Chapter 74: Dominating the Market
Chapter 74: Dominating the Market
First, he had to wrap up this situation quickly and move on to the next stage.
Jiha scheduled an appointment with the mayor for the afternoon and headed to City Hall with only Enril and Leticia in tow.
Passersby on the street stared at Jiha in a very peculiar way.
"Who the hell is that?"
"What's going on?"
With an elf on his left and a dark elf on his right, it was only natural that all eyes followed him.
Enril and Leticia were both beauties of distinct types, of course, but that wasn't the reason.
"Seems everyone here knows full well that our races hate each other."
"......Is it absolutely necessary for us to go together?"
Enril was irritated enough to openly question Jiha's decision.
"Even if we have to meet, we could just set the appointment at City Hall. Why must the two of us go together?"
"It's for the citizens' viewing pleasure."
The rumors that Blue and Purple had fought a bloody battle all night would have already spread through Waris.
Amidst that, a lone Common walking around with an elf and a dark elf was bound to attract every eye.
"......."
Enril's expression was full of things she still wanted to say, but she shut her mouth.
She was tolerating it because it was Jiha's doing; otherwise, she would have refused instantly.
Leticia, who had looked pleased while coming out in new clothes, was now glaring venomously at Enril.
"Can't you send that dark elf back? We finally come out and the street is just stained pitch black."
"Why don't you weeds just stay buried in the dirt? You're not even mandrakes—I don't get why you walk around poking your noses into the world. Not that the world has any interest in you."
"Do you shake your hips that obscenely because you're hoping Jiha will take an interest?"
"......What did you just say?"
As Enril's voice turned murderous, Leticia let out a derisive snort.
"I said you're wiggling your rear around to cozy up to a man. I don't know what you're so proud of, with a lumpy rump bloated with nothing but fat."
"......I can let a lot of things go, but not this."
"Oh my, I agree. I'm in the mood to grind you down completely into black dirt."
Enril's hand went to her sword, and Leticia began summoning Mana around her arm. Jiha stopped walking.
"Knock it off."
"......."
Both fell silent, but neither withdrew the gaze locked onto the other.
If only Jiha weren't there, they were primed to tear up the entire street.
'Don't Blue and Purple Uniques generally avoid mixing it up with each other?'
As Uniques were high-ranking members of their factions, any clash could easily escalate.
When Jiha had seen them before, they'd only traded insults, but now both were heating up dangerously fast.
"From now until we arrive, if either of you utters a single argumentative word, we proceed without that person. And I happen to thoroughly dislike fools who can't control their emotions and ruin things. You'll be seeing me privately afterward."
After Jiha's firm warning, Leticia turned her head away with a prim air, and Enril kicked at the dirt and averted her eyes as well.
Since they seemed to have gotten the message, Jiha resumed walking.
'I really will have to manage this.'
Enril and Leticia were both people he needed to use in various ways, yet here they were at each other's throats.
Cohesion among his people was always vital to an organization. The Blue Seal Commons who followed Jiha had already solidified their unity.
Driven by the desire to avenge Deubang's death, they had moved as one body and evolved into a disciplined extension of his will.
The problem was the Uniques: Enril, Yura, and Leticia.
Yura had a relatively gentle nature, but Enril was haughty, and Leticia was prickly.
Their races were ancient enemies as well, so they seized every chance to clash.
Leticia asked with a sulky tone.
"So why are we going to City Hall?"
"I set an appointment with Dudinel. With the mayor's mediation, you two will settle this incident as the representatives of Blue Seal and Purple Liberation."
"......Can he be trusted?"
Under Jiha's gaze, Leticia hastily added.
"I'm not doubting him—I mean, will it really be settled? If Lord Dudinel gives his recommendation, the elves will calm down to some extent, but... I'm definitely going to get a flood of protests."
"I've already identified the dead elves. The important families are Galak, Hashar, Crea, Yadora, and Dapnil, right?"
"How do you...."
Leticia looked shocked, but to Jiha it was only natural.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you'll win a hundred battles. He had mobilized the full information network of the late Jahar and Uben to collect intelligence on the enemies who would attack.
"I've also identified the families opposed to them. Report every single protest to me as it comes. I'll handle them."
"Got it."
Impressed by Jiha's preparations, Leticia nodded in agreement.
This time, Jiha spoke toward Enril.
"Pay condolence money to the families of the dead guards. Blue Seal covers it."
"......They were killed by Purple, so why should we pay? Obviously, Purple should pay."
"A few elves are dead and you're saying that...."
Leticia began to snap back, but after a glance at Jiha, she swallowed her words.
Jiha spoke to Enril.
"We went a bit overboard too. Your command did annihilate the elves, but it didn't have to end that way. As a gesture of reflection, the dark elves will bear this cost."
"No... "
Enril looked utterly unconvinced.
Even if Normal Grade soldiers had died, condolence money for the bereaved families was a trivial sum. Enril could easily cover it from her personal funds alone.
Moreover, Enril's standing within Blue Seal would rise significantly from this incident, so it was by no means a losing deal.
"Why to me...?"
Enril couldn't understand why Jiha was conceding such merit to her.
Blue and Purple were under an armistice, an era with few official battles, making military achievements hard to come by.
If someone were to report that Jiha had commanded during this crisis to a Legend Grade ruler, the situation could change dramatically.
It might even free Jiha from Common status and elevate him.
Unprecedented, but not absolutely impossible.
"If you're that grateful, pay me back with your body later."
"What?"
It was Leticia who burst out at Jiha's words.
She looked back and forth between Jiha and Enril with startled eyes, then her brow furrowed.
"You just— to that blackened rear end...."
"Didn't I say no fighting?"
At Jiha's words, Leticia quickly shut her mouth.
But her angry glare and irritated expression remained unchanged.
'First, I'll secure Enril's commitment since she already knows about my relationship with Leticia. Leticia I'll feel out through Lijin....'
To keep these two from fighting, he'd have to lay hands on each of them at least once.
Jiha was firming up that resolve when City Hall came into view.
The mayor's office.
Thanks to the message sent ahead, Jiha was able to meet Mayor Dudinel immediately.
When he entered with Enril and Leticia, Dudinel, who was seated alone, greeted them warmly.
"Welcome."
"I'm here to wrap this up."
Jiha stated it bluntly and sat directly on the sofa.
Dudinel looked at Leticia and Enril standing behind Jiha and couldn't hide his admiration.
"To bring both of them together—your ability is truly remarkable."
"Is that worthy of praise?"
"Gathering an elf and a dark elf in one room is no easy feat. I've had my own considerable struggles with it."
The administrators who followed Dudinel included both elves and dark elves, but they were men without Mana.
It was an exceedingly rare sight for proud, powerful women like Enril and Leticia, Unique Grades both, to stand in the same room without so much as a verbal duel.
Jiha looked back and asked.
"Is there anyone in Warsland who doesn't know your races hate each other?"
"I'd rather not answer that...."
"As if I should get along with something like this?"
As the two snapped at each other, Jiha tsked.
"If you hate the sight of each other so much, why not just have a brawl? Ah, you can't, can you? Because you're from different factions?"
If only they could punch the person they loathed, things might improve, but a clash between Unique Grade members was forbidden under the armistice.
So they did nothing but trade endless verbal barbs, piling up mutual animosity.
When Jiha faced forward again, Dudinel burst into laughter.
"Now do you see just how extraordinary a thing you've accomplished?"
"Since we're on the subject, I'd like to accomplish one more."
"......I've heard the news from last night."
Dudinel nodded.
He continued in a pitying tone, as if saddened by the deaths of his young kin.
"It was an unavoidable affair. Do you wish for me to mediate it as mayor of Waris?"
"A promise is a promise."
"What I promised was limited to the administration and security of Waris."
"Are you going to pretend you didn't pledge your help as Dudinel Kamadra?"
Dudinel slowly shook his head.
"Of course, I wish to help. But I am not in a position to act entirely as I please. Even if I tried, there would be considerable opposition."
"Meaning?"
"I'd like you to persuade the city councilors yourself."
"Councilors?"
What is this, some kind of democracy?
As Jiha looked baffled, Leticia cut in.
"They're the guys who represent each sector of Waris's commerce and voice their opinions on city administration."
"Ah, local bigwigs, you mean...."
Jiha had roughly picked up on this while gathering information on the Galak family.
"So, to protect the neighborhood business district, the cigarette shop owner and the hole-in-the-wall store ladies all gather for a neighborhood watch meeting. Is that what you're telling me?"
"......I'm not sure about the nuance, but that's probably right."
Jiha looked at Dudinel and asked.
"So they're a noisy interest group. Is that really something the mayor needs to deal with personally?"
Dudinel might be called a figurehead without real power, but he still had authority.
"They have been responsible for a significant portion of the city's operational funds. Even I find it difficult to treat them carelessly."
"Sounds like street vendors bribing the mayor."
When Jiha reacted with disbelief, Enril explained.
"Waris is one of the five largest cities in Warsland, with all sorts of complex, tangled financial interests. Blue Seal and Purple Liberation rule jointly, but the commercial sphere is more complicated."
"More specifically?"
"They are pursuers of profit, people who would stop at nothing for money. They don't even hesitate to inflict harm on their own faction."
"So they fund Dudinel as a safety measure?"
"We collect the official tribute, but...."
Leticia snatched the explanation from Enril.
"If they get caught publicly screwing over their own faction, they're in danger. So they scatter money to the mayor, the administrators, and the security officers too. And since we're somewhat reluctant to blow small matters out of proportion, we tend to look the other way on most of it."
"It's unofficial money, but absolutely necessary for running this city. It will become necessary for you as well."
At Dudinel's words, Jiha nodded.
"So they're sponsors who've built their positions by throwing around huge amounts of cash."
Enril concluded.
"Everyone knows, but no one felt the need to touch them. Even if someone did, they're the kind to make a huge racket before they die, so we've decided to leave them be. And don't interrupt me, elf."
"I couldn't help it since the air turns foul whenever you open your mouth, dark elf."
"......."
When Jiha glanced back wordlessly, both hastily shut their mouths.
Dudinel smiled at Jiha with satisfaction.
"I chose my people very well indeed."
"Anyway... you're telling me these so-called sponsors bankrolling everything are unhappy about you mediating the Blue-Purple dispute? Why?"
"I'd appreciate it if you could hear that directly from them and make the councilors understand."
He clearly already knows the reason, yet he's hiding it.
Under Jiha's gaze, Dudinel added discreetly.
"They're all local pillars of this city, each with their own influence. Wouldn't getting to know their faces be useful to you as well?"
"......Well, I suppose so."
Jiha nodded.
The Blue Seal and Purple Liberation barracks in Waris were now practically in Jiha's grip.
To go further and seize control of the city itself, securing the flow of money was also necessary.
"Fine, I'll do some traffic control. When's this meeting?"
"It begins in thirty minutes."
"......You crafty old man. This was your scheme from the start."
When Jiha laughed in amazement, Dudinel smiled back.
"Didn't you once say humans like things done quickly? And I also wanted to see your skill with my own eyes."
"Ah, well, fine."
It was about time for him to gradually step into the foreground.
Jiha nodded.
"I'll do it. On one condition—my way."
He'd show those greedy bean-counters exactly who was on top now.