Chapter 27 : Days in the Free City of Loren (3)

Chapter 27: Days in the Free City of Loren (3)

Even among common farmers and serfs, it was hard to beg for a meal if you did not know anyone.

How much more so in cities and among nobles where interests were tangled?

‘Connections.’

These ‘connections’ were everything, more important than money.

That was why they had come straight to the trading merchant association to try to build those connections.

“Hmm. Rookie. No, I should not call you a rookie. Uh… uh… what was it. Ah! Rookie Centurion.”

“Just call me rookie, Miles.”

“Ahahah. Can I? That is even better for me.”

Watching Miles scratch his head with a big laugh made Shatien feel a slight throb coming on.

He shook his head.

“What were you trying to say anyway? Ah, and stop scratching your head. You are shedding dandruff.”

“Well… I followed the rookie’s orders to come, but I don’t know if they will even meet us.”

“Hmm…”

Indeed.

The city branch building was suitably grand for a trading merchant association that handled plenty of money and cut a loud figure.

There were many guards and the security was very tight.

As Miles said, it did not look like they would let just anyone in.

Of course they were not some random riffraff.

Behind them were carts piled high with a huge quantity of arms and armor, along with more than ten strapping men.

“But do they see us favorably? It looks like it might have the opposite effect.”

“Ahem. No. Things will change once we tell them who we are, Miles.”

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Shatien cleared his throat for no reason and stepped forward.

The merchant association’s guards watched them with sharp faces.

‘Hmm… I may have said that, but…’

They did not have a noble family’s banner, and for people of influence, the mercenaries’ outfits were shabby.

In this era, proper dress was practically a social rank.

It was no different from saying, we are nobodies.

Like peddlers who come to a merchant association fishing for leftovers.

‘In that case you usually get turned away at the door…’

Shatien did have a reason to speak confidently to Miles and step up.

It was the behavior Count Bellua had shown at the victory ceremony.

In front of many city notables, he had singled out Shatien for praise and introduced him, which was practically a guarantee of some status.

‘Of course that will not have a huge effect though.’

Even so, he was not a mercenary captain, merely a mercenary.

Even if they called, the notables, especially a merchant association, were not going to welcome them with open arms.

At most… out of regard for Count Bellua’s face, they would at least grant them an audience.

They had even brought a gift, all those arms piled up behind them, so surely that would improve their chances.

However,

“Hmm… Shatien? Ah! The Black Raven Mercenary Company. You come from there?”

“We were told that if they come, we should treat them with utmost courtesy.”

“??”

“Please, go right up. I will take you directly to the branch manager.”

“??????????”

The reaction was much stronger than he expected.

Among the many cities, the Free City of Loren was one of the most prominent.

Why else would it be called the Free City of Loren.

It had such immense wealth and the capability to back it up that it had literally bought its freedom from the Emperor.

Therefore, a branch manager of the trading merchant association, who held one pillar of power in Loren, was not someone just anyone could meet.

A noble bloodline with an estate.

If not that, at least a leading family in the city.

‘That is why I thought we would at best meet the on-site manager… I am flabbergasted.’

Glancing at the servant walking ahead with a gently swishing tail, Shatien thought so.

Was this a trap?

Or did they definitely want something from him?

If so, could he handle the proposal? No, could he even refuse it?

One worry led to another, and they chased each other around in Shatien’s head.

Of course, our comfortable Miles did not understand those complicated feelings and was simply delighted.

“Wow… rookie. It is my first time seeing a beastkin. Is that tail real? I want to touch it once. Can I?”

“P-Please keep your voice down.”

“I am whispering like this. Will they really hear me?”

“…Beastkin, cat beastkin in particular, has very keen hearing. And touching the tail is very rude. Especially for a woman as beautiful as she is. If you do such a thing, you might get a beating.”

“Eek!”

Only then did Miles flinch and draw in his body, worried the cat-beastkin guide ahead had heard them.

‘Honestly…’

Clicking his tongue inwardly at Miles’s reaction, Shatien glanced at the cat-beastkin ahead.

She still swished her tail as she walked along.

If anything, the way her ears twitched made her look pleased.

‘…?’

Something felt odd, but so what?

It was a relief the moment was passing smoothly. If she had heard, who knew what might have happened.

What a disgrace it would have been to commit rudeness before even meeting the branch chief.

At that moment the cat-beastkin guide stopped and spoke.

“They have arrived. The branch manager is waiting inside.”

“Mm, may we just go in?”

“Yes. Our branch manager does not like the empty formalities nobles fuss over.”

“Ah… okay…”

The man who would meet the most influential figures in the city disliked formalities, which made him quite an unusual person.

Thinking that, Shatien reached to open the door.

At that instant,

“Oh! Right.”

“?”

“Heehee. Our branch manager has very keen hearing! Even more than me!”

“??”

“So you must be careful in front of her. If you say flirtatious things like how beautiful she is like you did to me earlier, you might be in big trouble. Heehee. I wish you luck.”

“?????????”

Damn it. So much for not hearing.

It seemed she had heard everything.

It was a very awkward situation, but there was no time to explain.

-Creak.

The door was already opening, and before them stood the merchant association’s branch manager.

“Welcome. Pleased to meet you. I am Marhen, branch manager of the merchant association.”

Marhen, branch manager of the merchant association in the Free City of Loren, perked her cat-beastkin ears and looked at Shatien.

Her glassy yellow eyes flashed as they quickly scanned Shatien.

“So then. Did Captain Mordo like the proposal? Since we replied quickly, I thought you would move fast, but I did not expect you would come the moment the message was delivered.”

“Uhh?”

At the sudden question, Miles broke for a moment. He could not get a grasp on the situation, and his face twitched in all sorts of ways as he stammered.

Only Shatien realized what was going on.

Right now Captain Mordo had opened a road toward the central region of the Empire with Count Bellua.

From the perspective of a merchant association that exercised influence only in the northern Empire, they were a very desirable partner.

They must have already exchanged words in advance.

‘No wonder the welcome was so warm.’

It seemed Branch Manager Marhen was mistaking them for Mordo’s envoys.

“Hmm? Oh, perhaps you…”

“I am sorry, Branch Manager. We made you misunderstand. We did not come under Captain Mordo’s orders. We came with a personal proposal.”

“Ah…”

Clearly flustered, Marhen’s pupils grew round. Her sharp cat-beastkin eyes very quickly scanned Shatien and Miles.

But only for a moment.

Marhen soon composed herself and spoke to Shatien.

“Ahem. My apologies. I made a mistake, it seems. So, a personal proposal? You… now that I look at you, you are that famous Count Bellua’s man, are you not?”

“His… man you say. Hahaha.”

Something about that sounded… a bit odd.

Why choose the words “Count Bellua’s man”? When Shatien looked embarrassed, Miles nudged his ribs and whispered.

“Hey. Hey. When did you become the Count’s favorite?”

“Be quiet. He can hear everything. Seriously.”

Had this man lived free so long he had shed the last of his dignity? Shatien was worried.

Fortunately Branch Manager Marhen did not seem to care.

“Haha. You guys are amusing.”

“I am sorry, Branch Manager.”

“No, it’s fine. I was the one who made the first mistake, right? So let us say we have cleared the slate and speak comfortably. You said this was personal… For what have you come to see me? Opportunities like this are rare. Let me hear it.”

“Thank you for your gracious consideration.”

A string of unexpected good fortune.

Shatien bowed his head deeply and continued.

“I received a reward from Count Bellua beyond my station.”

“I know. Which is why your nickname is… you know it, yes?”

“…Ahem. In any case, part of that reward is a large quantity of arms and armor. From what I saw, mixed in were not only gear for ordinary soldiers, but also armor for knights.”

After that point, Branch Manager Marhen understood what this young mercenary wanted to say.

Why would a man holding goods come to a merchant?

To sell the goods, of course.

It was not a volume large enough to come to a branch manager, but if there was knightly equipment mixed in, it would surely be a tidy sum.

“Did Captain Mordo recommend us?”

“The Captain? No. I came here on my own judgment.”

“Oho…?”

At that, Marhen perked her ears with interest.

“Don’t you have a resident sutler who follows your company?”

“A sutler huh… You know what they are like, don’t you? Haha.”

“Well, it is true that their greed is famous even among us. Heh.”

At Shatien’s words, Marhen nodded.

Was it not well known that sutlers were adept at picking mercenaries’ pockets.

Of course if that were the only reason to come to her, it would be a naive thought.

“However…”

Thinking so, Marhen curled her lips.

“What guarantee is there that I would not do the same? I am a merchant too, and bigger and stronger than that sutler. I can enforce my greed, you know.”

She had the clout to seize by force if she wished.

Or to slash the price brutally with this excuse and that.

She was closely linked with the city’s merchants, so she had the power to do so.

Of course, out of regard for Count Bellua and Captain Mordo, she would not go that far.

“In that case there is nothing we can do.”

Shatien shrugged with practiced nonchalance.

“But I came because I have heard of the merchant association’s reputation and good faith. Trust. I hear the merchant association always puts trust first in its dealings.”

“…”

“And I thought it would be fine even if I took a small loss. By doing this, a tie was formed between us, right? Just take a look now. The process was not smooth, but I am facing you, the branch manager, and forming a relationship.”

Considering the merchant association’s growth in the future, he could grin and bear a loss like this.

As he had said before, connections were more important.

At least that was how Shatien thought, and it seemed Branch Manager Marhen found those words very interesting.

“Hmhm!”

Marhen was already wagging her tail lightly and grinning.

He wanted a relationship with the merchant association.

The relationship between mercenaries and merchants was not very good. Greedy mercenaries would rob merchants if crossed, and from a merchant’s perspective, mercenaries who cared only for money were untrustworthy and could betray at any time.

Yet a mercenary spoke of good faith.

Very interesting.

There were many mercenaries with outstanding skill, but extremely few who spoke of trust and ties.

‘He is even willing to accept a loss to do so.’

Now she could see why this young mercenary had won Count Bellua’s favor.

He was an attractive target for investment.

“To think you would go so far… Very well. I will personally make sure this deal is handled properly. So that no one plays tricks.”

“Thank you.”

“No need for thanks. Then how would you like to receive payment? Shall I send it to your company? All of it? Or should I pay some portion in kind, say, with good armor?”

“No, Branch Manager.”

“Hmm?”

Looking at the puzzled Marhen, Shatien spoke.

“As I understand it, each branch of the merchant association accepts investment capital. I would like to invest capital in this branch as well.”

“…That is an answer I did not expect at all.”

Marhen found herself liking this young mercenary more and more.

“Investment is always open. But there is always a risk of loss too. Will that be all right? There will be no use bringing complaints later.”

“I understand fully.”

“Very well then. I will have my staff handle the details.”

For that reason, she decided to extend one more favor.

Who knew if a small favor might return as a great tie later.

“In that case, is there anything you would like to ask for personally? Since you are an investor in our branch, I will grant it if possible as a special case.”

“Oh…”

“Ah!”

Shatien and Miles exclaimed at the same time.

Of course, for quite different reasons.

-Nudge, nudge.

“Hey. Hey. Shatien. Ask for an incredible sword. You cannot buy that sort of thing on the market. This is a great chance.”

While Miles whispered to buy a weapon right now, Shatien’s thinking was completely different.

He wanted something more fundamental.

So Shatien calmly turned to Branch Manager Marhen and spoke.

And that request,

“??????”

“Pardon…? What did you just say?”

“Wait, are you out of your mind?”

—made everyone in the room jump.

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