<h4>Chapter 120: Breakdown</h4>


    Trantor: “Pink Tea” Editor: ”Ryunakama”


    「Wha-what did you say?」


    With Taiki’s mild demeanor and softhearted words and deeds, the two didn’t imagine that he could refuse.


    They didn’t think that he would push his own way without a just cause.


    「……ve trade is profitable. However, is there a need for more? Even without the ve trade, Taiki-dono has an overwhelming military might and a flying ind, right? No matter the area, Taiki-dono should be able to gain much greater profits than us.」


    There, they tried to appeal to Taiki’s pride, namely in his ability and state power. However, Taiki immediately shook his head.


    「No, no, I’m not that interested in money. It’s just as I said at the very beginning, my desire is to improve thebor conditions of ves. That is all. As such, I’m going to continue with the ve trade up to the point when the only ves that remain are under the contracts that I approve of.」


    Inishida and the prime minister turned pale after that deration. The very definition of give an inch and he’ll take a mile. At the current rate the downfall of Karluk Kingdom’s economy is obvious.


    Thus, the panicking prime minister said while wiping the cold sweat.


    「Eh, ehm, but…… Your Majesty, as the brilliant King of Heavenly Country, Your Majesty is sure to leave their name in history, if rumors were to spread that Your Majesty was harboring foreign criminals, and on top of that, through force, crushed a small kingdom, that only built its fortune through trade, and even took over its ve trade, wouldn’t it put a stain on Your Majesty’s good name……」


    Getting flustered, the prime minister still tried to falter Taiki’s determination, but Taiki onlyughed and waved at him with one hand.


    「No, no, I have no such intentions at all. With Karluk Kingdom’s location, there is no doubt that any other enterprises will also bring you economic prosperity. It’s fine.」


    Being told so in a nonchnt fashion, both Inishida and the prime minister were at loss for words.


    And, as silence fell upon the room, Taiki, looking as if he recalled something, suddenly said.


    「Ah, and it’s not like I saved ex-ves that were assaulting nobles? Those people just followed after us by coincidence.」


    「Wha?! As if such an outrage can pass?! We have reliable reports from eyewitnesses! Stop spinning lies!」


    Inishida shouted as he sprung up from the chair. Slightly taken aback by that, Taiki forced a smile.


    「Haha…… Well, actually, the ves that serve us were there. If harm were to befall them, and that was by the hands of the knights moving directly under the Karluk royalty’s orders, we would have no other choice but to take the matter seriously? That’s why, to avoid this bing an actual war, we protected the ves while sticking only to the minimal self-defense.」


    「……What?」


    Startled by Taiki’s words, Inishida’s eyes went wide, then, he turned to the prime minister.


    In turn, the prime minister squeaked with pale white pace.


    「Ple-please wait a moment! A-a-ording to what we’ve heard, no such information ……!」


    「Hm? Are you saying that in that chaos you managed to grasp the identities of everyone present? If so then that is amazing…… By the way, as embarrassing as it may sound, we managed to identify only a few people from more than one hundred that were there……」


    Seeing Taiki bber such nonsense with an embarrassed smile, Inishida bit his lower lip.


    Looking at him somewhat apologetically, Taiki continued.


    「By the way, as we then confirmed with the Reginshion Company, the people that for some reason followed us turned out to be masterless ves. All of them were once sold through the ve trade of Karluk Kingdom.」


    「Oh, oooh! Then, those people are……!」


    「Yes. ves that escaped the grasp of Karluk Kingdom.」


    Involuntarily, Inishida raised his voice at first, raising his head. But Taiki’s line shocked him.


    「Why, why would it turn that way?!」


    Taiki replied to Inishida’s shout with a wry smile.


    「Suppose you were selling weapons. Wouldn’t the sold weapon belong to no one once the buyer is dead? Well, in Japan, if one were to find an object without an owner it would either be the property of the finder or the state, but as one would expect, humans are not treated in such a fashion. By the way, we checked, and there is actually not a single word in Karluk Kingdom’sw about masterless ves bing the property of Karluk Kingdom……」


    Taiki, who couldn’t see ves as a property, exined to Inishida and the others, who couldn’t see ves as anything but property.


    For Inishida, it’s nothing more than Heavenly Country’s King using his military might to have his own way, while Taiki is thinking that he is saying obvious things.


    「As such, some of those former ves said that they want to work at our store, so for now I have some of them working there as clerks. That’s how it is, it might not sit right with you, but can you forget about this matter? 」


    Being told so, Inishida flumped into the chair and breathed out a deep sigh.


    「……In the end, small countries can’t oppose major powers, huh…… Do as you please. I lost any desire for further talk.」


    Taiki gave a surveying look to Inishida, who said those words with a tired look.


    「……What if I asked Inishida-san to buy and sell ves under the same contract as we do, what would you do?」


    Being asked so, Inishida snorted and let out a jeer.


    「Cease your mockery! We still have hundreds of ves of good quality! As they will go to the same ce as always, royal families of foreign kingdoms!」


    Upon investigating ves of the highest grade, Inishida concluded that they couldn’t operate in the same way.


    But, Taiki gave him a sad look, sighed, and then said.


    「Don’t say that…… If you will agree with our idea of changing the treatment of ves, we, in turn, will provide you with our cooperation. An alliance is fine, cooperating as trade partners is also fine.」


    Taiki spoke softly, trying to persuade Inishida, but Inishida hit the armrest of the chair with a fist and answered with a re.


    「……Stop making a fool of me. Didn’t you say just moments ago? That our country has the most suitable location formerce. We fully understand that as well. From now on we will make full use of that and will gain evenrger profits. Enough to leave no gap for you to interfere.」


    Perhaps out of pure antagonism, Inishida refused Taiki’s proposal. Originally, the prime minister was all smiles upon hearing the proposition with such good conditions, but all color drained from his face the moment he heard Inishida’s refusal.


    A proposal of alliance on equal terms from a major power. Refuse this and it would be no wonder if you would be seen as having a hostile position.


    While the prime minister’s shoulders were slightly trembling as he was on the verge of going into hyperventtion, Taiki narrowed his eyes, sighed, and looked at Inishida.


    「……So you are going to stick to the old ways?」


    When Taiki asked for reconfirmation, Inishida snorted and waved dismissively with one hand.


    「Of course. You spoke your mind a lot, but in regards to ve trade, our country is ahead of you. If you are going to sell special and high-priced ves, then we can sell a massive number of cheap ves, whose life and death doesn’t matter one bit. Then, post-war prisoners and booty thates from crushing bandits. Many of such ves are ruined, but there are some good articles among them, including children of noble families.」


    As Inishida spoke in words that seemingly were aimed to provoke Taiki, the prime minister that stood beside him, let out a short shriek.


    Looking at him with a sidelong nce, Taiki sighed and shrugged his shoulders.


    Thus, negotiations of Heavenly Country and Karluk Kingdom broke down. Taiki returned to the skies, Inishida immediately assembled knights and ordered them to obtain more ves.