Merchant Noble is out (2/4 chapters for today)
Next Morning
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(TLN: This chapter’s title is similar to Chapter 170’s title.)
“Huh? There are fewer customers today.” (Merchant)
The market, which opened in the morning, was already past noon. However, the number of customers was less than half of usual. Every shop was sparsely populated, and there were fewer customers than on days with particularly bad weather. The merchants who had thought that once the Warden Trading Company was driven out of the market, customers would return to their shops, tilted their heads in confusion.
Why were there so few customers?
The merchants, unable to understand, asked the customers who came by.
“Excuse me, is today some kind of holiday?” (Merchant)
“Why do you ask?” (Customer)
“It’s because there are fewer customers than usual.” (Merchant)
“Oh, the merchants from Laplace opened a new shop.” (Customer)
“What?!” (Merchant)
The merchants were stunned.
The Warden Trading Company, which they had driven out by burning all their goods, had opened a new shop. They couldn’t comprehend it.
“W-where… where did they open their shop?” (Merchant)
When they asked for the location, they left the customers behind and hurriedly rushed off.
A large open field, about 20 minutes by horse from the market. There, many stalls were lined up, like at a festival.
“Come, come, sorry for the wait! Since it was so popular, we’ve brought weapons from Laplace! The price is low and the sharpness is excellent! Whether for personal use or as a gift, how about one?” (Vendor)
“Over here, we have carts! They’re durable and can hold a lot of stuff, a great deal!” (Vendor)
“These are grains harvested in the rural areas of Laplace. You can eat them directly, make them into soup, boil them, or fry them. It’s delicious no matter how you prepare them! We have free samples, so come and try!” (Vendor)
It was the same kind of live sales and verbal promotions the Warden Trading Company was known for. Attracted by this, a large crowd of customers gathered at the stalls.
“These are all Warden Trading Company’s stalls…” (Merchant)
“Weapons, food, daily necessities, tools… they have everything.” (Merchant)
The local merchants could only watch, stunned, as the place was booming. As they stood there, someone called out to them.
“Well, well, what do we have here, everyone gathered together?” (Arc)
When the merchants turned around, Arc was there. In contrast to the frantic merchants, Arc had a calm and gentle smile.
“T-t-this is…” (Merchant)
“Ah, thanks to everyone’s help, the Warden Trading Company was able to reopen in just two days.” (Arc)
“That’s… but we burned everything…” (Merchant)
One of the merchants, so shaken, accidentally let slip. It was, indeed, the local merchants who had set fire to the Warden Trading Company’s shop in the market. That statement was clearly a mistake, but Arc didn’t react. Even if he were to criticize them for the fire incident now, the burned goods wouldn’t come back. Rather than continue denying it and engaging in a muddy conflict to get a small amount of compensation, it would be better to make money right here, right now. He no longer cared about these people.
“Because we received a huge shipment from Laplace, it doesn’t matter how many times we face a fire.” (Arc)
Arc crushed the merchants’ spirits by announcing that they could endlessly import goods, and with that, he happily returned to his shop.
“Last time, it was just weapons, but this time we brought everything from daily necessities to food.” (Arc)
The merchants, standing dumbfounded, were shaken out of their stupor when they were addressed again. It was Hangue, who had come in just as Arc was leaving. Unlike Arc, who had a gentle expression, Hangue didn’t even try to hide his hostility toward the merchants.
“I’m going to crush you all, every one of you, local merchants.” (Hangue)
“What… if they start selling things other than weapons…” (Merchant)
There had been many merchants who had been harassing the Warden Trading Company because of their obligations to the Merchant Guild. Now they realized they would have to compete with the Warden Trading Company, and they despaired.
“The Warden Trading Company was careful at first. They tried not to cause too much disruption to the local economy. But now, if they’re picking a fight, I’ll take it on.” (Hangue)
After Hangue left, the merchants cautiously wandered through the stalls.
Every shop was a huge success. The selection was far better than their own shops, and the goods were beautiful. The prices ranged from reasonable to high-end, offering many choices. The level of the stores was on an entirely different scale. They could also spot some of their regular customers who had come to their shops in the past. Among them was an especially noble-looking young man.
“Ca-Carlos-sama.” (Merchant)
At the merchant’s voice, Carlos turned around.
He was the son of Duke Edel, the lord of this territory, and also the captain of the Royal Knights. Of course, in this Duke Edel’s domain, he was a person with immense power, second only to his father.
“Oh, if it isn’t the merchants.” (Carlos)
Carlos was happily munching on a large bone-in piece of meat.
“This meat is really good. I bet the charcoal they use is top quality. The charcoal the Warden Trading Company sells is so black. The quality must be excellent.” (Carlos)
“Car-Carlos-sama. The merchants are begging for your help.” (Merchant)
Although the merchants were concerned that it would be disrespectful not to respond to Carlos’s meat talk, they didn’t have the luxury of chatting about it. They all dropped to the ground and began to beg.
“Please, persuade my father, the Duke! If this goes on, we’ll lose our livelihoods and we’ll have to hang ourselves. Please drive the Warden Trading Company out!” (Merchant)
The sudden group of people dropping to their knees drew a lot of attention. The shoppers gathered in curiosity. Carlos continued eating the meat silently. The merchants had to wait in their kneeling position under the curious gazes of onlookers until Carlos finished his meal. Carlos finished the meat, licked his greasy fingers, and motioned for the merchants to rise.
Then, he asked.
“You were a fruit merchant, weren’t you?” (Carlos)
“Yes, that’s correct.” (Merchant)
“How much were you selling an apple for?” (Carlos)
“Uh… ten copper coins.” (Merchant)
“The Warden Trading Company is selling them for five copper coins. And they’re even sweeter and packed tighter than your apples.” (Carlos)
“…” (Merchant)
“You’re losing on both price and quality.” (Carlos)
Carlos said coldly.
“Weak soldiers are killed by strong ones. Incompetent craftsmen have their jobs taken by skilled ones. It’s no different. Merchants who don’t put in the effort will simply be defeated and eliminated by those who do.” (Carlos)
Despite this, the merchants tried to cling to Carlos’s legs and continue pleading, but he coldly shoved them away.
“You merchants, who once monopolized the market, were lazy, looked down on your customers, and sold poor-quality goods at high prices. This is your own fault. There’s nothing that can be done about it now.” (Carlos)
And just before Carlos left, he muttered.
“If you were planning to make an effort in managing your shops, I was considering negotiating with the Warden Trading Company. But the request you made was to drive them out. Now, I think I understand a little why our country’s economy is stagnating.” (Carlos)
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