74 Episode 74 "Hegemony negotiates with travel mercha... (1/2)

”So you are the Wandering Merchant.

We are in the tent of a trading post.

Lysette and I were meeting with Menes-Nairis, the Wandering Merchant.

Menes and I are sitting across the table from each other, and Lisette is standing beside me.

Menes is a small girl wearing a hood and a scarf.

She seems to have come here on a small horse with all her belongings.

She announced that she was armed and accepted to be disarmed. As a gift, she offered a feather ornament that she had purchased in the south. She seemed to be paying a lot of attention to me.

”First of all, I would like to thank you. ”King of the Frontier.

Meneses, the merchant, stood up and bowed.

”For giving me this opportunity to meet you. I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to meet you and for making this place possible.

You mean the trading post?

That's right. There are few places in this turbulent world where anyone can exchange goods with permission.

So it's a good place for a traveling merchant.

”We merchants live most of the year on the road. Depending on where we go, we may be haggled over or charged high prices for our goods. This is the first time we have found a place like this where anyone can join and the price is cheap. I'm really grateful for that.

I've come all this way. Now that you're here, why don't you tell us about other places?

When I asked him to sit down, Meneses sank into a chair.

I've heard that the merchant is a man of knowledge.

”That's true.

Meneses the merchant nodded.

I gave Lisette a look.

So far, so good.

On the way here, I heard stories about traveling merchants.

They've been all over the continent. They know every town.

There is no Internet in this world. No newspapers, no mail.

So information is exchanged mainly by word of mouth. The only way to get information about other lands is to ask traveling merchants and minstrels.

However, they also acquire information on this frontier as a matter of course.

It is better to think that our information will be passed on to other lands at the same time as we obtain information about other lands.

It would be easier to understand if you think of her as a ”gossipy aunt (though still young) of a businessman.

Anyway, be on your guard.

The best way to deal with a traveling merchant is to avoid giving him unnecessary information.

”Indeed, we traveling merchants are known as experts.

In these turbulent times, it's hard to get from one city to another.

Talking about unfamiliar lands and places is an essential spice for business.

Meneses, a traveling merchant, sipped his tea.

For example, humans and sub-humans trade indiscriminately here. Any merchant would love to have information about such a place.

I don't mind if you tell me.

I've always declared it to Princess Sylvia.

It would be worse if no one came.

I'm hoping that the merchants will spread the word about this place by word of mouth.

I'm glad you said that. I also don't want to make enemies with the King of the Frontier. That's why I asked for permission in advance.

That's very thoughtful.

I don't want the merchant to be punished for leaking the secret of the wall.

Meneses, the merchant, chuckled.

I was surprised. I was surprised that the partitions and tables in the trading post were moved.

It's a permit, though.

I'm sure they'll want to hear it. There's something surprising about the frontier. Of course, I don't mean to embarrass the King of the Frontier. If you wish, I can tell the other traveling merchants not to divulge any information about the frontier to anyone else.

Meneses, a traveling merchant, leans forward with his hands on the table.

You have built such a wonderful trading post. Considering his debt of gratitude, the traveler will keep the king's secret. It's only natural. Of course, since you're going to silence all the traveling merchants, you'll have to make a reasonable exchange...

No, the fence is not a secret.

Go to ......?

You can tell me if you want. You can tell me if you want to, because the Kittle family knows about it.

I'm not sure what to make of that.

The Ten Wise Men probably know about it as well.

I'd be grateful if they would be wary and stop messing with the frontier and Kittle's territory.

I've been using the Soldier of Will on a daily basis lately.

It's a soldier, a clothesline, a babysitter, a trading post permit, and a table at a maid cafe. There is no way to hide its existence now.

”Are you sure about that, 'King of the Frontier'?

But Menes, the traveling merchant, looks as if he's about to see something incredible.

”Think about it!　What if some other country takes it?

”...... would be a disaster.

What if another country uses it to attack us?

...... There's nothing we can do.

Because unless I give them magic power, they're just a wall.

It's hard to carry them around, and there's nothing you can do if another country takes them (・・・・・).

”............ Brother Shoma.

What's the matter Lisette?

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to be doing and how you're going to do it.

Yes, I do.

Before you know it, the frontier has built up an amazing army. ......

It's only good for defensive warfare, though.

If it could be used for offense, it might end the war.

”Maybe.

Me and Lisette whispering in each other's ear.

Across the table, Menes, the traveling merchant, is trembling.

He opens his mouth to say something, looks at me, nods, and then slumps his shoulders.

He is not afraid of leaking information about himself. He is not afraid of his information being leaked. ...... I'm impressed that you are so confident.

Meneses banged his head on the table with a thud.

I'm ...... sorry that I would offer an unfair deal to a man who has such a great vessel!

Clang, clang, clang!

Meneses, a traveling merchant, hit his head on the table again and again.

”Wait, wait, wait. What's wrong?

Why are you apologizing so hard all of a sudden?

Stop banging your head against the table. It's hard. It's a fence!

It seems that this person was trying to negotiate with you in exchange for keeping the information about the Soldier of Will a secret.

Lysette whispered in my ear.

”Traveling merchants travel all over the continent. If they were serious about spreading the information, it could spread throughout the country.

”How can we negotiate with ...... in exchange for keeping the information about the Soldiers of Will secret?