Chapter 266

[Side story] Two-arm scale (7)

Oldeck’s clock is turned 90 degrees.

It was an idiom that expressed in one line what a foreigner would feel when visiting the commercial city of Oldeck.

There are no people in this world more diligent than greedy merchants.

Oldeck, a port city built on the coast, is full of people running around for a living more diligently than the morning sun.

While out-of-towners would wake up with half-asleep eyes, the merchants of Old Deck are all busy running around... The streets of Old Deck at dawn are more noisy than when the sun is high in the sky compared to other cities.

At around 6 a.m., most workplaces are already full of people, so it’s not strange to get the illusion that the clocks are really turned to one side.

On that topic, bedtime is much later than in other cities, so it’s actually only a half-correct idiom.

In this vibrant city, sloth is the greatest sin.

I don’t hate the atmosphere of this city, where everyone passing by has a lively expression on their face, but there are definitely people who would be disgusted if they had to live in such a combative environment 365 days a year.

It can be said that it is truly the complete opposite of Pulan, Jenica’s hometown, which I recently visited.

“You arrived later than expected.”

Belle got out of the carriage, holding the hand of the half-asleep Lortel, and spoke to me while supervising the vassals unloading the luggage.

The location is the central square of the Old Deck commercial district.

This was the most centrally located plaza in Alldeck, which had over 11 large and small plazas.

Behind the large fountain in the middle of the square stands the government office building that manages all of Old Deck’s administration.

If the head of the Cloel Empire is the capital Cloeron. This Old Deck is the heart.

This is because all logistics of the bloody empire revolve around this place.

Therefore, the government office that manages this Old Deck has no choice but to boast of its magnificent size. A sophisticated marble wall centered on an archaic wooden pillar revealed its majesty.

“Wow...”

Lortel gaped as he looked at the government office building. In reality, it was a building that he had probably been to many times, but to the inexperienced Lortel, this majestic building seemed truly surprising.

“Lortel.”

I called Lortel quietly.

Lortel was startled when he heard that voice, and held Belle’s hand tightly and hugged her waist.

“Yes...”

Lortel answered me in a timid voice.

Perhaps because he was still embarrassed about revealing the contents of the note, he twisted the ends of his auburn hair and glanced up at me.

“How do you like this city?”

“yes?”

Lortel looked embarrassed at the sudden question.

I know Lortel’s past history.

For Lortel, this city called Oldeck is a place of love and hate.

From his childhood, when he had to walk around the slums and hit someone’s back to survive, until he opened his eyes to money and stood at the top as a merchant.

Lortel could neither love nor hate this city.

That’s why I wanted to ask Lortel, who doesn’t remember the many hardships of life, at least once.

“This city...?”

“Last time, I left in such a hurry that I couldn’t even look around Old Deck properly. “This is the largest square in Alldeck and the place where the most people come and go.”

I don’t understand why this question is being asked in this situation, but Lortel didn’t specifically ask why. They are not mature enough to understand such intentions and act in the first place.

Lortel looked around while holding Belle’s hand tightly.

I gently close my eyes and open them, taking in the sight of Old Deck.

Surprisingly, the scenes of Old Deck captured in the girl’s innocent eyes do not make her that uncomfortable.

There is no way for this girl to know how complicated her feelings about this city are when she grows up.

Therefore, Lortel spoke while looking at the huge stone statue on top of the fountain in the central square.

It was a stone statue of a merchant wearing a robe holding a large two-armed scale.

“...I just... like it. The atmosphere is... lively.”

Eventually, Lortel smiled with difficulty.

*

“I’ll give you three missions.”

The maid, Belle Maia, is a high-class person.

Her role in the Ross Taylor mansion is enormous. The area of practice he is reaching out to extends to the entire management of the mansion.

If she were to be away from the mansion for a long period of time, it would have a significant negative impact on the management of the estate.

Nevertheless, the reason why Bell personally accompanied him to Old Deck was because he needed someone who was that reliable.

A manpower that is sure to get the job done, has guaranteed combat capabilities, and will never betray me.

I sat on a bench on one side of Oldeck Square and spoke while rubbing my chin.

Belle is quietly focusing her gaze on me with her arms folded in front of her in a calm posture, and her face is as expressionless as always.

“You take care of just three things while I take care of the affairs of Alldeck Company.”

“I will do as you instructed.”

“First, protect Lortel. As soon as you enter the Old Deck, Slog’s personnel will try to secure Lortel somehow. “You must protect Lortel while I finish the job.”

Even this situation, which is already crowded with people, is a threat to Lortel.

Even before I gave instructions, Belle was clearly looking around and feeling tense.

“It’s a natural order.”

Bell is a high-level wizard who is not only skilled with a rapier, but also knows how to use mid-level magic.

It is not something that needs to be protected for several days, and short-term escorting can be done as much as necessary.

“Second, go into the government office and meet the commissioner in person.”

“Would you like to meet me?”

I took out an envelope containing documents from my pocket and held it out.

“No, it is much easier to read the movements of children from noble families like that.”

Slog spoke leisurely as he buried himself in the backrest.

“I looked through all the records of Ed Rosstaylor, the powerful person in that family. Currently serving as professor emeritus at Sylvania Academy, he is engaged in various research positions and is somewhat involved in the administration of the academic institution. Do you know what the characteristics of those from noble families who devote themselves to the teaching profession are?”

“...”

“I firmly believe that everything can be solved with documents and politics. “I’m sorry, but I don’t realize... that that’s our specialty.”

Even if the Ross Taylor operatives try to frame the group and put political pressure on it, there is a limit to how they can attack Elte Chamber of Commerce with pressure without any justification.

Ultimately, what is needed is cause and justification.

Ed Rothtaylor will try to solve that problem somehow.

In order to do that, you would have to go directly to Alldeck and collect information.

Information war, political war, secret struggle behind the scenes.

Sadly, all of this is Slog’s specialty.

“What we are really afraid of is. It’s an enemy with unpredictable movements. “Not that noble boy.”

Slog, looking down at the two colossi with a grinning smile, is the undisputed ruler of the dark back alley.

“Maybe they are crazy people who can’t figure out what they are thinking, but noble families who show such obvious behavior patterns are... In fact, they are much easier to manipulate and cajole. I’m more scared of the bandits and bums I meet while peddling. “They cut you right in front of your nose.”

Even the two giants found it difficult to raise their voices in front of Slog, who was sitting with his feet crossed.

“So, I waited slowly... when the obvious manipulation came in...”

– Boom!!

– Quaaaaa!

It was that time.

A loud explosion was heard from the front door of Elte Company.

The ensuing aftermath was a huge gale. The glass window, which was shaking and pounding, seemed as if it would break at any moment.

“What?!”

Slog trembled.

The two colossi facing each other also opened their eyes wide and looked at each other.

Slog quickly got up from his seat and went to the window to check the identity of the explosion coming from the front door.

However, before I could properly look out the window, the outer wall of the office exploded.

– Boom!!!!

Second explosion.

A huge arrow made of magical energy is pushing through the marble wall, crushing it like a piece of paper.

The arrow that casually shattered the outer wall of the store as if it were a siege weapon had a mid-level explosion magic imprinted on it.

– Quaaaaaaaa!

“Kaaaaak!”

Caught in the aftermath of the explosion, the two Colossus and Slog rolled awkwardly on the ground.

-Kung Kwaang. Kugoogung!

– Dust

falling down patter.

belch. Heat. scream. A rising sense of crisis.

It felt like I was suddenly thrown from the middle of a business field to the center of a battlefield.

Slog caught his breath and stood up. And then he ran towards the half-destroyed outer wall.

The sharp wind in the sky swept Slog’s gray hair. And as soon as the sight of the front door where the explosion had been heard came into view, Slog couldn’t help but curse.

“No, no... you’re crazy... you idiot...”

I heard a rumor that he was an asshole, but even so, there are limits to it.

Oldeck, the central city of the Cloel Empire.

And Elte Trading Company, the best trading company in Alldeck.

Even if you are the son of a renowned operative, there are limits to how far you can go.

In the distance, I could see Ed Ross Taylor holding a large bow at the main entrance of the store. He was standing on the roof of a carriage with the duchy’s emblem engraved on it.

There is nothing more to see.

There are so many eyes to see in broad daylight when the sun is high in the sky. Suddenly, a magic arrow with an explosion engraved on it hit the commercial building.

Near the main gate, several retainers accompanied by Ed Rosstaylor stood holding military weapons.

In the center, Ed is loading the next arrow. That expression is horrifyingly insensitive. It is a movement that seems to be carrying out a natural and routine task.

“That crazy guy... How are you going to clean this up! “They did something like this to the wall of the building of a commercial company that was doing good business without any charges...!”

While he was saying that, Ed Rosstaylor had already finished loading the next arrow.

Next, we were aiming at the roof of the store.

The first step is toward the main entrance of the business meeting, the second step is near Slog’s office, and the last step is towards the roof of the building to prevent casualties.

It was a goal setting where the intention was clearly visible.

“Oh, get down...! One more shot comes!”

– Boom! Hwaaaaaaaaaaa!

The vibration rang out again, and the sound of the company employees running around in fear penetrated Slog’s eardrums.

“What! How can I really handle it... that crazy guy...! Have you really turned around?!”

Passersby and merchants passing by in front of the commercial building opened their eyes wide as if they had no idea what was going on.

The Elte Chamber of Commerce building, the tallest building in Alldeck, was already in an unbelievable state. The rising smoke and dust showed the seriousness of the situation.

-Tap, thump.

He held the large bow with one hand and brushed off the hem of his shirt with the other.

It’s a great palace that was made with quite a lot of effort, but there are still a lot of parts that need to be adjusted. I threw the burning tobacco on the nearby road and gave instructions to the retainers who were waiting nearby.

“Go in.”

As soon as the order was given, the vassals picked up their weapons and rushed into the commercial building.