Knights, Let’s Smash Them

80 – When goodwill continues, I know it’s a right (4)

Gulp.

Iar swallowed dry saliva. He had been in high spirits until just a few seconds ago, but he never imagined that he would attack from the morning wind without making a separate appointment.

However, Iardo is a veteran who has been rolling on the floor for quite some time.

He quickly regained his composure and closed again with his merchant face.

“I was supposed to visit you in the afternoon anyway. We have to freeze the contract.”

“What are you talking about? The contract has already been frozen.”

From noble mtl dot com.

The eyebrows of the black fox wriggled toward Iar, who was about to smirk over.

“I remember that the original condition was 2% of the tolls earned over 7 years on the condition that we deliver all the necessary construction materials within 3 months.”

Actually, it was an unconventional proposal. In the long run, it is unconditionally profitable.

If this Iron Road really goes as planned, receiving only 2% of the toll will create a fixed source of income that Longston can never ignore.

“It was like that then, but isn’t the situation always the same?”

However, Iar had no intention of giving up.

As I said before, the power of the word ‘exclusive’ in the market is great.

As long as it’s not illegal, some level of slashing is universally accepted.

As with Longston, the upper guild that produces and supplies at the same time can always stand in the position of ‘A’ unless the opponent is a moderately heavyweight.

There is a reason why he could come out to Lubern so brazenly.

“The situation? What is the situation that causes the price of materials to rise by 10%?”

“The other day, plans for additional road expansion were announced in the Duchy of Hebron. However, as you well know, there are not many companies in this region that supply high-quality materials that can be used in road construction.”

Of course, not all. Even with the exception of the other two guilds that agreed to collude with them, there were few guilds that dealt with ash stones or gravel.

However, the quality and scale are far below those of Longston.

A road is the most representative semi-permanent asset. Even if the village disappears, the road never disappears.

If you plan to attract roads by territory, the theory is to use a thoroughly verified company such as Longston rather than using halfway materials.

“Our demand has naturally increased. If you’re an administrator, don’t you know? It is common for prices to rise when demand rises while supply remains the same.”

“hahahaha…… It’s an additional road expansion plan. But isn’t that just a plan? I understand that detailed blueprints have not been released.”

Seeing Luvern answering with a calm expression, Iar felt a strange chill.

“Bong, released! We are the company that has been supplying materials for each road construction project planned by the dukedom. Things like development plans come before anyone else!”

“Can you take responsibility for those words now?”

Lubern’s eyes flashed. Overwhelmed for a moment, Iar’s head began to spin rapidly.

‘What is it? Are there any acquaintances who are deeply involved with the Duchy of Hebron?’

Lubern was right.

The information I’ve heard so far is purely a plan to expand additional roads, and it hasn’t been clearly stated when, where, how, and why.

However, this is information received from the count of the dukedom who looks after Iar and Longston.

Since it hasn’t been announced publicly, it must be something you wouldn’t know unless you have a personal network that is deeply involved in the development and management of the territory, like yourself?

‘…… Of course, he might have connections.’

If you look closely, he is the administrator of the estate next door. It is highly likely that he had a connection with the Duchy of Hebron in some way.

Or maybe he was a person with a reputation in his own right, so he might have come across it.

Besides, since this side is also in a position to promote road construction, they may have received advice from the officials of the Duchy of Hebron before putting conditions on themselves.

Now, the initiative gained from the superiority of information was virtually lost.

Rather, it would be as if the initiative had passed to the Lubern side.

‘If I do this, I will leave… ….’

Iar’s pupils swivel. Lubern was just staring at himself without saying a word.

Yes.

If you step back from here, it’s a joke.

Aren’t the other merchants who were jingling beside you a while ago also paying attention to the strange situation?

It’s a collusion made somehow, but if you open your eyes and give up, you’ll let the fish you caught run away. The worst-case scenario had to be avoided.

Even by bluffing against the magistrate.

Iar grabbed his heart and answered Lubern calmly.

“This is the matter that Count Simon told you about. Isn’t that kind of magistrate intimidating us! We just approached it with very simple market logic.”

First of all, by mentioning the name of the count, lay the groundwork, and if you don’t like it, don’t deal with it.

As long as the first condition was ‘complete payment of materials within 3 months’, everyone could know that Rupel Manor was putting a lot of effort into this project.

Even if the figure of 2% seems small, it is an excessive amount of compensation in return for negotiating the payment period rather than negotiating the price of materials.

In the first place, what right does the mercenary handling raw materials have to take the toll on the completed road?

If the requirements are broader than expected, it means that the Rupel estate is in such a hurry.

Then, using that as a weakness, you can derive additional benefits.

And it’s only natural that the ones that are originally lacking are at the bottom. Because the world of merchants is cold and cruel.

Certainly, when the name of Count Simon was mentioned, the Luvern magistrate’s spirit seemed to subside slightly.

‘Sure it is. At best, what would a new baron do? Except for the lord, Count Rupel, there is no one comparable in the Rupel estate.’

Iar’s confidence, which had been falling to the ground, was restored.

However.

If there was one thing he misjudged, it was that Luvern Aylroy hadn’t softened, he was just remembering what kind of bastard Count Simon was.

A count, such a count, such a count.

There were too many counts in the Volibert Empire.

Leviado, the head of the Imperial Black Lion Knights, is an Earl by title.

When you reach the level of a duke, the title of a local count is often given to your vassals in appreciation of their achievements.

Even in the case of the center, it was because the imperial emperor left the gates open freely, and the number of counts who were loyal to the imperial family increased enormously by obtaining honorary titles instead of receiving territories.

Among the countless gossips, Alroy of Luvern could barely recall the name of Count Simon.

“Simon, Count Simon… …. It was clearly in charge of the northeastern part of the Duchy of Hebron. Isn’t the Longston quarry also within the estate bestowed upon him?”

“I know you well.”

Iar sniffed him.

It was very impure to see it as a commoner’s attitude in front of a baron of a territory, but Iar was confident.

“But you have to…… Aren’t you also in the position of being held on a leash by the Count? Even more so, if it’s a guild that damages the neighboring territory in this way, it’s okay to be replaced at any time.”

“Yes?”

“Besides, the cursed temple just in time is also Count Simon’s territory…… It would be better to talk to the Duke of Hebron and set up a proper negotiation table with Count Simon.”

“What are you talking about now… ….”

A stupid voice jumped out first.

Why is the name of a dungeon such as the temple of the cursed temple mentioned here?

But it wasn’t long before Iar found out why Luvern Alroy had said that.

He put the sword he was wearing around his waist on the table.

At first, Iar, who was afraid to wield a sword, was shocked to see the shape of the scabbard shimmering in the sunlight.

Cudangtang! The chair he was sitting on topples over and the man falls unsightly.

A scabbard with a wolf pattern clearly engraved on it.

Not only that, but the official seal of the Duke of Hebron is engraved on it.

An honorable silver ranch awarded only to the leaders of the wolves who protect the duchy and duchy.

It was a precious item that even most nobles could not have.

“Uh, how could this…… ?”

“The Knights of the Snow Leopard and the wolves of the Hebron Territory formed a brotherly friendship. It was bestowed by His Excellency Harald, Duke of Hebron himself.”

There were a total of three facts that Iar did not know.

First.

The status of the black fox, which played an active part in the great expedition, is particularly famous among the ‘noble class’ who commanded the battle at the time, rather than the ‘common class’ like him.

Second.

At the time of the cooking competition, Princess Lilia Hebron, the only daughter of Duke Harald of Hebron, went on vacation to the Rupel estate and formed a close relationship with Alroy of Luvern.

And last.

Only yesterday, Alroy of Lubern had an audience with Duke Harald of Hebron and promised close cooperation with the duchy.

Although there were several processes omitted in the middle, the fact that Luvern Aylroy had a relationship with a person much higher than his junior, Count Simon, was clearly imprinted in Iar’s mind.

“I am with the Duke, yes? We ate together yesterday and went to the conference hall together! Yes?! We even promised to build a closer relationship between the territories in the future.”

“…… !!!”

“But you hit the back of the head like this? These are bastards with no morals.”

The swear words mixed with the chilly words became sharp awls and pierced Iar’s heart.

Now I just roll my head and go to sleep, and there’s nothing to do. Iar immediately fell to his knees and put his head on the floor.

“Oops, sorry!! Now, let’s pretend there was no material price increase! That, if only you could make a contract at least!!”

Looking at that figure, Lubern, who had always had a hard expression, flashed a victor’s smile.

“If you were going to do it, you should have accepted it a long time ago. Wouldn’t it be a little funny to come all the way here and just go through it with your bare mouth?”

“Hee, hee…….”

“I’ll give you 5 minutes. There are representatives from the three guilds that have been colluding with each other here, so let’s negotiate again starting with the price of materials. If you don’t bring it within 5 minutes, there is no negotiation plan and we will sue you as it is.”

Iar’s nightmare has begun.