Chapter 145
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: One Box Proposal
From the time when the Lichtenauer Martial Clan publicly announced they would sell the Earth Dragon's byproducts to the Creep Merchant Group.
Haiyen had never planned from the start to secure distribution rights for the entire stock of Earth Dragon byproducts.
It was an absurd notion to begin with.
To entrust distribution rights to an old merchant house leader on the distant northern continent whose operations were crumbling away—what could anyone possibly trust in that?
But...
'One box, though... that's a different story.'
No delegation from any family would likely request such a paltry amount.
And that in itself was an advantage.
It was a quantity even a shabby merchant house leader like himself could handle, but more importantly, an unusual offer like this was bound to pique the curiosity of any trading partner.
"...One box?"
As Haiyen had anticipated, Ian instinctively asked again, wondering if he'd misheard.
"Yes, exactly that."
"...It's not as if we couldn't accommodate even just one box from a cartload, but... I'm curious. What do you plan to do with it?"
Ian couldn't help but feel intrigued.
Earth Dragon byproducts were indeed valuable, but once the delegation competition ended, a substantial amount would flood the northern continent as well.
Of course, they wouldn't sell for dirt cheap given their quality, but a single box hardly seemed enough to revive a merchant group in dire straits like Creep.
'What on earth does he plan to do with just one box?'
Haiyen was a true veteran merchant who had survived from the Alexandros Empire days, even if Leviathan's interference was currently driving him to ruin.
As such, his response far exceeded Ian's wildest imagination.
"I plan to process the Earth Dragon's scales into a cutting tool. And use it to break out the Krohoka beastmen imprisoned in our region."
Pffft!
Ian, who had been sipping tea while awaiting Haiyen's answer, spat it out entirely.
"Cough, cough! Merchant leader, what did you just say?"
Choking and coughing repeatedly, Ian asked Haiyen again.
"Judging by your reaction, young lord, you already know about the beastmen. Goodness... They're scarcely known even on the northern continent. I can't help but wonder just how vast your insight truly is."
Haiyen, who had prepared to explain about the beastmen himself, was equally surprised to learn Ian knew of them.
"That makes things quicker, then. The Dufer Empire promised wealth and glory to the beastmen who once followed the Alexandros Empire, successfully winning over a good portion of them. But... there were no small number who rejected Emperor Siegfried's outstretched hand to the very end."
'...He's talking about Mukkali and the others.'
Ian knew this as well.
He had learned it all through Adam, the prisoner captured back in Shurton.
As Ian fell silent, Haiyen took a moment to wet his throat before continuing with his plan.
"Beastmen are a group with combat prowess far superior to most martial artists. Naturally aware of the danger, the Dufer Empire scattered them into prisons across various locations. Keeping them all together would be too risky, but dispersed like this, they serve as hostages to keep leashes on the beastmen they've already co-opted. My plan is to free the ones... in our merchant group's territory."
"......!!"
Ian's jaw dropped at Haiyen's plan.
He couldn't help but ask.
"Wait, how do you even know the locations where the beastmen are imprisoned?"
"A merchant house leader in any region gets to know a country's major secrets to some extent. But spreading them around means staking your life on it, so you keep your eyes and ears open but your mouth shut. Well, right now, I'm in no position to stay silent when I'm on the verge of drowning anyway."
Haiyen answered so nonchalantly. At this point, it was hardly surprising anymore.
"Fine, let's say you do know. But how exactly does breaking them out help you, the merchant leader?"
Even for Ian, who had lived as the Hegemon and was rarely shocked by anything, Haiyen's scheme felt not just radical but downright bizarre.
"I mentioned earlier—the Dufer Empire keeps failing to subdue it."
Haiyen's eyes hardened coldly for a moment as he let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"In the merchant world, stupidity is a sin. For the navy personally raised by His Majesty Siegfried himself to fumble so badly against a mere Leviathan... anyone can see there's intent behind it."
Ian's mind rang like thunder had struck it as he listened to Haiyen.
'...So that's it!'
Leviathan targeting only Creep Merchant Group's ships.
The Dufer Empire's navy repeatedly failing to subdue Leviathan.
And Creep Merchant Group, a remnant 'trace' from the Alexandros Empire era...
"Those who grew under the Alexandros Empire back then have one by one declined, with few left now. And those that remain are in much the same dire straits as us."
As if answering Ian's thoughts, Haiyen spoke softly.
Siegfried Dufer.
He was still moving to erase every last trace of the Alexandros Empire.
In that case...
'All the more reason I can't let him have his way.'
"Beastmen never forget favors or grudges, so I'll take in the escapees as family for a while and have them guard our sea routes. With their abilities, they can meet delivery deadlines even without using sea routes."
It wasn't wrong.
With beastmen's physical prowess, they could achieve mobility over land surpassing sea travel.
"Once I untie this cash flow knot right now, I can prepare any number of countermeasures. I have that much capability."
Haiyen's confidence wasn't baseless bravado.
He was a shrewd operator who had navigated an era of upheaval.
"It sounds outrageous... but intriguing."
Ian made up his mind at Haiyen's words.
'Not a bad plan.'
He would aid the Creep Merchant Group's revival.
He had been frustrated by his inability to do anything about the hardships of his old comrades on the northern continent.
There was no reason to pass up this chance to create a connection there while landing a blow on Siegfried.
Swish!
"We're in the same boat from here on out. Looking forward to working with you."
Haiyen clasped Ian's extended hand and said.
"I won't disappoint you."
While Ian and Haiyen shook hands and coordinated their future plans.
Adrian hadn't budged an inch from the lodgings prepared for the Dufer Empire's delegation, lost in thought.
"Your Excellency, what has you so deep in contemplation?"
Finally, unable to bear the frustration, Ordin, the leader of the Paradium, asked Adrian.
"...Ordin. I've lived my whole life wielding a pen instead of a sword, so I don't know much about martial arts."
Instead of answering directly, Adrian brought up something unrelated.
"But I could tell just how ridiculously impressive what Paon Lichtenauer pulled off earlier was."
Ordin couldn't fathom why Adrian was suddenly bringing this up, but he decided to play along first.
"Indeed. Karaunas, the leader of the Khan Empire's delegation, is known as a powerhouse at the entry to Master level—someone even I couldn't guarantee victory against easily. To make not just him but the entire Karaunas kneel... I truly never imagined..."
"Isn't it strange?"
"Pardon?"
Adrian continued, pressing his temples.
"Everyone in Agena knows the Khan Empire's Jidanta—no, most of their people—are arrogant braggarts. And yet, he chose to vent his rage right there in a place where all the other delegations were gathered...? Knowing full well that the Khan Empire would only harbor grudges against the Lichtenauer Martial Clan, those petty types?"
And on the very first day, when delegations from every continent were assembled, no less.
It was as if he were parading to everyone that he was 'still in the game.'
"Doesn't it seem a bit off?"
"......"
Ordin let out a quiet sigh and began countering Adrian's words.
"...Your Excellency, forgive my impertinence, but in that situation, for a powerhouse like Paon Lichtenauer to tolerate that Jidanta's rudeness would actually be the stranger thing. As Your Excellency says, putting up with that insult silently could itself be seen as suspicious, no?"
"......"
Adrian had no retort to Ordin's point.
Truth be told, if Paon had held back there, Adrian himself would have been far more inclined to judge that Paon Lichtenauer wasn't right in the head.
"I know well the secret orders from His Majesty. Paon Lichtenauer will be the greatest obstacle when our empire conquers the southern continent. Of course we should observe him closely... but assuming he's hiding injuries without question is no different from predetermining the answer and forcing the facts to fit."
Ordin's words were perfectly reasonable.
For a strategist, nothing was more dangerous than prejudging the outcome and twisting all causes to match.
But why was it...
'...No. There's definitely... definitely something there.'
Adrian had survived countless assassination threats to reach this point precisely because, ironically, he didn't rely solely on his brilliant mind.
A sense as keenly developed as a wild beast's—one unbelievable for a strategist.
That instinct had always guided his judgments correctly... allowing a northerner like him to rise to the position of Prime Minister in the Dufer Empire.
He had sensed the unbreakable Alexandros Empire would fall, betraying Lucas and the empire to climb this far.
And now, that instinct was screaming fiercely.
Paon's actions earlier... were definitely intentional.
"We still have a few more days here... so let's watch a bit longer."
Adrian adjusted his glasses and gazed out the window.
'...For the past few years, His Majesty hasn't consulted or shared everything with me like before.'
One could chalk it up to the country's stability, but even this set Adrian's instincts ablaze.
Siegfried's favor was no longer what it once was.
Thus, he resolved himself.
"As you say, Leader Ordin... this could be the key to fulfilling His Majesty's—and our empire's—cherished wish."
And for his own sake as well, once more.
The second day of the banquet dawned.
Perhaps due to the harsh scolding the day before.
The arrogant Jidanta Viscount and Karaunas from the Khan Empire, who had rampaged so wildly, now sat relatively subdued.
Facing Paon's overwhelming might, no one with the guts to stir trouble in the Lichtenauer Martial Clan remained.
In the calm atmosphere, the visiting delegations began presenting their terms to the Lichtenauer one by one.
"If you deliver the byproducts to our family, we'll offer tenfold in gold..."
"Threefold in mithril..."
The delegations' similar offers continued, with nothing truly tempting the clan appearing.
How many delegations had passed?
Only three groups remained—those capable of real proposals beyond mere gems or cash.
The Sun Church of the Holy Kingdom, led by the Pope whose influence spanned Osela, the western continent's powerhouse, and all of Agena.
The Khan Empire's imperial family, traditional hegemons of the eastern continent.
And the Dufer Empire, new rulers of the northern continent.
These three delegations poised to dominate Agena finally revealed their offers.
"I once more pay my respects to the renowned Martial King, Marquis Paon Lichtenauer. I am Yohan, Archbishop of the Sun Church and loyal servant of the faith, representing the Holy Kingdom."
The Holy Kingdom stepped forward first.
"Your magnificent feat in slaying the evil dragon Karak Tuskus for the future of Agena—I hold it in utmost esteem. If you entrust those evil dragon remains to our Sun Church... we shall dispatch priests, including ten archbishops, free of charge across the entire Aslan Kingdom. The terms... one cartload per year. Up to twenty years, without a single fee. What say you?"
The other delegations began to murmur at Archbishop Yohan's staggeringly generous proposal.
Sun Church priests wielded divine power on another level from priests of other gods.
Even dispatching a single regular priest demanded exorbitant lodging fees, yet demand far outstripped supply due to chronic priest shortages.
One could easily gauge their prestige.
Moreover, recovery magic from an archbishop was akin to a spare life, boasting near-miraculous healing.
Even for a single visit, one had to pay a box of gold, yet those clamoring for archbishops overflowed across Agena.
If such priests stayed for nearly twenty years, gratis...
Conquering a great plague wouldn't even be a pipe dream.
"Hmm..."
Paon, who had been tapping the armrest, finally spoke at the Holy Kingdom's offer.