Chapter 97: The Same Bastards Wherever You Go (1)

Dane Cuera arrived at Count Edoire McKenzie’s mansion in a carriage.

The atmosphere there was grim.

“You’re telling me you prepared everything and still failed?”

Count Edoire McKenzie was the trade supervisor of Archia Port.

He had close ties with the Cuera Trading Company and had profited greatly from it.

“It wasn’t a failure, but rather… an unexpected problem that forced us to postpone it.”

“So that’s why you came running to me?”

Count Edoire’s expression soured even further.

At his reaction, Dane Cuera cleared his throat before replying.

“There’s another reason.”

“What reason? You’d better have a good one.”

“Fordman’s escort knight was a Swordmaster.”

“A Swordmaster? Are you certain?”

“I confirmed his aura myself. It seems Fordman has backing powerful enough to assign a Swordmaster as his escort.”

The two had thought Fordman was merely a lucky traveling merchant who had come across valuable goods.

But with a Swordmaster involved, it was no longer a trivial matter.

“What kind of power could that be?”

“I asked around and heard that the goods came from a place called Dragonia.”

“Dragonia?”

Until now, Fordman had sold his wares without ever revealing their origin.

The value of his products was so high that, although people were curious, none had dared dig too deep.

“Those two strange-looking sailing ships that arrived at the docks today—those are from there.”

Count Edoire thought back after hearing his words.

“Ah—right! There were such ships. So you’re saying all of Fordman’s goods are loaded on those?”

“For now, that seems to be the case.”

“And you don’t know what those goods are?”

“I’ve received word of two items from my people planted in the Ratea Trading Company.”

“What are they?”

Count Edoire, his curiosity piqued, pressed the question.

Dane Cuera slowly opened his mouth.

“One is a magical tool board that purifies waste into clean water, and the other is a kettle that can make water hot or cold.”

The informant he had planted was one of the men who had carried in the Waste Jars to the Ratea Trading Company.

Thanks to the hefty sum he had paid, he’d been able to acquire that much information in advance.

“If such items truly came from this Dragonia, that’s incredible.”

“This time, we must find a way to purchase and sell those goods ourselves.”

“What do you need from me?”

Count Edoire’s greed grew as he listened.

“I already have something in mind.”

“Then speak.”

When pressed for an answer, Dane Cuera laid out his plan.

The next day, Fordman and Jade visited the Ratea Trading Company.

After explaining what had happened the previous day, Glivern’s expression turned grave.

“I didn’t think the Cuera Trading Company would stoop so low. It seems we were too complacent. My deepest apologies.”

Although it wasn’t the Ratea Trading Company’s fault, Glivern bowed his head earnestly.

Seeing that, Fordman waved both hands.

“No, not at all. I should’ve been more careful too. But they won’t be able to act rashly anymore.”

Jade even revealed the blue aura gleaming on his sword.

It was clear that brute interference would now be difficult.

“Actually, we’ve had a bit of trouble on our end as well.”

“Trouble?”

“A public notice arrived from the Archia Merchant Association and the Trade Bureau.”

“A public notice?”

Still wearing a grim expression, Glivern handed over a piece of parchment.

On it was written the contents of the official notice.

After reading it, Fordman’s face stiffened slightly.

[The Ratea Trading Company has violated the principles of fair trade by monopolizing products from a specific trading company. Such behavior is deemed dishonorable for merchants… It is advised that the concerned goods be sold through an open bidding process.]

“This is absurd…”

The notice declared that Fordman could no longer freely sell the goods from Dragonia—that the Trade Bureau would step in and hold a separate auction for them.

Naturally, Fordman was at a loss for words.

“I think it’s nonsense too. You haven’t received any formal notification, have you?”

“None.”

The seller himself had been informed of nothing.

Just then, a commotion arose outside, and an elderly man in a blue uniform strode into the room.

Several Archia soldiers followed behind him.

“I am Muzel, an administrator from the Trade Bureau.”

“Are you here because of this notice?”

At Glivern’s question, Muzel gave him a calm, steady look.

“That’s correct. You must be the merchant Fordman, am I right?”

“Indeed.”

“I came to deliver an official notice. Here it is.”

The document Muzel handed over passed into Fordman’s hands.

Its content wasn’t much different from the parchment notice Glivern had received earlier.

Wiping away his earlier relaxed expression, Fordman asked seriously,

“This kind of sanction hasn’t existed before. Why should we follow it?”

“The Trade Bureau exists to serve the kingdom’s commerce. If you refuse, you will be forbidden from selling any goods to any trading company in Archia.”

“There’s no such law!”

Glivern, who had been quietly listening until now, stepped forward angrily.

“For about five years, the Ratea Trading Company has made considerable profit through its exclusive trade with your company. That has skewed Archia’s market influence to one side. To prevent that, Count Edoire McKenzie, head of the Trade Bureau, has issued this directive.”

At that name, Glivern’s face stiffened.

“We’ve been trading for over five years. To restrict us only now is exploitation.”

“Wouldn’t you call it a correction for the sake of fair trade?”

Muzel did not back down a single step as he turned to Fordman.

“What will you do?”

“What choices do I have?”

“You may either put your goods up for public bidding, or, if you refuse, you’ll no longer be allowed to remain in Archia Port.”

“Are you saying I’ll be expelled?”

No kingdom could normally interfere directly in trade.

Yet Archia—center of the western sea’s commerce—intended to do just that.

“That’s correct. However, the bidding will take the form of an auction. Isn’t that to your advantage? You can sell your goods for maximum profit.”

It wasn’t wrong, technically.

But for Fordman, this transaction wasn’t merely about profit.

That was why he had chosen to deal with the Ratea Trading Company instead of the money-obsessed Cuera Trading Company.

“When must I decide?”

“You must give your answer by tomorrow at noon. I’ll assign someone to you—just inform him when your decision is made.”

“Understood.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

After finishing his words, Muzel departed with the soldiers.

Only after confirming he was gone did Fordman and Glivern let out heavy sighs.

A brief silence lingered before Glivern spoke first.

“This must be the Cuera Trading Company’s doing.”

“Does the Cuera Trading Company have ties with the Trade Bureau?”

“To be precise, Count Edoire’s source of funds is the Cuera Trading Company. Before we began working with you, they used his backing to rake in obscene profits.”

Just recalling those days made Glivern’s head throb.

Everyone in Archia had clicked their tongues at the Cuera Trading Company’s ruthless business tactics.

“I’m not sure how we should handle this.”

“I doubt the auction will even be conducted fairly. And besides…”

“The problem is, we’re not selling for a huge profit.”

“Exactly. If the Cuera Trading Company wins the bid, those goods will skyrocket in price.”

The Cuera Trading Company and the Trade Bureau likely hadn’t planned this together—but luck had handed them the upper hand.

While the two discussed, Jade spoke up.

“If this is important, shouldn’t we report it to Master?”

At his suggestion, Glivern tilted his head.

“‘Master’? Do you mean the one said to be behind you?”

Glivern had heard nothing concrete about Dragonia’s inner structure, so his curiosity was natural.

“That’s right. We call him Master.”

“So all authority rests with this Master?”

Worry crept into Glivern’s tone. He feared Dragonia might withdraw from the trade entirely.

“That’s not the case. I’m the one fully responsible for business matters.”

“Whew! That’s a relief. Sir Jade, your words nearly gave me a heart attack.”

Jade responded calmly.

“I checked into their connection—it seems rather severe.”

“I know. That’s why I’m concerned about how things will turn out if it comes to an auction.”

After a moment’s thought, Fordman spoke.

“We’ll accept the bidding.”

“But if you do, the Cuera Trading Company and the Trade Bureau will surely play tricks.”

“I’ve considered that. If you trust me, let’s wait and see.”

Seeing Fordman’s resolute expression, Glivern didn’t hesitate.

“Understood. I’ll trust you.”

With that, Fordman ended the conversation and left with Jade.

Outside, he informed the Archia soldiers waiting there of his decision to accept.

After they left, Jade asked with concern,

“Do you have a plan?”

“I didn’t wander the continent as a merchant with nothing to my name. I’ve got some connections in Archia—I’ll make use of them.”

“I’ll warn Caldein and the sailors to stay alert. There’s no telling what tricks they’ll try next.”

The two men, both troubled, returned to their ship.

A few days later.

At the Merchant Association of Archia Port City, the bidding for Dragonia’s goods was scheduled to take place.

While preparations were underway, Dane Cuera of the Cuera Trading Company met Count Edoire McKenzie in a private room.

“I didn’t expect him to accept so easily.”

“He must think he has a chance to win the auction.”

“So he’s confident?”

“He wouldn’t have agreed to this without some plan. And the Ratea Trading Company will have prepared for this kind of event too.”

Dane Cuera intended to seize all of Dragonia’s products at any cost.

But having driven things this far, he also needed a foolproof method.

“I’ve set everything in place.”

“You’ve bought off the auction officials?”

“Not bought off… let’s just say I’ve made use of my acquaintances.”

“You’d better make sure nothing goes wrong.”

This auction wouldn’t involve only the Cuera and Ratea Trading Companies—there were other trading houses joining as well.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep