Chapter 9: War Is Inevitable

Mana stones.

In this world where magic exists, mana stones are one of the most important core resources.

If the world before transmigration had oil, this world has mana stones.

No, comparing them to coal would be more accurate.

They are stones, and if I had to be precise, this world is currently in an era similar to the Industrial Revolution.

Anyway…

There are three representative regions where such important mana stones are abundantly produced.

All of them are concentrated on the Eos Continent.

They are Derkshire in the Bransia Empire, Ruzar in the Duranden Empire, and Valenti, located in the eastern part of the continent.

Among them, the Valenti region is considered the best.

This is because it has the largest deposits and the highest quality of mana stones.

Such a Valenti region will soon become a battlefield.

Valenti spans across two countries that share a border, Poira and Davia.

Decades ago, Poira and Davia signed a peace treaty primarily based on a marriage alliance, and have maintained peace for a long time since then.

However…

As if personally proving this world’s old adage that eternal peace cannot exist.

The rift between the two countries gradually widened, and eventually, they threw the peace treaty into the trash and waged war.

Tensions between the great powers were already escalating.

In the midst of that, when war broke out, other countries, including the major powers, were drawn into the war one after another, and eventually, the entire Eos Continent became a battlefield.

This is the so-called ‘Continental War’.

The Amelia Kingdom, being an island nation separated from the continent, could have remained neutral and observed the war without getting involved.

Nevertheless, it eventually participates in the war.

There are various reasons, but the biggest reason is.

Because after the war ends, the international order will be greatly reorganized, and becoming a victorious nation would allow them to gain significant benefits in such a situation.

Anyway, with the declaration of war, Amelia’s soldiers are also sent to the battlefield.

Among them was Aiden, the protagonist of the novel, who graduated from the military academy and became an officer.

And he returns as a war hero after achieving great military exploits.

Because it is an event that greatly affects the protagonist, the war between Poira and Davia, and the resulting Continental War, will inevitably occur.

So I planned to use that to make an investment that was bound to fail.

As mentioned earlier, the top 3 major production sites for mana stones are all located on the Eos Continent.

If the Continental War breaks out, the supply of mana stones will undoubtedly become unstable.

Even if other regions are fine, the Valenti region will become the very center of the battlefield.

On the other hand, demand is bound to surge.

Because mana stones are also used in military equipment.

In other words, the price of mana stones is bound to rise significantly.

‘Shorting mana stones means I’m bound to lose money…!’

The king’s nerves are already frayed as death approaches.

In such a situation, if I record an enormous negative return?

He will cut me off in one stroke.

Ah, of course, not my neck, but my position.

Although this world is backward and pre-modern compared to the world of my previous life.

As long as one doesn’t commit violent crimes like murder or treason, one’s neck won’t be cut off.

When an official makes a mistake in the course of their work purely due to lack of ability or misjudgment, the maximum punishment is dismissal.

Because a wise ruler, often cited as the greatest monarch in the kingdom’s history, established it that way, even a tyrant cannot go against it.

Therefore, even if he might want to cut off my neck in his heart, he will only cut off my position.

This is all a struggle to avoid getting my neck cut off, so would I do something that deserves having my neck cut off?

Anyway, after getting fired like that.

I’ll wait for the Continental War to end.

Once the war is over and the continental nations begin reconstruction projects, I’ll persuade my father.

That now, when reconstruction projects are actively taking place all over the continent, is the opportunity.

That if we, who run a trading company and a construction company, enter the continent and participate in reconstruction projects, we can make a fortune.

If we expand the family business to the Eos Continent like that, immigrating to the continent will become much easier.

‘It’s a truly perfect plan.’

I immediately got up from my seat and headed to the director’s office.

[“Ah! Dominic is finally on the move!”]

[“Dominic, having ended his deep anguish! Where will his next investment beeee!!”]

[“Ah, Dominic! He’s heading to the director’s office!”]

[“Could he be planning an investment so big that even the director will moooove?!”]

[“While attention is focused on where the investment genius born of the kingdom, Dominic Rosenfeld, will invest next, Mr. Benton of Veil Bank is here with me now.”]

[“Mr. Benton, where do you predict Dominic Rosenfeld’s next investment will be?”]

[“Ah, in my opinion, well……”]

Regardless of whatever bullsh*t my seniors were spouting.

Knock knock—

“Director. It’s Dominic Rosenfeld. I’m coming in.”

As soon as I knocked and entered, the director shot up from his seat and greeted me warmly.

“Ooh, the future of our Royal Assets Management Bureau!”

“Hahaha…”

“What brings you to the director’s office?”

“Ah, well…”

“Ah, please sit down first. Ms. Bellmore, please bring some tea and cookies here.”

“Yes, Director.”

When Bellmore, the director’s secretary, quickly brought tea and cookies, the director picked up the largest cookie and handed it to me.

“Try it. It’s from Bransia, and it tastes very good.”

“Ah, thank you.”

When I took a large bite of the cookie I received, a luxurious sweetness filled my mouth.

“Oh, it’s very delicious.”

“Right? I knew you’d like it. Last time I saw, you secretly have a child’s palate. Hahaha!”

Last time refers to the day I was forcibly dragged to a bar by the director after work.

It was the very day the director pushed photos of three men at me, asking who seemed like a good son-in-law candidate for his daughter, as they had been introduced to her.

“Ah, how did things go with your daughter that you mentioned back then?”

At the polite inquiry, the director’s expression brightened even more.

“Ah, that! Thanks to you, I’ve found a very good son-in-law!”

“His family background is good, he’s tall and handsome, and his personality is really great, you know? He’s manly yet so affectionate to my daughter.”

“My daughter likes him very much. To the point where she’s pestering me to set the wedding date as soon as possible! Hahaha!”

I had just randomly picked someone, but it seems he coincidentally turned out to be a very good man.

“That’s fortunate.”

“I don’t know how to thank you for this……”

“Haha, not at all. It’s enough that you are so happy, Director, and that your daughter is also very satisfied.”

“This fellow, he’s even excellent at social skills! He has a talent for melting people’s hearts with just a few words! Hahaha!”

“Don’t say that, come visit my house sometime. I’ll treat you lavishly.”

“Speaking of which, how about tomorrow?”

“Huh? Tomorrow?”

“As it happens, my youngest daughter is home for her vacation. I’m not just saying this because she’s my daughter, but she’s a very beautiful child. If you see her, you probably…”

While I was feeling awkward about the director’s blatant attempt to set me up with his youngest daughter, Bellmore interjected at the perfect timing.

“Director.”

“Huh?”

“You need to go report to His Majesty the King soon.”

Nice, Bellmore!

“It seems we don’t have much time. It’s a pity, but let’s talk about this in detail later, and let’s hear your business first.”

Thanks to Bellmore, I was able to change the subject and immediately stated my reason for visiting the director’s office. At that, the director showed a puzzled expression.

“You’re saying you want to go on a business trip to Renly?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I intend to visit the Renly Mana Stone Exchange.”

Futures trading.

A transaction where one contracts to buy or sell at a predetermined price at a specific point in the future.

In a word, a game of betting on whether the price will rise or fall in the future.

Compared to my previous life, the financial market of this world is very backward, but futures trading exists here as well.

Naturally, there are also systematically structured futures exchanges. On the Eos Continent.

Among them, the exchanges in Renly were the largest and most famous.

This is because the city of Renly is the capital of the world’s strongest superpower, the Bransia Empire, and the world’s foremost financial center.

I was planning to go to the Renly Mana Stone Exchange among them.

There was no place more suitable for shorting mana stones on a large scale.

“Directly, without going through a broker?”

“Why go through the trouble?”

Actually, I don’t need to go to Renly directly; I can use a bank’s brokerage services.

Just like when I invested in foreign stocks.

Nevertheless, the reason I insisted on going to Renly directly, despite the hassle, was.

“Because the funds are large, the brokerage fees to be paid are also large, and that’s a waste, and I also want to go to the exchange directly, thoroughly assess the movements of other investors and market trends, and then make an investment decision.”

—That was a lie.

The truth was, I just wanted to use the business trip as an excuse to go play in Renly.

Renly is a city famous for things other than being the capital of the world’s strongest superpower and the center of global finance.

A city of tourism visited by countless tourists every year.

A city of culture and arts, to the extent that there’s even a saying that all trends start in Renly.

And a city where the food is pretty and the women are delicious… no, a city where the food is delicious and the women are beautiful, a city of gastronomy and beauties.

I wanted to have fun in such a place, even if only for a single day.

Since I’ll be fired soon, I could go play after that, but.

Because a war will break out soon, if I don’t go now, it will be difficult to go play for the next few years.

And originally, it’s more fun to play with other people’s money.

The director, oblivious to my inner thoughts, clapped his hands as if in admiration.

“Kya~ As expected! A talent equipped with both ability and loyalty! Indeed, when dealing with His Majesty’s private assets, one must save what can be saved, and invest as prudently as possible.”

“Haha… You praise me too much.”

Glancing over, I saw Bellmore also clapping along with him.

‘Why are you clapping too…’

It was like an audience moved by a famous speech.

Suddenly, the words my seniors had said flashed through my mind.

“You wouldn’t know, but there are many ardent fans of yours in this bureau besides us!”

‘Were you one of them too…’

My head is throbbing.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

“I’ll give you the travel expenses right away, so go ahead. I’ll give you plenty, so stay long enough, think carefully, and then decide. Cool your head a bit too.”

The director said, giving a subtle wink.

His expression seemed to say, ‘You know what I mean, right?’

‘Didn’t he just say that we should save what can be saved?’ I thought, but there was no need to voice it out.

I simply said thank you.