Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 82: The Traveling Merchant’s Narrow Escape
Marches remained dazed, his mind still blank, so Tauro briefly explained the entire situation in his place.
“That is… conduct unworthy of any merchant.”
Ed was appalled by what he heard.
“However, if a trading contract exists, it would be difficult for us to interfere without justification. The Merchants’ Guild would punish us severely.”
“We’ve always done business on a verbal agreement. There isn’t any written contract!”
Marches had been staring vacantly at the other two, but abruptly remembered that they were discussing him and broke into the conversation.
“As Marches says, his transactions were based on a verbal agreement. There’s no obstacle to changing trading partners. All that remains is for you to judge the merchandise he handles.”
Tauro produced several items from [Magic Storage].
“These are… Are these the same type of katana our Saisi branch recently began handling? This sword is well made too. And the design of this accessory is unlike anything I’ve seen before. This jointing technique is entirely new to me…”
Ed had heard rumors that the Damaski Company had recently begun selling unusual, high-quality goods. He was astonished to discover that these were the products in question.
“The katana aren’t as fine as those from Saisi, but you can regard these as mass-produced versions. Their quality is still good, so they should sell well. The other swords, shields, and small wooden crafts should also command much higher prices elsewhere.”
Ed became certain that this was a genuine business opportunity.
“Then let us visit the Merchants’ Guild immediately. The matter may never become public, but Marches should formally report the harm he suffered. We’ll explain that Garfish has legitimate grounds to support him and enter into a trading agreement. That should prevent Damaski from causing trouble later, since they may accuse us of interfering and costing them business.”
The three immediately traveled by wagon to the Merchants’ Guild and reported the entire affair.
After returning, Marches and the Garfish Company signed a contract in the guest room.
For Marches, the terms were astonishing.
The price Garfish offered made him realize just how cheaply the Damaski Company had been purchasing his goods.
Even more incredible, he was contracting with a major firm headquartered in the royal capital—an organization that had always seemed far beyond his reach.
Feeling as though he were dreaming, he signed in a daze.
Marches returned to Dansas Village with Tauro, still walking on air.
Several days later came the date that had been set as the deadline for payment under Marches’s contract with the landowner.
With Tauro’s support, Marches had already completed the payment. The visitors arriving from Dareder that day didn’t know that.
“So this is Dansas Village. It isn’t as run-down as I expected. There are plenty of new buildings too. Opening a branch here might not be a bad idea. Gahaha!”
A portly man in flamboyant clothing, sporting a small mustache, descended in the village with several attendants and strode down the main street.
Then he noticed the sign on one building.
“Marches Company.”
“W-why is his name on a sign? He was supposed to be bankrupt by noon today!”
The mustached man was Marman, head of the Damaski Company. He angrily demanded an explanation from his attendants.
“I’m not bankrupt. Please don’t decide that on your own.”
Hearing a familiar voice outside, Marches emerged from the building.
“Marches! Why aren’t you bankrupt?”
Marman stared at him in disbelief.
His plan had been to use Marches’s bankruptcy as grounds to sign contracts that day with the blacksmiths, woodworkers, pharmacists, and other businesses with which Marches held exclusive agreements.
“I don’t understand why you assumed I had gone bankrupt.”
Marches feigned innocence.
“Grrr…! Once I deliberately withdrew my support, you had nowhere else to turn. You should have had no choice but to go bankrupt… Say that you’re bankrupt, you insignificant traveling merchant! Your territory was supposed to become mine today!”
Marman pointed at Marches and shouted his confession for everyone to hear.
“My, what an interesting story.”
Ed, manager of the Garfish Company’s Dareder branch, emerged from the Marches Company building alongside the deputy manager of the Dareder branch of the Merchants’ Guild.
Tauro followed them outside.
“With this many witnesses, you won’t be able to talk your way out of it, Mr. Marman, head of the Damaski Company.”
Tauro made Marman’s hopeless position perfectly clear.
Recognizing both Ed, a branch manager from a major company, and a senior official of the Merchants’ Guild, Marman panicked.
“N-no! It was only a joke! Hahaha… My schedule is full for the rest of the day, so I must be going!”
He kicked a nearby attendant to hurry him along, raced back to his carriage, and fled Dansas Village.