The Status Window Disappeared

Showdown with the Black Flag (2)

The thieves’ raids were not seen even after several days, so that the merchants who hired Chris and Tyrone were overshadowed.

Excited by that fact, the exclusive escorts of the mercenaries shouted loudly as if the two were listening.

“Look at that. This time, the Lord of the upper ranks wasted money.”

“Why are you hiring mercenaries when we are here?”

“Seeing how insignificant they are, I can’t even fight properly.”

Chris laughed at their ignorance and pretended he didn’t hear anything, but Tyrone didn’t react so calmly.

This would have been unfamiliar to Tyrone, who had been following only elite courses in the Empire.

Eventually, he overheard the escorts’ taunts and came next to Chris and whispered a complaint.

“Why are they like this?”

“Isn’t this the first time you’ve seen hard-working guys be territorial? Just pretend you didn’t hear.”

“Eh, now it would be nice if a group of real thieves would come out. Security in this neighborhood is not good, what are the bandits doing?”

“Why are they leaving here now?”

Even the top escorts weren’t enough, so when even Tyrone made a stupid noise, an annoyed Chris spit it out coldly.

Tyrone, who heard the bitter voice out of the blue, asked a question like a diligent student while sticking out his mouth.

“what?”

“Hey, what items does this guild deal with right now?”

“That’s right, spices and salt.”

“okay. But what are the bandits stealing salt and spices for?”

Chris raised the volume subtly and asked Tyrone the question in reverse. Then, I felt the eyes around me gradually gather.

Tyrone, who is in trouble, doesn’t notice it and ponders briefly before answering.

“Well, wouldn’t it be better if they sold it themselves?”

“Salt is an item directly managed by the state for tax purposes, and rich merchants and nobles buy spices, but how do bandits sell them?”

“Ah, so is he.”

Tyrone knew how to admit his mistakes easily because he had a cool corner than he looked.

Chris continued his explanation as if the guild’s exclusive escorts were listening.

“The real start of this request is after selling the goods. So, don’t lose your strength while talking strangely and stay still.”

The escorts at the top looked as if they had realized something after overhearing Chris’ words.

Chris, on the other hand, was a little taken aback when he saw that reaction.

No matter how much they say that it is a role that uses strength, not brain, those who are known as escorts at the guild guild did not know this. The previously unreliable exclusive escorts felt even more unreliable.

‘Have you just been hired?’

After all, that’s why he must have hired himself while spending expensive money. As he thought so, he gazed at the fort that appeared at the edge of the horizon.

On top of the stone wall slightly heated by the sunlight, soldiers in good quality armor are widening their eyes. The trees planted inside and outside the walls look much more lively and healthy than those scattered in the fields.

“It’s all here. You should get your stuff from there.”

Tyrone asked, slightly surprised by Chris’ self-talk.

“Hey, a farm? Does that look like a complete city?”

“If you put something like a pepper tree in the field and grow it, everything gets stolen. Do you know how much that fruit costs per grain?”

That place is a farm in name only, but in reality it is no different from a small fortress, no, the actual defense will be superior to that of any fort.

After going through a strict checkpoint and entering the fortress, the guild members licked their lips at the trees planted densely inside.

It feels like the scent of gold coins is coming out of the smell of grass and fruit that surrounds you.

As Tyrone, who was standing by the tree, made a subtle move to collect the fruit, Chris hinted.

“If you touch it carelessly, your palms will fly off.”

“Did you just watch?”

Earth natives like Tyrone had lived in a sea of spices, so the scent of pepper was all the more alluring.

The food of this world is too bland for Koreans who have always eaten salty and spicy food.

Chris, too, sensed a secret urge to sniff the scent again and again, but struggled to exercise restraint and clenched his fists.

Unlike the outside, the inside of the shaded wall was much hotter than people expected. Apparently, he used magic to create a favorable environment for the pepper tree.

While the workers at the top healed their hardened bodies from the journey, the merchants got off the wagons and left to trade with the owner of the fort.

However, those who went with expensive gifts and thick pockets of gold did not return even after a long time.

Judging from the merchant’s relaxed attitude, he must have done business here many times.

But it’s a little strange that it takes so long.

Chris, as well as Tyrone and the other escorts, noticed the change and were nervous.

Finally, merchants, including Sangsanju, returned to the wagon.

The merchants who remained at the top were the merchants who briefly explained the situation to the workers.

“Forgive me for being late. The person in charge of this farm has changed, so we’re negotiating anew… You will receive the goods normally, so you can do as usual.”

“Did you hear what the Lord said? Move quickly, you guys!”

Upon receiving the merchant’s order, the workers immediately moved to the warehouse and began carrying barrels of peppercorns.

The trading stage took some time, and by the time the goods were loaded onto the wagons, the sun had already set.

In the end, the guild decided to spend the night in the castle and move the next day.

Upon arriving at the lodgings rented by the top officials, Chris and Tyrone quickly made their bed.

It was originally used by workers, so it wasn’t very good, but it was still much better than sleeping in a wagon or on the bare floor.

As the two looked around the room and headed to the dining room for dinner, a heavy air greeted them.

The workers and escorts of the guild are eating as usual, but the merchants and merchants are in a serious mood for some reason.

It didn’t look like this during the day before, so it seems like something happened… As Chris cautiously approaches their table, the owner of the store is delighted to see him.

“Ah, you are welcome. It would be good for Chris to know too… … .”

“Are there any problems?”

Chris asks, leaving Tyrone, and one of the merchants nods nervously.

“There is a problem with the product. I have no intention of going to protest right away, but please be prepared just in case.”

If they complain about the condition of the goods, Chris, who acts as an escort, must also accompany them.

He dug a little deeper to find out why they were sharing information with him.

“Have you cheated on your weight? That would be a common thing… … .”

Since spices are such an expensive commodity, it was common practice to trick the eye by adding nut shells or small rocks.

And that much would have been fully expected by the merchants.

In fact, the farm that sells pepper to them is absolutely in the position of the top, so it’s enough to do such a thing.

One of the merchants nodded in admiration at Chris’ words.

“You know our situation well. I was prepared because the person in charge of the farm had changed, but I found that the product was mixed with a lot of impurities.”

“As you said, cheating on the weight of spices is very common. However, the amount of impurities is a bit higher than usual… … .”

It is the high-ranking officials of each country who consume the spices they sell.

So, if there is a problem, their heads will be the first to fly.

Chris noticed their troubles and extended a helping hand.

“If you need something like ingredient analysis, I can help.”

“Are you Chris?”

In the merchant’s reply, the word ‘mercenary subject?’ was omitted.

However, Chris expressed his positivity without feeling any displeasure. He knew very well how his partners were rated. And most of those evaluations are self-inflicted.

When Chris showed such confidence, the merchants, who had been chatting among themselves, took him to the warehouse where the wagons were kept.

Chris pulled out a wooden barrel of peppercorns, opened the well-sealed lid, and cast an analysis spell.

“Oh, is it magic?”

“As expected, a proper mercenary is different. The guys I hired last time were rather modest thugs.”

Looking at the halo of light created by Chris’ spell, I could feel the trust of the merchants soaring.

Wizards in this world are synonymous with intelligence, so even a simple spell can cause this reaction.

Chris put up with the slightest curl of the corners of his mouth and concentrated on analyzing the peppercorns for their composition.

After looking at the results of the analysis order, Chris hardened his face at the unexpected situation.

Seeing that expression, the owner of the upper house urgently asked.

“Are there any problems?”

“yes… This is severe. I thought it might have been mixed with a rock, but the fruit is poisonous?”

“I beg your pardon?”

Chris himself, who conducted the ingredient analysis, is also not very confident in the results, but the merchants are shocked. They swallowed their screams and groaned at Chris’ one word.

Chris explains step by step, remembering the contents of the liberal arts class he took at Seidran Royal.

“This fruit contains a poison called cyanide. Don’t smell it. It doesn’t smell like anything, and it doesn’t do anything good for the body.”

“Cyanide? I’ve never heard of a poison with that name… … .”

Of course.

Since cyanide was originally used for pesticides and dyes, it’s not that rare a compound, but it’s not like it’s just rolling around on farms around the world.

Even in the basic liberal arts class of poison that Chris had taken, it was only covered very little.

Because of this, the merchants hardly believed Chris’ words, but he did not feel the need to explain cyanide at length.

Isn’t it said that a thousand words are worth a thousand words from ancient times?

“Could you please bring me a piece of meat from the restaurant?”

“Meat? Where will you use the meat… … .”

“Wouldn’t you be able to tell for sure by feeding it to the animals around you?”

It was very shocking to feed expensive pepper to animals, but Sang Sangju nodded his head because it was an issue.

“I will. Hey there, come quickly.”

“All right.”

When one of the lower end merchants brought meat from the restaurant, Chris crushed the peppercorns and sprinkled them evenly over the meat.

Then he threw it to the dog next to the restaurant.

The guy, who was hungry at the time, didn’t mind the piece of meat Chris threw at him.

When the guy who ate the meat in an instant waved his tail in gratitude, some merchants tilted their heads.

“Look at this. There is no problem.”

“Wait a little. Results will be available within an hour at the most.”

Chris held up his index finger and demanded their silence.

From noble mtl dot com

Maybe 30 minutes have passed since then.

The dog, who was charming with Chris and the merchants, made a whining sound and then collapsed.

The merchants who saw it could not hide their astonishment.

“no!”

“Did it really contain poison? What the hell are you thinking… … .”

“Chris, please come over here for a second.”

The owner of the upper house, who was keeping his cool at least, called Chris to a corner of the warehouse.

Chris hushed his voice, foreboding that the story would become more serious.

If they had sold it without knowing anything, the heads of the merchants would have been blown off. So it’s hard to believe that the people on the pepper farm mixed in the cyanide with good intentions.

Sang Sang-joo first thanked Chris and then moved on to the main topic.

“Thank you for finding the poison in the product. If it wasn’t for Chris, I would have been in big trouble.”

“It was nothing. Do you know anyone who could do something like this?”

Chris’ eyes were on the lodging where the people at the top were staying.

Sang Sang-joo, who understood his meaning, shook his head.

“Not one of us. First of all, the workers who move the luggage are not allowed to even open the products, and the work of inspecting the products is always done under my observation.”

Even if there was a traitor among the people of the upper ranks, there was no time to mix poison in the wooden barrel.

Peppercorns are a very expensive product, so they are strictly managed.

Chris decided that the top lord’s words were trustworthy and moved on to the next suspect.

“If it wasn’t the work of an insider, it must have been the work of the farmer. You said earlier that the manager of this farm has changed. Please tell me about him.”

Like most things in the world, this place was also under state control.

Pepper farms are important facilities that generate huge profits. If the person in charge of such a place had changed, there would have been circumstances.

Sang Sangju hesitated for a while, then confessed the truth.

“that is… The new manager was a player like Tyrone.”

“Are you a player?”

Chris felt the story go a little strange and followed the explanation of the top notes.