Merchant Noble is out (1/4 chapters for today)
Kali Kingdom’s Coup (8)
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Sitting grandly on the throne, a was is brought before me.
“Hey, kneel!” (Soldier)
The soldiers who brought the merchant treat him roughly, trying to force him to kneel before me.
When I gesture with my hand, the soldiers bow and leave. I looked down at the remaining merchant and ask.
“I am Rudolph, the newly crowned king of the Kali Kingdom. What is your name?” (Rudolph)
“…” (Hangue)
The merchant simply glared at me and says nothing.
“You are Hangue Warden, the representative of the Warden Trading Company for the Kali Kingdom, correct?” (Rudolph)
“Do you think such things are permissible?” (Hangue)
The merchant, who had been silent, finally opened his mouth not to answer my question but to speak vehemently.
“You are accused of two things. One is the crime of conspiring with the nobles to overthrow the state. The other is the crime of causing turmoil in our nation’s economy.” (Rudolph)
This merchant, Hangue, led the Warden Trading Company, the largest merchant organization in the neighboring Laplace Kingdom. In recent years, it had been closely tied with the nobles of the Kali Kingdom, including the House of Duke Edel, and has been very active in this country as well.
The fact that he had enriched the nobles and destabilized the royal authority and the fact that he had drained massive amounts of gold and silver from the kingdom. Both were intolerable offenses for me. There might be no legal issues, but he was someone who should be removed as quickly as possible for the good of the kingdom.
“I have only done what a merchant should do. I merely provided higher-quality goods at lower prices. Is it our fault that the economy of this country has been taken over by the Warden Trading Company? Does that not simply mean that the economy of this country was that weak?” (Hangue)
Hangue said this without any shame. It was a perfectly logical argument that he had done his job as a merchant.
“Ah. You are only doing what is right as a merchant. There is nothing wrong with what you are doing.” (Rudolph)
“Y-yeah.” (Hangue)
He expected to be denounced by the king, but surprisingly, I showed understanding. After hearing my words, Hangue hesitated slightly and raised his voice.
“However, that’s unfortunate. I am not a champion of justice. I am just a king who cares only about my own country.” (Rudolph)
No matter how fair his argument was, it did not resonate in my heart at all. The conclusion had already been decided in my gut.
“Just as you did what was right as a merchant, I too will do what is right as a king. After all, it is not good for the economy of the country to be in the hands of foreign merchants.” (Rudolph)
Saying this, I pressed the royal seal on a prepared document.
“I hereby confiscate the property of the Warden Trading Company in the Kali Kingdom and sentence its head, Hangue Warden, to execution.” (Rudolph)
“What?!” (Hangue)
There was no trial being held. This was a royal command, not a verdict.
Upon hearing the royal command, Hangue stood up in anger and charged at me, but the guards nearby quickly restrained him.
“How can such foolishness occur! If you make the Warden Trading Company your enemy, the economy will be thrown into chaos! The Warden Household from the Laplace Kingdom will not remain silent either.” (Hangue)
I stood from the throne and slowly made my way toward Hangue, who was being restrained.
“Do you not think that an economy run by your country’s merchants is healthier than one controlled by foreign merchants? The vast wealth and high-quality products you leave behind will be effectively utilized for the further development of our nation.” (Rudolph)
“How can there be such nonsense! If you execute me, the Laplace Kingdom will attack!” (Hangue)
“See you then.” (Rudolph)
Ignoring Hangue’s threats, I raised my right hand, and the guards dragged him out of the room.
After a while, the guards returned with a report. Hangue had been executed, and the merchants of the Warden Trading Company were being captured one after another.
At last, the Kali Kingdom could confidently say, “A king governs this nation”.
“We have captured the nobles and expelled the foreign forces. Talis, now our Kali Kingdom has achieved true independence.” (Rudolph)
“Your Majesty, congratulations. However, the Laplace Kingdom will not remain silent about this.” (Talis)
“Ah. Now, there begins the war to defend the independence we have won. In that sense, an independence war will commence.” (Rudolph)
I patted the anxious Talis on the shoulder and contemplated the tumultuous future of the kingdom.
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