To Catch a Big Fish, You Need Big Bait

In the original novel, Stop Loving Me!, the countless men who fell for Meriel Erents caused endless trouble. They caused disasters in the imperial capital, in the South, in the North, and even in neighboring kingdoms.

Yet, the world didn't end. Why? Because there was always someone prepared to clean up their messes. The imperial family was no exception. Enter the Second Princess, Shuren von Alpeit.

In the original story, she was the one who resolved the political disasters triggered by her brother, the Crown Prince, earning the Emperor's recognition and eventually ascending the throne after navigating numerous crises.

Right about now, she was probably gathering every administrative official in the empire, desperately struggling to bring the situation under control. Actually, for my plan to work, she needed to be struggling.

"Elina, what is the current price of Blue Stones?"

"According to the update from Branch Manager Jiren an hour ago, it has reached 100,000 Zenon per kilogram."

"One hundred thousand Zenon..."

A 2.5-fold increase from the initial 40,000 Zenon. It was staggering. If you were used to looking at things like 'Bitcoin' or 'Samsung electronics' stocks in my past life, it might not seem like a massive jump, but this world was a medieval fantasy setting before the advent of stock markets.

In a world where the real economy and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the capital economy were tightly bound with almost zero bubble, a 2.5-fold increase in a single day was an astronomical figure. What was even more astonishing was that, judging by the atmosphere, it was bound to rise even further.

Just as I was basking in the familiar, thrilling heat of a raging bull market from my past life, a knock sounded at my door.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

The door opened, and one of the estate's servants stepped inside. He looked thoroughly flustered.

"Young Master, um..."

"What is it?"

"Helchen Zeb, the Vice Master of the Zeb Merchant Guild, has come to see you."

"Helchen is here?"

"Yes, sir... We informed him that it was too late and asked him to return tomorrow, but he is refusing to leave, making a scene and demanding to see either you or the Master."

Straining my ears, I could hear a faint commotion echoing from outside the mansion. Sigh... That vulgar bastard. I knew he'd show up, but did he have to make such a racket? I instructed the servant to show him to the drawing room and went down to meet him.

When I entered the drawing room, Helchen Zeb, the silver-haired, cheap-looking Vice Master of the Zeb Merchant Guild, was already seated. He had his feet propped up on the table... with his shoes still on, no less. I barely suppressed the urge to hurl a glass at his face.

This son of a bitch, do you have any idea how much that table cost?!

"Well, look who it is. If it isn't my dear friend, Kyle."

"...What brings you here at this ungodly hour, Helchen?"

He smirked slyly, and I sat down opposite him, making absolutely no effort to hide my distaste.

"My, aren't we cold to an old friend? Not even offering a cup of tea."

"...Elina, two cups of milk tea, please."

"Understood, Young Master."

A moment later, Elina returned with the tea. Helchen took a sip of the steaming milk tea and shuddered as if he had just downed a shot of cheap liquor.

"Ah... The Lorend Guild's milk tea never fails to impress. Is it because of your high-quality milk? Absolutely delicious."

"If you like it that much, buy some on your way out. It's only 120,000 Zenon."

"I might just do that, depending on how our little chat goes."

He set his cup down quietly. It was time to get to the point.

"So, Helchen, let me ask you again. What business brings you here so late?"

"Let's not beat around the bush, Kyle. We're both professionals here. How much did you make off this little stunt?"

"Make off what? I haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about."

"Oh, cut the act. I'm talking about the Blue Stones—the ones that were originally mine."

Just as I was the heir to the Lorend Merchant Guild, Helchen was the heir ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to the Zeb Merchant Guild. Since the Zeb Guild specialized in mineral distribution, the vast majority of the Blue Stones I had stockpiled were actually purchased from them through Helchen just a week ago.

"That was before we signed the contract last week. Right now, they belong to the Lorend Merchant Guild."

"Sure, sure. That's why I'm proposing a deal..."

He spoke with casual arrogance, naturally laying out his terms as if he held all the cards.

"I'll pay you the current market rate plus the contract termination fee. That should come out to roughly 120,000 Zenon per kilogram. Let's settle it at that."

I had anticipated this, but hearing it directly from his mouth made me want to laugh. In short, he was saying:

"So, let me get this straight. You want us to sell back the Blue Stones we bought for 40,000 Zenon at 120,000 Zenon, and then quietly back out?"

"Exactly! I knew you'd understand, Kyle. We're on the same page."

He clapped his hands in delight, thoroughly pleased with my summary. Hmm. I expected him to be shameless, but experiencing it firsthand is surprisingly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠infuriating. I guess I learned something new today.

"Are you offering that price knowing full well what Blue Stones are worth in the capital right now?"

"Of course I do. That's why I'm offering to buy them back at three times the original price."

I took a slow sip of my milk tea, calming my rising temper. Deep breaths. I am a professional. The moment I lose my cool, I lose the game.

"I can't sell them to you at that price."

I delivered my refusal flatly, cutting through his smug facade. Who does this bastard think he is, trying to hijack the board I meticulously set up? Does he have a death wish?

Helchen's face darkened instantly.

"Well, well... It seems my friend Kyle lacks foresight."

His playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a cold, menacing glare.

"Kyle, you'd better think this through. The Zeb Guild supplies fifty percent of the capital's Blue Stones. Sure, there's a temporary rift between the imperial family and the North right now, but do you honestly think this deadlock will last forever?"

Dropping his mask entirely, Helchen leaned back and threw his leg over the table once more. In the merchant business, everyone eventually develops a signature posture or gesture to intimidate their opponents.

This was the first time I'd seen it, but this was clearly Helchen's go-to intimidation pose. Good grief, what a repulsive habit.

"In a few months, trade with the North will inevitably resume. When that happens, the Lorend Guild will have to crawl back to us to buy Blue Stones again. If you ruin my mood today... what do you think will happen to your supply then? Hmm? So, I suggest you think very carefully."

This was the leverage Helchen relied on. He was reminding me that while I might hold the upper hand right now, I wouldn't hold it forever. He wanted me to fall in line and accept his terms.

I pretended to ponder his words for a moment. Then, I spoke.

"Fine. Let's do this."

"Made up your mind?"

"I'll sell them to you at 120,000 Zenon per kilogram."

"Excellent! Wise choice. I knew I could count on you, my friend."

At my words, he quickly took his feet off the table and looked ready to leap over and throw his arm around my shoulder.

Hold your horses, buddy. In Korea, you always have to listen to the end of the sentence! Ah, right, we're not in Korea.

"However!"

"...However?"

"I will only sell you ten tons."

Helchen's face froze.

"Ten tons? I heard the Lorend Guild stockpiled five hundred tons. Where the hell are you planning to dump the other four hundred and ninety tons?"

"I have other plans for the rest. Consider this ten tons a special favor, purely out of 'friendship'."

Helchen sank back into the sofa. He picked up his cold milk tea and downed it in one gulp.

"You know... I'm starting to get really annoyed. Are you sure you want to play this game, Kyle?"

With his mask completely shattered, Helchen's eyes gleamed with pure malice. Yes, this is more like it. It's no fun unless my opponent actually bites back. I met his gaze head-on, unflinching.

"More than sure. My pockets are quite heavy now, thanks to a certain someone."

If I were the type to back down here, I wouldn't have started this in the first place. Realizing I wouldn't budge, Helchen stood up.

"Fine. I hear you loud and clear, Kyle."

He stomped toward the drawing room door. Just before stepping out, he paused and threw a parting shot over his shoulder.

"Where do I buy this milk tea? I should probably stock up before the Lorend Guild goes bankrupt next year."

It was a clear threat that he would use their monopoly on Blue Stones to crush us next year. I smiled and replied:

"Feel free to buy as much as you want. That day will never come."

"..."

Slam!

We aren't going bankrupt. Now get lost. With my final words ringing in his ears, he slammed the drawing room door shut and stormed out. Hey, watch the door, you jerk! Do you have any idea how much that door costs...

Once he was gone, Elina spoke up.

"Vice Master Helchen is incredibly insolent."

"He certainly is. He's always looked down on us."

The Zeb Merchant Guild was ranked 51st in the empire, which was why he so openly patronized us. Elina stared coldly at the door Helchen had just slammed.

"Young Master... shall I eliminate him?"

Her tone wasn't just cold; it was downright murderous. I flinched, startled by her casual offer to erase Helchen from the face of the earth the moment I gave the word. Whoa, whoa, easy there, Elina. It's not time for that yet. I quickly calmed her down.

"Calm down, Elina. Eliminating him right now wouldn't be wise. He still has a part to play."

"A part to play?"

Indeed. Ten tons of Blue Stones was by no means a small amount in the capital right now. Granted, it was only five percent of my total stockpile, but as long as I didn't flood the market all at once, the perceived supply held by the Lorend Guild and the Zeb Guild would seem comparable.

Under these circumstances, I had sold ten tons back to them. Was it because I was afraid of them? If I were, I wouldn't have started this. I had a completely different reason for selling them that stock.

"To catch a big fish, you need big bait. Helchen is going to play the role of that bait perfectly."

"A big fish? What exactly are you aiming for?"

My goal wasn't just to make a quick buck off the Blue Stones. It was to establish a sustainable, long-term cash cow! Ten tons of bait was a small price to pay for that. Just you wait. Helchen was going to serve as the most magnificent lure imaginable.

"Hahaha, well... that's a secret."

Since I couldn't reveal the details just yet, I gave her my usual playful response. Elina looked at me with an expression that clearly said, 'There he goes talking nonsense again,' before speaking.

"Young Master... sometimes you sound like an old man."

Thud—! Argh, right in the solar plexus! I had remained perfectly unfazed throughout my tense confrontation with Helchen, yet I was utterly defeated by a single sentence from Elina. I am not an old man! Physically, I am absolutely not an old man!

A few days later, in the imperial palace, Princess Shuren was reviewing reports when she froze in shock at a document submitted by the Ministry of Finance.

"What?! The price of Blue Stones has reached 420,000 Zenon?!"

"Yes, Your Highness," Rina replied.

While cleaning up the various messes left behind by her brother, Shuren had naturally kept an eye on market speculation. Having a deep understanding of magic herself, she knew exactly how vital Blue Stones were and how devastating an inflated price would be to the citizens of the empire.

"Who are the bastards behind this?! Who is driving the prices up this high?!"

"According to the Ministry of Finance's report, it is the Zeb Merchant Guild."

"The Zeb Guild... Those greedy bastards... I'll remember that name."

At that moment, the Zeb Merchant Guild was firmly blacklisted in Shuren's mind. As she continued scanning the financial documents regarding the Blue Stone crisis, she noticed a peculiar entry.

"Huh? What is this guild selling them at 300,000 Zenon?"

"Ah, that is the Lorend Merchant Guild. It is said that thanks to them, the price of Blue Stones hasn't skyrocketed any further."

Rina's words triggered a spark in Shuren's mind. A memory lingered just out of reach... Wait, what was it?

"The Lorend Guild? Hmm... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere..."

Rina smiled and pointed to the cup of milk tea sitting in front of Shuren.

"You likely remember them because of this."

"...Ah! Right! Lorend Milk! It's that guild... But why are they selling Blue Stones? Isn't the Blue Stone trade usually handled by the Zeb Guild and other mineral merchants?"

While she didn't know every single merchant guild in the empire, the Princess was well-acquainted with the prominent ones. The current situation struck her as highly unusual. Why was a dairy guild dealing in Blue Stones?

"Well... it appears the Lorend Guild purchased the vast majority of the Blue Stone supply earlier this year. Currently, they hold almost all of the remaining stock in the capital."

"Hmm... I see."

Shuren stared intently at the name 'Lorend Merchant Guild' on the document. Reading between the lines of the figures, she could practically hear what they were trying to say. She made her decision.

"Rina, summon the head of the Lorend Guild."

"Understood, Your Highness."

The big bait had finally hooked a very big fish.