Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Merchant Guild - [2]
The heart of the capital's commercial district, prime real estate. Atop the Merchant Guild's headquarters building.
The guild master's office was quite lavish.
The floor was covered in a white tiger pelt carpet airlifted from the northern snowfields, and the walls were lined with gold-leafed mahogany display cases.
"Hoo..."
Guild Master Baron gazed out the window while puffing on a premium cigar. The carriages and people bustling below his feet looked like swarms of ants.
"Yeah. This is the flavor."
In a world where money could buy anything.
Lately, he'd shelled out some backroom cash to buy off the market merchants' association and was lobbying officials for a perfect new law on special instrument management.
And then.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The secretary entered with cautious steps and bowed her head.
"Mr. Baron."
"Yeah. What is it?"
"Th-that Hans guy we fired a while back... he's here."
"Hans?"
Baron furrowed his brow. Digging through his memory, it was that fool who'd overstepped his bounds and gotten the boot.
A number-cruncher clueless about the real world.
"Must be out of cash and begging to come back."
Baron clicked his tongue. Blacklisted in this business, the guy couldn't find work anywhere.
Obviously crawling back just before starving, pride tossed aside.
"Probably... yeah."
Baron spun his chair around with interest.
"Send him in. If he kneels and licks my shoes, I might give him a warehouse keeper spot."
In Baron's mind, Hans would shuffle in ragged clothes, hunched over, begging.
Clack, clack.
But the footsteps echoing weren't timid. Crisp and firm, shoe heels striking the marble floor.
Baron looked up.
"...?"
It was Hans, no doubt. But not the Hans he remembered.
Custom suit of fine fabric at a glance. Neatly combed hair and sharp eyes.
Hans strode right up to the desk and wordlessly dropped a thick stack of documents onto it.
Thud!
The heavy sound shattered the office's silence.
"What the hell is this?"
Hans spoke calmly.
"An invoice."
"What? An invoice?"
"To be precise: attempted monopoly infringement on piano rights, violation of Imperial Patent Law, defamation and interference against the original creator, Aiman."
Hans continued evenly.
"And most critically... the double books detailing five years of tax evasion from the Merchant Guild, plus the list of bribes to officials."
"Y-you mad bastard...!"
Baron's face flushed purple. How the hell did this punk get hold of that?
"Under Imperial Commercial Code Article 12, Paragraph 4, you can be stripped of your guild master title. Considering the scale of tax evasion, at minimum..."
Hans's voice was dry. Like a machine spitting out a quote.
"Additionally, a compensation lawsuit from the victims will proceed. Estimated payout: about 40% of the guild's assets."
"You... you arrogant little shit!!"
Baron slammed the desk and shot to his feet. He couldn't listen anymore. A rat aping a tiger.
"You're insane! Do you know where you are? Who I am?!"
Baron bellowed, veins bulging.
"Guards!! Drag this bastard out!! Break his legs and toss him in the basement dungeon!!"
Pounding footsteps thundered from the hall at Baron's roar. The guild's private guards rushed in, clubs raised.
"Seize him!"
The guards charged Hans. But he didn't flinch.
That instant.
Boom—!!!
The sturdy oak office door shattered like paper and flew inward.
"Gah?!"
The charging guards tumbled from the debris. Through the dust cloud, knights in silver armor burst in.
A vivid crest emblazoned on their breastplates: black field with red rose and sword.
[Bellua Family Knights] "Everyone, stand down."
The knight captain's low, commanding voice filled the room. Private guards stood no chance against a proper knight order.
"B-Bellua Family...?"
Baron paled and staggered back. Why were noble knights here?
"Threatening the Bellua Family's proxy will be punished severely."
At the captain's words, Baron's eyes locked on Hans. Proxy? That rat?
The knights parted, making way. Lady Rozina glided in elegantly, fanning herself in a lavish dress.
She surveyed the wrecked office, frowning slightly.
"My, look at all this dust."
She approached Hans.
"Mr. Hans."
"Yes."
"Your negotiation skills need work."
Rozina chided him lightly, fanning her nose.
"Going full hardball from the start is something you should fix."
"...Sorry. First time in a spot like this."
Hans scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Rozina smirked and turned to Baron.
Baron finally grasped the situation and collapsed into a chair. The Bellua Family.
Nobles who wouldn't even glance at the low-level officials he'd bribed.
That was the gap between commoners and nobles. Rozina addressed the trembling employees and executives.
"No worries, everyone. The Bellua Family will take over this guild. Of course, we'll purge the corrupt leadership."
She snapped her fan shut.
"On my noble honor, I promise the guild will run cleaner and fairer than before."
Relief flickered in the employees' eyes. Rozina turned to Hans.
"Mr. Hans. What's next? Full authority is yours."
Hans pondered briefly.
"The nobles tied to this guild. First, seek their understanding. Assure them more profit than under Baron."
"Sound judgment."
"Then subcontractors and market merchants... those hurt by the guild master's bullying. Distribute the recovered illicit profits as compensation. That's the order."
Rozina eyed Hans, as if prompting more.
"That way, we might end up with nothing left. But we'll gain some influence."
"Influence?"
"...Might be disrespectful, but I heard real power comes from the bottom up, not the top down."
"Ho... Who said that?"
"Aiman."
Rozina nodded.
"Excellent judgment. Let's do it."
Hans approached Baron, slumped blankly on the floor. The towering wall he'd once craned his neck to see now looked pathetically small.
"Mr. Baron."
Hans said evenly.
"I never thanked you until now. Farewell."
And that was it. Hans turned without a backward glance. His steps seemed much lighter than when he'd entered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning.
Bang!
My door nearly splintered open.
"Hey! Aiman! Aiman!!!"
Haruna barreled in, panting like she was breaking news.
"Heard? That sleazy Merchant Guild! Went bust overnight!"
"Uh... yeah, pretty much."
"Guild master's off to prison, execs rounded up! What the hell happened?"
Haruna bounced excitedly.
"Oh, that?"
Rozina set down her teacup with an elegant smile.
"Mr. Hans handled it spotless. Evidence so airtight, even the lawyers gave up."
"Huh? Hans? I heard too... wasn't he your friend, Aiman?"
"Well... yeah."
Haruna blinked, and Rozina added,
"Aiman and Mr. Hans. Their collaboration toppled the guild."
"What? What does that...?"
Haruna stared at me in shock. Don't look at me like that. I did nothing.
"Now that the noise is cleared, let's focus on the main event."
Haruna spaced out, and Rozina clapped to shift the mood.
"First, outfits. I'll pick palace-worthy clothes myself. Tuning's fine, but this comes first."
Haruna backed away in panic.
"W-wait... me too?"
"You need to go to the Royal Academy of Arts too, Ms. Haruna. As dedicated manager, stand by the stage. Not in work clothes, right?"
"N-no! I hate dresses...!"
"My, no choice."
Rozina grabbed Haruna's arm.
"Let's go! I'll make you pretty!"
"Aiman! Help! Save me!"
Haruna shrieked as she was dragged out.
'Heading to the palace soon...'
I gazed out the window.
'Ria and Anna are probably there, huh?'
Maybe they saw my Für Elise reaction... No. No way. Couldn't be.
'Just focus on my job.'
If I'm showing it off, make it count. I downed my tea in one gulp.
A new stage awaited.
Flap~
Envelope slipped from my pocket and fluttered around. I smacked my lips.
Truth be told, I wanted to use it again. I held back to let Hans prove himself fully.
Next time, definitely feed it blood.
"You want it too, right?"
As if reading my mind, Envelope rubbed against me. Not evolved or anything, but way more lively than before.