Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 320 - Strengthening the Territory (2)

Before Ethan arrived.

The members of the three families who had come to Count Whiskers’ territory were greatly surprised as soon as they arrived at the market where Ethan had asked to meet.

They were so shocked that they even forgot their intentions to check each other upon realizing Ethan hadn’t summoned only them. The scale of Count Whiskers’ market was that overwhelming.

Some had seen branches established in their own family territories, but Count Whiskers’ market was astonishing even to them.

“Wow, is this really the scale of a territory’s market?”

“This is the first time I’ve seen a market of this size. I can’t believe it’s so controlled even with so many people.”

“It’s grown even bigger than when I came last time?”

Count Whiskers’ market had grown much larger than before.

There were many people before, but now there were so many people gathered that it was difficult to even count them.

The markets in the territories ruled by the Twelve Families were also quite large, but it was hard to believe this market was operated by the Whiskers family, who had just become one of the Twelve Families.

“At this scale, management itself must be difficult.”

There were also a great many people who looked like nobles, along with the entourages they had brought.

Among them, there would surely be some who act as if they were in their own territory, so problems arising would be natural.

But there was no commotion in the market, just a throng of people.

“Hmm.”

Despite the large number of people, it was being controlled quite orderly.

“Are the visitors showing consideration for each other?”

“Come out! I said come out! I’ve come to buy goods from the dyeing workshop by order of Count Kubit!”

However, no sooner had they spoken than a loud voice rang out.

It was a commotion in front of the dyeing workshop.

Upon going to the front to check, they saw a man in quite luxurious attire shouting at the people standing in front to move aside.

“Count Kubit?”

“Which count is causing this commotion now?”

“Do you not know where this is!?”

“If you want to buy quickly, you have to line up! If not, you can’t buy!”

“If you’re going to cause more of a disturbance, get lost to the back!”

Several knights holding swords walked out in front of the knight under Count Kubit who was causing the disturbance.

“That’s the rule here. If you won’t follow the rules, I’ll cut you down. I came today to buy a cyan dye scroll. If the workshop closes because of your disturbance, you’ll have to take responsibility.”

Those knights were wearing quite luxurious colored armor, and judging by their behavior, they seemed to be long-time customers of this place.

Shaaaa-.

As several knights who had dyed their armor exuded their aura, Count Kubit’s knight couldn’t muster up the courage to stand tall.

“I see. So that’s how they encourage visitors to maintain order among themselves.”

“But no matter what, it wouldn’t be easy to step up like that…”

While everyone else couldn’t understand, the mages of Prochet could.

“They’ve been enchanted by that dye magic.”

“To be able to create such colors with magic, it’s admirable.”

Both the Ramsdale territory and the Felix territory surely had specialties that could only be purchased in each family’s territory.

But there were no fanatics showing such extreme reactions.

Those curious about the dyeing workshop’s goods went forward to check.

“So this is it. Wow, the colors… Just how many types are there?”

The mages of Prochet’s eyes went wide. An uncountable number of dye scrolls were being sold.

Just from what they could see, there seemed to be more colors than they thought existed in the world.

“With such a large floating population and an active market…”

“It can grow quickly.”

The members of Duke Felix’s family realized why Ethan had called them here, and why the Duke had allowed it.

“Wait, but those people… Aren’t they mages from Tschernkastel?”

One of Duke Felix’s mages recognized the mages from Tschernkastel.

They were sweating as they drew magic circles or installed artifacts here and there in the market.

“You’ve all arrived.”

Ethan approached those gathered.

“Ah, Count Ethan!”

“Hello!”

“Ah! To come personally when you must be in the middle of the semester, I’m touched.”

Those invited by Ethan greeted him respectfully.

Ethan was no longer just a promising young man as before.

He was now a member of the new Twelve Families and a key figure leading the Whiskers family, which could be seen as a supernova.

“Um, Count? Those people seem to be mages from the Tschernkastel family…”

Ethan nodded in affirmation.

“Through close consultation with the Tschernkastel family, the mages have been dispatched. We have a mutually beneficial relationship.”

There had certainly been news that Chancellor Tschernkastel, who was said to effectively lead the Holy Empire, had fallen ill with a fatal disease.

Many people had directly confirmed that it wasn’t just a rumor. There were even those who had cooperated when Brandon Tschernkastel, one of the heirs of the Chancellor’s family, called for renowned healers.

It was said that even the Royal Gwyn from the imperial palace had been dispatched. But since Chancellor Tschernkastel himself kept refusing treatment and was only receiving minimal life-sustaining care, there was widespread talk that Chancellor Tschernkastel would die soon.

So to hear that they had a mutually beneficial relationship with the Tschernkastel family, they couldn’t help but be surprised.

“You’ve all come early. We’re really receiving a lot of help.”

At those words, everyone looked at each other.

It meant that not only the Felix and Ramsdale families, but even the Tschernkastel family was cooperating with the Whiskers family.

In effect, it meant that the majority of the Holy Empire’s Twelve Families had formed close relationships with the Whiskers family.

There were two families that hadn’t yet formed special relationships with the Whiskers family.

Marquis Scriabin’s family.

Marquis Equis’s family.

“Duke Yellowd will also be joining us in this matter. As I haven’t met him yet, I plan to visit him personally, so his joining will be slightly delayed.”

Duke Yellowd had a good impression of Ethan because of his favorite disciple, Mason.

After all, he had been greatly impressed by Ethan during the parent observation day at the academy.

Then the only one left was the Hyde family.

“I heard that… you’re also close with Teacher Claudie Hyde at Ivecar Academy.”

The man who came as the representative of Duke Felix raised his hand and asked.

“Ah, Teacher Claudie is a good colleague from whom there’s much to learn.”

At Ethan’s words, everyone realized.

Of the eight Twelve Families in the Holy Empire.

All except two families, Marquis Scriabin’s family and Marquis Equis’s family, were connected to the Whiskers family.

And with considerable bond and trust.

This was a trend. The Whiskers family that had leaped into the mainstream of the Holy Empire. The trend created by Ethan, who leads that family.

Such a trend shouldn’t be resisted.

‘But these are people who fundamentally have resistance. They’re not the type to just go along with the trend I’m creating.’

So he had to show them.

‘Why they should go along.’

And what the reason is for going along.

Ethan guided the guests across the market to the newly expanded and developing area.

Bang-! Bang-! Bang-!

That place was quite noisy.

Materials were being moved in all directions, and buildings were rising on both sides.

“This is the place.”

“Count, this is…?”

“The market over there is the 1st market, and this will be the 2nd market.”

Ethan was determined to definitively expand this massive market, the specialty of Count Whiskers’ territory.

With the installation of the magic fortress, Count Whiskers’ territory is growing incomparably larger than before.

Since the magic fortress was installed with the intention of further expanding the territory in the first place, they couldn’t move half-heartedly.

As a result, this market also needed to change.

“Our Count Whiskers’ territory is rapidly expanding with the installation of the magic fortress. Originally, the 1st market over there was slightly below the center of the Whiskers territory, but as the territory greatly expands, this area with the 2nd market will become the center of our Whiskers.”

Certainly, the refined 1st market and the newly created 2nd market will become the center of Whiskers, and countless people will visit this place.

“The 1st market has already formed a definite structure as a workshop street. You saw it on your way here. There are so many people that you have to line up. The order resulting from this is maintained by the visitors themselves, but.”

This won’t last long.

“The visitors might take the initiative to maintain order once or twice, but if the same thing happens several times, they’re bound to get tired. At the same time, they’re also guests who have come to visit our Whiskers, yet they’re maintaining the territory’s order. There will be a slight, but growing, reluctance to visit our Whiskers.”

And that resistance will reduce visits from ten times to nine.

“It’s the first step of a vicious cycle. That’s why I planned the 2nd market. This 2nd market is not simply expanding the workshops on a larger scale. In the 1st market, besides our Ethan Workshop, various workshops and restaurants form a symbiotic relationship. Visitors who come to Ethan Workshop drop by other workshops and use the restaurants.”

‘It’s the trickle-down effect. People who visit Ethan Workshop don’t just use Ethan Workshop and go back. They additionally visit many nearby stores.’

Those who come to the workshop use all the facilities in the market.

This means that the entire market can grow together with Ethan Workshop.

‘Ethan Workshop increases the overall pie of the Whiskers market and leads its standard.’

But now there are no other renowned workshops in the Whiskers market besides Ethan Workshop. Of course, this was intentionally arranged by Ethan.

‘Now there’s no need for that. Rather, it’s better to increase the number of other renowned workshops. Since we’ve sharply raised the value of the Whiskers family’s territory and market with Ethan Workshop. The next impact is branch offices of reputable workshops.’

Now that Ethan Workshop has firmly established itself, it won’t be pushed back no matter what famous workshop enters. Rather, there’s a high possibility of creating synergy with each other.

That’s why Ethan called these people.

They are the ones who can establish renowned workshops in the Whiskers market with the powerful name value of the Twelve Families and bring in items that can stimulate people’s desire to buy.

‘Making them invest in our territory.’

Of course, on the surface, it looked more like Ethan was allowing them to invest.

‘If they invest in the Whiskers market, they’ll have to send at least a minimal force here.’

Additionally, if something happens, they can send more troops under the pretext of protecting those they’ve dispatched here.

‘It’s going beyond a good relationship to form a contractual or cooperative relationship.’

As an even more definite justification is created, a double defense system is formed even if attacked.

‘An empty house is the most dangerous. So I have to assume situations where I’m not in the territory.’

Although Ethan has Wind Cloud, an overwhelming movement technique, it’s not omnipotent.

‘Wind Cloud has been blocked before. There could be cases where I can’t move with Wind Cloud.’

What if the Whiskers territory is attacked while Ethan is held back?

Ethan would have no choice but to helplessly give up the territory.

‘That can’t happen.’

He makes whatever preparations he can.

Even if it’s excessive.

What’s the point of regretting and thinking you’ll do better next time after you’re dead?

“I plan to make the 2nd market the same way. So that those who visit this market can buy specialties from the Felix, Ramsdale, and Prochet families. Furthermore, to form a huge economic community.”

“…Count.”

At that moment, one of the Felix representatives raised his hand.

“I understand that the entry conditions are very generous. If we enter, Ethan Workshop’s pie might shrink and its influence might also decrease. In my opinion, it would be better to increase the size of Ethan Workshop in the 2nd market to spread the population within the market.”

It was a fair point.

But Ethan shook his head.

“To be honest, I’m not an excellent merchant. If it were for maximizing profits, as you said, I could just establish a branch of Ethan Workshop in the 2nd market and expand its scale. But that’s looking too far ahead.”

You shouldn’t just gain one thing, but should be able to gain multiple things from one action.

“I’m looking at something else. Community, moving forward together. For that, I can share profits as much as needed.”

Ethan said.

“Fairly.”

Everyone had to remain silent at the words of sharing fairly. The people dispatched here were those who didn’t believe in sweet words like fairness or distribution.

Profit creates trust. That was the basics of business.

“I don’t intend to just use pretty words. You can start here in this 2nd market. Then you’ll easily know whether my words are true or false.”

Ethan said with a smile.

“I look forward to the 2nd market.”