Raising the Northern Grand Duchy as a Max-Level All-Master

What does she want now? Marquis Sedes and the imperial delegation were so baffled that, for the first time, they dropped their forced smiles.

“Well then, it seems the discussions about embassies, sovereignty, and the repeal of that law are concluded. Further details can be handled after this audience with the ministers.”

Watching their perplexed expressions, Arina smiled and issued her next command.

“Now, tell me your true purpose.”

As if they already knew.

“…Arad Jin. We wish to discuss Count Arad Jin’s visit to the Empire.”

Following Arina’s command, the deflated imperial delegation reluctantly spoke up.

***

While the imperial delegation was enduring their ordeal at the High Tower, I met with Entir in the reception room of the Arad Corporation.

For reference, Entir’s audience had originally been scheduled for the day after the imperial audience. However, considering my urgency to establish a bank, Arina had kindly adjusted the schedule.

“Are these the individuals?”

I scanned the four people Entir had brought along. Under my gaze, they flinched nervously.

“Yes. They are the result of my efforts and a bit of luck,” Entir replied, smirking slyly like a slave trader flaunting his wares.

“For the record, they are all imperials. I’m unsure how well they’ll adapt here in the North, given the poor perception of imperials…”

Even as he said this, he feigned concern for the four, as if clinging to the last vestiges of his conscience.

“Just give them company uniforms.”

I dispelled their concerns with a single sentence.

“Their names?”

“Baker.”

“Violet.”

“Richard.”

“Holland.”

Two men in their thirties, a woman in her twenties, and an older man in his fifties—it was a modest team.

“Who here has experience in banking?”

In response, Violet and Richard raised their hands.

Naturally, Baker and Holland turned out to have backgrounds in moneylending.

“Both bankers are from reputable institutions in the imperial capital, and even the moneylenders operated in structured, large-scale organizations, not shady back-alley setups,” Entir elaborated, handing me a dossier summarizing their credentials and backgrounds.

‘This feels suspiciously like handling slave documents.’

Suppressing the odd feeling, I reviewed the paperwork.

‘He managed to find talent like this, huh?’

The details of their qualifications made me raise an eyebrow in admiration.

After quickly skimming through the documents, I addressed the four, who were still stiff with tension.

“Whatever you experienced in the Empire no longer matters. From this moment, you are honorary Renslets and will work in the continent’s most advanced financial industry.”

I decided to assign one of them to securities later and kept my introduction brief.

“Director Teo, guide them to their accommodations and allow them a week to acclimate to the North and the company. If necessary, send them to the academy.”

“Understood.”

Since they were talented individuals who needed to be put to use quickly, I handed them off to Theo, who was waiting nearby.

‘Have the Frost Knights and the audit team monitor them regularly.’

Though I accepted them without hesitation, I didn’t lower my guard.

Even if they were Entir’s pick, they could be imperial spies—or even industrial spies planted by Entir himself.

I planned to conduct a thorough investigation during their probationary period, leveraging the Frost Knights of the High Tower and the company’s intelligence team.

Once Director Teo led the imperial financial team away, leaving just Entir and me, he eagerly asked, his eyes gleaming, “So, President Jin, how do you plan to operate the bank?”

He had deliberately dismissed his guards and staff to have this conversation privately.

“Before I answer that, there’s something I’d like to confirm.”

“Of course. Please go ahead.”

“I heard you presented the imperial emperor with steam engines and spinning machines?”

“Haha… Well, the imperial court was pressuring me heavily… And it’s not entirely a bad thing…”

I cut off Entir’s rushed attempt to justify himself.

“You did well.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said, you did well. You aimed to divide the conservatives, didn’t you?”

From my perspective—hoping for the Empire’s steampunk transformation and eventual fragmentation—Entir’s actions were akin to an automated farming bot operating efficiently.

“Oh? Y-Yes! Thank you.”

Entir’s bewildered expression was amusing; he had clearly braced himself for a scolding for acting without prior approval.

The reason he hadn’t consulted me beforehand was obvious. He must have assumed that neither I nor the North would approve.

However, Entir, with his boots on the ground, must have judged that presenting a few of the four great inventions to the emperor was necessary.

This way, the emperor and the conservatives would tear each other apart over the “offering” rather than targeting him or the North.

“As they say, forgiveness is easier than permission.”

“Haha…”

“But.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Stay within your limits. I trust Marquis Entir knows where that boundary lies.”

“O-Of course.”

After subtly reining him in, I returned to our earlier discussion.

“What were we talking about again?”

“You were about to explain how you plan to operate the bank…”

Entir’s voice had grown slightly subdued.

“Ah, yes. That.”

Seeing his renewed composure was satisfying.

“There’s a shortage of silver and gold coins across the continent, isn’t there? Even copper is in short supply.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

When I posed the question, Entir’s eyes sparkled.

“What you’ve pointed out is already a problem, but it’s poised to become an even bigger issue.”

With the Empire’s industrial revolution in its early stages, markets and capital were expanding exponentially.

Demand for gold, silver, and copper coins had skyrocketed, far outpacing what could be mined.

“In fact, some factories in the Empire are paying wages in goods. Bartering is making a comeback among imperial citizens.”

Paying wages in goods might have been a cost-saving measure, but it highlighted the severity of the issue.

‘In the original timeline, the completion of magical engines facilitated a similar industrial revolution. The scarcity of gold, silver, and copper was mitigated by magical constructs mining the resources.’

Unlike the original timeline, this world’s technological trajectory was tangled.

At this rate, a continent-wide economic crisis seemed inevitable.

“There will soon be two types of banks in the North: the Arad Bank and the Renslet Central Bank.”

This forced me to implement what would have normally been launched much later.

“Central Bank? How will it differ from the Arad Bank?”

“There are many differences, but the most significant lies here.”

I revealed my prepared item to Entir.

“This is?!”

The special, high-quality paper featured intricate designs, akin to a masterpiece.

Particularly eye-catching was the portrait of Arina printed on the right side—an artwork more exquisite than most northern heroic paintings.