51 – Arbiter of Queen Adria 7

“Sigh… ”

Bertina looked at the panoramic view outside the window with a heavy sigh.

The sun was setting and the sight of Benessa shining in a beautiful night view came into her eyes. Even so, this did not soothe Bertina’s heart in the slightest.

“If this happens… is there no way after all?”

The so-called ultimatums stacked behind him.

It contained information that he would purchase the price of spices at 30 talents per box.

It was the result of trying to overturn the situation by mobilizing all of her personal connections, but the result was still less than half of the expected value.

‘I underestimated my opponent too much. Even though it has become a scarecrow, it is a merchant alliance with decades of history and connections. Their influence outside the Holy Empire should not be ignored…’

That’s why I couldn’t just suck my fingers like this.

Although not the huge gains expected, it was still several times the price of the spice in the country of origin.

The deal had to go ahead anyway, even if it was to fill up the dividends and travel expenses to be distributed to investors right away.

Even if that happened, there would be little left for the Uranus upper ranks compared to the effort they had put in for a year.

‘Additionally, if things turn out like this, our Uranus upper house’s credit for Eastern trade will also decrease… It will also be more difficult than before to gather investors.’

Calculating the painful loss she would receive by taking into account even the invisible parts, Bertina sat helplessly in her seat.

“..bring me a pen and paper.. the deal.. has to go through.”

“Miss Bertina…”

Bertina speaks in a voice full of deep sadness.

Seeing this, Tilda’s heart began to ache for her powerlessness to be of any help to her master.

at that time..

“bang!”

“Madame!”

Bahamut came inside making a loud noise.

Looking at Bahamut, who was making a bright expression without notice in a gloomy situation, Tilda instantly began to feel that she wanted to say something to this man.

But, before she can say anything…

“!? Everything…you…?”

Then, Bahamut hugged Bertina’s body in a very natural way.

Seeing that, Tilda automatically turned her head without realizing it.

And, without paying any attention to Tilda, Bahamut held Bertina by the shoulders and opened her mouth.

“Auntie… I’ll ask you one thing. Does Auntie trust me?”

“Yes? That… what is that…”

“It literally means. Will you trust me no matter what I do from now on?”

“Yeah..”

For an instant, Bertia sensed something in Bahamut’s face.

Seeing a certain determination felt within him, Bertina nodded heavily.

“..Yes, I believe. I, Bertina, will believe in my master, Lord Bahamut, no matter what he does.”

Bertina speaks in a determined voice.

The moment he heard this, Bahamut’s face began to show deep joy and relief.

“thanks. From now on, all you have to do is trust me like that. Understand?”

“Ah.. I see.. But. What the hell is going on? I was just thinking of getting the trade goods at a cheap price, but…”

“There is no need for that.”

“Yes?”

Bahamut speaks with a resolute voice.

Regarding this, questions began to appear on Bertina’s face, and Bahamut asked her one thing. No, I gave an order.

that’s right…

*

A bright smile appeared on the lips of the Merchant Alliance colossus as they confirmed the final letter of communication sent to Bertina by the collusion merchants.

“ha ha ha! So 30 per box? Isn’t this a complete beggar? If the price is lower than 30% of the market price, will this upset the Uranus guys a lot?”

“It went very well. With this, the commercial rights of the empire that have been taken away will be able to be regained sooner or later.”

“No matter what. Wasn’t it originally ours! It’s over now for Bertina and that bitch to go wild without knowing the subject.”

Confident of their victory, the giants were genuinely delighted with the current situation.

In fact, if this thing, which started on the basis of a large-scale investment, goes wrong, the biggest damage will be the small and medium-sized merchants of the Holy Empire.

As they own 60% of the total stake, their decrease in profits means that the entire Holy Empire loses its profits.

But they didn’t care about that fact.

The important thing is to defeat Uranus and take control of the Holy Empire again.

The interests of the empire as a whole were not a consideration for them.

It was a time when the colossus were happy even while cutting their own flesh in the long run.

“Good! Be well, master!”

“yes?”

“What is going on?”

An attendant rushes into the room.

As a result, doubts rose on the faces of the giants, and the attendant shouted in an urgent voice while watching them.

“hahahaha… It’s a big deal! G.. now in the market… in the middle of the market!”

“No, what the hell is going on?”

“Calm down, calmly explain.”

“That…that’s what it is.”

A servant who still cannot hide his urgency despite the advice of the giants

After hearing his words, the faces of the giants began to harden into contemplation in an instant.

*

A small inn located in the center of Benessa.

There, two people wearing robes were talking.

“It’s a big deal, I don’t think you’re going to lose all that way…”

“Haa.. Yes, I have no face. It’s my fault for taking my opponent too lightly.”

“Whoops. Didn’t you learn a good lesson though? Before a battle, you should meticulously clean your weapons.”

“Yes? ..ah.. ahahahaha.. that way..”

A silver-haired woman smiles awkwardly at the words of a woman wearing a maroon robe.

Looking at her, the other person tried to continue the conversation as if it was still interesting.

By the way..

“..yes? What does this smell like?..”

“… That’s right… It sounds like a very unique scent…”

“!…”

A woman in a maroon robe looking out the window thinking about the next moment

Then she was able to find the reason not too far away.

“..Follow me, I must get closer.”

“Ah yes!”

Unlike before, she spoke with a serious expression, and the silver-haired woman followed suit.

*

“bang!”

“Kwajik!”

Wooden boxes being thrown with a loud noise.

People who knew what was contained in it were shocked and astonished by the scene happening in real time right in front of their eyes.

“Um… isn’t that saponin?”

“M-That’s right! That’s right! I heard you can buy a small town with one box of that..”

“Um… that’s turmeric! It’s an expensive item that I can’t sell because I don’t have that!”

These spices are so precious that you have to pay for them just by hearing their name.

The faces of merchants and owners contorted in contemplation as they saw the treatment they were being treated.

A shocking scene unfolding right in front of your eyes.

It was.. it was hard to see the spice boxes being thrown on a firewood pile in real time.

“Mmm… aren’t you crazy? What kind of guys are burning those precious spices?”

“I… I know who he is! Bahamut, the master of the Veden Merchant!”

“The owner of the famous Uranus… Bertina, the lady of blue gold, is next to you, right? Why are they doing this?”

It was an act that was completely incomprehensible to their heads.

The action of the two giants resolutely burning spices that are hard to find even with money.

Even the servants who were doing the work had expressions of shock, but no one stopped them at the attitude of the high-ranking people who were so bloody.

Spices that could be exchanged for the same weight of gold were burning like firewood in the middle of the market.

Among those who knew its value, there were even those who tried to steal it anyway. Due to the soldiers standing vigilantly, such actions were blocked in advance.

Just like that… the smell of burning spices spread all over Benessa in an instant.

The moment when it is about to become unbearably thick.

Colossians and merchants from all over the continent arrived at the shocking scene.

“This… this… what the hell is this?”

“Everything… are you guys sane?”

“Hey… Hey! hurry! Come on, turn off the lights! hurry!”

Merchants urgently tried to give orders because they knew the value even though it was not theirs.

But..

“visor!”

In the next moment, two female warriors stand in their way with their swords drawn.

A dark-haired woman dressed in a black adventurer’s suit and a woman with a strong, muscular body holding a pitcher couldn’t even approach it.

“I will cut you the moment you approach.”

“We say no to obstruction of business. Why are the elders you know like this?”

Two people talking in cold voices

As a representative of the group, a merchant from Franz took the lead.

“Like… what the hell is this all about? Why are you burning these precious spices?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know that?”

A dark-haired woman with a sword pointed and talking in a chilling voice

Recognizing the thorn in her words, the merchants began to show even more discouragement.

and before them.

Bertina, who was leading this, appeared in person.

“What’s the fuss? Do not disturb and go.”

“B-Mr. Bertina, what the hell are you doing? Burning fine spices!”

“That… that’s right, ho… are you sure you’re not crazy? I… How much is that for one…”

Their faces are frowning and they can’t hide their bewilderment.

In response, Bertina spoke to them in a chilly voice.

“That’s right. Those that are now burning are precious spices that each one brought with difficulty from the far east. But are you saying that people who know its value set the price that way?”

“That… that…”

Merchants who couldn’t say anything at Bertina’s words

As much as they were insisting on an absurdly low price, even in their own opinion, they were unable to respond to Bertina’s words.

“We, the Uranus Merchant, gathered strength with numerous investors from the Holy Empire and risked their lives to carry out this work. But the attitude you’ve shown here is truly disappointing, that you try to undermine our efforts and engage in unjust collusion. In this situation, the Uranus Merchants are not willing to trade even a single box of spices.”

Bertina speaks in a voice full of chills.

At the same time, Bahamut, who was commanding the situation from behind, also shouted in a calm voice.

“What are you doing? burn it all up! You still have a long way to go! Don’t leave even a drop of saponin and burn them all!”

“Yes! All right!”

Spices begin to be thrown into the fire again at Bahamut’s command.

The moment they saw it, the merchants present began to feel a chill run down their spines.

what are all those

They were precious spices brought in from the East within two years.

If they all turn to ashes on the spot, you won’t be able to see spices from the East on the continent for at least half a year, at worst for more than a year.

If that happens, the arrow of responsibility will of course be directed towards those who brought the situation to this point.

And I didn’t even want to think about what happened after that.

‘If that burns out, we’ll have to suck our fingers again…’

‘Are you happy if you only suck your fingers? I’m sure the lord will break all of those fingers?’

‘I even received an order from the king himself and came! If this deal fails, it’s clear that it won’t end with just compensation!’

‘If we don’t, our necks might run away…’

The moment their thoughts went crazy, the merchants knew what Bertina and Bahamut’s actions meant.

This was no mere protest.

It was a terrifying threat that they would all fall into the other world as they were.

And in this situation, the merchants weren’t stupid enough to choose a death like a half-head.

“hemp cloth… Miss Bertina!”

“Ooh.. we got it wrong. I’m really sorry!”

“Um…we were foolish! We will be trading at normal prices, so please stop!”

At their words, Bertina spoke in a cold voice while emitting a murderous death like that of a grim reaper.

“Did you say a normal price…? Now that you have provoked this division and said such things… I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

Merchants were seized with fear as if their hearts were frozen at the sight of Bertina, who made their hamstrings tingle just by looking at them.

A look that reminds me of the notoriety of the blue-gold woman who swept the commercial power of the Holy Empire.

As a result, the merchants started pouring out their words in a hurry, losing even the ability to build up their last remaining pride.

“Sin… I’m sorry! We made a mistake!”

“1.. 130! I’ll trade for 130! Hit it 30% higher than the market price..”

“130?.. This… I’ll do this for 140! Sell to us! I will buy them all!”

The moment he raised the price with his mouth under Bertina’s tremendous pressure, the alliance named Damham among the merchants was shattered in an instant.

Spices were still burning in front of their eyes.

It was clear that the price would soar to the ceiling as those boasting insane demand were reduced to ashes.

If so… Here, the idea that the one who buys even one more box is the true winner has captured them.

“180! entire! I will buy them all!”

“I’ll buy it for 200! Twice the price of a cigar! Even the burnt ones are compensated for, so sell them all!”

Just a few hours ago, colleagues who tried to lower the price through cooperation turned into enemies, and the competition was overheated in an instant.

And at the same time, the same words flashed in the hearts of Bahamut and Bertina along with delightful smiles.

‘I won.’