The Merchants' Protest
“And what about you, Lieutenant?”
“Me? Me?”
The question thrown right back at her.
He'd expected her to respond smoothly with some line about her vast experience, but her reaction was no different from his own.
“I don't have any either. To be honest, before enlisting, I pretty much despised every guy my age.”
“Despised...?”
“At parties, they'd swarm me with those sleazy looks, or propose marriage alliances to my family without even asking me first—like they were buying merchandise. And the gifts they sent... I don't even want to imagine.”
Her expression soured, as if the memories were truly horrific.
Being born pretty or handsome doesn't mean it's all good, huh.
Sure, it was still a hundred times better than being ugly, but he couldn't exactly say that here.
“Must've been tough.”
“It's fine now. Things have gotten a bit better. I've even found a way to escape.”
“Yeah, escape by all means. But don't push yourself too hard. As you can see, this war's got years left in it at least.”
“Got it. I'll keep that in mind.”
Aisa Lintun said that, then glanced down at the box holding the bags.
“Want one?”
“You'd give me one if I said yes?”
“Sure, for you? This much is nothing. Especially since you're my deputy.”
How much had she done for him in his stead? Giving her this was the least he could do.
“Right?”
She spoke in a voice that sounded oddly pleased, her lips curving up.
“So, this is a gift for me then?”
“Gift? Yeah. Looking forward to your continued support.”
“Thank you! Hehe.”
Her giggle was ticklishly cute, and he could vaguely see why men fell for her.
“I'll put it to good use! Get some rest while you work!”
Aisa carefully picked up the box, gave a quick salute, and left the room.
“She loves the bag that much, huh.”
He couldn't shake the feeling he'd been had.
“What the hell is this?”
Horen, owner of the BBQ joint in Retop Village, checked the week's sales and doubted his eyes.
It's halved.
Sales had literally been cut in half compared to last week.
For Horen, who only showed up for work after a week of partying around town, this was an emergency.
“What the hell happened?! You didn't miss anything, did you?!”
He grilled Jacob, the shop manager.
“No omissions. But starting a week ago, the number of soldiers suddenly dropped off. That's why we tried to reach you, but no response.”
Of course there wouldn't have been. He'd spent the whole week at casinos and bars.
“Ahem, never mind that. Soldiers decreased? Some kind of training?”
A week's dip hurt, but it was survivable.
The guild president said it'd last a year at least, so no need to worry, right?
News shared secretly only with full guild members.
Horen's plan was to run the shop for 11 more months, then sell at a premium and bail.
“I'll look into it. Keep business as usual. They haven't come for a week, so they'll swarm back soon.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jacob just did as told and returned to his duties.
But Horen, uneasy, left the shop and headed to the merchant guild.
“This is an emergency. Wasn't this all negotiated?”
“We need countermeasures. It's urgent now.”
The guild office entrance buzzed with shop owners.
“What's going on?”
Horen asked Garp, who ran the billiards hall.
“Oh! Perfect timing. You must be hit hardest, Horen. You okay?”
“Sales? Yeah, it's chaos. Something wrong at the base?”
“Not that. Word is, they've set up a BBQ spot at the base and are grilling their own meat. So no one's coming out.”
“What...?!!!”
The bolt from the blue dilated Horen's pupils to the bursting point.
“Sales at every shop in town have plummeted. That's why I'm here.”
“Why the hell would the base build a BBQ joint? What kind of insane bullshit is this!”
If his BBQ shop tanked, it was game over. Horen's voice rose with emotion.
Just then, the tightly shut guild president's door opened, and Hops stepped out.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I was confirming the situation myself.”
“President! What the hell is this? A BBQ joint? I'm done for!”
Horen, more desperate than anyone, stepped forward shouting.
“Yes, utterly ridiculous. I thought we were dealing with reasonable people.”
Hops was seething too.
Hit us over the head like this?
They'd tacitly agreed, and now a BBQ joint out of nowhere.
Nobles really were all sleazy.
“We've slaved for the soldiers all this time! Is this how they treat us? We have to go demand answers!”
The other merchants rallied to Horen's aggrieved cry.
“Right! Let's go together!”
“This is an insult to our village!”
“They've forgotten everything we've done. If soldiers act up, we hit back hard!”
The voices swelled.
Staying put wasn't presidential.
“I'll head back to the base.”
“We're coming too! They're ignoring you, President.”
“Push with numbers.”
“Yeah! Let's go!”
Crowds embolden the timid.
And so, fifty guild members marched to the base.
“Orcs were more numerous than expected today. Everyone, good work—you must be exhausted.”
Kelvin spoke briefly as he watched the soldiers grilling meat.
“Eat up, then crash hard and rest. Dismissed.”
“Thank you!”
“Enjoy your meal, sir!”
Sizzle!
As the battalion commander's words ended, the meats hit the grills.
They didn't usually eat like this en masse, but today's monster frenzy had prompted him to tap base funds.
“Eating inside like this keeps us out of trouble, saves soldiers time and money. Win-win, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
For Palan, with sales booming, it was a triple win.
“Results are positive so far—regiment's reviewing it. You've brought real change, Major.”
“No, sir. Just doing my duty as subjugation company commander.”
Someone might question the link to subjugation, but there was one.
Group outings leave gaps in manpower. If shit hits the fan...
No incidents yet, but it was bound to happen someday.
“Heard your trading company helped a lot this time. As rumored, no one supports the army like Oclo Trading.”
“Rumors like that?”
First he'd heard of it.
“Most aggressive with food supplies and logistics support, aren't they?”
“I see. Father does take a keen interest in the military.”
Palan had opened the door, but the company's expansion was all their doing.
“Eat up, Company Commander. You were out subjugating with us today.”
“Yes, sir. Digging in.”
Like the pork he loved, a big bite fresh off the grill.
“Company Commander!”
Just as it neared his mouth, Aisa—who'd stayed in the office—came running.
Craving meat now, huh.
They'd ordered plenty; one more wouldn't hurt.
But that wasn't why she'd called.
“Members of Retop Village's merchant guild are here to see you, sir.”
“Already?”
BBQ joint open just a week.
He'd figured a month before complaints.
Sales must hurt more than expected.
“Guards say over thirty. What should we do?”
“What's this about, Major?”
Kelvin, who'd overheard, asked for details.
“I mentioned the village visitors before. Ridiculous demands.”
“Right.”
The battalion commander had been furious then too.
“Now the BBQ's cut their sales, so here they are. Probably demanding we shut it down.”
It was obvious what they'd say.
“Opposing soldier welfare to fill their pockets? Absurd.”
Kelvin shook his head.
Good, our CO isn't in bed with the villagers.
Many units turned a blind eye for kickbacks from locals or execs, bleeding soldiers dry.
“I'll handle them personally.”
“No, sir. I started this; I'll meet them. I prepared for pushback.”
“Alright then.”
Kelvin, seeming relieved, sat back down.
Emotional fights like this suck.
Even Palan found it annoying.
“Be right back.”
He popped the meat in his mouth and left the BBQ area with Aisa.
“BBQ's more popular than expected.”
“Half the price of town shops. Can't blame 'em.”
Reservation system kept evenings fully booked.
Downside? Clean up after yourself.
Trivial compared to savings.
“Send one... no, two to my office. Rest wait outside.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hilarious. Protesting the army?”
Wartime: dozens unannounced at a base was arrest-worthy.
“Sales halved at least—they must be desperate.”
“Probably. I'll wait in the office.”
“Yes, sir. I'll escort them.”
He left her to it, entered his office, eyed the trash.
Even worth cleaning?
Military life lesson: treating trash like people changes nothing.
They just think, Oh? Still quiet. And escalate.
“Coffee it is.”
He brewed just enough for himself and waited. Soon, the office door opened.