Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Moment to Stake One's Life
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the reception room, Calix received the gold Noah had prepared, only to refuse it outright.
She was overcome with fear.
We prepared half the profits we've earned in Cron territory. Is this not enough?
"My lord, are you displeased with the amount we've prepared?"
"I didn't summon you here to take something like this."
"Then what..."
This reaction was utterly unlike any noble or lord she'd dealt with before.
No matter the noble, they'd light up at the sight of gold coins right in front of them and reach out greedily—yet the young lord of the Cron Family rejected it.
Calix let out a sigh and got to the point.
"The reason I called you today isn't to squeeze more taxes out of you. Quite the opposite."
"The opposite?"
"Yes. I'm planning to lower the toll for Cron territory from 30% to 10%."
Noah couldn't hide her shock at Calix's words.
What did this man just say?
A noble lowering taxes?
Noah instinctively activated her blessing.
[Vwoom]
Mana gathers in the eyes. The world fades to black and white.
Only those who speak truth retain their color.
She stared at Calix, and what she saw shocked her even more.
'No... lie...'
The young lord gleamed in silver, his true colors vivid and unchanged.
Her mind went blank for a moment.
He wasn't lying. Every word was sincere.
"But there's a condition."
"Please, tell me, my lord."
Noah felt a strange sense of relief at his words.
Of course. That makes sense.
In exchange for the toll reduction, this lord wants something bigger from our guild.
What could it be?
If it's in trade for tolls, it's probably exclusive distribution rights to one of our core goods for the Cron Family—like the 'Blue Slime Magic Stone.'
I'll have to discuss it with Father.
As Noah pondered, Calix spoke up.
"Your guild benefits from the toll reduction, so our territory's people should benefit too. Sell goods to the Cron Family at a discount equal to the toll savings."
Noah activated her blessing again.
And once more, Calix retained his colors.
He truly intended to revitalize the territory's commerce and lower tolls for the people.
In that instant, Noah felt it for the first time in her life.
The emotion called—being truly moved.
"May I ask one question?"
"What is it?"
"I'm just curious... what do you gain from this, my lord?"
Noah was genuinely curious.
What was this young lord after, sacrificing such massive gains for his people?
But his answer shocked her even further.
"The happiness of my people."
"Truly... truly just for that, you're lowering the tolls?"
"Yes."
"How could..."
"Why are you so surprised? Isn't it normal for a lord to lower tolls for his people?"
Noah kept her blessing active.
And to this moment, Lord Calix had never once lost his colors.
In this black-and-white world, only that silver lord shone brilliantly, proclaiming his words as truth.
From childhood, her father had taught her that humans were creatures of endless greed.
Through her own dealings, she'd believed it was the world's truth.
Yet the lord before her blatantly contradicted that lesson.
As she grappled to make sense of this impossible situation, her thoughts led her there.
'Wait... no way...'
The empire's current state was unstable.
The emperor, bedridden and powerless, watched as princes, princesses, grand dukes, and countless lords eyed the throne like scavenging hyenas.
And amid it all, each prepared their own weapons.
Some courted mages, others blessed ones, and some even legendary assassins, all gearing up for the War for the Throne.
But what if... a lord used the common folk as their weapon in that war?
It was so obvious no one paid it mind, yet the empire's greatest asset by far was its people.
If those people, seen as mere spoils of victory, rallied behind their lord instead—and if that lord was the one before her, Calix...
What would happen to the empire?
She couldn't imagine the future, but one thing was certain.
It would be a future beyond her wildest dreams.
Noah grew fascinated by this lord crafting an unimaginable future.
And she thought:
'I want to witness that spectacle from the closest seat possible.'
"So, are you ready to negotiate?"
Noah recalled her father's words.
As a merchant, there comes a moment when you must stake your entire life.
She believed this was that moment.
"I will accept every condition you desire, my lord."
"Good. Wise choice."
"But I have one request."
"A request?"
Noah approached Lord Calix.
She knelt and pressed her lips to his hand.
It was the kiss of a vassal pledging eternal loyalty to their liege.
"Appoint me as your treasurer, my lord."
After growing disillusioned with the world, Noah had always worn a mask.
Not even her family had seen her smile genuinely.
But in this moment, Noah smiled from the heart.
The storm had passed.
Or was it an avalanche?
Noah's sudden request to be appointed treasurer left not just me, but Hart and the other retainers, completely flustered.
For the heir and representative of a merchant guild to become the lord's treasurer was no small matter.
It wasn't mere business—it was a declaration of riding the same ship to the end.
Like Lu Su betting on the Sun Clan or Mi Zhu on Liu Bei in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
She was betting everything on me.
No, man, I'm just trying to live quietly here—what the hell is this?!
Refusing would hurt my image, but accepting felt like too much pressure, so I settled for asking her help as an "advisor" for now.
She seemed satisfied with that and left.
'But... damn, she's gorgeous.'
Noah White
An SSR-grade merchant with advisor aptitude to boot—a must-have character in World Archive if starting as a southern lord. The kind you pull for and build your game around.
I never got her myself—just heard rumors.
The reason I remembered her? Simple.
She was insanely beautiful.
Like a goddess with snow-white eyes, maybe?
Especially when she bowed in farewell at the end—her chest...
I nearly died maintaining a poker face during negotiations.
Anyway, big chest, stunning beauty, big chest.
Plus, she had a unique blessing that made her a cheat character for merchant routes with 99% negotiation success.
Wonder what it is... Did she use it on me?
Eh... honestly, for someone like me wanting a quiet life, her blessing didn't matter much.
Heck, if I accidentally took her as a retainer and got dragged into the "throne game," that would be the real headache. No thanks.
Come to think of it...
Before she left, she said something cryptic.
Something like...
'Your plan will surely succeed, my lord. I'll be waiting for "that moment" when you need me for the next one.'
What the hell did that mean?
I don't have any plans!
I puzzled over her words like a riddle until late into the night before finally falling asleep.
What is "that moment"?
Whether this was the "that moment" Noah mentioned, I couldn't say—but the moment I'd need her came soon enough.
"Get in line!!!!!!"
"Ah! Move faster!!"
"Let us through too!!"
I was at the Cron Family gates.
Normally, hardly any wagons passed through.
After doubling wages, a few more came.
After the knight order cleared the bandits, wagons came frequently.
And now, with tolls slashed, the gates were bursting at the seams with wagons.
Like a highway during holidays—dozens, no, hundreds if you looked far enough, all queued to pass.
"Hart... what's going on?"
"Everything is proceeding exactly as you planned, my lord."
Planned?
I never planned this!
Hart smiled faintly and continued.
"The average toll in the southern region is 35% of goods' value. Even the Lion Family's territory, with the best roads, demands up to 50%."
50% of goods' value in tolls!? My face nearly cramped trying to keep a straight expression at that absurd number.
"In that context, we've dropped ours to 10%. No matter how long it takes, merchants now profit far more routing through our territory."
"............"
Suddenly, memories flooded back of my past-life delivery gig, getting gouged by insane fees from those damn apps.
What a rip-off those delivery jerks were...
As it started making sense, Hart spoke up.
"And look at this, my lord."
"What's that?"
"The gatekeeper's toll records so far. We've already earned over 130% more revenue than before the cut—just today."
"What!? 130%!?"
"Yes! All as you planned, my lord."
The ledger Hart showed was packed with toll entries.
Even at a glance, it was at least double last month's—and included luxury items like fine wines and magic tools.
"But there's a problem."
"What is it?"
"The sudden surge in wagons has overwhelmed our scribes. We can't handle the admin alone anymore. We'll need more hands, my lord."
At Hart's words, she came to mind.
Sighing, I uttered the words I really didn't want to.
"Hart... summon Noah."
"Yes, my lord."
And just like that, I ended up with the SSR merchant character I never wanted.
The world sure doesn't go as planned.