Knights, Let’s Smash Them

17 – Why are you here (2)

It was quite a one-sided relationship with the Blue Dragon Transcontinental Convoy.

Because I was one of the caravans that signed a contract with the Knights of the Black Lion, I had many face-to-face encounters when I was an administrator.

‘If you had visited Rupel Manor now…… Was the other side also tied to Jarhead?’

It was a very ironic fate.

And if you’re going to come, why don’t you come a little earlier? I already sold them all.

I clicked my tongue and looked at the upper carriage that was running from the front.

Dozens of wagons that had been marching in a single line stopped in front of the city gates as if they were hitting a wall.

A man dressed in silk jumps out of a luxurious carriage compared to other wagons.

Harkin Pixis. It’s still a familiar face.

“Look!! I heard that iron ore is being sold here!!”

The problem was that there was no iron ore left except for our knights’ decorations.

As far as I know, these guys basically buy in units of dozens of tons, not units of one ton.

And considering the general demand of the Black Lion Knights, it is clear that 3 tons of iron ore will be far short of the amount purchased.

“What should I do?”

Carlus asked with a troubled expression.

“We can’t sell cosmetic supplies…… We should have a talk.”

I slowly slipped out of the makeshift tent and approached Harkin. He was complaining to the employee of the Carlos Merchant Merchant who was standing in front of him.

“Carlus? You’re a member of the Hispenian Merchant! Then of course I know, right? Blue Dragon Transcontinental Convoy!!”

“Ah, don’t you know. But what can I do? I have already sold them all.”

“Ugh! Don’t…… ! Well, you don’t have to pretend to each other, do you? I am Harkin Pixis! I’ll add 5% to the market price!”

“5% Is more difficult… ….”

“What?! These kids can’t do this! How much are you going to eat!? I mean quickly! Come out of the upper house!!”

He was stomping his feet and pouring out his emotions at the poor low-level employee.

How can it be that nothing has changed.

Harkin Pixis was the most mercantile man I ever knew.

Treats everything with the logic of money, and thoroughly manages matters related to wealth. As greedy as he is, his brain is also quite fast.

As a result, Harkin thoroughly possessed the tendency to be weak and weak.

Look at it even now.

No matter how much the Merchant Carlus belonged to the caravan axis, they simply traveled along the trade routes between the Empire and the Kingdom of Minerva as members of Hispenia.

It lags behind the transcontinental convoy, whose main stage is the entire continent, in terms of awareness, scale, and economic power.

That’s why it’s coming out so brazenly. Even the responding staff seemed like a rookie with a low-end tee.

If you are at least a little good around words, or if you respond to someone who has a position within the upper ranks.

It must have been less brazen than that.

I let out a deep sigh and spoke to Harkin, who sighed.

“Why are you messing around here?”

“What? Those of you who want to use power over the purchase of iron ore at the right time by chance…… Omg!!”

He turns his head away menacingly, and his expression contorts in astonishment.

“Lo, Lou, Luvern! Lubern Administrator!?”

“It’s been a while.”

“Why are you here!!”

Harkin Pixis immediately began to cringe, bending his back like an ear of rice.

Look at the Udyr-class stance change.

“I heard you quit the Black Lion Knights…… !”

“Ah, due to personal circumstances, I am currently temporarily appointed as the administrator of Count Rupel’s knights.”

“Never heard of it!”

“Not long ago, hahahaha.”

A light greeting. I shook hands with Harkin leisurely.

“That…… By the way, I heard that you opened the purchase of iron ore.”

“Yes.”

“So, can I buy it right now? Aren’t we just stingy again?”

“I can’t sell iron ore.”

A merchant’s unique way of living. He asked me how to rub it with a smirk, so I firmly threw him away.

“Yes?”

“Shouldn’t you sell only when you have enough stock? It is already exhausted.”

“Is that really… ….”

Harkin seemed to have genuinely thought that we might have strewn iron ore somewhere.

Well, this bastard is a guy who could do that if he had the chance. You may have judged it that way.

“It’s a big deal, oops!! I am ruined now!!”

In the end, Harkin, who did not get the desired result, sat down on the spot and began to almost scream.

The knights of the Snow Leopard Knights, who were watching the scene, exchanged glances that stung their hearts.

Even Xianne, who was well aware of the importance of decorative materials, was clearly agitated.

“That…… Lubern Magistrate, we ch—”

I quickly reached out my hand and stopped Xianne. She was about to say something, but she shut her mouth in surprise.

“Leave it to me.”

Since everyone has a good heart, they quickly get over this kind of life trick.

‘Wouldn’t the knights lose their lives because of this?’

Never, never, never against merchants!! You should not show pity.

They talk about money rather than appeal to emotions. They are the people who think it is their right to do something insignificant.

If you want to do Jung a favor, you have to see how far he can throw it.

I helped as much as I could and then turned around and said, “I’m going to eat well~”, Especially if you don’t want to be bullied like this.

As I looked down at Harkin with dry eyes, he grabbed my pants and started begging.

“How can you not!? If we continue to join the Black Lion Knights, the entire upper ranks may go into chaos!!”

“But why did you suddenly need iron ore?”

“That, that…… The commander of the Knights of Levia said that the expedition would not be canceled until that day, and that we should continue bringing in supplies…….”

Heh heh.

You acted like an idiot again, Levia.

Without difficulty, I was able to infer the conversation that Harkin and Levia had.

After I left, I heard a lot about the Black Lion Knights from the upper ranks coming here.

Even in the case of the last gypsophila guild, it was said that the condition of the A-class dungeon managed by the knights was ruined.

The administration is paralyzed, and the system that was maintained at best must be collapsing every day.

There is no reason to obsess over an expedition that doesn’t have much of an impact whether you go to the imperial family or not.

But in the meantime, Levia is preparing for her expedition.

I don’t know if he’s a war maniac, a mad man, or he’s really realized that if he doesn’t go on an expedition based on his sixth sense, a new demon king will be born.

Other than the third case, it was clear that this was not a wise choice.

“But if it’s just like that, can’t we just spit out the money we spent and cancel the contract?”

Let’s stick to the core.

Harkin Pixis tries to look away.

Aha, did you lose your down payment?

It’s obvious without looking at it.

“That, that…… ! Why, don’t you know the administrator well? The basics of a trader are to make maximum profit with minimum capital… ….”

“It’s an investment act.”

“Yes! Investment act! Because we are obliged to provide very good welfare to our employees in addition to the prosperity of the top…….”

“Why are you talking about a story you already know?”

I giggled.

“How much did you eat?”

“…… 20%.”

“Oops, you ate a lot.”

Actually, 20% was the same for us, but this was a special situation, and it was only 8 tons at most.

It’s a bit harsh to eat 20% right off the bat when no unusual situation has occurred.

In such a situation, what if the deadline was not met and the quantity was not secured?

No matter how unavoidable an accident caused by a natural disaster, the debt to the Blue Dragon Transcontinental Convoy will never be small.

“Write… ….”

Once I noticed that I was slightly intrusive, Harkin now got up and hurried back to his wagon.

And at this point, Harkin must have intuition that there is still iron ore left in our knights.

If it wasn’t really there, I wouldn’t have asked the question of how much I ate while clinging like this in the first place.

“Now, now!! Do you know what this is!?”

The thing he brought was a sharp, shiny sword.

Actually, I am simply good at administrative skills, but I am not very good at the quality of weapons such as swords and armor.

It was then that Cianne, who had been quiet, jumped out from behind.

“This, this!! Isn’t that a sword made of damas steel!?”

She rushed in with imperceptible speed, grabbed her sword, and opened her mouth, her sapphire eyes twinkling.

“The quality of the blade, the hardness, I’m not kidding. 100% Pure Damas steel! In addition, the craftsmanship of the craftsman is of a high standard!!”

“Ha ha ha! Do you know the true value of this sword? Exactly!”

“Lou, Magistrate of Luberne! This!! This is it!!”

Where did the leader of the knights lose face? Xianne started jumping up and down like Jammin in the toy section of a large mart.

Just lying on the floor here is perfect.

“These are the weapons made of Damas steel that I prepared just in case for this expedition. Swords, spears, axes, hammers…… Even the armor. We have prepared each type.”

When Xianne showed obvious interest, Harkin Pixis, who was no different from a beggar a moment ago, returned to being a merchant.

It was resurrected like a dog.

Ah, that’s why I shouldn’t have given it room.

I was a bit in trouble. I even thought about it for a while.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sell it properly even if I take it anyway. Lubern Administrator, what do you think is the probability that the grand expedition will go as planned?”

“Personally, 0%. With the same operational plan, it will be possible next year.”

“I think so too.”

Harkin grinned, showing his teeth. The gold teeth stuck between the white teeth stand out clearly in her eyes.

“I will sell it at 30% of the market price. 70% Enuri. If that’s the case, there’s honestly no difference from the price of a normal steel sword.”

30%?

What is this crazy sale!

It is an unconventional proposal that leaves even me, who was trying to endure to the point of danger without complying with the conditions as much as possible, bewildered.

“How about selling the iron ore you have now to us on that condition?”

In an instant, a new negotiation table was set.

The stakes are iron ore stocked up for decoration, and special weapons made of Damas steel.

‘I was thinking of making armor with decorative materials anyway…… If it is Damas steel of a better quality than that, it might be possible to supply it to the main personnel of the knights and corps first…….’

Even this side has earned more than 100 gold coins at once.

Since the price is said to be similar to that of normal steel arms, maybe you can enjoy shopping leisurely enough?

I was in trouble for a while.

“Call.”

“Khehehehe! There’s no turning back!”

I grabbed Harkin’s hand.