If a Corporate Slave Reincarnated as a Third Prince in Another World

The character name is not finalized. The character name will be fix once the official light novel is release.

The air in the castle became heavy just by the entry of the neighboring country’s delegation. Large knights. Luxurious crests. Even the sound of their shoes treading on the floor echoed like intimidation. At the negotiation table, the Head of the Delegation declared: “For the sake of friendship, we have three proposals.” The nominal reasons were— “Resource Management for Reduction of Border Disputes.” “Economic Mutual Assistance Alliance Aiming for Permanent Peace.” “Sacred Blood Covenant Uniting Both Royal Families as One.” In reality, they were: Lease of the border iron mines for twenty years, free of charge. Abolition of tariffs for ten years and free passage of merchants. The marriage of a female member of the Royal Family, or equivalent, to the Crown Prince. The Marquis watched the Third Prince out of the corner of his eye. …Will he turn pale, or will he be at a loss for words? But the Third Prince listened silently. Eventually, he opened his mouth quietly. “I have certainly received your proposals.” That was all. He did not answer immediately. The room stirred at that silence. The Head of the Delegation furrowed his brow. “Your answer?” The Third Prince asked back calmly. “Let me confirm. There is no mistake that this is a proposal for ‘friendship,’ correct?” “Of course.” “Then—friendship should be equal.” The atmosphere changed. The Third Prince traced the map on the desk with his finger. “This iron mine. What your country wants isn’t the iron itself.” The eyes of the Head of the Delegation narrowed slightly. “A stable supply for making massive amounts of arms. Am I wrong?” Silence. “In that case, there is no need to hand over the mine entirely. Hypothetically, if we used a form of joint development—” There, the Third Prince stopped his words. He raised his gaze slightly. “…No. Excuse me.” He turned his gaze to the Head of the Delegation. “There is a reason you cannot let the supply of arms be cut off.” With that single phrase, the air changed. The throat of one of the delegates moved slightly. The Head of the Delegation slowly shook his head. “Joint development cannot meet our country’s demand.” It was a low, unwavering voice. The Third Prince nodded slightly. As if he had predicted it. “Then let me ask you.” It was a quiet voice. “Is it not that what your country fears isn’t a shortage of supply, but—our country’s betrayal?” The Head of the Delegation’s brow moved. “You asked for a twenty-year lease not because you want iron. But because you want to hold the iron.” Silence fell. “…Only a country preparing to continue a war for a long time proposes these conditions.” The air in the room froze. “In that case, let us guarantee the supply quantity in the articles. Thirty percent. We will set a minimum guaranteed production value. Furthermore, we will specify penalties for breach of contract.” One of the delegates spoke unintentionally. “…You would put that much into the articles?” “Our country does not break promises.” It was an immediate answer. “And a country that can show in writing that it will not break them is truly worthy of trust.” Silence. The side that should have been pushing was being pushed back for the first time. The Third Prince continued.

“The abolition of tariffs is the same.” A calm voice. “What your country wants are our country’s special products and trade routes. Grain, salt—things directly connected to daily life.” The Marquis gasped. “There is a reason you seek them even if it means throwing away tariffs.” Silence. “However, that is not it.” The Head of the Delegation looked clearly at the Third Prince for the first time. “…What are you trying to say?” “Your country has no intention of fighting our country.” No one breathed. “You are preparing to fight another country.” The silence was heavy this time. “Iron, trade, and marriage. You just want to cut off worries for the rear.” No one could deny it. The Third Prince smiled for the first time there. “In that case, let us arrange the form. Into a form that truly becomes a ‘Treaty of Peace’.” He paused a beat and continued. “What your country wants are our country’s special products and trade routes. In that case, I would like you to open your country’s ports to our merchant ships as well. In a mutually beneficial form. That is the condition for abolishing tariffs.” At that moment, one of the delegates interjected. “That won’t stand.” It was a sharp voice. “Our country’s ports are already saturated. If we accept your merchant ships as well, our merchants will not be able to survive.” Another delegate continued. “In the first place, abolishing tariffs brings greater benefits to your country. That does not constitute a reason for us to open our ports.” The Marquis gasped slightly. He was pushed back. But the Third Prince was not fazed in the slightest. “If tariffs disappear, your country’s textiles, medicine, and processed goods will enter our country’s market as is.” The delegate’s eyes moved slightly. “Quality and price are superior. Honestly speaking, I do not think our country’s merchants can win.” One delegate said in a low voice. “That is your country’s circumstance.” “Yes. That is why it is a problem.” It was a calm voice. “With this, only your country’s merchants will profit greatly.” Silence. “That cannot be called equal.” The place fell silent. At that time, another delegate pulled back his chair. “Ridiculous. This is going nowhere.” He tried to stand up. “Wait.” The one who restrained him in a low voice was the Head of the Delegation. “Listen to the end.” He pulled his chin in slightly, urging him to continue. The Third Prince glanced at that movement and continued immediately. “There is no need to fully open the ports. First, limit the entry of your country’s merchant ships into our country to only one designated port.” “One port?” “Yes. If we narrow the entrance to one place, goods will not flow in unlimitedly.” He continued further. “And as proof of equality, I would like your country to also designate one port for our merchant ships.” The delegates exchanged glances. The delegate who had started to stand slowly returned to his seat. “One each for both sides. We limit the entrances and exits. With this, merchants are protected, and trade is established.” He continued even further. “And we will also decide the goods to be traded in advance. Limit it to specific things like textiles, medicine, and processed goods.” The delegates exchanged glances again. “If we do that, our country’s market will not be ravaged. However, trade itself can continue.” The Head of the Delegation opened his mouth for the first time. “…Merchants are protected, and trade is possible, you say.” “Yes.” The Third Prince nodded. “Merchants avoid being crushed, and yet trade does not stagnate. With this, it will not take a form where only one side gains profit.” He paused a beat and said clearly. “That is exactly why it can be called equal.” The delegates exchanged glances. The conditions were far too realistic. “Furthermore, if I may speak,” The Third Prince said quietly. “Trade is not something that transports only goods.” At those words, the Head of the Delegation narrowed his eyes. The Marquis’s fingertips trembled slightly. It wasn’t because he was being pushed back. It was because the Third Prince had verbalized all of the neighboring country’s true intentions and circumstances. And then—the Head of the Delegation slowly opened his mouth. “You stated that it does not transport only goods.” A quiet voice fell upon the room. “…Let us hear the meaning of that.”