Episode 56
EPISODE.28
A damp yet musty smell.
It was a back alley that seemed to be filled with the unique darkness lurking in the shadows.
As he crossed the narrow alley, Russell recalled the conversation he had just had.
.
‘Uh, uh. Well, we don’t have any bonds. My boss has it… … .’
This means that unless you meet the boss, you cannot check the bond records of the Marcherin upper company.
As if he had been waiting, Russell gave them an order.
‘Then bring him. Otherwise, you can guide me to a guy called Boss.’
.
That was why Russell was walking down the back alley.
When I finished speaking and looked up, I saw a group of people walking ahead of me.
One of them had a clear palm-shaped burn mark left by Russell on his shoulder.
Right then.
―.
Something caught Russell’s senses.
An alley as intricately tangled as a spider’s web, something following along the alley.
‘one two three four… … .’
The number increases as you take steps.
From the moment their numbers increased to a certain extent, they did not even hide themselves.
As if making an outright threat, they followed Russell, filling the alley.
They weren’t the ones who felt that great energy.
At best, it’s at a similar level to those who are ahead.
If it was that strong, even if hundreds of people flocked to it, it wouldn’t be a threat to Russell.
‘I don’t know if they know that too.’
It was a while later that the guys ahead stopped.
“W-here.”
Treat yourself to medium rare black beef… … No, the man who introduced Elado’s Black Sora.
Vater spoke in a more withdrawn voice than before.
Beyond his body, I could see the entrance to a very old bar.
“Well, the boss will be waiting for you when you go in.”
When Russell nodded roughly, Bater and his subordinates hesitated and retreated.
Creak-.
The sound of old hinges resonates briefly.
The interior of the bar, which looks quite decent except for being old, is revealed.
There are several people who appear to be subordinates, and a tall man is sitting among them.
‘Is he Dagir, the boss of these people?’
Other than that, the one that catches the attention of those inside is-.
‘Two men with swords.’
They were men who looked exactly like brothers.
One of them was sitting awkwardly on a spare table, and the other was standing with his back against the wall.
It didn’t seem like he had any favorable feelings about looking at himself keenly.
‘and… … ‘You’ve learned Auror.’
I can faintly feel the lingering scent of the aura.
I could roughly guess why the guy named Dagir had those two waiting here.
‘Threats, show of force. If not that too… … .’
It must mean that something more has been prepared.
But Russell wasn’t scared.
Instead of being scared, he quietly curled the corners of his mouth into a subtle smile.
Even if you put the two together, they are worse than the vice captain I met on the pirate ship the day before.
Is there any way that guys of that level could be a threat?
Laughing lightly inwardly, Russell approached Dagir’s table.
“Is that Dagir?”
I sat down across from him, crossing my legs.
Then he picked up one of the liquor bottles that were lying on the table.
“… … !”
Gurgling-.
I filled my empty glass with alcohol.
I emptied about half of it without any hesitation.
“her.”
Dagir’s eyebrows twitched at that unstoppable appearance.
What? This little guy? etc.
It feels like my thoughts are showing on my face.
“okay. “I will do it.”
For a moment, Dagir regained his composure.
Even though they are nothing more than a back-alley gang, they opened their mouths as if they had not gambled away the leadership position.
Resolutely and boldly. and-.
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“That’s the wizard who claims to be an investor at the top of Marcherin.”
Wildly, like a lion that owns its territory and herd.
“So, you said you wanted to see the bond documents we have?”
“I want to know the exact principal and interest rate.”
“hmm.”
As soon as he started to drool, Dagir lifted the tip of his chin.
“Bring it.”
After having a subordinate bring the bond document, he placed it in front of Russell.
“Well, feel free to take a look. “Wizard.”
He blows on his bottle with a sinister smile, as if wondering what a thing like you can do.
Every time the strong alcohol flowed down his throat, Dagir’s muscles twitched menacingly.
Regardless.
“here-.”
Russell, who was reading the contents of the document, pointed out a phrase in the contract with his fingertip.
The bottle of wine in Dagir’s hand was almost empty.
“The numbers seem a little strange?”
“Hmm?”
“I understand that the highest legal interest rate set in Endymion is four pennies a penny (14%), but here the interest is recorded as six pennies a penny (16%)?”
The difference was only two pennies, but considering the fact that it was compound interest, the difference was enormous.
“under!”
He sighed as if it was absurd to hear Russell’s point.
I hit the table so hard that I was worried that the bottle I was holding in my hand might break.
bang!
He glared at Russell with a threatening expression and sneered.
“I guess our wizard doesn’t know much about living in the back alleys.”
It is said that the interest rate on this type of interest is bound to be higher than the legal interest rate.
People are saying things like, “Do you think going to city hall or the governor’s office and talking about this will make a big difference?”
This is bullshit logic that doesn’t even work together.
But here, it didn’t just make no sense.
‘Because it’s a back alley.’
If you go to the mayor or lord and petition, you may be able to lower the interest rate.
But that’s it.
Wouldn’t it be great if it was a large, large-scale merchant shop?
From the perspective of a small business like Marcherin, there was nothing good about dealing with local back-alley guys.
Cuthbert would know that too.
So, even though they know that the interest rate is wrong, they are probably holding on to it.
However, that only applies when there is no support.
“so.”
Russell cut him off, as if he couldn’t listen anymore.
“… … !?”
It was a voice as resolute as a knife.
But those words only provoked Dagir.
“hey. Wizard. What have you heard from me so far? Although the interest rate is slightly higher than the legal maximum… … !”
“so?”
Russell waved the document in his hand.
“The debt authority itself is legal. However, the interest you have been receiving so far is illegal. “Do I need any more explanation?”
It is a voice full of determination not to take a single step back.
If he wasn’t an idiot, he would have been able to read the meaning behind Russell’s words.
“Anyway, I think I’ve already reached the point where I can’t resolve it with words.”
That was the signal.
Sze-.
Hearing Dagir’s words, the brothers Gallik and Gelik slowly stood up.
click-.
Just as he was about to pull out the sword he was wearing at his waist!
Faster than that, Russell’s voice came out.
“If you pull it out now, you’ll really die.”
Hwaak-.
The magical power flowing out from the whole body tightly entangles the intestines like a spider web.
The purity of mana is far superior to that of other wizards, and the amount of magical power increases explosively as it reaches the mid-4th circle.
Russell’s momentum was added on top of that.
The air, as heavy as wet cotton, presses down heavily on the entire bar.
“Tsk-.”
“Well, I can’t draw the sword…” … .”
The two brothers groaned under the pressure that made it difficult to lift a finger.
But there was one person who seemed more desperate than the two brothers.
“Off.”
It was Dagir.
It was worth it.
Because I was closer to Russell than anyone else, and I was bearing the pressure head-on.
It will probably taste like death.
You will feel the pressure of all the muscles in your body being squeezed.
You will feel the pain of someone bigger than others being weighed down by a huge force of gravity.
“Off… … .”
Russell, who thought he was sufficiently intimidated, slowly withdrew the momentum surrounding him.
widely-.
He put up an identification card proving that he belonged to Yeomtap.
“Woah, War Mage of Flame Tower!”
Dagir’s eyes widen as if they would pop out after recognizing Russell’s identity card.
‘Damn it, you’re so young, but you’re so confident.’
Regret comes sooner than later.
Whether he regretted it or not, Russell offered him a new interest rate.
“Do your job.”
“Well, if we do that, we’ll have nothing left.”
Dagir changed his tone without realizing it.
I spoke in a semi-respectful way.
The sensation of my entire body being squeezed still clearly remained.
“Considering the illegal interest received so far, do you think this is a sufficient figure?”
“B-but… … .”
He tried to say something, but Russell didn’t want to listen.
Instead of listening to excuses, glance.
“A guy who introduced himself as a black cow proudly told me to sell his daughter.”
I briefly gazed outside the bar.
Another means to threaten him was brought out.
“I think the people who were at the top will suffice as witnesses, and whether it’s true or not can be found out by reporting it to the Flame Tower and investigating it.”
Human trafficking.
Of course, this small organization may not actually engage in such crimes.
However, if an investigation were to come out from the Flame Tower, it would be them who would be at a disadvantage in many ways, not Russell or Marcherin.
So Russell’s suggestion is-.
“Do your job.”
-It was an offer that was impossible to refuse from the beginning.
* * *
‘Is this the best for now?’
It would have been better if the bond document itself could be burned.
However, the authority to collect debt itself was legal.
I couldn’t do anything about it.
Therefore, Russell walked away with regret behind him.
Creak, creak-.
I left Dagir’s bar.
I turned towards the top of Marcherin.
When we return to the old two-story building, Cuthbert comes running out as if he had been waiting.
“Hey, wizard!”
I held Russell’s hand tightly and looked around his body.
He had an identity card proving that he was a War Mage of Flame Tower.
It wasn’t that I doubted his skills, but I was worried because he was still a human.
“I am okay.”
Russell responded by slowly withdrawing his hand.
Then, I took out a document from my pocket and handed it to him.
“this… … ?”
“This is a new bond document that has been revised to within the legal interest rate. “I’ve taken care of making sure they don’t change their minds after I return, so you don’t have to worry about that either.”
When he heard that the interest rate had been revised to within the legal limit, his eyes widened as wide as a flower lantern.
I swallowed my saliva and checked the changes.
“Wow, the interest is a whopping six pennies!”
That’s not all.
‘For the next three years, if the interest is paid properly, we will no longer ask for the principal amount -?’
Although there was a three-year limit, it also included a clause to escape their threats.
“I never thought you would do something like this. How should I repay this favor? … .”
Cuthbert’s voice as he spoke was moist.
“Since we have invested, aren’t we now partners? “I just provided a little help as a business partner.”
“still… … .”
If you leave it like this, you may have to repeat the same words three or four times.
Thinking so, Russell said, folding the bond document neatly and putting it in his jacket pocket.
“Then, now we can finalize the contract that we couldn’t do before.”
.
.
“Haven’t the numbers changed a bit?”
Russell, who was staring at the newly drawn contract Cuthbert had brought, tilted his head.
Unlike the original plan of half a share (10.8%), the contract stated that Russell’s share was two pennies (12%).
If you really look at it, it’s an increase of about 1 penny.
Cuthbert burst out laughing at that question.
Instead of explaining, he instead asked a question.
“Wizard. “No, Mr. Russell.”
“… … ?”
“Do you know what the creed of our family and merchants are?”
I asked about the changed ratio, but instead asked about the family and the creed of the top.
As I waited quietly for an answer, he pounded his chest.
“Although we may be merchants pursuing profit, let us not be beasts that forget grace. “That is the credo passed down from our ancestors to our family and merchants.”
and.
“This Cuthbert has never forgotten that creed.”
To put it simply, it means that the rate increased in proportion to the amount of help you provided.
“hmm… … .”
Russell sighed briefly.
‘I didn’t move hoping for this situation.’
What do you think?
Raising the stake is not a bad thing.
‘I would rather say it’s a good thing.’
Russell, who had made the decision, expressed his gratitude with appropriate courtesy.
“The favor of the upper lord. “I will accept it gratefully.”
He engraved his signature at the bottom of the contract.
That was the end of the contract with Marcheline.
‘Now all that’s left is-.’
-The goose that laid the golden egg was just waiting for the egg to become pregnant.
and… … .
Half a year has passed.
wizard who swallowed a dragon
