Chapter 329 – Kunta's Soul-Binding Doll (1)
Only one person arrived at the mansion—Karl.
I had already inford them a guest was coming, so Karl was guided directly to my room.
As I poured water into a teacup, I glanced around Karl and asked,
“The Leaf Carriers?”
“There are too many, so they’re waiting on the outskirts of the mansion. Just give the signal, and they’ll move.”
While looking around the room, Karl noticed the elf lying on the bed.
As the elf flinched under the glare of a rough-looking human, he swallowed dryly and tried to sit up—only to groan and collapse to the floor.
Perhaps feeling my gaze, Karl looked at and shook his head, as if to say it wasn’t his fault.
I sighed and lifted the teacup, and Karl licked his lips and sat across from .
“So, the negotiation went well? You called pretty quickly.”
“Yes. We’ll be retrieving the elves today.”
“You said hundreds, right?”
“That’s correct.”
I handed him the list. Karl flipped through it and let out a hollow laugh.
“Where the hell did they catch so many elves?”
“Seems the number increased recently because more elves have been trying to cross over to the World Tree.”
“Huh? This one’s from a different house?”
“This deal isn’t just with Everfell. I’ve arranged to take in all the elves held by the other rchant houses under their influence.”
“All of them? As one batch?”
“Yes. The total number is around 400.”
“Four hundred, huh? Impressive.”
I gave Karl a brief rundown of the negotiation I had with the Everfell guild master.
After listening in silence, Karl clicked his tongue.
“100 million? They kidnapped them, then sell them back for 100 million gold? What a joke. That’s human trafficking, plain and simple.”
“In Aintrier, it’s just been wrapped in legality. But yes, it’s trafficking.”
“Oh, I see. Then once we extract the elves, we don’t have to play nice with these bastards anymore, right? Why not clean them up for good?”
“Well, if I really wanted to, I could wipe them all out in a day. But…”
“Not right now, huh?”
Karl’s question made chuckle as I nodded.
“It’d be a problem if we stained our hands with blood directly. There are a lot of eyes watching the World Tree Union.”
“So, are we just going to give them a share and forgive them like the other guilds?”
“I’m thinking of a different thod.”
At first, I had considered absorbing them like the others by offering distribution shares. But when I saw Everfell willingly hand over elves without even consulting the other three rchant guilds, I changed my mind.
“That just shows how dominant Everfell’s influence is.”
I realized I needed to isolate Everfell from the others.
Or bring down the core—Everfell itself.
“A different thod?”
Karl’s eyes lit up with interest, and I nodded.
“There are two options. One is to diplomatically isolate the Everfell Guild. Make sure no one cares even if they fall later.”
“And the other?”
“Get another force to bloody their hands for us.”
“Another force? Who?”
“I’m still thinking.”
“So, which will you choose?”
“That depends on the answer the Everfell guild master brings today.”
“Then let’s talk again when he shows up.”
I handed Karl a cup of tea.
We made small talk for a bit, then I asked about the situation outside. Karl grimaced.
“Outside? It’s chaos—loud and hectic.”
“Is sothing wrong?”
“It’s the rchants.”
Apparently, new information was spreading—many rchants were showing great interest in the World Tree Union’s distribution rights.
“rchants who picked up our shares must’ve spread the word. Now, others are bringing sacks of money hoping to buy in.”
“How are we handling it?”
“We’re sorting them by condition. You can review and make the call later.”
“Sorting? Who’s doing it?”
“Notura. Thank the gods for that old man—he’s great at dealing with rchants.”
We had left him at the lodging for just this reason, and it seed he was proving extrely useful.
“He’s a capable man.”
“You plan to bring him into the Union?”
“Yes. We lack proper internal administrators.”
The World Tree Union’s military power was already well-established.
What we lacked were competent figures to handle the tedious, non-combat matters.
In Region 1, Tobaron, we had Heinz.
He used to assist Lochter as a noble representative during the anti-Kal coalition, but now that Kal was gone, he supported Dorneth Gader, the new leader, managing the humans of Blyer and Etor.
If it was Notura, I was confident he’d manage Hell Gri as well as Heinz had managed Tobaron.
Then suddenly, Karl furrowed his brow and whispered seriously.
“There’s sothing I really don’t understand.”
“Sothing serious?”
“Yeah. Very serious.”
As I focused intently, Karl leaned in and whispered into my ear.
“My na doesn’t co up anywhere.”
“In Aintrier, all you hear is Lochter’s na. No one ntions Karl Bastain. Isn’t that strange?”
“Couldn’t it be Azonne’s sche, out of jealousy?”
I stared at Karl for a mont, then let out a dry cough and got up.
No need to worry about that.
I brushed off his concerns lightly and walked to the window.
I emptied my cup and looked outside. The sun was beginning to set.
While chatting with Karl, the scheduled ti had crept up on us.
Soon, a commotion arose outside the mansion.
Unlike when Karl arrived, servants now scrambled to receive a carriage pulling up.
Setting my cup down by the window, I smiled and looked toward the entrance.
“You’re later than I expected.”
The master of the mansion, Henry of Everfell, had finally arrived.
I was guided to the study, where we spoke in private.
He didn’t waste words and went straight to the point.
“I would like to pay with World Tree Leaves instead of gold.”
So he wanted to pay in leaves instead of coins.
I stroked my chin and studied his face.
Though he wore a typical rchant’s poker face, I could sense the confidence in his voice.
‘No hesitation…’
The indecision between gold and leaves had completely vanished.
He must’ve concluded that the leaves were worth far more than 100 million gold.
What kind of deal had he struck with Azonne?
“You seem quite cheerful. Sothing good must’ve happened.”
“Nothing in particular.”
“Would you mind telling what you discussed with Lord Azonne?”
“I simply passed along my regards during my outing. Nothing special.”
He smiled as he replied, and I nodded slightly, sinking back into the sofa.
As expected.
He wasn’t going to tell anything useful.
I hadn’t expected much, so I moved on to what I had planned.
I took out my pouch and asked,
“How many leaves do you want?”
“All of them in the pouch.”
“All of them?”
“I checked with the Lenon Guild—they said you sold them for 10 million gold each. So I’d like…”
“It’s 20 million per leaf now.”
Henry, who had been reaching for the contract, froze. He slowly furrowed his brow and looked at .
I shook the pouch gently and said,
“20 million per leaf.”
“What are you talking about? You sold them to Lenon for—”
“The price just went up.”
“...Are you joking right now?”
“Not at all. Just like elf prices vary depending on their value, so do the leaves.”
“You’re saying these are more special than the previous ones?”
“No. The seller is.”
“Seller?”
“The Lenon Guild handed over their slave trade rights to . Based on the conditions, prices change. That’s negotiation 101, isn’t it?”
“But…”
“Then sell your rights. I’ll give them to you for 10 million each.”
Henry was speechless.
Of course, he wouldn’t give up his rights.
I sealed the deal.
“Besides, these are the last leaves I have. Once they’re gone, that’s it. Future transactions will go exclusively to the guild with the monopoly.”
“Ah, by the way—I’m considering gifting the remaining leaves to Lord Azonne.”
That last remark must have hit hard.
Henry’s angry face instantly changed. He forced an awkward smile and presented a new contract.
“Understood. I’ll buy them at 20 million each. How many do you have?”
His imdiate acceptance confird it—Azonne must want the leaves badly.
I opened the pouch and pulled them out.
“Seven left. Including the one I lent you yesterday, that makes eight. Will you buy them all?”
Total price: 160 million gold.
After tapping his abacus, Henry let out a low groan.
He had co to sell elves, yet now he’d be handing a massive fortune instead.
“If we deduct the elf paynt… I still owe you 60 million.”
“For reference, I do not accept items in trade.”
“Phew…”
With a short sigh, Henry walked to the corner of the study and retrieved a small box.
Inside were several white docunts. He took out three and handed them to .
“These are certified bonds for 20 million gold each. Valid anywhere in Aintrier—they’re as good as cash.”
As I nodded and reached for the bonds, he pulled back slightly and asked,
“Are you sure these are the last leaves? It would be a problem if you were lying.”
“Of course. Want to write it into the contract?”
When Henry hesitated, I smiled faintly and added the clause to the contract myself.
Seeing his expression brighten, I grew even more curious about what had gone down with Azonne.
But he wouldn’t say, so I pocketed the 60 million gold and stood up.
“I’ve sent soone to retrieve the elves. You can speak with him directly.”
“The contract will be honored, as written.”
“It had better be. If not, this place will vanish.”
“Complete the transfer of the elves by tomorrow.”
With that, I exited the study.
As Alex left, Henry finally relaxed.
He fondled the leaves in their container and smirked.
“What a fool. He doesn’t even know their true value.”
Clutching the leaves, he went to see the Lord—just in case.
And the result was astonishing.
“Unbelievable luck.”
The Lord didn’t have any leaves. Though the reason wasn’t clear, he desperately wanted them.
[I’ll make it worth your while. If you can get more, bring them all.]
The fact that the Lord used the words “make it worth your while” said it all. That usually ant the price had far exceeded his internal limits.
And he had been right.
In return for the single leaf he brought as a sample, he received sothing astounding.
Sothing so valuable, it made begging for leaves seem reasonable.
“Heh heh heh, he went far beyond what I hoped.”
Henry placed the leaves into a box, walked to a corner of his study, and activated a hidden chanism.
A small bookcase opened to reveal a secret compartnt.
Inside was the item he received today.
A violet, doll-like sculpture bearing a dry, sinister smile.
It was the “Kunta’s Soul-Binding Doll,” the very item that had been removed from the Dark Sales list just hours ago—by the Lord himself.
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