Hall Of Exchange (2)

“I’m curious—why did you stop the carriages instead of climbing the slope?”

“Are the carriages… allowed to go up?”

“This bridge was engineered sturdy enough for carriages to ascend. I poured my heart into it, so you can proceed with confidence. And if you run straight along this route, you should reach the Ingrad Domain’s citadel within a few days.”

“…Don’t tell me it connects all the way inside—to where the lord’s manor is?”

Rubin asked in astonishment, and I nodded as I answered.

“Isn’t that only natural?”

From their faces, it clearly wasn’t. Understandably so—it would be hard to believe. Still, it was about time for me to return to the lord’s manor anyway, so perhaps I should take these Rubin siblings along and head there now?

As I entertained the thought, Rubin instead posed a question to me.

“Would it be possible for us to move all the way inside—to where the lord’s manor is—by following this road?”

“My lord!”

At Rubin’s words, the woman bristled and raised her voice, but he ignored her and, to my quiet delight, addressed me.

“Gladly—I invite you. Oh, by the way, did you receive the gift well?”

“I fear… we may have to return the gift.”

The sudden remark made me frown in puzzlement, and this time Rubin’s elder sister spoke in his stead.

“Our domain cannot bear such a high-value item; we’ve decided we must decline it.”

I looked at them as if to say, “Decline, over a single hide?”—but Rubin gave me an apologetic look as he spoke.

“We checked with the trade merchants before deciding. Our house is not strong enough to handle an Ogre Lord’s hide. We also fear the blades of those whose eyes are blinded by treasure.”

“It’s just one hide—are you saying someone would come to steal even that?”

At my words, Rubin let out a sigh instead.

“I wish I could call it ‘just one.’ But the value of ten thousand large-gold coins is hardly trivial, is it not?”

“…?”

Now I was the one confused. I’d heard from Aenia before that armor made from ogre hide wasn’t that expensive. Then I recalled—she had spoken of ogre hide, not Ogre Lord hide. Scratching my head, I glanced at the hide loaded on the carriage.

‘So an Ogre Lord is pricier than I expected…?’

Concluding that was likely the case, I pondered for a moment and then spoke.

“It was a gift; I’d prefer you handle it as you see fit. And while we’re at it, shall we discuss business at my domain?”

“Business… you say…?”

He looked at me a bit tensely. Sensitive about business?

“I deal in medicines and herbs—and also liquor and hides. I’d like to discuss which of these you wish to trade.”

“W-We cannot handle large volumes of goods from Ingrad. That’s why we brought merchants along with us. May they come as well?”

There was a do-or-die look on his face. Seeing his sister’s worried gaze toward her younger brother, I wondered if their situation was more desperate than they let on.

Was that why?

I let a wry smile curl my lips and said:

“First, let’s tour the temporary rest stop and makeshift town and have a brief discussion.”

Rather than taking them straight into the domain proper, I planned to conduct the deal here at the First Rest Stop. The number of carriages they had brought all but confirmed they intended to trade, and when I said they could bring every carriage up, Rubin ordered the coachmen to follow behind us.

When everyone climbed up and received the goddess’s welcome at the First Rest Stop, the first thing out of their mouths was awe.

“A—Amazing. A splendid town has already formed…?”

“It took some work, but not bad at all, is it?”

“It’s more than ‘not bad.’ The scale, the neatness, the style… and perhaps because it’s up high, even the air feels clean.”

Rubin lavished praise, and even his elder sister looked startled. The merchants and coachmen raised a clamor as they looked around, but Rubin’s sister had the accompanying knights quiet the merchants.

‘So they do have some clout…?’

It was but fragmentary data points, yet the number of accompanying knights was also quite large—around thirty, by my count. It was astonishing that a barony could maintain so many knights.

Were they perhaps feasting sweetly on crumbs falling from Ingrad?

There was much to consider, but for now I moved toward the plaza, sat on a stone bench there, and asked Rubin:

“So—bringing this many people suggests you intend to trade, yes?”

“That’s right. We hoped to trade the herbs, medicines, and hides listed in your letter.”

As for liquor, I hadn’t brought any out yet; I intended to use it to draw people inward. I planned to keep that policy—and today was no exception.

“The quantities and types vary. I also plan to sell at prices below market. So—shall we trade?”

At my words, Rubin nodded, looking tense. His sister then summoned several merchants forward to greet me.

They were merchants based in the Hamereun Barony who plied their trade through neighboring domains—ranging from rather stiff types to plump, genial-looking ones. After the introductions, I looked over them all and asked a question.

“First, allow me to ask one thing.”

“What is it?”

I posed my question to Rubin, who asked cautiously.

“What do you think I want to receive?”

Rubin tilted his head—then answered forthrightly.

“Gold coins or metals, perhaps.”

“And why do you think so?”

“I learned that while Ingrad has abundant flora, it is sorely lacking in minerals. There are no mountains, and the few subterranean veins lie inside the Forest of the Demon Dragon, making mining impossible. Isn’t that right?”

“Correct—but I command beastkin. If I set them to it, ore and such are no big deal.”

Indeed. Since I had workers who could enter the Forest of the Demon Dragon, if I only knew the mining spots, I could obtain as much ore as I wanted.

That said, I didn’t feel any particular need to do so. At that moment, several merchants began pressing their own opinions.

Most argued for money; a few suggested household goods. And then—

“Could it be… foodstuffs?”

“And why do you think that?”

“It’s said most beastkin living in Ingrad don’t favor a vegetarian diet—their staple is monster meat. Since you handle many beastkin, I thought monsters—their food source—couldn’t be infinite, and that by now you might be struggling.”

“It’s not quite a struggle. Beastkin do eat vegetables. That’s a misconception. Some prefer meat, so misunderstandings happen—but there are beastkin who eat only plants. Still, your answer is correct. I intend to ask you for food. If you try to gouge me, there will be no deals—and such merchants will be weeded out.”

I swept my gaze over the merchants, then leaned forward and laced my fingers.

“I have a medicine that can resolve the Demon God’s Moon. Through it, I won the beastkin’s support, and Ingrad today is wealthier and more advanced than you imagine. If it has a single weakness, it’s food—but even that can be supplemented by edible herbs. Still, I’ve come this time to raise the standard and quality of life for my people. So I’d like each of you to show your intent in line with my aim.”

After my rather long speech, I paused for breath. One stern-looking merchant raised his hand to request the floor.

I nodded, and he spoke with a “thank you.”

“One thing must come first: we must know how much food you require. If the volume becomes excessive, prices will naturally rise. Moreover, with the Demon God’s Moon approaching and winter near, food stocks are tight. Only a few merchant houses in the count’s domain maintain reserves, and dealing with them requires more than ordinary quantities.”

It wasn’t wrong.

After a brief thought, I answered.

“For ten thousand mouths, a three-month supply. Quality at around ‘high grade’ should suffice.”

The merchants recoiled in shock; even Rubin and his sister stared at me in horror. Leaning back against the stone bench, arms stretching lazily, I added:

“That’s my estimate for the start. Additionally, within three months I intend to buy fresh meat and processed meats in bulk, along with grains. As for available funds—these.”

I unfurled five promissory notes, each worth ten thousand large-gold coins, given to me by the Imperial Household, and waved them before their eyes. No one present failed to recognize them.

People looked at me now with expressions that said they didn’t know what to say. I addressed them as if it were nothing.

“Not to brag, but this much is a month’s earnings for us. So don’t worry about money—keep quality clear, and don’t try to rig prices to ‘square things up’! I’m recruiting merchants who will build wealth through honest, long-term trade.”

No sooner had I finished than the merchants’ eyes blazed as each volunteered to take the contract. Only Rubin and his sister seemed adrift from the fervor, looking deflated—so I decided to show neighborly goodwill.

“All transactions will, for fairness, require verification by the Baron of Hamereun—and the Baron will, through notarization, ensure transparent trade. Well? Interested?”

Rubin still looked incredulous—but unlike him, his elder sister recovered quickly and spoke.

“We are busy people; we can’t take just anything. But if you trust us, I expect you’ll compensate us accordingly.”

Thinking her a confident woman, I replied without fuss.

“I’ll grant five percent of the profits.”

Recognizing that five percent was no small sum, Rubin’s sister strode straight up to me, extended her hand, and said:

“I look forward to working with you. Tein Rubin, at your service, Lord Jin-woo of Ingrad.”

Thinking an interesting relationship was about to begin, I took her hand and said:

“Mistakes will not be tolerated. I hope we build a relationship worthy of trust.”

And so it was the day I drew the Hamereun Barony into business.