Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

"Dear Guest, you have a visitor. Do you want me to bring them in?" One of the hotel staff gently knocked on the door before informing Zach.

Zach, who had already been informed of his guest by his familiars and their keen senses, was ready.

"Let them in," he said.

There was an affirmative from the staff, and a few minutes later, there was a knock on the door that was quickly followed by the door opening, and a short, skinny man with neat but thinning hair in a suit entered. His head was lowered slightly as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

"I greet Young Lord Zacharia," he said in a polite tone before looking up to inspect the person he was talking to.

The sight of Zach leisurely sitting in a sofa with his arms around two maids, one blonde and the other black-haired, with his shirt's upper buttons unbuttoned, and his hair slightly damp like he had just stepped out of the shower confirmed the rumors the man had heard.

"Mm," Zach grunted in acknowledgment of the man's greeting, clearly expressing his disinterest and hinting that the man should state his business.

The man glanced at the table in front of Zach and his maids and the chair opposite him. But Zach made no motion for him to sit down, so the man did not sit. He fished out a card from his pockets and extended it with both hands.

"My name is Fredrick Gimond. I am the Wheelhouse Merchants' representative. Without beating around the bush, I have sought an audience for you to enquire about a potential business deal."

Zach gestured for Nora to accept the business card. She handed it to him. He grabbed it with one hand before tossing it aside without taking more than a cursory glance.

"Never heard of you."

Fredrick's smile stiffened at Zach's blatant disrespect. But he was dealing with a young and spoiled noble. He should expect at least this much.

"That much is only natural, Young Lord Zacharia. We have dedicated ourselves to strengthening our foundation and establishing connections before moving on to anything even remotely great enough to catch your notice. But it must be fate. We are getting ready to expand our business right as you have decided to visit the capital."

"S'that so?" Zach asked uninterestedly.

"Yes!" Fredrick answered excitedly. "Now, a person as great as yourself naturally wouldn't need to make more money by investing, but I heard that you have a business of your own?"

"Mm."

"It's also my understanding that it is separate from your family's businesses, right?" Find your next read on empire

"Mm."

"Forgive my presumptousnes, Young Lord Zacharia, but would it be impolite of me to assume that you wish to show the world that you are more than a son of Evandiel?"

"Mm."

"Then, it would only be right for you to make as big of a mark in the world of business as possible, no? If you choose to cooperate with us, that would certainly come to pass. No one would dare look down on you if you become the wealthiest man in the Empire."

"Are you saying people are looking down on me right now?" Zach glared at Fredrick, who stiffened.

"N-no! Of course not! It was just an expression, Young Lord Zacharia. I meant that you would rise to an even higher position and that no one would look down on you because of your accomplishments and not your family, that's all," Fredrick hurried to explain himself.

"Hmph." Zach snorted but didn't press the matter.

Fredrick wiped the sweat of his brow in relief.

"Would you be interested, Young Lord Zacharia, in earning more money?"

Zach tipped his head back slightly and mulled it over.

"How? What type of business are we talking about?" He asked.

Fredrick glanced around the room to make sure they were kind of alone and to elevate the tension in the room. He approached and leaned forward.

"Transport," he half-whispered.

"Transport?" Zach asked doubtfully.

"Transport, Young Lord Zacharia," Fredrick affirmed.

"It is the lynchpin of all other businesses. Without the delivery and transport of goods, services, and money, all other markets and businesses will come to a halt within a matter of days if not hours. Naturally, a business that crucial already has an airtight market. But my Wheelhouse Merchants have scouted and prepared trade routes and exotic goods that will be hard to hear about and even harder to acquire from other merchants." Fredrick rubbed his hands together like a fly.

Zach narrowed his eyes.

"And a business like this…How much money are we talking?" He asked.

Fredrick took a quick breath. He had Zach on the hook. Now, he just had to reel him in.

"As a prudent merchant, I shouldn't make any promises without something to support them. But I'm confident this is a winning idea, Young Lord." Fredrick took another breath and met Zach's intrigued gaze with glowing eyes of his own.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Tens of thousands of gold coins in profit the first year alone."

'That's it?' Zach almost spoke his thoughts out loud. He couldn't forget what he was doing.

"...Supposing your merchants are that successful, what would be my share? And what would you need from me to…get started, I assume?"

Fredrick did his best to suppress his grin.

"Now, now, there's no need to be too eager. That's still just a hopeful projection of a year's efforts. But…

"Currently, the only owner of the Wheelhouse Merchants is me. So, if you agree to, let's not beat around the bush, a token sum of an even thousand gold, I would willingly make you a co-owner. That means half of the profits will be yours." Fredrick smiled and put his fingertips against each other as he waited patiently for Zach's response.

A thousand gold for a yearly profit of several thousand. It wasn't a bad investment, especially considering the growth potential Fredrick had hinted at. He wasn't sure if Zach got that hint, though. He seemed a little slow.

"A thousand, you say…" Zach leaned back and stroked Yanael's waist thoughtfully as he considered it.

"Do you have a contract with you?"

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