Poznyu Encirclement Operation (2)
Calix sprang to his feet and began rummaging through the scattered intelligence reports littering the room.
As expected... The capital has no idea about the 3rd Legion's movements. When I met Grima Baron before, I didn't get the sense he'd fully defected to their faction. That means they don't completely trust each other.
Facts that had seemed meaningless without any clues suddenly connected, transforming into valuable intelligence.
The 3rd Legion probably reported it as mobile training to their superiors. They'd wait for Poznyu to collapse on its own. If it works, they claim a huge achievement; if it fails, they retreat without much backlash!
"Trias! When did the 3rd Legion leave their garrison?"
"It's been just over a week now, my lord. It would've taken them at least three days to march, and they've been here for five days since arriving."
The maximum duration for autumn mobile training was five weeks. Anything longer required approval from higher commands.
One month left. If we leave things as they are, riots will erupt, giving Grima the perfect excuse to intervene.
Calix drummed his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
The merchants won't give up their massive profits willingly—that's an ironclad truth backed by Earth's history. So we'll have to force it out of them, but violence is off the table...
That's when he noticed the box-shaped icon floating in the corner of his vision.
INVENTORY!
Food staples were bulky and heavy relative to their value.
It was hard to smuggle enough into the city using lightweight magic boxes or subspatial artifacts.
But not Calix's Inventory.
His current Inventory was at level 3.
He'd upgraded it twice to move silver ingots, and it had stayed that way.
Spend about 30,000 gold to max it out, and I can resolve this crisis.
Calix jumped up and sought out Yurin.
"Yurin. How long to mobilize the exiles and haul grain from Kabala?"
"I knew it! My hunch was right! Jackpot, huh? Total jackpot!"
"Cut the excitement and answer the question. Assuming double pay, how fast and how much can you gather?"
"Well... Plenty of volume. But even with big money, two weeks minimum. Not many places in the kingdom stockpile that much grain."
"Two weeks..."
It was a disaster.
Two weeks was more than enough time for riots to flip Poznyu upside down.
Guess I have no choice but to negotiate with the hoarders inside the city. Damn it!
Calix headed to Poznyu's largest grain merchant with Madam Hari. In the carriage, she briefed him on today's contact.
"Nazaf owns not just shops but several massive warehouses. Think of him as controlling over two-thirds of Poznyu's stockpiled food. Nail a deal with him, and his contract sets the standard."
"Leverage that to lock in the others easily, right?"
"Exactly. But what deal are you proposing? He's sharp— he'll spot any hidden upsides or downsides instantly. No sloppy tricks will work."
Instead of answering, Calix fired back.
"More importantly, is he actively hoarding?"
"He rents warehouses to hoarders, but doesn't join in himself."
"Image-conscious and greedy enough to rein it in? Hope he's reasonable... Let's meet him. We'll find out what he's really like soon enough."
Nazaf was a middle-aged man with a finely groomed mustache. In a thin vest over his shirt with a red handkerchief tucked in his front pocket, he looked more like a refined gentleman than a merchant.
But his personality was prickly as hell.
He clearly knew Calix wanted a favor but didn't ask about it.
He just sipped tea leisurely, killing time with small talk.
Surprisingly, Calix showed no impatience either, chatting amiably.
Madam Hari kept glancing at her watch anxiously.
The meeting was only until afternoon tea ended.
As time nearly ran out, Nazaf finally smirked.
"Impressive. First merchant to request a meeting who's like you. Everyone else just yammers what they want."
Calix lifted his teacup with a faint smile.
"Clinging to pant legs won't make the impossible happen."
Nazaf slapped his knee laughing.
"Ha! True enough! But desperation blinds people. They act like I owe them help. At least you've got shame— I like that. What's the favor?"
Calix downed his cold tea in one gulp.
"Sell me some grain."
"Grain? Odd request. Streets are full of booming grain shops. Why me?"
Nazaf's deadpan response made Calix's eyebrow twitch.
Normally irrelevant, but now imports were blocked.
The more grain Calix bought, the steeper prices would climb. Limited supply, surging demand.
Hmph! A veteran merchant like him knows that and still plays dumb.
Calix forced down his scowl.
"Some clueless merchants are hoarding and jacking prices sky-high. Riots could erupt. Show some mercy, merchant lord."
"Strange. Thought I was talking to the Red Wolf Mercenary Corps' agent. Now you sound like a slum rep. Which is it?"
"Does it matter? Riots hurt you too."
"I'm contracted with multiple mercenary bands."
"Planning to kill them all?"
"Anyone eyeing my assets better be prepared."
"I see..."
Calix grimaced inwardly.
Honestly, this mess profited him little.
Inventory upgrades were inevitable, but blowing 30,000 gold now was a loss.
Plenty of other urgents.
Even if riots held off two weeks for outside grain, premiums meant big losses.
Poznyu influence would skyrocket, sure—but cheaper ways later.
Ugh, can't ignore people dying because of me... Damn.
As Calix brooded, Nazaf spoke slyly.
"Listen. How about this?"
"I'm all ears."
"I'll lend you grain, special favor for your good intentions."
"Pardon?"
"Borrow it, repay in kind after four weeks."
Calix was dumbfounded.
Prices doubled daily. Borrow 1 gold's worth, it triples? Repay with 3 gold's grain.
No guarantee even then.
Merchants learn Calix needs it? Prices to dozens of gold.
But Calix struggled to hide his grin.
Renting to hoarders while letting slums starve? Barely innocent.
Any mercy, he'd cut fair profit.
No direct hoarding, after all.
This? Screwing him royally.
No mercy needed for this one.
He gazed at Nazaf, feigning utmost innocence.
"Truly grateful. Your mercy saves countless lives."
"Ahem! Embarrassing. How much? 100 gold's worth?"
"Not even close. Care to share your stockpile size?"
"...Hm? City consumption? About a month's worth. Why...?"
"Perfect. I'll take it all."
"...You know the value of that volume?"
"Roughly 5,000 gold, right?"
Pre-siege prices, you idiot! Nazaf nearly yelled. But he held back—reminding the mark might make him bolt.
"Anyway, that much needs collateral. Can't risk non-repayment."
"Ah, of course."
Calix pulled a paper from his pocket. Balance certificate, made for Yurin.
"Here."
"!!"
Nazaf expected minor Red Wolf cash or property.
30,000 gold coins worth. Saliva flooded his mouth.
"Ahem! Perfect. Let's draft the contract."
○ Nazaf lends 50,000 sacks of grain to Calix.
○ Calix repays the borrowed grain in kind after 5 weeks.
○ If not repaid by the deadline, the collateral is seized, and any excess amount is the unlimited responsibility of the Red Wolf Mercenary Corps.
"Lucky you're such a good man, Nazaf. Poznyu's slums won't starve. I'll deposit collateral at Madam Hari's salon. Send witnesses anytime."
"Haha, no need! Hahaha!"
They parted, oblivious to each other's meaningful smirks.
The next day, Calix met hoarding merchants one by one.
Some refused, but most nodded at Nazaf's Kabala firm contract.
As momentum built, even the cautious holdouts begged to sign.
Even those not grasping terms stamped eagerly—fear of missing profits while others cashed in.