Episode 316 – Vagabond Notura (2)
After a brief mont of thought, Karl called for Lochter.
He had divided the work to finish his request quickly.
“I’ll help.”
Lochter, upon hearing the request, silently drew his sword and stepped outside. He was moving to take care of the spies, and it seed he had taken charge of dealing with them.
“I’ll send Notura through the ghosts.”
“Do you have sothing to discuss separately?”
“I just want to look around the area. It’s not like we’ll only be staying a day or two.”
Karl also began moving to bring Notura. Since he was heading out, he likely intended to bring the ghosts to their lodging as well.
Left alone in the room.
As I went down to the first floor, a familiar bell sound rang out.
There sat Lily in the dining area, ringing the bell. Her face lit up with excitent as the snacks she had been hoping for were served.
Seeing Lily like that put at ease, though I couldn’t help but sigh.
“We’re short on hands, but I can’t assign her any tasks.”
It was frustrating to have such a powerful asset like Lily doing sothing so trivial.
But assigning her a role made too anxious to focus, so I had no choice. Just having her around was a great comfort, so I planned to simply make sure she didn’t cause any trouble.
“The food is better than I expected.”
Seeing the food laid out on the table made realize how hungry I was. I couldn't recall eating anything since last night. I had been so preoccupied with upcoming concerns that I’d even forgotten to eat, a rare experience for soone like , sensitive to hunger.
If not for the Heart of the Immortal, missing a al would’ve triggered bodily warning signs, but I felt nothing serious.
‘Is it because I’ve reached 5-star?’
It seed I could now control my appetite after awakening.
As I approached, Lily hurried over and whispered softly.
“Arthur, I prepared this. Enjoy.”
“Well done. Really…”
I sat next to Lily, picked up a snack, and opened a book.
While going through the information, I morized the characteristics of the slave trading companies.
Occasionally the bell rang, and the table gradually filled with food.
Maybe this is what it feels like taking kids to a play café.
I spotted Lily and Keros playing on the first floor after eating.
It was a heartwarming scene, though a bit chaotic.
It felt like my worries were slowly lifting away. A strange experience indeed.
“Hmm?”
Just then, I sensed soone near the door.
The door suddenly burst open, and an old man appeared. He looked around and, upon seeing , approached and politely bowed in greeting before introducing himself.
“I am Notura. I heard I was summoned.”
It was Notura, the elderly vagabond who had moved with Lochter’s group.
I looked around and asked,
“Did you co alone?”
“I ca with the others. They stayed behind to tidy up the surroundings, so I entered first.”
Judging by his words, he arrived with three ghosts. Likely, they were organizing the spies that Lochter had dealt with.
I had Notura sit across from .
“How are you feeling? The journey must have been rough.”
“It was a journey to die, but when death was right at my throat, I realized how terrifying it is. It was a good experience.”
“Do you still wish to die?”
“No. Now, I want to live.”
The old man swallowed dryly as he looked at the man before him.
Unlike their first encounter, Notura was now treating Arthur with the utmost respect.
The overland journey had been pure hell.
At first, he had naturally prepared himself for death. He believed he would die alongside these people.
‘It was a complete misunderstanding, wasn’t it…?’
After making it through that hell, Notura witnessed with his own eyes what true strength was.
No matter how many bandits from Pri Root attacked, they couldn’t stand against the overwhelming force.
Hundreds of severed bandit heads were displayed like trophies, and now their feats were spreading as legends throughout Aintrier.
A terrifyingly powerful group.
And that group followed the man before him with blind loyalty.
To Notura’s eyes, this man was the true power behind the scenes. Soone he absolutely must not cross.
“Karl told about your past.”
“Is that why you called ?”
“I heard you ran a small trading company in Aintrier. May I ask what kind of goods you dealt with?”
Even at their first eting, Karl had noticed the old man was not ordinary, and now it turned out he was once a rchant in Aintrier.
Notura hesitated for a mont, then sighed and answered.
“Jerky. From fish to at, I dealt in all kinds of dried goods.”
“How did you go under?”
“I tried to secure a distribution network on the buyer’s side and fell out of Azonne’s favor.”
I nodded.
One of Aintrier’s great weapons was its distribution network. ssing with that ecosystem was bound to make Azonne take notice.
For soone to fall out of the Lord’s favor ant he was no ordinary rchant.
I asked a few more questions about Aintrier, and Notura answered them smoothly. At least it was clear he wasn’t so back-alley trader.
“I’d like your thoughts on one thing.”
“My thoughts?”
“Yes, from a rchant’s perspective in Aintrier.”
“As a rchant… Understood.”
I gathered my thoughts for a mont before speaking.
“What kind of reaction do you think there would be if the World Tree Union declared an extermination order on the slave-trading companies?”
“…What?”
“I said, an extermination order.”
“Please, think carefully before answering.”
Notura remained silent for a while.
His clenched fists trembled slightly.
It wasn’t sothing that involved him directly, so why was his body trembling?
Maybe because he believed the man before him could really go through with it.
After a mont, Notura spoke.
“There will be backlash. They will unite.”
“Not a single one would waver?”
“That’s right.”
“They could die.”
“Everyone knows how strong the World Tree Union is, but they have Aintrier as their shield. Unless the World Tree Union proves it can topple even Aintrier, the rchants will use every connection and every coin to grow larger in defense of their interests.”
So it still wasn’t enough?
I had thought so companies would surrender if I declared an extermination order, but hearing Notura, unity seed more likely.
And unity would be even more troubleso.
As I pondered, Notura asked,
“May I ask what troubles you?”
“I plan to rescue the other races. But the number of slave-trading companies is greater than I expected, so I’m struggling with how to approach it.”
I briefly explained and flipped through the booklet.
After skimming the list of trading companies Notura gave , he spoke.
“Do you plan to fight Aintrier?”
“Not yet.”
The word “yet” made Notura swallow a low groan. It implied that a battle could happen depending on how things went.
“If you’re not planning to fight them imdiately, you shouldn’t threaten the companies. Aintrier is called the city of rchants for a reason—there are too many companies. If you try to suppress them with power, they’ll band together to protect their profits. That’s how rchants work.”
“Is there a way?”
“Division is the answer.”
“Division?”
“Profits are made of greed. They can’t be shared equally. The bigger the influence, the larger the share, and that breeds resentnt. It’s the sa with the slave trade. Larger companies hold overwhelmingly more profits than smaller ones.”
“So what’s the thod?”
“Guarantee them profits big enough that they’d be willing to give up the other races.”
“Big profits?”
“You don’t need to satisfy all slave companies. Just enough to shake the smaller ones. That alone will create division. The large companies will never give up their profits.”
“Divide the companies with alternative profits… So you're saying, bring so of them over to the World Tree Union.”
“That’s how Lord Azonne operates. He never hoards all the profits in Aintrier for himself. He keeps half and distributes the rest. That’s how he’s gathered allies over ti. That’s why the surrounding factions are favorable toward him.”
I thought for a mont.
Does the World Tree Union have the kind of benefits that would entice rchants?
As if he knew my thoughts, Notura gave a small smile.
Just like Lochter had learned about Hell Gri, Notura had picked up plenty about the World Tree Union.
To a rchant like Notura, the World Tree Union had what everyone coveted.
“What about distribution rights for items produced in the World Tree?”
“Distribution rights?”
“Elves, dwarves, and witches live in the World Tree. They can craft mysterious items humans can’t. Contract those goods—like the leaves of the World Tree. And direct contracts are a powerful weapon.”
“Direct contracts?”
“There are only two distribution routes Azonne hasn’t touched: Demtor and Pri Root. Everything else is under his control. That’s why rchants are so obedient to him.”
“You’re saying the World Tree Union can handle direct distribution?”
Notura gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“Haven’t you already proven it?”
“Ah, the overland route.”
Until now, the South only used Ship Gridnt for distribution.
But the World Tree Union could also transport goods overland to Aintrier.
It was thanks to strong military power. Though unintended, they had proven to Aintrier that it was possible to distribute goods without relying on Ship Gridnt.
Notura checked the booklet and marked it in red.
“The ones I marked in red are the powerful companies with long-standing roots. They won’t switch over even if you offer new profits. So offer the World Tree Union’s benefits to the remaining companies. They’ll view it as a new opportunity and waver.”
“How many do you think will switch?”
“Even early on, probably three out of ten.”
“That many?”
“The World Tree Union holds more influence in Aintrier than you think.”
At the banquet commorating Dark Sales, the conflict between Richard, the chief cleaner, and the World Tree Union had already beco a well-known incident.
At that event, Azonne sided with the World Tree Union, cutting off the head of the Golden Mask’s subordinate.
Among rchants, many now considered the World Tree Union to rival the Cleaners in power.
As I stroked my chin in thought, Notura’s face darkened, and he carefully asked,
“May I ask what you think of Lord Azonne?”
“He’s an excellent rchant.”
“Is that all?”
“So far, I know he’s been favorable toward the World Tree Union.”
“Be wary of him.”
“What do you an?”
“Azonne never makes enemies. He treats others with generosity and kindness. Then, when they let their guard down, he strikes and cuts their throat. That’s what happened to . He handed distribution rights, earned my trust, then betrayed . Never trust him.”
I chuckled and nodded.
If there’s anyone who knows Azonne best, it’s . I already knew he was laying the groundwork for betrayal.
“What must I do to bring in more than three out of ten?”
“The quickest way is to win over one of the major slave-trading powers… but it won’t be easy.”
I looked at the list of red-marked companies Notura had given .
They were all big-na companies within Aintrier.
Most had unfamiliar nas—except one.
A workshop that enslaved dwarves and sold the items they crafted.
In the booklet, the Lenon Workshop was listed.
“Thank you for the advice. I think I see how to paint the picture now.”
It would’ve been a difficult path alone, but fortunately, I’d found a guide and a solution.
Ding ding—
“Hahaha! Bring more cookies!”
Lily was ringing the bell on the table, and the owner was rushing to serve her. Though he was sweating, he smiled brightly—after all, this was profitable work.
As Notura stared blankly at the sight, I pointed to the table.
“You must be hungry. Please, help yourself.”
“Huh? Are you going sowhere…?”
As I stood up from my seat, Notura asked. I turned back and smiled.
“I’m off to reel in the bait.”
Italus, the owner of the Lenon Workshop.
By now, he must be desperately waiting for .
Looks like it’s ti to collect the bait I laid out earlier.
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