Chapter 411 - Episode 394: The Mysterious Merchant
"Ah, not yet. Still not here..."
Mid-May. The capital of Baron Solonheit's territory, in the southwestern region of the Kingdom of Roadberg. In the office of the Helder Company's main store located in the city center, the company president, Orso Helder, muttered.
He walked meaninglessly around the room, and just when it seemed he had stopped, he would sway his body meaninglessly on the spot; his appearance was extremely restless.
The reason Orso was so anxious was that he was scheduled to welcome an important guest today.
Orso's decline had begun a little over ten years ago.
Until then, the Kingdom of Lancel, which had been a friendly trading partner of the Kingdom of Roadberg, transformed into an enemy nation because the throne passed to a foolish king. The two countries entered a state of conflict, and while trade did not cease completely, its scale shrank significantly.
The management situation of the Helder Company, which relied on trade with the Kingdom of Lancel for almost all of its profits, deteriorated rapidly, and the influence of Orso, who until then had boasted power equal to that of the territorial lord, Baron Solonheit, also waned.
Baron Solonheit, who once listened obediently to whatever Orso requested, became cold in his attitude, and Orso lost the position he had held until now, which was like that of a second lord. Even after the conflict broke out, Orso managed to prolong the company's life by charging high commissions to a few companies that wanted to continue trading with the Kingdom of Lancel and by acting as a liaison with Lancel merchants.
By the time his body, which had been fattened by luxury until then, had become a standard build due to mental stress, the war with the Kingdom of Lancel finally ended, and the subsequent great war with the Republic of Betumia also ended with a narrow victory for the Kingdom of Roadberg. Through dirty efforts and luck, Orso survived the two great wars along with his company, and he thought he could profit from trade once again.
Just as Orso had taken out large loans to organize the company's operational structure in anticipation of the resumption of trade with the Kingdom of Lancel, the situation changed once more. It was the opening of the Bezel Road in the northwest of the Kingdom of Roadberg.
Merchants from the northern part of the kingdom, who had previously been forced to pass through the southwestern border, began trading using this Bezel Road, and the scale of trade at the southwestern border shrank by a size.
Those who continued to pass through the southwestern border as before preferred to use the roads of other territories, such as the Marquis Gardwin's territory. No one sought the help of the Helder Company, whose reputation had plummeted due to its continued charging of high commissions.
Furthermore, Baron Solonheit shifted his territory to a system centered on agriculture and completely cast aside the Helder Company. Orso was left with nothing but massive debts, and he was currently in a situation where he was barely continuing to pay the interest by converting his private assets into cash. In another year, all his private assets would be exhausted, and Orso and his family would fall into slavery.
"...Damn it, calm down, calm down, me. I am a veteran merchant. Today's business deal will surely succeed. It is no different from the hundreds of business deals I have handled until now. Calm down, me."
Orso muttered alone in the office, encouraging himself.
The one who had brought a business proposal to the Helder Company, which had been completely abandoned by the lord and its former regular customers, for the first time in several months was an unknown company called the Alyoshan Company.
This emerging company, which was said to be based in the territory of Count Marcel in the northwestern part of the kingdom, had sent a messenger to contact Orso just about a week ago. The company's request was that they wanted to use the Helder Company's connections to sell some items with "circumstances" to the Kingdom of Lancel.
If it was a transaction with circumstances, it would be possible to make a large profit by demanding an unreasonable amount of commission. If he could make this deal a success, the Helder Company could further prolong its life.
In the meantime, if the agents he had sent into the Grand Duchy of Arqvist destroyed the public order of the capital city Noeina and dragged its reputation as a trading city through the mud, the southwestern border would once again become the only trade route to the Kingdom of Lancel, and the Helder Company would be revived.
Having been cornered for a long time, Orso had lost his capacity for calm judgment and blindly believed that his plan was perfect and correct. The worry regarding the fact that regular contact from the three agents had been interrupted for a while had slipped from Orso's mind.
"President, the person from the Alyoshan Company has arrived. They are waiting in the reception room."
At that moment, the office door was knocked on, and a company member who entered announced it. Orso gasped for a moment and took a deep breath.
"...I-I see. Understood, I'll go immediately."
Answering with his voice cracking slightly, Orso wiped the sweat from his forehead, checked his appearance in the mirror, and moved to the reception room.
He steadied his breath again between the doors of the reception room, and when he entered with determination—there stood a man who was exceptionally handsome.
His hair was dark brown. His skin was slightly tanned. His features were not only well-proportioned, but he possessed a grace like that of a young master of a noble house. Perhaps his eyesight was poor, as he wore glasses, which were expensive and rare tools, and from that, it was clear he was a person with financial leeway.
The man, who was accompanied by two attendants who were likely also serving as guards, stood up upon seeing Orso and reached out his hand with a likable smile.
"Nice to meet you. I am Viets Alyoshan, the head of the Alyoshan Company. I look forward to working with you."
"Now, now, this is the president of our company, Orso Helder. I also look forward to today."
To ensure the pace of the conversation was not completely seized by the other party, Orso also responded to the greeting with a bit of haste.
After that, they took their seats and exchanged idle chatter for a while, until eventually, Viets brought up the topic.
"Now, Orso-dono. I would like to enter the main subject soon..."
For two merchants meeting for the first time to talk business, the timing of Viets bringing up the main subject was somewhat early. Is this proof that he is anxious to secure connections to the Kingdom of Lancel? If so, this negotiation could be proceeded with from a position of advantage for this side.
While thinking so inwardly, Orso wore a gentle smile.
"Of course, that is fine. Please, let me hear it."
"Thank you. Actually, our company is thinking of exporting items such as these to the Kingdom of Lancel..."
As he said this, Viets signaled to the attendant standing behind him, and the attendant nodded and placed a box he was holding on the table.
What came out of the box was a small jar. As Viets opened the lid of the jar, he urged Orso to look inside.
"...I see. This is quite a magnificent item."
Peering into the jar, Orso immediately understood what the contents were. It was the undiluted essence of 'Angel's Honey'.
'Angel's Honey' is prized as a paralytic or anesthetic if diluted to the appropriate concentration, but in its undiluted essence form, it is a potent poison that causes severe aftereffects.
Originally easy to use in conspiracies, and having had its value as a strategic weapon proven by its massive deployment in the previous Betumia War, the undiluted essence of 'Angel's Honey' has been strictly forbidden for export to other countries, both in the past and now.
"Yes. Actually, our company was fortunately able to obtain a substantial amount of the leftovers of this drug that were used in large quantities during the Betumia War. To make the greatest profit using these... I thought it would be best to sell them to the people who want them most."
Viets grinned. Combined with his appearance, there was a presence to that fearless smile that even a man like Orso found captivating.
"I see, so that is why you reached out to our company..."
Because an unreasonable amount was produced during the Betumia War and the leftovers were monopolized by the royal family and the main high nobles, it is said that the undiluted essence of 'Angel's Honey' will be in short supply for several years to come.
And it is said that those who want this, which is manufactured only in the Kingdom of Roadberg, the most are the royalty and nobility of the Kingdom of Lancel and the Pallas Empire. If it were possible to leak the forbidden undiluted essence of 'Angel's Honey' abroad, it would turn into a staggering amount of money.
"How about it? Would it be difficult?"
"...No, by using our company's connections to Lancel merchants and using a desolate road that no one passes through now, export should be possible without problem. However, this is a job that cannot be accomplished by anyone but our company. Therefore, I shall receive a corresponding price..."
What Orso proposed was a commission so high that even Orso himself felt it was beyond common sense.
"Hmm, it will be quite expensive, then."
"Since it is a transaction where our company also crosses a dangerous bridge, this much is..."
"..................I see. Understood. I ask for your cooperation with this selfishness of mine. I request your help with the export for this amount of commission."
Perhaps thinking that sufficient profit would remain even after deducting the ultra-high commission, Viets nodded with a smile after long consideration.
"I am glad you are satisfied. Then, let us proceed to the contract immediately..."
While smirking inwardly, Orso proceeded with the transaction with a gentlemanly smile on the surface.
Since leaking a large amount of items all at once would be conspicuous, he wrote a contract where the product name was vaguely listed as "medicine," stating that a dozen or so jars of the undiluted essence of 'Angel's Honey' would be leaked to the Kingdom of Lancel one jar at a time over more than a year.
Then, he also created a memorandum that explicitly mentioned 'Angel's Honey' for them to keep hidden from others, and both parties signed it.
"It became a good deal. Thank you, Orso-dono."
"Not at all. I am the one who thanks you, Viets-dono... By the way, have you arranged your lodging for today?"
While shaking hands with Viets at the end, Orso asked.
"No, I was just about to look for some."
"Then, if you like, please stay at my mansion. I cannot provide grand hospitality, but I would like to treat you to dinner."
"That is very kind. Then, I shall take you up on your offer."
Facing Viets, who answered with a happy face, Orso smirked inwardly again.
Having a guest stay at the mansion and boasting of his own economic power by showing off the furnishings and the luxury of the dinner was a long-time pleasure for Orso, and whenever he invited an important business partner to the mansion to conclude a contract, he always made a point of suggesting a stay like this.
Even now, in the midst of his decline as a merchant, he had furnishings sufficient to put on airs for a guest, and he spent money on meals, which were his only personal pleasure. Having obtained an opportunity to boast his power to another person after a long time, Orso's heart was dancing.
Also, there was the reason that it was more reassuring to let Viets, who had entered into an illegal contract, stay at his own mansion rather than having him stay at some mediocre inn within Baron Solonheit's territory.
"Well then, since you must be tired, I shall have you guided to your room immediately."
Orso called a servant to the reception room and ordered them to guide Viets to the guest room and take care of him courteously.
Guided by the servant, Viets Alyoshan—real name Bart Heidemann—who left the reception room with his attendants, let out a small sigh in his heart without breaking his smile. Thinking that tonight would be a tiring night.