“Yes.”
“…I’m stumped.”
Nandal clearly looks troubled.
“Dissatisfied?”
“No. I also consider myself a merchant. I thought I was good at reading the other person’s intentions, but I can’t figure yours out at all.”
“…This is a talk for the future. Nandal, you sell goods, but you also wholesale, don’t you?”
“Of course. I have to wholesale to have anything to sell.”
“I’m considering buying goods from the Kumin tribe, processing them, and selling them back to the Kumin.”
“…..”
Hearing that, Nandal falls silent. More than five minutes pass before he finally speaks.
“So you’re aiming for the valuable goods in the Kumin trade, huh?”
“Yes. But I can’t say that yet.”
“……Alright, I’ll take it on.”
“Are you sure?”
Hazen has declared that he will withhold some information. Normally, one would assume that’s where the greatest profit lies. Nandal seems to have a keen nose. As an excellent merchant, he should not have missed the most profitable area. But stroking his unshaven beard, the man nods.
“Yes. I like the part about not skimming off the profits. Imperial soldiers are just those who abuse their power. Honestly, I was wondering how much they’d try to fleece me, but it turns out I needn’t have worried.”
“…Those who conduct honest business should be allowed to profit honestly. Systems that allow profit without doing anything only hinder the growth of those conducting honest business.”
Hazen’s purpose is not to exploit profits. It is to form a large community by coexisting with those he has set his sights on around him. If he succeeds in an unprecedented business, the profits will be enormous, because there are no competitors.
The reason why merchants do not take such a risk is that the existing vested interests, such as the nobility, guilds, and states that have formed communities, interfere, Hazen thinks.
“Haha! I like it. Yan, you got a good guy.”
“But I really don’t think so.”
The pink-haired girl had an extremely disgusted expression on her face.
Three days later, Hazen set out for a Kumin village. Accompanying him were Lei Fa, Yan, and the Kumin prisoner, Kosak.
They crossed the mountains and rivers on horseback. As expected of a mountain tribe, it was difficult to attack deep in the mountains. After about two hours, they arrived at the target village.
“……Na! (Kill!)”
When the Kumin warriors noticed Hazen and the others, they charged at them with shrieks. However, when they saw the prisoner Kosak, they stopped in their tracks with a startled expression. Kosak explained the situation to them and instructed them to guide them to the chief.
“…They’re glaring at us really intensely, you know.”
Yan opened her mouth, looking around. For this girl, the Kumin were trading partners. She was puzzled by the reaction, which was the complete opposite of the attitude she was used to.
“The Empire and the Kumin Tribe have been in a state of war for many years. There are probably many who have had their families killed.”
“Can you really make a ceasefire agreement with people like that?”
“It depends on the chief’s way of thinking. At least the fact that we’re being led to the chief means they have the intention to negotiate.”
Hazen and the others entered a huge tent in the center of the village. There were more than 10 burly-looking men there. They had strong, battle-scarred bodies, and there was no doubt that they could use magic.
In the back, there was a young woman. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman, wearing a lavish blue crown. Hazen knelt before her and extended his arm horizontally.
“Surprising. An Imperial Army officer who knows the etiquette of the Kumin Tribe.”
“I am Lieutenant Hazen of the Imperial Army.”
“……So you can even speak our language. I am Vashia, the chief. I heard you came to make a ceasefire agreement.”
“Yes.”
Vashia was a figure who was gathering together the surrounding weaker tribes. So, while she was the chief of the Kumin Tribe, she was praised as the “Blue Queen” by other tribes.
“You must have had some expectations of success, but you were mistaken. You will be killed here.”
When she raised her hand, the Kumin men simultaneously pointed their swords and surrounded them.
However, the black-haired mage smiled defiantly.
The Kumin Queen also smiled defiantly.
“Such a sudden greeting, I’m afraid.”
“Impalement, public display of severed heads, dragging through the streets, which do you prefer?”
As the two sharp gazes intersected, Yan, who was hiding behind Lei Fa, was looking around, apparently checking for a way out in case of emergency.
Noticing this, one of the warriors was about to point his blade at Yan as well. At that moment, the expression on Queen Vashia’s face changed dramatically, and she stood up.
“…Hey? Are you going to point a sword at a child?”
“B-but this child of the Empire was about to try to escape…”
Before he could finish, the young Queen with the blue crown swung a flash and beheaded him.
“To point a sword at a child. Shame on you.”
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Vashia spat at the headless corpse. The grim atmosphere took on an even more desolate tone. However, Hazen opened his mouth without changing his expression.
“You can point your sword at me if you like.”
“I’m really upset about it, though!?”
Yan glared at Hazen with a stunned expression, but was ignored. Seeing this, Vashia spat out in disgust.
“You are utterly contemptible. But whether you are upset or not, it doesn’t matter. We will do as we please.”
“That’s why the Kumin Tribe has declined.”
“…What?”
“If you wish for the prosperity of your people, you should have wiped out the children of the enemy country. After all, the Kumin Tribe has no intention of assimilating with other nations. If you couldn’t do that, the children of the enemy would grow up hating you, and take revenge. They would mercilessly slaughter Kumin children without any connection.”
“…..”
“Not killing the children of other countries and other tribes. What a noble precept. But it is too noble, and you have let the Empire and other countries take your territory.”
“…… So what? Your lofty lecture is fine, but do you think that blade at your throat will withdraw because of that?”
The sharp blade tip was touching Hazen’s skin, as if just a light push would pierce him. However, the black-haired young man was unfazed, staring at the young Queen in the blue crown.
“You’ll regret it. That choice will destroy yourselves.”
“…Your plea for life is pathetic. Well, no matter. You’re going to die anyway. Speak.”
“The citizens of the Empire number 30 million. According to my research, the Kumin Tribe is a small tribe of about 300,000 people. If you seriously confront each other, it’s obvious who will win.”
“Then, the same can be said. In this situation, it’s 300 against 2.”
“Yes. Here, it is the two of us against 300 Kumin tribesmen, and it is a microcosm of the empire and the Kumin tribe. This overwhelming difference in military power. Everyone would feel despair.”
“……”
“The reason the Kumin tribe will not be destroyed is one. This mountainous area has little value to the empire. That’s how you’re seen… for now.”
As soon as he said that, the shouts of the Kumin men echoed throughout the tent.
“…Shut up.”
When Vashia murmured, the voices immediately stopped. Apparently, the queen has considerable charisma. She has complete control over the men.
“For now?”
“There is something here that the empire is desperately craving. Isn’t that right?”
“…And what is that?”
“The Jewel.”
Hazen answered with a smile.
Vashia fell silent. The Jewel is the core substance for the creation of magic staves. This mysterious pebble appears due to various special conditions in nature. If its source existed, it would lead to a struggle for possession among neighboring countries, and the Kumin tribe would not stand a chance.
The young queen turned her sharp gaze to the black-haired youth and eventually spoke.
“Why did you think so?”
“I analyzed the magic staff used by the prisoner Kosaku. The craftsmanship of the magic staff is rough and primitive. His abilities as a mage are also not high. But the quality of the Jewel is unusually high.”
“…That’s harsh.”
“It’s the truth.”
Hazen evaluated the Jewel as being of the 7th grade. This is an extremely valuable item that would be used by a senior captain-class officer in the empire. Yet, it is being handled by a lowly tribal officer (equivalent to a lieutenant in the empire), which is clearly unusual. Considering this, it is natural to infer the existence of a source of the Jewel.
“Right now, I’m the only one who has realized this. If I remain silent, we can still conclude a ceasefire agreement.”
“…Assuming there is a source of the Jewel. Why do you not reveal this fact to the empire? If you consider the empire’s interests, shouldn’t you report it and have us attacked?”
“The answer is simple. I want to monopolize that Jewel for myself.”
“Huh!?”
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