WebNovels

Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Rich to Riches

{Present, Gremory Mansion}

[Checking for non-overlapping Potion Recipes]

[Available Potion Recipes at the Barbatos Treasury: 127]

[Available Potion Recipes at the Valefar Treasury: 97]

[Filtering Potions after eliminating duplicates: 176]

After so long, I was finally getting my well-deserved rest.

[Available Plant Species at the Barbatos Treasury: 1723]

[Available Plant Species at the Valefar Treasury: 2012]

[Total Plant Species after eliminating duplicates: 2287]

That's still a lot of plants. Maybe Ajuka will be able to figure out some more potion recipes if I supply him with samples.

Anyway, I was on my bed—relaxing, enjoying the fruit of my victory.

[Golem Core: A core containing the sample of a thousand golems, can be used to create golems with different functionalities. Golem level ranges from Low Class to Middle Class]

They could work as basic guards, but any high-level enemy could destroy them with a sneeze. Well, I can find some other use for them later.

For now, I was more than happy with what I had.

I had my treasures, a vote of confidence to start potion production, the rank of an Ultimate Class devil, and now, I also had a queen with me.

Speaking of whom…

"Will you be going with me to check out our new place?" I asked the girl seated on a chair, reading a book recounting the history of the last hundred years. "The mansions aren't finished yet, but Sirzechs chose his best builders, so the foundation is moving very fast."

I wouldn't be surprised if they completed the massive mansion and the entire estate in less than a week.

Magic sure was efficient.

"Okay," she smiled at me. "But which one of the mansions will we be living in?"

That was… a really valid question. I couldn't exactly stay at both, now could I?

"Let's stay at the Barbatos mansion." It wasn't like I disliked the Valefar one, but I started with the Barbatos title, so let's go with that for now. "We can turn the Valefar mansion into a vacation house. The devil sea is close by, so it could be a great vacation spot."

"Wasn't the Valefar estate known for cultivating rare materials? Demonic plants and rare monster breeding?" she asked, and I pretended to think about it.

Truth was, I still didn't know a lot about the houses. I only knew the basics and was actively searching for information about powers and things that could help me grow stronger. But with the treasury items, I now needed to look into the history as well.

I would be a Lord soon, and that meant getting the pillars back to their former glory—if not better.

"What do you suggest?" I asked. "Use the Valefar land for growing plants for potions?"

I had no idea about breeding beasts, so I was going to stay away from that for now. Not to mention we had about zero beasts to breed.

"We can do that, and maybe even turn the Valefar lands into mostly production land—plants, beasts, anything related to that. Maybe even set up factories with time," she suggested, closing the book. "As for the Barbatos land, we can use it for more commercial attractions. Since it's closer to the central places, we could build shopping malls, theatres—I've heard there are a lot of devils interested in human movies—and entertainment hubs. What do you think?"

"Casinos?" I asked, and she immediately shot down the idea.

"Too difficult to run. Maybe later, but right now it would be too much."

Worth a shot.

"How much money do you have?" she asked, and that made me pause.

Just how much am I worth? What's my net worth?

It had to be a lot, right? Considering I was the heir to two pillars.

"Well, a large chunk of my land is still under other devils, and a lot of the treasures too."

It was ridiculous how much treasure there was. The devils still owed me money and treasures they took from my pillars. A lot of treasures had been destroyed too, and still, there were two treasuries filled with the GDP of multiple countries combined.

"Excluding land and by default the money-generating assets on them… like mines and fields, let's see…"

System, estimate the amount of money I have, favourably in USD.

Since the devil world tried implementing human currency to help the reincarnated devils adjust better, they messed up the economy quite a bit.

[Calculating the total wealth in the treasuries combined, including gold and gold coins, metals, gemstones, rare books, potions, raw materials, equipment, ornaments, accessories, and items of value.]

"So?" she asked. "What's the guess?"

"Let me count." I acted like I was estimating, but in truth, I was waiting for the system to give me an answer. And boy, was it taking long.

It took about three solid minutes, which was ridiculous since the system had already scanned everything a few days ago. This should have been instant.

[Estimated wealth within treasury in USD: $59,121,063,000,000]

I immediately jumped off the bed and stared at the screen only visible to me.

"Are you okay?" she asked, but I couldn't even answer.

Because… how many digits were even those?

One, two, three, four… I-Is that…

"Fifty-nine trillion…" I fell on my ass over the bed, "one hundred and twenty-one billion… and sixty-three million dollars."

I plopped onto the bed, trying hard to comprehend the amount.

Isn't the world's GDP like 110 trillion?

I'm worth half the human world's GDP? That's ridiculous. And I haven't even factored in the land and treasures I'm supposed to acquire back from the pillars.

Is that why they were hesitant to give me back the land and the treasures? Because those would be multiple trillions as well.

And here I thought they were being greedy over billions…

"That's a lot of money," even Ingvild looked stunned. "I might have to go through the current economic trend and inflation around here, but that should cover everything—and we'll still barely be putting a dent in our reserves."

"Yeah…" Should I just retire? Live like a hedonist?

It was definitely a tempting thought.

"Add in the wealth of the lands you're supposed to get back, the mines, fields, treasures, and the future income from rare plants and potions…" She did some quick math. "More than twice what you have. No, easily over 100 trillion. And if everything goes perfectly, about 150 trillion is the ceiling I can see for now."

Would I reach another planet if I were to stack 150 trillion? Maybe not.

It was so ridiculous that I could ladder up beyond the moon with that money.

"We are not in urgent need of that money," I reminded her. I was being greedy, but it was best not to be consumed. Money was only an aid. "Since the amount is so ridiculous, most Lords won't be able to pay back in decades—forget the one-year time period I gave."

"So?" She seemed curious. "What are you planning?"

I could clearly feel an evil smile creeping up my face.

"You know, when you have no money to pay, you have to pay in other ways?" I said, and she nodded. "And those other ways are far better than just money."

She understood the implications. The other ways in regards to the Lords of the Pillars was a horrifying thing.

I could pocket them if needed and overthrow some influential figures.

That's how ridiculous money was, and that's how politics worked.

Sure, I wasn't as well-versed as Zekram, but his whole ordeal was based on using his Bael name, being the oldest devil alive, and Lucifer's first creation.

Those were impressive things, sure, but money was better. And with Lord Bael in charge of the Bael wealth? If I could somehow make him follow me, Zekram would be powerless.

"I would suggest that we fully invest in this potion business," Ingvild said. "That will help you establish a legal business and also help build power in the process."

I turned my head towards her and smiled.

"You know, I think my luckiest moment wasn't finding my treasury safe and untouched."

That made her curious. "Then what is?"

"It was finding you."

Yeah…

That blush made it worth it.

* * *

{Evening, Sitri Mansion}

—Serafall Leviathan—

She was on her bed, aching all over her body.

She had been running around for days, or sitting in one spot going through documents upon documents. All because of a certain somebody.

"You okay?" She barely registered the voice of her beloved sister.

"So tireddddd!" she complained. "I want rest, Sona-chan!"

"Sad for you," Sona said sarcastically. "But you are a Satan, you have to do your job."

"Ahhh!!! I want to quit!"

"No." Her sister scowled. "Get back to work."

Serafall turned her head and puffed her cheeks. "Meanie!"

Sona went back to her own work, gathering a stack of books on water magic. Her training session with Ingvild, despite ending in utter defeat, had been fruitful. She discovered plenty of applications for her magic and ways she could improve.

The thing that impressed her the most was the water hurricane Ingvild used. It pushed her to study similar phenomena that she could replicate with her water manipulation.

"Why do you even help Faiser so much?" she asked while stacking the books in her arms. "It's unlike you to go so out of your way for someone you haven't known for long."

Serafall didn't answer. It was true that she hadn't known Faiser that well even in the past. Their interactions were limited, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to help him.

She was still indebted to the Valefar name—especially to Isolde Valefar, in a way she couldn't put into words. If she couldn't help Isolde, she was going to help Faiser to ease her heart.

"You okay?"

"Yeah…" Serafall sighed. "It's just that… it feels right to stand beside him."

In a strange way she couldn't explain, it really did. She felt like she was meant to help him, even without her debt to Isolde.

"I don't know about that." Sona piled the books, making a tower taller than her head. "But being around him is an experience. You get to see new and surprising things almost every day. Even if it drains you, it doesn't bore you."

Serafall went silent, agreeing with her sister.

"Anyway, I'm off to study. Call me if you need something," Sona said as she walked toward the door. She paused for a moment. "But only if it's important."

Serafall smiled and nodded. "Sure!"

As Sona walked out, Serafall sighed.

"Teleportation, binding, blood that heals and cures, and strength surpassing even devils of the old." She let out a dry chuckle. "Why are you like that, Faiser? Why so… difficult."

She couldn't even maintain her usual personality around him. Her mask cracked more often than she liked.

"Dammit!" She placed a hand over her eyes, hiding her face. "Why do you have to be so difficult? Why do I have to show you this face so often?"

Her eyes stayed closed, her breathing ragged—from tiredness and unease.

"You are bad for my health."

She couldn't remember the last time she had expressions like these.

No—she did remember.

"Since Isolde, her mentor."

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{A/N:A/N: Got a pat reon named RedLamp01 with 30+ chapters.

I was googling world economies (both real and fictional) and learnt that Wakanda is worth around 100 Trillion just from vibranium alone, insanity.}

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