Chapter 70: No Mercy (3)

Regina received Patrick’s gaze and spoke to the burly man.

“I came to find the blue moon hidden by the clouds.”

It was a similar passphrase to the one Patrick had used when he visited the Blue Sunset at the Royal Capital in the past.

At those words, the man’s expression subtly changed, and he glanced toward the bartender.

The bartender nodded in response to his signal.

“…Come inside.”

The man guided the two of them inward. The underground structure, unlike its exterior, was almost identical to the Blue Sunset of the Royal Capital.

Once they arrived, a fat middle-aged man came walking down the corridor.

It was Zolav, the branch manager of the Eye of the Moon in Hasein.

“Well, what brings the esteemed Branch Manager Regina of the Central Branch all the way to Hasein?”

Although they were both branch managers, Regina held a higher rank since she was the manager of the Central Branch.

Zolav, who disliked that hierarchy, spoke in a subtly mocking tone.

Regina maintained a calm expression as she replied,

“I came because an issue has been detected within the Hasein Branch. Therefore, by the authority of the Central Branch Manager, I order you to bring me the owner of the Alqurey Trading Company, Andrew Alqurey, immediately.”

At her words, Zolav looked bewildered.

“An issue with my branch, you say? What do you mean by that? Moreover, the Alqurey Trading Company has been revitalizing the Hasein Territory for years.”

“The products handled by the Alqurey Trading Company are monopolized by Fordman, the traveling merchant, and the Sailden Trading Company of the Royal Capital. Since the Eye of the Moon was commissioned to deliver those profits, I’m here to investigate that matter.”

Despite her detailed explanation, Zolav showed no concern. Instead, his face grew even more brazen as he said,

“We also frequently use Alqurey’s products. But those are items they’ve produced and sold on their own for years. In fact, I’d say it’s that merchant, Fordman, who copied them…”

It was a perfectly prepared explanation, as though he had anticipated this situation.

Of course, Regina had expected that he would come prepared for such an interrogation.

“Those products began being sold through the Sailden Trading Company in the Royal Capital five years ago, in the year 933 of the Continental Calendar. Are you saying Alqurey was selling them even before that?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying!”

Zolav continued to display shamelessness to the extreme.

“Then I’ll request Alqurey Trading Company’s sales ledger. If what you said is false, you’ll have to face the appropriate consequences.”

“The ledger, you say…? How unfortunate. Three years ago, Alqurey Trading Company suffered a massive fire, and all prior records were completely lost.”

“…Do you really expect me to believe that?”

At present, most of the goods in Hasein came from the Alqurey Trading Company.

If they couldn’t clearly prove the ownership and the earlier sales compared to Fordman’s, everything would end up in vain.

It might turn into a case where one’s nose got cut off right before their eyes.

“We’re quite frustrated as well. Alqurey Trading Company worked hard to produce those goods, only to have them sold elsewhere for profit.”

“Then why is it that you, Branch Manager Zolav, are explaining on behalf of the Alqurey Trading Company? I asked you to summon its owner.”

Regina probed from another angle.

Yet Zolav’s shameless expression remained unchanged.

“Because the Alqurey Trading Company is a client of our Hasein Branch. Naturally, as the branch manager, it’s my duty to explain when necessary.”

“Urrrrgh…”

Regina seemed to be boiling with anger at Zolav’s behavior.

But she held herself back to avoid complicating the situation further.

At that, Patrick, who stood behind her, stepped forward.

“Excuse me. My name is Patrick Waver.”

“Are you also from the Central Branch? The branch managers are having an important conversation, so don’t interrupt.”

Zolav assumed Patrick was one of Regina’s subordinates and spoke to him dismissively from the start.

“I’m not with the Central Branch. However… I am the butler and representative of the person who owns those products.”

At that answer, the smirk on Zolav’s face stiffened slightly.

It was easy enough to brush off Regina, but if the owner of the goods was involved, things could get troublesome.

Perhaps realizing he couldn’t show hesitation, Zolav raised his voice even more.

“So you’re saying you’re the representative of the one who stole the Alqurey Trading Company’s products without permission? How dare you show your face here?”

“You’re the ones who stole them without permission. Do you have any idea how enraged my master was because of that?”

Patrick, too, was fuming inside at Zolav’s attitude, though he kept his expression calm.

“Master? Are you saying your employer is a noble?”

“And what if he is?”

“……”

For a moment, Zolav was at a loss for words.

If Patrick was telling the truth and the owner was indeed a noble, things would get complicated.

He had already spoken with the Lord of Hasein, so normally he could get away with this. But if that noble held a rank higher than the Lord’s, the consequences could be dire.

“Why so quiet?”

“Even if your master is a noble, that doesn’t mean he can act recklessly! If anything, it’s more disgraceful for a noble to take goods belonging to another trading company!”

“So you intend to keep denying it, I see. Then it can’t be helped. I’ll have to meet with the Lord of Hasein directly. Why don’t we bring the truth to light before him?”

At Patrick’s suggestion, Zolav cheered inwardly.

In this troublesome situation, if the Lord personally took his side, then the issue would be impossible to pursue any further.

Of course, Zolav had planned to use that method at the end as well.

But since Patrick had spoken first, it had instead become a good opportunity.

The Lord of Hasein was Count Alstain Holivan, who had presided over the territory for four generations.

Count Alstain frowned when he looked at the three who had come to see him.

“So… you mean to say you want me to clarify who owns the goods recently distributed in Hasein?”

He asked that immediately upon meeting them and hearing their explanation.

Zolav stepped forward and answered that question first.

“That is correct. As a representative of the Alqurey Trading Company, I petition Your Lordship to protect our honor and to determine the truth.”

Because the Eye of the Moon was a secret organization, they could not make inquiries openly.

So, outwardly, each party had claimed to be a representative, and that was why this meeting had been arranged.

“Hmm… Chers and Jagir are truly useful and entertaining. Besides, that novel recipe still gives pleasure when enjoying food these days.”

“We are simply grateful.”

“But… these authors now claim to be the true owners of those goods. Is that correct?”

Patrick answered that question this time.

“My master created those things. As his representative, I arranged for their sale to begin in the Royal Capital first, and then commissioned traveling merchants so they could be sold in other territories.”

“It began to trend in the Royal Capital about five years ago, yes?”

“That is correct.”

At Patrick’s answer, Alstain sneered and curled one side of his mouth.

“How convenient. I have been seeing and using that recipe and those items in Hasein since before then.”

At the same time, a smile crept to the corner of Zolav’s mouth.

“Are you certain?”

“I am. Moreover, if this is how things turn out, your master will have to hand over all profits earned from those goods to the Alqurey Trading Company! Including compensation for emotional damages!”

They were greedy to claim complete ownership of the goods by any means.

Naturally, Patrick and Regina could only stare in disbelief at the situation.

“Let me ask again. Are you truly certain they are the original owners of the goods?”

“Didn’t I say earlier? I’ve been using those goods long before! You say your master is a noble — what kind of person would be so presumptuous?”

“My master’s identity cannot be revealed carelessly. Instead, I have proof that my master is the owner of the goods.”

At those words, Alstain and Zolav’s expressions hardened.

“Proof? Zolav said that Alqurey Trading Company’s ledgers were burned long ago. What proof do you claim to have?”

“It is not your kind of proof. My master has a certificate of ownership for the goods.”

“What good is a certificate of unknown origin, spouting nonsense like that here! Are you mocking me in my own presence?”

Irritated, Alstain deliberately feigned anger while nervously bracing himself inside.

He thought that if he scared Patrick, the latter would stop speaking.

But Patrick did not flinch at all.

“A certificate personally granted by His Majesty the King?”

“…W-what! Are you saying His Majesty the King would certify those goods?”

Alstain was so shocked that he stammered and became flustered.

At that moment, Patrick drew a thick roll of parchment from his bosom and unrolled it to show them.

“This is the certificate by which His Majesty the King personally recognized ownership of the goods. My master preferred not to be publicly revealed, so in practice I made it as his agent.”

“Bring that here at once!”

On Alstain’s order, one of his attendants took the parchment and handed it over.

As Alstain began to examine its contents, his pupils visibly trembled.

The document bore the royal crest and the clear seal of King Laskan at its end.

“H-how is this possible… This is a forgery! A fake! His Majesty would never affix his seal to such a thing! Seize and bind those scoundrels immediately!”

Excited, Alstain tried to rip the certificate in frustration.

Even if it were genuine, destroying the evidence here would solve the problem for him.

At that moment Patrick sprang up and produced a dagger the length of a finger joint from his sleeve, which he threw.

The dagger intercepted the certificate that Alstain was about to tear and embedded itself in the wall.

A chilling scene.

But for Alstain, it was also an opportunity to accuse Patrick of attempting to assassinate the lord.

“What are you doing! Seize and kill him at once!”

At Alstain’s shout, the knights and soldiers on both sides rushed forward.

Puf-puf! Puf-puf! Puf-puf!

But Patrick moved swiftly and felled them with too much ease.

Hasein’s knights were not bad, but compared to Patrick they were utterly lacking.

“H-how…?”

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