“Oh, his name is Titima. This is the kid who saved me when I was caught by Christine. Don’t you know, Sir Russ? “I heard you are Mr. Atilca’s successor?”
Russ blinked.
“Hmm, when I met Lord Atilca before, I saw a small troll next to me… … Honestly, I don’t know. “Trolls still can’t tell the difference.”
“You’ve become an Auror user, but you don’t have that much insight?”
“It’s not that you can’t tell the difference. The distinction is a. “I just don’t know who is who.”
Unlike dwarves, trolls were difficult to distinguish from the human eye.
It’s not because they are similar to each other like dwarves. Rather, they are so different that it is difficult to distinguish them.
All trolls adorn themselves with unique tattoos and accessories. When you become a guru, it becomes even more so.
“I knew it was different, but it was so complicated that I didn’t know who was who.”
If you hang two metaphysical pictures, anyone can easily distinguish them. However, if you hang them up one by one and ask what kind of painting this is, you will not be able to answer if you are not familiar with them.
Titima sneakily noticed and approached Russ. she said, bowing her head awkwardly.
“Hello, Cyrus. My name is Atilka’s Faguru, Titima… … “But this is already the third time I’ve introduced myself?”
“… … sorry.”
Russ scratched the back of his neck, feeling awkward. At that time, a deep voice was heard from behind her.
“Hey, Russ, Cilan. Now isn’t the time to be flirting, is it? “Everyone has joined us, so we need to get ready to move again soon.”
Reppenhardt was walking alone through the crowd. Russ and Cilan nodded sheepishly.
The leaders of each race, including Siris, Markelin, and Tashid, were responsible for leading the rescued slaves of different races, but the humans, Russ and Silan, also had duties. It is necessary to manage and protect dozens of oxcarts loaded with food to feed this large crowd and clothing to be used while traveling.
“Oh, I know. “I was already trying to prepare.”
“We’ll move right away, brother.”
Russ and Cilan hurriedly headed toward the line of oxcarts. Leppenhardt muttered as he looked at the line of oxcarts.
“Then, I guess I’ll have to go finish the transaction soon.”
☆ ☆ ☆
The number of slaves of different races who escaped from Zeppelin exceeds thousands and is approaching 10,000. If you include the troops of the County of Antares, the number increases even more.
With numbers like this, just moving them around was incredibly complicated.
It is not the end simply because of rescue. The number of food and daily necessities needed while safely taking them to the country of Antares cannot be ignored.
Reppenhardt expressed his gratitude once again as he looked at Siebold, the head of Taoban Trading Company, a human man in his mid-30s who prepared the large quantity of goods.
“Without your assistance, this task would not have been possible, and I thank you in the name of all races.”
Siebold grinned and waved his hand.
“I was just acting like a merchant.”
He continued speaking as he handed the document to Reppenhardt.
“We delivered all the supplies. Now, sign here.”
The list of items has already been checked by subordinates. Reppenhardt nodded his head, took out his feather pet, and finished his signature with a cool stroke.
After exchanging autographs, the transaction ended with each person putting documents into their arms. As Siebold was about to leave, Reppenhardt suddenly looked surprised.
“however… … “It’s not something I would say as the person who requested it, but you somehow agreed to this transaction.”
The other members of the Taoban Chamber of Commerce who had brought the goods were still tense as they looked at the crowd of people of different races.
Carrying out this transaction is actually an act of direct opposition to the Principality of Chatan. Since Seabolt was well-respected as the head of the company and treated his subordinates well, everyone followed him, but that did not mean he could not be worried.
Siebold shrugged his shoulders while looking at his subordinates.
“Of course, I also had some concerns.”
It was fifteen days ago that Reppenhardt informed Taoban of the outline of the operation and requested the procurement of necessary supplies.
At that time, Siebold thought and thought for three days.
The fact that the Kingdom of Antares was plotting against Zeppelin was a major event, no different from war. It was not easy to judge how to deal with it to the benefit of the company.
If Siebold was a small or medium-sized merchant seeking stability, he would have rejected it without even thinking about it.
However, he was a person who dreamed of becoming a person who covered the entire continent.
To become a target person, you must be sensitive not only to money but also to the flow of the world and also have a strong relationship with those in power.
And the reason why Taoban Trading Company has grown so much is because of the County of Antares.
“Baekwang is our company’s largest customer, and although the risk is high, it is not something we can easily give up.”
Originally, Siebold was neither opposed to nor in favor of inter-ethnic slavery.
To put it simply, was he indifferent? I guess that’s just how the world works, so I just acted like everyone else.
However, if you oppose slavery, you can have a powerful person named Reppenhardt, numerous Auror users, and a country called the County of Antares on your back.
On the other hand, if you agree, you will just remain as a common merchant in the Principality of Chatan.
“Honestly, I didn’t think King Baek was saying anything wrong.”
After establishing the County of Antares, Reppenhardt continued to use Taoban Trading Company as his main trading partner. So, through his dealings with the County of Antares, Siebold also saw numerous free races.
I wasn’t particularly influenced by Leffenhardt’s idea of liberating different races, but I also didn’t think he was saying anything wrong.
No, putting aside these reasons, Siebold actually liked the character of Reppenhardt.
Leffenhardt was a trustworthy business partner and not one to betray others. In fact, when doing business, trust in the other person is as important as trust and amount of money.
“The question was whether King Baek would succeed… … .”
Siebold shrugged his shoulders.
“No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t seem to me that King Baek will fail.”
Siebold doesn’t know the operation itself, so it’s not his business to know whether it’s elaborate or not.
But he knew what kind of person Leffenhardt was. He also knew very well what great brave men were gathered under his command.
After weighing this and that, it seemed that if Repenhardt attempted to attack Zeppelin, the current Principality of Chatan would not be able to stop him.
“If the White King’s Zeppelin liberation operation wasn’t realistic, I wouldn’t have done this. “He might have taken this information to Chatan Kingdom and collected the compensation.”
“I told you the information because I knew you weren’t the type of person to do that?”
“Well, that’s right.”
Siebold smiled bitterly. For a merchant, the trustworthiness of the trading partner is an essential element. He said that, but even thinking about it, he didn’t think he could have acted that way.
“Anyway, I placed my bet on the White King. Thanks to this, I was able to benefit a lot.”
“That’s a good thing.”
Leffenhardt laughed.
——————
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He knew very well that Siebold was not just talking about dealing with the county. He cannot be said to have benefited greatly by simply procuring the necessary supplies.
Siebold, who knew about this uproar in advance, procured the goods the country wanted, while also moving in other directions.
A contract was made to purchase a huge number of slaves from each of Zeppelin’s slave traders. The transaction price was paid in arrears through bills of exchange, and in case the transaction was broken, the lands of slave traders scattered across the continent were taken as collateral. Since the amount exceeded the available funds of Taoban Trading Company, if Reppenhardt had failed, Taoban Trading Company would have collapsed immediately.
But Siebold believed in Leffenhardt. Just like during the great famine in Crovence.
And his faith was handsomely rewarded.
Now that Siebold has no slaves to pay, Zeppelin’s slavers must pay with land instead. Thanks to this, Taoban Trading Company has become one of the top three companies across the continent.
“Well, it’s against the morals of a merchant, but it’s what Zeppelin slavers always did anyway. “They benefited from the fact that they fell victim to their methods.”
Repenhardt nodded in understanding. And then he suddenly asked:
“But because of this, it will be difficult for you to stay in the Principality of Chatan any longer. Do you have anything else in mind?”
Siebold answered calmly.
“I’m planning to close this business soon and leave Chatan.”
In any case, most of the merchants in Chatan are close to stateless groups crossing borders. Taoban Trading Company was no exception.
Although Taoban’s headquarters was located in Zeppelin, that was only because Zeppelin was the busiest commercial city on the continent, not because Siebold had any patriotism for the Principality of Chatan. In fact, he was from the Principality of Rastill, not Chatan.
Siebold bowed low and spoke politely.
“From now on, I plan to settle down in the Kingdom of Crovence. “I am hoping that King Baek will take great care of me.”
Every merchant on the continent knows well how much the current king of Crovence, King Jubel II, favors the White King of Antares. No, to be honest, it would be more like a trusted colleague than a favorite.
Leffenhardt also nodded seriously.
“I will do my best to help you. “It will benefit us too.”
Siebold smiled with satisfaction at the other person’s answer.
Since time immemorial, money is hard to make, but even harder to keep. As he has become one of the richest men on the continent, a strong background is essential to maintain that status. In that respect, the County of Antares was a very satisfying setting.
Well, if this goes on and the Antares County flies away, Taoban Trading Company will fly away too… … .
‘It’s a gamble with such high stakes, so of course I have to take that level of risk.’
While they were talking, Siebold’s men prepared to depart. After checking the situation, Siebold said goodbye.
“I look forward to continued business in the future, King White. “At Taoban Trading Company, we always serve our customers with trust and kindness.”
He truly looked like a thorough merchant.
“Then goodbye.”
Reppenhardt swallowed his saliva as he watched the back of Siebold and his group leaving. He was very grateful that they trusted him so much, and his heart was so heavy.
If something happens to him and the Count of Antares like this, wouldn’t their fate not go well? He might even be burned at the stake under the stigma of being the devil’s vassal.
‘No, I’m still not listening to the demon lord this time, so I guess that won’t happen?’
Anyway, I once again felt acutely how many people were standing on my shoulders.
“Oh, really, they should be rewarded properly and allowed to live well… … .”
Muttering, Reppenhardt was about to head back towards the barracks.
From the wilderness beyond the Colne Gorge, three horsemen were seen running furiously, kicking up dust. Driving the horses were three rugged-looking orcs, Talcata and gladiator-turned-orcs who had headed across the canyon for reconnaissance.
“White King!”
Talcata, who had been riding in a hurry, got off his horse and fell to his knees in front of Reppenhardt.
Reppenhardt’s eyes widened as he looked at this brave orc who showed no signs of aging despite his age.
A look of fear that was never seen before appeared on Talcata’s face.
“What’s going on, Talcata?”
Talcata shouted frantically while prostrating.
“It’s a human army! “It looks like Zeppelin has sent a chase party!”
4
The sound of horses’ hooves echoes loudly across the horizon. Dust rises like a cloud and the earth continues to shake as if there has been an earthquake.
Thousands of troops were marching towards Colne Gorge. It was Zeppelin’s regular army that moved late, the Royal Knights of Chatan who led them, and the Zeppelin Knights.
They didn’t even think about defending the city, so they brought out all their forces. It was a scene that clearly showed how angry the noble class of the Chatan Principality was.
A large canyon slowly appeared beyond the Zeppelin army.
The steep cliffs on either side rise as if piercing the sky, and a deep, black chasm in the earth opens between them. It’s still morning, so the top of the cliff is still hazy with night fog. Thousands of people of different races gathered below gradually come into view.
A knight in red armor riding a large black horse at the head of the army raised his hand. It was Sir Klatt, an Auror user praised as the strongest swordsman in Chatan.
As soon as the order was given, the pace of advance gradually decreased.
Hee hee hee!
Lord Claat stopped speaking. The black horse trotted and scratched the floor.
The adjutant next to me snorted as he looked at the mouth of the canyon.
“Hmph, what kind of ridiculous thing would these guys who can’t even run away do?” … .”
However, Sir Klatt could not watch in peace like his adjutant.
“The slaves look calmer than I thought.”
They also had eyes, so there was no way they wouldn’t have seen the Zeppelin army. Since the runaway slaves encountered the human army, it would be normal for them to run wild in fear. But surprisingly, everyone is moving in an orderly manner.
