Chapter 24 - {The Merchant of Escar City} 2
{The Merchant of Escar City} 2
Translator : Elizabeth
No! That is absolutely not what I mean!"
Serafina waved her hands urgently.
She was a merchant too.
She knew very well how stupid it was to ask a hero who subjugated Fenrir to take responsibility for monsters rampaging due to the butterfly effect.
Doing that, let alone a request, her head could separate from her body and fly away right there.
"I am merely explaining that because the situation is such, we cannot obtain the herbs."
"So? Because there are no herbs, you can't make medicine, so you're about to pay a penalty?"
"It's not just that level. It's a matter involving the credit of the merchant guild. We were supposed to supply the Imperial Family and the Magic Tower too, but if we break this, the Lapis Merchant Guild will disintegrate in mid-air."
Moisture filled Serafina's eyes.
"My father… couldn't overcome that pressure and took his own life last month."
"Oh dear."
Kang Jin-ho expressed soulless pity.
It was understandable, as even in the original story, Serafina's father was set to have died for unknown reasons.
But the cause of death couldn't be the same.
In the original story, it wasn't like someone caught Fenrir like him.
He couldn't have been in the exact same situation as now.
There was one conclusion.
'It seems Serafina's father was either a sunfish (fragile) or a member of the death squad (destined to die).'
He thought he was a person destined to die anyway.
Whether the flow of the original story was forced, or that gentleman's mental state was just fragile unlike a merchant, he didn't know.
A dead person was a dead person.
"That's unfortunate. So? The Guild Master is dead, no herbs. There's no answer?"
Even at Kang Jin-ho's dry reaction, Serafina didn't back down.
She continued with grim eyes.
"No! There is a way!"
"A way?"
"There was stock in another merchant guild. Our competitor, the Charon Merchant Guild, possessed a large amount of Moonlight Grass. I emptied the family's entire fortune and purchased the herbs from them. Even paying 10 times the market price."
"If you bought it, isn't it solved?"
"…It disappeared."
Serafina's expression cooled chilly.
"The deal was concluded, and we were on the way to the South after receiving the goods. But the transport convoy was attacked. The escort mercenaries were annihilated, and only the wagons loaded with herbs disappeared without a trace."
"Must be a bandit group."
"No. Not a bandit group."
Serafina spoke with a voice full of conviction.
"That region is where the influence of the Charon Merchant Guild reaches. It's a zone bandits dare not touch. And the traces of the attackers were too professional. They disguised the corpses like beast claw marks, but the sword wounds were precise."
Her eyes blazed.
"It's the Charon Merchant Guild. Those bastards sold the goods, took the money, and then stole them back. And their intention is probably to release those goods into the market again, or acquire our collapsed guild at a bargain price due to the penalty."
"You have suspicion but no physical evidence?"
"Yes. The Charon Merchant Guild has deep connections with the underworld. Especially rumors are widespread that they are colluding with Southern pirates. Even if we report to the authorities, we'll just be ignored due to insufficient evidence."
Kang Jin-ho rested his chin on his hand.
It was an obvious story.
Struggle between merchant guilds, betrayal, and downfall.
To be beaten by such a simple thing, he thought Serafina at this time was quite clumsy.
"So you're asking me to retrieve the lost goods and beat up those bastards?"
"That is correct. The martial power of the Charon Merchant Guild is strong. The mercenaries and private soldiers they hired rival regular armies. Ordinary solvers stand no chance. Only…."
Serafina looked at Kang Jin-ho.
Her eyes were desperate.
The continent's strongest martial artist who beat Fenrir to death and defeated even the Sword Emperor.
Only he was the sole key to break through this answerless situation.
"Only Fist Emperor-nim can do it."
"Reward? As I said earlier, I have a lot of money."
At Kang Jin-ho's words, Serafina bit her lip.
She seemed to hesitate for a moment, then raised her head as if decided.
"I used all the cash I had to buy the herbs. I don't have much money to give right now. But…."
She stood up from her seat.
And slightly lowered the shoulder strap of the dress she was wearing.
White shoulders were revealed, and a strange atmosphere flowed.
"I will give you myself."
"……What?"
"I will give you my body, and my entire life."
Serafina's eyes were serious.
"I am still pure. No man's hand has touched me. If you wish, I can verify it for you right here and now."
"Hey, hey. Put your clothes on. People are watching."
Kang Jin-ho waved his hand in disgust.
He felt surrounding people glancing.
"And I will not marry for life. I will become Fist Emperor-nim's shadow, rebuild the Lapis Merchant Guild, and then dedicate all its profits and authority to you. I will live merely as an agent and a maid serving your nights."
It was an unconventional proposal.
The dedication of one of the Empire's famous beauties, and a woman who would become a tycoon in the future.
It was a condition an ordinary man would accept while drooling.
But Kang Jin-ho's eyes were cold.
He pierced through Serafina's pupils beyond his sunglasses.
Inside, calculation like a cunning fox hidden within desperation was contained.
'She's using her head quite a bit.'
Kang Jin-ho smirked.
"Words are slick. You'll serve me for life?"
"I am sincere."
"No. You're trying to use me."
At Kang Jin-ho's point, Serafina's shoulders flinched.
"Fist Emperor's woman. Fist Emperor's mistress. You need that title."
Kang Jin-ho hit the nail on the head.
If she becomes his woman, the Lapis Merchant Guild will have the massive martial power called the Fist Emperor as a backing.
No one would dare touch the Lapis Merchant Guild.
In exchange for offering her body, she intends to gain an invincible bodyguard and a political shield.
"You seem to hope I'll act as your pimp or something, but wake up from your dream."
Kang Jin-ho refused firmly.
"I detest taking responsibility. Especially keeping a smart woman like you by my side becomes tiring. What good is growing the merchant guild later? It's obvious you'll sell my name for all sorts of annoying things."
"Th-That…!"
"You won't marry? You'll serve for life? That's a shackle. I'm a guy who earns money because I like freedom; why would I buy trouble?"
Serafina's face turned pale.
Her honey trap and dedication strategy, which were her last cards, shattered into pieces.
She dropped her head.
"Then… what should I do. There is no way…."
Tears fell drop by drop wetting the sand.
It was real despair.
Seeing that appearance, Kang Jin-ho scratched the back of his head.
Honestly speaking, it wasn't his business.
'I was getting annoyed with managing money lately anyway.'
Managing the money he had was also a job.
Honestly, he was feeling the need for someone he could trust to entrust money to.
In that sense, Serafina, who would be called the Golden Queen in the original story, was a coveted talent.
'Plus the Charon Merchant Guild, huh.'
It smelled of money.
It is an immutable truth that bad guys have a lot of money.
Robbing them seemed like it would be quite a lucrative pocket money earning.
"Give it in money."
Kang Jin-ho spoke abruptly.
Serafina raised her head.
"Yes?"
"Not your body. Give it in money. If you don't have cash right now, pay later. Instead, you just have to pay with high interest."
"Th-Then… are you accepting the request?"
"Yeah. Charon Merchant Guild or whatever, just need to find the goods from those guys, right."
Kang Jin-ho downed the juice in one shot and stood up from his seat.
"Instead, there is a condition. Do as I say. Don't talk back."
"O-Of course! I will do anything!"
Color returned to Serafina's face.
She asked with the feeling of grasping at straws.
"Then how will you do it? Shall we infiltrate and find evidence? Or should I somehow bribe and steal their ledger?"
"Evidence?"
Kang Jin-ho snorted.
"Am I a detective? Evidence is found in front of a judge."
"Then…."
"There is the most certain way."
Kang Jin-ho cracked his knuckles, making a popping sound.
"The highest guy here. Who is the boss of this area?"
"Pardon? That is… Duke Roan de Escar, the Admiral of the South, but…."
Roan de Escar.
The sub-male lead of the original story.
The ruler of the South controlling the Empire's maritime rights, and one of those possessing the highest power in the Empire along with the Emperor and the Grand Duke of the North.
If the Head of the Winter Grand Duchy was called the Grand Duke of the North, the Escar Ducal House was called the Admiral of the South.
"Right. Just have to go visit that gentleman."
"What?!"
Serafina freaked out.
"The Duke? B-But there are rumors the Duke is looking after the Charon Merchant Guild… In the first place, he isn't someone merchants like us can meet! If we go without a reservation, we'll be turned away at the door!"
"Turned away?"
Kang Jin-ho grinned.
"Then we just have to break through."
"What?!"
"I was going to ask if you had any acquaintance, but looking at the reaction, seems like you don't. Well, doesn't matter."
Kang Jin-ho said while putting on his shirt.
"I heard that gentleman has quite the martial power? Swordsmanship is top-class too."
"Th-That is true, but…."
"That's good. The Grand Duke of the North ended too blandly so it wasn't fun. Let's go visit to check if the Admiral of the South can fight a bit, and do business while we're at it."
Serafina felt dizzy.
She told him to find goods, but it sounded like he was saying let's go pick a fight with the highest power holder of this region suddenly.
No, actually, it was that nuance.
"What if the Duke refuses? What if he chases us out?"
"If he treats me politely, I'll treat him politely too. I'll just ask, 'I played a round with you, so find the goods for me,' right?"
Kang Jin-ho clenched and unclenched his fist.
"But if he acts rude?"
His eyes shone coolly.
Simultaneously, a fierce spirit flowed out.
"Then I have to punish him. Whether Admiral of the South or whatever, for rude bastards, the rod is the medicine."
"Hiek!"
Serafina covered her mouth.
She sincerely wondered if she had climbed onto the back of a ferocious dragon right now.