Peek: Investment Opportunity

Count Schmitty Werber Jager Manjenson the First relaxes in his carriage, swirling a glass of wine in his hand as he muses on the events of the day. He had only attended the supposed funeral on a whim, deciding his territory near Meeting was safe enough for him to take a week or so off. Not that the city-state causes much trouble, but the Principalities and the Holds both like to probe for weaknesses and try to get a foothold in the lucrative crossroads of waterways.

He wouldn't mind getting his own foothold for the kingdom, but his majesty made it clear that conquest was out of the question. While it would certainly be another feather in his cap, the turmoil of claiming it would disrupt the economy on the entire continent. Trying to claim it would also draw the ire of the other two nations that utilize Meeting for their own businesses.

He had hoped a quiet funeral would be a break from the slow tension of ensuring the other two powers from getting an advantage, and while it was, it has also been far more interesting that he was expecting.

He smiles across the carriage at his butler, the halfling looking relaxed, despite the fact Schmitty knows he's keeping a diligent eye out on not only their surroundings, but on whatever needs he may have. "Henry, what did you think of the funeral?"

He takes only a moment to consider his reply. "Livelier than expected, my lord."

Schmitty chortles at that and nods. "Indeed it was. Crashing one's own funeral is quite the bold statement. If not for the other happenings, it would have easily been the highlight of the day."

Henry nods. "I don't think anyone was prepared for that, least of all Paulte."

Schmitty grins into his glass and savors a sip of wine before he answers. "Oh, I daresay not. Even with the schemes he's been suspected of, I don't think even he would be bold enough to deliberately be declared an Oathbreaker and expect to profit from it. It's rare one gets to witness the fall of a house, and rarer still to see it so quickly rise from the ashes."

Henry tilts his head just slightly in confusion. "Rise, my lord?"

He nods. "Oh, I expect it'll be a decade or more before the lad is truly ready to step up, but Rezlar has made enough of an impression on the nobility and the citizenry both that he's not going to be taken down by what his father did. He has connections I'm not sure he even realizes yet."

His butler considers for a few long moments, letting Schmitty enjoy a bit more of his wine before he speaks. "The Inspector to the Crown was there... and he looked pleased," probes Henry, and the Count nods.

"More than that. Fourdock has been prospering this last year, and though I think he was initially dragged along without his input at first, I think he's doing his best to take as much charge as he can and properly guide Fourdock to a golden era. Not to mention he seems to have the backing of possibly two deities."

Henry frowns at that. "You think Order backs him? Who else? The Shield?"

Schmitty chuckles and shakes his head. "The dungeon. He called it Lord Thedeim. Don't make the same mistake Paulte did, Henry. The cathedral was properly sanctified for it, and Order didn't try to overpower that when he branded Paulte. If this Thedeim cooperates with Order, it's something to pay careful attention to."

Henry's frown deepens as he considers that. "I'll ask the Dungeoneers for a full dossier on it once we return home, my lord."

"See that you do. And dispatch a few quests for information on what the delvers and the people think of it, too. I think there could be an excellent opportunity here for me." Henry nods as the Count relaxes into his seat, the conversation over, though he continues to muse and nurse his wine.

He's aware of Paulte's schemes with several different markets, though he couldn't prove much. After the funeral, those schemes are as dead as his son was supposed to be, and there's no hope for them to survive. He'll send out feelers, see if there's anything for him to gain by being a vulture for that particular corpse.

But he thinks the better option will be to invest in Fourdock and in Rezlar. Paulte was always one to either own something, or destroy it so no one else could have it. It's no wonder he was never even considered for a post like Schmitty's. He'd either raze Meeting, or annex it.

He never could understand what a mutually beneficial relationship was. All the better opportunity for Schmitty. The crown is investing in the infrastructure, to ensure the road to Fourdock is safe and stable, but the nation doesn't invest in business.

But Schmitty isn't the nation. He smiles around his wineglass as he goes over his finances, mentally juggling his money. He doesn't need to own the boom of Fourdock to get richer from it. He just needs to hitch his wagon to it, and make sure it continues along.

Maybe by the time Rezlar becomes an Earl in his own right, the crown will be willing to create a more direct road from there to Meeting, through his own Greenvale, of course.

He hums to himself as he idly makes plans, already eager to get more information so he can solidify them quickly. After that funeral, he seriously doubts he's the only noble considering investing in Fourdock.