Chapter 267 |
『Side Story』 The Balance Scale (8)
TL: TangSanFan
ED/PR: Tanthus
Upon revealing the power of attorney from Ed Rothtaylor, the agency’s clerk immediately led Belle Mayar to a reception room reserved for VIPs.
Belle, holding tightly to Lortelle’s hand, sat in the reception room, quietly focusing her attention on her surroundings.
Since all the retainers she had brought were sent to the Elte Trading Company, Belle was the only one left to protect Lortelle. In case of an emergency, she could not afford to let her guard down.
“I’ve heard there’s a renowned retainer who alone manages the inner workings of the famous Rothtaylor territory. It’s said that despite being a commoner, this person has risen to a position akin to the lady of a noble house due to the lord’s trust,” the elder gentleman who entered the room said with a tranquil voice.
“It is an honor to meet the protagonist of such rumors in person.”
The man wore a neat merchant’s hat, a monocle, and fitted shirt and trousers, along with a blue coat. His sophisticated appearance made even his streaks of white hair seem dignified.
“Rumors always tend to exaggerate. The honor is mine to meet you, Director Mait.”
Belle was not a retainer but a hired employee. Moreover, she was not of common birth but originated from the noble family of Planchell.
Such details often became distorted in rumors.
“You are a surprisingly young and beautiful lady. As a messenger from the Rothtaylor family, we must treat you accordingly. But who is the adorable child with you?”
Belle pondered Ed’s instructions and spoke slowly in a low voice.
“She is Miss Lortelle, currently a guest under the care of the Rothtaylor family.”
The name should not be unknown to Mait, the director sensitive to power dynamics within Oldec.
At first, he may have thought it was a tasteless joke and gave an awkward smile.
However, as he realized Belle’s expression didn’t waver, his own expression began to darken.
Lortelle, sitting closely beside Belle, wrapping her arm around her, only alternated her gaze between Mait and Belle, looking unsettled.
Mait’s demeanor slowly turned grimmer.
“We have much to discuss. Above all, you, Director, will soon be in need of my assistance.”
Belle continued calmly. Despite feeling taken aback by the abrupt turn of events, Mait focused intently on her words.
Belle glanced at the clock and added,
“Before you hear my story, please quickly arrange for the musicians and ceremonial items for VIP treatment. You’ll find it better to hear the details as we proceed with the events.”
– BANG!!
The retainers of the Rothtaylor family burst through the wooden doors of the trading company into the lobby.
In the midst of this, another magic arrow struck deeper, shaking Slog’s office once more. Each impact felt as powerful as a massive bomb.
“Damn it…!”
Completely taken aback and at a loss, Slog yelled at the two wealthy merchants who couldn’t come to their senses.
“We need to head to the lower levels now! Better yet, to the basement!”
“Slog Keldrucks!”
Puellan, overweight to the point of immobility, lay sprawled on the floor, unable to move properly.
Even if rotten, he was one of the six giants who managed the mineral circulation of the southern empire. Clenching his teeth, Slog pulled Puellan’s arm and helped him stand.
In contrast, the lean bill broker Caldheim quickly managed to get on his feet.
“This is not what we were told! They said Ed Rothtaylor would approach with caution…!”
“Let’s not worry about the blame right now!”
Slog grimaced and shouted.
There was definitely a sense of discord.
Ed Rothtaylor’s martial power and influence weren’t to be trifled with.
Nevertheless, the reason Slog could act so boldly was that he had already grasped Rothtaylor’s ‘tendencies.’
Bulldozing through without consideration for aftermath would be uncharacteristic of Rothtaylor.
The legitimacy and rationale of action are entirely different, even with the protection of the empire and the holy city.
Twisting the neck of a thriving merchant without any evidence… While it was possible, it would severely damage one’s reputation.
This could profoundly hurt the newly rejuvenated name of the Rothtaylor family.
Furthermore, Ed Rothtaylor, holding an academic position, would face deteriorating student opinion and reputation if tarnished. A ruffian image would be fatal for an educator.
Ed Rothtaylor was a man who had built much. That meant he had a lot to lose.
Those with much to lose do not act rashly. They move within the confines of the system, bound by regulations.
Thus, Slog could lure him into a battlefield of shadows and intrigue.
Ed Rothtaylor had always behaved this way, never straying from this principle. This was why Slog was confident.
But now… Punching his way in like a madman seemed to contradict the scrutiny of past behavior.
“Didn’t I tell you to rely only on yourself! This is insane…!”
“We haven’t failed to consider such a worst-case scenario! There’s something in the basement of the trading company that can quench this urgent fire!”
Stripping off his coat and rolling up his sleeves, Slog took action.
“Puellan, caldheim. You two dash to warehouse B-3 in the basement and retrieve the items stored there. Those goods are far too precious to leave in the hands of company staff.”
“What’s there?”
Regardless of their skepticism, Puellan and Caldheim were tycoons who had bet entirely on Slog’s side.
They were bound to stick with Slog, whether it led to success or ruin.
“It’s something that can turn this situation around. If Ed Rothtaylor intends to catch me, I’ll draw his pursuit and buy us some time.”
Caldheim swallowed nervously and glanced towards the demolished wall.
Through the wrecked gates of the company, Ed Rothtaylor could be seen leaping from the roof of a carriage.
The way he set down his longbow and walked into the branch office, there seemed to be an otherworldly energy about him.
The mercenaries guarding the inside were certain; they couldn’t stop this man’s advance.
“If we’re going to carry something back, we’ll need at least two of us. We’re in the same boat now, so don’t dawdle and come straight here.”
Slog emphasized his words between clenched teeth.
Puellan and Caldheim, sweating profusely, nodded and dashed out of the office.
There was no retreat. If the pursuit began in earnest, it couldn’t be shaken off. They had to find a solution right here.
* * *
As they entered the trading company lobby, subdued traders lay crouched on the floor.
Their faces conveyed an equal mix of confusion and disbelief, as if caught unaware in a dream.
Who would have thought that amidst Oldec, the heart of the empire, and in one of the largest trading buildings at that, Elte Trading Company headquarters would be caught in an act of terrorism?
Subduing the traders wasn’t hard. As long as their lives were spared, they wouldn’t pose much resistance.
The real challenge was the mercenaries contracted with the trading company and tasked with defending the headquarters and branches.
“What the hell… that guy…!”
“All of you, out! It’s an attack!”
Merchants who had been standing by outside or on higher floors hurried into the lobby, startled.
With various weapons in hand—daggers, swords, crossbows, staves—they drew together but hesitated to attack.
The sight of noble house crests pinned on the attackers’ chests signaled trouble.
“What are you doing?”
A trader, paralyzed by fear, suddenly couldn’t help but shout out.
“We, we need to create an opportunity to escape!”
A mercenary’s credibility is their lifeblood. If they’ve signed a contract with Elte Trading Company, they’re bound to protect it, no matter the adversary.
The mercenaries let out a collective yell and charged forward.
– Whoosh!
I unleashed a basic wind spell to knock back all the mercenaries and focused magical energy in one hand.
As I didn’t want to injure the merchants more than necessary, the conflict should be minimized. The priority was capturing Slog; the rest were to be induced into fleeing.
The summoned energy flourished within me and weaved into the air with an elemental style.
– BOOM!
The informed attendants simultaneously burst into the internal corridors of the company.
The magic filling the lobby grew in intensity, soon shattering the ceilings and pillars.
The traders and mercenaries sprawling on the ground watched in shock and fell to the floor. I radiated the gathered elemental energy outside the property.
– Roar!
The enormous eyes of the reptilian being slit vertically, glancing in from outside the main gate.
Only the huge eyes were visible from the lobby; the creature was as large as a building.
The hot, searing heat was the manifestation of a fire elemental.
The crackling flames spread throughout the entire building.
The high-level fire elemental Tarkan was more powerful than a group of intermediate-level mages could handle.
Company employees within the premises, as well as passersby, screamed and scattered wildly.
The spectacle of a bomb dropped in the middle of a city square—the presence of a high-level elemental—sparked terror in onlookers.
“Damn it…! This is… damn…!”
The mercenaries began to falter in fear, either falling on their behinds or trembling helplessly.
Faced with an insurmountable foe, they had only one option: to flee.
“Let’s… to the back door… run to the back door!”
Prioritizing their lives, the mercenaries scrambled towards their escape.
Even the captured traders stared after them in disbelief, but couldn’t find it within themselves to blame the mercenaries. Instinctively, they knew they would have made the same choice.
Having cleared the way without even intending to confront the noble, the mercenaries gritted their teeth and dashed out of the property.
No one could have imagined facing a high-level elemental in the middle of the city.
“Find Lien first. I’ll pursue Slog.”
I left those instructions with the attendants.
Lien, Lortelle’s chief secretary, was surely bound by Slog.
The Lien I know would never betray Lortelle.
Yet Slog claimed he extracted information about Lortelle from Lien. Which means he used despicable methods, whether it was torture or a truth serum, to make Lien speak.
If the merchant Slorg had his way, Lien would have to be bound within reach. Surely rummaging through the main office of this trading company would lead to her discovery. The retainers loudly affirmed their understanding and dispersed to search the premises. I, once again, summoned my mana and completely destroyed the already half-demolished lobby ceiling with an Intermediate Fire Magic spell, ‘Focus Blast’. There’s no time to dawdle; we’re in the heart of the city. Any delay only puts us at a disadvantage. We must finish within 20 minutes.
The explosion’s aftermath created a path through the ceiling leading to Slorg’s upper office floors. The merchants were completely subdued and had lost the will to fight. The mercenaries, intent on saving their lives, had all fled. There was still time before the city authorities took notice.
Summoning the winds’ power, I leaped to the upper floors of the trading company. Slorg was nothing more than a merchant with no combat ability. He stood no chance in a fight. Upon reaching his office, I only encountered a shattered outer wall and an open door leading to the hallway.
“…”
I muttered, striding through the door and gazing down the hallway. There, at the far end, I could see Slog’s retreating back as he gritted his teeth and ran. I gathered mana at my fingertips, not just any mana, but the mana of the divine. A divinity spell, ‘Forced Convergence’.
Divine Magic is the pinnacle of unreasonableness. Once a target is sighted and the spell is cast, the victim is left without choice but to be affected. As I unleashed the gathered divine mana, Slog’s body was sucked back towards me from afar.
“Kuh-ack!”
I grabbed him by the scruff and swung him towards the opposite hallway wall.
– Smash! Bang!
“Argh!”
Crashing against the wall, Slog rolled on the floor groaning in pain. However, within moments, he pulled out an item from his breast pocket, an impact dispersion device. It’s not unknown to me that unarmed wealthy merchants always carry such magical tools for self-defense.
Unfortunately for him, magical engineering is my specialty. The impact dispersion device he drew was something I’d already made hundreds of times. Just glaring at the device was enough to sever its magic circuits, as I could see its internal configuration as if with my eyes closed.
– Click, clack.
“This… this madness… Why isn’t it… How much is this worth…!”
I snapped up the shock dispersion device in mid-air and flung it away. Tossed into a corner, the device shattered helplessly on the floor.
Slog looked up at me with resentful eyes and tried to push himself backward along the floor, but the pitiless corridor wall thwarted any retreat.
“Hah… Really… ugh…”
Slog chuckled grimly before he spoke.
“Master Ed, you’ve made a mistake in your judgment.”
“…”
“You might think I’m trying to talk my way out of this situation hastily, but these are my sincere words. You can still reverse this. Take your retainers and withdraw. You surely don’t realize that instead of helping the Lortelle Keheln, in the long run, you’re only causing more harm.”
Clutching his voice, Slog raised his tone.
“Hasn’t Lortelle always said it? The fight among merchants is one of principle and legitimacy.”
I kept quiet and listened.
“By using force to break my neck and place Lortelle Keheln at the top of the trading company… Do you really think the merchants will follow her? Regrettably, the merchants feel fear of you rather than allegiance to Lortelle.”
Slog leaned on the wall of the corridor and slowly stood up, with only his sly tongue left as an asset.
“But Slog, that tongue is what sustains you as a merchant.”
“Merchants ultimately act on efficiency and rationality. They may bow to Lortelle initially, but soon they will realize that this group is not established on economic logic and rationality but on force and fear.”
Merchants are driven by money, not power. While the two often go hand in hand, their essence is entirely different.
“How long do you think the merchants will follow Lortelle, who is merely supported by the reputation of the Rothtaylor? It won’t take long for the core staff of the trading company to feel disillusioned and leave. They need a leader who can conduct business well, not one who rules solely with political power and force.”
Lortelle had so desperately tried to negotiate with Sacred Dragon City, ultimately to secure the allegiance of the merchants in the Elte trading company.
The trading company is a gathering of merchants who want to make money. To keep them and have them under control, ‘business’ is the best justification.
“If you break my neck like this, I’ll be remembered as a poor head of the household who was unjustly removed from his position due to the tyranny of the Rothtaylor family. Lortelle will become the person who ousted me by force.”
“…”
“Is this truly the political landscape you had envisioned for the trading company? Even this much… isn’t this utterly basic?”
As I remained silent, Slog began to emphasize his point more forcefully.
“A power seat taken without principle and legitimacy will only crumble in the end – I thought you understood this better than anyone… It surprises me you would make the worst choice that ends in mutual harm. It’s not too late…”
“Slog Keldrux,” I said as I held my mana-charged hand before Slog’s face. He swallowed hard.
“Surely you know it’s you who lack principle and legitimacy.”
“What… what do you mean… I’ve lawfully inherited the Elte gold crown…”
“Didn’t you say it yourself, with your very mouth, that what merchants ultimately look at is gold?”
There is a degree of truth to Slog’s words.
However, there’s no way I hadn’t considered that.
“Who will recognize you as their head of household when you try to bury a grand business plan to preserve your position?”
“…The deal with Sacred Dragon City you mean?”
Slog dropped his head and then let out a dry laugh.
“An unfinished business plan… You think you can push the current head of the household with that?”
The deal Lortelle had been pushing with Sacred Dragon City had yet to see the light of day.
In fact, before even becoming a proper business plan, it was just a promise to connect Sacred Dragon City with Lortelle.
“No one can guarantee that it would evolve into a solid business proposal.”
“Even if plans are supposedly set up with Sacred Dragon City, that doesn’t mean anything politically. Furthermore, merchants speak with contracts. Who will believe without one?”
“What if I personally guarantee it?”
“I’m well aware of the influence of the Rothtaylor ducal family, but not even your voice can move the entire holy city of Carpea.”
However mighty a ducal heir may be, a single voice cannot sway a nation.
Slog knew this too well, and that’s why he had made his move. Not a fool, Slog knew well that there was no justification for Lortelle to oust him at this moment.
“Sorry, but Sacred Dragon City and Elte trading company have already completed their logistics contract, and it’s all on paper. You’re the one who burned it. To save your position, you’ve burnt down the collective benefits of the entire trading company, making the deal disappear. Even if not actually true, that’s what people will come to believe.”
“Slander and intrigue. A fine strategy indeed… But even if the words come from your mouth, Master Ed, not all merchants will believe it.”
“Right, you’re correct, Slog Keldrux.”
Slog grimaced in pain but still managed a crooked smile.
At the moment, there truly was no justification for taking down Slog.
“That’s why I’ll have to borrow the voice of someone much more authoritative than me.”
Continuing my words, Slog’s grin vanished.
Slowly lifting his head with twisted neck, he expanded his pupils gradually.
Finally, his thoughts crystal-clear, he spoke with a trembling voice.
“What… have you done…”
* * *
– Bang!
An employee burst into the audience chamber of the Alderman’s office, quickly apologizing. There was a pressing situation that necessitated interrupting the Alderman in the middle of his work.
The alderman, who had been conversing with Belle, leaned in to listen as the trading company’s employee whispered a message.
Meanwhile, the Alderman’s eyes grew wide with astonishment.
Staring intently at Belle after hearing the whispered message, Belle sat there demurely with her eyes softly closed.
Urgently, Alderman Mait rose from his chair and spread out several reports from his desk drawer. Among them was a daily briefing, listing the official schedules of various influential figures within the empire. He stared intently at one of the documents, brushing his fringe up in disbelief.
Belle, observing this scene, slowly spoke up.
“It seems a distinguished guest has arrived.”
Belle remembered.
The question Ed nonchalantly threw to Tanya:
– ‘If we send a message to Holy City Carpea now, when would it arrive?’
The Saint’s schedule is always publicly announced monthly by Sacred Dragon City.
As the city’s Saint, who receives the highest reverence in Carpea, all her movements are made public and guarded strictly.
Thus, anyone reasonably knowledgeable about the political situation can be aware of Saint Clarice’s schedule.
“This is…”
─Merchants refer to Saint Clarice as ‘the walking city’.
Everywhere she goes, droves of people render traffic impassable; the faithful crowding just to hear her teachings create a human sea that would fill several large central plazas.
No one possesses the influence to summon the revered Saint at will; she follows a strict schedule that cannot be altered.
The trading company employee whispered something, but Belle could hardly believe the words when the convoys began to arrive in the commercial city.
“It’s like a bomb dropping on the city you oversee out of nowhere, sleepily all in a morning’s work…”
In the silence that filled the audience chamber, only the puzzled young Lortelle was left casting bewildered looks around the room.