Chapter 98: The Same Bastards Wherever You Go (2)

It was only natural that other trading companies were acting the same — this bid was a massive opportunity for everyone involved.

“Please don’t worry.”

At Dane Cuera’s confident assurance, Count Edoire McKenzie nodded, though not without a trace of doubt.

“I’ll try trusting you this once.”

Knock, knock.

As the door was rapped upon, a bidding official poked his head in.

“Are the preparations complete?”

In response to Dane’s question, the official gave a different answer.

“More than that, the Marquis Bear Alexon has just arrived at the entrance.”

“What? Who did you just say?”

“The lord, Marquis Bear Alexon, has arrived.”

Count Edoire McKenzie shot up from his seat in shock.

“Why would His Lordship come here?”

“I’m not sure myself… I’ll take my leave now.”

As the official exited, both Edoire McKenzie and Dane Cuera frowned deeply.

“His Lordship wasn’t scheduled to come here today, was he?”

At Dane Cuera’s question, Count Edoire’s irritation flared.

“Of course not! There’s no reason for a lord to attend something as trivial as a merchant auction.”

“But he’s already here, isn’t he?”

Marquis Bear Alexon was of a completely different disposition from the others.

Due to his position, he was difficult to influence through wealth or power, which made them both tense.

“Anyway, what we talked about earlier — there’s no chance of it being discovered, right?”

“None whatsoever. Please trust me!”

After all, the Cuera Trading Company had staked everything on this venture.

The bidding hall was an auditorium inside the Trade Administration Bureau.

Those gathered there were murmuring among themselves, trading all sorts of speculation.

Amidst the rising chatter, the rear doors opened, and the lord himself — Marquis Bear Alexon — entered.

Thud!

The startled crowd quickly fell silent, rising to their feet and bowing low.

It was the proper show of respect to their lord.

“No need for formality. Everyone, please be seated.”

At his words, the people slowly returned to their seats.

Marquis Bear Alexon also found a place near the front and sat down.

Beside him stood two knights and an administrative officer.

The restless atmosphere quickly settled into stillness.

Then, another door to the side opened, and Count Edoire McKenzie, the head of the Trade Administration Bureau, appeared.

Upon seeing the lord, Edoire immediately stepped forward.

“Welcome, my lord. I never expected you would personally visit the Bureau.”

“I happened to hear about it by chance, so I decided to come. After all, isn’t this an important matter for our Archia?”

“Y-Yes, of course. Then… shall we begin?”

After offering his respects, Count Edoire also took his seat.

A moment later, from the same door he had entered through, Muzel walked out.

Muzel was in charge of presiding over today’s bid.

Ascending to the podium at the front, he faced the assembled merchants and spoke.

“We will now begin the bidding for Dragonia’s products. The method will be an auction — each trading company is to write down its purchase offer and submit it.”

After finishing the initial explanation, Muzel scanned the room once before continuing.

“First, let me introduce the products. The explanation will be given directly by the seller, Mr. Fordman.”

Fordman, who had been seated beside Jade to the left, rose and stepped onto the podium.

He removed the cloth covering the table and began introducing the items one by one.

The toilet, the iPot, and the Pyro — he presented them in that order, explaining clearly the purpose of each product.

At the same time, the merchants’ eyes widened in astonishment, and gasps escaped their lips.

The demonstrations were thorough and convincing — leaving everyone genuinely stunned.

The products unveiled under Dragonia’s name delivered an immense shock to all present.

“That will be all.”

As the explanation concluded, Muzel, who had been waiting in the back, stepped forward to continue the proceedings.

However, Fordman didn’t return to his seat. Instead, he spoke again.

“One important thing to note — I have no intention of selling these products at exorbitant prices. I believe they should serve as the foundation for the continent’s development and cultural growth.”

Pausing briefly to catch his breath, Fordman went on.

“Therefore, I request that the bidding be conducted not by the purchase price, but by whichever company offers the lowest final retail price.”

At Fordman’s request, Muzel quickly stepped in to stop him.

“The retail price is not something middle traders can decide. This occasion is meant to determine a suitable purchase price, so please return to your seat.”

The atmosphere grew unsettled again.

At the same time, Count Edoire McKenzie and Dane Cuera’s expressions darkened.

Yet Fordman ignored Muzel’s attempt to restrain him and pressed on.

“If this condition is not accepted, our Dragonia Trading Company will no longer sell any goods within Archia. And we’ll leave this place immediately.”

His voice was firm and unyielding.

Muzel looked flustered and glanced toward Count Edoire for guidance.

It was something that couldn’t be decided at his level.

At that moment, Count Edoire McKenzie rose to his feet.

“I understand what you want. However… merchants must also make a living, don’t they? You, on the other hand, only need to ensure a margin of profit. You cannot possibly interfere with the price set by the final seller.”

Despite his reasoning, Fordman’s expression didn’t change.

“If that cannot be accepted, then we’ll stop here.”

Fordman stood up together with Jade.

Seeing this, the veins on Count Edoire McKenzie’s forehead bulged sharply.

“Hey! Such an act can be considered an insult to the Archia Merchants’ Association and the Trade Administration Bureau — you could be punished for it! Are you going to keep going?”

It was a clear threat.

Indeed, demanding that the retail price be lowered could easily be seen as an insult to the merchants.

But Fordman had no intention of backing down.

“If it’s difficult for you to approve, didn’t you just tell me to leave Archia? I’m merely doing as instructed.”

“Now’s not the time to quibble about that! Your behavior has already gone too far! You’re mocking not only Archia but also the Edina Kingdom!”

As the atmosphere turned hostile, soldiers standing to both sides of the hall surrounded Fordman and Jade.

In that tense situation, Fordman looked around and spoke.

“Are you saying you intend to accuse me by force?”

“Your words have already insulted both our Archia territory and the Edina Kingdom! You must either retract them or face punishment!”

Fordman stared straight at Count Edoire as he replied.

“So if I don’t retract my words, that means the Trade Administration Bureau intends to forcibly confiscate Dragonia Trading Company’s goods, is that it?”

In truth, Count Edoire inwardly rejoiced at Fordman’s sudden defiance.

It was better to seize Dragonia’s products and profit from them rather than complicate matters further.

Of course, this could cause problems later.

But if Dragonia continued acting in this manner, the Cuera Trading Company would find it nearly impossible to purchase their goods anyway.

He decided it was more profitable to take full advantage of this opportunity.

“As the Director of the Trade Administration Bureau of Archia, I must say — you are infringing upon the rights of other merchants. That alone is a punishable offense!”

Just as the atmosphere grew grim, a soldier rushed into the hall.

He carefully approached Count Edoire McKenzie and whispered in a low voice.

“My lord, something unusual is happening aboard Dragonia Trading Company’s ship.”

Count Edoire had already stationed guards near the ship, anticipating the possibility of trouble.

The soldier had come from there.

“What is it?”

“The mage aboard the ship has deployed an ‘Energy Curtain’ around the area. In this situation, it’ll be difficult for us to seize control of the vessel.”

“What? A Mana Barrier?”

The Energy Curtain was a higher-tier magic barrier — classified as Fourth Circle.

And if it could cover two entire ships, the mana involved far exceeded that of a mere Fourth Circle mage.

“It seems there’s a mage of at least the Fifth Circle aboard.”

Though the soldier’s voice was quiet, those nearby clearly heard him.

Count Edoire immediately turned his gaze toward Fordman and Jade.

“There was a mage aboard your ship?”

Fordman answered calmly.

“He’s the escort mage of our company. Since he’s already taken action, I advise everyone not to act rashly.”

“So, even Dragonia Trading Company has a top-class mage under its employ?”

And now, standing beside Fordman was Jade — a Sword Master.

That combination alone deepened everyone’s suspicions about Dragonia.

“To be precise, he’s a Fifth Circle mage. If anyone acts carelessly, it won’t stop at just a mana barrier — he’ll attack as well.”

The danger of a Fourth Circle or higher mage was their use of large-scale area spells.

A single amplified spell could devastate a wide radius — Archia itself could be endangered.

“Fifth Circle…!”

Instead of resolving the situation, things had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

The hall grew even more chaotic.

“That’s enough.”

At that moment, Marquis Bear Alexon, who had remained silent, finally stepped forward.

Everyone turned their heads in surprise at his firm voice.

“M-My lord! They’ve practically declared war on Archia!”

“War?”

“Yes! This man has made absurd demands that insult both the Archia Merchants’ Association and the Trade Administration Bureau, and even gone so far as to mock the Edina Kingdom itself!”

Count Edoire’s voice grew hoarse as he shouted, nearly spitting blood in outrage.

“And that’s not all! They’re using a Sword Master and a Fifth Circle mage to resolve this situation through force, not logic. That’s a clear act of provocation!”

As his words fired out like bullets, Marquis Bear Alexon looked at him with calm eyes.

“If a seller’s conditions can’t be accepted, then isn’t it simple? Just don’t buy.”

“T-That may be true, but… after accepting the bid, they can’t suddenly change the conditions.”

“And who decided that?”

At Marquis Bear Alexon’s question, Edoire faltered.

“It’s the natural rule. Breaking the order of a gathering of trading companies is, in itself, an insult.”

Unable to let the moment slip by, Count Edoire continued his explanation — but Marquis Bear Alexon only tilted his head slightly in puzzlement.

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