Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
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Chapter 33: The Wager (1)
The sound of hooves echoed softly along the road.
A long-awaited silence.
Hamel, riding alone, felt a strange sensation.
'Was this what it felt like?'
The silence that should have been familiar felt incredibly unfamiliar.
Hamel soon realized that this feeling was loneliness.
It was because he had grown accustomed to the hustle and bustle of being with Antonio and Daniel.
He didn't know why he was feeling this way after such a short time together.
'This is disconcerting.'
Hamel unconsciously stroked his chin.
If it had never been there in the first place, he wouldn't have noticed.
But they say that the absence of someone is quickly noticed once they're gone.
It seemed to be true.
Hamel didn't particularly like this situation either, but it couldn't be helped.
'...Time is of the essence.'
Everyone had left for their respective duties, and that included Hamel.
There were two urgent matters to deal with.
Securing food for the winter.
And meeting Viscount Ramsey, the lord of Sorn, the northern territory of Heidern, to pay the interest on the debt.
Although there was still a year left before the principal was due, Hamel had a reason for his haste.
'Viscount Ramsey is clearly after Heidern's salt mine.'
Even though the due date hadn't arrived yet, the viscount had filed a petition with the Imperial family.
Their claim was that the Gilmore clan had neither the ability nor the will to repay the debt.
They requested to receive Heidern's salt mine in lieu of the debt.
The Imperial family had requested proof of this and sent a message asking Hamel to visit Sorn.
Therefore, resolving this issue was the priority.
As Hamel pulled the reins and urged his horse forward,
He spotted a carriage in the distance.
It wasn't a nobleman's carriage, but it was luxurious and had two mounted escorts.
The carriage was also moving at a speed similar to Hamel's.
'This is still Heidern territory...'
There was no reason for a carriage to be heading north from here, so Hamel quickly approached it.
The carriage also seemed to have noticed Hamel, as it gradually slowed down and stopped, and the mounted escort changed direction.
"Halt! If you come any closer, we will consider it a threat!"
"..."
Hamel slowly reduced his speed and stopped his horse as they requested.
The escort, still pointing his sword, said,
"To increase your speed after seeing the carriage, how dare you. Who are you, and what is your purpose?"
Indeed, it was rude to chase a carriage ahead of you at high speed without a reason.
The problem was... this was Heidern.
"Who are ‘you’?"
"What?"
The escort's face contorted greatly at the unexpected response.
Hamel continued calmly.
"This is Heidern, and I haven't heard anything about you passing through here."
"What nonsense is that? Why should you know if we're passing through here? Are you the lord or something?"
Just as the escort scoffed in disbelief,
Hamel replied calmly,
"Yes."
"...What?"
Breaking the brief silence, the escort narrowed his eyes.
"That's what I said."
"What a madman. How dare you impersonate the lord? The lord of Heidern is Dennis Gilmore..."
"Stop."
Just then,
Someone from inside the carriage interrupted the escort and opened the door.
Then, they limped out, seemingly with difficulty moving their body.
An elderly man with a monocle and gray hair.
He was short and small, but his eyes were cold and sharp, giving off an eerie feeling.
"Master Benjamin!"
As he appeared, the escorts quickly lowered their heads.
But it was impressive how they were still wary of Hamel.
'They're not just any ordinary thugs.'
As Hamel thought so, the old man called Benjamin spoke.
"Could you please take off your robe for a moment?"
"..."
Hamel nodded and removed his robe.
Seeing this, Benjamin nodded, then slowly bowed his waist in greeting.
"I greet the master of Heidern."
"...!"
The escorts were shocked and their eyes widened at the sight.
Benjamin muttered to them in a low, cold voice,
"What are you doing?"
"We apologize!"
The escorts, as if they had finally come to their senses, quickly dismounted and bowed their heads to Hamel.
"It's alright."
Hamel didn't mind.
He was more curious about the other person's identity.
"Who are you?"
Only a very small number of people knew that Hamel had become the lord of Heidern, but this person recognized him just by looking at his face.
It was clear that he was not someone to be taken lightly.
Benjamin, still maintaining his lowered posture, replied,
"My name is Benjamin of the Lawrence Trading Company. I'm just an insignificant merchant. Please speak casually."
"The Lawrence Trading Company... isn't that the best trading company in Letria?"
"You flatter me."
Hamel thought it wasn't flattery at all.
The Lawrence Trading Company was a guild formed by renowned merchants in the eastern part of the Empire.
They were famous for their credit, with the bonds they issued being as good as gold.
Therefore, Hamel was puzzled.
"What brings the Lawrence Trading Company here?"
"Forgive me. Actually, I have urgent business in the Sorn territory, so I was passing through your territory without contacting you."
"I'm not holding you accountable, so please tell me a little more."
Hamel needed information.
Anyway, with no soldiers guarding the territory, he was in no position to blame them.
He was simply curious why they had to pass through here and why they were going to Sorn.
With negotiations ahead, information was power.
Benjamin raised his head and replied to Hamel's words.
"Of course. But would it be alright if we talk while we travel?"
"Let's do that."
Hamel nodded, then left his horse and boarded Benjamin's carriage.
The carriage started to run at full speed again.
Benjamin began in a calm but clear voice,
"It's a trivial story, so I'm wondering where to start. Shall I first tell you why our company is going to Sorn?"
"Alright."
Hamel nodded and listened to Benjamin.
Benjamin's eyes momentarily sparkled, seemingly impressed by Hamel's attitude.
"You are a very unique lord."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Usually, nobles are not interested in the affairs of lowly merchants."
Benjamin showed something resembling a smile for the first time and began his story.
The Sorn territory always purchased food from trading companies around this time of year through bidding.
However, Benjamin had succeeded in winning this year's bid in return for granting Viscount Ramsey's request last year.
To deliver this, Benjamin had purchased food and was on his way to the Sorn territory.
The problem occurred while heading to the Sorn territory.
The Rosel Forest, located east of the territory.
An armed group had occupied the road there.
Benjamin wiped his monocle and said,
"There weren't many of them, but each one was strong."
"Then all the goods of the company...?"
"No, not at all. Strangely enough, they didn't take our goods. They just told us to withdraw from their land."
Hamel tilted his head.
The Rosel Forest didn't belong to anyone.
If anything, it was the boundary between the Sorn territory and the Greenwood territory to the east.
Putting that question aside for now, Hamel asked another question.
"Then can't you just take a detour?"
"We had time until the delivery date, but originally, today was the bidding date."
Benjamin tapped his finger on the chair, and to Hamel, it seemed like a sign of anxiety.
"I received a verbal promise for the bid from the viscount's steward last time... but I have a bad feeling, so I'm heading to the territory first."
"I see."
Just as Hamel was nodding,
"We've arrived!"
The coachman outside shouted.
Benjamin opened the carriage window.
A sharply pointed mountain and a gray city perched on its slope came into view.
The city of steel and stone, Sorn.
They had arrived.
***
"Welcome."
Someone bowed to Hamel and Benjamin as they got out of the carriage.
"I am the steward of Viscount Ramsey. The lord is waiting for you."
"...The lord himself?"
Benjamin asked back, slightly uncomfortable.
Matters related to trade were usually discussed with the steward, not something the lord would involve himself in.
The steward said with a stiff expression,
"Yes, both of you. Follow me."
Hamel and Benjamin followed the steward.
A little later, they arrived at the reception room of the castle.
There, they found a middle-aged man with a plump chin and a young man who looked thin and irritable.
The steward was about to introduce them when
The middle-aged man suddenly smirked and spoke,
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the lazy merchant who's late for the bidding date and the unscrupulous debtor who doesn't repay his debts. What a well-matched pair."
Benjamin bowed his head calmly, and Hamel, without any particular reaction, introduced himself.
"I greet the master of Sorn. I am Hamel Saint Gilmore of the Heidern territory."
Perhaps it wasn't the reaction he wanted.
Viscount Ramsey waved his hand dismissively and said,
"I was joking. You're too stiff, young man."
"I apologize."
Viscount Ramsey frowned at Hamel's stiff response, then fiddled with the numerous rings on his fingers and introduced the young man beside him.
"This is the mediator from the Imperial family, Sir Conrad."
"Pleased to meet you."
When Conrad extended his hand for a handshake, Hamel also reached out and grasped it.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Calloused, hardened hands.
The hands of a swordsman.
Conrad stepped back with a slightly surprised look.
Viscount Ramsey, on the other hand, looked at Hamel and said in a tone that suggested he couldn't be bothered to speak further,
"Now that the introductions are over, let's get to the point. Your father, Baron Dennis, borrowed money from me and hasn't repaid a single penny. The overdue interest alone amounts to five thousand marks."
"I'm aware of that."
When Hamel nodded, the viscount snorted and replied,
"Then it makes things easier. As I see it, the Gilmore clan has neither the ability nor the will to repay the debt. To prevent the interest from increasing further, just hand over the salt mine and be done with it. I'll let it go with that."
The viscount shrugged as if he was doing them a favor.
Conrad said nothing and just looked at Hamel.
Hamel simply placed a leather pouch on the table.
"What's that?"
"Two thousand marks."
"...What?"
Viscount Ramsey's eyes widened for a moment.
But then, he snatched the pouch and hurriedly looked inside.
Watching him, Hamel continued,
"I will pay the remaining amount along with the principal. The Gilmore clan has both the ability and the will to repay the debt."
Perhaps this wasn't the situation they had expected.
The viscount lightly bit his lip, slammed his hand on the desk, and shouted,
"...This isn't enough. The longer we wait, the more we lose!"
"There's still time until the due date."
As Hamel said, the due date was next winter.
And he had just shown his willingness to pay.
This meant that seizing the mine was no longer possible.
Just as the viscount's face was turning red and blue,
The mediator, Conrad, spoke up.
"How about this?"
"...?"
As everyone's attention focused on him, Conrad spoke again.
"I understand there's a problem in the east of the Sorn territory."
"...That's right."
The viscount replied, and Hamel nodded.
"Baron Hamel will take care of that problem. I hear the territory is suffering great losses because of it, so the viscount should be able to reduce the debt by a certain amount, right?"
In short, he was telling Hamel to repay the debt with his service.
If the interest could be reduced that much, the risk of not getting the money back could be reduced to some extent.
The viscount, seemingly deep in thought, asked suspiciously,
"Sir Conrad, does he even have the ability to do that?"
"I believe he does."
Conrad nodded, glancing at Hamel's hands.
After a moment, the viscount sighed deeply and nodded.
"Alright, let's do that. If you do that, I'll reduce the debt by ten, no, thirteen thousand marks."
Hamel's eyebrows twitched slightly.
The amount to be repaid was thirty thousand marks in principal and five thousand marks in interest.
He had already paid two thousand marks, so if he received a reduction of thirteen thousand marks, the remaining debt would be only twenty thousand marks.
The decision wasn't difficult.
"I'll do it."
"But let's be clear about this."
The viscount looked at Hamel with an expectant gaze and said,
"If you don't repay all the debt by next winter, or if you fail to resolve this problem, I'll have to take the mine."
"That's fine."
Hamel nodded.
The viscount looked at him as if he had seen the most foolish person ever.
But Hamel didn't mind.
An unidentified armed group that attacked the company but didn't take their lives or goods?
Compared to what he usually dealt with, it was nothing.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismol]
[Proofreader - Max]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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