Chapter 108 - A Merchant’s Consent

Mistress Corzette, the representative of the Selengren Merchant Coalition, was a woman brimming with an energy and charisma that defied the typical image of a "grieving widow."

She gave off the impression of a hungry career woman—sharp, driven, yet draped in a high-class dress that didn't let you forget her feminine elegance for a second.

She sat on the sofa opposite us in the reception room where she'd kept us waiting. Even her smallest movements were graceful.

"I apologize for the delay. My previous negotiation partner was being... difficult." 

"Oh, no, no! Please, don't worry about it!!"

I found myself feeling a bit overwhelmed by her sheer presence.

"No, to us merchants, time is our greatest asset. Those who treat time poorly never find success. ...Isn't that right, Frim?" 

"Yes, Mistress," replied the maid standing behind her. "Prepare some tea for our guests. Use the finest leaves. Consider it an apology for the wait." 

"Really, you don't have to!!"

I was totally flustered, caught up in the sophisticated "adult" atmosphere. I felt like a high schooler on a field trip.

"Get a grip, Sir Sao," Romphaia whispered, nudging me. "If you lose your cool, she'll walk all over you. As we discussed, I’ll handle the opening move. You just observe the situation calmly and figure out what she's really thinking."

Yeah, yeah, I got it. I shut my mouth and focused on "observing" with all my might. Yep, the widow’s chest is definitely impressive.

"What business brings the Kingdom of Reniosegra to us today?" Corzette asked. 

"To be honest, the sudden request for a meeting caught us off guard." 

"I’ll get straight to the point: it’s about our neighbor, Niosebuk."

Romphaia didn't hold back. Her blunt, direct approach was very "knight-like" in its own way.

"That country’s constant aggression is becoming a major problem for everyone nearby. They’re a nuisance of a neighbor, and currently, that nuisance is busy tearing its own limbs off." 

"The civil war," Corzette replied instantly.

The Merchant Coalition rep was just as sharp. It was refreshing to see two intelligent people cut through the fluff so quickly.

"Since the sudden death of the tyrant Imashinunda I, the country has been in chaos. The princes and princesses who inherited his blood are locked in a savage, ugly struggle for the throne." 

"His Majesty’s passing was so sudden it shocked us as well," Corzette mused. 

"Rumor has it he was assassinated. Does the Kingdom of Reniosegra have any idea who the culprit might be?" 

"Who knows? He was a man who bought many grudges. We haven't a clue." 

"Is that so? Ufufufufufu..." 

"Hahahahaha..."

Dry, hollow laughter echoed through the room.

Ah, tea. Thank you. Slurp... Whoa, is this Blue Eyes Mountain?! (I have no idea).

"Regardless, we are on guard," Romphaia continued. "It’s Niosebuk we're talking about. They wouldn't hesitate to declare war on us based on a baseless suspicion of assassination. They're that kind of country." 

"I wish I could say you're wrong... but I can't," Corzette admitted with a wry smile. "They really aren't worth defending, are they?"

Both women shared a bitter chuckle.

"That’s why we want this civil war to last as long as possible. If they just keep going until they self-destruct, we’d be thrilled." 

"And you’re just... praying for that outcome?" 

"Would you favor a person who just sits around hoping things get better on their own?" 

"I certainly wouldn't trust such a person with any major business venture." 

"I’m glad we see eye-to-eye."

Man, can I get a refill on this tea? Thanks. This maid has a great chest, too. And her hips... can I touch them? No? Okay.

"We don't intend to just sit back and watch the beasts eat each other. We want to prolong the infighting and drain their vitality as much as possible. For the sake of our future." 

"Are you asking us to intervene in an act of war?" 

"We aren't asking you to start a fight." 

"Subverting a foreign power is practically a declaration of war," Corzette countered.

Sparks flew silently between Romphaia and the widow. Things would be a lot easier if she just nodded and agreed, but...

"...This is a problem," Corzette sighed. "We are a Merchant Coalition. We have no place in a military conflict." 

"Don't joke. The economy is the backbone of war. And no one in the world uses the economy as a weapon better than you. Your cooperation is essential to cornering Niosebuk." 

"A merchant must remain neutral. If we side with one faction and lose the ability to trade with the other, it’s a massive loss. If the Coalition headquarters found out, I’d lose my position."

This tea is great. Oh, cake too? Don't mind if I do!

"There’s a way to do this while maintaining neutrality, isn't there? We’ve prepared a method that promises no losses for you—only massive profits." 

"A merchant’s mind is always on profit. I’m listening."

"Recently, we succeeded in securing a massive amount of dungeon materials. We want you to buy them all."

Wait, she means...? She was talking about the loot we hauled out of the Kitoteru dungeon.

"A massive amount," Romphaia emphasized. "The variety is vast, and the volume is enough to cover the entire market for months. We want the Coalition to buy the whole lot. At a discount. How does 75% of the market rate sound? We might even go as low as half-price." 

"What did you say?!"

Even the widow gasped.

Romphaia’s plan was simple: market manipulation. By flooding the market with an insane surplus of materials, she’d tank the prices.

"What's the point of such a move...?" 

"Others are trying to profit from selling materials. Niosebuk is no different. They sell dungeon loot to you to fund their war."

That’s why they were trying to cross the border to steal other people's dungeons. They’re mining their own dungeons dry and selling the materials for foreign currency. And their biggest client? This Western Branch of the Merchant Coalition.

"By triggering a surplus and crashing the prices, the materials Niosebuk is trying to sell will become worthless junk. We sabotage their funding, and you get cheap stock. It’s a win-win." 

"But... to sell such a massive amount so far below the market rate...? Wouldn't that be a huge loss for you?!" 

"It’s cheaper than a real war. Her Majesty has already approved the cost. We’ve judged it a net gain. And for you, of course..." 

"I... suppose it might be... but..."

The widow was clearly shaken, unable to find her words.

"The Coalition has a global network. You can buy low here and sell at full price in parts of the world where the market hasn't crashed. We’ve even considered compensation for local adventurers in our own country to offset the damage to them. This will strike a blow solely to Niosebuk." "Just... give me a moment to process this."

The widow hurriedly lifted her ample hips from the sofa.

"The offer is incredibly tempting, but... I need time to consider how to handle this. May I have some time to deliberate?" 

"As quickly as possible, please. As you said, time is an asset." 

"...Then let’s meet again tomorrow. I’ve prepared first-class rooms for you; please, rest there for the day." 

"To be honest, the journey here was exhausting. We’d appreciate the rest. Tomorrow, then?" 

"Yes. We will do our best to provide a positive response."

With that, the meeting ended. The widow left the room with her maid in tow.

◆

"Phew... well, that went well for a start."

The moment they left, Romphaia wiped a sudden burst of sweat from her face.

Good job, Captain. Come here and rest in my arms.

"Stop trying to pamper me all of a sudden. Regardless, that proposal definitely shook her. She won't be able to just dismiss it." 

"I didn't think we'd be using our loot like that," I said. 

"We could only pull this off thanks to your help, Sir Sao. It seems Her Majesty values more than just your 'pole' after all."

Hey, don't make it sound like my cock is my only redeeming quality. Though, if she wanted to re-evaluate its worth right now, I wouldn't say no.

"So, we just wait for her move? I wonder what they're discussing." 

"That would be the easiest path, but she won't be simple to deal with. Merchants are a breed that doesn't care about ethics or lives as long as there's a profit to be made."

Isn't that a bit of a prejudice...?

"To confirm that, we need one more push. It’s finally time to reveal my true 'Divine Caling'!"

Wait, I thought Romphaia’s 'Divine Calling' was [Knight]? I mean, she is a female knight.

"My 'Divine Calling' is [Analyst]!! I am a specialist in gathering and analyzing information circulating between people!!"

Analyst? Why does that sound like she’s into some very specific bedroom stuff? She’s a female knight but she’s not a [Knight]?! I’ve been lied to!

"Just because someone is in a Knight Order doesn't mean their Job is 'Knight.' Only about half of us are. An organization can't function without diverse roles to fill different needs. And..."

Romphaia cupped her hands to her ears in a listening pose.

"The [Analyst] skill: [Information Gathering]! I can detect the slightest vibrations through a single wall and eavesdrop on conversations!!"

Eavesdropping, huh? Another cheat-tier skill for the negotiation phase.

"I confirmed with her footsteps that the widow moved to the room next door. If we can find out what they're actually thinking, it'll give us a huge advantage." 

"In that case..." 

"Wait, what are you—?!"

I dropped Romphaia’s pants, then her panties, exposing her bare lower half. I gave her a quick lick to loosen her up, then slid inside in one go.

"Ngh—! Sir Sao! Not here! ❤️❤️ If you want me, I’ll let you have your fill tonight, but right now is important... ❤️❤️"

"It's because it's important that I'm inside you," I replied.

I have my own "special skills" related to my 'Divine Calling', and one of them is [Shared Property]—which lets me use the skills of whatever woman I’m currently having sex with, as long as we’re physically connected.

I was borrowing Romphaia’s eavesdropping skill. It’s a bit of a pain since it only works during sex, which really limits the positions I can use. It’s basically only useful for sensory stuff, like Princess Seeker’s [Long-ranged Vision] or Romphaia’s [Information Gathering].

As the skill flowed into me through our union... oh, wow. I could hear it. It had a weird, watery echo to it, but the words were clear. The person talking on the other side of the wall was definitely the widow. What was she saying...?

◆

"They’ve thrown a real nightmare of a problem at us. That female knight...!" Her tone was way rougher than it was in person.

"But Mistress, isn't this clearly a profitable deal? Looking at the list she brought, the quality is top-notch. Selling these would bring in a fortune. Your reputation with headquarters would soar."

The other voice... was that the maid? It sounded like it was just the two of them in a private meeting.

"I have to look at the bigger picture, Frim. I'm the representative of this branch, after all." 

"I understand." 

"Of course I want the profit, but I don't want to make an enemy out of Niosebuk either. Those people are terrifying, aren't they?" 

"If we offend them, they might even invade. And after all the effort we've put into keeping them happy..." 

"They’re clients worth coddling. To be honest, they pay well. They're constantly starting wars, so they're always in need of supplies."

Eavesdropping on their conversation made it clear: the situation wasn't exactly in our favor. Merchants only see profit; they have no room for ethics or sentiment. Romphaia’s critique was spot on.

They were still weighing us against the Kingdom of Niosebuk!

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