Episode 386 – A New Master (4)
Murmur murmur—
From early morning, people gathered in the plaza.
Dozens of severed heads had been displayed on spikes, but rather than shocked or horrified, the crowd’s reaction was one of inevitability.
“They strutted around just because they had powerful backers, and in the end, look how they ended up.”
“Their fate was sealed the moment Azonne died.”
“Hmph! Good riddance. Damn bastards.”
Under Azonne’s protection, the merchant lords who had long been despised for their slave trade and money-grabbing schemes had been executed in a single day.
It all happened the day after the new master made his presence known before the Golden Gate.
A placard reading ‘Unity’ stood before the execution site, a clear warning from the lord of the city that no one who opposed unity would be forgiven.
“He’s scarier than he looks.”
“Didn’t you see his sharp eyes? He’s the one who killed Azonne and beheaded him. Better be careful.”
He acted fast and without hesitation.
Onlookers in the plaza glanced back and forth between the severed heads and the placard, swallowing nervously.
Non-humans and witches.
If they ever encountered them, they’d best be cautious with their attitude.
Some people’s attention turned toward one side of the plaza.
There, the witches stood.
Witch Levina silently stared at one of the heads. The same was true for the others.
They had come to witness with their own eyes the end of those who had kidnapped them and sold them to the Black Market.
Standing beside her, sucking on a candy, Lily asked,
“Did you find him?”
“Yeah. I wanted to kill him with my own hands. It’s a bit disappointing.”
“If you’re that upset, want me to gather his ashes and cast a curse? Make him suffer in hell forever?”
“No. It’s fine.”
Levina gave a bitter smile.
The face of the merchant she could never forget—now displayed in terror, severed and lifeless.
After gazing at him briefly, Levina brushed her hair back and turned away.
There was no lingering emotion on her face.
“He really is a grateful person.”
“Grateful? Who?”
“Sir Arthur.”
“Of course! Arthur is our benefactor!”
At Lily’s sparkling-eyed nod, Levina smiled softly.
Since living with Lily, they’d shared many conversations—most of them about Arthur.
Every time she talked about him, Lily’s eyes would gleam.
“You really like Sir Arthur that much?”
“Yep!”
Levina found it heartwarming.
In the past, Lily had spent most of her time powerless and cursed by sloth in the forest.
But ever since coming into the outside world and meeting Arthur, she had changed immensely.
“Where should we go today?”
“West district! Arthur said there are lots of accessory shops there!”
“Great. It’s our last day, so let’s enjoy it.”
“Okay!”
As Levina and Lily moved, the other witches followed, chatting.
The witches had been treated to a luxurious escort yesterday, visiting many areas of Aintrier.
They’d seen how drastically the city had changed—and now, seeing the executed humans with their own eyes, the transformation felt complete.
“Look over there! It’s the fountain!”
The witches, wandering the city, looked relaxed.
The tension they carried when first arriving in Aintrier was nowhere to be found.
Just one day.
Arthur had succeeded in erasing the trauma the witches remembered from Aintrier.
***
“Please, enjoy.”
Arthur had arranged a lunch with Aintrier’s prominent merchant lords.
Perhaps due to the executions that morning, their demeanor toward Arthur was extremely cautious.
They had thought the new master’s arrival was an opportunity—but now, they feared it may have been a misjudgment.
Clink—
A silent meal filled only with sidelong glances continued.
When tea time arrived and Arthur was sipping his tea, he finally spoke.
“Was the meal to your satisfaction?”
“O-Of course! It was excellent.”
The merchants nodded fervently, and Arthur let out a sigh.
“Is that so? Because I found it… rather prickly. As if my mouth were full of thorns.”
“Wh-Why is that…?”
“Lately, I’ve been unable to sleep because someone’s been disturbing public order to expand their territory. I’m contemplating whether to just kill them all.”
The merchants swallowed dryly, stealing glances at each other.
Territorial clashes had been frequent lately, as merchant factions fought to occupy leaderless zones.
When Arthur muttered again, “Maybe I really should kill them…” the hands holding their teacups began to tremble.
“W-Who would dare trouble you, Sir Arthur? We will take care of it!”
“Then, you’ll be helping me.”
“Of course!”
The merchant lords quickly aligned themselves, eager to curry Arthur’s favor.
Unlike Azonne, Arthur wasn’t swayed by bribes.
And unlike Azonne, Arthur wielded military power.
He was also Commander of the World Tree Allied Forces—a position even the elders of Demtor bowed to.
He was far more formidable than the previous lord.
“Now, please take a look at these documents.”
“What are they…?”
“I believe they’ll make for a fine deal.”
Thick stacks of papers were placed on the large table, and as the merchants skimmed them, their eyes sparkled like hyenas spotting prey.
“We’ve confiscated the assets of the executed merchant lords. These are the property listings. If there’s anything you wish to buy, speak up.”
The assets ranged from real estate and land to business rights.
It was a way to expand territory without direct conflict.
It would cost a fortune, but since the lord was guaranteeing the sale, purchasing at a fair price would guarantee profit.
Technically, Arthur could monopolize these—but opening them to sale showed a degree of consideration for the merchants.
He might actually be a good master…
Flip-flip-flip—
The merchant lords hurriedly flipped through documents, scribbling down the listings they wanted.
They focused intensely, mentally running calculations. As papers stacked beside them, the confiscated assets found new owners.
Arthur, sitting nearby, watched Italus handle the negotiations.
Known as the Iron-Blooded Merchant, he was precise and sharp in business.
With him as intermediary, the other merchants didn’t even try to undercut prices.
“Looks like we’re about done.”
Arthur smiled with satisfaction as he reviewed the day's sale figures.
The amount exceeded even the 500 million gold he had handed to Halyans.
Ever since becoming lord of Aintrier, Arthur’s finances had ballooned each month. It felt like he had a gift for wealth.
Looking at the merchants staring at him, he decided it was time to wrap things up.
Then he dropped a bombshell.
“Starting today, I’m abolishing the distribution tax.”
The room instantly went silent.
Moments later, as understanding sank in, someone gasped.
No distribution tax?
Could it be the one they were thinking of?
“Yes, it’s the distribution tax you’re thinking of. For goods brought from other regions, we’ll waive the tax.”
“R-Really?!”
The merchant lords’ faces lit up with joy.
Since Aintrier controlled the distribution network across all of Hell Grime, tax exemption was an enormous benefit.
Arthur nodded and raised two fingers.
“Of course, this is conditional. It only applies to goods from Demtor and Prime Root.”
The merchants quickly ran the numbers in their heads.
Demtor was a region in civil war. Prime Root was so dangerous that transporting goods meant risking your life.
Normally, these were places to avoid—but with tax exemption?
‘It’s pure profit.’
If the trade succeeded, they’d earn a massive return.
Demtor held products from the Mage Tower, and Prime Root had region-exclusive goods.
Merchants were the type to risk their lives for money.
This was guaranteed profit.
The way they looked at Arthur changed.
He might just be the best master they’d ever had.
After all, to a merchant, money was king.
“Sir Arthur!”
***
After the banquet, Arthur was walking down the corridor when Italus called out from behind.
Panting, the old man had clearly rushed over, but the flush in his face wasn’t from physical exertion alone.
Glancing around and confirming no one was nearby, Italus spoke.
“Tax exemption? That’s far too extreme!”
“Is it a problem?”
“Aintrier is practically sustained by distribution tax. It’s the golden goose Azonne raised with blood and sweat. So why… why cut open its belly yourself?”
His face showed clear frustration.
“Do you still have lingering attachment to this place? Moved your merchant house just in time to miss out on the exemption?”
“Absolutely not!”
“That’s why I made it conditional—only for Demtor and Prime Root.”
“Do you know that those two are the city’s main sources of distribution income?”
“Oh, really?”
“…Oh, really?”
Italus fell silent, dumbfounded. Had Arthur made such a huge decision without knowing that?
He was handing tax loopholes to some of the shrewdest people in the world—merchants.
At this rate, Aintrier could economically collapse.
Yet Arthur looked completely unconcerned.
“It doesn’t matter. I never intended to make money from Aintrier in the first place.”
“…Excuse me?!”
“With your insight, Sir Italus, I’m sure you’ll understand eventually—why I exempted just those two regions.”
Arthur’s cryptic answer made Italus furrow his brow.
Just what kind of plan did Arthur have for Aintrier?
Why send merchants into such dangerous areas, even at the cost of revenue?
There was clearly something Italus didn’t know.
Arthur resumed walking, and Italus quietly followed behind.
Known as Aintrier’s second-in-command and its top merchant, Italus reflected on Arthur’s decision.
Then, one possible answer came to mind.
Looking at Arthur with a startled expression, he asked,
“…Is this about war?”
“As expected—impressive. You thought that far.”
“Don’t tell me you plan to abandon this place?”
“Probably not. I’m just preparing for the worst.”
“Hm…”
Italus let out a groan.
Aintrier lay between Demtor and Prime Root.
In peaceful times, it was the perfect hub for trade between the two. But in times of hostility?
It would be the worst strategic position—surrounded on all sides.
‘There’d be no way to defend it.’
Now he understood why Arthur had recommended the vagrant city as the new base for the Lenon Merchant House.
That city was close to the World Tree.
Far less developed than Aintrier, yes—but if war broke out, the Allied Forces could reach it quickly.
In a wartime scenario, it was the safest human city in all of Hell Grime.
Understanding that, Italus exhaled in admiration.
So he really thought that far…
“You plan to use the merchants as informants, don’t you? Demtor and Prime Root wouldn’t be able to turn away the merchants delivering goods.”
Arthur smiled at Italus’ answer. As he descended the stairs, he said,
“Until we find a new representative, please serve as Aintrier’s acting lord. I have no talent for administration.”
“You don’t intend to govern it personally?”
“For now, no.”
“Then may I ask—who do you have in mind as the next lord?”
At that, Arthur paused on the stairs, scratched his chin, and answered,
“It’s not the right time yet, so I can’t say. But we’ll find someone soon.”
Italus blankly stared down the stairs where Arthur had disappeared.
He had sensed it before, but now he was certain.
Arthur’s influence had grown unimaginably vast.
He thought back to when they first met.
“Back then, it felt like we were partners helping each other…”
But now? He definitely felt like he was working under Arthur.
He could no longer refuse Arthur’s commands.
After all, the Lenon Family now existed under Arthur’s influence.
“Heh heh heh…”
Italus let out a hollow chuckle and headed for the office.
He had work to do now—because Arthur had become a man who needed to be treated even better than the Dwarf King.