Chapter 79. The Young Thing That Broke Out of the World Called an Egg (2)
Iselin was visiting the Cadmus family mansion every single day these days.
Iselin liked spending time in the Cadmus mansion, which exuded a cozy atmosphere though smaller than the Tolome mansion with its desolate atmosphere.
Nominally, it was to learn what a daughter of a noble family should possess from Ciella, the noble lady, but actually, such things were merely excuses.
Speaking honestly, Iselin was just coming to play at the Cadmus mansion.
Because there were Ciella and Emilia who always welcomed her whenever she came, her steps heading to the Cadmus mansion were always light.
Moreover, this place was full of amazing things to attract her interest and attention.
Especially since Blanc returned, it was even more so.
Not only her cousin Blanc but the Half-Werewolf she knew from before, or the walking armor boasting black gloss that appeared newly this time.
Among them, the highlight was the pink baby bird in front of Iselin’s eyes right now.
-……Piiik!
The pink young bird, which had been sleeping soundly, made a sharp sound as if Iselin’s appearance wasn't entirely welcome, but it let it be regarding her petting it.
“Ah, I really want to take it home…….”
Iselin, a twelve-year-old young girl, found it difficult to maintain her sanity looking at the existence before her eyes.
It would be an age to smile at that cute appearance even if just a chick was brought, but the baby bird that came out of the Phoenix’s egg possessed cuteness and loftiness that defied comparison with a chick.
Among the baby bird’s appearance, what attracted Iselin’s gaze most was the vivid red long tail different from the body color.
That tail, showing different appearances depending on the viewing angle as if fire were blazing, possessed charm enough to shake the heart of not only young Iselin but also Ciella, the mistress of the mansion.
“There must be a reason you came here?”
Iselin twinkling her eyes looking at the baby bird without caring about Blanc working in front.
“It’s still a young baby so don't touch too much.”
“Un!”
“And Barzio said you keep trying to take off his helmet?”
“Un!”
“Will you continue to do so in the future too?”
“Un!”
Blanc, facing Iselin who listened to his words through one ear and out the other, lifted her and put her out of his office with an appearance completely unwavering as if he knew she would do so.
It was a very natural action as if he had done it often.
“There must be a purpose for coming here.”
“Can’t I go after looking just a little more?”
Iselin shook her silvery hair and looked at Blanc pitifully, but Blanc, knowing her true nature, snorted and drove her out coldly.
“The reason you came here must be to equip the attitude a daughter of a noble family should possess; if you get caught with this attitude by Lord Bartomyu right now, what excuse should I make?”
“But…… I only do this here!”
Although Ciella was correcting Iselin’s every action, Blanc knew well that she was deliberately showing actions like childish whining to him.
Because although Iselin became more polite than anyone in official seats or in front of her maternal grandfather Bartomyu, she showed actions fitting a twelve-year-old age to people she allowed her heart to.
“Don't be polite picking people but embed a consistent attitude into your soul.”
At Blanc’s firm attitude, Iselin had no choice but to promise for later.
Blanc, having sent Iselin to Ciella like that, sat at the desk again and started working.
Because there were many things to prepare ahead of full-scale war preparation.
However, there was a gaze looking fiercely at such a Blanc.
“What are you looking at?”
The pink baby bird was glaring at him fiercely.
A young phoenix showing a coy appearance in front of Iselin but actually welcoming her.
“Young things are already not honest.”
Blanc shook his head and concentrated on work again.
***
As Blanc Cadmus, the center of the Cadmus family, returned, the white mansion was regaining color and coming alive again.
As soon as he returned to Baltimere, he started rechecking everything about the mansion and family, and at such appearance of Blanc, retainers and employees were extremely tense.
Because if not, they would end up like the Dwarf with drooping shoulders in front of their eyes right now.
Bonas, having just returned from Weard’s merchant guild, was tense seeing Duven Fogota, the Dwarf whose beard had even drooped.
Because the person who had to enter Blanc’s office next was exactly himself.
“Bonas Gwendolyn, enter.”
“Yes!”
It was a pressure unbelievable for a fifteen-year-old young Baron, something he thought when he first saw him too.
Bonas opened the door of the office and entered inside according to Blanc’s order.
What was seen as soon as he entered was the baby bird that made a nest on the reception table and Blanc rummaging through documents as if not caring about a cute bird or whatever.
“Bonas Gwendolyn.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Bonas noticed that a familiar handwriting was written on the document Blanc was holding right now.
It was Weard Tolome’s handwriting.
“Tolome Merchant Guild evaluated you highly.”
“I did my best so as not to cause trouble to the Baron’s reputation.”
Bonas’ words were the truth, not exaggerated in the slightest.
Because for him, Blanc was a benefactor who saved not only himself but his family’s lives.
Blanc looked at Bonas answering without shaking and turned his eyes to the document Weard wrote again.
“Lord Weard Tolome says there is nothing particularly to teach or inform.”
Bonas was one who had risen to the position of merchant guild master with his own ability although falling to the bottom.
Moreover, since he was a person who made his ability known as the administrative supply officer of the Liberation Front in the last life, he could be called a person equipped with both career and potential.
Therefore, Weard had nothing particularly to teach him like basics or techniques worth calling so.
He merely informed about the transaction methods of Baltimere and surrounding territories which were slightly different by region.
“I am just grateful he evaluated me highly.”
Using the connection of the last life, Blanc had picked up an excellent merchant comparable to Weard in the future at a bargain price.
“It is early yet, but it is my honest feeling that I want to form a merchant guild like Tolome as one leading a family.”
Having brought such an excellent merchant, it was natural to want to use him.
It wasn't only Weard who evaluated him highly.
Ciella Cadmus, the mistress of the Cadmus family, was also evaluating Bonas' character and personality behind her smiling face.
Since Bonas passed both Weard’s work evaluation and Ciella’s character evaluation excellently, now it was time to give him an opportunity.
“This is…….”
Blanc tilted his head back and spoke to Bonas.
“With this much money, you should be able to set up about a small merchant guild.”
Bonas dared not even check the gold coin pouch Blanc held out.
Because he knew with what intention Blanc put this money in his hand.
Bonas ended up shedding tears overwhelmed with emotion looking at the opportunity Blanc gave him.
“My Lord!”
Blanc Cadmus intended to let Bonas hold the money line of the family like Weard of Tolome.
“If it is you, you will be able to find an opportunity.”
Blanc looked at Bonas and spoke.
“Within a few months from now, I start a war with the three families of Gartaria.”
“I will assist with my best…….”
“You shouldn't care about that but think only about things that can profit through the war.”
Bonas looked at Blanc with puzzled eyes.
Telling him not to care about it when it wouldn't be enough even mobilizing all the family’s capabilities to prepare for war.
Blanc looked at Bonas and spoke.
“Take the wartime special profits.”
Blanc’s eyes were deepening.
“Especially, I wish you secure volume centering on food.”
Blanc intended to dig into the food problem of the three families especially in this war.
“And make all judgments on whether profit can be seen under the assumption that the Cadmus family will win.”
Blanc who didn't have a shred of doubt about his victory.
Bonas ended up gulping at such spirit of Blanc.
“You may leave.”
Blanc sent Bonas out and immediately called in the next retainer.
Bonas came out of Blanc’s office wiping his eyes still wet with tears.
Then carefully examined the pouch Blanc handed over.
‘It’s light?’
Far from the clinking sound of gold coins, it was a ridiculously light pouch.
Bonas rummaging through the pouch flustered at the texture he felt.
There was a single sheet of paper contained inside instead of gold coins.
A bill issued in the name of the Iron Bank.
And the amount written on that bill was.
‘2,000 Gold!’
Bonas ended up losing his wits seeing the tremendous amount he might or might not touch in his lifetime.
Bonas had thought Blanc would invest a little over 100 gold at most.
Seeing the bill easily exceeding the amount he expected, Bonas even felt dizziness and walked touching the wall.
There was a figure supporting him.
Bonas looked at the Dwarf with short stature supporting him.
“Merchant gentleman, since we are family belonging to the same house anyway, do me a favor.”
Duven Fogota smiled a good-natured smile and thrust a blueprint at Bonas.
“I want to make this fly coolly but the Baron won't give permission, you see.”
The Dwarf crazy about mechanisms approached the merchant who lost his wits to obtain operation funds, but.
“Please write up a formal investment plan and come.”
Bonas quickly regained his senses as money talk came out.
Bonas wasn't a pushover as Duven thought.
Because he was a talent Blanc picked and chose.
***
Evening after Blanc finished interviews with all retainers and knights.
Ciella visited Blanc’s office holding a beverage manufactured mobilizing her alchemy knowledge.
“Is that child really a phoenix?”
Ciella pointed at the baby bird that made a nest in Blanc’s office and spoke.
The baby bird recognized Ciella and cried Piiik.
Since she was a human who fed and took care of it meanwhile, it expressed its own intimacy.
“Yes, later when it grows fully, it will become bigger than Tolome’s mansion.”
Blanc remembered the phoenix met at the initial account and spoke.
“About how long until it fully matures?”
“Well… I’d say it’ll take a few hundred years…”
At Blanc’s words, Ciella ended up smiling.
She was convinced the baby bird was an unusual bird, but she still didn't believe the word phoenix.
“Indeed so.”
However, she agreed with Blanc’s words in front and nodded.
“I put the tree branch you brought in a flowerpot. Placed it where sunlight shines well.”
“Good work.”
Ciella made a playful expression and asked Blanc.
“Since what you gave last time was a phoenix egg, what is the tree branch you gave this time? Is it perhaps a branch of the World Tree?”
Hearing Ciella’s words, Blanc made a pretended surprised expression and spoke.
“You have excellent discernment! How did you recognize that?”
Seeing Blanc’s serious expression, Ciella ended up laughing aloud.
Her husband Baron Blanc was already a knight counted in the Felix Kingdom by reputation or skill, but sometimes he showed an eccentric appearance bluffing like this.
And Ciella liked such appearance of Blanc.
Because it looked like the appearance of a fifteen-year-old hidden behind the prestige of Baron, looking good.
Blanc made an expression saying he couldn't understand seeing Ciella’s laughing appearance and drank the beverage Ciella brought.
“I thought such a thought.”
“What thought did you have?”
Blanc noticed that Ciella’s eyes were staying on the beverage he just drank.
“When the phoenix egg hatched, I was right next to it.”
Ciella approached quietly next to Blanc.
“Should I say I came to want something while feeling the vitality of a newly born life.”
Ciella Cadmus was a woman who knew how to plan her actions as much as she was clever.
“You cannot remain the only Cadmus forever, isn't that so, Baron Blanc?”
Blanc felt Ciella’s touch stroking his knee before he knew it.
Her detailed touch was becoming gradually unhesitating.
“That also means the lack of virtue of me, the mistress of the Cadmus family. You don't want to make me such a woman lacking virtue, right?”
Blanc felt his body becoming hot following her touch.
‘Oh no…….’
Blanc felt he was already tied tightly in the spiderweb she spun.
Don't know if it's because of the beverage just drank, but Blanc with flickering consciousness felt Ciella’s reddish-brown hair gradually turning bright red and burning up.
Blanc’s office filled with hot heat.
Without Blanc knowing, a blue bead rolled out and was twinkling receiving moonlight.