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Chapter 19
A week later, in Nemar Territory, a trading post near Hejeit.
“500 jin of fresh meat for 40 gold, 50 sacks of dried meat for 50 gold, five carts of wheat for 10 gold, 20 bags of salt for 12 gold.”
No, this can’t be.
Ariretti thought with a scowling face.
Our territory can’t do this.
There’s no hope. Nope.
“Five bags each of turmeric, basil, and garlic powder, one gold per bag. Total 117 gold, Sir Knight.”
“The prices are higher than last spring.”
Glenn, cloaked in his cape, sighed with worry.
“Isn’t it too much to rise by 20 gold each?”
“It’s winter, Sir Knight. And do you expect us to starve? Our villagers barely have enough to eat. We’re distributing precious food, so this is only fair.”
The man, said to run the largest grocery store in Nemar, crossed his arms proudly. His long, dark, tanned face looked like a freshly harvested cucumber.
“Besides, it’s a poor harvest this year. Grain prices have gone up a lot. We can’t trade for less than this.”
“…There’s nothing we can do. Fine.”
Ariretti looked at Glenn like he was some dull deep-sea creature.
‘Of course.’
It’s no wonder he isn’t poor!
She had thought he only gave resources to his own people, but he’s spreading money even to other territories, this foolish man.
No wonder, even if the royal court treated Hejeit poorly, the border baron, protector of the frontier, wouldn’t have a low base salary.
Now she knew where all the money had gone.
The rabbit in Ariretti’s arms cried pitifully.
-
Oh no, the blood-money was used to grease the neighboring territory!
Glenn’s expression also showed he was troubled.
Biting his lip, he exhaled deeply and reluctantly agreed.
“I’ll pay half upfront, and the rest when the goods arrive in the territory…”
Agree? Reluctantly agree?
“Today you won’t deliver it yourself? Then you should pay 50 silver per person for using our carts and labor.”
“Then we don’t need labor. We’ll buy the carts at once. That makes the total…”
Get him.
Ariretti quietly gave the signal. Duncan and Roel each grabbed Glenn’s arms and pulled him backward.
“Hm, hm-hm. We’ll think it over, Owner. Cow Lord, one moment.”
Ariretti set down the canary-colored bag she had hugged like a lifeline since leaving Hejeit Territory. Then she raised her right hand toward Glenn.
Smack!
Ding-dong.
With a clear bell, the store door opened.
Of course. He’d be back in less than ten minutes, just pretending.
The owner’s lips curled into a grin at the thought of several months’ profit at once.
“You’re back. So, have you thought it over…?”
But no one was at the door.
A moment of confusion, then a youthful voice came from under the counter.
“Hello, Uncle!”
“Huh? Who are you?”
A girl with bright pink hair and a cute hairpin looked up at him, her teal eyes sparkling.
“I’m here on Uncle’s errand. Please give one jin of fresh meat, one sack of dried meat, and one sack of wheat.”
The babyish voice made the owner’s expression soften naturally.
“You’re still so young, and already running errands? Good job. But it might be too heavy for you to carry everything.”
“If we order it, our uncles will come pick it up! How much is it?”
“Let’s see. Fresh meat is 60 bronze, dried meat 30 bronze, wheat 10 bronze. Total 100 bronze. Just give one silver coin.”
Hearing the final price was only one silver, Ariretti raised an eyebrow.
Glenn had ordered about 500 times this amount, roughly 500 silver.
500 silver equals 5 gold.
The long-cucumber-faced fraud was asking Glenn 120 gold.
Conclusion: exactly 24 times the difference.
Ariretti tilted her head.
“That’s strange.”
“What’s strange, little one?”
“The uncles said they paid much more.”
“Huh?”
The owner’s confused expression suddenly turned pale. Black figures clung to the window, eyes glaring, watching them.
“Uh, Owner. Isn’t this going too far?”
Duncan, tall and sturdy, slammed the door open.
“This isn’t a new connection. We’ve tolerated slowly rising prices, thinking the North is tough, but you dare insult our Cow Lord’s trust?”
“It’s reasonable to tolerate a little, but 24 times is just not humanly fair, right?”
Behind Duncan, Roel and Mion followed in line. Three broad shoulders filled the counter.
The owner, surrounded by robust knights, gasped.
“Then… then don’t buy! If it’s expensive, you just don’t buy!”
But fear only lasted a moment. The owner glared and shouted.
“You shamelessly use a child as a front? And you still call yourselves knights?”
“What?”
“The Cow Lord of Hejeit is a Sword Master, the strongest knight on the continent, and you’re stingy with just 100 gold for food to feed your villagers? Even taking groceries from a poor baron! You… you are despicable!”
“…….”
“If you act like this, will Nemar have merchants willing to trade with Hejeit’s people? You’re making a huge mistake!”
The knights’ faces went blank.
They could tolerate insults or poor treatment toward themselves, but never when someone questioned their sworn lord.
“Are you done speaking? Who do you think lets you sleep safely…!”
Glenn sighed deeply, opening his mouth to stop the knights.
“Enough, Gentlemen. There’s no need to escalate things in another territory.”
“Cow Lord!”
“We’ll have no further business with this store. Think carefully. Can you find a customer in this area like Hejeit? Next time, expect a more reasonable deal.”
The owner seemed slightly surprised at the title “Cow Lord,” but then snorted and turned his head.
Glenn also turned away, as if the store wasn’t worth further attention.
Ariretti quickly tugged Duncan’s pants and jumped onto him, then followed Glenn out of the shop.
“Cow Lord.”
“…Yes, Aril… oop!”
Smack.
Glenn was hit on the mouth again by the tiny flying palm.
