Chapter 315
(Kyle Calendar Year 514: Age 21)
The Third Bidding
Translator : PolterGlast
Nearly half a year had passed since we began constructing
the city of Kusanagi and developing the Izumo district. The
foundation work for Kusanagi as a fortress city, such as the water and
sewage systems and the vast outer walls, had been completed, and now
construction was focused on the interior of the city.
Regarding the Izumo district as well, the numerous
rivers flowing from the great mountain range towering at the old border had a
portion of their abundant water volume diverted into new waterways. The
irrigation canals spreading in all directions moistened the entire Izumo
area, and then some flowed into Kusanagi. Land improvement in the area was
also progressing smoothly, and in regions completed as farmland, crops that
harvest quickly like turnips, and autumn-planted agricultural products were
being planted first.
On this day, I happened to be heading out to inspect the
construction of defense facilities around Kusanagi, so I left the city
under construction and was making my way to the highway connecting to the Empire.
A checkpoint was set up there, conducting entry procedures
and screening for the Dukedom.
「Wow, what incredible congestion and
bustle. Raphael, is it always like this?」
「Hahaha, today is a bit special.
Tomorrow is the bidding deadline for the third round of bids. The bidding
itself has started today, so it's probably just temporarily overflowing with
those placing bids, those bringing in supplies for proposals, and those trying
to complete deliveries before the bidding.」
Actually, we had slightly revised the bidding system starting
this time.
Previously, we issued public notices the day before, accepted
bids the next morning, and announced the results in the evening, but that was
too rushed for both us and the merchants. Therefore, for the public notice, we
distributed specifications to prospective bidders at any time starting a week
prior, and changed the format to start accepting bids from the day before the
deadline, and close them the morning of the next day.
「I see, makes sense. But it looks
like there's some kind of trouble?」
「Indeed... there hadn't been any
major confusion recently, though...」
Raphael and the
others also had dubious expressions, and Bart bowed once to check the
situation and ran over there. We too, out of rubbernecking curiosity... no, to
confirm the facts, followed belatedly.
※
「What do you mean you won't buy our
cargo! It is precisely because we heard you were procuring food that we bought
a massive amount and went out of our way to transport it here. If this is the
case, we have no choice but to appeal that this country harbors ill will
towards the Empire!」
Apparently, there was a trading company that visited Kusanagi
fully loaded with goods we hadn't even asked for. Because one of their parties
was blocking the checkpoint, I could understand at a glance that this
congestion was occurring because of them.
The women at the reception desk, protected by soldiers, were
explaining desperately, but the other party had an intimidating attitude that
completely turned a deaf ear.
『Tch, were there still such
merchants? Probably newcomers who know nothing? Or... It can't be helped, I have
to teach them the methods of this country too...』
Apparently, the one raising his voice was a well-dressed man
whose appearance was clearly different from that of sly, battle-hardened
merchants. At that moment, putting on a sinister face, I decided to handle the
reception.
「Excuse me, you are saying quite
interesting things. Business is something that is only established when there
is a seller and a buyer. The rules for that should have been conveyed in
advance. We have no intention of treating any trading company unfairly, you know.」
「Who are you?」
「You may consider me as the person
entrusted with purchasing. First, I will hear your story, so could you please
move your procession to the side of the highway?」
「If we do that, those guys in the
back row will get ahead of us!」
「Ah, even if you arrive first,
nothing changes. For us, the order of arrival is completely irrelevant.」
I declared it with absolute composure. This is not a lie.
Today is the public notice day, and the bidding is tomorrow. Until then, no
purchases are made from anyone.
Since all the shops in the city also make their purchases
through the commodity exchange, the only ones who can freely purchase or sell
are street stall vendors at best.
「Hmm... then I will take your word
for it. If I hear a story later that those who went first sold at higher
prices, I will not hesitate to appeal to the Archduke, is that fine with you?」
I can tell that Bart, Raphael, and the others
are desperately stifling their laughter behind me. Well, yeah... since I'm the
person in question.
Upon confirming my nod, they obediently moved their
procession to the side and opened the center of the highway.
Then, those in the back rows began to move forward all at
once and started the procedures at the checkpoint. The merchants accustomed to
it, having visited Kusanagi many times already, pass through the
checkpoint one after another.
「Thank you for your cooperation.
First, may I ask the name of your trading company?」
Whether he was unsettled seeing the merchant caravans passing
him one after another, or if there was some inconvenience, he seemed to be
hesitating a little, thinking about something.
No, don't tell me... he hadn't thought of a trading company
name?
「W-We are... the Bo... Botakley… na Trading Company.」
「Pfft, Bottakuri-na (Rip-off) Trading
Company?」
I almost burst out laughing unintentionally. No, I did burst
out laughing.
「Wrong! It's the Botakleyna Trading Company! You insolent
fellow!」
「Then, what business does that Botakleyna
(Rip-off) Trading Company have with the Dukedom?」
「You can tell by looking. We came all
this way from afar fully loaded with goods for trade. Let's get straight to it,
buy our cargo.」
「Why is there a need to buy it?」
I decided to play with them a little. Normally I would turn
them away at the door, but they somehow felt impossible to hate. I want to make
them spit out their true feelings a bit more.
They are probably not merchants. If they were proper
merchants, they wouldn't pull such childish harassment.
Probably... I could guess it was either harassment from the
First Prince's faction, or a hastily assembled trading company dispatched to
profiteer.
「It is precisely because we heard you
were making purchases that we came to respond to that. Turning us away at the
door looks like nothing but an act that puts a crack in the bond between our
two countries.」
「In what way?」
「You troublesome fellow. A
low-ranking underling like you probably doesn't even know the clauses of the
ceasefire agreement. This country bears the obligation to enrich the Empire!
Feigning ignorance won't work!」
I burst out laughing again. I'm already desperate just
trying to hold in my laughter.
「I-SEE. YOU-ARE-VERY-WELL-INFORMED.」
「Just because we are merchants, don't
underestimate us. We have the backing of a noble personage.」
「THAT-IS-AMAZING.」
「You people are destitute of
supplies, and are making purchases to the extent that greedy merchants become
desperate, right? I know that much. Even if it's to procure cheaply through
negotiations, it's for your own good not to put up strange bluffs.」
The fragmentary knowledge of an amateur is scary. Or, do we
appear that way when seen from the side?
「INCIDENTALLY, WHAT-DO-YOU-HAVE?」
When I replied thus, the man disguised as a merchant grinned
and then exaggeratedly presented an inventory. I quickly read through it.
『Hahaha, they're all more than double
the assumed prices. Does he think there's an idiot
who would buy at such high prices?』
「How is it? Compared to greedy
merchants, it's an extremely conscientious price, isn't it. For a large army to
station, food is the first priority. If you're destitute of that, even an army
won't be able to move properly, right?」
It's certainly a conscientious price. Though, that is
compared to the prices the Empire merchants
first presented before the bidding system started...
Even so, he gave himself away, didn't he. His negotiations
completely expose him as an amateur. Because he's emitting words here and there
that will be taken as , 'We are different from mere merchants.'
「By the way, is the 'noble personage'
you mentioned earlier His Highness the First Prince of the Empire?」
「T-That's wrong! His Highness Glorious
is an existence above the clouds. We receive patronage from a certain Viscount
house...」
「Viscount Bottakuri-na?」
「Wrong! Viscount Kamin! Ah...」
Yes, thank you very much. You spoiled the secret.
I recalled the map I received from Sieghart
previously, and the knowledge obtained through espionage since then. If I
recall correctly, on the main highway extending from Galt to the Imperial
Capital Griffin, about a 3-day journey along it, there was a Viscounty
belonging to the First Prince's faction, right?
「Even so, it's strange. Speaking of
Viscount Kamin's territory, I heard it was famous for forestry. It would
have been better to trade construction materials...」
「I-If I could, I would have wanted to
do that! If only I hadn't taken on debt from those greedy merchants...」
「...」
I see. So his territory was the one the Kampfer
Trading Company secretly secured previously. In that case, I can't help but
feel a little bit of sympathy.
「That is... Viscount Kamin
must have suffered quite a bit too. So this time, you brought food to trade?」
「Y-Yeah. Ah, no, I am not a noble
person like the Viscount. I am a mere trade merchant.」
「I see. Incidentally, did you
participate in the prisoner return signing ceremony half a year ago?」
「Wha-, there's no way. We are mere
merchants, there's no way we could participate in such a major event.」
「No, no, at that venue, besides the
exchanges between countries, we requested Count Kampfer and had the
major merchants of the Empire gather, and conveyed our country's supply
procurement policy...」
「No, I don't know. I haven't heard
anything about such a story from Count Kampfer.」
「Then is this the first time the Bottakuri-na
Trading Company is doing business with us?」
「That's right. Don't make me say it
over and over. It's the Botakleyna Trading Company. Are you a little
weak in the head?」
「Hahaha, understood. Then, I have a
proposal here. If you would listen to our explanation here and respond to
tomorrow's bidding, we will hand you the planned procurement list and have you participate
in the bidding. However, if you intend to forcefully sell your goods as is...
we cannot let you pass.」
「Y-You insolent fellow! Who do you
think I am.」
「A mere merchant... right?」
「...」
「Is there any hindrance to purchasing
the desired goods according to our rules within our own country? We are by no
means destitute of food. Also, we have absolutely no intention of unfairly
beating down prices from the merchants of the Empire. What we desire is
mutual profit.」
「Then, aren't we number one!」
「Just as you say. Incidentally...
you're number one from the highest price.」
「Wh-, what!」
In front of Viscount Kamin, who leads the Bottakuri-na
Trading Company and staggered from sheer surprise, I remembered the phrase
'Samurai Business (Shizoku no Shoho)'.
During the Meiji Restoration period in Japan, it was a
phrase born to refer to samurai, who lost their source of income along with the
collapse of the shogunate system, starting unfamiliar businesses and failing.
Even in modern Japan where Nishida lived, there is no
end to similar examples. Even if public institutions, people called
'authorities', with absolutely no business experience get involved in
business...
「We too wish to diligently engage in
business hand in hand with the nobles of the Empire for a long time from
here on. If you like, Baron Solidia von Bart waiting here will explain...」
I called out Bart.
「Lord Takuhir, I heard I was
called, so I have come.」
「Wh-... Who on earth are you...」
Seeing the one called Baron Bart treating me with
respect, it seemed even this man finally realized.
「I apologize for the late
introduction. I am Westlights von Takuhir, who manages this land.」
「Whaaaaaaaaat...」
Viscount Bottakuri-na... no, Viscount Kamin
held his head and slumped onto the earth.
Yeah. Sorry. You didn't think I'd be in a place like this,
right?
But I have my ulterior motive too.
This Viscount Kamin is a somewhat comical character
and a man I just can't bring myself to hate. It seems he also has a past of
being made to suffer by merchants, and there are parts where I can't help but
sympathize.
Besides, I find his proactiveness to lead a merchant caravan
all the way here himself, and the slightly foolishly honest part that makes him
impossible to hate, to be interesting.
If he considers that there will be profit in business from
here on, isn't there a possibility that he won't agree to the expected reckless
actions within the First Prince's faction? If this could become
a piece of pacification... I was also thinking such things.
Afterward, I requested Bart and issued instructions
to specially buy the food the Viscount brought this time only, at a price that
won't yield much profit but won't cause him a loss either.
As a foothold so he can properly participate in the bidding from
next time on...
At this time, I myself didn't even imagine that the encounter with him at this time would bring a new connection to our relationship with the Empire in the future...
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