Chapter 68
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68
A golden tent shimmered under the warm harbor sun.
Following the trader, we wove through rows of tents until the entrance to the merchant guild’s main building appeared. Inside, we were led down a lavish corridor and into a private reception room.
After being told the manager would join us shortly, we spent a few minutes relaxing and enjoying the refreshments provided.
Knock, knock.
With a polite rap on the door, a woman radiating an air of mystery entered the room. She had sun-kissed skin, vibrant purple hair, and wore a long, flowing garment that swept against her ankles.
Upon seeing us, she bowed her head gracefully.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Roen, Lord Garfield, and Lady Ciel. I am Sheika, the Vice-Guildmaster of the Bellatea Merchant Guild.”
Sheika addressed each of us by name as she offered her greetings. She was particularly respectful toward Garfield, which was only natural; no one in the mercantile world was ignorant of a scion of the Morty family.
“I apologize for the sudden visit,” I said. “I only requested a manager; I didn’t expect the Vice-Guildmaster herself to grace us with her presence.”
Sheika shook her head and sat elegantly on the sofa.
“Not at all. I happened to have some free time, so it is no trouble. Please, think nothing of it. In any case, I was told you wished to strike a deal with our guild?”
“Yes. It’s not a massive sum, but I intend to bet on a drop in spice prices.”
At that, Sheika’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Betting on a price drop… As you know, spice prices have been on a continuous rise. Given the current market, it’s not an investment I would recommend.”
“You don’t make money by following the crowd.”
“But going against the tide can lead to ruinous losses.”
“And yet, someone is always bound to profit immensely from such a situation.”
“Unfounded confidence can be a dangerous thing, Lord Roen.”
Sheika smiled gently, clearly trying to dissuade me. Betting on a price drop while spice prices were soaring wasn't just ill-advised—it was tantamount to throwing money into a furnace.
Of course, those hoping for a miracle or those who simply enjoyed being contrarians occasionally made such moves, but the probability of success was abysmal. That was the point Sheika was trying to drive home.
After attempting to talk me out of it for a while, Sheika glanced at Garfield—who was busy munching on snacks beside me—and finally nodded.
“However… if you truly insist, I can certainly arrange it. What amount did you have in mind?”
As a notorious troublemaker, I had zero credit to my name, but Garfield was different. He was the heir to the Golden Elephant Guild, one of the three largest merchant guilds on the continent. It was clear she was only agreeing to the deal because Garfield was backing me.
“Let’s start with 500 million krone worth of nutmeg.”
“Ah, I see your intention. In that case, shall we structure the contract like this?”
Click, clack.
Sheika flicked the beads of her abacus with practiced ease and began drafting a contract. The document's contents were complex, but the underlying principle was simple: I would profit as the price of nutmeg fell. In modern terms, it was an inverse play.
Of course, if the price continued to rise, I would lose everything—but I knew that wasn't going to happen.
I scanned the contract Sheika handed over and smiled with satisfaction.
“Quick and efficient. I like it.”
Normally, this would require a convoluted process: borrowing the spices, selling them at their current peak, and then buying them back once the price plummeted to repay the loan. It was a massive undertaking that required warehouses, logistics staff, and a small army of laborers.
But thanks to Sheika, the deal was settled with a single signature, bypassing the headache of physical goods. There was a transaction fee, but the rate was more than fair. Dealing with the person at the top certainly had its perks.
Scratch.
After I finished signing, Sheika handed me a copy and asked cautiously, “But Lord Roen, why would you sign such a contract now? You must be aware that spice prices are still climbing.”
“Asking for the reason only after you have my signature?”
To wait until the contract was legally binding before asking for the 'why'—she was as shrewd as they came.
Sheika covered her mouth and let out a faint laugh.
“Hehe, I am a merchant, after all. I have to secure my own interests first.”
She smiled as she carefully tucked the original contract into a file. It didn't matter to me. She was just doing her job, and I had nothing to lose.
With the spice deal concluded, it was time for the real business. The contract we just signed would bring in a decent sum, but the main event was yet to come.
This is where the real money is.
The previous deal was merely a pretext to open the door. I lowered my voice and tapped the copy of the contract on the table.
“Sheika, you asked me why I made such a deal.”
“Yes, though I’m not overly curious. Given your reputation, Lord Roen, it’s not entirely strange for you to sign a contract destined for loss. I simply fulfill the request and collect my commission.”
“…You’ve got a lot of nerve saying that to my face.”
“Please, don’t take it to heart. It was merely a joke.”
Her smile remained, but her gaze turned sharp and serious.
“To be honest, I am intrigued. Since you brought Lord Garfield of the Morty family with you, I suspect you have something far more significant to discuss than a contract involving such a paltry sum.”
“A keen observation. That was just the icebreaker.”
I looked at the contract and then back at Sheika.
“In truth, you must have some inkling yourself—about the reality behind this sudden surge in spice prices.”
“…”
For a fleeting second, Sheika’s expression shifted. It was gone in an instant, but I caught it.
So, she did know.
I nodded to myself. It was impossible for high-level merchants to miss such a glaring anomaly. For now, they were likely content to ride the wave of rising prices, scheming how to milk the situation for all it was worth. When an opportunity arises, a merchant’s duty is to seize it. Even if something smelled fishy, there was no reason to kick the hornet's nest while the gold was flowing.
But this mirage won't last.
The bubble would burst in mid-April, the moment the Lombard Merchant Guild returned to the Meteor Archipelago from the New Continent. Those who didn't prepare for the crash would be wiped out.
Furthermore, for Sheika, this wasn't just about market fluctuations. She had a secret to protect.
“You might be profiting from these high prices for now, but the clock is ticking. That’s why I signed that contract.”
“So… are you here to advise me to prepare for a crash?”
“Not a chance.”
I shook my head, my voice hardening with confidence.
“Sheika. I have solid information. I know exactly who systematically planned the collapse of the Lombard Merchant Guild’s stock and spread the rumors to create this bubble. I have high-level intelligence that can flip the entire board.”
“!”
Sheika’s eyes widened. This time, she couldn't hide her shock.
Confirming her reaction, I pressed on.
“I won’t ask you to trust me blindly. I’m well aware of my reputation. But you can trust Garfield.”
I gestured to the boy sitting beside me. It would be absurd to expect her to believe me based on a 500-million-krone bet. My infamy would only drag down my credibility. But the face of Garfield, the scion of the Morty family, carried weight. Even if I wasn't officially borrowing the Morty family’s power, Garfield’s presence was a seal of legitimacy I could use.
“What information, exactly?”
“I know the factions and the guilds that manipulated Lombard’s stock. I know who spread the false rumors of droughts and shipwrecks to spike the spice prices. And I know exactly how they are operating right now.”
“…!”
“So, what do you say?”
I leaned back on the sofa, acting as if I had all the time in the world. I had laid my cards on the table. Now, the choice was hers.
“…”
Sheika fell silent, her mind racing. Finally, she gave a small nod.
“Alright. I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume what you say is true, Lord Roen. But why offer this to me? Why share such valuable information?”
I smiled and delivered the killing blow.
“Because you are the true owner of the Lombard Merchant Guild—the very victim of this manipulation.”
“Wait, what?” Garfield blurted out.
“...?” Ciel tilted her head in confusion.
To call Sheika, the Vice-Guildmaster of the Bellatea Merchant Guild, the owner of the Lombard Merchant Guild seemed nonsensical to them. But when they saw Sheika’s grim, frozen expression, they realized I had hit the mark.
Garfield, possessing a sharp mind for business, thought for a moment before clapping his hands.
“Of—of course! I assumed Bellatea was just a subsidiary of Lombard… but it’s the other way around! You’ve been controlling both guilds from the shadows!”
With the truth out, Sheika dropped the act.
“How did you find out? Very few people, even within my own family, are aware of that.”
“I have my ways. Don’t worry, I’m not interested in gossiping.”
“…”
Sheika didn't press further. She knew the 'how' didn't matter as much as the 'now.'
Seeing that I had her hooked, I moved to close the trap.
“If we play this right, the profit will be astronomical. Even as we speak, those bastards are borrowing shares and shorting them to drive Lombard’s price into the dirt. You know what that means, don't you?”
Sheika stroked her chin, her eyes gleaming with cold calculation. “I see… In that case, I should slowly dry up the stock’s liquidity while increasing our stake as much as possible.”
“Exactly. And while you’re at it, keep lending them shares through a broker. Give them enough rope to hang themselves. Then, when the moment is right, we wring their necks all at once.”
“If we do that, the projected profit would be…”
I saw Sheika’s fingers tremble slightly as she mentally worked her abacus. The final sum would depend on the short-sellers' volume and the available float, but her calculations were clearly showing a number that was nothing short of legendary.
After a moment, Sheika glanced at Garfield and me, quickly stowing her abacus away.
“Can you secure additional funds for this? We will also need a broker we can trust implicitly.”
“I have people in mind. I’ll introduce you later.”
With capital from the underworld and Alfredo’s expertise, it would be a simple matter.
“I understand. Then, can you provide the list of the guilds involved? We need to identify the targets to finalize the plan.”
I gave her a firm look.
“Hah, I can’t just give that away for free. That list is the heart of this deal.”
The names of the conspirators, the volume of their shorts, and their exact positions—that was the ammunition for the slaughter.
Screek.
Instead of answering, I pulled a fresh sheet of paper across the table and slid it toward her. Then, with a sharp smile, I spoke.
“Now. Let’s draw up a real contract.”
To gain something, something of equal value must be lost. That was the law of equivalent exchange. It was the fundamental principle of alchemy… no, it was the law of the world itself.