High-interest loan company [Tomma & Currency].
Most of the buildings near the central square were owned by the Tomma Holdings Corporation, and the largest building, the ‘Holdings Headquarters’, housed [Tomma & Currency] from the first to third floors.
The large glass windows were impeccably clean, adorned with artworks of great masters hanging here and there, and the friendly staff were all dressed neatly in uniforms. The atmosphere was luxurious, that was not at all inferior to that of the Central Royal Bank.
Pour.
Luke poured a cup of tea with a refreshing scent and offered it to Klisha.
“Esteemed customer. There’s no need to fret. We are an officially registered business licensed by the Mayor of Myuta. There are many malicious rumors in the market labeling us being loan sharks and horrible people, but never is that true! Never! That’s baseless accusations.”
Luke continued speaking while glancing at the owner of [Tomma’s Beef and Bacon], who was still sweating and mumbling under his breath.
“In all honesty, aren’t people who borrow money and don’t pay it back the bigger problem? It’s not like we dig the ground to do business. Every time I hear such stories, I feel like sewing their mouths shut.”
Klisha, who was momentarily distracted by her surroundings and couldn’t keep up with the conversation for a moment, replied absentmindedly.
“Yes?”
“….”
Feeling unexpectedly that the conversation wasn’t flowing well, Luke decided to change his strategy.
“So, the amount that the customer has to compensate due to this accident is approximately 50,000 ruel, including the cost of repairing the exterior of [Tomma Horses], the cost of repairing the building of [Tomma’s Beef and Bacon], business losses, franchise fees and so on.”
“….”
“Of those, since [Tomma Horses] is responsible for 10% of the compensation, you’ll need about 45,000 ruel. Deducting the 500 ruel you have on hand, you will ultimately need 44,500 ruel out of 45,000 ruel.”
“….”
Luke was momentarily surprised when Klisha didn’t seem too surprised or angry about the price being so high, and just sat there blankly.
What? Did she really understand what was said? Or does she really have so much wealth that this amount doesn’t seem like a lot to her?
“Ahem, ahem. Our services have different interest rates depending on whether there is collateral. If you have collateral, an annual interest of 24% is added, and if there is no collateral, an annual interest of 42% is added… If you miss the payment date, an additional penalty interest of 12% will be added….”
Seeing Klisha still lost in thought, gazing out the window, Luke began to feel a sense of unease.
‘Oh, what’s going on? Really?’
In reality, Klisha had zero understanding of economics. She had never even learned the ‘E’ of economics. So even when the old man in front of her spoke about rates of 24% and 42%, it didn’t register to anything in her brain.
At the moment, Klisha’s mind was only spinning with twenty different ways to kill a horse.
Moreover, she thought she didn’t really need to pay much attention to that complicated and difficult explanation at all.
If she went to the capital to retrieve the trust funds her father had set up for her, it would ultimately lead to her father being contacted anyway.
Her father must have probably been discovered by someone (?) by now. He must be utterly furious and set out to follow her traces.
Nevertheless, since she had come this far, she would just let her father take care of it.
This might lead to bear some nagging.
She might as well treat this incident as just one more thing to deal with.
Despite her shabby appearances, as the only daughter of a mid-ranking noble and the Young Lady of Schmarin, money held little more significance for her than a convenient tool for exchange.
“Well, I get the gist of it. Just give me the paper. I must need somewhere to sign, right?”
If only Klisha had known at that time.
If only she had known how much this one signature would multiply due to compound interest, or the significant ripple effects it would create.
That’s why economics and finance should be taught regardless of age.
“What are your plans regarding the collateral?”
“Collateral? But I don’t have anything to entrust?”
Seeing Klisha looking at him with a puzzled expression, Luke slowly turned his gaze out the window.
“Ahem, that horse… isn’t there your hybrid horse?”
“?!”
“We do not inquire about the source of the collateral. Regardless of how you obtained it, if you entrust us with the hybrid horse as collateral, we can offer you an exceptionally low loan interest of at 24%, no, 20% per annum. How about that?”
Klisha was momentarily surprised.
So far, no one had ever recognized that Shukrim was a hybrid horse. Perhaps because they were close to the capital? It seemed like there were quite a few discerning individuals around.
In that case…
Klisha turned her head and gazed out the window at Shukrim, who was lying down dejectedly on the ground, pretending to be asleep. If someone were to find out she had taken him from the capital, it could cause trouble.
Somehow, she recalled her father’s words, telling her not to ride Shukrim out of the territory.
Since the hybrid horses are military horses strictly managed by the state and private ownership was prohibited, if she gets caught with him in the capital, wouldn’t he be taken away?
Therefore, Klisha made a hard decision.
She would just leave him there. It wouldn’t take long to take a trip to the capital, and she could just pick him up on her way back.
“If I leave Shukrim with you, will you provide him with food? He can be quite picky with his food.”
Only then did Luke smile gently and replied.
“Do not fret. We’ll serve him with the best service. Ah!… However, please note that there will be a separate fee for managing the collateral you leave with us.”
Luke’s follow-up remark was so quiet and quick that neither Klisha nor anyone else in the conference room could make it out clearly.
* * *
The young man in context, ‘Toma Ryuiken’, returned to the study in the hidden space on the second floor of the Holdings Headquarters, changed his clothes, and closed his eyes for a moment.
He hadn’t slept properly for several days, having spent the night reviewing ledgers and analyzing incoming information from various sources. On top of that, he was already exhausted from being nagged by a bunch of snakes since early morning, leaving him completely worn out.
‘Huuu.’
The young man covered his face with a small booklet and leaned back on the large sofa covered in buffalo skin, his long legs stretching out as he was lying down. His soft hair was sparkling in the afternoon sunlight.
At that moment.
As usual, the clueless Marian burst opened the study door and entered.
“….”
“Master. The owner of the horse, the young boy, is currently in the conference room on the first floor. Would you like to meet him?”
“….”
As the eyes of the young man emerged as he lowered the book with one hand, they appeared even redder today.
Like the sunset on the Karion Plains.
“You guys really….”
The young man let out a short sigh, covered his eyes with the book again and spoke.
“I’ll take care of it, so get out.”
Marian sauntered back to the conference room and whispered softly in Luke’s ear.
“Master said he doesn’t want to meet today.”
Luke asked with a puzzled look.
“Why?”
Marian tilted her head, thought something and whispered again.
“No idea. He seemed tired and was taking a nap.”
“….”
Luke was momentarily at a loss for words. Who was this complicated and chaotic situation today really for?
He (Tomma) clearly said he wanted to have a natural meeting!
And he (Luke) also created a proper opportunity!
It was truly a challenging task to appease such a difficult master.
* * *
In a large and splendid carriage heading toward the capital.
Klisha received help from Tomma Ryuiken in exchange for Shukrim whom she had left as collateral. The young man with black hair and red eyes, whom she met ‘coincidentally’ on her way out of the Tomma Holdings Headquarters, suggested that she accompany him, saying that he was also heading to the capital.
However, the young man had regretted choosing the carriage more times than he could count since they set off.
“I know a bit about the Archduke of the North. I’m quite the enthusiast. He’s strong and handsome, and above all, he’s exquisite in bed.”
A Northern Archduke enthusiast?
Exquisite?
The young man touched his forehead in regret.
“No, My Lady. Where on earth did you get such information?”
The true identity of Tomma Ryuiken, the ‘Northern Archduke of a Different Country’, no, the Archduke of Servan Empire, ‘Eugene Wigner’, felt his mouth dry, leaving a prickling sensation in his throat at Klisha’s words.
“My Lady. Do you know that the ‘Archduke’ of ‘Northern’ Perza, the lord of Bartier and Serie Mountain in the northeastern part of the Empire, has blonde hair and blue eyes?”
Klisha tilted her head.
“Are you talking about His Highness the Grand Duke of Bartier? I’ve never met him, but what does he have anything to do with me?”
“….”
Eugene stared blankly at Klisha, unable to refute.
Regardless of his expression, Klisha continued to praise the ‘Northern Archuke’ as usual.
Gentle… Cool… Sexy…
Eugene, who had been listening to serious nonsense the whole time, felt a headache coming on.
“Lady. How do you know that ‘Archduke’ is sexy when you’ve never met him before?”
Klisha lifted her head and briefly gazed into Eugene’s red eyes, then lowered her dark almond-shaped eyes and said nonchalantly.
“It’s not that kind of sexy that could be explained.”
“….”
Eugene bit his lower lip without realizing it.
The truth became even more elusive.
