Chapter 29: I’ve Shown Everything There Is To Show (3)

A person could only prove their worth in a crisis: this was Keter’s philosophy when choosing his people.

Ultima, show me. Show me how capable you really are.

Ultima sent a look to Keter.

What the hell are you doing?

However, Keter just stared at him.

This guy’s trying to live life too easy. He hasn’t snapped out of it yet.

“You said you could persuade him, didn’t you? I came here trusting only you. It’s too late to back out now,” Keter said to Ultima.

“

Ah... Ahem!

Of course, you did.”

While pretending to clear his throat, Ultima secretly clenched his fist.

This damn bastard. So this is why he brought me here. I had a feeling things were going too smoothly.

Ultima couldn’t claim that this wasn’t true or try to explain that Keter was mistaken. If he did, there was a vague certainty that Keter might actually beat him to death. On top of that, Keter had completely shut down any ways for Ultima to escape this with his next statement.

“Grandpa Hans, what kind of punishment is given to a commoner who lies to a noble?”

“You are not officially a noble yet, my lord... but usually, their tongue is cut off.”

Suppressing Hans’ timid attempt at rebellion with a mere glance, Keter once again turned to Ultima and said, “A tongue is a weapon and armor to a merchant. I don’t think you want to lose that.”

Are you even listening to yourself?

Ultima nearly blurted it out, but managed to hold it back.

“Haha, how could I ever lie to Lord Keter? Reasons to sell these bows... Not just one, but two! Of course, I have my reasons.”

Volkanus, who had been somewhat skeptical in the strange atmosphere, showed interest in what Ultima had to say.

“Go on. I’ll listen.”

Ultima took a deep breath, buying himself a moment of time.

Keter, you want to test me, huh? Fine. I’ll show you exactly how I got to where I am today.

Though he may have appeared to be under Keter’s control, Ultima was one of the top merchants in the Lillian Kingdom. For Ultima, who started from nothing and without anyone’s support, persuading someone like Volkanus was something he could easily manage with his foundational knowledge alone.

With that, Ultima began to explain the reasons to Volkanus on the spot. As his explanation continued, Volkanus, who had initially frowned with distrust, began to relax. Eventually, he burst into hearty laughter. Even Hans, who had ill feelings toward Ultima, found himself nodding in agreement, swayed by Ultima’s eloquence.

Keter looked at Volkanus. Ultima had just finished explaining the second reason, but his persuasion was so flawless that there was no need to hear the third. The expression on Keter’s face as he looked at Ultima was like a proud parent watching their well-raised child.

Not bad at all, kid. As expected from someone I’ve acknowledged.

It wasn’t just the quick thinking that impressed Keter; Ultima had a keen ability to interpret information and articulate it persuasively to others. Keter smiled, satisfied.

I knew keeping him alive back in Liqueur was the right call. Well done, past me.

Of course, Keter wouldn’t hesitate to kill him if Ultima ever turned against him. The repercussions of doing so? If Keter had cared about that sort of thing, he wouldn’t have earned his reputation as a lunatic in Liqueur.

* * *

“What in the world is going on here?”

People passing by stopped in their tracks as they noticed carriages lined up in front of the Sefira forge. The carriages belonged to Ultima, and his workers were loading crates from inside the blacksmith into the carriages. Ultima was overseeing the workers, while Volkanus, Hans, and Keter were talking in a secluded corner where no one else was around.

“Without wasting any more time, the two of you should go and report to the patriarch. Tell him about the money the Sefira family owes Ultima, as well as the sale of the bows,” Keter instructed.

Hans, looking much older and worn out, replied in a worried voice, “I can somehow explain selling the bows, but if you take ten percent as a brokerage fee, my lord... how am I supposed to explain that to the patriarch? I’ll be beaten to death!”

Keter hadn’t arranged this deal for free. He took a ten percent commission on the sale of the bows, which totaled twenty thousand gold. It was a huge sum, enough for one hundred commoner households to live comfortably for a lifetime.

Though it was an enormous sum, Keter remained calm, showing no signs of joy or happiness. His expression suggested that this kind of money was nothing, as if it was something he naturally deserved.

When Hans let out a distressed sigh, Keter pulled out one hundred white gold coins from his pocket and firmly placed them in Hans’ hand.

“I’ve taken care of you.”

“It’s not that I wanted a tip...”

“It’s not a tip; it’s for your passage to the afterlife. Rest in peace.”

“

Cough

!”

“Come on, don’t cry at your age. Besides, if it weren’t for me, those bows would’ve just rotted away in storage forever. The brokerage fee is at least thirty percent where I come from. Want me to charge you that?”

Hans quickly waved his hands in protest at the mention of a minimum thirty percent fee.

“No, no, I’ll somehow explain this to the patriarch,” Hans said.

“Good. He might be angry at first, but in the end, he’ll have no choice but to accept it,” Keter replied.

“Do you really think so?”

“What’s he going to do, kill you? At worst, you’ll be exiled.”

“I don’t want to be exiled from the family at my age.”

“Then you should’ve done better from the start.”

“...”

As Hans stood there, speechless at Keter’s cynical reply, it was now Volkanus’ turn to speak.

“Seems like Grandpa Midget has something to say to me?”

Though Volkanus had been fully convinced by Keter and Ultima, he still thought Keter’s actions were dangerous.

“I have no problem convincing Besil, but what about you? You’ve already subdued Amaranth, which has drawn an excessive amount of attention. And now, you’ve sold Sefira’s bows without the patriarch’s permission. Aren’t you afraid of what punishment might come?”

Selling Sefira’s bows wasn’t such a huge issue in itself. The patriarch would understand if Hans and Volkanus persuaded him. The problem was that it was Keter who had led the transaction, as Keter was an outsider until yesterday.

Though people within the family were calling him lord or young master, he wasn’t an official noble. He could only gain true noble status after receiving formal approval from the royal family, then he could enjoy the rights that come with it. Therefore, it would have been safer for Keter to have done what he did after he was officially a noble and a recognized member of Sefira.

Of course, Keter was aware of this. It was the safer route, but there was a reason why he acted otherwise.

These noble types take years to deliberate over even filling a small pothole in the road.

He didn’t even expect becoming a legitimate noble, and even if they did approve it, it would take decades. There was especially no way they would grant a noble title to a bastard of the Sefira family, who was already out of favor with Queen Lillian.

I would die of frustration waiting.

That was why he just did it, remaining in this ambiguous state of being neither a commoner or a noble.

“The worst thing that could happen to me is death, but whatever. Oh, and of course...”

Keter pointed at himself with his thumb.

“Don’t try this yourself. I do it because

I’m

the one doing it.”

“

Tsk

, you’re a lunatic. If it were me, at least I wouldn’t siphon off the family’s money as a commission. Why are you so obsessed with money anyway?” Volkanus asked.

“If anyone says they don’t like money, that person is lying. Look at me—how pure and clean.”

“Even so, it’s too much. What are you going to do with all that money?”

“Grandpa, my master once said that violence alone can’t solve everything. But money

and

violence can solve it all.”

“...I’m more amazed that someone actually took you as a student.”

“Want to take on a student yourself? I know a fantastic candidate.”

“I’m not interested!”

Volkanus turned abruptly to Hans and said, “Let’s get going. Besil’s probably already heard that we sold the bows. If we don’t move quickly, things could get complicated.”

“

Sigh

, I should’ve done better. I should have...”

Hans followed Volkanus like livestock being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

After the two left, Ultima and Keter’s eyes met coincidentally. Ultima pretended to look far ahead at the mountains behind, but Keter beckoned Ultima over with his finger.

* * *

“Did you call, my lord?”

Ultima, satisfied with the deal, acted respectfully. The benefit he gained from this transaction wasn’t just monetary; Ultima now had the prestige of becoming the first merchant in the kingdom to deal with Sefira’s bows. The influence he would gain from this was worth more than a million gold.

Regardless, Keter glanced around briefly and spoke as if making small talk.

“I’ve shown you everything there is to show.”

“...”

“It’s time to decide. Are you going to partner with me or not?”

“Alright, I’ll be straight with you.”

Though the time had been short, memories of working with Keter in the past came to Ultima’s mind. Keter was like a swamp—the more one struggled to escape, the deeper they would sink. The only way to escape was to face him head-on.

“The Ultima Merchant Company is sponsored by four prominent noble families. Thanks to them, we don’t suffer disadvantages even when dealing with the Sefira family, who are a thorn in their side. But if I officially side with the Sefira family, they’ll dismantle my company immediately. Can the Sefira family protect my company from them?”

“The Sefira family can’t.”

“Then do we have any reason to keep talking?”

Rejection—Ultima refused to work with Keter. Of course, he knew that despite Keter’s current civil attitude, Keter was someone who preferred violence over conversation. He knew that Keter would never let him go so easily.

However, he was at an advantage in this situation.

We’re in the middle of the Sefira family, and I’m the only merchant who deals with them. If you kill me, Keter, you won’t be able to handle the consequences.

This was the reason Ultima could confidently refuse.

What are you going to do if I refuse? What can you do?

There might be retaliation later, but that was for him to deal with.

I want to stop seeing your face, Keter.

Ultima hoped Keter would calmly back down and leave, and he was willing to take a few hits for it. But there was no way Keter would do that.

“But I can.”

The moment Keter finished speaking, a chill ran down Ultima’s spine.

He’s going to kill me!

He was going to die.

Ultima quickly stepped back, but Keter’s left hand grabbed his neck and lifted him faster than he could react.

“

Gah...!

”

Keter’s strength was unreal; he was able to lift a grown man with just one hand. What made it even more astounding was that Ultima was a trained warrior, strong enough to rival a two-star knight, but Keter didn’t budge at all even as Ultima struggled with both hands to pry Keter’s hand away.

Realizing that brute strength wouldn’t work, Ultima swallowed his pride and began struggling loudly, deliberately making noise to attract attention. He hoped that if the soldiers saw this, even Keter wouldn’t be able to go all out and do whatever he wanted.

Indeed, servants and soldiers passing by began to notice Keter and Ultima. Despite being strangled, Ultima felt a small sense of relief.

Let go, Keter. They’re watching.

However...

Crack!

“Kek!”

Keter squeezed Ultima’s neck even harder. The soldiers who had approached recognized Ultima but couldn’t bring themselves to intervene, merely lingering nearby.

That lunatic is messing with Ultima this time.

I heard he got to Lord Anis and Lord Taragon too.

And Katherine became mute after getting involved with Lord Keter.

Even the patriarch is staying silent, so what’s the point of us speaking up? Would Lord Keter even listen?

Among the soldiers was one who was stationed at the entrance to the forge before. He quickly looked away and began whistling as if nothing was happening.

Whew, I’d be in the same situation if I hadn’t stepped aside and opened the way earlier.

The soldier pledged that, even if Keter came to the forge with Cerberus as his pet, he’d obediently clear the way.

As the soldiers turned a blind eye, Ultima grew more desperate.

This... this is ridiculous. Ugh, I’m fading...

It was too late for regret, and even later to respond. His strength was already draining, and he was on the verge of losing consciousness.

At that moment, Keter whispered into Ultima’s ear, “You trust me, right?”

“Wh...at?”

“Relax.”

Thud!

Keter lifted Ultima and slammed him into the ground. Neither Ultima nor the soldiers nearby had a chance to intervene. The impact was so tremendous that the ground shook. Even those far away turned around in surprise. Not only did the Sefira family see, but so did Ultima’s subordinates.

Receiving everyone’s attention, Keter tossed the seemingly dead Ultima over his shoulder and said, “Never seen a noble beat up a commoner before? Get back to work.”

Keter then headed toward the stables with Ultima, and no one dared to block his path.

Meanwhile, there were those who watched the entire situation unfold—spies sent by various families. They secretly smiled, thinking to themselves that Keter, coming from the lawless city of Absinthe, would indeed bring ruin to the Sefira family rather than being of any help to them.