Chapter 83: A rock in calm water
-As of today, we, the Ainos, will cancel our exclusive trade deal with the Donian Merchant Group.-
Joseph glared again and again at the parchment he was holding. The parchment, delivered to him while he was enjoying a hot cup of tea after breakfast, only had one sentence written on it.
“W-what is the meaning of this?! What are they saying?”
It was simple. He shivered as he angrily shouted at Norman who brought the parchment.
‘It’s all your fault. It’s all because of your greed,’ Norman thought as he bowed and began speaking.
“A kid delivered it to us from their campsite. We found the same message written on a wooden panel at the front of their campsite.”
“What? What about the contract agreement! Where’s the agreement!”
“We don’t have such a thing. The deal was made with the Ainos by our previous generation. I heard it was done verbally and there is no way to restrict them from such an act. They don’t make any contracts with restrictions anyway.”
“W-what? So this is it? How… How dare they do this to us?” Joseph shouted angrily. Norman coldly eyed him.
‘He’s done. He’ll get kicked out to more remote places if he’s lucky. Donian does not consist of some low peddlers trying to make quick money. You brought this on yourself. It’s good that I sent the letter already.’
“Dammit! I need to find a way. Norman, go tell the elder of the Ainos and set up a meeting!”
“Understood.”
Norman answered and began moving out, but he stopped to report something he forgot to mention.
“Oh, they also mentioned that they will be opening a feast in two days. They invited all the merchants that are here.”
“WHAT? Invited all of them?”
Joseph scowled in anger as he heard the news.
“So they’re trying to sell their stuff without us? Go tell the other merchants to stay away from the feast. Let them know what we can do if they try to meddle with our business.”
“Yes, sir,” Norman answered, but he smirked as he came out of the room.
‘He’s gone mad. No merchant will listen to us when they see a profit waiting for them.’
Joseph was the captain of a sinking boat. No merchants were going to be scared by his empty threats.
‘What made him that way?’
He was a bright individual with cunning knowledge that got him to his position. But he was now at the edge of a cliff and Norman saw his chance to move up the ladder.
‘My time has come. I should take this chance and use it well.’
Norman began walking faster.
*
“Ugh, hey! Bring me water!” Hectos shouted.
Todd, the soldier who was on watch, ran quickly to fetch his captain some water.
“Whew. Now I feel like I’m awake.”
‘Ugh. It’s already past noon.’
Todd scowled after he turned away from the captain.
‘Nobody would imagine he used to be a promising knight.’
But Hectos was now famous for his laziness and his love for drinks. If it wasn’t for Jackson, his lieutenant, he would’ve been kicked out from his position already.
“Huh? Who drank all my liquor?”
Todd scowled as he heard a shout coming from behind.
“You drank it all yesterday! You said you were scared of the night and your home, and drank it all to the last bottle!”
“Huh? Oh. Did I? But why are you yelling at your superior? Huh?”
‘Ugh, here goes.’
Todd frowned. The door opened at that moment and Jackson walked in. He began screaming at Hectos the moment he saw him.
“Have you been sleeping until now?”
“No! I was awake all along.”
“You did? So did you hear the news then?”
“News? What news?”
Jackson frowned and let out a big sigh. Hectos could not say much as he knew he lied.
“It’s crazy out there.”
“What?”
“The Ainos canceled their exclusive trade deal with Donian. They are also hosting a feast for all the merchants. And they invited all the mercenaries and villagers. They are buying food in bulk to prepare for the feast.”
“Huh? Without Donian? Wow, that’s amazing. But a feast? I should go too. I guess we’re invited also? I would love to try out some Ainos liquor and food!”
“Ugh.”
Jackson put his hand on his head as if he was having a headache.
“Good for you. There’s more news.”
“Huh?”
Jackson smirked and continued, “He’s calling you.”
“Who?”
“The noble that came to visit.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You.”
“Why me?”
“How would I know?”
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Hectos scowled. It looked as if he had touched a cockroach.
“My loving brother-in-law. You know I have a special disease called Noblephobic, right? You can go in my stead.”
“I didn’t know you had such a disease. Also, I can’t go. It’s you that he wanted.”
“No? Dammit! Why did he call me? We don’t even know each other.”
He seemed really reluctant. Jackson waved the pouch at him.
“I think this was some kind of prepayment. My guess is that they will ask us to stand guard during the feast.”
“Guard? Why would you need the guards for a feast that’s held within the village?”
Hectos seemed confused as Jackson continued to explain, “Donian will not let the feast go as planned. I’m pretty sure they’ll hire mercenaries to mess it up. A bunch of drunk mercenaries can easily mess up the party.”
“But why is the noble interfering? Isn’t it the Ainos that are holding a feast?”
“I heard the noble will be showing off various treasures. My guess is that he wants to protect his goods. I heard merchants talking about it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Hey, do you think I’m some kind of all-knowing God?”
“Hah.”
Jackson frowned at the reaction.
“Will he give me something if I go? Hmm… Oh well, let’s go then!”
“Are you going like that?”
“What about it? It’s just some noble.”
“It’s good if you want to talk on a dirt road.”
Hectos ranted, but he went to wash per Jackson’s advice. Jackson yelled at Todd who was on standby.
“Todd! Hodd! Bring the brush we use to wash the horse and clean him off! And shave that beard off his face!”
“Huh? We have to do that?”
“Yeah. He looks like a beast. Make him a human.”
“B-but he won’t let us-”
“Just do it or I’ll have you stay at home starting tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Don’t mind what he says. I’ll take care of it. Move! We have no time to lose!”
*
The news had created a huge commotion that continued throughout the day. Everyone, from merchants to villagers alike were busy talking about what was going to happen.
The campsite, however, seemed calm.
“So, did you call the captain?”
“Yeah. He’ll be here soon. I need him.”
“Why?”
Doral frowned at the thought of Hectos. To Doral, Hectos was a drunk idiot. Joonbum answered, “It’s the man named Jackson that I really need.”
“Jackson?”
“Yeah. I heard he’s the real figure that controls the guards. He works on behalf of Hectos who’s the brother-in-law and Hectos barely manages to keep his place. It wasn’t much of a secret either. I heard people calling him Drunk Hectos, Beast Hectos, Poor Hectos, Chicken Hectos and so forth.”
“Hah.”
Doral sighed. He then looked at Joonbum, who looked so different from the man he once knew. He had changed so quickly into someone different.
Joonbum changed his clothing to something with more flare. It looked like one of those German soldier suits with a Yin and Yang and a Guardian mark on both collars. The black cloth also had the Korean flag on the right chest and various medals that were pinned at the bottom of it. He also equipped a long saber on his left and a handgun on his right. He completed his costume with long boots and a trench coat.
Doral mumbled, “Is that the knight uniform from your world? It’s fancy.”
“Sort of. I copied it and made it fit to my liking. How does it look?”
“It looks good.”
Joonbum blushed a bit.
‘It’s time to put up a disguise.’
At that moment, Sunsook opened the door and walked in.
“Oh.”
Doral and Joonbum looked at her in astonishment.
“How do I look?”
“You are beautiful. And is she-?”
“It’s me!”
They nodded as Mayze walked in also. She wore a makeup that made her speckles disappear and her tanned skin was white.
“Wow.”
“This is the power of makeup. Isn’t she beautiful?”
It was amazing.
‘I wonder if everyone wants to put on makeup now.’
They talked and drank tea for a while, waiting for the captain to arrive.
“Joonbum, the captain and his lieutenant are here!”
Joonbum stood up from his seat. It was time.
“Pav, guide him to the RV.”
“Understood.”
Pav ran toward the campsite entrance as Joonbum moved to the RV along with Sunsook and Mayze.