The Wealthy Chain-Smoking Boss (4)
Several people bustled across the empty lot. They were marking out lines on the ground with long tapes and driving stakes into the earth.
"What are those folks doing?"
"They're surveying the land and checking the soil. Looks like someone's planning to build something."
"Build something...?"
"It's bigger than the combined space of the inn and bathhouse. No idea who's behind it or what they're putting up."
Ukun scratched his goatee beard and clicked his tongue in annoyance. I headed straight over there.
The workers ignored me completely, focused solely on their tasks. I scanned the area for a moment, looking for who seemed in charge. Spotting a guy with papers barking orders, I made a beeline for him.
"Hey."
The foreman glanced at me briefly before returning to his papers.
"Hey, mister. Can we talk?"
"What?"
When I spoke again, he finally looked up, his face screaming that he was swamped and I was a nuisance.
"What's the construction here for?"
"And who the hell are you to ask?"
"The guy who owns the inn right next door."
That got his full attention; he set the papers aside.
"Ah, got it. We're not building anything. Just doing a land survey."
"Why survey the land? You the owner?"
"Not the owner—just the contractor. Someone asked us to measure it and check the ground."
"Who hired you?"
He clammed up. Probably sworn to secrecy by the client. I pulled a silver coin from my pocket. But he didn't budge.
"You think I'd risk trouble for that? Sorry."
I pocketed the coin again. No point pressing this guy; I'd get nothing. Still, even without him saying it outright, I had a pretty good guess who was behind this.
"So, just the survey, then you're out?"
"Haven't heard anything else. We'll probably wrap up and head back."
I said goodbye to the foreman and returned to the bathhouse.
"What was that about, Balder?"
Ukun asked as I approached. Della alternated worried glances between me and the survey site.
"Someone ordered a survey on that plot next door. Wouldn't say who, but I'm betting it's the Grancis Merchant Group."
"Grancis? What would merchants want with that land?"
"No clue. Just a hunch. I'll check City Hall for the real story."
I went straight to City Hall and found the land management office. The clerks, who knew me well, greeted me with friendly smiles.
"Just wondering if there's any recent sale record on the plot right next to my inn."
The clerk pulled out a thick land registry and started flipping to the entry.
Hildeva used to handle this personally half a year ago. Now the staff takes care of it.
"No sale filings yet. Why do you ask?"
"Saw contractors surveying it earlier. Thought it might've sold."
The clerk nodded thoughtfully.
"Hmm... Well, if the owner agreed beforehand, that's fine."
"He claimed he just took the money and knew nothing else. Any way to dig into the background?"
"If you're that curious, visit the registered owner."
The clerk gave me the owner's details.
"Thanks. By the way, has the Grancis Merchant Group been buying up a lot of real estate lately?"
"Grancis? Yeah, quite a bit. They're snapping up properties everywhere to set up branches. It's a bit aggressive, but private deals are hard to block—too much backlash."
"Makes sense. This isn't some central desert nation. Anyway, thanks for your help."
I tracked down the landowner at his home. He was a balding, friendly-looking middle-aged man.
"Ah, that plot? Sold it the other day. Grancis Merchant Group offered a great price, so I took it quick. They haven't filed with City Hall yet, so you're still seeing me as the owner."
"Grancis Merchant Group, huh."
"Three times market value. Heh."
Hmm... three times market rate. We offered nearly double at the inn.
These bastards must have money rotting away.
Back at the inn, the surveyors had packed up and vanished. As I stood on the plot eyeing the stakes in the ground, Della came looking for me.
"Master. Any idea when Mollo might arrive?"
"Not sure. Pelle would know best, but probably today or tomorrow. Why?"
"I think we need to order bathhouse supplies from him."
"Yeah? Not from in town?"
Della shook her head glumly.
"Prices in the city have spiked weirdly these past few days. Can't afford it. Since Mollo comes from Bue, maybe he's less affected?"
"Prices spiked? Give me details."
I was stunned by Della's report. Most goods had jumped over fifty percent from recent rates.
No war, so why the hell are prices soaring in days? This ain't right.
Market jitters from rumors of legion-noble clashes? Nah, that doesn't track unless trade routes close or they requisition everything for military use...
Right on cue, Mollo's wagon rolled into the inn's back courtyard.
"Hello there, Bertrand."
"Welcome, Mollo."
Pelle emerged from the kitchen door, ledger and pencil in hand. Mollo started unloading crates one by one. Pelle meticulously noted quantities, her sharp gaze and posture giving off strict inspector vibes.
I peeked over her shoulder at the ledger. Quantities and unit prices looked unchanged from before.
"Mollo, how're food prices these days?"
"Nothing unusual."
"Huh. Weird. Everything in Rosens has gone up."
"Oh, that."
Mollo paused unloading, stretched his back, and explained.
"Grancis Merchant Group's doing."
"Price gouging?"
"Close. They're buying up every shipment into Rosens at double the price midway."
That explained the shortages and price hikes. Rosens grew as a trade hub, so its own production was weak relative to size. A pinch like this left it helpless. No group had the capital to pull it off before.
Now Grancis had the cash to do it.
Why, though? Trying to crash the economy and force privatization?
"On the way here, their people approached me with the same offer. But my trust with you isn't a one-day thing, so I passed. Other traders all sold out."
"Those guys are nuts."
"Grancis' leader's infamous as a madman among merchants. You might not know, Bertrand, but they've wrecked plenty of small towns this way. Even swallowed minor fiefs."
"Nobles too?"
"Especially nobles. Direct territories have palace oversight, but fiefs are lord's call alone."
If they rampage like that unchecked, the palace must be swimming in their bribes. Makes sense—they'll do anything, bribes to bed offerings, to get their way.
"But Grancis going this far means the city administrator's holding firm."
"What do you mean?"
"They usually buy off the admin first. Makes it easy. Manipulating prices like this? Means they couldn't bribe her properly."
True. Hildeva wouldn't fold. Rosens launched her career, shaped her—and she shaped it. Plus, few knew, but when she snapped, she got fierce.
Should swing by her place. Things are escalating; better know her plan.
"Gotta head to City Hall, Mollo. Bathe at the bathhouse before you go."
"Haha, thanks. Bue's buzzing about it. But I need City Hall too."
"You too?"
Mollo nodded.
"Clerks at the gate insisted I stop by. No clue why."
"Let's go together."
We drove the wagon to City Hall.
As City Hall came into view, Mollo squinted and leaned forward.
"Bertrand. What the hell is... that? Old age? Can't see straight."
I half-stood on the driver's seat, straining my eyes.
"Uh... no idea... What're they all doing over there...?"