Chapter 37 – Foolish Laughter

Early in the morning, Leon slipped out of the city of Kreis and headed east across the plains along the Blange Road.

Since the city of Verant still lay within the territory of Duke Berant, he decided not to stop there to avoid getting caught up in the commotion at the Warrens Trading Company.

Next was the city of Zandra, which fell under the direct control of the royal family, so things should be a bit quieter from there on.

He planned to sell his prey in the cities of Zandra, Renand, and Billing, and in the meantime, have some clothes tailored in the capital that wouldn’t make him look like a naive visitor. While sightseeing in the capital, he could also send something unusual to his parents, as a sign that he was doing well.

While Leon leisurely hunted his way toward Zandra after leaving Kreis, a simple carriage arrived at a mansion on Beurant Street, a high-class residential district in the royal capital.

The mansion belonged to Martin Warrens, the head of the Warrens Trading Company, who was relaxing in the salon.

“Master, an urgent letter has arrived. The sender is someone we have stationed in Kreis.”

Rowell, the butler, looked tense, his face flushed.

A letter from someone stationed in Kreis was only delivered when there was some unusual occurrence in the Berant territory or if the branch in Kreis could not send word through normal channels. Since neither the company nor their agents could use a noble’s swift horse, the letter’s information would already be two and a half or three days old.

“Read it!”

Following Warrens’ command, Rowell broke the seal and scanned the letter quickly—but his movements froze.

“Rowell, what is it?”

“Master, it seems the Kreis branch was raided by Duke Berant’s guards. The branch has been sealed off, the staff are under house arrest, and no one can approach. Details are unknown.”

“Hand it over!”

Warrens snatched the letter from Rowell and read on, his face growing increasingly pale.

“Where is Marquis Fleming?”

“He has returned to his territory.”

“Damn it! Send this letter with the capital mansion’s butler to Marquis Fleming on a swift horse. With this news, he may not be aware of the situation.”

The company head hurried to his office and quickly wrote down that the Kreis branch had been raided and sealed by the Duke of Berant’s guards.

“What about the other branches in Duke Berant’s territory… have they sent any updates?”

“No, this is the first report.”

“Then check on the branches in Verant, Adele, and Heliant, and investigate the situation at the Kreis branch. Make sure Duke Berant remains unaware.”

After giving instructions to Rowell, Warrens tried desperately to think about what could have happened in Kreis but could come up with nothing.

“Rowell, any unusual reports from the Kreis branch?”

“There were no unusual reports from the branch itself, but we received word that a wind-magic user appeared in Kreis. He was summoned to the branch and ordered to give information about the five people who disappeared in Korche.”

“A wind-magic user?”

“Yes. You dispatched agents to Korche to obtain the Chikki chikki Bird.”

“Ah, that one… I was looking forward to it after it was praised at Marquis Fleming’s banquet, but in the end, we didn’t get it.”

“Yes. Even the Adventurer’s Guild refuses for various reasons. On the contrary, while they outwardly comply with your request, they secretly scheme to interfere.”

“Hm. Have them investigate this man as well.”

“We’ll have the adventurers we employ handle it.”

“Chancellor, an urgent letter has arrived from Duke Berant.”

The assistant handed over the sealed letter. As the Chancellor read it, his expression darkened.

“Marginus, what is the relationship between the Warrens Trading Company and Marquis Fleming?”

The chief assistant quickly pulled Marquis Reynand Fleming’s records from the nobles’ registry to check his connections and ordered the deputy to bring the record of the Warrens Trading Company head.

“Marquis Fleming appears to be on good terms with the Warrens Trading Company because their headquarters is in Korche. He made significant efforts, including gifts to influential nobles, to grant them viscount status.”

The chief assistant’s expression clouded slightly as he read through the record of the company head brought by the deputy assistant.

“Reports from several years ago, when the company head was being granted viscount status, indicate some shady rumors… but the agents cannot confirm them.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“They concern coercion and extortion using subordinates, and young women hired as servants disappearing. When relatives inquire, the women fail to return with any goods or money given to them. Some allegedly ran off with the shop’s money or quit suddenly. If the family investigates, they demand compensation and hint at their connection to Marquis Fleming to silence them.”

“Read it.”

Brighton handed the letter from Duke Berant to Marginus, deep in thought.

From Kreis to Verant and Zandra, Leon zigzagged along the borders of plains and forests.

His magic bag had accumulated a fair amount of prey, so he decided to stop in Zandra to dispose of it.

As usual, he informed the buyer and entered the butchering area.

Although it should have been empty before noon, three parties were there, arguing with the butchering staff. From what Leon could overhear, they were disputing the offered price. Looking at the prey, there were three orcs, five black wolves, and seven carrions—all wounded. The remaining two parties looked annoyed from waiting.

I, too, noticed the foam in my ale, grew impatient with waiting, and decided to go to the dining hall.

With ale and snacks in hand, I sat at an empty table and took a long gulp.

Even lukewarm from the heat, the bitterness hitting my throat was irresistible.

A group that had just left the butchering area sat at the next table, using the gripes of the arguing parties as conversation fodder.

“Don’t recognize you in Zandra. Where are you from?”

“From Kreis.”

“Hm? Not from Verant?”

“I was walking east along the road from Kreis, so I stopped in Zandra to dispose of the prey.”

“Looks like a mage, but no companions?”

“Well, not for now. They were complaining that the buying price was too low…”

“You saw the prey, right?”

“Yeah, after it’s been cut up like that, the valuation would be low.”

“Well, if you can’t figure that out, it can’t be helped.”

“If you don’t sell it to the Guild, maybe the Butcher’s Guild will buy it for more.”

They were completely dismissive, clearly feeling it was a bother to get involved.

As the saying goes, talk of rumors brings results—soon enough, a group showed up in droves.

“Damn it, they’re mocking us.”
“Zandra’s guild is stingy, huh.”
“Shall we move on to the next city?”
“Annoying, but let’s go.”

While drinking ale and talking loudly at the table, they were big, rough-looking men who glared at everyone around them… and now they had spotted their prey.

Worse, they were focusing on me.

“Hey, kid. You came to the butchering area earlier, saw our faces, made a sour look, and left. Got complaints? Speak now.”

“If the appraisal is done, I’ll go ahead and sell. You seemed upset that the price was low, but I was thinking I’d complain too if it were low. Shall we go together?”

At the next table, a man turned sideways, clutching his stomach, though his shoulders were shaking.

“Ha, interesting kid. Let’s take a good look at your prey.”
“If you bring out some cheap elk, I won’t forgive you.”
“In that case, I’ll take half as my own prey.”

“Hmph. Then let’s compare your orcs to mine. If mine appraises lower than yours, I’ll give them to you.”

“Oh, going big, huh? I’m in.”
“Today’s our lucky day.”

“But if mine appraises higher, I’ll take all your prey. If that’s alright with you.”

“What?! Take all our prey?”
“You insolent brat.”

“Talk big, but that mangled orc of yours won’t be worth much. With my three orcs, do you really think yours will appraise higher?”

“Confident, eh? Fine, I’m in. And not just the prey, we strip it all down too.”

“Deal. Neighbor, will you be a witness?”

“Sounds interesting.”
“Hey, you all heard, right? Let’s head to the butchering area!”
“Whoa, what a fun bet. We’ll watch.”
“First bet in Zandra’s history, I think.”
“Since it’s a bet, let’s have the Submaster witness it.”

The man at the next table winked at me as he shouted. This guy’s got a good eye.

Everyone in the dining hall surged into the butchering area like a noisy festival. The summoned Submaster glared with a sullen face.

If you’re glaring, at least glare at those complaining about appraisals.

I didn’t want to get involved in trouble, so I only mocked them a little while gathering the prey. In a way, I’m the victim!

The man who wanted the Submaster present explained things to the butchering staff. I also explained to them and asked that my orcs be placed next to the battered ones for comparison.

“All right. What else do you have?”

“Wolves and little dogs too. Take your time comparing them.”

The old man burst out laughing as he realized I was teasing them.

Finally, the Submaster, shouting angrily, snatched the appraisal sheet from the hands of the cocky group and tossed it to me.