Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Bennetsa Merchant 4
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"We're here. This is Mr. Shylock's mansion."
"Ah... so this is it."
We'd finally reached our destination and were stepping down from the carriage.
At that moment, both Kazeros Sophia and I couldn't hide the looks of irrepressible joy spreading across our faces.
It wasn't just because we'd arrived—it was the profound relief of finally being able to rest easy.
'It didn't look that far on the map, but this trip was way tougher than I imagined...'
The road was familiar enough; I'd traveled it plenty of times for business deals. Still, the fatigue from this journey was at least double what I was used to.
Part of it was rushing out in such a hurry,
but the biggest reason was the storm we'd hit along the way.
A torrential downpour that burst the riverbanks,
turning the path into a muddy quagmire.
Forcing the carriage through that mess was a nightmare I never wanted to relive.
Thankfully, things had been smoother once we entered Bennetsa proper, but even accounting for that, the exhaustion weighing on our bodies was beyond imagination.
'Ever since that sudden excommunication, I've felt like my luck's gone straight to hell... and this trip started off on the worst foot. Figures—whenever I try to do anything worthwhile, fate subtly steers me toward disaster...'
With thoughts of scrubbing off the grime as quickly as possible, I approached the butlers standing at the mansion's entrance for some reason.
They were familiar faces; I'd met them several times during past transactions.
But today, their expressions were clouded with worry in a way I'd never seen before. Feeling a twinge of unease, I cautiously spoke up.
"Excuse me. Do you remember me?"
"Huh?... Ah... isn't that Mr. Santana?"
"Oh! It's been ages. How have you been?"
"Well, not that well, to be honest."
Fortunately, they recognized me and showed some warmth.
I responded with a wry smile tinged with bitterness and cut straight to the point.
"I've come to see Mr. Shylock. Is he inside?"
"Ah... no, he's not here right now."
I felt a pang of disappointment at the absence of the man I'd come to meet, but honestly, I'd half-expected it.
Shylock was one of Bennetsa's most prominent merchants.
As such, he was constantly on the move, visiting trade partners. For me to show up unannounced like this, it was only natural he'd be out.
That said, unless something major came up, he rarely ventured far, so he usually returned home within half a day.
Even so, judging by the butlers' demeanor, something felt off. I probed carefully.
"I see. Any idea when he'll be back? It's a bit urgent on my end."
"Haa..."
"Um... well..."
The butlers let out heavy sighs before answering.
From their attitude, I could tell something was wrong. I pressed gently.
"What's going on? Is... there a problem?"
"...Yes. I'm sorry to say this, but..."
"Our master is currently... in prison."
"What? What do you mean? Why would Mr. Shylock suddenly..."
The butlers' unexpected revelation left me stunned, my face twisting in confusion. They ushered me—a friend and guest of their master—inside and began explaining the situation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Bennetsa, one of the continent's largest commercial hubs.
In the past, it had been the sole gateway for eastern trade via the Adria Sea, amassing the wealth of the entire continent in its heyday.
But lately, new trade routes to the east had opened up, and the eastern pagan nations were growing increasingly hostile. As a result, the trade that had sustained Bennetsa was shrinking year by year.
The city's fortunes dwindled accordingly, and its national strength weakened in tandem.
This decline naturally invited...
the interference of neighboring powers that had long eyed Bennetsa covetously.
The Holy Empire's meddling.
Though diminished from its former glory, Bennetsa remained a vital transportation nexus—a key hub for continental trade and a strategic stronghold.
To seize it, the Holy Empire had been laying the groundwork subtly, dispatching merchant companies in secret to dominate the local markets.
This incident stemmed from that very backdrop.
It began three months ago,
with a transaction between Shylock and one merchant.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As usual, Shylock was handling business with a stream of customers.
His main work involved managing his shops, but an even larger part was lending money at high interest—usury, as it was known.
One day, a young merchant approached him seeking a loan.
The young man was named Anton Basano.
About a year prior, he'd started making waves in Bennetsa as the head of the rising Grano Merchant Company. Even Shylock had heard the name.
Anton was known as a shrewd merchant with sharp business sense, but also one driven by excessive greed.
He claimed he needed funds urgently to expand his operations and provided documents to prove his creditworthiness, including his company's transaction records.
The paperwork showed a solid, impeccable operation with no red flags.
Seeing nothing amiss, Shylock approved the loan without much suspicion and signed the pre-prepared contract forms.
And shortly after...
Shylock received not repayment from Anton, but an indictment instead.
The charge: attempted murder. As a Judahite, he'd tried to kill the Christian Anton.
The root of this absurd situation lay in the contract Shylock and Anton had signed.
It was a standard loan agreement on the surface.
Shylock would lend Anton 200 talants, and Anton would repay 210 talants within three months.
The collateral values, repayment terms—everything seemed airtight.
But the trouble came from one final clause.
"The undersigned vows to uphold this contract without fail. Should it be breached, Anton pledges to offer his heart to Shylock."
Among Judahites, "offering one's heart" was idiomatic—a solemn promise to fulfill an agreement with utmost dedication.
Like saying in eastern terms, "I will exert my full heart and soul." Shylock, being Judahite himself, took it as Anton's assurance of faithful compliance.
However, when the repayment deadline passed...
Anton twisted the phrase, accusing Shylock of plotting to kill him and filed charges. Shylock was hauled away for investigation and trial.
Behind it all lurked the Holy Empire's scheme: using Anton as a front to eliminate Shylock and seize control of Bennetsa's markets.
Despite his dominance in the trade scene, Shylock's Judahite heritage made him a thorn in the side of local merchants.
For the Holy Empire expanding its influence, he was the perfect target—removing him wouldn't ruffle too many feathers.
Thus ensnared by the Holy Empire and Anton's plot, Shylock now languished in a cold prison cell.
Framed for an attempted murder he'd never plotted or intended...