'Hmmm...'
Sylvester received documents about a rising star in Salt Industry.
Obtaining massive amounts of salt and selling it for dirt cheap.
Due to the ability to obtain it en masse in a short amount of time, it's dirt cheap.
It's effects on food makes it more savory and richer.
The one behind it which is why his mother is in a rage? Giebe Kirnberger, the clan assigned by Sovereignty to be the Gatekeeper of Schutzaria's Gate.
Sure salt costs dirt cheap, but with millions of customers? The man will net a huge profit and he was someone not to be crossed.
As a Neutral, he doesn't give a damn about Factions, but he will if Ehrenfest's well-being is compromised, which it is, that he does not hesitate unlike other clans. He acts when actions endangering Ehrenfest is about to be committed. They can afford the audacity to put a firm foot down on his parents as his clan has dual citizenship. Such benefits of being Gatekeeper Clans by Sovereignty. They shield Ehrenfest when things get too much, but otherwise lets them fight each other themselves. And the kicker?
Giebe Kirnberger's extra retainers were once his father's, but out of anger, they abandoned him, and joined the banner of Giebe Kirnberger to protect the duchy from the Archducal Clan. That alone sent a powerful message to all clans that nobody has a good opinion of them at all that Sylvester wanted to go to the light at the end of the tunnel.
If they were to be attacked, its the same as offending Sovereignty which is why his mother is furious she can't do anything. And denying them their share of Mana will get Sovereignty's eyes on her and Mana Mismanagement is a huge crime, especially now so she really hates Kirnberger Clan.
Once, she tried forcing a Water Goddess on him.
Yes, they married but...considering the bride isn't heard from again alongside her retainers?
When asked?
'A weed is to be plucked before it can take root in your backyard. That is what good gardeners do.' he said with a cold, cruel smile. 'And watch it wither and die. My duty is to protect this garden and when I see an unwanted sprout...destroy the weeds what I will do.'
Yeah, his mother and the families of those Veronicans who died did not take that well she once screeched at his father for justice, but not even he would dare offend Giebe Kirnberger and considering everything he allowed his wife to have, He cannot offend Him or it'll be an Archducal Clan Punishment. Considering Bonifatius was demoted, he is safe from the Purge with his wife and children so only Adelbert's Family will die, and his father has his family at heart. Especially as how other aubs look down on him in contempt and by consequence, at his eldest son. Him.
And the glimmer of light is the murder weapon...spices. That man will act on the promised day. That in Winter, he will ensure his family's safety. This way, he alone will pay, if judgment says so.
He owed his siblings and his duchy that much, if the Gatekeeping Clan had a hand in his destiny.
No doubt they already know, and if he fails to deliver enough punishment...he will die on Zent's orders a month later as mother's crimes are too many, too much and too heinous and father and he enabled it all out of love for her.
Or was father the only one who actually loved her while he was raised to love and obey her despite all she does? What does he actually feel?
He doesn't know.
But he has a wife and children in danger from the mother he once loved...until he heard how she treated her daughters and stepson while keeping him ignorant and fed him lies about them while castle retainers say otherwise. How she looks at Charlotte like she was dirt while speculative looks on Melchior that terrified Florencia from losing another son to her, causing her to lament her powerlessness and not listening to Constanze. Her marriage was nothing but fear from Chaoscipher and barely a shelter from her husband's cloak that Sylvester did all he could to make her feel better and not lose her.
Upon finishing his work the way an Aub should do after Ferdinand finished with jobs that was supposed to be his wife's as she must devote her time to viciously protect her other children, he locked up everything and spent time with his wife as much as he can with his younger children as he doesn't know his destiny by this winter.
While Sylvester waited for Giebe Kirnberger's move in anxiety as does the Veronican Faction because he was getting richer...
He was actually doing research with his team while assigning an Archscholar to maintain eyes on the Castle. Salt aside that nets him additional income, he is also catching a number of sea creatures be it normal or fey, after researching to create magic tools to enable swimmers to see and breathe underwater, and a full-body suit that keeps them warm. But for modesty's sake, only men can do this!
There's no Ahrensbach Species in the colder side of the world. Only on the warmer side down south.
Anything that is alive, must be studied and granted a name!
There's sea plants to study. They're edible but three can be eaten, others too tough to eat even if its tasty when boiled. So the Kirnberger Cooks thought they can be preserved and kept as condiment.
Stachebal, a discovered creature that's basically a ball of spines the size of a knight's fist, but with a segmented ball body wherein it's full of tiny eyes, and at its bottom, were tiny suckers with tiny little teeth that eat algae or coral. Poisonous spines that injects when pressure is applied. When cracked open, the body is hollow in the middle with golden mush inside. Either mush, or eggs. Just what is the mush? The 'walls' were where other body parts are: venom sacs, blood vessels, nerves, organs...and it's actually edible with a high life element...attuned to Beischmacht that got the scholars red-faced with shame.
And females have wider spines than males whose spines are narrower and while the mush is edible, the eggs have no value in taste but has Ewigeliebe-attuned mana unlike the mush...but turn poisonous if mated! Takes seven years to mature and there's plenty of the darn things!
Apfernele, a shrimp of a lovely orange shade is edible be it raw or cooked. The shell and head is cumbersome to remove though. Its bigger cousin the Purpunele is more savory in flavor. Normal creature. Apfernele takes 6 months to mature, and Purpunele takes 2 years.
Stachumme, is about the length of an arm and just as wide with pincers. Its lower body is fleshy-edible, normal creature. Takes 5 years.
Konigrabbe's main body is the size of a plate and width as large as a bread loaf. It's pincers are the size of small balls, and legs as thick as a knight's fingers, armored gloves included in the sizing. Meaty, except for the gills and viscera. Its shell has high wind element. There's mostly tomalley and little flesh in the main body, the rest of it inside legs and pincers.
And many more to come. For now they can obtain shellfish and crustaceans. Fish is a lot troublesome to get and they need to study how fishing is done to catch large amounts of fish.
Some shells make round shiny things...wait...what is this beautiful, round thing with luster? Not a feystone, but lovely all the same. Might go well as commoner jewelry, perhaps, always in a set of earrings, pendant/necklace, bracelet and ring.
It's indeed, a trove of new edibles. Even better? Easier to access, prepare and eat than Ahrensbach fare! And their bellies will be full by the time they ate it!
More research to avoid disappointing anybody so its them enjoying new discoveries for now, and practically called old Gustav over to judge the prices.
'It's based on accessibility, supply and demand. That's how economics roll.' he said. 'I need to see the creatures, and the research. Once I decide on a price, I have to talk to Sovereignty Merchant Guildmaster. He looks, feels and tastes samples that his judgment is absolute and can overturn mine and nobody can argue with him when it comes to food and medicine samples, but otherwise, we're free to decide price of other things. As for things that contain mana, that is for the nobles to decide on adding to the cost while I can decide a part of the cost in regards to other factors.' Giebe Kirnberger nodded as Gustav read the files, before dictating his decided Market Values, and had Giebe Kirnberger add additional costs proportionate to the worth of the mana.
'Then Gustav, do you have a clue how to farm fish?'
'...quite complicated. And you'd need to fly a lot just to track the life cycle migration route of fish since they travel to different feeding grounds and return to where they spawned to mate, lay eggs and die, their carcasses becoming food to the living. Buying a Maritime Industry Manual from Hauchletze is about 5 SL and 5 LS, plus travel tax of 2 SL.' Giebe Kirnberger winced at the costs of getting himself a manual to help him start a new industry.
'Very well.'
'But while you can get ideas on how to farm fish and shellfish there, species of western waters are different from eastern waters, you'll have to adjust. This takes years of planning before selling for sale. For now the easiest thing you have is salt.'
Myne knew she triggered a desire for Aquaculture Research.
A new industry for their declining duchy is welcome any time! His parents complained about being poor before dad came up with his cheat.
The cheat being the family using their spare mana, so they can have extra grails.
End result, they have three grails every year instead of the traditional one every Spring Prayer, and the tiny land of Ledhe is very fertile as a result. Too fertile for it's status. And because nobody cares for Laynobles, nobody keeps an eye on them.
Dad would know if a Noble entered his domain.
Just like how an Aub would know if Nobles entered his Domain from what direction, Giebes can feel it too and warn the relatives tasked to watch the Frontier.
All nobles have their secrets and they ain't sharing.
That is reality.
With a new business deal with Giebe Kirnberger, salt is less problematic now. And out of curiosity, a new industry coming out is inevitable and Myne was the start of it all and she effectively made Giebe Kirnberger more powerful, and Lehde is now under his asylum as a result.
He was a cool old guy who wants prosperity and security and thankfully doesn't do euphemism shit. He is also 'too transparent' for a noble that he is easily read that people find it easy to trust and be wary of him and his retainers have this 'pride' as his retainers.
But while some retainers have seafood as taboo with reason, Giebe Kirnberger bluntly said, 'Seafood drained our duchy's blood under Veronica, I'm getting our blood back by using a superior weapon. By having plenty of industries, this means gold flowing into our duchy, our purses, and for gold to circulate in our duchy again instead of one-sided hemorrhaging. And since the Dark Gate is open where our seafood is coming from...you get where I'm going with this?'
'Ahrensbach Seafood can't even satisfy a kitten. Too much hassle and too pricey for so little meat, while our fare has a large mouthfuls at reasonable prices. Which to you think the people will buy more? Ahrensbach Fare will be abandoned for ours, so we must make this work!'
So yup, a lot is at stake as their duchy is very poor.
Right now her problem is...her artistic sense. Her tutor is hard on her in the needle, while mother is focusing on teaching Tuuli the Harspiel and helping her compose a song for her debut. Her mother refuses to let her shoddy artwork be known to society as skill with the needle is also a must for noble marriages.
WIVES embroider their husband's cloaks. Heck, it's even a marriage proposal for crying out loud, with the guy asking girl to 'please embroider my cloak' or something!
Ehrenfest Flora and Fauna. Decorative Patterns. Both of which have symbolical meanings. Her tutor was 'less strict' on Tuuli because her sister has 'great sense and innate talent' and they're not kidding.
However, there are talks about her future.
Because Myne was too smart and her actions and mindset showed it, she was told about her 'anomalistically-high' mana level. She was born with mednoble-class mana and since learning Compression in the basement after learning literacy, she encouraged her siblings to compress when full!
'ADOPTION?!' Tuuli, Rodney and Myne yelped over family dinner.
'Mm. That's normal in this society, for protection of the child in question.' said Gunther. 'Adoptions for going up if child is too powerful for their birth family to protect, or getting adopted down or go to the temple if child is too weak for their mana status.' he said. 'And we don't know how strong you'll be by the time you're seven years old as we know you'll be compressing a lot, as all of you aspire for a powerful schtappe come your third year, aspiring to be powerful Laynobles just a hair away from Mednoble.'
'And as you all know, mana is everything...that come adulthood, Rodney will have the most time to compress that he will be next Giebe Ledhe.' said Effa. And her sons are shockingly fine with that, except Rodney himself who looked like shumil spotted by hungry zantze.
'As long as Veronica's around, to keep our prosperity secret we'd need eyes on the castle and it'll be us.' said Melvin darkly. 'That's what Wendell and I decided.'
'Yeah, we're rich as long as we're secretly cheating.' said Wendell optimistically, making the parents sweatdrop. 'We may not be able to show it in luxury, but we can keep our magic tools functional and eat well unlike most laynobles and own clothing in high-class silks.'
'Riiiight...' Gunther coughed awkwardly. 'So Myne, I had a talk with Giebe Kirnberger about your future.' he went back to being serious. 'He agreed on the stipulation that two seasons before your seventh year of life, your mana will be measured in Kirnberger Mansion. Archnobles present as any one of them can be your new family member.'
So her etiquette lessons changed, befitting a future...adotie.
How to refer to adoptive parents and manners befitting an Archnoble.
'Too formal! I'm not used to sheer formality in everything it gives me the willies!' Myne wailed. 'If I'm going to be adopted out, I'd rather be in a household like ours!'
'Ahaha, work hard to be in Giebe Kirnberger's household then...' Tuuli chuckled to her sister's dismay.
Since they began offering sincere prayers for their hopes and dreams with mana her siblings are visibly changing before her eyes, most prominently, Tuuli. She was starting to sport fairer skin and her lips began looking rosy. Her older brothers are also starting to look fairer themselves.
She herself was no different.
She was praying to many deities herself for the sake of her dreams, and her family's peace that she prayed to all seven elements and offering mana to them.
Her older brothers prays to elements that will help them become powerful knights and get good matches who will also keep clan secrets.
Rodney who found himself future Giebe, prays hard to elements that would make him a good Giebe, Politician and Knight.
So she and her siblings are off to a great start for their growth for their future...and her artistic sense is improving.
Two men have a talk in private.
'...so that's how it is?' the bigger man is Lord Bonifatius. He is muscular and stocky. The strongest of all in Ehrenfest and also cunning, blessed by many deities to keep his life long, and smart enough to avoid Veronica's traps.
'Yes. What do you think as a just incase?' Giebe Kirnberger asked him. 'She will grow more. To the point not even I can keep her as she grows. Lord Gunther knows his children will keep compressing for their dream Schtappe to be as strong as they can get.'
'It depends on what we see. At least its not another Rozemary Situation.' Bonifatius scoffed in contempt. 'What do you think of Lord Gunther and Lady Joseffa?'
'Too many kids.' Giebe Kirnberger snorted. 'A total of five.'
'Five?!' Bonifatius spluttered. 'That's almost the bare minimum for an Archducal Family and my nephew only has three.' Giebe Kirnberger looked amused at his outburst.
'Three boys and two girls with the youngest designated as heir as Lord Rodney would have more time compressing for strength than his older brothers in a society where mana is everything.' that, any noble worth their salt would know. What just changed between him and his brother was that Adelbert was more politically-savvy as long as VERONICA is not involved and Bonifatius was...temperamental their father had to compromise...many times...given Adelbert's choice of spouse.
'As Giebe Gunther can afford that many mana-draining tools or two of them inherited their parents' tools. 'He also dotes on all five and listens to ideas and goes with what he agrees with and puts his foot down on what he doesn't agree with which is usually sensible opinions. He is also fine with taking his whole family out on trips instead of hiding unbaptized kids as long as he knows its safe.'
'Lady Joseffa dotes on all her children too, but her mind as a scholar shines when Lady Myne talks about her ideas that she finds a way to make it work but also knows when to put her foot down. She created a magic tool that I use for salt-making which was actually Myne's idea just to have cheaper salt instead of the costlier one from certain fruits and scholarly ideas spewed out of her too, that Lady Myne inherited her mother's intellect. I talked to all the children too.'
'Two older brothers Lords Wendell and Melvin hope to be Knights to be their eyes and ears to protect their family from Chaoscipher from afar. Lord Rodney griped that Giebehood landed on him just for being youngest that he had more time to compress, that he prays on a daily basis to actually have the ability to be a good Giebe like their father. Lady Tuuli gripes that she can't fully utilize her Kunzeal-given senses in fashion for being a Laynoble as she also had the sense to avoid drawing the bad kind of attention while aspiring to be a dressmaker. Myne has...too many ideas way beyond her status. Those ideas cannot fall into wrong hands for the sake of our duchy. You know that Geduldh bleeds till she is emaciated because Chaoscipher forces Greifechan to gouge her.'
'I know...so salt aside, what did the little lady add?'
'Seafood.'
Bonifatius sputtered as that word made Ahrensbach come to mind.
'But, better.' Giebe Kirnberger grinned. 'Shall you partake in our discoveries so far? Deliciously guaranteed, and more filling.' Bonifatius was shown dishes made of shrimp and crab, and informed about resources of mana elements for brewing...