Vol 4 Chapter 10 (2/2)
Servant: “This way”
Young Merchant: “Yes”
Footsteps…… Footsteps……
“That guy is from the Union”
“He can’t be a nice guy”
Young Merchant: (What an opulent and luxurious place Even the corridors are all completely decked out”
Servant: “Please enter His Holy Imperial Majesty will be with you shortly”
Young Merchant: “Got it You got any candy?”
Servant: “Huh?”
Young Merchant: “Just a joke”
Servant: “In that case, please excuse me”
Door opens
Attendant: “Of the Merchant’s Union, of the Cha Merchant”
Young Merchant: “It isMerchant, the leader of the Merchant’s Union based in the Kingdorace”
Chief Minister: “Hmm, I am the Chief Minister”
Imperial Bishop: “I am the personal Bishop to the Throne”
Chief Minister: “By the Grace of the Holy Spirit, before you stands his Holy Imperial Majesty the Sixteenth Emperor of the Holy Empire”
Holy Emperor: “Mmm”
Chief Minister: “His Ireed to an audience with you”
Young Merchant: (So this is the guy…… He seems troublesome, I suppose we’ll need to take drastic measures But this Emperor……)
Holy Emperor: “Welcome I suppose you have come to the Holy Empire for economic and business reasons? It has been a period of austerity which I have been following for a long time I look forward to today’s talk”
Chief Minister: “……”
Young Merchant: “Thank you very s I wish to say today, but…… But first of all, I have a request……”
Holy Emperor: “Go ahead”
Young Merchant: “The Merchant’s Union is a coalition of independent merchants The tradition of the solitary enerations, and we have constructed Chahout the Continent”
Holy Emperor: “Mmmm”
Young Merchant: “We have also begun a syste letters of credit for ease of currency conveyance By your grace, this has been well received”
Holy Emperor: “Letters of credit? Hmm, I understand”
Young Merchant: “We would be very grateful if we could be designated with an Imperial purveyor license to provide credit”
Imperial Bishop: “Your Holy Imperial Majesty I must object”
Holy Emperor: “Why?”
Ie been the duty of the Holy Church It is a noble industry powered by the faith and fervour of the in with, anything involving money requires i currency requires both trust and capital Letters of credit, letters of loan, no matter what the financial instrument, are completely valueless unless backed by trust in an institutions will and ability to fulfil it For a new enterprise to enter this industry, that would be nearly impossible”
Young Merchant: “I beg your pardon, Chief Minister According to Imperial Law, is it necessary for me to have a license in order to provide letters of credit?”
Chief Minister: “…… Well…… No, not technically”
Imperial Bishop: “……”
Young Merchant: “Requesting for an Imperial license is hence purely out of respect”
Imperial Bishop: “In that case, as the representative of the Holy Church of Light, I impeach your Holy Iulation only because it would be ridiculous to challenge the authority of the Church in this industry In light of this, please adjust the law, no please issue an Imperial edict to ban all financial instruments issued outside of the Church This is an iht”
Holy Emperor: “……”
Young Merchant: “In that case, Most Revered”
I to His Imperial Majesty”
Young Merchant: “Actually, the Merchant’s Union also uses the Church’s letters of credit”
Imperial Bishop: “Hmph, as expected”
Young Merchant: “I was intending to exchange my letters for some cash, but when I headed to the Free City of the West Shore, I was told that there is no more cash to be had”
Imperial Bishop: “That’s”
Holy Emperor: “Is that the truth?”
Young Merchant: “I was a bit troubled, so I went to the other Free Cities in the vicinity, but they had run out of cash too”
Imperial Bishop: “……”
Young Merchant: “Actually, I was rejected by five different places Isn’t a letter of credit a binding docuinal contract, is that the way the Church operates? The e uproar now, it’s a massive scare”
Holy Emperor: “Is that the truth, Bishop?”
Imperial Bishop: “That, that is…… a temporary……”
Young Merchant: “That is another reason why I have co with ned by five thousands merchants from the West Shore They demand the immediate return of the money that they have deposited in the Church”
Imperial Bishop: “We will definitely be able to return the money”
Young Merchant: “YouWe merchants live on a bloody economic battlefield everyday If we cannot shi+p our wheat, places literally starve to death Do you know that there are merchants who cannot buy wheat because their letters of credit are useless? Yet, because of contracts, there are still shi+ps who dock in their docks expecting to be loaded heat shi+ps are carrying out voyages without cargo, have you thought about the econoe of that? Trust in the Church? If there was ever such a thing, then perhaps the Church is si the trust that we merchants have in the Church”
Ies will be reimbursed”
Young Merchant: “Do you think trust can be bought back? In that case, ill use money to buy it too So this is the holy trust in the Church which you were speaking of earlier?”
Iht! How audacious! Heretic!”
Holy Emperor: “Stop now”
Young Merchant: “I apologise for the rudeness”
Iue”
Holy Emperor: “What should we do?”
Chief Minister: “Your Imperial Majesty, you are the chief of law Whatever you say is bound directly to law”
Holy Emperor: “I see Hmm…… Bishop, first make compensation to everybody involved”
Imperial Bishop: “Yes”
Holy Eree that the trust of the merchants of the West Shore has been hurt?”
Ianisms like merchants even have the concept of human trust, then yes”
Holy Emperor: “Beyond the basic coher recompensation in order to rebuild soh?”
Iold pieces would be enough Maybe even too much”
Holy E Merchant?”
Young Merchant: “Personally, I feel the ah As expected, the wisdom of the Holy Church is truly infinite I am at ease”
Ireedy Shameless man”
Young Merchant: “However, as I said earlier, the petition has the names of five thousand merchants on its roster As such, my personal view is not sufficient I have a responsibility to inquire, est that the merchants be provided with an additional recompense of 50 of their reported losses?”
Iood”
Young Merchant: “Then, ill they be paid?”
Imperial Bishop: “This is the Holy Ie to the Holy Church and begin the proceedings”
Young Merchant: “Excellent I look forward to it”
Imperial Bishop: “Then our conversation is over”
Young Merchant: “In that case, the coold pieces”
Imperial Bishop: “What?”
Chief Minister: “!?”
Young Merchant: “The face value of the letters of credit on its own is 7 old pieces However, the declared opportunity loss of revenue is eight times that”
Imperial Bishop: “Where do these numbers come from!?”
Young Merchant: “Are you aware of the price of charcoal now? Charcoal is produced in the Kingdoh the infrastructure in the Kingdoinal price The tax regihtmare All of these losses have been incurred because of a lack of liquid capital, at present this is just half of the story, if we factored in the other business and economic opportunities, the losses may increase to ten times Will the Church accept it?”
Imperial Bishop: “…… Do as you wish!+”
Young Merchant: “In that case, at ten times the declared opportunity loss……”
Iht!”
Young Merchant: “Sure Then 7 ht tiold pieces With the trust repair coold pieces”
Imperial Bishop: “damn you……”
Young Merchant: “Of course, this is just the losses from today If the compensation cannot be made by the end of the day, then we can expect another round of losses similar to today In that case…… the aets difficult Let old pieces”
Imperial Bishop: “……!”
Holy Emperor: “Ahahahahahahaha!”
Imperial Bishop: “Your Imperial Majesty!”
Holy Emperor: “What of it? Would the Holy Church be able to round up all the money in the Holy Imperial City within the next two to three days?”
Imperial Bishop: “This is preposterous! Your Excellency!”
Chief Minister: “…… Hmm?”
Imperial Bishop: “I need to talk to you about the money Let us talk in private”
Chief Minister: “Uhh, yes Your Imperial Majesty I must take my leave”
Door slams
Holy Emperor: “Hahahaha! Look! It’s like he took an arrow to his butt!”
Young Merchant: “Hahahaha Indeed”
Holy Ehed like this since I was a young man”
Young Merchant: “In that case I a some joy to your life”
Holy Emperor: “I knohat you did”
Young Merchant: “Yes”
Holy Emperor: “You intend to pursue them for the payment?”
Young Merchant: “No, no They were very i”
Holy Emperor: “These people are only loyal to their own interests”
Young Merchant: “Mmm”
Holy Emperor: “I aence is astounding”
Young Merchant: “But you are very important to me”
Holy Emperor: “Me? Oh, the I, you would still have forced them to borrow”
Young Merchant: “Borrow?”
Holy Emperor: “Hahaha Didn’t you see the Chief Minister? The Bishop will definitely have to do his best to wrangle up 84 old pieces by today 84 million is no small number, but when you talked about 10 billion that really set his , the annual value of all the wheat traded in the Continent doesn’t even come up to that old pieces, if we emptied the Church’s vaults and ht just be able to fulfil it”
Young Merchant: “Iht?”
Holy Emperor: “What is?”
Young Merchant: “To order the money to be paid in such a fashi+on”
Holy Eood , it ht result in the death of those two But that is a way of cleansing the rust I would rather it not be divulged, but fro with the treasury without my express instructions is a capital punishment As death row criminals, I suppose they will just have to follohat I say”
Young Merchant: “……”
Holy E aren’t they?”
Young Merchant: “I do not think so Your Ih my plans You acted in a prompt and decisive manner to ensure the survival of your country above all else”
Holy Emperor: “Is that so?”
Young Merchant: “Yes”
Holy Eo and save those two heartless people”
Young Merchant: “How?”
Holy Eed to land 84 ive it back in order to fill up the treasury, those tould have committed a capital offence”
Young Merchant: “Yes”
Holy Emperor: “As their lord, I bear the responsibility for the failure of my subordinates And I would like to request for the 84 million from you”
Young Merchant: “Hoho, a good proposition”
Holy Eet lots of money out of this”
Young Merchant: “Probably”
Holy Eement”
Young Merchant: “Hoho”
Holy Emperor: “And, you want some kind of license”
Young Merchant: “Yes”
Holy Emperor: “I’ll see what I can do”
Young Merchant: “I understand”
Holy Emperor: “Then, what is it that you want, Merchant?”
Young Merchant: “I want a permit to construct Orders of the Lake in the Imperial City”
Holy Emperor: “……”
Young Merchant: “In addition, all transactions taking place within the Order are to be tax-exempt, and all transactions of the Order are to enjoy the saht”
Holy Emperor: “That is……”
Young Merchant: “I’ht It would be fine if they were on the sa, don’t you think? The monarchy and nobility can continue to visit their traditional Holy Church if they so wish to”
Holy Emperor: “…… So this is your aim, Merchant?”
Young Merchant: “Of course, I wouldn’t dare to suggest a scenario with no gain to your Imperial Majesty It’s clear that the Church and the Eap the Holy Order of the Lake could probably fit in To begin with, we are two different sects with identical beliefs Think of it as two separate wings, to stabilise the land That is no small feat”
Holy Emperor: “That may be so……”
Young Merchant: “Well that’s just one thing Now there’s the matter with the letters of credit”
Holy Emperor: “What else is there!?”
Young Merchant: “Thebefore you today is a matter from the Union and friends of the Union Of course, letters of credit are by no means rare, aren’t they? The Imperial compensation is 8 times with a 50 percent extra, in other words 12 tiinal sum If this information were to be leaked out, I fear that all the ainst the Empire and the church In that case, you can expect ten, no fifty times more complaints than the ones I delivered”
Holy Emperor nods
Young Merchant: “I believe you understand, but the way to save the Church would be to acquiesce to my demands” Smiles
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Explanation
Binding Docuated by law to fulfil the terms of the docu docue merchants to pay them back for loans, but the reverse is also true In other words, the Churchdocuments within the terms stated
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———- The Demon World, the South, the Old Lands of the Pale, a Breezy Hill
Wind blows
Crown Prince Marshal: “Milady”
Elder Sister Maid: “Yes”
Crown Prince Marshal: “Once this fight has been won, I will give way to you”
Elder Sister Maid: “You will retreat?”
Crown Prince Marshal: “Well, I will e in fine diplomacy with you This is your victory”
Mercenary Survivor: (She did it!)
Strategist: “However, the 850 wagons of food and medicine…”
Elder Sister Maid: “Of course, I swear on my honour”
Crown Prince Marshal: “……”
Elder Sister Maid: “……”
Wind blows
Crown Prince Marshal: “Hmm You should thank the Hero This was not purely by your effort”
Elder Sister Maid: “Yes Fro it has never been”
The Hero: “Hahaha! The Elder Sister Maid has always ordered ot excellent acting skills to boot!”
Elder Sister Maid: “Didn’t I apologise for that?”
Crown Prince Marshal: “So do you think this is the end?”
Elder Sister Maid: “I suppose you won’t allow me to run now that I’ve won”
Crown Prince Marshal: “Out of the question Of course, what other choice would you have anyway”
Elder Sister Maid: “No, your Io to the City of the Gate”
Crown Prince Marshal: “I definitely won’t say I don’t welcouests of the Crusades”
Elder Sister Maid: “No, that will not be necessary”
Crown Prince Marshal: “?”
Elder Sister Maid: “There is no more need to trouble the Hero Next, will be…… a battle between your Ihness and myself”
Strategist: “!?”
Mercenary Survivor: “What! What is she saying!?”
The Hero: “Hahahaha! Hahahahaha! A!”
Crown Prince Marshal: “You have a big mouth”
Elder Sister Maid: “I try”
Crown Prince Marshal: “Hahahahahahaa!”
Elder Sister Maid: “Let me tell you the truth”
Crown Prince Marshal: “What?”
Elder Sister Maid: “I a Scholar —– Of course, that is not just a rumour I have pursued scholarly pursuits and I have travelled extensively Actually, I have even been to the Imperial City”
Crown Prince Marshal: “Hoho”
Elder Sister Maid: “But, the Travelling Scholar suggest soe, it is a difficult burden to bear……”
Crown Prince Marshal: “So?”
Elder Sister Maid: “I suppose at the end of the day this title is far too heavy for o with an identityto those who know me like the Hero, even to those who face hness”
Mercenary Survivor: “——?”
Elder Sister Maid: “My nairl in the Kingdom of Winter”
Holy Imperial General: “A serf!?”
Strategist: “Fool!”
Elder Sister Maid: “On top of that, I aht now, fro I am now, a hero I have decided to save the world I tread alone on this narrow path”
———— The Kingdom of the Lake, the Capital, the Headquarters of the Union, Midnight
Young Merchant: “What a strong rain……”
Young Merchant: (What an unbelievable gale……)
Young Merchant: (The Holy Order of the Lake has been accepted in the Holy Empire If possible, I want to construct branches in all the major cities It would be best to accomplish this before the Primarch returns from the Crusades…… We can then build up Chambers of Commerce in these branches, and even banks as well In this e can use letters of credit to cover the cost of construction The leader of the Holy Order of the Lake is quite a trustworthy person after all)
Young Merchant: (But the pressing matter is the conclusion of the war…… That will require capital Saving up will have to come over that But, war……)
Young Merchant: “Hmm”
Young Merchant: (Victory and defeat…… Victory and defeat To begin with, what defines victory? I suppose it would be the coation of the Demon Race…… It see coation It seeoal is it to subjugate the Demon World? What a stupid idea)
Young Merchant: (The number of royalty and heads of state involved in the Crusades aet one city each, they would have to conquer 40 cities, and how exactly would they defend their new holdings? There are 300,000 soldiers in the Holy Crusade Even if all of thearrisoned with 7500 soldiers How foolish!+ Can you subjugate an entire city with 7500 soldiers? Dividing those 7500 soldiers to separate borders where victory and defeat is still uncertain, and then split the Demon soldiers and citizens is just a recipe for theroup I can hardly believe the Holy Church and the Crown Prince Marshal wouldn’t know that
They definitely have a separate objective I fear their ultiend that has been told since the time of the First Crusade The country which is able to destroy the De power in the Central Continent However, this floas halted halfway by aheld to be a loyal bulwark revolted This revolt was not expected to be within their abilities It was expected that the South was just a wooden doll without self-consciousness, just a pathetic slave bound to the bidding of their masters in the Central Continent However, for some reason, that expectation failed
The South, with its own ideas and determination, for independent economic and military ability, they existed outside of the Central Continent The floas hence stedorew in nu even we did not expect)
Young Merchant: “Souess it’s not the time of day where there would be anyone around”
Young Merchant: (To the Central Continent, any idea of continental unity is merely based on a codo their real fories The first is to use overwhelth and conspiracy to smash the Southern Alliance, especially the three countries which fory was frozen in its tracks —— Because of smallpox It would have been expedient to obliterate the Southern Alliance, but that technology was iainst the Holy Order of the Laketo use scheainst the Holy Order of the Lake is the wrong idea, they are honest to a fault)
Young Merchant: “I suppose I’m now one of the comrades of the Hero”
Young Merchant: (Of course, they tried to use ht However, the Holy Order of the Lake and the Southern Alliance have a completely peaceful attitude They did not even attempt to contest the Church when they were labelled heretics The Holy Church then pulled down all Order-related buildings in the countries they still had influence in Whatever they could not snatch and pillage, they burned and destroyed
However, on the other hand, in the Southern Alliance, the activities of the Church were left uniht with the Southern Alliance, they could not clai a proclamation that the South were heretics, they still could take soround and point their blade at the Southern Kingdoitiy underestimated the Southern Alliance, and especially miscalculated the political balance and charis)
Young Merchant: (Eventually, the Central Continent had no choice but to directly attack the Southern Alliance A double danger caht and the Demon invasion, which left the South exhausted and at its weakest At this point, the Central Continent could carry out their other option, an invasion of the Demon World Up to this point, I understand their ai the Central Continent relies on ed and the eneh In order to solidify their status, they needed a new incentive, in other words a stronger drive A bait for the rest to invade the Demon World That bait was ‘new land and unlimited riches in the Demon World’
However, that was a spectacularly successful bait By developy and the defeat of the Deht, the production capacity of the Continent indeed increased Dukes and Kings watched their treasuries grow and their ardoreed No matter how many times they failed, or rather, the more they failed, the more they lusted for new lands and riches with anxiety in their hearts and a ravenous hunger……)
Young Merchant: “War……”
Young Merchant: (With 300,000 Holy Crusaders, even with splendid weaponry likecontrol over the Demon World is absolutely unthinkable One possibility is for the 300,000 soldiers to seize supplies fro every Demon they co or conquering cities, they could si on to the next city In other words, genocide However, doing so would only return desolate lands and would require large amounts of time and expenditure with comparatively little return
Or, they could capture the cities and suppress the Deht be able to hold on to five or six cities That would be preferable to spreading out their strength In such a wide area, whether two or three hundred thousand, it would be like adding hot water to the sea, the heat would just spread out and dissipate…… In that case, the real goal of the Central Continent is to capture just a few cities, to leave a strong impression on the