A Famous Traitor and Treacherous Genius

238 – Sinners of History Shining With Gold (1)

One of the Counts of the Kingdom of Nostrum, Count Penelope Historia, looked around while fiddling with her mask.

No matter how much I look at it, no matter how I look at it this way or that way, there is only one thing that comes to mind.

‘Master Cheonji.’

Most of the masters gathered on the continent are gathered.

Although it is said to be a mining license auction disguised as a masquerade ball, and although they wield gold instead of swords and aurors, famous masters from across the continent are gathered here.

Starting with the Grand Duke of Winchester, Mente Rift, whose name has recently become widely known, and Marquis Claydoll from the Empire.

‘Gray Gibraltar, Robert Seville, Falwood Roland, Hex Romana, Erwin Aiferia Thersian. There were rumors that they were all master level, and they actually proved it to some extent.’

Penelope doesn’t know the details, but if you include the supposed ‘masters’ floating around in social circles and the back world, it is no exaggeration to say that masters from all over the continent are actually gathered here.

Even though other people don’t seem to notice, Penelope vaguely knows who the man behind her is who she briefly greeted while passing by.

‘Kvers. Levsk. No. I simply changed the order. Sberg.’

Sum.

‘Why is the Habsburg von Tersian Emperor here?’

Is it okay for even the emperor to appear under an assumed name at an auction held at a villa in Barcelona?

So I thought.

Perhaps this is a golden place where equal opportunities are given to everyone based on everything built up based on existing power, family, and skills.

Each person’s accumulated assets and life trajectory may be different before stepping onto the stage of the duel, and the amount of assets in one’s pocket upon arrival may be different, but at least the opportunity for choice and investment is open to everyone.

Penelope may compete with Queen Carmen for area C3, and the Count of Sirene may take up area E2, which no one is interested in.

Golden War.

Penelope felt a chill down her spine just because she was seeing with her own eyes the bloody auction of this historical confrontation, where everyone was either enslaved to gold, or was seduced by non-existent gold and tried to use it.

‘I did a good job persuading my brother to buy one for each person. He received a VIP invitation.

I bought an inspection unit.

Thanks to the fairly expensive purchase, I received an invitation from the Marchioness of Gibraltar.

‘In addition, I bought invitations cheaply from people who did not know the value of the invitations and took out insurance on them. I don’t think it’s just me.’

I also bought an invitation.

After realizing that among the people at the social club run by Penelope, only the owner of the richest company had received an invitation, she took the invitation from the owner, who did not realize the meaning of the invitation, and passed it on to her subordinate.

We decided to invite only those who were financially capable of at least developing a gold mine.

What are you trying to create?

Crimson Golden Statue of the Marquis of Gibraltar?

A golden statue of a couple holding hands?

A villa made of gold?

Or Orosol Academy, shining brightly in gold?

When she found out that people from the empire were being invited, she thought, ‘Is this a traitorous act of selling the land of Nostrum to the empire?’, But when she saw this banquet hall completely filled with black, she realized.

This golden war is about investment, analysis, and gambling where capital clashes with capital.

“Before I knew it, half of it was gone.”

As soon as Viscount Hex Romana spoke, about half of the map turned black.

Most of the areas that some had analyzed as valuable land disappeared, and the gold mine that was said to be secretly operated by the Marquis de Barcel was transferred to Roland after a fierce battle between executives of Nostrum.

“This is the remaining area. Is there a gold mine here or not? Only the founder of Nostrum knows that. Still, if you want to buy the mining rights, I will not stop you.”

Is it mocking, or is it warning?

To those who invest and then get kicked in the face, it will be remembered as a mockery in the future, and to those who did not invest and saw others fail, it will be remembered as a serious warning given in an indirect way.＜ Br＞

In the end, only the result determines whether the current choice is right or wrong.

Penelope has never bought land yet.

I joined the competition to buy gold mining rights and development rights, but I started to understand a certain trend when the auction was about halfway through.

‘It looks like a simple auction, but in reality, it is a self-made drama to catch a lucky charm.’

Penelope saw.

‘Lands that are worthless even if developed are given to idiots loyal to the royal family, lands that may or may not yet hit the jackpot are given to wealthy individuals who have paid a lot of money, and lands that will truly increase in value after development are given to close acquaintances. ‘

At first glance, it looks like they are simply throwing away imperial-style lottery tickets before scratching them.

No one knows whether there will be a ‘clamp’ coated with stone powder or a ‘gold vein’ sprinkled with gold dust underneath the lottery ticket, and the Count of Sirene is busy buying lottery tickets that have not yet been scratched.

Morgania also jumped in here and there to secure more lottery tickets than expected.

It seemed like he had spent more money than he expected as he was competing with merchants and nobles from the empire, but he didn’t seem very confident in purchasing the land.

‘Right now, there are some hunting dogs that are just looking for the land that Morgania is trying to buy, so it looks like she’s not buying good land properly.’

Penelope thought.

Which land is the best?

If you don’t know that, you can actively go into places where Gray Gibraltar officials or insiders are buying.

In particular, I think the success rate would be quite high if we purchase a place that the Morganians, who can be said to be Gray Gibraltar’s political backers, are interested in, as they can avoid legal problems in selling mining rights.

‘I’m not the only one who thought that.’

Led by the Count of Sirene, those who did not know much about the land of Barcelona but knew the relationship between the party organizers and those involved were extremely attached to Morgania.

It was like an insect that sticks its snout into a tree and sucks the sap.

And even though Penelope was far away, she came here to lick the honey-like sap that flowed like gold.

“Ah. Next area. A1. Area A1.”

“Here.”

As soon as the designated area on the map flashed, a girlish woman in a black dress immediately held up a sign.

And then it didn’t get off.

Penelope pretended to raise her sign and tried to raise the price, but the woman instead raised her sign higher and held her head up firmly.

If you want to come in, come in.

However, no matter how much it costs, I will buy it unconditionally.

As those eyes filled with determination flashed to those around them, some people muttered in silence at the location of the sales area.

The area closest to the Marquess of Gibraltar.

A place known to be home to ‘Caroline Castle’, where Crimson Gibraltar is said to be staying in the distance.

Not everyone holds up signs.

Even if you are crazy about money, there is bound to be a place among the 64 districts where you are convinced that ‘this is not the place.’

“Do you have any more? If not… No. I will continue. Yes, continue… It looks like there is no more now. Okay. I will confirm it after three windows.”

Penelope was sick of seeing people who wouldn’t buy anything deliberately raise the price to drain the woman’s funds, but on the other hand, she thought that such a woman was also very cruel.

Anyone can see on the map that it’s an area that says ‘this is trash land’.

An area that doesn’t seem to contain gold.

Or, even if development is attempted, development will fail midway due to ‘civil complaints’ from the surrounding area.

No one would want to engage in noisy construction in Crimson Gibraltar’s backyard.

Even more so-

“The next area is C8. Area C8. Coincidentally, it is also the area closest to the Government General.”

Especially if it is the front yard of the host of this banquet, Governor Gray of Gibraltar.

“Hey, are you okay, Governor?”

“Ah. Don’t worry about me, just keep going. If it sells, you sell it. If it doesn’t sell, you don’t.”

How to do it.

Some people shook their heads as if they had noticed Gray Gibraltar’s words, but Penelope felt his hand itching for some reason.

Because Gray Gibraltar noticed?

Are you afraid that people who are buying mining rights to ruin Gray Gibraltar will come out?

There hasn’t been anyone like that yet…

“I bought it.”

As soon as she first heard the voice of the man holding the sign behind her, Penelope held up the sign.

“Me.”

“…”

Penelope felt a stinging gaze from behind, but she turned her head and responded with a short mouth movement.

What.

This is the golden battlefield prepared by Gray Gibraltar.

There is nothing you can do if you are out of money, but since you are choosing the auction method, if you give up, the land becomes yours.

“…More.”

“Put it on and immediately double it.”

“…Hey, girl. Do you really need to go that far?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“That’s right.”

Penelope was sure.

“Because the shape of the land was pretty. I thought it would be perfect to build a villa.”

“…”

The land this man wants is the land that seems worthless, but is the most valuable land.

“It’s fun.”

The man obediently took down the sign.

Although the back of her head her her stung, Penelope held the sign high until the end, despite receiving attention from others.

Land, land, land.

At the sound of the progress stick, Penelope was convinced.

Even if he was killed, he bought the most valuable land.

And even if that is not the case, the place where the most money will be made in the next decades or hundreds of years is right there, the front yard of the Government General Building, where no one is likely to buy it.

“…”

The back of Penelope’s head her stung, but she couldn’t look forward.

“Hey.”

Gray Gibraltar was looking at him and smiling, as if he had discovered something interesting.

Ah.

Did I touch it wrong…?

* * *

Time to take a break.

“I thought it wasn’t, but it was Master Resel.”

I went into the room to take a short break and looked at the sold land and customer list.

‘Penelope Historia. As a member of the Count Historia family, he comes from a family of historians for generations, but he is a person who can smell the smell of money.’

I was aware of it, but I never thought I would have touched the most dangerous ground.

Penelope suddenly pops out, and the C8 area purchased by ‘Master Liesel’, one of the empire’s economic criminals, is-

From noble mtl dot come

“…It will be written that entry is prohibited except for authorized personnel.”

“Between us.”

The man who opened the door so confidently sat down in front of me.

“This is what happened.”

“Why did you want to buy my front yard?”

“It’s the same reason why Queen Carmen bought the backyard of Gibraltar for several times the market price.”

The emperor raised his thumb towards me.

Judging from the way he crosses his legs, it looks like he has no intention of just leaving.

“To avoid plowing the land.”

“…”

“Everyone buys land to dig up gold mines, but some people buy land to prevent it from being developed. If you turn the land over, throw away dirt, and make vibrations, you could offend the Sword Master.”

“Like Queen Carmen, you can appeal by saying, ‘I bought this land for you.'”

I glared at the emperor.

“I believe that is not your purpose.”

“Grey Gibraltar and Astasia von Tersian were trying to buy the front yard to create a park so they could stay comfortably at the Government House. What if that was their intention?”

“…”

The eyes were so sincere that I almost felt nauseous for a moment.

“What was her name? Penelope Historia, right?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Do you know your age?”

“20 years old. Single.”

“Oh, I know.”

“I know.”

Because she is a woman I met during my time at the academy.

When her father ordered me to seduce Countess Historia, she said it was a woman I had touched once when I was in first grade.

She was one of the economic criminals who spread ‘reselling’ throughout the empire in the name of taking revenge on me, but her sense of where money was made was clear.

“Why? Do you want to ‘collect’?”

“Collecting? I’ve discovered high-quality soil for nurturing talented people, so can I just pass it up?”

“The quality is good.”

“Huh. So you’re saying that you checked it yourself?”

“It was a story about talent.”

I lightly drank somnus tea in a wine glass.

“Isn’t it okay to buy it no matter how much it costs?”

“Why?”

“Of course, it is an area that was cut out thinking that the Habsburg emperor would live there.”

“Why?”

“Why does someone you know say that?”

Hehe.”

The Habsburg Emperor smiled leisurely and lightly lifted his empty wine glass.

“Drink your glass. So, what do you think I want to say?”

“Even if there is gold, the right answer is not to dig it up.”

“That’s accurate.”

Ta-da

“Gold is infinite and will never run out. If necessary, it will be dug up. That will maintain the value of gold.”

The emperor clinked his glass against mine.

“What really makes money is…”

“Develop the land and build something on it.”

The emperor’s smile deepens.

“What are you trying to build?”

“Well, should we build a new city on empty land with everything implemented in the imperial style?”

“It would take a lot of money to build an entire city in imperial style, right?”

“He will come in.”

I made a castle-like shape with my hands.

A castle that doesn’t exist yet.

“If gold mines, which may exist, are selling so well, then why shouldn’t residential houses that haven’t even been built yet sold?”

“…”

“You can guarantee it in the name of Gibraltar.”

Inspection, inspection, and mining rights.

In the end, it’s selling something that doesn’t exist yet.

“We have already made our architectural capabilities known widely by building Caroline Castle. All we have to do is build dozens of castles like Caroline Castle, split the interior of the castle into hundreds or thousands and sell ownership to one family.”

I haven’t even thought about building it yet.

“If you give me the money, I will build it for you. Shouldn’t there be at least a separate palace for the Habsburgs in Nostrum?”

Isn’t it possible to sell off buildings that haven’t even been built?

“Mining was permitted, but development is another story.”

I have given permission to dig and plow the land, but I have not yet given permission to build anything new on the land.