Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 502 Pie in the sky

"The perpetrators behind that attack, whether the troll clan that carried out the massacre or the cultists who planned it, have all been brought to justice. Your husband, Mr. Carrick, has had his blood feud avenged, and justice has been served."

"Thank you for informing me. Carrick's soul in Heaven can now rest in peace."

Upon hearing this, Madame Düssel bowed politely in thanks, her manners impeccable, yet she showed little excitement.

After a moment of silence, seeing that the other party had no intention of pressing the matter further, the mage had no choice but to continue:
"There is another matter, which concerns a new deal."

"Buy or sell?"

Bellera slightly raised her eyes, her tone subtly suggestive:
"What good business opportunities may arise, what do they have to do with me, the former vice president's wife?"

The saying "when people leave, the tea cools" applies everywhere, especially since Carrick was arguably the cause of the attack on the Chamber of Commerce's caravan. It's easy to imagine the awkward position the Dussel family would have in the Chamber without its pillar.

If it weren't for Bellera's own family background and the wealth she had accumulated through previous business ventures, she probably wouldn't be living such a comfortable life now.

Of course, a beautiful and wealthy widow living alone is not so easy to settle down.

Unfortunately, the monk's second visit came a little too late, and he missed seeing the group of bards buzzing around the Düsseldorf mansion like flies that had smelled excrement.

Fortunately, the hired guards were responsible enough, which prevented the group of philanderers who wanted to gain both money and people from leaving empty-handed.

“Of course there is a connection,”

The monk spoke in a gentle, soothing tone, recounting the story in a slow and detailed manner:
“If it were just an ordinary business, why would I go to such lengths to come all the way from Neverwinter to visit you? But this is a big deal, and a great thing for you as well.”

"Big deal?"

Bellera's expression remained indifferent, showing little excitement:
"The Golden Alfalfa Chamber of Commerce has been far less influential since that day, and its fortunes have continued to decline. It can only rely on its old assets to survive. How can it talk about big business? Even if it does, it is not something that the current chamber of commerce can handle."

"That being said, what if it's a business with low costs, high returns, and almost a guaranteed profit?"

hmm~
Bellera lightly covered her lips with her slender fingers, suppressing her laughter, and then asked in return:
"Should I thank you for your kindness in coming all this way to do good and help us?"

First of all, the idea of ​​making a sure profit in the business world is nonsense. Secondly, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Why should anyone give away the easy money that is right in front of them?

As Madame Dusseldorf considered this point, a hint of wariness appeared in her eyes, and the image of the messenger who came to deliver the good news began to resemble that of the group of big-headed, fly-like bards.

Another lecherous conman who cheats people out of money and sex?
Just looking at the other party's wizard attire, and considering the exaggerated descriptions he had heard from the survivors of the merchant guild, even if those exaggerations were removed, his strength was still beyond the reach of his own group of thugs.

It's probably impossible to stop them.

The fat was actually myself?
The young woman grew increasingly uneasy, her wariness quickly turning to panic. She then forced herself to remain calm, her gaze darting around as she feigned compliance.

"However, such a big matter cannot be decided by me alone. Perhaps I should first inform the other members of the Chamber of Commerce."
How about we get up and discuss this matter?

“That would be wonderful, thank you, Mrs. Dussel.” Bellera was somewhat surprised by the other party’s straightforward response. Things had not developed in the direction she had feared.
Just then, the monk took out a document from his robe and handed it to her. The cover was red with gold trim, and the words and patterns on it seemed to be outlined in gold thread.

It looks like a name card?
Madame Dussel, who was somewhat knowledgeable, took the book and was about to examine it when she heard a voice in her ear:
“Take this invitation card and tell them that Chanem, Honorary Instructor of the Academy of Neverwinter, Baron of Neverwinter, Lord of Highcliff, and Guardian, sends his greetings to the Golden Clover.”

Belera stood frozen, clutching the name card in her hand, her head spinning from the barrage of titles.

The other party turned out to be a powerful nobleman?
Looking at the exquisite coat of arms on the calling card, Madame Dussel was somewhat suspicious, but she didn't dare to think that the other party had forged documents and impersonated a nobleman.

"Then, sir, may I ask how our small chamber of commerce can help someone as important as you?"

After calming down, Bellera still found it hard to explain the other party's decision to go the long way around.

"Of course it's a great thing. How should I put it? You could say it's a win-win situation."

The monk didn't waste any words, only briefly revealing his intention to develop trade in his territory, while keeping the specific plans to himself.

"...Look, although High Cliff Territory is in its early stages of development, it has a bright future and offers great opportunities to showcase one's talents. Rather than being confined to the seemingly prosperous Deepwater City, why not choose a better place? Perhaps one can even win the favor of Lady Gold Coin."

This statement sounded beautiful, but Bellera, who had many flaws, didn't know how to refute it for a moment. After sorting out her thoughts for a while, she finally spoke:
"Neverwinter does not have as many merchants as Waterdeep, but with your status, you shouldn't be unable to recruit even a merchant guild. I still don't understand why you came to us."

"Furthermore,"

Madame Dussel gently bit her lip, pressed her lips together, and after much hesitation, finally mustered her courage and said:

"Your Excellency Wizard, I have no doubt about your achievements in the field of arcane magic. However, business matters are ultimately different from the former in their purity; there are too many intricacies involved."

Bellera wasn't the kind of sheltered, sheltered young girl who blindly believed and followed others just because they revealed their identities. Whether she saw it or heard it, the number of so-called new things and inventions that the wizard apprentices or low-level mages in Waterdeep City came up with every year was quite considerable.

It's all because of money.

The college is not a charity, and professors are not philanthropists. Tuition alone is a considerable expense, not to mention daily expenses, accommodation, and even the exorbitant costs of experiments…

Those with substantial wealth are fine, but those with slightly weaker financial resources simply cannot afford such extravagance.

Working as a laborer for a mentor or in some alchemy workshop is a common option, but only the person involved knows the hardships, tears, sweat, and the bitterness and resentment of being exploited and oppressed.

It is precisely this difficult situation that motivates capable individuals to seek more possibilities.

The more desperate people are for poverty, the more they yearn for the chance to get rich overnight. The sense of superiority that comes with just entering the realm of spellcasters, along with flaws such as looking high but being incompetent and ignorant of the ways of the world, are mixed together like cement, ultimately resulting in one after another tragic story of students failing in their entrepreneurial ventures.

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(End of this chapter)