Pseudo-Villaines

Outsmarted

"Welcome, Mr. Jean. Have seat. We've been waiting for your arrival."

Viscount Lostov greeted Jean in person in the living room. With a friendly smile, Jean accepted the Viscount's offer and sat down.

On the table, snacks and warm tea are served. The servants came out after Viscount Lostov gestured to leave him and Jean both.

"Thank you for the invitation, Viscount. It's an honor for me to stop with you."

This was not the first time Jean had faced a person of higher status than her. In fact, he had already met the king in person. So he did not feel nervous when he was in front of Viscount Lostov.

"No need to hesitate, Mr. Jean. You are an amazing young man. Although statistically you are below me, but your abilities and intelligence are on the same level as mine. Ah, how about we take each other off formality?"

Jean smiled as if to thank the hospitality presented by Viscount Lostov. But in his heart, he smiled wryly. Are you really smart, Viscount Lostov?

"Alright, I'll go straight to the point, Mr. Jean. As we understand it, your business associates have made a fatal mistake by releasing their slaves into the streets.

"As a result, as you know yourself, this place was plundered by pigs like them. Our houses were burned and our treasures were taken. The losses we suffered were so great that it took a long time to recover our condition as usual.

"Therefore, I ask you to persuade them to pay us the cost of compensation. Remember, we are Nobles. We have a much higher authority than you or them. If we don't allow it, then none of you can operate in the kingdom of Dublin."

Jean smiled wryly. He no longer hid it. He already knew that his conversation with viscount Lostov would lead to this.

That's not a request at all. That's clearly a threat. 'If you don't obey my will, then be prepared to face the consequences'. More or less that's what viscount Lostov said.

Jean sighed and spoke to viscount Lostov calmly.

"Viscount Lostov, my duty as a mediator appointed directly by the king is not to pressure either party to obey the other party's will.

"My job is to find a middle ground for you, the other noble masters, and the merchant group. It is for this reason that I hold a mediation forum for both parties to the conflict.

Jean paused for a moment. He soaked his dry throat with a warm tea served in front of him. Viscount Lostov seemed to want to open his mouth, but Jean cut him off.

"And please don't threaten me with something childish like that. Remember that the gold and silver coffers you get are thanks to taxes and other tributes we pay to the nobles.

"Without us, you and your group will not be able to buy luxury goods, get high quality food ingredients, and jewelry that sticks to your body.

"Remember, the clothes you are now wearing, the eggplant you are wearing, the sofa you are sitting on and the mattress you are sleeping on and the tea and cake you are consuming, he said, everything is produced and sold by us.

"Even if you take over all my production assets and HuCas by force, I'm sure you can't take care of it and manage it well."

Viscount Lostov. He had a calm expression on his face. But in her heart, she was furious at what Jean had said.

Even if viscount Lostov did not admit it, everything Jean said was true. Under his control, HuCas incarnated a very large trading company whose products had dominated the market.

30 Percent of the daily products used by the upper and lower classes are all produced by HuCas. Clothing, furniture, jewelry, even weapons and agricultural tools. That's a big cake!

Even if counted, the treasure that Jean possessed was far greater than that of Viscount Lostov. No, bigger than Earl Baldric's family and almost equal the Cassilas family's estate.

Viscount Lostov has lost his card here. He's already lost. His anger grew when he saw Jean smiling casually.

"Alright, I don't think there's anything more we should talk about about this. Should we continue to the next discussion?"

Viscount Lostov felt an air of intimidation suppressing him. He heavily swallowed his saliva. Instead of being in control of the situation he had been in his head, he was the one he was controlling by a 14-year-old boy!

Jean had won the first round in the arena battle between herself and Viscount Lostov.