[Side story] Two-arm scale (7)
Oldeck’s clock is turned 90 degrees.
It was an idiom that expressed in one line what a foreigner would feel when visiting the commercial city of Oldeck.
There are no people in this world more diligent than greedy merchants.
Oldeck, a port city built on the coast, is full of people running around for a living more diligently than the morning sun.
While out-of-towners would wake up with half-asleep eyes, the merchants of Old Deck are all busy running around… The streets of Old Deck at dawn are more noisy than when the sun is high in the sky compared to other cities.
At around 6 a.m., most workplaces are already full of people, so it’s not strange to get the illusion that the clocks are really turned to one side.
On that topic, bedtime is much later than in other cities, so it’s actually only a half-correct idiom.
In this vibrant city, sloth is the greatest sin.
I don’t hate the atmosphere of this city, where everyone passing by has a lively expression on their face, but there are definitely people who would be disgusted if they had to live in such a combative environment 365 days a year.
It can be said that it is truly the complete opposite of Pulan, Jenica’s hometown, which I recently visited.
“You arrived later than expected.”
Belle got out of the carriage, holding the hand of the half-asleep Lortel, and spoke to me while supervising the vassals unloading the luggage.
The location is the central square of the Old Deck commercial district.
This was the most centrally located plaza in Alldeck, which had over 11 large and small plazas.
Behind the large fountain in the middle of the square stands the government office building that manages all of Old Deck’s administration.
If the head of the Cloel Empire is the capital Cloeron. This Old Deck is the heart.
This is because all logistics of the bloody empire revolve around this place.
Therefore, the government office that manages this Old Deck has no choice but to boast of its magnificent size. A sophisticated marble wall centered on an archaic wooden pillar revealed its majesty.
“Wow…”
Lortel gaped as he looked at the government office building. In reality, it was a building that he had probably been to many times, but to the inexperienced Lortel, this majestic building seemed truly surprising.
“Lortel.”
I called Lortel quietly.
Lortel was startled when he heard that voice, and held Belle’s hand tightly and hugged her waist.
“Yes…”
Lortel answered me in a timid voice.
Perhaps because he was still embarrassed about revealing the contents of the note, he twisted the ends of his auburn hair and glanced up at me.
“How do you like this city?”
“yes?”
Lortel looked embarrassed at the sudden question.
I know Lortel’s past history.
For Lortel, this city called Oldeck is a place of love and hate.
From his childhood, when he had to walk around the slums and hit someone’s back to survive, until he opened his eyes to money and stood at the top as a merchant.
Lortel could neither love nor hate this city.
That’s why I wanted to ask Lortel, who doesn’t remember the many hardships of life, at least once.
“This city…?”
“Last time, I left in such a hurry that I couldn’t even look around Old Deck properly. “This is the largest square in Alldeck and the place where the most people come and go.”
I don’t understand why this question is being asked in this situation, but Lortel didn’t specifically ask why. They are not mature enough to understand such intentions and act in the first place.
Lortel looked around while holding Belle’s hand tightly.
I gently close my eyes and open them, taking in the sight of Old Deck.
Surprisingly, the scenes of Old Deck captured in the girl’s innocent eyes do not make her that uncomfortable.
There is no way for this girl to know how complicated her feelings about this city are when she grows up.
Therefore, Lortel spoke while looking at the huge stone statue on top of the fountain in the central square.
It was a stone statue of a merchant wearing a robe holding a large two-armed scale.
“…I just… like it. The atmosphere is… lively.”
Eventually, Lortel smiled with difficulty.
*
“I’ll give you three missions.”
The maid, Belle Maia, is a high-class person.
Her role in the Ross Taylor mansion is enormous. The area of practice he is reaching out to extends to the entire management of the mansion.
If she were to be away from the mansion for a long period of time, it would have a significant negative impact on the management of the estate.
Nevertheless, the reason why Bell personally accompanied him to Old Deck was because he needed someone who was that reliable.
A manpower that is sure to get the job done, has guaranteed combat capabilities, and will never betray me.
I sat on a bench on one side of Oldeck Square and spoke while rubbing my chin.
Belle is quietly focusing her gaze on me with her arms folded in front of her in a calm posture, and her face is as expressionless as always.
“You take care of just three things while I take care of the affairs of Alldeck Company.”
“I will do as you instructed.”
“First, protect Lortel. As soon as you enter the Old Deck, Slog’s personnel will try to secure Lortel somehow. “You must protect Lortel while I finish the job.”
Even this situation, which is already crowded with people, is a threat to Lortel.
Even before I gave instructions, Belle was clearly looking around and feeling tense.
“It’s a natural order.”
Bell is a high-level wizard who is not only skilled with a rapier, but also knows how to use mid-level magic.
It is not something that needs to be protected for several days, and short-term escorting can be done as much as necessary.
“Second, go into the government office and meet the commissioner in person.”
“Would you like to meet me?”
I took out an envelope containing documents from my pocket and held it out.
“This is my power of attorney. “If I told you that the head maid of Ross Taylor Mansion personally brought my power of attorney, she would naturally show her face.”
“It is an honor to personally represent Master Ed, even though I am a humble person.”
“Let’s put aside unnecessary greetings and only talk about what’s necessary.”
“yes. sorry. “Because it’s a way of speaking that is ingrained in me.”
Belle carefully took my power of attorney, checked the outside, and then put it in her arms.
“But why do you have to meet the commissioner in person?”
“They are taking their time by using the Ross Taylor family’s business conditions as an excuse. If you do that, your third mission will appear.”
“You mean the third mission?”
“okay.”
After confirming that the carriage was completely unloaded, I stood up, dusting off my pants.
“To solve all problems, your third mission is essential. “Removing the curse on Lortel and making sure the slog is over.”
With that said, I made sure to convey her mission to Belle.
Belle nodded with a serious expression.
*
Elte Trading Company Headquarters.
This commercial building, which occupies the largest site on the dockside of Oldeck, which is said to be the land of gold, is completely different in size from the branch at Sylvania Academy.
The huge trading floor that all merchants want to set foot in at least once is like a utopia for the greedy.
Everything works for money, and if you can make money, you will do anything.
And the current leader of the Elte Company is the old fox Slog Keldlux.
By agreement with Lortel, he had temporarily held the position of head of the association until she graduated.
In Slog’s office, two executives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry were sitting together.
In principle, the governance structure of Elte Trading Company is dual.
The chairman who coordinates the large-scale operation plans of the business association.
And the ‘Six Colossians’, which selected the people with the greatest influence among the merchants belonging to the Chamber of Commerce.
Of course, in the end, it is Hoeju who can speak loudest. The Six Giants can only produce a voice similar to that of Hoeju when all six of them sit together in one place.
Fortunately, they do not have direct decision-making authority and are only in a position to discuss with the shareholders.
In addition, the status of the six giants has become much weaker than before.
Slog Keldlux, who was sitting in the position of the six colossi, was removed as he became the leader, and Lortel Keheln was also scheduled to leave the position of the colossus soon.
Whether it’s becoming a stockholder or some other way… Lortel’s position will change completely sooner or later.
In the end, there were only four great merchants left who could maintain their authority.
And two of those four had already decided to join Slog.
Puelan, a mineral merchant, and Kaldenheim, a bond merchant.
The two greedy men were sitting in Slog’s office questioning him.
“You were confident that you had completely trapped Lortel Kecheln, but in the end, you were unable to push her away and time was passing by in a sluggish manner.”
Puellan, who was plump and plump, sat on the hospitality sofa and glared at Slog with a displeased expression.
“I’ve already completely bet on you, but if you don’t handle things neatly like this, I’m just getting anxious. “Is it certain that you will be reappointed as president of the association?”
“I agree too. Lord Slog. “I, too, cannot stand by and watch the Golden Emperor Elte’s daughter eat the dinner table.”
“Everyone is really worried.”
Slog put down his quill on his desk and leaned back.
When the two giants looked at him with suspicious eyes, he chuckled and continued talking.
“okay. Lortel Kecheln… It’s not easy to push that foxy girl away. Since I have the family of the Duke of Rosstaylor behind me, it is no small hardship for me. But… it’s not impossible.”
Slog is a veteran who has survived in this world of commerce for decades.
The two giants were not unaware of that fact. However, I am just uneasy because the other person is none other than Lortel.
“How can those who have risen to the rank of great merchants in this cruel business world build such a great business if they do not have the patience to do so?”
“Don’t choose your words, Slog Keldlux. “No matter how much you call yourself a leader, there will be limits to your ability to expand your influence without the help of the great merchants.”
“Hehe, okay. I apologize. But it’s not like I don’t have any thoughts.”
From what I heard, Slog Keldrox personally went to Los Tailor’s territory to check on the situation.
Even from a slog perspective, it meant that I was running around with my feet on fire. It was to end Lortel more surely.
“Lortel Kecheln has already been cursed with regression and is completely incapacitated. At this point, we don’t have the strength to deal with whatever moves we make. “It would be easiest to accuse him of embezzlement like we did when we kicked Elte out, but… we have to handle the matter carefully first.”
“That damn prudent prudent thing. “How long are you going to keep watching carefully?”
“Do you think that what we have to deal with is simply Lortel Kecheln’s personal power?”
Slog stood up, pushed his office chair into the desk, and came to sit in front of the customer table.
Two giants were sitting opposite, and hot tea was on a low coffee table.
Slog lifted a cup of tea and poured it on the lap of the mineral dealer Fuellan.
“Fuck you! Are you crazy?! “Aaaah!”
“You seem really anxious, so I’m telling you to calm down. “Let’s stop being short-sighted and think that everything will be resolved by simply pushing Lortel out.”
“You bastard!” Is there anyone out there?! ice! “Get the ice!”
Slog sat down on the hospitality sofa and crossed his legs.
“We have to get rid of the Rosstaylor family that is sitting behind Lortel. Only then will the work be completed neatly. “If you try to finish the work hastily, you will end up with everything wrong.”
“Isn’t Duke Rosstaylor the most prestigious place on the continent? “I heard that although their power is still small, they are under the protection of all kinds of noble people.”
“yes. So you have to be even more careful.”
At Kaldenheim’s words, Slog smiled and placed the empty teacup on the table.
“It is now led by the sons of Crepin, the previous head of the family. “I looked at Ed Ross-Taylor and Tanya Ross-Taylor, who are the heads, and guessed it, and I was able to get a rough idea of what kind of people they were.”
Slog raised the corners of his mouth and spoke.
“They are definitely very talented considering their age, but their behavior is easy to read. They are cautious and cunning. So, you will try to be even more cautious when dealing with me. “I will find out who is behind me and try to root it out from the root.”
“If you just listen, it feels like you’re in a crisis.”
“No, it is much easier to read the movements of children from noble families like that.”
Slog spoke leisurely as he buried himself in the backrest.
“I looked through all the records of Ed Rosstaylor, the powerful person in that family. Currently serving as professor emeritus at Sylvania Academy, he is engaged in various research positions and is somewhat involved in the administration of the academic institution. Do you know what the characteristics of those from noble families who devote themselves to the teaching profession are?”
“…”
“I firmly believe that everything can be solved with documents and politics. “I’m sorry, but I don’t realize… that that’s our specialty.”
Even if the Ross Taylor operatives try to frame the group and put political pressure on it, there is a limit to how they can attack Elte Chamber of Commerce with pressure without any justification.
Ultimately, what is needed is cause and justification.
Ed Rothtaylor will try to solve that problem somehow.
In order to do that, you would have to go directly to Alldeck and collect information.
Information war, political war, secret struggle behind the scenes.
Sadly, all of this is Slog’s specialty.
“What we are really afraid of is. It’s an enemy with unpredictable movements. “Not that noble boy.”
Slog, looking down at the two colossi with a grinning smile, is the undisputed ruler of the dark back alley.
“Maybe they are crazy people who can’t figure out what they are thinking, but noble families who show such obvious behavior patterns are… In fact, they are much easier to manipulate and cajole. I’m more scared of the bandits and bums I meet while peddling. “They cut you right in front of your nose.”
Even the two giants found it difficult to raise their voices in front of Slog, who was sitting with his feet crossed.
“So, I waited slowly… when the obvious manipulation came in…”
– Boom!!
– Quaaaaa!
It was that time.
A loud explosion was heard from the front door of Elte Company.
The ensuing aftermath was a huge gale. The glass window, which was shaking and pounding, seemed as if it would break at any moment.
“What?!”
Slog trembled.
The two colossi facing each other also opened their eyes wide and looked at each other.
Slog quickly got up from his seat and went to the window to check the identity of the explosion coming from the front door.
However, before I could properly look out the window, the outer wall of the office exploded.
– Boom!!!!
Second explosion.
A huge arrow made of magical energy is pushing through the marble wall, crushing it like a piece of paper.
The arrow that casually shattered the outer wall of the store as if it were a siege weapon had a mid-level explosion magic imprinted on it.
– Quaaaaaaaa!
“Kaaaaak!”
Caught in the aftermath of the explosion, the two Colossus and Slog rolled awkwardly on the ground.
-Kung Kwaang. Kugoogung!
– Dust
falling down patter.
belch. Heat. scream. A rising sense of crisis.
It felt like I was suddenly thrown from the middle of a business field to the center of a battlefield.
Slog caught his breath and stood up. And then he ran towards the half-destroyed outer wall.
The sharp wind in the sky swept Slog’s gray hair. And as soon as the sight of the front door where the explosion had been heard came into view, Slog couldn’t help but curse.
“No, no… you’re crazy… you idiot…”
I heard a rumor that he was an asshole, but even so, there are limits to it.
Oldeck, the central city of the Cloel Empire.
And Elte Trading Company, the best trading company in Alldeck.
Even if you are the son of a renowned operative, there are limits to how far you can go.
In the distance, I could see Ed Ross Taylor holding a large bow at the main entrance of the store. He was standing on the roof of a carriage with the duchy’s emblem engraved on it.
There is nothing more to see.
There are so many eyes to see in broad daylight when the sun is high in the sky. Suddenly, a magic arrow with an explosion engraved on it hit the commercial building.
Near the main gate, several retainers accompanied by Ed Rosstaylor stood holding military weapons.
In the center, Ed is loading the next arrow. That expression is horrifyingly insensitive. It is a movement that seems to be carrying out a natural and routine task.
“That crazy guy… How are you going to clean this up! “They did something like this to the wall of the building of a commercial company that was doing good business without any charges…!”
While he was saying that, Ed Rosstaylor had already finished loading the next arrow.
Next, we were aiming at the roof of the store.
The first step is toward the main entrance of the business meeting, the second step is near Slog’s office, and the last step is towards the roof of the building to prevent casualties.
It was a goal setting where the intention was clearly visible.
“Oh, get down…! One more shot comes!”
– Boom! Hwaaaaaaaaaaa!
The vibration rang out again, and the sound of the company employees running around in fear penetrated Slog’s eardrums.
“What! How can I really handle it… that crazy guy…! Have you really turned around?!”
Passersby and merchants passing by in front of the commercial building opened their eyes wide as if they had no idea what was going on.
The Elte Chamber of Commerce building, the tallest building in Alldeck, was already in an unbelievable state. The rising smoke and dust showed the seriousness of the situation.
-Tap, thump.
He held the large bow with one hand and brushed off the hem of his shirt with the other.
It’s a great palace that was made with quite a lot of effort, but there are still a lot of parts that need to be adjusted. I threw the burning tobacco on the nearby road and gave instructions to the retainers who were waiting nearby.
“Go in.”
As soon as the order was given, the vassals picked up their weapons and rushed into the commercial building.
