.

She was giving me an opportunity to explain myself directly.

Misunderstandings and doubts, once formed, are hard to dispel.

“The more widely the spinning machine, loom, and sewing machine are distributed, the better. The same goes for the steam engine.”

“Continue.”

“The steam engine consumes significant amounts of coal and low-grade Magic Stones. This will greatly benefit the mineral-rich Northern economy.”

“That alone is not enough justification.”

“Porcelain and Arad Salt are already pushing the limits of what the Empire will tolerate. When I say the Empire, I don’t mean just the Imperial Family. I mean the entire structure of the Raguit Empire.”

“…!”

“If we monopolize steam engines, the Imperial Family, House of Nobles, Church, merchant guilds, and trade guilds will all turn against the North. The Empire will unite under the banner of opposing the North.”

“Hmm…”

I elaborated on what I had explained to Entir the day before, adding further details.

I left out the part about introducing steampunk to disrupt arcane-punk, as it would be incomprehensible to them.

“The North lacks the manpower, capital, and geographic advantages to monopolize those technologies.”

I continued my explanation.

“As I reported earlier, Arad Company has secured a contract to receive 30% of the revenue from those machines for five years from Bishop Company.”

This marks the beginning of economies of scale.

While monopolizing porcelain was feasible, the scale of the textile and clothing market was entirely different.

The North was not vast enough to dominate a continent-wide market.

“This arrangement will bring wealth to the North that is incomparable to porcelain or Arad Salt.”

“What if they manipulate their revenue reports? How will you ensure honesty?”

“They won’t cheat. Entir values of trust. He understands better than anyone that this contract is a test.”

“A test?”

“Yes. A test to see if he can maintain credibility and gain access to more of our cutting-edge technology in the future.”

“Hmm… But aren’t the machines at Bishop Company vulnerable to theft? Or even seizure by imperial decree?”

Arina’s doubts hadn’t been entirely dispelled.

“Even if the Emperor gains possession of the steam engine and spinning machines, it doesn’t matter. In fact, it’s beneficial.”

“How so?”

“The Empire’s industrialization will help stabilize prices.”

“…?”

What I envisioned for the Empire was akin to China’s role on Earth: stabilizing global prices through its manufacturing capabilities and serving as a massive consumer market—just that.

For a small population like Renslet’s, this was an unattainable role.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“And this version of ‘China’ is internally fractured. Lucky me… Ahem!”

As I glanced around the council chamber, their expressions remained unchanged.

“They don’t seem convinced at all.”

The problem was that this concept didn’t resonate with people of this era.

So, I adjusted my approach.

“Besides, the Imperial faction won’t be able to utilize those machines immediately. At least for now. Imperial artisans and guilds are currently funding the Imperial Family.”

“They could outlaw factory operations by decree.”

“They wouldn’t dare. Such a decree would spark fierce resistance from the House of Nobles and the Church, who would see their profits slipping away. The Empire would have to prepare for civil war.”

Nothing incites anger more than giving and then taking away.

“A civil war within the Empire…”

“Yes. The Empire, or more specifically, the Imperial Family, faces numerous internal and external enemies.”

The House of Nobles and the Church lost much of their power during the serf liberation.

Recently, they’ve been regaining strength through Bishop Company. If that too were restricted, even the Imperial Family wouldn’t dare act recklessly.

“Still, isn’t it concerning that the Empire might replicate our technologies quickly?”

“That will happen eventually. But by then, the market will already be dominated by the North and Bishop Company.”

The North’s domestic market had clear limits, necessitating exports.

As the Empire’s market grows, so does the share the North can claim.

In other words, for market expansion, the Empire must achieve a half-baked industrial revolution and a steampunk mutation.

“Even so… I can’t help but worry about the Empire’s economy and industry growing because of this.”

“That’s precisely the goal, Your Highness.”

“What?”

“The benefits of that growth won’t be confined to the Imperial Family and Bishop Company.”

I continued.

“Nothing divides people like greed, Your Highness.”