Chapter 117
Priest Horo sat across from Merchant leader Barako.
We were seated on the first floor of Goro Merchant Guild's building.
Merchant leader Barako spoke first.
"Should we move somewhere else?"
"I prefer it here."
Priest Horo glanced outside.
The deputy-leader was still standing there.
"Why is Deputy-Leader Geroz acting like that?"
"You're called Priest Horo, right?"
"That's right. You have committed an irreversible act."
I stared intently at Priest Horo and Merchant leader Barako.
Even with just my gaze, they showed obvious displeasure.
"Was it so unpleasant for our merchant guild to conduct independent trade?"
"Merchants from our divine order were already trading! Even a simple merchant should have professional ethics! Did you think we'd just watch as you stole our trade?"
"Barako Merchant Guild exports goods worth 30,000 gold coins annually to Robe, and the fee the divine order receives is 9,000 gold coins a year. Is that really so much?"
The two of them were left speechless.
This pressure isn't just because of the losses.
It's because we dared to break into their solid cartel.
They feel we must be taught a harsh lesson.
"Merchant leader Barako, why go through the divine order for trade when you could directly interact with Tern? Tern is closer, isn't it?"
"Are you calling that an argument?!"
The priest shouted.
It was ridiculous.
"This is indeed a valid point. The one being unreasonably loud is Priest Horo, despite it being obvious."
"What?!"
"You went through the divine order because there would be penalties for the merchant guild otherwise. Or, Barako and the divine order have always done things this way."
"I can't listen to this any longer."
Priest Horo stood up.
"Sit down. If our house and the divine order might end up at war, shouldn't you at least hear what we have to say?"
"What did you say? War?"
Priest Horo and Merchant leader Barako were shocked.
After all, even the Emperor of the empire wouldn't say something like this.
The priest's face turned red.
"Repeat that! What did you say? War?"
"As I stated in the letter. That right there is Deputy-Leader of the Geroz Mercenary Corps, who declared war on our house. The steward from Tris can serve as a witness. Please, check."
"The Mercenary Corps has nothing to do with our divine order!"
"Yes, I know."
Despite Priest Horo's words, his pupils wavered.
They'd also heard the rumors: 300 mercenaries were massacred, and those who arrived later quickly retreated.
"Geroz and the divine order are unrelated. But the divine order's security is managed by Geroz. Remove all of them. They need to fight us, after all."
"What in the world are you talking about?!"
"The deputy-leader said he'd wipe our house from existence. What could we do? We decided to wipe out Geroz Mercenary Corps, too."
"What kind of madman are you!"
Priest Horo's face was crimson.
Merchant leader Barako, known as a tycoon among tycoons, must be a terrifying figure, but he couldn't utter a word right now.
"If Geroz Mercenary Corps doesn't leave the divine order, we'll have to go in ourselves. We're only asking you to withdraw them, so the divine order won't get caught in the crossfire."
"Are you threatening the divine order now?! We are the sacred divine order supported by people all across the continent!"
"Threaten? Not at all. The Mercenary Corps and divine order have nothing to do with this — just remove the Mercenary Corps, and there's no issue."
"You just said it yourself! There might be war with our divine order!"
"Yes. If the divine order protects Geroz Mercenary Corps, that could happen. Also, if Geroz's true master is the divine order."
Priest Horo's mouth hung open.
For those who'd wielded unchallenged power, this kind of situation was unfamiliar. They were used to dealing only with sycophants.
"The island next to the divine order's island, we call it the Pleasure Island. Geroz handles its security as well. And there was quite an astonishing ledger."
"That, too, has nothing to do with the divine order!"
"Of course. But the ledger shows that 80% of the proceeds from that resort went to the divine order."
"That money was a donation to the divine order!"
"So the Mercenary Corps gave away eighty percent of their profit as a donation? With the remaining 20%, they could still operate. But then—"
I showed them the names I'd written down.
"This man is a tycoon from Tern, owner of the resort, and the leader of Geroz. Isn't it strange? He's the owner, but not a single coin reached him. So why run the resort?"
Priest Horo's eyes darted wildly.
He was groping for something to say.
"Where did you get this fake ledger to try and deceive people?! Even if it's real, Geroz has nothing to do with our divine order! Same goes for the resort! Who cares who the owner is?"
"Yes, yes. Of course."
"I've heard enough! I won't talk to a madman any longer!"
Priest Horo sprang up and left.
Merchant leader Barako couldn't stand up.
Of course he couldn't.
"If merchant leader leaves now, I'll send all the evidence to Count Mals. The count will conduct a detailed investigation of the Pleasure Island and the imperial merchant's involvement, supervised by a Secret Council investigator."
Merchant leader Barako glared at me and said,
"Our merchant guild only supplied food and alcohol to that resort. What crime is there in that? Everyone knows—it's just a resort."
"You also supplied women to that island."
"What?!"
"At first, I thought it was Goro Merchant Guild. But the money for supplying women went to Barako. Here—take a look at Merchant Goro's ledger."
I opened Merchant leader Goro's secret ledger.
Goro Merchant Guild couldn't trade directly with the Pleasure Island.
They were nothing more than a gang.
But Goro Merchant Guild handled anything that needed secrecy, and Barako reaped most of the profit.
They even set up a shell company to launder the money.
Merchant leader Goro had documented even the bribes and threats used on employees of the shell company, making a record of the money that flowed to Barako.
In preparation for being betrayed.
"How am I supposed to know if Goro made false records or not? Even if that ledger is genuine, do you think Count Mals will act? Shouldn't you worry about yourself first?"
"You really think Grand Duke Syren and the capital nobles will protect you?"
"This young master never knows when to keep his mouth shut."
"If the capital nobles protect you, their entire house could be wiped out. Right now, we're ready to storm the Syren family's residence at any time and kill the grand duke."
Merchant leader Barako ground his teeth.
He, too, knows the grand duke is behind the war of the five houses.
Now that the grand duke sits quietly, it must puzzle him.
"Utter tyranny."
"My house was wiped out, my parents died wrongly. Now, even when our ruined family tries to start a business and loses a small sum, the divine order and a tycoon tried to crush us."
I stared at Merchant leader Barako.
"How do you think it feels to go through something like that? Does this overwhelming Rage look like arrogance to you?"
"Do as you please."
Merchant leader Barako stood up.
As he closed the ledger, he said,
"Then I'll take this as a failed negotiation. From now on, we will use every means possible to wipe out Barako Merchant Guild. Good day."
I, too, rose from my seat.
And stepped out into the alley.
Only then did the deputy-leader surrender.
Priest Horo was still there.
"Could you let the deputy-leader go!"
"I thought you said the divine order had nothing to do with this?"
"He's the chief of security for the divine order!"
"And also the deputy-leader of Geroz. He'll be going to the divine order soon. We only plan to annihilate the Geroz Mercenary Corps, so don't worry too much. Goodbye."
The Berserkers dragged the deputy-leader away, bound.
I picked up my greatsword and followed.
Priest Horo and Merchant leader Barako rushed after us.
"We know you're the one who stole the divine vessel!"
So Merchant leader Goro's biggest claim to have a hold on me was this.
He was using this as bait to drag the divine order in.
"Do you have any evidence?"
"There is testimony that you possessed the divine ore! The divine order will investigate you!"
I stopped and looked back at the priest.
"On whose authority?"
"What did you say?"
"Why would the divine order investigate us? Are you the empire's Secret Council? Or even the military? Should we tremble in fear and open our gates just because the divine order shows up?"
"Do you think we can't move the empire's army?"
"Go ahead. If the imperial army comes."
I walked away again.
"That very day, the divine order will be wiped out."
"Are you not afraid of divine retribution?!"
"Mind your own worries. Divine punishment will come for you first."
I exited the alley into the plaza.
Tris's guards had blocked off the entire alley. They were only stopping civilians from entering.
Priest Horo and Merchant leader Barako couldn't leave the alley, watching our backs recede.
Both bit their lips so hard, they seemed about to draw blood.
/ / /
The next evening.
I ate at Kudo's restaurant.
This was my first decent meal in two days after going hungry.
After slaughter and bloodshed, I couldn't stomach food.
Even now, I wasn't really hungry, but forced myself to eat. Then—
"Sorry to interrupt your meal."
"I doubt we'll see each other again."
"Well, er... may I sit down?"
Merchant leader Barako had come to see me.
He looked gaunt, probably from constant worry and agony since yesterday.
He must have held a long meeting with the guild's leadership.
"Please sit."
"Thank you."
Merchant leader Barako sat before me.
No attendants. Not even other customers in the restaurant.
"What would you have me do?"
"There's no turning back now. It's a fact Barako is involved in corruption and crime, and investigation will determine whether that ledger is fake or real."
"The imperial family won't want a fight with the divine order. Same goes for the empire's army. You'll find nobody with wealth and power who isn't connected to the divine order."
"That's why the divine order became rotten. This will be a long story. I have nothing more to say."
I stood up.
"Wait. I didn't come to argue. I came to ask what I should do to resolve this situation."
I sat down again.
"Because of this, we've wasted time, money, and suffered great emotional agitation. If you simply decided to call all this off, would that make it all disappear?"
"I'll give proper compensation. Once I realized I'd been deceived by Goro, I was furious. I never imagined things would escalate like this."
Merchant leader Barako drank from my water glass.
He really seemed parched.
"I was also pressured by the divine order. Why would we interfere with your trade with Robe for such small quantities, as you pointed out? Of course, I'd rather trade directly with Tern."
"Do you think I hold the key to that?"
"I won't deny it. If there's no pressure from the divine order, trading directly with Tern would be easy. All the empire's merchants would welcome it."
I laughed inside.
Looking to defend his own guild and maximize profit even now—impressive.
"I don't have any tricks up my sleeve."
"We can negotiate trade with Tern ourselves. The problem is the divine order, and you seem able to keep them in check."
"The divine order is doomed anyway."
"Do you truly believe that?"
"Just bring together good priests and build a new order. One even the commoners can access."
Merchant leader Barako's mouth slowly opened in amazement.
"How could you come up with such an idea?"
"Why not? We have priests around us and money to make it work."
"You'd be branded heretics."
"That would be even better. It would start a religious war."
"Impossible, how could...!"
Shock and awe filled Merchant leader Barako's eyes. His voice was sheer wonder.
He must be hearing the phrase 'religious war' for the first time—it's not a concept that exists here.
"So you're saying there's nothing I can do?"
"Nothing."
"I can't just let it end this way. Say something, anything! I'll do whatever I can."
"You mean it?"
"I do! I can do anything."
Three fall, and one totters.
The last one joins hands with us.
That last one is Barako Merchant Guild.
"As I said yesterday, we're going to the divine order soon. Then we'll make it clear to them."
"Make what clear?"
"That they are to withdraw from all commerce, permanently."
Merchant leader Barako's mouth hung open yet again.
I continued.
"You too must halt all interactions with the divine order. Every merchant in the empire. Form an agreement with Tern and trade directly."
"You really think that'll work?"
"It will. The divine order will at least try to avoid instant collapse."
Merchant leader Barako's eyes grew conflicted.
"There's nothing to worry about. If you trust me, I'll keep that evidence hidden. And if direct trade with Tern begins—"
I finished with a smile.
"You won't need to pay brokerage fees. Tern is just five days from the empire. There's no need to take a ten-day detour to the divine order. Barako's profits will increase a hundredfold."
A gleam of hope shone in Merchant leader Barako's eyes.
Standing with the divine order means hardship or ruin.
Standing with us means hardship or prosperity.
Which is better?
We could trade with Tern too, so nothing to lose.
I intend to get what I can from Merchant leader Barako.
Even if it brings a few tears.