“There wasn’t anything special. Everyone knows that Sophia and Whitman secretly indulged in luxuries with the money allocated for repairing the lower riverbank, and predictions about heavy rainfall next year are widespread.”

Of course, Edith was the one who spread the perception that Benjamin didn’t have the budget to repair the riverbank and that if things continued this way, the damage during the summer monsoon next year would be beyond imagination.

But Edith decided not to mention that. Speaking Benjamin’s name directly to Helen felt like selling his name, and

‘Even now, Helen’s gaze is a bit uncomfortable.’

She didn’t want to attract any more attention than she was already getting.

“If the reason people are angry is because of that, there is a solution. Secure the budget to repair the dike.”

“But that’s a significant amount of money.”

Helen replied to her words. Had the previous Portrian lord also planned to raise funds for dike repairs over several years?

Edith nodded lightly, as if she knew that fact.

“That’s right. I know that Eizagel was aware that I was giving up my inheritance to some extent, so he’ll cover some of the expenses with that money. However, we still need a substantial amount of money. Just receiving donations won’t be enough.”

“But didn’t Sir Eizagel say that he would bear some of the dike repair costs with the inheritance he received?”

“It’s not just a donation. Merchants who contribute are buying honor. At the same time, it’s like making a good investment.”

Helen thought for a moment before asking.

“Buying honor and investment?”

“Yes. Perhaps Eizagel will build a kind of monument near the dike to engrave the names of those who participated in raising funds.”

Helen nodded. The residents of the riverbank of the river were suffering because of the dike, so if the merchants stepped forward, it would definitely give the impression of extending a helping hand like heroes.

But it didn’t seem like the merchants would give away gold coins just to have their names known.

“Buying honor with money… I think I understand now. But what do you mean by investment?”

“I have some documents related to the library, and I’ve found that there’s land near the problem dike that’s registered under the name of the Portrian lord. It’s quite spacious.”

Edith could guess the purpose of the land by looking at the brief civil engineering plans in the book.

Originally, it was land bought by Nicolas’s older brother with the intention of building a magnificent mansion overlooking the river.

However, when untimely rain began to fall, and because the dike was not repaired in time, floods were frequent.

‘If only the dike had been repaired well, there wouldn’t have been any damage. That’s why the plan to build a new vacation home near there was canceled.’

In fact, the land had not suffered any flood damage, but it seemed that Nicolas’s brother was as afraid as his younger brother.

Anyway, because she had seen that there was a land with a strange story, Edith was able to make a good proposal to Eizagel.

“What I told Eizagel was nothing special. It was just one option I suggested to him, to inform the upper-class people in Portrian.”

“Option?”

“Yes. If you make a large donation, you’ll be granted permission to build a logistics warehouse near the dike. Then, merchants will probably bring money right away.”

“A logistics warehouse…”

Helen had studied the estate since she found out that she had Portrian blood, so she knew quite a bit about the infrastructure of the riverbank.

‘It’s true that if Eizagel allows the construction of a logistics warehouse near the dike, merchants will probably come forward with money.’

The fastest way to trade with other estates from Portrian was to use the waterway.

Of course, the area below the problematic dike didn’t have a solid foundation and didn’t have facilities to load cargo on ships, but a little further down, there was a large port.
“Near the harbor, the capacity of the upper class with logistics warehouses and those without will differ more as time goes on.

‘I now understand why Eizagel was so confident that he could cover it with donations.’

In particular, she could have found out in advance how much Eizagel was willing to donate, after leaking the condition of a logistics warehouse through her father and his business associates.

‘So, Edith also talked to Eizagel, not Elizabeth.’

Helen made a hand gesture as if counting bills to Edith, who was speaking as if it were nothing.

“You gave such good advice, and you didn’t even take money? Considering how wealthy Eizagel is.”

“Instead, Eizagel is the one negotiating with Helen. I think of it as a gift to a friend.”

Helen looked at the woman in front of her, who seemed to be counting banknotes in her hand while speaking. She found it interesting that Walter, who was rapidly acquiring magic, always seemed to be alert when her name was mentioned.