Reborn As Noble - Chapter 313

Chapter 313: The Value of True Wealth ( 313 )
Garius set the report aside, his voice firm.

“Alf.”

Alf stood at attention.

“Yes, my lord?”

Garius smirked slightly.

“Inform our overseers—Armand will not accept any currency other than gold, silver, and copper coins.”

Alf nodded.

“Understood, my lord. I’ll ensure all trade posts, merchants, and banks in Armand enforce this immediately.”

Hesbeirn grinned.

“So, if they want to trade with us, they have to bring real money?”

Garius chuckled.

“Exactly. Let the rest of the kingdom gamble on their paper money. Armand deals in wealth that cannot be faked.”

In Armand, prosperity was built on solid ground.

No inflation.

No counterfeiting.

No blind trust in empty promises.

The other nobles could play with their fragile currency.

But in Armand?

Gold was gold.

Silver was silver.

And wealth was real.

Alf smirked, his tone playful.

“And if they insist, my lord?”

Garius let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.

“Haa… Alf… really?”

Alf grinned.

Hesbeirn chuckled.

Fransesca smiled knowingly.

Garius leaned back, his expression calm but firm.

“We just refuse.”

Alf nodded.

Garius continued.

“Tell our people this type of currency holds no value in Armand. If any merchant, noble, or kingdom wants to trade with us, they will do so in gold, silver, or copper.”

“If they refuse, there will be no trade at all.”

A heavy silence filled the room.

This wasn’t just a statement.

It was a declaration.

Then, he continued, his tone firm.

“Armand does not depend on outside trade.

The recent war already proved that.”

Everyone in the room nodded.

While other regions struggled with shortages, economic collapse, and internal conflicts—

Armand remained strong, wealthy, and completely self-sufficient.

Their people thrived. Their industries expanded. Their food production was unmatched.

Simply put—Armand did not need them.

“If merchants and nobles insist on using this paper currency, then we, as Armand, have the full right to reject it.”

Alf grinned.

“Understood, my lord. I’ll make sure the message is clear.”

Garius nodded.

“Inform the overseers and all regional leaders—

No paper money will be accepted in Armand.”

His eyes narrowed.

“No currency exchanges. No circulation of worthless paper. If they wish to trade, they use gold, silver, or copper.”

Hesbeirn stroked his beard.

“And what if smaller traders can’t bring real coins?”

Garius smirked.

“Then they may use the barter system.”

Everyone raised an eyebrow.

“Barter?”

Garius nodded.

“If a merchant cannot provide proper coin, they may trade goods instead—

But not with paper money.”

Erinnete crossed her arms, nodding.

“So, Armand remains open to fair trade… but not to currency manipulation.”

Garius grinned.

“Exactly.”

Garius turned back to Alf.

“Make sure this is enforced at every level. The merchants, banks, trade posts—everyone must understand.

Armand will not accept their games.”

Alf smiled.

“As you command, my lord.”

Hesbeirn grinned.

“Heh. The other nobles are going to be furious.”

Garius chuckled.

“Let them be. They need us more than we need them.”

Garius smirked, crossing his arms.

“It’s their loss if they refuse to trade with us.”

The room fell silent, everyone listening carefully.

“Just look at the recent so-called ‘holy war’ against our region.”

His eyes sharpened.

“Who suffered the most?”

Everyone knew the answer.

The ones who suffered were the nobles who blindly followed the ‘holy war.’

Even the king himself was furious at them—

For wasting resources.

For crippling trade.

For bringing ruin to their own lands.

Now, those same nobles were desperate to restore their economy.

“If they refuse to trade with us and seek alternatives, so be it.”

He leaned back, tapping his fingers on the table.

“Our farms, our production, our industries… they can all be distributed within our own region.”

Alf nodded.

“Our people always come first, my lord.”

Garius grinned.

“Exactly. Besides—”

“The Demon Territory, the Beastkin Kingdom,The Elven Kingdom… they never stopped trading with us, even during the war.”

Hesbeirn grinned.

“Of course. They knew that our prosperity benefits them as well.”

Garius continued.

“The Demon King, the Beastkin King, and the Elven Kingdom all continue trading with us.”

Erinnete smiled.

“The elves provide high-quality honey and other necessities, correct?”

Alf nodded.

“Yes. Since their kingdom borders the Beastkin Kingdom, it makes trade even easier.”

Garius smirked.

“While the human nobles scramble to recover, our trade routes remain strong with those who actually understand value.”

Hesbeirn laughed.

“So, if the human nobles don’t want to trade, they can suffer the consequences?”

Garius grinned.

“They already are.”

Hesbeirn leaned forward, rubbing his chin.

“Do you think Young Master’s inventions should be developed for open trade?”

Alf chuckled.

“Like the frozen carriage? The one that allows seafood to stay fresh for long-distance transport?”

Erinnete nodded.

“With how valuable it is, it could revolutionize trade.”

For a moment, they all considered the idea.

But then—Garius’ expression turned serious.

The room fell silent.

“No.”

His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.

“Javier specifically told me—his ‘technology’ must never be sold or handed over to others.

They can see it, but they will never get their hands on it.”

Garius sighed.

“I still remember what Javier said about wealth.”

He closed his eyes, recalling the words.

“Greed will bring people to downfall.”

The room remained silent.

Then, he continued.

“If we sell these inventions, we’ll grow even wealthier… but what happens next?

Other nobles will desperately try to take them.

Wars will be fought over them.

Spies will flood our lands, trying to steal them.”

Erinnete nodded, understanding.

“And once people become too dependent on these inventions… they’ll either try to control us or destroy us.”

Garius smirked.

“Exactly. Which is why Javier’s technology remains Armand’s secret.

We use it. We benefit from it. But we will never sell it.”

Hesbeirn grinned.

“So, those nobles can only watch and drool, huh?”

Garius laughed.

“Let them.”

“Besides, he mentioned that this so-called ‘technology’ of his isn’t easy to copy or use.”

He glanced at Fransesca.

“What was that term he used again?”

Fransesca tilted her head, thinking.

“Umm… ‘reverse engineering’?”

The room fell silent for a moment.

Hesbeirn raised an eyebrow.

“What does that mean?”

Fransesca smiled.

“Something like copying an invention by taking it apart and figuring out how it works.”

Alf chuckled.

“So, in short… stealing knowledge?”

Fransesca nodded.

“Exactly. But Javier was confident that they wouldn’t be able to do it.”

Garius leaned back, smirking.

“He said they can try… but they won’t be able to.”

Erinnete crossed her arms.

“Why is that?”

Garius pointed at the report in front of him.

“Javier mentioned something about how his inventions—like the mana bomb launcher for our Pekko units—rely on special mechanisms.”

Hesbeirn grinned.

“The cylinder system, right?”

Garius nodded.

“Yes. Even if someone managed to take it apart, they wouldn’t understand how to rebuild it. Javier’s technology follows a logic that doesn’t exist in this world.”

Fransesca sighed, shaking her head with a smile.

“Honestly, sometimes I feel like that boy knows things no one else does.”

Alf smirked.

“That’s because he does.”

Garius grinned.

“Let them try. Let them waste time and resources trying to copy what they don’t understand.”

Erinnete nodded.

“And while they struggle, Armand will only grow stronger.”

Hesbeirn laughed.

“Hah! I’d love to see their faces when they realize they can’t steal our advantage.”

Garius chuckled.

“Javier may act lazy, but when it comes to these things… he’s already far ahead of everyone.”

( End of Chapter )