The convoy moved forward slowly.
The night outside of Sicar was very dangerous.
Not only were there all kinds of ferocious beasts, it was also the favorite time for bandits to roam. Even though the viscount sent out patrols to clean up the area, all they could do was maintain the safety of a few main roads.
After the Black Cataclysm broke out, the situation became even worse.
Other than the main road that connected to Edatine Castle, which was still safe to a certain extent due to the patrols of the imperial court, the other main roads in the other towns of Sicar had become extremely dangerous at night.
Most of the people would choose to travel during the day and stay in the towns at night, relying on more people to fend off the danger.
If it was possible, the main road that connected Sicar to Aïtantin Castle would also rarely travel at night.
It wasn't 100% safe in the city either.
If it wasn't for the gathering of quite a number of people, no one would take the risk to travel.
Despite that, there were still groups of guards from big merchant groups patrolling the area.
Borl watched through the window as the guards rode past, his heart unperturbed.
Danger?
Pol wasn't worried at all.
Looking at Kieran sitting opposite him, Pol felt relieved.
Perhaps the road at night was dangerous, but as long as he followed the Flaming Devil, the so-called danger was nothing.
It was not even worth mentioning.
Therefore, even at this time, Pol still had the mood to add charcoal into the furnace.
The moment the charcoal was added, sparks flew up. Just as the sparks were about to fly all over the carriage, a teapot filled with water was placed on top of the furnace.
Pol took the silver tea knife from the tray beside him and carefully cut a small tea brick from a big tea cake beside him. When the water was warm and about to boil, Pol put the small tea brick in.
The water boiled for a while and the small tea brick turned into tea leaves. A dozen breaths later, when the water in the teapot was boiling, the tea leaves started to roll along with the water.
The aroma of tea filled the air.
Pol picked up the teapot.
"Aïtantin Castle has its own tea boilers.
"I just don't know how it tastes."
"I heard from a few merchants at the border that the people who brew tea there like to put mustard in their tea. According to them, it seems that they are using the spiciness to enhance the fragrance of the tea."
"Also, there are a lot of fish dishes in Château Aïtantin. The most famous dish is fish in potato pancakes. Moreover, the fish must stand upright and look at the sky. The straighter it is, the wider its eyes are, the more successful the dish is."
Pol poured a cup of tea for Kieran and told him about the interesting things about Chateau Aïtantin.
Of course, Pol didn't forget to introduce the matter at hand.
"The journey from Sicar to Château Aïtantin takes around two days and one night. We are departing at night, so it will take two nights and one day. However, it is hard to travel at night, so we might have to spend more time."
"Unlike the outskirts where Mozaar and Sicar are all plains, the journey from Sicar to Château Aïtantin is mostly mountainous. Only one outpost in Sicar and the outpost at the border of Château Aïtantin can provide us with a proper rest."
"There is also a military camp at the outpost at the border of Château Aïtantin. It is also an important guarantee that we can travel through the main road at night."
Kieran held his cup of tea and listened to Pol's explanation.
His eyes were looking out the dark window.
Kieran had gained some understanding of Château Aïtantin in the past two days.
Château Aïtantin was the capital of Aïtantin Kingdom. With a population of over a million, Château Aïtantin wasn't just the economic, political, and cultural center of the Northern Land, it was also the biggest city in the entire Northern Land. Even Qitar Bay in the south, which had the advantage of the bay, paled in comparison to Château Aïtantin.
However, compared to the city that was revered by the natives, Kieran was more concerned about King Aïtantin VI.
The king who managed to turn the tides against the onslaught of the Black Cataclysm.
When the Black Cataclysm happened, the brilliant Aïtantin V was celebrating his achievements. He didn't even notice what kind of disaster the expedition would bring to his kingdom.
When the king regained his senses, the situation was already unavoidable.
Even the king himself was struck down by the disease.
More importantly, the only descendant of the king was only seven years old. Some people in the royal family began to covet him.
Everyone could see that the entire Aïtantin Kingdom would fall into civil war or even collapse if they were not careful.
At this time, the teacher of the only descendant of the king stood up.
This court teacher, who was famous for his erudition, hosted a banquet for all the qualified members of the royal family in the name of 'inheriting the kingdom'. Then … none of those who came came out alive, including their personal guards. All of them died in the banquet hall. Then, with lightning speed, the teacher took control of the royal guards and began to purge the royal family in the name of 'finding the source of the Black Cataclysm'. For a whole week, more than 1,500 people were killed.
Fresh blood dyed the court of Château Aïtantin red.
'Bloody Week'!
This was the memory of the people of Château Aïtantin.
When the killing stopped, the descendant, who was only seven years old, became the new king.
With the help of the court teacher, the seven-year-old king swiftly stabilized the situation in the kingdom and started to clean up the source of the Black Cataclysm in the south.
He negotiated with the War Shrine and sent out a group of Knight of the Temple to assist the kingdom's army.
He made an agreement with Lady Calamity and built the first and only temple in Château Aïtantin.
No one thought it was something a child could achieve.
They all thought it was the work of the court teacher.
Then …
When the king was 16 years old, the court teacher died.
Some said he died of illness.
Some said he died of illness.
Regardless of how he died, the majesty of the court teacher was replaced by the young king.
People started to address him as Aïtantin VI.
Now that 30 years had passed, the majesty of the king grew stronger.
The Kingdom of Aïtantin even unified the north and the south. Only the remote islands were not shrouded in the glory of the kingdom, but it did not affect the glory of the king.
People even placed him on the same level as Aïtantin I.
Because the king achieved what Aïtantin I and the other four kings wanted to do but failed: unify the south.
Of course, such a legendary king would have a lot of legends surrounding him.
A lot of them even said that he was the Son of God!
As for who the Son of God was?
But no one could say for sure.
Kieran, however, did not comment on the rumors.
He was more concerned about the court teacher.
Because the appearance, the miraculous disappearance of the court teacher gave him a strange sense of familiarity: a player!
Of course, Kieran wasn't a hundred percent sure.
But he was more than 50 percent sure that there was something wrong with the court teacher!
Maybe …
Was that Broker's handiwork?
Kieran was in deep thought. He slightly turned his eyes to the front of the convoy.
The convoy had stopped without him knowing.
A few young men holding torches were running towards the rear. They would stop every few steps and shout to the caravan beside them, "Leader, go to the front! We have a meeting! "
Soon, the few of them reached the wagon that Kieran was in.
Looking at Pol's wagon, which wasn't considered a low-class wagon even in Aïtantin Castle, the few young men with torches weren't ignorant. They didn't shout rudely like before, instead, they knocked on the carriage door.
Dok, Dok, Dok.
"Good day, sir.
Our merchant group leader has invited you for a meeting. "
The words sounded after the knocks on the door.
"Okay, got it."
Pol glanced over at Kieran, and when Kieran didn't object, Pol said, "Kieran, you're welcome."
The few of them walked back again after getting a firm answer. The shouts sounded again.
When the shouts sounded again, Pol shook his head helplessly.
"Someone else wants to make up for their losses."
Pol said.
Before Kieran could ask, Pol took the initiative to speak.
"After being delayed in Sicar for a few days, every merchant group suffered more or less losses.
Some of them aren't willing to accept such a loss.
"Therefore, they hope to 'pass on' this loss."
"Pass on the losses?"
Kieran's interest was piqued.
"Mm.
"Big caravans charge a certain 'protection fee' from smaller caravans. Some temporary caravans often do that, especially those from Mozaar. They even treat it as a 'rule'. Because of that, some bastards have changed their main profession, thinking that charging a full 'protection fee' is a more promising profession."
I've dealt with them before, and the result wasn't pleasant.
"They used my goods as protection fees."
"I used their heads as compensation."
Pol nodded and explained. Pol then smiled and pointed behind him, which was the front of the convoy.
"But this time, it's different.
This way of calling people is too crude, I think the merchant group from Aïtantin Castle came up with this idea on the spur of the moment.
"Otherwise, the guards of these large caravans would have surrounded the entire caravan before notifying them."
The moment Pol's words subsided, Kieran saw some people break away from the convoy.
These people who had left the team were very fast and organized.
Almost instantaneously, the horses that pulled the carts and the men dashed into the forest beside the main road.
"These guys should be from Mozaar," said Pol.
Pol then looked at Kieran.
After that, Pol looked at Kieran.
"Sir Corin, what should we do?"
Asked Pol.
"Let's have a look."
Kieran pointed at the front of the convoy.
Pol was stunned.
Based on Pol's understanding of Kieran, Kieran wouldn't be interested in this kind of thing.
Unless …
Pol suddenly thought of something.
But before Pol could ask, Kieran already came down the wagon.
"Look after the wagons."
Pol told Ash and Kano before he quickly chased after Kieran.
At the front of the convoy, there was an empty space temporarily filled with wagons. A bonfire was lit up and a young worker was adding firewood inside.
A dozen men who arrived early stood aside, frowning at the three men across the bonfire. Their gazes were filled with hostility while the three men across the bonfire were smiling.
"Are you people trying to loot a burning house?"
Among the dozen of men, a man with a cloth hat and a cotton coat shouted loudly.
The man was very agitated, his face flushed red as he shouted.
The other merchant group representatives behind him glared at the three men with the same hatred.
If gazes could kill, the three men across the bonfire would have died countless times over.
However, the three men who were smiling didn't seem to care at all.
They first looked at each other, and then one of the older men walked out.
The gray rabbit fur hat and the same leather coat provided the man with quite a bit of warmth, allowing him to walk out without bending his body in exchange for warmth.
The man's face was also very clean, not a trace of weathering could be seen on his face, the beard on his chin was neatly combed as well. The gentleman walking stick in his hand tapped on the ground lightly before he spoke.
"Everyone.
We are all merchants and it is our nature and our duty to pursue profit. But from the bottom of our hearts, we also hope for fairness.
So, I don't have the intention to force anyone.
Someone left the group just now, did we stop him? "
"No.
I won't stop anyone from leaving and of course, I welcome everyone to join us. 20 Gold Purton isn't an exorbitant amount for everyone here. "
The man spoke in a clear and organized manner.
The moment the man's words subsided, the representative from the other side of the table spoke.
"Who knows if you are not prepared?
Or inexperienced? "
His doubts were supported by the merchants behind him.
"Stop joking.
As the representative of Kate Trading Company, I have been traveling the road from Castle Aïtantin to the border of Mozaar for 10 years, I know what happens here like the back of my hand.
For example … "
"Didn't you charge some pitiful fellas a similar fee in the past?"
The middle-aged man pointed his gentleman walking stick at the representative.
The representative shrunk his neck instinctively when his nose was pointed at.
Other than his instinct, the representative was shocked by the identity of the middle-aged man.
Kate Trading Company, one of the few trading companies in Aïtantin.
Its headquarters was located in Castle Aïtantin, its main business was mining and its side business included newspapers, car dealerships and so on.
To merchants like them, it was not an exaggeration to say that Kate Trading Firm was a colossus.
However, what frightened the representative was how did the middle-aged man know he had done such a thing before?
Looking at the faint smile on the middle-aged man's face and feeling the distrust from his companions, the representative quickly said, "20 Gold Purton might not be much for Kate Trading Company but for merchants like us, it's not a small number!"
"Yeah, 20 Gold Purton is too expensive!"
"My profit this time is only 30 Gold Purton!"
…
The representative heaved a breath of relief when he heard the shouts from the merchants behind him.
He knew the sensitivity towards numbers and benefits made the merchants support him for the time being.
Even if they had other thoughts in their hearts, they wouldn't voice it out right now.
And it would be enough!
It would be enough for him to negotiate!
With that thought in mind, the representative wanted to speak.
However, the representative from Kate Trading Company spoke faster.
"So, for everyone's consideration, I've provided a backup plan.
The first one who is willing to pay me, I'll only charge half, which is 10 Gold Purton. The second one, I'll charge 11 Gold Purton, all the way to 20 Gold Purton.
What do you all think?
Our suggestion isn't too much. "
The representative from Kate Trading Company laid his hands open and glanced over the merchants before him.
When he saw the merchants looking at each other with caution in their eyes, he couldn't hold back his laughter in his heart, especially the one who represented the others.
He was really afraid to laugh out loud when he saw the dull look on the representative's face.
Trying to rely on a bunch of ragtag men to negotiate with him?
He would turn the ragtag men against each other.
However, as the underdog, the representative reacted extremely quickly.
"I'll be the first!"
Because he was standing in front of the merchants and with the advantage of distance, he dashed to the representative from Kate Trading Company with a single step. The indignant look from before had turned into a flattering smile.
10 Gold Purton was handed out just like that.
The others behind the representative were stunned.
Then, they swarmed over.
Soon enough, the discounted spots were all gone.
The rest of the guys who ran slower were very regretful and had no choice but to take out 20 Gold Purton.
No one objected to the price anymore.
Instead, they were gloating over the others' misfortune, their faces showing delightful smiles.
When Kieran and Pol walked over, they were immediately met with the same mocking and malicious gazes.
"No more discounted spots, you'll have to pay 20 Gold Purton!"
The representative from the disadvantaged side said as he stood beside the representative from Kate Trading Company.
Kieran glanced over the representative and landed his eyes on the representative from Kate Trading Company.
"You want me to pay 20 Gold Purton?"
Kieran asked.
"Everyone has paid.
It's your turn now. "
The representative said politely.
Kieran nodded. The representative smiled and extended his hand, ready to collect the fee. Then, Kieran raised his leg and kicked the representative's face.
Bang!
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