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Join the Server“So, what is the price?”
Facing such enticing conditions, Rodd maintained a calm, unmoved expression.
“You jest, sir. How could there be any price to speak of?”
Tim, the stout man, forced a smile, his face a mask of obsequiousness.
“We merely wish to reaffirm the long-standing agreement between the Moen family and Azurewater Port.”
“You are aware, aren’t you? Long ago, when the Moen family first claimed the territory of Moon Isle, the challenges of development compelled them to collaborate with various merchants. Together, they developed the lands around Azurewater Port. For the prosperity of the entire Moon Isle, your ancestors even granted Azurewater Port a high degree of autonomy. Though this covenant had no explicit term, it has continued by convention to this day. It is this very agreement that has forged an unbreakable bond between the Moen family and Azurewater Port.”
“So, your request is simply for me to extend the validity of this contract? Is it truly that straightforward?”
“Heh heh… Of course, there are a few ancillary matters.”
Tim’s smile grew even more fawning. As he spoke, he approached me, his gaze arrogant, and produced a parchment scroll from his robes, offering it forth.
I paused, then realized he intended for me to hand it to Rodd.
‘Seriously, does he not have hands of his own?’
Though grumbling inwardly, I complied.
Yet, perhaps due to our earlier conflict, I felt quite awkward as I neared Rodd.
‘That guy’s gaze seemed to deliberately avoid me, didn’t it?’
‘Does he truly despise me that much now?’
The scroll was taken by Rodd.
“Alright, stay behind me for now.”
Rodd issued a simple instruction.
‘Oh? He actually deigned to speak to me?’
I quietly moved behind him, pondering if this might signal a chance for us to reconcile later.
‘No, what do I mean by ‘reconcile’? I don’t feel like I did anything wrong, did I?’
As I was lost in thought, Rodd suddenly let out a cold laugh.
“Heh heh… Your advisors from Azurewater Port are truly ‘shrewd.’ This contract not only lists dozens of products for your exclusive procurement, but the prices are also calculated with remarkable ‘generosity.’”
A nearby attendant immediately offered an explanation. “Lord Rodd, as the liege, you merely need to sign an agreement. However, we merchants have far more to consider!”
“Furthermore, without us businesspeople to run these errands, who would buy all these products, no matter how numerous they are?”
“Besides, the essence of commerce is buying low and selling high—a truth that has remained unchanged for millennia. If costs are too high, it will only lead to exorbitant market prices. Our method of setting acquisition prices is precisely to help local products find their market, isn’t it?”
“Commerce is the greatest public service. We, your diligent merchants, harbor grateful hearts, repaying the trust you have bestowed upon us and offering our unwavering loyalty!”
“…”
‘Utterly shameless!’
‘Just how thick are these guys’ skins? They were just discussing firing elderly employees and usury when they walked in, weren’t they?’
As expected, Rodd ripped the parchment in half without hesitation.
“Lord Rodd, what are you doing? That was—”
“There are no ‘buts.’ Only fools would dare bring such rubbish before me,” Rodd stated coldly, his face etched with disdain.
His response caused the faces of the Azurewater Port envoys to change dramatically. The leader slowly rose, struggling to maintain his composure as he forced out, “Lord Rodd, you would do well to reconsider. The entire Moon Isle possesses only Azurewater Port as a deep-water harbor, and all major client resources are held in our hands. Without us, you have no channels for oceanic trade.”
“Are you suggesting I should simply agree to let you acquire raw materials from here at low prices, then purchase various products from your hands at exorbitant rates?”
Rodd sneered. “You’d pocket all the money, coming and going. What difference would there be between me, the Lord of Moon Isle, and some beggar kneeling for scraps?”
‘Oho, a fight! Let the quarrel escalate!’
‘Heh heh, those Azurewater Port fellows look absolutely miserable.’
‘They didn’t expect Rodd to be so difficult to deal with, did they?’
‘Haha, this guy isn’t easily fooled. If you could subdue him, I would have already done so, alright!’
Watching the envoys’ discomfited expressions, a surge of secret satisfaction filled me, akin to seeing someone else stumble badly in the very spot where I had once fallen.
‘Oh? The leader is whispering with the others, his face growing increasingly grim. It seems they’re about to stir up more trouble.’
“Lord Rodd, I suggest you reconsider a little more!”
The leading envoy, Doug, suddenly adopted a somber tone, his words laced with veiled threats.
“You are soon to marry Miss Cassina, the esteemed daughter of the Lord of Coldwind. During this time, you wouldn’t want any… unfortunate incidents to occur, would you?”
‘Oh? Is that a threat?’
My interest was instantly piqued. I wanted to see how Rodd would react.
“What do you mean?” Rodd’s voice was chillingly cold.
“Heh heh, it means nothing much, simply that, by coincidence, our Governor’s mansion nearly suffered an accident a few months ago, resulting in fatalities. The Governor specifically ordered us to conduct a thorough investigation. Initially, it was just routine, but unexpectedly, the clues led to you…”
Doug feigned a sigh, then abruptly changed his tone. “The Coldwind Domain is a hegemon of the Great Continent. Who wouldn’t want to form an alliance? This marriage is just one step away from a perfect conclusion. But if, before then, news suddenly spread—for instance, that ‘a certain lord sent assassins to murder the Azurewater Port Governor’—do you think this prearranged marriage could still proceed?”
I saw Rodd’s expression stiffen slightly, and couldn’t help but feel a pang of worry for him.
‘So they knew about this all along. No wonder they looked so confident upon entering.’
‘Even if Rodd didn’t know about this, he’d probably be very apprehensive…’
Just as I expected Rodd to be put on the defensive, he suddenly uttered a shocking statement:
“Then, is it not equally permissible for me to expose to everyone that you sent people to attack my convoy?”
At these words, the entire room fell silent, the air itself seeming to solidify.
Doug, who had just been spouting grandiose claims, closed his mouth, casting a heavy, meaningful glance at Rodd.
“Very well, very well! Since Lord Rodd has no inclination to negotiate, then our continued presence here would only disturb his mood. We shall take our leave; there is no need to see us out!”
I, too, was astonished.
‘Ugh, I seem to have overheard another crucial piece of intelligence…’
‘But is that all?’
Watching the retreating figures of the envoys, I slowly sighed, thinking that I should report this intelligence to Raven tonight. I felt that the value of this information should allow me to exchange it for something.
‘And the engagement with Miss Cassina is drawing near; I need to seize this opportunity…’
“Wait!” Rodd suddenly called out. “You, the one who resembles a pig, don’t leave yet.”
Envoy Tim’s steps halted, as if something had struck him. He spun around, exasperated, and declared, “What do you mean, ‘resembles a pig’? Do you know who I am? Even Governor Sherlock himself sees me and has to…”
“I don’t care who you are. Take off your clothes.”
“What?” Envoy Tim seemed to doubt his hearing. “What did you say?”
“Didn’t you just claim this maid soiled your formal attire? Fine. I’ll have the maid behind me compensate you.”
‘Shrimp!?’
I stared at Rodd with a face full of dark lines.
‘Hey, hey, Rodd, what are you doing? You’re not actually going to sell me, are you?’
“Oh, so you wish to curry favor with me?” Envoy Tim suddenly grew smug. “Lord Rodd, there’s no need. I, for one…”
“I haven’t finished!” Rodd interrupted him, speaking each word distinctly. “Since it’s soiled, don’t wear it. Take it off. I’ll have Miss Maid behind me wash it for you. You can come back in a week to collect your clothes. Until then, you can remain naked, kowtow, and then leave!”
‘Eh, so he wasn’t selling me after all!’
‘Good, good, but… is he helping me get revenge?’
I looked at Rodd somewhat unexpectedly, but the fellow was too aloof; no emotion could be discerned from him throughout.
“You—”
Tim’s face instantly flushed crimson. He angrily straightened his posture, hands on his hips, his voice growing shriller: “I have the blood of the collateral branch of the King’s Royal Family of Bolen, from the Western Continent, flowing in my veins! In terms of ancestry, I am nobler than you; you should be kneeling before me!”
He pointed fiercely at Rodd, who remained seated. “Now, hurry and kneel!”
The words had barely left his lips when I suddenly saw a pale gray figure press a gleaming short sword against his neck.
It was Rodd’s subordinate!
Thud—
Tim promptly knelt.
“Collateral branch of the King’s Royal Family of Bolen… Which branch? Have I met them?”
Rodd looked at him contemptuously. “Even if you were the legitimate son of the two Imperial Emperors, you would still strip naked, kowtow, and then leave today!”
“Uh… Lord Rodd, don’t you care about your relationship with Azurewater Port—”
The remaining envoy seemed about to say something else, but Rodd cut him off.
“Do the rest of you also wish to strip naked?”
“Uh…”
This time, they fell silent, all averting their gaze.
Tim seemed to sense the outcome of being utterly alone. Steeling himself, he actually began to take off his clothes.
‘Ugh…’
The instinct of shame made me avert my eyes.
‘And who wants to wash that guy’s clothes anyway!’
“Clothes off, then what?”
I heard Rodd’s urging voice.
“I’m already naked, why do I still have to…”
“He soiled your clothes, and I’m having her wash them for you. You soiled her skirt, so kowtow and apologize. Is there a problem?”
“Ah? Is… is this fair?”
“It’s not fair?”
“But…”
“Forget it. Since you refuse to be dignified, I’ll have someone dignify you… Aqi!”
At Rodd’s call, a tall, one-armed figure entered from outside the door. He directly pressed the dead fatty’s head to the ground and made him kowtow.
I don’t know how many times he kowtowed; I only heard the thudding sounds for several minutes before they finally ceased.
When it was over, the three Azurewater Port envoys struggled to carry the dead fatty out.
I don’t know if the guy still had a breath left, but clearly, Rodd’s action was a blatant declaration of war against Azurewater Port.
This is very important news; I must quickly inform Lord Raven tonight.
However…
“From now on, without my command, you are not permitted to leave the woodshed, nor are you to appear before any other man.”
Rodd sternly warned me before he left.
Although he tried to appear indifferent, having been a man for half a lifetime, I sensed something…
‘This guy couldn’t be… tsk.’
‘Should I still report the information that ‘Rodd hates me’ along with this?’
‘It’s a bit hard to judge now…’
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