Chapter 406. Proclamation Ceremony (1)
"......What are you saying? That a situation has arrived where I can connect with Marquis Palatio?"
"It is literally that."
Malgam continued his explanation to the confused Tun, telling him about the announcement that the Marquis's household administrator, Alexion, had published that very day.
Tun listened calmly and then said:
"…The Marquis is going to meet with us directly?"
"Yes. With only one person: the one who can supply him with the necessary materials at the lowest price."
Tun opened his eyes wide at Malgam's clarification.
"Is that… really true?"
"If it weren't true, do you think this atmosphere would exist?"
Tun shifted his gaze toward the surrounding merchants.
The atmosphere in the tavern was no different from usual.
The mercenaries were still drinking and shouting boisterously, and the laborers were complaining about their supervisors while spewing obscenities without rhyme or reason.
A scene that had become rare after the betrayal of Eliban—who had been called a hero—and the appearance of the Divine Blood.
Even so, despite being an atmosphere that relaxed the heart a bit, the merchants—including Tun—were not part of it.
No, strictly speaking, it seemed more accurate to say that they were choosing not to be part of it.
All of them, without exception, wore serious expressions, clearly immersed in deep thought.
"But, what the he—"
Even the tavern owner, who under normal circumstances would have shouted, “If you aren't going to drink, get out! Others need the seats!”, remained silent, intimidated by the pressure emanating from the merchants.
"…That is indeed true."
"You see?"
"Being able to meet directly with the Marquis… that has a completely different meaning."
In fact, if any non-merchant observed the scene, they would probably tilt their head in confusion.
Even if they understood that Marquis Palatio was an immense figure difficult to see in person, they wouldn't understand why a group of merchants was reacting like this over money.
Even other merchants might think the same.
'But if a merchant thinks like that… that guy is destined to go ruin.'
For the merchants in this moment, having a private audience with Marquis Palatio… no, even simply transporting goods for him, was already a monumental opportunity.
Because just the fact of transporting the Marquis's goods turned their caravan into the safest in the kingdom until the contract ended.
Not because the Marquis provided escorts.
With or without an escort, any caravan linked to the Marquis automatically became the safest.
The reason?
Even the strongest bandits feared anything related to the Marquis.
There was an occasion when, within this Allied United Kingdoms, he came close to completely eliminating the very existence of bandits.
And he had the capacity to do it again at any moment.
As proof, the caravan led by Alexion, the administrator of the Marquis's household, no matter how small, had never been attacked.
Not a single time until now.
Therefore, from a merchant's perspective, if they could use that period to transport luxuries that they normally couldn't move in large quantities…
They could earn money hand over fist.
And if they also managed to make a good impression on Marquis Palatio, and obtain the next contract… and if they even managed to establish a regular contractual relationship…
And if, unlike other nobles, they managed to become the first caravan truly associated with him, since the Marquis still didn't have fixed contracts with anyone…
That would be…
A monumental stroke of luck.
Tun murmured that as he swam in his own fantasies. His entire body shivered.
In his mind, Marquis Palatio was already a god. …Although, for him, he always had been.
Malgam smiled upon seeing Tun's expression.
"I see you've already imagined it."
"From now on, attacking Marquis Palatio will be considered a direct attack against me."
"And the other merchants will think the same."
Tun looked around, or more accurately, into the eyes of the other merchants.
Everyone had gazes filled with a rising madness.
"Well, although only one of us will be able to achieve it."
And it was true.
In this place—no, from the moment the Marquis announced that, among the hundreds of lucky ones who were in the territory, only one person could seize the opportunity.
Only one.
Only that person could have a private audience with Marquis Palatio and create a bond with him.
"The Marquis is admirable. Just by saying he will meet someone personally, he has created this whole situation."
"I agree. Furthermore, he published a quantity of materials so large that no mediocre merchant could handle it, eliminating the incompetent ones from the start."
"I had heard that he possessed power that surpassed the human… but I didn't know he also had such a profound mind."
The two great merchants of the area, Malgam and Tun, were impressed.
…Of course, if Alon had heard this, he would have said: “Huh? I did that??”
But since he wasn't there, no one could correct that strange misunderstanding.
And so, upon finishing their comments…
"…Aaah! I don't want to think about it anymore!"
A merchant, as if making a final decision, jumped up and ran out like a madman.
He was the signal that ignited the other merchants.
Just yesterday Alon had been worrying about the materials. The prices were absurdly high.
‘Alexion didn't say it in vain.’
Just as he had warned, prices had risen beyond imagination.
Wood alone cost more than five times what Alon remembered, and stone was the same.
Even secondary materials were so expensive that Alon had considered delaying the territory's expansion.
Starting the expansion project with those prices meant bankrupting the Marquis's household.
No, even worse: he could end up literally ruined and homeless.
That was why Alon had gone to bed determined to tell Alexion to reconsider the territory expansion.
Yes, he had decided that.
But now…
"Alexion."
"Yes."
"……Yesterday you said that the price of all materials had skyrocketed, right?"
"Yes, I did indeed say that…"
"……Then, what is this?"
Alon silently looked at the estimate he held in his hands.
As soon as they started work that morning, Alexion had brought a pile of quotes from the merchants.
Alon took one.
Wood, which yesterday was worth five times its price, had returned to its original value.
He checked another; stones were also at normal price.
……Hmmm.
Another one showed prices even lower than the original ones.
……And some even said: “Free.”
"…Have they all gone crazy?"
Evan, who was looking at the documents with him, murmured.
He had also seen the prices the day before.
So he knew perfectly well that this was absurd.
Alon, who had been looking at the documents in silence for a while, spoke cautiously.
"Alexion."
"Yes."
"Just to confirm… these estimates… are they real?"
"They are all real."
"The possibility that they forged the documents…?"
"I would say with almost certainty that it is nil. Most of these caravans are huge."
"……Then, did Silly do something?"
"From what I know, the Saintess returned to the Divine Land after yesterday's meeting saying she had preparations to make."
"……Then, why?"
Alon tilted his head looking at the quotes without understanding anything.
If all this was real…
He could expand the territory even more than planned and still have money left over.
So, putting aside the doubts, he decided not to complicate things.
"……Let's call the merchant who has offered the best conditions."
The doubts would be resolved when they met.
Alon left the documents with Alexion and waited.
After a while…
"An honor to meet you, Marquis Palatio!"
"……It's you?"
"Yes! I am Tun, administrator of ‘Singing Money’."
Alon was able to meet with the merchant who offered the best condition of all.
The one who had offered all the materials for 70% of the original price, something absurd to Alon.
And then—
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
Tun bowed his head deeply, as if he had received a divine blessing.
'……Opportunity?'
Opportunity… for what?
Alon could only be bewildered.
At that moment.
Inside the imperial capital of the Eastern Empire—one of the four remaining pieces of the ancient and vast empire, even larger than the Allied United Kingdoms—a man was making a report in a luxurious audience hall.
"The Western Empire has fallen completely."
He said it with a calm voice.
From above, on a magnificent and majestic throne, a woman responded with a brief sound.
"Not even rats were left alive?"
"…It seems not."
"What a shame to share blood with them."
She clicked her tongue with disdain. She shook her head several times as if thinking of someone pitiful, and then continued:
"Are you finished with the report?"
"There is one more point I must communicate."
"What is it?"
"It is information coming from the Allied United Kingdoms."
"That bunch of incompetents?"
"Yes."
"Have they not been destroyed yet? Anyway, what news do they bring?"
The man transmitted the information received from the spy sent there.
"……Hoh? Is that true?"
"Given that the source is the king of the Allied United Kingdoms himself, the probability of it being false is low."
It was such absurd information that they confirmed it several times:
The information that Marquis Palatio was a Divine Blood.
And that story finally—
"…If it is true."
"Yes."
"If that is true—"
—reached the ears of Serdea Polanticia, the Second Princess of the Eastern Empire.
"He would be more than worthy of becoming the consort of the one who will rule the world."
A twisted smile appeared on the lips of the princess who ruled the Eastern Empire.
