The Lord Just Wants to Have Fun

Anyone with wealth tends to care about their health.

This was no different for the nobles and wealthy merchants of Laterran.

The problem was that healers with exceptional abilities—whether mages or clerics—were scarce and expensive to hire.

But what if there was a hot spring with healing properties?

“This could be another major source of income for the territory—just like the Zippo lighters. Of course, I’ll personally come here to enjoy it too! Hehehe!”

To make that happen, renovations were necessary. The villa needed an upgrade, and the roads leading to the village had to be properly maintained.

Philip dispatched a messenger back to his castle, instructing them to repair the hot spring facilities and bring workers to manage the villa.

Seeing all these sudden changes, the village chief became visibly anxious.

“Your Lordship… Are we being evicted from our village?”

“We’re simply developing the area to match a hot spring resort. I’ll ensure that you and your people can continue using the hot spring, so there’s no need to worry.”

“T-Thank you, my lord!”

Relieved, the village chief fell to his knees, expressing his deep gratitude.

******

Campania, a free trade city bordering the Feios Sea, had been flourishing for over 2,000 years—since the First Divine Era, during the time of the Elkanos Empire.

“With all the trade routes linking the Southern and Eastern Continents, this city has become a hub of immense wealth. There are over five major trading companies here, along with more than twenty smaller ones.”

At the city gates, Philip presented his aristocratic seal from the Arteria Kingdom, allowing him entry.

Inside, a bustling cityscape unfolded before him.

The streets were teeming with diverse people—barbarian warriors from the Southern Continent, scholars from the Eastern Continent, and even members of various non-human races, including elves, dwarves, and catfolk.

“I had heard the rumors, but I never imagined there’d be this many people,” Helen remarked.

“Well, it’s a free trade city. Of course, it’s going to be this prosperous,” Philip replied.

His bodyguard, Terry, who had never visited Campania before, was in awe, taking in the sights.

Meanwhile, Philip—who had seen far grander cities on Earth—remained unmoved.

“So, where exactly is the Callisto Trading Company?” he asked.

“I know the location,” Helen answered.

Following her lead, they soon arrived at a massive five-story building.

“This must be the Callisto Trading Company’s headquarters,” Philip noted.

“It’s definitely the largest building in the area,” Terry added.

The Callisto Trading Company’s influence was evident.

Their main building was nearly the size of a fortress, with multiple auxiliary structures, including warehouses, docks for loading and unloading goods, and administrative offices.

At the main entrance, Helen approached the mercenary guards and stated their business.

Before long, Delpharos, the company’s branch manager, hurried out barefoot, his face full of excitement.

“My Lord! If only you had sent word ahead, I would have prepared a proper welcome!”

“I didn’t come here to be entertained,” Philip said casually. “I have business—I need to buy some goods and also propose a trade deal.”

“Ah, I see! Well then, please, come inside!”

Philip’s group was led to Delpharos’ office, where he served them an exotic tea imported from the Eastern Continent.

The aroma was oddly familiar to Philip.

“Wait… is this ginseng?”

“Indeed, my lord! I’m surprised you recognized it. Ginseng is an extremely rare and valuable medicinal herb in the Eastern Continent. Its strong flavor and potent properties make it highly sought after.”

The fact that Delpharos was serving such a luxurious tea suggested that he held Philip in high regard.

And it wasn’t hard to guess why.

“Thanks to the silver refining method you provided, I received high praise from the company’s higher-ups!” Delpharos said, beaming.

The Callisto Trading Company, recognizing the value of Philip’s silver refinement process, had immediately established a smelting workshop, generating massive profits.

As a result, Delpharos was slated for promotion.

“That makes sense.”

Understanding Delpharos’ enthusiasm, Philip gave a small nod.

“But my lord,” Delpharos continued, “you mentioned a trade deal. What product are you looking to sell?”

Philip opened a wooden box and pulled out a Zippo lighter, placing it on the table.

“This.”

Delpharos picked it up, sniffed the object, and frowned.

“I smell oil… What exactly is this?”

Philip grinned.

“It’s a device that allows you to easily create fire.”

Philip flipped open the lid of the Zippo lighter and struck the flint.

A steady flame appeared instantly—and, unlike a simple match, it did not go out.

Delpharos’ eyes gleamed with interest as he observed the flame.

“There’s no trace of magic or elemental energy in this… So it’s not an enchanted item?”

“This is an invention of mine, created through Eldir’s blessing.”

“As expected of an Apostle! This is an incredible device! So, how much do you intend to sell it for?”

“I was thinking 20 Dalant per unit.”

20 Dalant was by no means cheap, but it was affordable for nobles and wealthy commoners.

Moreover, anyone who needed to carefully manage fire, such as ship captains, would find it extremely useful.

“I’ve heard that maintaining a flame on a merchant vessel is quite a hassle,” Philip remarked.

“Yes, if not handled carefully, a fire could break out, and even when a flame is needed, it’s often difficult to ignite due to humidity.”

“Exactly. But with this, fire can be safely and conveniently controlled.”

“Hmm… I see why shipowners would be interested in this. But 20 Dalant per unit is a bit too high. Considering distribution costs, how about 10 Dalant instead?”

Philip immediately stood up, showing no hesitation.

“If that price is too much for you, then I’ll simply find another trading company.”

Startled, Delpharos quickly stopped him.

“Haha! Why are you in such a hurry, my lord? Negotiation is part of the game! How about 15 Dalant?”

“20 Dalant.”

“That price leaves almost no profit margin for us! 18 Dalant, then?”

“20 Dalant.”

Philip’s unwavering stance left Delpharos no choice but to surrender.

“…Fine. We’ll take it at 20 Dalant per unit.”

“What kind of noble is this good at haggling…?”

Unlike most lords, who cared more about prestige than profit, Philip was practical and shrewd—a fact that left Delpharos both baffled and impressed.

“How many units can you produce per month?” Delpharos asked.

“I plan to start with 900 units.”

“Excellent! I’ll buy all of them right now. And from now on, you don’t need to personally deliver them—just summon me, and I’ll come to you.”

“Fine by me.”

Philip shrugged nonchalantly, then got to the real reason he was here.

“Oh, and I’d like to withdraw 1,000,000 Dalant from my deposit.”

Aside from the supplies he originally intended to purchase, he also needed luxury furniture and decorations to renovate the hot spring villa.

Furthermore, Helen had calculated that developing the village and hot spring into a proper tourist destination would require significant investment.

“What could he possibly be planning…?”

Delpharos was curious but knew better than to pry.

After all, Philip—an Apostle of Eldir—was turning into one of his most valuable clients.

“I’ll have the funds prepared immediately. Do you require anything else?”

“Yes. Recommend a good inn. I plan to stay in the city for a few days.”

“Would you like a personal guide as well?”

“No need. Helen is familiar with the city.”

Shortly after, Philip received his 1,000,000 Dalant, and with Helen leading the way, he set off to explore Campania.

Though small compared to modern cities on Earth, Campania was rich in historical charm, making it fascinating to Philip—who was both a military history buff and a ship enthusiast.

His first destination?

The harbor, where merchant vessels were docked.

“This one looks similar to a Carrack… Oh! That’s a trireme galley!”

Philip’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he inspected the ships, admiring their design and craftsmanship.

Helen, noticing his keen interest, asked,

“My lord, would you like to board one of the ships?”

“Can we?”

“With enough money, anything is possible.”

Without hesitation, she approached a ship captain, discreetly slipped him a pouch of coins, and within moments, their group was invited aboard.

This was a rare opportunity for Philip.

Back on Earth, he had only been able to admire these ships through models and photographs—but now, he could examine them up close.

He eagerly studied the ship’s structure, how the sails were maneuvered, and even what provisions the crew stored for long voyages.

Terry, however, was puzzled by his enthusiasm.

“My lord… Is it really necessary to inspect all of this?”

Terry, bored from the ship inspection, couldn’t help but voice his disinterest.

Philip, however, replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“I have to inspect them. We’ll be building ships like these someday.”

“Wait… You’re planning to build ships this large?”

“That’s right. Not immediately, but eventually…”

The Baron Brandel family’s territory was landlocked—it had no direct access to the sea.

To Terry, Philip’s words sounded like an ambition to seize coastal land in the future.

“Our lord once invested in a merchant fleet and failed… Could he be planning to build his own ships and enter trade directly?”

Perhaps Philip’s visit to Campania wasn’t just for leisure.

Realizing this, Terry’s attitude shifted.

If his lord had such grand aspirations, then it was his duty as a knight to learn and prepare accordingly.

With renewed focus, he began closely observing the ships—determined to support his lord’s future endeavors.

“Alright, we’ve seen enough ships. Let’s head to the grain market.”

Being near the harbor, the market was filled with various grains—wheat, rye, barley, and most importantly, rice.

Philip carefully examined the different varieties.

“There are quite a few types.”

“Yes,” Helen explained. “They vary in size, color, and texture. I recommend this Matibas variety—it’s a high-quality grain favored by nobles.”

Helen’s father had been a grain merchant, so she was quite knowledgeable.

Matibas was considered premium rice, light and fluffy when cooked.

However, Philip shook his head.

“I prefer this one.”

“That’s Loscal rice. It’s small and sticky, and the texture isn’t great.”

“That’s exactly why I like it.”

As a former Korean, Philip naturally preferred short-grain rice over long-grain Indica varieties.

Without hesitation, he purchased Loscal rice in bulk.

Thanks to Helen’s knowledge of grain prices, he managed to avoid being overcharged.

Even after buying rice, Philip continued browsing the market—until he spotted something that made his eyes widen in shock.

“No way… This is…!”

On display at one of the stalls were soybeans and peanuts.

It was as if he had discovered an oasis in a desert.

Helen, noticing his astonished expression, looked at the unfamiliar beans.

“I’ve never seen this kind of bean before… My lord, do you recognize these?”

“Uh, well… I saw a professor experimenting with them back at the academy.”

Since Helen—who had grown up around grain merchants—was unfamiliar with them, it was clear that soybeans and peanuts were virtually unknown in Arteria.

Before Philip could ask more questions, the shopkeeper eagerly stepped forward.

“My lord, are you interested in these beans? If so, you should try planting them! They come from the Eastern Continent, and they make excellent feed for warhorses and pigs.”

“Wait… They’re used as animal feed? People don’t eat them?”

“Well… they can be eaten, but…” The merchant hesitated. “I suppose with the current famine, some people might resort to it.”

Peas and chickpeas were already cultivated in Laterran, but due to their earthy taste, they were not popular as staple food—even among commoners.

In fact, in some regions, prisoners were fed bean porridge as punishment.

“So they don’t realize how valuable these crops are yet.”

Philip’s mind raced.

Soybeans could be used to make fermented soybean paste, soy sauce, tofu, and bean sprouts.

Peanuts could be processed into peanut butter, oil, and even soap.

On top of that, both crops were excellent for soil enrichment, and peanuts were particularly drought-resistant.

He knew all this because he had watched his grandfather grow them back in his childhood village.

“I’ll take a large quantity of these.”

“Hehe! Thank you, my lord!”

“Do you have any other crops from foreign lands?”

“Hmm… Let’s see… We have some Tooth Beans in stock.”

“Tooth Beans?”

Philip tilted his head in confusion.

Before he could ask further, Helen suddenly gasped, her voice rising in alarm.

“My lord, absolutely not!”