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(230)
The Xahan Alliance.
They were called the merchant aristocracy and have existed since ancient times.
The Jahan Alliance has been providing supplies across the continent since a thousand years ago, when humanity declared war on the alien races.
It still contributes greatly to maintaining the empire's land transportation network.
Their domains were concentrated in the southwestern part of the empire, but these patches of land meant little to them.
'These are things that can burn and disappear at any time.'
'We have survived for a thousand years. Our immortality is based on trust and contract.'
'We are merchants. Let us be proud of that fact.'
The name of the top family, which had built trust through steady transactions, soon became the family name.
Shares in branches, warehouses, and ports spread across the continent were soon fiefdoms.
Their army consisted of tens of thousands of mercenaries and adventurers.
They have steadily colored the empire, the various kingdoms, and even the eastern continent across the sea with their colors.
“Of the 187 upper houses owned by the Imperial Court nobles, the Jahan Alliance holds a total of 61%.”
“They increase their stake by repeatedly investing without implicitly touching the management rights, and then they incite the relevant family and the hostile family to weaken the power of the relevant family, and then they rush in and effectively take over the top.”
“There are over 40 Jahan Alliance companies hiding under the name of imperial court nobles in the capital alone. Their power has grown rapidly since the last incident, so counting them is now meaningless.”
“We cannot allow them to take away the empire’s supplies and transportation like this.”
“While Your Majesty was struggling in the Demon Realm, they purchased all the imperial bonds and the promissory notes of Archduke Valencian.”
Jaylilith and Valencianus have been waiting for this day since they received this report last winter.
“All bonds and promissory notes issued during the period are hereby rendered void.”
The imperial subjects and nobles had long since sold all the bills they had to the Jahan Alliance.
To be exact, the Jahan Alliance bought the bill by paying even a small amount of money.
The alliance tried to pressure the imperial family with that promissory note.
'I will get a tariff reduction. I will have to completely subvert the imperial economy.'
It was like a bolt from the blue.
“Please let me see Your Majesty!”
“What nonsense is this!”
“The Empire’s credibility will plummet!”
The merchant nobles and branch managers of the Jahan Alliance who were staying in the capital, the bourgeoisie who had invested in them, and the members of the Imperial Diet all raised their voices.
They ran madly to the palace and requested an audience without any particular reason.
Even the high-ranking platinum knights and guards did not stop them.
This was done on the orders of Jaylilith, but the signs, their eyes wide with anger, did not notice it.
“Soletaras! Why on earth did you make such an outrageous decision?”
The merchant noble Hoselon of Jahan took the lead.
He was the head of a famous family that was ranked among the 40 most prestigious families in Jahan.
“Your Majesty the Emperor’s words are worth more than a thousand pieces of gold. We trusted the Empire and the Imperial Family, received the promissory note, and faithfully supplied flour, meat, blankets, and medicine. How could you betray us like this?”
Jaylilith had a veil over her face, and beside her stood the treasurer Hardritan.
Hadritan glared at Horcelon with sparkling blue eyes.
'That son of a bitch who received not twice the usual amount, but ten times the usual amount.'
Hosselon met his gaze head-on and nodded to Jaylilith once more.
“If the Imperial Family treats us like this, how can we do business with them in the future?”
“… … .”
If it were the usual Jaylilith, he would not have even accepted an audience.
However, Valencian did not want even a single stain on Jaryllis' name, and the girl tyrant decided to grant her brother's wish.
The Emperor's cool voice echoed throughout the high-ceilinged throne room.
“It’s not a bill I issued, so why should I pay for it?”
“This is a promissory note issued by Your Majesty’s closest blood relative.”
“I punished him severely, dismissed him from the post of chief of police, and have not called him once in the past six months. If your son or wife were to issue a bill in your name, would you pay for it?”
“Your Majesty, we trusted the royal family.”
“So, I will grant you an audience. If you want to take even a single gold coin, go to see Grand Duke Valencian. He will be staying in the workshop on the Street of Learning.”
Jaylilith retreated as it was, and Horcelon grabbed the back of his neck as his blood pressure soared.
“I, that little kid dares-”.
“We must go to Valencian immediately!”
“We have to take away that unfairness!”
* * *
This was not all bad news for Hosselon and his group.
Although the bill was a huge sum, it was said that the wealth of Archduke Valencian was much greater.
'It could actually be a good result, as I have the rights and various stakes as a member of the royal family. I could even intervene in the Gremorius mines.'
'You own a lot of real estate. That's a good thing. It's an opportunity to put down deeper roots in the capital.'
'I'll eat up all the Instromentum land he received. I'll capture the Yeongmin and sell them to the Southern Continent, and I'll dig up the mine to the roots.'
In fact, it was no different from plundering permitted by the emperor.
'Emperor. It seems you are thinking of giving up one of your blood relatives and paying off your debt.'
Hosselon and the merchant nobles eagerly gathered private soldiers, high-ranking mercenaries, and A-class adventurers.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
But the bourgeoisie of the imperial capital were surprisingly reluctant to move.
“We will stop here.”
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“Something, something is strange.”
“I think he sensed we were after him.”
They were the ones who had spread the praises of Valencianus at the instigation of Hosselon last winter, and attempted to sow discord between Valencianus and Jaerilis.
The craftsmen, the merchants, and the bourgeoisie thought that Valencian would be proud, but instead, Valencian ended up eating up all the lands they had been eyeing.
That was clearly a warning.
They knew very well how strong they were, as they had been in conflict with the royal family and the nobility.
I may hate you, but I don't look down on you.
I knew very well what happened when those who defined their lives by their feelings became too strong.
Hosselon suppressed the rebellion of the capital's bourgeoisie with only slight difficulty.
“Hmm. Then I guess we’ll have to confiscate your companies, buildings, warehouses, ships, mansions, and wagons.”
The upper and lower bazaars and warehouses were clustered near the docks, and this was most horribly destroyed.
The reason the capital's bourgeoisie can live as bourgeoisie today is thanks to Hosselon's investments.
Hosselon turned away from them, humming a tune as he slumped his shoulders.
'It was basically my upper hand anyway. Now I can intervene in management. Should I attack the grain market first?'
Other nobles of the Jahan Alliance also had hopeful dreams.
'Valencian. He's a powerful wizard. But he's a weak wizard. He must have been so proud because he had a private army, but today I'm going to show him the bitterness of life.'
'He must be a fool who became a member of the royal family because he was born to good parents, and became a prince because he was born to good twins. My subordinates are warriors who have worked their way up from the bottom.'
“Tell His Majesty the Archduke Valencian that life is a battle!”
Hosselon shouted excitedly, and hundreds of mercenaries and adventurers ran down the street and rushed to the central workshop.
It was an unusually cloudy day for early summer, and there were no pedestrians to be seen on the street.
“Wow!”
“Hahahaha!”
"let's go!"
Even the high wall built with gray bricks seemed ready to collapse in front of their momentum.
Squeak!
At that moment, the iron door of the workshop opened.
A sharp, shrill noise rang out, and the ground shook.
“… … .”
“… … !”
The mercenaries who had been running like crazy stopped one by one, and the adventurers exchanged glances with tension as if they had entered a cave.
Saaaaah-.
A young man walked out of the main entrance of the workshop.
Although Hosselon had never seen Valencian, he could tell that he was the scoundrel of the rumors.
Yellow eyes that flicker ominously as if they were made of medicine, and white hair that is flippantly swept over.
A gorgeous white suit, red belt, and jeweled accessories that prove the rumor of luxury.
Even the inhuman aura felt from the translucent white gloves.
“Your Highness! I have come to collect a debt.”
Hosselon took a step forward, spreading his arms, and Valencian smiled as if he had been waiting for him.
“Debt? What do you mean?”
“These are the promissory notes issued by Your Majesty. They total 384,000 gold coins.”
Valencian looked up at the cloudy sky for a moment and nodded.
“I had this in mind from the beginning.”
"yes?"
“I think you and I both thought the same thing.”
“Catch-”.
“So, feel free to blame me as much as you want!”
Taaang!
The sound of gunshots echoed through the streets.
Horcelon's head burst open like a watermelon, and red drops of blood splattered across the street.
A contingent of musketeers rose from beyond the wall, aimed their muskets, and knights in machine armor rushed past Valencianus.
thud!
The one in the lead was a knight wearing mechanical armor that was even larger than that of the other mechanical knights.
thud!
Among the mercenaries, there were a few who recognized the armor decorated with red patterns on a white background.
“I, the enemy knight!”
“Red Knight?”
“You still serve that scoundrel?”
Tsukaaaaak!
The red mana blade struck the machine knight's greatsword, and with one blow, four mercenaries and adventurers rolled on the ground.
* * *
For Tentia and the Machine Knights, the fight was close to a slaughter.
Cheeeeek!
There was no need to use technology.
With each punch, the opponent rolled on the ground, and with each slash of the sword, the opponent was cut in half.
The mercenaries and adventurers of the Jahan Alliance were also not bad in terms of skill.
“Fight!”
“They plan to kill us all! Don’t run away!”
“Call the Nari!”
There were at least a few sword users, and many who ran into the wall of sword experts.
In countries outside the empire, he was skilled enough to be knighted.
However, the empire was a country where the walls of 'knights' were as high as the sky.
Tentiado and the mechanical knights were also the ones who broke the wall of sword experts long ago.
wickedness!
Red, blue, orange, each with its own unique color, the mana blades dance.
Clang!
The sword users' swords were broken as is.
"uh?"
The body was also cut off.
"profit!"
Even if we somehow manage to take advantage of our numerical superiority, we can still catch up.
Kang!
"shit!"
Their weapons bounced off, sparks flying.
At least 800 mercenaries could not stand against a dozen knights.
“Surrender! I surrender!”
“Stop! I’m going back to Jahan!”
“I will only accept 80% of the bill. No, 50%!”
The merchants of the Jahan Alliance vied with each other to raise their hands.
I raised one hand and signaled to the musketeers.
They too were wearing armor and carrying huge pistols.
Demolition man!
The sound of a hundred gunners loading a hundred rounds of shot was quite pleasant.
I looked at the Jahan Alliance merchants with a bitter smile, just like the rumors said.
“You should have stretched out your legs after seeing where you were lying down.”
The conversation was between people of similar power.
The most important thing in diplomacy was how many sword experts the opponent had.
“If ants come into your house and they want to eat the pests, you have to kill all the ants and bugs with a magic potion.”
I felt excited at the thought of wiping out those parasitic creatures, but at the same time, I felt a pang in my chest.
“If you leave it alone, it will be eaten down to the roots.”
They too have families they love, and bosses and employees to protect.
“… … Who do these bastards dare to use their wits against!”
I wish I had just built up enough power to protect them.
Even if you only asked for three times as much, I would have paid you back little by little.
So, this is all your own doing.
I put my hand down firmly, and a hundred riflemen pulled their triggers simultaneously.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
A single shot soon exploded into more than a hundred steel balls, sending a dazzling shower of sparks across the stone floor.
Tens of thousands of shotgun rounds mercilessly struck down adventurers, mercenaries, and merchants, leaving them rolling on the ground, bleeding.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Ugh!”
Among the sword-user-level mercenaries, there were many who escaped instant death, and the machine knights were happy to ease their suffering.
Phew!
Knock, knock.
Raindrops fell one by one, wetting the ground.
Swaaaah-!
Soon the summer rain poured down, and the streets were dyed bright red with blood.
The musketeers carried all the bodies into the workshop.
The plan was to float them all down the drain and feed them to slime.
I stood there for a while, watching the blood spread across the red-stained street.
“All property will be confiscated. It will belong to the imperial family.”