Chapter 99: The Same Bastards Wherever You Go (3)

After thinking for a moment, Marquis Bear Alexon’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

“That’s nothing more than the Count’s arbitrary decision.”

“Pardon? My arbitrary decision? What an upsetting thing to say, Marquis.”

“What exactly does the Trade Administration Bureau do in Archia?”

At that question, Count Edoire McKenzie replied with an offended expression.

“What do you mean, what do we do? The officials of the Trade Administration Bureau and I work day and night for the sake of trade.”

“Then are you saying people like you produced such results without even collecting accurate information?”

“What is that supposed to mean….”

Marquis Bear Alexon glared at both him and Muzel, erasing the calmness that had lingered in his tone.

“The Dragonia Trading Company has a Swordmaster and a 5th-Circle Archmage in residence. Do you think such a place would present those conditions recklessly just to mock others?”

“But that’s…”

“On the contrary, they’re taking a loss, aren’t they? Does that look like mockery to you, Count?”

“That’s…”

“Then why did you deploy Bureau soldiers at the port without saying a word to me? Did you foresee this situation and plan to occupy the ships to pressure them?”

Even if the soldiers were under the Trade Administration Bureau, they were originally part of the territory’s forces.

Naturally, moving such soldiers required the lord’s permission.

“The people from Dragonia acted improperly, so I merely stationed them there in case something happened.”

“That’s exactly the problem!”

At Marquis Bear Alexon’s grave shout, the atmosphere in the auction hall turned heavy.

Count Edoire McKenzie could no longer speak.

Then Marquis Alexon turned to Dane Cuera of the Cuera Trading Company.

“Dane Cuera! I’ll ask you as well. This deal originally belonged to the Ratea Trading Company. By what authority did the Cuera Trading Company interfere using force?”

Dane Cuera, who suddenly became the target of the questioning, struggled to keep up with the abrupt change in mood.

He wanted nothing more than to crawl into any hole that could let him escape this situation.

“Did you think I came here without knowing of your schemes?”

A furious roar burst from the mouth of Marquis Bear Alexon, who had always spoken to others with courtesy.

Those present stared at him in shock.

“I’ve endured and watched in silence until now! Yet as the days pass, all I hear are merchants’ cries of grief! Did you think I was unaware of it?”

Count Edoire McKenzie’s face went pale.

So did Dane Cuera’s, who sat on the other side.

Dane Cuera subtly tried to rise and slip backward.

Shrrring!

Jade, who had silently approached, drew his sword and aimed it at him.

“And where do you think you’re going?”

“Kh…!”

Confirming the situation, Marquis Alexon spoke.

“Dane Cuera will be interrogated personally by me. Take him to the lord’s castle! Count Edoire McKenzie will accompany him! The questioning will not end until they confess everything!”

Soldiers surrounded Count Edoire McKenzie.

Frowning deeply, he shouted,

“My lord! You can’t do this to me! I’ve worked tirelessly for the development of Archia!”

“I have no desire to hear your excuses right now. Take them away.”

They were dragged out by the soldiers.

Watching them go, Marquis Bear Alexon stepped toward the podium.

“As the lord of Archia, I have been investigating the Trade Administration Bureau’s misdeeds. I apologize to the merchants for not uncovering the truth sooner.”

The merchants, who had been on the verge of outrage, fell silent at the lord’s direct apology.

Fordman and Jade exchanged curious looks at the sight.

“For now, how will today’s bidding proceed? I will follow Dragonia’s stance and match it to their lowered retail price.”

The merchants murmured among themselves but said nothing.

From their perspective, they simply wanted to sell valuable goods for as high a price as possible.

“Will no one step forward?”

At his question, Glivern Ratea, the master of the Ratea Trading Company, stepped up.

“Their goods will not be sold exclusively by our Ratea Trading Company. In particular, we’ve obtained production approval for the item called the ‘toilet’. We’ll manufacture it ourselves and sell it at fair market prices to merchants operating within Archia.”

“Can you guarantee that?”

“I give you my word.”

Hearing Glivern’s reply, everyone turned their eyes toward Fordman.

They wanted confirmation from the source.

“It’s as he said. Dragonia will not only supply goods to the Ratea Trading Company but also to other merchants.”

Fordman’s explanation didn’t stop there.

He met the eyes of those nearby, one by one, and continued,

“However, to stay true to the spirit of cultural development, we will impose price restrictions. Of course, profits will still be sufficient, so I ask that you set aside excessive greed.”

“How much profit are we talking about?”

“Roughly thirty percent. Any more than that would burden the buyers and actually hinder sales.”

The merchants looked again at Dragonia’s goods displayed on the tables.

After hearing the explanations and even testing the items themselves, they truly thought them revolutionary.

They could sell those goods for several times the price if they took them not only to Archia but to other territories as well.

Naturally, it felt like a loss to let that opportunity go.

“We’ll only sell these to places that agree to the fixed price. If you don’t like it, you’re free not to buy.”

The merchants’ murmurs began again.

Then one merchant stepped forward and spoke.

“Are you saying we can really sell those goods too?”

“As long as you follow the conditions, it’s absolutely possible.”

“Understood. I’ll sell them at the set price.”

Following that merchant’s lead, others began to follow suit.

“I’ll do the same.”

“So will I!”

As one after another agreed, Fordman felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

After everyone accepted the terms, the merchants received certificates related to their contracts and left the auction hall.

Glivern also promised to finish the paperwork for the contract and returned to the Ratea Trading Company.

Only Fordman, Jade, and Marquis Bear Alexon remained in the auction hall.

“Thank you very much, Marquis Bear Alexon.”

“No, it’s as I said before—this was a situation I’d been waiting to resolve for a long time. Thanks to you, it ended in a very favorable way.”

In truth, Fordman was already acquainted with Marquis Bear Alexon, the lord of the territory.

Having traveled through various lands for five years, he had met quite a few nobles.

Of course, all of that had been made possible thanks to the products created by Raion.

“We actually gained more from this. But what will happen to Count Edoire McKenzie?”

It was an affair involving a noble and the director of the Trade Administration Bureau.

Neither the territory nor the kingdom could simply overlook it.

“I’ll submit a report to the royal capital, but he’ll likely just return to his estate or homeland.”

“As expected, he’s a noble after all.”

In the end, the only consequence would be his resignation as Bureau Director.

“However, the Cuera Trading Company will now be subject to strict supervision through the Trade Administration Bureau.”

“Is that even possible?”

“They’ve been charging merchants outrageous markups—so yes, they’ll be thoroughly investigated. And during that process, we’ve already found enough evidence of tax evasion.”

Until now, the Trade Administration Bureau had turned a blind eye to it, making it difficult to detect.

But with the lord now authorized to conduct a full investigation, the problem was effectively resolved.

“Thank you.”

“The gratitude should be mine. Still, Dragonia truly is remarkable.”

Marquis Alexon’s gaze, like the merchants earlier, turned toward the displayed products.

The toilet, along with the iPot and Pyro, were items that could greatly enrich and simplify the lives of his people.

If they spread properly, everyone would be able to enjoy a more comfortable life.

“When I first saw how these items were made, I had the exact same reaction as you, Marquis.”

“Hahaha! Is that so?”

“They’re truly incredible. Every time I see them, I’m amazed that such things could even be created.”

“I’m very curious about the person who made them. Fordman, what do you think? Can you tell me who it is?”

Marquis Alexon’s eyes gleamed with deep curiosity.

He was genuinely eager to know the one responsible for creating Dragonia’s products.

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you right now. But you’ll find out someday.”

“So, you’ll introduce us later?”

“Of course. I’m sure he’ll want to meet you as well, Marquis. You have my word.”

“I’ll look forward to it, then.”

With those final words, Marquis Bear Alexon took his knights and soldiers and returned to his castle.

Fordman and Jade also left the auction hall together.

Perhaps due to the commotion earlier, a large crowd had gathered outside.

The two pushed through the mass of people as they made their way forward.

Along the way, Jade asked the question that had been on his mind.

“I didn’t realize you were that close with the lord here.”

When the Cuera Trading Company and the Trade Administration Bureau had sprung their trap, Jade thought there was no hope.

But Fordman had stepped forward, met with the lord directly, and arranged everything that had just happened.

“It’s all thanks to traveling around with a wagon, working hard to sell our goods. Of course, Master’s suggestion helped as well.”

“So you’re saying Master anticipated something like this might happen and prepared for it?”

Jade asked in surprise.

Fordman showed a slightly uncertain expression.

“I can’t say for sure. But I don’t think he was unaware, either.”

“He’s truly an extraordinary man. Still, without your quick thinking, Fordman, this would’ve been impossible.”

“You flatter me. I simply did what any merchant should.”

“Is that so?”

“In business, you must understand people before products.”

Fordman looked a bit embarrassed, yet confident.

Jade couldn’t help but smile at that.

“At any rate, thanks to your efforts, this deal went off without a hitch.”

“There’s still plenty left to do. Once things here settle, we’ll need to return and bring more products.”

The port city of Archia was only the beginning.

From here, they planned to open sea trade routes to several kingdoms, including Mistel of Prios.

“It sounds like there’ll be plenty more hard work ahead.”

“Sir Caldein will have his share as well. And I imagine there’ll be people trying to recruit you and Sir Caldein, too.”

Marquis Alexon himself had shown great interest in Jade.

After all, both a Swordmaster and a 5th-Circle Mage carried immense influence in any nation.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep