I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

“We will now begin the discussion between the Charnirasho branch and the Vestol branch.”

“…….”

“…….”

An awkward silence fell between Professor Zain and Avantnik, who were facing each other.

It was just as I had expected.

“Count, I certainly said I would apologize, but I never said I would play along with this bastard.”

“Look who's talking.”

As Professor Zain complained to me with a sour look on his face, Avantnik shot back, not to be outdone.

Well, this was more amicable than I had expected.

“If you wanted that, you shouldn't have caused problems in the first place. I have brought you two here as branch heads, so I hope you will approach this with a sense of responsibility.”

The two of them grimaced but didn't grumble any further.

Work isn't always about doing pleasant things, is it?

Work.

The reason we had gathered here, far from the Imperial Capital where negotiations were in full swing, was to handle the affairs of the Eight Council.

The issues between the two nations of Vestol and Charnirasho had been more or less resolved, leaving only detailed and tedious matters, but the problem within the Eight Council had not.

The two branches were still nowhere near an agreement.

“I considered letting you handle it autonomously as you always have, but if I did that, you would just fight until you die, wouldn't you. That's why I had no choice but to intervene.”

“No need to point out what we already know, Count.”

“I'm so glad to hear you were aware of it, Professor.”

After a light jab, I passed the documents to the two of them.

After briefly reading the contents, they both frowned at almost the same time.

“You want us to jointly manage this island? What in the world does this have to do with that guy apologizing?”

“Joint management? Does that mean I have to keep working with these guys who shed fur everywhere?”

“Yes, it's exactly as you've read.”

I had written in the documents that the two branches would jointly manage Sobiyoni Island and distribute the profits jointly as well.

Before they could spit out more complaints, I spoke first.

“First, the matter of the apology is concluded with what is being discussed in the Imperial Capital. There is no need for the branches to give and receive apologies among themselves. After all, aren't you comrades?”

At the word comrades, the branch members who had followed them also began to murmur.

After enjoying the reaction for a moment, I deliberately spoke slowly.

“The reason I brought you two here was to resolve the long-standing conflict between the two branches. It's a separate issue from the burning of the forest.”

“Forcing us together won't make us get along.”

“Do I look naive enough to tell you to build a friendship by managing an island together harmoniously?”

If they were the main characters of a story who disliked each other, they might become friends after bickering for a while, but there was no possibility of that with these two.

They were selfish, calculating, and would not shy away from dirty methods for their grand goals; bastards who were far removed from the word justice.

Appealing to their emotions would be useless.

I had to persuade them with profits they could punch into a calculator.

“What do you think is the most common point of dispute between the Charnirasho branch and the Vestol branch? It's money.”

There's a limit to the funds managed by the Eight Council.

There are places like the Grand Duchy of Leitche that don't borrow from the headquarters, or places like the Eslick Empire and Northern Federation branches that actually make money, but there are also branches that only spend a ton of money.

“That's because those guys waste money on useless things like experimental equipment and whatnots.”

“Useless? Isn't the money you all sprinkle on luxuries more useless?”

Yes, like these bastards.

There were many reasons.

We need better optical equipment, we need funds for maintaining dignity, last month's piracy income was poor, the subsidy from the assembly isn't enough.

Since the two branches took most of the subsidies, disputes over who got more were naturally frequent.

The plea of the Finance Head, who was told to summarize and report on the conflicts between the two branches, said it all.

“There are too many, if I try to organize and send them all, our work will be paralyzed, Lord Valheit.”

They didn't need to be friends, but becoming sworn enemies was not good for the Eight Council, nor for me.

“So the proposal is to create a joint venture company based on this island.”

“A joint what?”

As Avantnik asked, scratching his chin, Professor Zain let out a deep sigh.

“You want me to start a joint venture with bastards who don't even know the meaning of the word. Please tell me you're joking, Count.”

“You can think of it as an organization you've invested in together.”

I quickly cut in before they started growling at each other.

Avantnik snorted, still looking like he didn't understand.

“So what's good about it?”

“With a few tricks, it can be used for money laundering or to handle sensitive matters under the company's name. The key is that it makes securing funds easier.”

“It can't be just that. If that was all, there would be no need to base it on an island.”

If they simply needed a paper company, there was no need to base it on an island.

They could just buy a small plot of unused land and use that as the address.

The reason I specifically chose Sobiyoni Island is because it's an island with the common trope of producing rare minerals.

In the middle of the original work, the protagonist took over the island and made good use of it.

Of course, I had no intention of telling them that directly.

For now, it was just an ambiguous island located between Charnirasho and Vestol.

Even Til, who wasn't very interested in money matters, would be suspicious if I openly said it was buried with a ton of valuable minerals.

To say nothing of these two shrewd individuals.

“It's because our friends in the Northern Federation said they needed a good port of call. It's close to the Empire, Vestol, and Leitche, so isn't it a decent location.”

“That would be a drop in the bucket compared to the money we spend. That young leader may be rich, but he's unlikely to spend money recklessly on something like this.”

“It can also be used to launder the money earned from Charnirasho's industries, so that should be enough to make ends meet.”

“Hmm.”

Professor Zain scanned me with a suspicious gaze.

I smiled as usual and let his gaze slide past me.

“Forget the complicated stuff. So you're saying from now on, instead of asking the headquarters for money, we should earn it ourselves, right?”

“In summary, yes, that would be it.”

“So stingy If it were the Commander, he would have continued to support us generously.”

“Speaking of which have you heard from him, Count?”

Suddenly, the direction of the conversation shifted to the Commander.

I answered honestly with what I knew.

“I don't think he will be back anytime soon.”

“A pity. He would have sorted this situation out well without such games. It seems the Count is clumsy with this sort of thing.”

“Haha, thank you for the compliment. The headquarters will handle the detailed legal procedures. As for you two hmm, please get some rest. You've been so busy lately you haven't had a moment to catch your breath, have you.”

“On this island with nothing on it?”

“Didn't they say we can't set sail today because of the storm anyway. Please take it easy.”

I responded to Avantnik's grumbling with a smile and stood up from my seat.

It was only natural for complaints to arise on an island with no decent facilities.

But both Avantnik and Professor Zain are workaholics.

Soon enough, they'll get restless and start moving on their own.

***

Professor Zain gathered his equipment.

He could take a day off until tomorrow, but just sitting around doing nothing didn't suit his temperament.

He was planning to walk around the island, as if taking a stroll.

Conducting a geological survey, and organizing the flora.

To others, it might seem like he was looking for trouble, but for him, this was relaxation.

“Are you going somewhere?”

At the familiar, irritating voice, the professor clicked his tongue and closed his equipment bag.

“Count Valheit, didn't you tell me to rest.”

“I did. I wasn't interested originally, but seeing you pack all this and that has made me curious.”

“Were you always this interested in others? In my memory, you were much more aloof.”

“People's attitudes are bound to change as they live, aren't they? By the way, if I'm not a bother, would it be alright if I followed you? I'm bored as well.”

“Do as you please. You'd probably stick to me even if I told you not to come.”

Even if he acts annoying, I won't say a single word back.

Professor Zain, who had set out with that resolve, was surprised to find that Valheit said nothing and just followed quietly.

The problem was, he was so quiet that it was rather unnerving.

After walking for a good while, the professor found a decent rock bed and put his hands on his hips.

This seems sufficient to kill time.

“Did you find something?”

“If you have nothing to do, then help me out. Do you know how to use a shovel?”

“I used one a lot back in the day.”

Valheit, who skillfully picked up the shovel, grinned.

He thought it was just something he said, but seeing him shovel, it was no empty boast.

“Where did you learn that? A count and a shovel don't seem to match.”

“I learned it in the army.”

“You were in the army too?”

“Ha, for how many years I've lived, do you think I wouldn't have even gone near the army?”

Thanks to the unexpected help, the sample collection went quite smoothly.

The professor took out a rock fragment from a thin tube and slowly examined its contents.

“Is there anything interesting? Or perhaps something that will make money.”

Valheit, who spoke in a joking tone, chuckled as if his own words were funny.

It was an annoying laugh, but the professor, examining the fragment, paid it no mind.

“Count. Could you go and call a few of those demons who are just absurdly strong.”

“For what reason?”

“I think you were right.”

“Pardon? About something interesting?”

“No, something that will make money.”

A short while later, a strangely excited Avantnik appeared with Valheit.

“You found something that makes money?”

“There was no need to bring this bastard along.”

“It wouldn't be right to bring only the subordinates without the boss, would it?”

“Stop with the boring talk and bring out the money-maker.”

As Avantnik urged, the professor held up a few fragments of red rock.

Avantnik, narrowing his eyes, examined the fragments and then raised his head in surprise.

“This is a Blood Mana Stone.”

“Surprising. I thought for sure you wouldn't know.”

“Hey old man, how many jewels and magical tools do you think I've plundered? Of course, I know.”

“What is that?”

Valheit asked in a very naive tone.

Avantnik and Professor Zain glared at him at the same time.

“You don't know what a Blood Mana Stone is? Weren't you a mage?”

“It's a stone created when natural mana accumulates.”

“It doesn't accumulate, it seeps in. If the pressure is sufficient, it hardens into a sticky red rock form.”

“Because of its color, it's sometimes processed like a gem, and it's also used to store mana. It's a rare one, so it sells for quite a high price.”

“It's sometimes ground up and used like medicine. Of course, its efficacy in this case hasn't been proven. It's also used as a poison, and this effect has been clearly demonstrated.”

As Professor Zain and Avantnik explained, taking turns, Valheit's lips curled up even more.

Only then did the two realize that this damn narrow-eyed man had been testing them.

“You two get along so well.”

“Anyway, the important thing is that it's expensive.”

“Moreover, if it's found near the surface, there's a high possibility that there's more of it below.”

“It seems I've chosen a good place to start a company.”

Valheit glanced around at the gathered people and tilted his head.

“What are you all doing? Don't you want to make money? Start digging.”