Episode 56
EPISODE.28
A damp and musty smell.
It was a back alley where darkness unique to the shadows seemed to lurk.
Crossing the narrow alleyway, Russell recalled a conversation they had just had.
.
‘Ugh. We do not have any debts. That’s what our boss has…’
He said that unless you meet the boss, you can’t check the bond records of the Michelin Merchant.
As if waiting, Russell ordered them.
‘Then take him. Otherwise, I can guide you to the boss.’
.
That was why Russell was walking down the alley.
After finishing the podium, he raised his head and saw the figures of lumps walking ahead of him.
On the shoulder of one of them, the burn marks left by Russell were clearly visible in the shape of a palm.
Right then.
―.
Something caught Russell’s senses.
Alleys that are intricately tangled like a spider’s web. Something follows the trail along the alley.
‘One, two, three, four…’
The number gradually increases as you take steps.
From the moment the number increased to a certain extent, they did not even hide their appearance.
As if openly threatening, he filled the alleys and followed Russell.
They weren’t the ones who felt that great energy.
At most, on the same level as those who are ahead of them.
With that level of strength, even a hundred units would not pose a threat to Russell.
‘I’m not sure if they know that too.’
It wasn’t until a while later that the guys in front stopped.
“W Here.”
A man who introduced himself as a medium-rare black cow… no, Elado’s black conch.
Batter said in a more withdrawn voice than at first.
Through his body, he could see the entrance to a very old saloon.
“Go in and the boss will be waiting for you.”
Russell gave a rough nod, and Batter and his men hesitantly retreated.
creak-.
The sound of old hinges echoes briefly.
Except for the fact that it is old, the interior of the bar, which looks quite plausible, is revealed.
There were several people who looked like subordinates, and a huge man sitting in the middle.
‘Is the author Dagir, the boss of these people?’
Other than that, the one who draws attention among those inside is-.
‘Two men with swords.’
They were men who looked just like brothers.
One of them was sitting badly on an extra table, the other was standing with her back against the wall.
His keen examination of himself did not seem to have any favorable feelings.
‘And… you’ve learned your aura.’
I can feel the reverberation of the aura, albeit faintly.
I could roughly guess why Dagir had the two of them waiting here.
‘Intimidation of armed demonstration. If that’s not the case…’
It must mean that he prepared something more than that.
However, Russell was not intimidated.
Instead of being frightened, he quietly raised the corners of his mouth and gave a subtle smile.
Even if you combine the two, they have skills that are worse than the vice-captain I met on the pirate ship the day before.
How can people of that level be a threat?
Laughing lightly inwardly, Russell approached Dagir’s table.
“Is that Dagir?”
I sat across from him with my legs crossed.
Then he picked up one of the bottles that were lying on the table.
“…!”
round shape-.
He filled an empty wine glass.
I emptied about half of it without hesitation.
“her.”
Dagir’s eyebrows twitched at the unstoppable look.
What? this little guy? etc.
Thoughts seem to show up on your face.
“okay. I’m done.”
For a moment, Dagir regained his composure.
Even though they are only a back alley gang, he opened his mouth as if he did not win the leader position by gambling.
Resolutely and boldly. and-.
“You are the very wizard who claims to be an investor in the Michelin Merchant.”
Like a lion who owns a territory and herd, wildly.
“So you said you wanted to see our bond documents?”
“I want to know the exact principal and interest rate.”
“hmm.”
Just as he was about to drool, Dagir licked the tip of his chin.
“Bring it.”
He ordered his subordinate to bring the bond documents and put them down in front of Russell.
“Let’s take a look at anything. Wizard.”
As if asking what you can do, you let out a cheeky laugh and blow on the bottle.
Dagir’s muscles twitched menacingly as the high alcohol gurgled down his throat.
Either that or not.
“here-.”
Russell, who was reading the contents of the document, pointed out a phrase from the contract with his fingertips.
It was about the time the bottle in Dagir’s hand was almost empty.
“Does the number seem a bit odd?”
“Hmm?”
“I understand that the statutory interest rate set by Endymion is 4 1/2 (14%), but here the interest is recorded as 6 1/2 (16%)?”
The difference was only two pennies, but considering the fact that it was compound interest, the difference was huge.
“under!”
At Russell’s point, he sighed as if it were absurd.
I hit the table hard enough to worry that the bottle I was holding would not break.
bang!
He glared at Russell with a menacing expression and sneered.
“I’m guessing our wizard doesn’t know much about the backstreet’s livelihood.”
Originally, the interest on this side is bound to be higher than the statutory interest.
Words such as “What do you think would change significantly if I went to the city hall or the lord with this and talked to it?” came pouring out.
Dog shit logic that doesn’t even come together.
But it didn’t just make sense here,
‘because it’s a back alley.’
If you go to the mayor or the lord and petition, you may be able to lower the interest rate.
But that’s it.
I don’t know if it’s a huge guild with a scale.
There was nothing good about losing to local backstreet guys from a small upper class position like Michelin.
Cuthbert would know that too.
So, even though you know that the interest rate is wrong, you must be enduring it.
However, that is only a word that applies when there is no back stomach.
“so.”
Russell cut him off as if he couldn’t hear it anymore.
“…!?”
It was a sharp voice like a knife.
However, those words only provoked Dagir.
“hey. Wizard. What have you heard from what I have said so far? Although the interest rate is slightly higher than the legal maximum…!”
“so?”
Russell shook the document in his hand.
“The debt right itself is legal. But the interest you’ve been receiving so far is illegal. Do you need any further explanation?”
It is a voice imbued with the will to not back down even a single step.
If you weren’t an idiot, you could have read the meaning behind Russell’s words.
“Anyway, it seems like I’m already tired of solving it with words.”
that was the signal
Shuk-.
At Dagir’s words, the Gallic Gelik brothers quietly stood up.
click-.
The moment he was about to pull out the sword he was wearing on his waist!
Russell’s voice came out faster than that.
“If you pull it out now, you will really die.”
Anger-.
The mana flowed through the whole body tightly entwined the intestines like a spider’s web.
The purity of mana far superior to that of other mages, and the amount of magic that exploded in the middle of the 4th circle.
On top of that, Russell’s momentum was overlaid.
The sunken air, heavy like water-soaked cotton, presses down heavily on the entire bar.
“Kuh-.”
“I can’t pull out that sword…”
The two brothers groaned in the pressure that made it difficult to lift a finger.
But there was one man who seemed more to die for than the two brothers.
“Turn it off.”
It was Dagir.
It was worth it.
It was because he was receiving the pressure from the front, being closer to Russell than anyone else.
It’ll probably taste like death.
You will feel the pressure of the muscles all over your body being squeezed.
You’ll feel the pain of being weighed down by a gigantic gravity that’s bigger than everyone else.
“Fuck…”
Thinking he was intimidated enough, Russell sighed and withdrew the momentum around him.
widely-.
He put up an identification card proving that he belonged to the Tower of Flames.
“War Mage of the Tower of Yeom!”
Upon recognizing Russell’s identity card, Dagir’s eyes widen.
‘Damn it, he’s somehow young and confident.’
Regret is quick, no matter how late it is.
Whether he regretted it or not, Russell offered him a new interest rate.
“Do the work.”
“If we do that, we will have nothing left.”
Dagir changed his tone involuntarily.
He raised his words with half respect.
The feeling of being squeezed all over the body was still vivid.
“Considering the illegal interest I’ve received so far, I think this is a sufficient figure?”
“Ha but…”
He tried to say something, but Russell didn’t want to listen.
Glance instead of listening to excuses.
“Someone who introduced himself as a black cow proudly talked about selling his daughter.”
I stared briefly outside the bar.
I’ve come up with another way to intimidate him.
“I think people who were at the top would suffice as witnesses, and if it’s real or not, report it to the Salt Tower and investigate.”
human trafficking.
Of course, this small organization wouldn’t really have a hand in such a crime.
However, if an investigation came from the Salt Tower, it would be them who would be at a disadvantage in many ways, not Russell or the Michelin Merchant.
So, Russell’s proposal is-.
“Do the work.”
It was an offer that was impossible to refuse in the first place.
* * *
‘Is this the best for now?’
It would have been better if the bond documents themselves could have been burned.
However, the right to collect the debt itself was legal.
I couldn’t get my hands on it.
That’s why Russell moved on, leaving his regret behind.
creak creak -.
I left Dagir’s bar.
It turned toward the top of the Michelin.
When we return to the old two-story building, Cuthbert jumps out as if he had been waiting for it.
“Em wizard!”
I held Russell’s hand tightly and examined his body.
It was a person with an identity card proving that he was a War Mage of the Tower of Flames.
It wasn’t that I doubted his ability, but it was because I was worried about him as a human being.
“I am okay.”
Russell replied, quietly withdrawing his hand.
He then pulled out a document from his pocket and handed it to him.
“this…?”
“This is a new bond document corrected to the inside of the statutory interest rate. I’ve taken care of things so that they won’t change their words after I go back, so you shouldn’t have to worry about that either.”
He opened his eyes wide when he was told that the rate had been adjusted to the inside of the statutory interest rate.
I gulped and confirmed the changes.
“This interest is six pennies!”
And that’s not all.
‘If the interest is properly paid for the next 3 years, the part about the principal will not be pressed anymore-?’
Although there was a limit of 3 years, it also included provisions to escape from their intimidation.
“I never thought you would have done this. How should I repay this favor…”
Cuthbert’s voice was damp as he spoke.
“Since we made an investment, aren’t we partners now? As a partner, I have only provided a little help.”
“But…”
If I let it go like this, I might have to repeat the same words three or four times.
Thinking so, Russell folded the bond document neatly and put it in his jacket pocket.
“Then, I guess we can finalize the contract we couldn’t have before.”
.
.
“Hasn’t the figure changed a bit?”
Russell tilted his head as he stared at the contract that Cuthbert had newly drawn up.
Unlike the originally planned 10,000 shares (10.8%), Russell’s share was written at 20,000 (12%) in the contract.
If I had to look closely, it would have risen by about 1 penny.
At that question, Cuthbert chuckled.
Instead of explaining, he questioned.
“Wizard. No, Mr. Russell.”
“…?”
“Do you know what our family and the creed of the guild are?”
I asked about the changed ratio, but on the contrary, I asked about the family and creed of the guild.
As he quietly waited for an answer, he patted his chest.
“Let’s not become ungrateful beasts, even if we are merchants seeking profit. That is the creed of our ancestors that has been handed down to our family and the guild.”
and.
“This Cuthbert has never forgotten that creed.”
To put it simply, it means that he raised the percentage as much as he helped.
“Hmm…”
Russell sighed.
‘I didn’t move with the hope of a situation like this.’
what about
It’s not that the stakes go up is a bad thing.
‘I’d rather say it’s a good thing.’
Russell, who had made his decision, expressed his gratitude in moderation.
“The courtesy of the Lord of Mercy. I will be grateful.”
His signature was engraved at the bottom of the contract.
The contract with Michelin Top ends with that.
‘Now all that’s left is-.’
-It was just waiting for the goose that lays the golden egg to conceive an egg.
And…
half a year has passed.
dragon-swallowed wizard
