Book 2: Chapter 33


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    Christian


    Dang


    Jakub


    Ignazio


    Undeadknightpdin


    Greetings sir, I am the finance officer for the Six Horse Carriages, you can just call me Thatch. I heard that you have something important to discuss with us, is that correct?


    I sat opposite the extravagant desk in the office of the tradepany. I looked at the man wearing sses and a long-robe sitting before me, smiling as he looked at me. I waited for a moment, then took out the two coins and ced them on the table. He looked at me surprised and then said with a smile: If you wish to exchange your currency, you should visit a money changer instead.


    No, you should know what this implies.


    I leaned my torso over, pointed at the two coins and softly said: These are bronze coins, arent they? Castors new silver coins


    He continued to look at me calmly. He waved his hand feigning ignorance, smiled and asked: What may you be talking about?


    Quit acting, Mr Thatch. Your tradingpany was sent here on orders of the ruler of Castor to seize the coins, am I right? You insist that you dont do business with Castor, yet I saw someone selling eels with your wooden barrels. Yourpany has also constantly been spreading the news that the value of Castors currency was going to rise, yet the new Castor silver coins are made of bronze. What youre trying to pull here is very obvious.


    Thatch looked at me through his sses and was caughtpletely surprised. He then stood up, walked up to the window and drew the curtain. The room went dark. There was only the lighting from the firece. I noticed that Nier had already ced her hand on her sword handle. I gently shook my head and continued to watch Thatch.


    Thatch stood by the bedside, and did some thinking while pinching his chin. A momentter, he turned around, smiled as he looked at me and said: Theres a price for everything in this world. How much do you want to keep the secret? Please offer me a price that we both can ept. One hundred empire gold coins or two hundred?


    I ced my hands on the table, looked at him, shook my head and said: Thatch, I dontck wealth. Im not threatening you, but saving your country of Castor. The empress has already begun preparations to attack Castor. Your people are at risk.


    So will you save us?


    No. Im giving you a way out. To be frank, you people arent rted to me, but I saw the empress kill people before my eyes, I cant stand that. I cant stand helplessly watching people die before me. I know your countrys financial situation is poor. If you could return to Castor to inform your king, and then get him to send someone here to negotiate with us, I believe we can reach a usible conclusion.


    Bing a vassal state is better than getting ughtered! As a vassal state they just need to pay half of their annual ie, but getting conquered would mean their people would have nowhere to go. If we can talk it out then we can avoid a war. I dont want to let more people die before my eyes. Im not Castors hero. I just want to use a method that will allow both countries to get the best oue with minimal repercussions.


    Thatch looked at me confused. A secondter, he revealed a smile, paused for a moment and said: Sir, I dont know who you happen to be, but this matter is none of your business. Castor has the ability to protect itself. Our king has already prepared the war ships to sail out. We dont care about the lives of any others.


    Are you people insane?!


    I stared at him absolutely stunned. If they decide to fight to their veryst man, then Ill reveal my identity right now, salute them and give up persuading them. A country must hold heroic funerals for its heroes. If I try to persuade a group of men whod rather die fighting than submit, then Im essentially insulting them.


    But theyre ditching their own people and fleeing! The king may survive, but what about the peasants? What will be of his people? Youre feeding yourself and letting the rest of your family starve. Your people will definitely be ughtered! Her majesty was nearly killed by another ethnic group, and theres only one ethnic group in the empire now. Theres no way shell allow another ethnicity to exist in her territory.


    Please return. We, Castor will not submit.


    You people arent heroes. Youre cowards!


    The people will always exist, but there is only one king. Men, see our guest out!


    The door got pulled open violently. Nier drew her sword half-way out and the two men dressed in military clothing watched us vigntly. Nier stood between us coldly with her half-drawn sword in hand. I looked at Thatch, took in a deep breath and then said: It looks like our negotiations have broken down. I wont be considerate of your king in my next moves. Please wait for your bad news.


    How dare you speak such words in enemy territory?


    Thatch looked at me with a cold smile. I fearlessly stood proud and said: Would you believe me if I told you that your mercenaries are no match for my bodyguard?


    Nierpletely drew her sword and so did the two mercenaries. The atmosphere was set for a fight. Many mercenaries from outside rushed over and blocked the door. Nier looked at them coldly and silently. She wasnt the least bit afraid. I looked at Thatch, folded my arms and asked: Thatch, you better think this through. Youre in the territory of the empire. Youre the ones who are in enemy territory. Putting aside whether you can win or not, how will you deal with the troops that wille and surround this ce if we fight?


    Thatch looked at us coldly. I looked back at him without backing down. Nier swept her eyes over the mercenaries surrounding us. The mercenaries were frozen in ce by Niers gaze and didnt dare to move.


    Let them go.


    A secondter, Thatch waved his hands, while I pat Nier on her shoulder and she sheathed her sword. I bowed slightly and then turned around to leave.


    The negotiation failed.


    I thought Castor did what they did for their people. It never urred to me that it was for a king. Their king ruined the financial situation of such a great city to this degree and now hes fleeing as a war is about to break out. For what reason would anyone serve such a king loyally? I didnt want to save a coward. I wanted to save the innocent citizens.


    If a war breaks out, the king can run, but the people will die not knowing what they died for.


    I still have a trump card. They wouldnt have ever seized all the Castor coins if their currency depreciated before this fiasco, but as soon as I leave, they will. However, I have the resources of the royal family. I just need to go back and order them to forbid Castor coins from leaving the city, get someone to prove that Castors currency will depreciate and everything will work out.


    This is now a race between Castor and I. If I collect enough Castor coins, I can get the king of Castor toe over here. Ill bet the king is a coward wholl do anything if you put money before him.


    Nier and I quickly reached the markets. I looked at Nier and said: Nier, I need you to immediately rush back to the pce and tell Castell what we know. Get him to use all his avable resources to seize the Castor coins. Also, notify her majesty. Ask her to pass down an order that forbids anybody from takingrge volumes of Castor coins out of the country. All Castor coins are to be exchanged for empire coins before they may leave. Oh, right, here.


    I took my pendant off, ced it into her hand, and said: Take this with you. Otherwise those two may not believe you.


    Your majesty, arent youing back?


    I cant go back. Theyve definitely got eyes on me already. Moreover, theyve definitely begun seizing Castor coins. Ill use my identity as the prince to stop their deal at the crucial moment. I dont know what sort of shady tricks theyll use. If we get caught together, then theres no way for us to report this. Further, youre a bodyguard so theyll definitely prioritise capturing me. I trust that you can sessfully return to the pce even if they do attempt to capture you.


    I know Ill be in a real pinch like this. Those mercenaries would be a bit more fearful if it were Nier. Without Nier, Im just a powerless guy with a handgun. Im not worried though. If both Nier and I get captured, then were both dead meat. But as long as one of us escapes, the other will be an asset that wont be killed.


    Its just getting captured. Big deal.


    I pat Nier on her shoulder and then said with a smile: I believe in you, Nier. Dont worry about me. I reckon Ill get caught by them though, so Ill be waiting for you toe and rescue me when the timees.


    Nier looked at me, sighed and said: Your majesty, youre as weak as ever, huh? But I dont get it. Youre clearly incapable of doing anything, yet youre putting yourself into a precarious situation. But dont you die. If you die, Ill have to kill myself to apologise.


    This is the conclusion I reached after weighing the odds of the situation. I wont die, I promise.


    I pointed at the small empty pouch on her belt, and said: That aside, I think your candy should be delivered by now. Ill give you some when youe back for me.


    Nier lowered her head to look in the direction of my finger and smiled. She then turned and swiftly left.


    I watched her disappear in the crowd and helplessly smiled. I dont know how many people are following behind me, but for your information, its pointless to capture me now.